Alfred walked out of the school gates, sighing. He started to walk for his bike. He looked up and saw strange green eyes staring back at him.

"Arthur!" Alfred smiled.

Arthur unlatched his bike and started to push it away. Alfred fumbled with his own, but when he got it he followed Arthur.

"Hey, so how was your day?" Alfred asked, "Make any friends?"

Arthur ignored Alfred.

"Was the cafeteria food good? I think it's kind of disgusting," Alfred said.

No response. Alfred clammed up for a good two minutes.

"Are you made at me?" Alfred asked.

Still no response.

"Why are you made at me?" Alfred said.

Again, no response.

"Arthur-"

"I'm not mad at you," Arthur said, he slowed down to a stopping point.

"Okay, then what is it?" Alfred asked.

"I just don't get why you're so keen on becoming my friend," Arthur said.

"Because you seem nice-"

"You don't even know who I am or how I really act. I bet if you did you wouldn't want to be my friend," Arthur said, starting to walk again.

"Wait, no," Alfred said. "I want to be your friend."

"Are you doing this because it's a stupid dare?" Arthur asked, stopping again to look at Alfred. "I know your type. You're Mr. Popular and you've got everyone hanging around you and you do anything stupid to keep that title. Your obnoxious and you don't care for anyone but yourself."

Alfred stared at him. It was a bluff, anyone would understand that. Alfred felt a pit of despair opening in his stomach. Was that really how he came off as? "Fine. If you don't want to be my friend then fine, I don't care anymore," Alfred grumbled. He jumped on his bike and rode quickly home, the wind blowing in his ears.

Arthur stared after Alfred and sighed. He didn't want to get too attached. If he did, people would start noticing his strange movements and they would start making fun of him again. This was how it was back in England.

"That was harsh," Matthew said, walking up behind Arthur.

He peered at Arthur attentively, "Did you really mean that? To my cousin, I mean."

"I just don't want to repeat what happened at my other school. If he's hurt that badly tell him I'm sorry," Arthur mumbled, hopping on his own bike and riding home.

"Alfred, open up," Matthew said, knocking on his bedroom door.

"No," Alfred said.

"It's my room too you know!" Matthew said. He sighed, "Alfred, I made a milkshake for you. Do you want it?"

Alfred opened the door and let Matthew in.

Matthew gave Alfred the cup and bounced on his bed. He grabbed the white polar bear stuffed animal that he had gotten from Kiku not too long ago.

"So, what happened? Why are you so depressed?" Matthew asked, staring at Alfred.

"I don't want to talk about it with you," Alfred said, slurping up the milkshake.

"Okay, not with me," Matthew looked around. "What about Lovino?"

"Definitely not him," Alfred mumbled.

"His brother? No, huh? Um…Gilbert?"

"No."

"How about you talk to Kumajiro?" Matthew held out the polar bear.

Alfred stared at Matthew, then looked down at the bear. The bear stared back at him with these round dark eyes that seemed to be able to keep any secrets. Before he knew what he was doing, he started to spill to the stuffed bear.

"And then when I asked why he was mad he told me he wasn't and then said he wasn't and started calling me all these names," Alfred took a small breath, "Not bad names, but they still hurt my feelings."

Matthew lifted Kumajiro's paw and waved it, making his voice somewhat high he said, "What are you going to do, Alfred?"

Alfred pushed the bear's head down and stared at Matthew, "What should I do?"

Matthew sat up, leaning against the wall and hugging the white fluff, "I think you should keep trying. If you don't he will think you aren't meaningful enough, you know?"

Alfred thought for a moment, "Yeah. Yeah I think I know what you mean…but maybe…just maybe…"

"What?" Matthew looked at him.

"Here's the plan," Alfred leaned in and started to whisper. When he pulled back he smiled at Matthew's expression, "Brilliant, isn't it?"

"Did you take advice from Mr. Bonnefoy?" Matthew asked, his eyes showing obvious terror.

"No, no!" Alfred laughed, his usual self again. "So, are you gonna help me?"

"It's ridiculous!"

"It's not that bad! Come one, dude, please?" Alfred said, pulling the puppy eyes.

Matthew stared back at his cousin for a bit, then sighed, "Okay, okay. Starting tomorrow, correct?"

Alfred smiled, "Yup! Tuesday will be the start of Plan Get Arthur to Like Me!"