Chapter 2

I walked away from Arthur, immediately regretting what I had done. I knew it was wrong to leave him alone. I was scared to leave him there. I didn't even stay with my team for longer than five minutes, but when I went back to find him, he was gone. Not one of our friends had shown up to sit with him.

Man, how times have changed.

Instead, I found them scattered around the courtyard, split in pairs, something that didn't happen until last year. When did we become couples instead of one big group? When did our relationships begin to define us so much? The only couple I can say I approve of is Lovino, this bitter Italian kid, with Antonio, a Spaniard that moved here in the sixth grade and was one of my first buddies. They aren't even out of the closet except to our group and I respect that. They aren't flamboyant in their love, like Romano would let that happen, but still need each other.

The two were wandering aimlessly around the school garden, eating and picking tomatoes. Toni glanced up first, smiling and gesturing for me to come down there.

"Hola, mi amigo!" He smiled "

"Dude, I'm taking French." I smirked "and only because I need to. Can't this school be patriotic and offer something more American? Why can't I take Cherokee or something?"

"Because there are less than eight thousand speakers in ONLY the United States, ignorant bastard." Lovino bit into his tomato, not missing a beat. I glared at him and allowed my inner, so-called 'sassiness' that I have show. Arthur tells me I am sassy a lot and- oh God.

Arthur. RIGHT! STAY FOCUSED, ALFRED.

"So I'm looking for Arthur, as well as the rest of our group. What happened to meeting at the table like we planned?" I drew my attention back to Antonio who was trying, and not succeeding, to pull Lovino into a hug.

"Oh wow, I must've completely forgot! With soccer training already starting for the spring, I couldn't remember a thing from orientation. Shoot, we should go find him." Antonio was sweet, and a great friend when you needed him.

"No need. I'll find him myself. I actually pulled a move earlier that wasn't exactly the friendliest. You just round up the rest of the group."

"Will do. Come on, Lovi." I watched the two set off on their mission, Lovino muttering curse words as Antonio half dragged him to the other edge of the courtyard.

Arthur's POV

Arthur walked slowly down the hallway. He wasn't that hungry anyways and the library looked like a nice place to take refuge in. As he approached the white column entrance, he felt a bit of peace but unsettlement as the loneliness crept up on him once more.

Shaking it off, he walked in with a sense of pride, looking at the librarian with a friendly smile. He had tried to come here often in order to finish his summer reading and just as a way to spend some quiet time over the break. They knew him well and as he took his usual spot in the back lounge area, he tried to become content with the isolation.

He held his journal in front of him, ready to open and write a million new things about Alfred.

"Liar," he muttered, "Traitor," a tear fell down his cheek, "Dishonest git." He didn't understand why he was so badly hurt. Everyone ditched him, sure, but Alfred? He opened the book and wrote down the first L-I before hearing a large slam and a beautiful laugh that echoed through the library.

"Arthur? Arthur?" He heard the whispers through the bookshelves. "Arthur where are you? I know you have to be in here, I know my Iggy." Arthur closed the journal and tried to place it down by his feet, hitting his head on the table when leaning down.

"Shit." He muttered not so much because of the pain but because-

"THERE'S MY IGGY."

"Oh no." he immediately felt strong muscular arms scoop him up without a second thought and pinning him to his chair. Arthur turned to look at his captor but was only captured once more by the depth in his ocean blue eyes. They were the liveliest things he has ever laid his eyes on and somehow they always managed to make him feel better.

"Listen, I'm sorry about ditching you. I felt bad as soon as I made the decision but when I came back you were gone!" Arthur put his head in his hands and just listened to him speak. His voice was always soothing to Arthur, a friendly voice that he depended on to get him through the darkest times.

In all honesty the dependency has always been that way. Arthur has known Alfred since he was born. Their parents have always been extremely close, business partners, and were dubbed the godparents of each other's children. When Arthur was living in Britain, Alfred would come up often to visit, given his parents traveled there constantly. Arthur, being a bit older, would often care for the boy like he would for his younger siblings. Eventually, the visits stopped, as Alfred's mother grew ill, and it wasn't until her passing, and the move that Arthur made to NYC, that Arthur realized his feelings for Alfred had changed dramatically.

When he returned in the seventh grade, Alfred had grown several inches taller than him, his face as delicate as a doll, but also smeared with dirt as he was always outside playing sports. Throughout middle school, the entire group went through their demons and conquered them one by one with the help of another. Even Antonio, one of the most happy-go-lucky members of the group had to go through the death of his parents and bankruptcy of his family soon afterwards. The only person who hadn't was Alfred, but when confronted about it he would just say he is the hero and then change the subject.

When Arthur fought his demons, Alfred was there every time to make sure nothing bad happened. In all honesty, Alfred was his hero. Now, he depended on him even though he didn't want to.

"It's fine, Alfred." Arthur muttered picking up his journal and starting to head out the door. He gasped as Alfred grabbed both of his wrists, putting his face just a few inches from his own.

"Iggy, were you crying?"

"No!" He broke away from the other's grip, sliding back down in his chair.

"You know you can never hold back when crying in front of me." Alfred got down on his knees; putting his hand up to Arthur's face as a tear fell.

"I was just sad because of you leaving, bloody wanker." He got out of Alfred's grip, and hid his face, trying to keep himself from breaking down. He had gotten in the habit of doing it but no more! Freshman year would start the new Arthur; A new person who doesn't have fresh cuts on his arms, doesn't cry when someone leaves him, and most of all doesn't depend on Alfred F. Jones for counseling.

Before the conversation could continue, a bustling crowd of weird children came running through, most of them hand in hand with another. A boy within that group, with dark chocolate brown hair in a classy style came running up to the two.

"Come on losers, we are going to the school shop!"

"Wha- why?" Alfred said as he started being pulled by the boy.

"It's where the others are! Hurry up!" Alfred grabbed Arthur by the hand, making Arthur blush, as they were hauled out of the library.

I will not depend on Alfred F. Jones.

No.