Save Me
DPMP: Boo! I'm back!
Prussia: It's about time!
France: Oh, leave her alone, she's been busy trying to clean up after you!
Canada: *snore*
Prussia: Yo, Mattie, wake up! *poke*
France: Leave him alone, he needs his sleep! Oh, little Mathieu, so adorable- honhonhon…
DPMP: *sigh* Anyway, I don't own Hetalia. If I did, France would be in a cage, where he BELONGS.
France: Hey!
Matthew could hardly concentrate on school supplies. His mind kept going back to the French boy he met. Francis… He sighed and put a notebook in his basket.
"Hey, Mattie, check out these erasers! They look like hamburgers!" Alfred called out. "Can you get them for me? I have no money!"
"And whose fault is that?" Matthew asked.
"Mine…"
"Why?"
"Because I thought a PSP was more important than school… But Mattie! Food erasers! The soda one is supposed to really smell like Coke!"
Matthew sighed again and held the basket out. Alfred was about to put the pack in when a hand grabbed his wrist.
"You really going to let him push you around like that?" a voice gruffly asked. Matthew looked up and mentally gulped.
Gilbert Beilschmidt was glaring down his brother. He was wearing a long-sleeved version of the store's uniform, and he didn't look too happy about it, either.
"Um, Gilbert, what?" Matthew asked.
"I'll pay for it," Gilbert sighed, letting go of Alfred and raising a hand to scratch his head. "The least I can do for snapping at you today."
"No, it's fine," Matthew said, shaking his head. Alfred triumphantly put the erasers in the basket.
"No, let me pay for them. Besides, it's not like I'm paying for anything special. Those erasers suck, I've heard, and get lost easily. Besides, the soda stuff smells like shit," Gilbert grumbled.
He was still scratching his head, and looking at his feet. Rather, glaring at them. He didn't seem to want to be there.
"No, you could get in trouble!" Matthew shook his head.
"Nah, I get paid minimum wage and I was looking to get fired anyway. The job sucks, I only got it because I needed a discount on supplies."
There was an awkward silence.
"Fine," Matthew held out the erasers.
"You know, I don't really want them that much…" Alfred started to say. "Maybe I'll just put them back."
He took the erasers and walked off to another aisle. Gilbert scoffed and looked away from Matthew.
"Well, see you tomorrow," Matthew said, giving him a weak smile and walking away.
Gilbert looked up hopelessly. Matthew was already gone.
"Yeah…" he said.
…
"Give it up, freak," the assailant growled. Gilbert grit his teeth.
"I don't want to have anything to do with you today," he snarled. His crimson eyes were cold and hard.
"Ooh, tough guy," one of the thugs guffawed. "Let's show this freak his place!"
…
When Matthew entered class the next day, he wasn't expecting Gilbert to be sitting at his desk sporting a bruise on his cheek and three cuts on his lips.
"Oh my God, are you okay?" Matthew asked. Gilbert shot a surprised look at him before his expression became unfriendly.
"Why do you care? It doesn't hurt. Want to add more?" he asked stonily.
"W-what? I-" Matthew squeaked before Gilbert grabbed his jacket and forced him close, their faces inches from each other.
"You're just like the rest of them. You hang out with them too. I won't fall for your innocent act. Leave me alone or you'll get hurt."
Matthew's eyes filled with tears. He never really had somebody bully him. Was Gilbert a bully?
"I-" he gasped out, shocked. "I-I'm s-s-sorry…"
Ms. Brite entered the classroom, then, and the bell rang. Gilbert dropped Matthew and faced the front of the classroom. Matthew stiffly did the same. Ms. Brite noticed.
"Matthew?" the teacher asked, standing up to look at the boy. "Do you need to go to the nurse?"
Matthew looked up in surprise as Ms. Brite gave him a warm and knowing look. He quickly wiped any traces of tears away with his sleeves and nodded quickly, standing up and bringing his backpack with him. A paper fell out, unbeknownst to him.
"Here, take this note to the nurse," she said, scribbling something down and handing it to him. "It should help. Get some sleep, sweetie, you look sick."
"T-thanks," he mumbled. Ms. Brite smiled and held his arm.
"Anytime. Come to me if there is anything, anything at all, that's bothering you, okay?" she whispered back.
Matthew nodded and exited the classroom quickly to avoid any more staring.
Ms. Brite faced the classroom again, smiling brightly. The smile looked forced and fake.
"Now, everyone, have you all read the hand-out I gave you yesterday?"
There was a mixed chorus of "sort of" and "no".
"Well," Ms. Brite sighed. "That would explain some things. The way I set up this classroom is for the rowdy students to partner with quiet, smart students who never gave the school trouble in their life. I want for everyone-" she glared at Gilbert for a moment- "to consider that."
There was a long silence in the classroom. Some people stared at Gilbert and others looked around the classroom. Gilbert kept his head down.
"Now, I think it's time we start going over some reviews from last year, huh?" Ms. Brite smiled and clapped her hands sharply, catching everyone's attention. "Last year you all should have learned anatomy and physiology…"
…
"Eh? Feli, are you even paying attention?" Ludwig asked, looking up from his worksheet to find his boyfriend exploring space.
"Well…" Feliciano looked down and pressed his index fingers together. "I was trying to… But Algebra II is so boring…"
"I'm surprised you even made it to Geometry with your attention span," the blonde grumbled. He leaned over and started to explain to the Italian the different steps. Feliciano made a face and watched Ludwig work.
The door slammed closed, alerting the couple of Gilbert's arrival.
"You better start your homework!" Ludwig shouted at his older brother. The slam of the bathroom door was the only answer to Ludwig's command.
"Veh…" Feliciano whimpered. Gilbert worried him. Every time he came to visit Gilbert would seem meaner and would go into the bathroom for long periods of time. Feliciano was certain that he was the only person who noticed fresh bandages on the older boy's arms, too.
The Italian's phone started to sing the Italian national anthem, alerting him to his brother calling.
"Eh? Lovi, what are you calling me for?" he asked.
"I need you to come home, dammit!"
"What for?" Feliciano whined.
"Antonio brought home that perverted French guy and I need you to lure him away!"
Feliciano turned off his phone and started to whine.
"Lovi wants me back hoooome…" he moaned, leaning into Ludwig. "Can you drive me back?"
"Ja, ja," the German boy sighed, setting down his pencil.
The two left, leaving Gilbert alone in the bathroom. He wrapped a fresh bandage around his arm, staring at the crumpled-but-cared-for letter, which fell from the boy's backpack before he left, expressing gratitude. He grit his teeth and grabbed the paper, glaring at the careful handwriting.
Gilbert, it read,
Thank you for your concern. You're nicer than I anticipated. I hope we can become friends in the future. How about we find something to do after school? I'll be outside the gym. If you're free, meet me there. I'll be there for half an hour and then I'll have to go.
Matthew.
Gilbert had gone to the gym to apologize. He did see Matthew, but he was flanked by Antonio and the new French kid, Francis. They all had similar expressions of disgust on their faces.
"So, you really thought you could be friends, huh?" Matthew had asked. His voice was a little different.
The French boy started speaking in accented English. The accent was too strong for Gilbert to understand more words than "Matthew… hurt… him… pain… freak…"
Gilbert ducked, barely getting brushed by Antonio's fist as they all lunged for him. Matthew just stood there watching. Gilbert growled and lunged, hitting him in the cheek. That was when the boy joined in, kicking and punching when he could while Francis held the albino still.
"Freak," Matthew spat when they were finished. Gilbert groaned and made an attempt to pick himself up when he was kicked down once again.
The trio ran off congratulating each other while Gilbert watched them leave, anger flooding his whole being.
Which was why he was now ripping up the letter and stuffing it into the trashcan with some bloody tissues and old bandages.
He knew he couldn't trust anybody. That Matthew kid was playing him, waiting for his turn to smack down the freak. Gilbert snarled at the thought. But he still couldn't shake the feeling of hurt inside…
DPMP: Hmm… I'm not completely satisfied with this chapter…
Prussia: Hey! Why do Tonio and Francis beat me up? And MATTIE? How could you, Birdie?
Canada: I- I wouldn't-
America: Jeez, Mattie, you're a violent sucker, aren't ya?
Spain: Eh? Why am I portrayed as a bully?
Francis: I look so badass… The ladies love bad boys, oui?
Austria: … Why am I here? I'm not in this story yet… Or at all, for that matter.
Germany: Is it just me or does Italy actually seem intelligent in here?
Everyone: *stares at Italy*
Italy: *space cadet mode* Veeehh…
Everyone: O_o
DPMP: Oh, well… *shudders* You know what? I'm still not satisfied with the way the chapter ended. Imma write a little bit more…
Prussia: Oh God, no more..!
…
Alfred opened the door abruptly, startling Matthew so bad he dropped his binder.
"MATTIE!" he yelled, hugging his brother. "I'm so sorry that albino kid gave you so much trouble!"
Matthew yelped and started to struggle, leading the brothers into a full-scale tussle on the living room carpet. It was then that Alfred noticed something a bit off.
"Mattie?" he asked. "Where did you get that bruise?"
"Huh?" Matthew touched his cheek. "Oh, that."
"Yes, that. You didn't get into a fight again, did you? If it was Beilschmidt or that Miguel kid again I'll-"
"N-no!" Matthew nearly shouted. "I was at the store to get a flash drive for my computer when I tripped and caught myself on an old lady. She thought I was attacking her and hit me with her purse. Funny story, really…"
"Oh. Well, wanna see me play a new video game that awesome Japanese dude Kiku lent me?" Alfred beamed, taking a disc from his bomber jacket pocket. "Dude, Kiku is so awesome! If he weren't married or something and I wasn't with Arthur, I'd totally ask him out! But that'd be kind of awkward because I hear that Karpusi dude doesn't get any even when they're alone so that must suck-"
"Are you implying you and Arthur had sex?" Matthew asked incredulously.
"Yeah, in your room, too-" Alfred started to laugh and ducked when his brother made a disgusted noise and swung a fist at him. "Kidding, kidding!"
"Anyway, what took you so long to get home?" Matthew asked.
"Eheheh, I was… being a hero?" Alfred asked, scratching his head nervously. Matthew didn't buy it but didn't ask further. If his brother didn't want to tell, it wasn't his business to know.
Prussia: *smug* Well, at least I left a bruise on Mattie. Serves him right!
Germany: B-bruder! That's not something to be happy about!
Canada: P-Prussia? *about to cry*
Prussia: No! I didn't mean it like-
Canada: I HATE YOU! *runs away*
Prussia: BIRDIE! *chases*
DPMP: Well, while Prussia tries to make himself look less like an idiot, I guess the only thing to do now is write the next chapter and read reviews, if I get any. Reviews are love and flames will roast me some mallows!
Prussia: BIRDIE DAMMIT I STILL LOVE YOU DON'T RUN!
Germany: Bruder, please come back!
Italy: Veh~ PASTAAAAAA!