(Sorry for the wait and the blehness, but I gotta move this story along. It is gonna be a pretty short story.~)
Thanks to AILOVE-withcake for helping with editing! You helped me out a lot ^^
NEW CHARACTERS: Arthur Kirkland (England, 18), Alfred F. Jones (America, 17), Michelle (Seychelles, 16), MeiMei (Taiwan, 17), Li Xiao (Hong Kong, 18), (Ancient Rome, 35)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Hetalia.
Also, thank you to Black Pichu for being my beta!
The next day shone bright with the overbearing sun glaring through Emil's painted glass windows. He rolled over, throwing the blanket over his head, grumbling nonsense in hopes to sleep the day away.
"Get up," a stern voice ordered, whisking the covers off the bed much to Emil's dismay. Lukas stood at the foot of his brother's bed, one hand clasping an edge of the blanket and the other holding clothes for Emil to wear.
"I'm not a kid, Lukas." Emil stretched sleepily, rolling his ankles and yawning widely. "I can pick out my own clothes. Besides-" He looked more closely at the articles of clothing in his brother's hands. "-those are way too formal. I'm going to high school, not an interview." He rolled out of bed, stumbling to his closet and creaking the old door open. At his feet a large, jumbled up pile of clothes tumbled forward to land upon the floor. He shrugged, pulling out a random t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Lukas tsked from behind.
"How are we related?" Lukas mumbled, looking disdainfully at Emil's choice. Again, he shrugged.
"Ask Mom and Dad," Emil mumbled, silencing Lukas before beginning to change clothes sluggishly. Lukas left, throwing a strange look over his shoulder and closing the door quietly behind him. It took moments for Emil to dress, not bothering to brush his messy hair. He regretted staying up late on the computer talking with Alfred, but Emil simply yawned and grabbed his keys from his desk. He trudged downstairs dejectedly, nose smelling coffee and bacon, but he hurried out the door to avoid any more confrontation.
Emil's second block was Economics, a nice, calming change after the sweaty rush of gym class. The class itself was easy, but most of the people were stupid, at least in the white-haired boy's opinion. The class president, Arthur Kirkland, was the most idiotic of all to Emil. A rivalry between them had started years ago, in elementary school, when Arthur had stolen Emil's fish candies. The two had gotten in a rather brutal fistfight for the incident, and had despised each other since. However, Arthur's best friend and crush was also Emil's best friend, Alfred. How Alfred managed to actually like the English boy at all surprised Emil endlessly.
Emil sat comfortably in the back corner next to the windows with Alfred in the seat in front of him. Because Arthur's crush overpowered his hate for Emil, he took the chair next Alfred's, though he never failed to give a nasty look at the Icelander. The seat next to him sat lonely and empty. Emil normally zoned out, staring out the window as he listened vaguely to the teacher. As per usual, Emil was zoning out at that moment.
Outside, the trees swung in the soft breeze, varying shades of green framing the school upon the hill. Concrete stairs led down the sloping hill to the parking lot far below. Most students brought blankets and ate lunch upon the hills or under trees, enjoying the amazing summer temperatures. Far in the distance, a black dot began climbing the stairs. Emil squinted, waiting rather impatiently for the figure to form and take the definite shape of a human. Suddenly, Alfred swung around, staring excitedly at Emil, startling the white-haired boy from his reverie.
"Dude! That's the exchange student!" Alfred grinned, swiveling to gaze unashamedly at the speck ascending the stairs. Emil was pretty sure Alfred's own glasses were for show because of how far and clearly he could see, even without the spectacles.
"Hmm…" Emil answered, the exchange student finally coming into focus. He wore the school uniform of dark grey and red, making Emil smile. No one wore the uniform except the students with sticks up their asses who thought it made them important. Emil stared sidelong at Arthur as he thought this, the English boy straightening his grey jacket.
Just before the boy's face became clear, the bell rang, marking the end of class. Students fled the room with gossip and aggravated moans as they traveled to their next class. Emil took his time, gathering his things and watching the brunette enter the school.
"I hope he's in my lunch. He looks pretty cool," Alfred said, waving to Emil and disappearing from the room, struggling to catch up with Arthur who had disappeared before the American noticed. Strange that the strict Arthur had left Emil alone for the day, now that he thought about it.
He must be planning something, Emil thought cautiously, narrowing his eyes and shouldering his bag. Lunchtime. Maybe he could sneak away and not be noticed? Emil huffed, heading straight towards the doors to meet up with his normal crew.
Alfred didn't have first lunch, but Emil was not alone. He had his other best friend to sit with, Michelle. The duo sat under a tree on a flatter part of the hilly area near the entrance of the school. Emil leaned back, propped against the ancient oak tree. Students sat in groups across the hill, laughing and smiling with friends. Michelle spoke quickly in front of Emil, talking about her fishing adventures from the previous day with large, excited eyes.
"It was this big!" She held her arms out wide to demonstrate. "I swear!" Emil cocked an eyebrow, sipping at his water bottle.
"Don't you mean this big?" Emil asked, using his pointer finger and thumb to show about an inch, earning a playful punch from Michelle.
"Believe it or not, Emil, but I am an excellent fisher! Best one here, I bet!" Michelle exclaimed eyes scanning the hill in search of someone of worthy value to challenge her title before she laughed out loud. "Oh yeah, I forgot you fished, too." Her giggling was infectious, and Emil found himself grinning as well.
"Hey!" another voice said. Emil looked up to see another friend. Meimei stood with a boxed lunch. Beside her the transfer student stood, face blank and headphones in his ears. Emil was shocked, but made no expression to show it.
"Mei!" Michelle cheered, scooting over and patting the ground next to her. Mei sat down, pulling the new student along but he remained standing. She waved her hand at him, rolling her eyes. "I was just retelling some of my best fishing adventures, but Emil thinks he's too good for them." Michelle stuck her tongue childishly out at Emil and he rolled his eyes. Mei laughed heartily but held up a hand.
"I'd love to hear it, but first I'd like to introduce him." She nodded towards the still-standing boy, his eyes examining the iPhone in his hand, plugging headphones into it. "This is Li Xiao. He's from Hong Kong. We're cousins," Mei explained as Li Xiao finally sat down next to Emil, his back to the thick trunk of the tree. His eyes were a rich honey color and Emil stared for a moment, taking another drink of water. Li Xiao felt Emil's eyes and turned to gaze right back. A strange, awkward silence filled the air as the girls quieted and watched the silent staring contest ensue.
"Emil." Emil offered, turning away with a bored expression. Li Xiao nodded and took out his right headphone.
"Li Xiao. Here." The new student answered, allowing Emil to take the offered headphone and listen to the foreign, jumpy music. The rhythm was quick paced and unique. "My own mixes." Li mumbled, fingers drumming on his stretched out legs.
Emil's eyes widened just barely in wonder, but he did not speak. He was too busy enjoying the music.
The rest of the day was uneventful other than finding out his last class was with Li Xiao. Alfred had been sullen momentarily that the new student wasn't in his class, but he chippered up when he learned Li was in Economics as well.
Emil sat at the dark wooded desk in his bedroom, one hand holding the eye doctor's note and the other holding his cell phone. His mind flitted nervously between his options of surgery and blindness. The risks couldn't be that bad, right? His right foot tapped the floor, hands shaking barely. Angrily, Emil stilled them and pushed in the number. Within moments, another voice, a cheerful one at that, answered.
"Hello? Doctor Roma's office!" In the background, Emil heard another voice.
"If you answer the phone, then what is the point of my job?" The voice, a woman's, asked.
"You just need to look pretty, 'kay?" The doctor answered. Emil's palms began to sweat uncomfortably.
"Uh, this is Emil Steilsson-"
"Emil! Oh yes, I received a call regarding your condition." Doctor Roma's voice sobered, becoming more serious. "I know this is hard. Why don't you come in and we can talk about this before any major decisions are made. Are your parents or guardians there?"
Emil's mouth dried. "Ah, no, but they said whenever you are available."
"Then how about next Thursday at four? That is my soonest available date." The rustling of papers could be heard and Emil nodded to himself.
"That's fine. I'll be there." Without waiting for a reply, Emil ended the call and pushed back in his chair. He stared wide-eyed at his phone. He was really doing this. Emil hoped Thursday wouldn't be there too soon, but his bad luck was quite infamous.