Chapter One: un nou început (A New Beginning)
I was new to the school. I had moved a great deal and was never certain how long I would be in once place; the uncertainty had made me I shy, a wallflower in all honesty. I wasn't extremely popular or cool at my previous schools, and I didn't expect to ever be popular. In fact, instead of being the popular, cool bitch of the school; I was the quiet, shy, smart, nerdy girl that was nice and polite to everyone. I was positive and a dreamer, and I didn't entirely mind being alone; it only meant that I wouldn't hurt anyone and they wouldn't hurt me.
It was my first day. I was wearing a cute baby blue sleeveless dress with a slightly puffy tulle skirt, light white sweater, and all white wedges with ankle straps that complimented my dress nicely. It was late summer, almost August. I was nervous about starting over... again.
I wasn't a bad student; no actually I was quite the opposite. I was the teacher pet, the one everyone relied on in class. No, my family simply moved frequently. Really it was my stepdad's work that made us move so often. He is a psychologist and likes to seek out tranquility for our family though he leaves for Los Angeles because that is where he works.
Anyway, I was already late because my mother didn't know when school started. I rushed, looking for my first class, Chemistry. I ended up asking a leadership person for help. Thank goodness he didn't seem to mind.
I entered the room sheepishly; luckily I wasn't the only one who was just arriving. I handed my teacher my schedule. He told me to go take a seat. I sat next to a dark haired boy who seemed as shy as me.
"Hello." he said softly.
"Hi..." I mumbled, fidgeting. I noticed he had an accent. I didn't mind, I talked in a faint British one naturally. Blame the Beatles for that one.
The teacher began speaking, instructing how the class would run. I listened to him while (re)organizing my binder. He handed us slips of paper, telling us to get them signed by our parents, that went over expectations and things that we will need. The last five minutes of class, he gave us free time. I put my things away and adjusted my sweater.
"I like your buttons," the boy said pointing at my backpack, "You like Hetalia?"
"Thank you, and yes I do." I said softly, "Germany isn't my favorite but it was the only one they had at Hot Topic."
He nodded and smiled, "I'm Kiku Honda."
"I am Artemis Demitru." I smiled back shyly.
"Would you like to join my friends and me for lunch? We meet in the front courtyard, behind the main office." Kiku told me. I nodded as the bell rang.
I headed to my next class, which was German 1. I was happy that someone actually talked to me. German flew by and I went to my next class. Even though I was only a sophomore/second-year, I was in Algebra 2. It seemed to drag. He even gave us homework! After was Algebra support. The teacher, Ms. Franz, explained that normally this would be the last class but today was a traditional day, meaning we had to go to all ten classes.
After Algebra support was lunch. I quickly hurried to the courtyard he told me and looked around for him. I didn't see Kiku so I sat in a shaded area to escape the late July heat. I pulled out my tortellini, homemade cookies, chips (the Kettle chips), and water. I didn't mind sitting alone, so it surprised me when I saw him and three others approaching me.
One was clearly very hyper as he was chatting excitedly with the others. Another looked pissed off and almost identical to the hyper one. I figured they were either twins or brothers. The final one was a stern-looking blonde with blue eyes.
"Ah! This is the bella ragazza!" the hyper one said hugging me, I squeaked softly, "Aw! She is so cute! How are you bella?"
"Feliciano, it is rude to pounce on a young frau you do not know. What if she didn't like hugs or being touched?" the blonde says sternly.
"But Ludwig, I don't think she minds. Do you bella?"
"Not really, but I would like to know who is hugging me." I said politely.
"Oh! Si! I am Feliciano Vargas." He smiled, "And what is your name, bella?"
"Artemis Demitru." I replied, still in my polite manner.
"Fraulin Demitru, I am Ludwig Beilschmidt." The blonde told me.
"You know Kiku, so I guess that leaves me. I am Lovino Vargas." the pissed off looking one said in a pissed off tone.
"He is my fratello!" Feliciano said tackle hugging him. I knew it, and I laughed softly.
"Get-a off me, you idioto!" Lovino yelled.
"Lovi~" a new voice chimed. I looked to where it came from.
Another group of three boys approached our group. They were rather handsome. The one who had spoken approached Lovino and he responded by yelling, "Get away from me you tomato bastard!"
"Oh but Lovi." he pouted, it was enough to make a girl's heart melt.
"Hey, Toni, I think that's the new girl Lutz was flirting with." the albino said pointing to me. I blushed deeply, not used to all the attention I was receiving. I did recognize the albino; he was Frau Hauser's student aid.
"Yes, I am new." I said, looking down at my lunch and taking a bite. Oh how I love Italian food.
"And what is your name, mademoiselle?" the blonde asked tilting my chin up. He had sapphire blue eyes, similar to mine only mine change depending on what colors I was wearing.
I blushed even more. I didn't understand why I went so shy... He then sat next to me, "It must be as belle as you, oui?" Oh god the French accent!
"I-I am Artemis Demitru." I stated for the millionth time, "My friends used called me Artie for short."
"Used to?" he asked, eyes softening.
"Ja, this is my third high school." I explained.
"Oh got, that must be hard." the albino sympathized. I shrugged and went back to eating my lunch.
"You didn't tell me your name monsieur." I said.
"How many languages do you speak, ma Chérie?" he asked.
"That I speak relatively fluently? Only two languages, English and German, I want to learn French eventually. Und ja, I'm in Deutsch eins but I kind of taught myself small words. I wanted to take it last year but the teacher retired the year I entered."
He nodded, "I am Francis Bonnefoy. The albino is Gilbert Beilschmidt. And the dark haired boy is-"
"Antonio F. Carriedo, chica." he interrupted taking my hand and kissing it softly. That is when I decided that they were all flirts.
That is when Francis pulled out a red rose and gave it to me, "For your beauty, ma Cherie." I looked at the rose in surprise, my mind off on a mental rant.
Why have I never been given a rose before? Alex never gave me one.I thought, why? Was I not special enough for even one rose? Was I that lowly and unworthy of a single rose? Was I that worthless and pointless? Did I do something to anger the goddess of love to make it so this flirt was the only one who would ever give me any kind of token? I asked myself so many questions that I had no answers to that it made my head and heart start to ache from it. It was so bad I was near tears and I could feel the tears welling up, ready to fall. Before I knew it I was crying over being given a stupid rose. But part of me knew that it was more than a simple rose, it was over the want to be wanted. Everyone looked at me in surprise. Feliciano came and hugged me tightly.
"It is okay, bella. Don't cry." he soothed stroking my hair. He wiped away the tears murmuring condolences in his beautiful, fluent Italian. I blew a few of my honey strands out of my face, getting a grip on myself. I appreciated his concern and was fearful that I would be scaring off the others.
"Merci, Francis. You are the first boy to give me a rose. I am sorry for my outburst, please forgive me."
He smiled and winked at me in a provocative way. Feli got protective of me and held me close as to protect me from Francis.
"Petite flirt," I said under my breath making Feli giggle.
"You said Lutz vas flirting with her?" Ludwig questioned Gilbert.
"Ja, he didn't hurt you, right Artie?" Gilbert said looking at me. I shook my head.
"That means he is going to know about her being new." Ludwig stated forlornly.
I looked at them in confusion. They looked worried. I wondered who 'he' was but didn't want to question them for fear of being rude. I was only the new girl and I didn't know the rules of what I could ask and what I could not.
Other than that, this year seemed like it was going to be a good year.