T(Ally's notes: yes people, i know there are grammatical errors, you don't have to tell me! This is a really long one that I don't have the beginning to... Anytime it says 'you' that's me! 'stranger' is my friend!)
(Prompt: Francis is the kid who everyone likes and loves, but he hates his life. Arthur is the new kid who hardly says a word. First day of school: Francis asked Arthur to be his partner, Arthur declined and went with the female classmate, Amanda, who had asked first. Arthur had just spoken his first real sentence and his accent was revealed.)
Stranger: He looked up suddenly, trying to snort back a small laugh. "Ah that would explain it, you're British how cute." he chuckled only meaning the aloof nature, the ability to have so easily blown him off. Honestly it was just him teasing. Turning around to face him grinning playfully. "It is understandable non, I know we have innately bad blood you and I, being what we are, but I hope you do not hold this against me non?" Holding a hand out to him the first real smile in 5 years coming over him. "And Amanda, would you please be a doll and let the poor boy get acquainted more slowly, it must be a terrible lot for him to take in, as knowledgeable as you are." an amazingly polite sugar-coated way of telling her to shut the fuck up and leave him alone.
You: Okay, so the girl wasn't the stereotyping kind, but the blonde was. Amanda smiled at him. "of course you are right Francis!" she said with a smile, urging the brit to do the same. Arthur obviously didn't get the hint and glared coldly at him."You think I don't like you because you're French?" He asked as his eyes narrowed. "Seems I was right about one thing. You really don't understand people."And with that, Arthur picked up his things and returned to his seat in the back of the class. Amanda frowned at the new kid. "Well that was interesting. I know to steer clear of him now. Am I right?" She asked Francis with a flutter of the eyelashes.
Stranger:"Oh for crying o- It was a joke mon cher." rolling his eyes letting out a heavy sigh as he went off, turning back to her, his smile turning back to that half cocked plastic grin he always wore. It was something that the world had grown so use to that hell even he didn't know the difference between it and the real thing anymore. "Oh don't be so harsh on him dear, he just needs some time." Shifting in closer to her. Still...he supposed he just did Arthur a big favor by giving him an excuse to get the hell away from her whether he realized it or not.
You: "You think so?" She asked, not taking her eyes off of him. She twirled some hair around her finger as she spoke. Arthur put his things away in his bag. He threw a cold glance to Francis before turning his chair around to look at the wall. He pulled out a book and started to read in hopes of drowning out his peers. He was hating this new school already. Letting out a frustrated breath, he tried to set some rules for himself. 'Limit yourself to one friend.' Well so far that one was going along swimmingly. He had a total of no friends, but that was okay. 'Two, stay out of drama.' Well he got out of that little predicament nicely. Hopefully they would spread rumors that he wasn't nice and people would leave him alone. 'Don't make enemies.' That wasn't so great. He was pretty sure that if he made Francis an enemy, the entire school would hate him. But he couldn't help it if he hated that cocky, stuck up, son of a bitch. 'Don't fall in love.' That on the other hand was working out nicely. He didn't like any of the girls here. And if his last relationship was anything to live by, he didn't want to fall in love again. So if he followed these rules, he was set until college. By then, he'll be far away from this place. He smiled to himself before going back to his reading.
Stranger: He looked back to him at the sound of the turning chair. Honestly so childish of him but it was probably for the best. That problem solved. Now to deal with this one next to him. She was easy enough. Ugh, like he didn't have to deal with this kind of stupidity enough outside of class now he had to deal with it here too. "Lets play a little game..." smirking softly, he whispered it low enough so only she'd hear, fingertips sliding up along her leg, and past her skirt. "Not a sound" looking away from her disregardiingly as he ran fingers across tender flesh, the things he did for the sake of keeping face. Eyes glancing up at the clock. Almost time...he just had to swallow down his self hate a little bit longer. He himself had his own set of rules he lived by. What it sumarized to however was simple- make them think you care, so they don't ask questions. No one bothered wondering past his flirting and his pretty face, it was easier to hide in plain sight than it was to lock himself away.
You:Her eyes went wide and she shivered, trying to hold back a squeak. Her cheeks were bright pink and she moved away a bit on reflex. Just as she was about to get him to stop, the bell rung. Most of the students flocked out of class, leaving a few brave souls gawking in the center of the room, trying to get Francis' attention. Arthur on the other hand quickly put his book in his bag, turned the chair back around, then bolted out. For once, he wanted to go home.
Stranger: He inwardly smirked a bit to himself. That should keep her content and leaving him alone, at least for a while. That or he was going to get jumped while passing by an empty classroom by a hormonal lunatic- honestly both were equally likely and he didn't really care which she bothered to do. Looking up as Arthur tried to bolt past, he grabbed hold of his shoulder. "Arthure one moment..." stopping him before he could run past. "I just wanted to apologize, I understand that my sense of humor does not always translate well. I meant no offense with anything I said."
You: Arthur looked at him for a moment, searching his eyes. He then scowled and brushed him off before leaving the classroom. Even if he was trying to be nice, there was something about it that screamed he was guilty of something. "I bet no one has dared to beat up on him." Arthur said quietly to himself before he smirked at the thought of watching Francis get smacked around. He threw a few imaginary punches himself, which ended up with him throwing his weight wrong and tumbling to the floor. He quickly got up and brushed himself off. Good thing no one was watching.
Stranger: "Hmn, pitty. He seems like such a nice kid too." Francis let out a disapointed sigh, leaning back in his seat. He'd be stuck here a while. He let the sheep flock, thats all he saw them as really. Sheep. They were foolish animals who followed him blindly, they didn't care what he did, he could probably get away with murder if he really wanted, show up on one of their doorsteps and some how he'd be seen as the poor victim in need to help. It was...disgusting. Still he humored them for a while, talking while he pretended to care about anything they had to say, flirting while he pretended to actually know any of them, until they all decided it was time to go home. Standing himself trying to dismiss himself from the few stragglers. "Well I must be going, I do have things to tend to, dad would kill me if I got home to late." If he wasn't in prison anyways but they didn't need to know that. Working his way through the crowd Just get home and it would be fine.
You: As Arthur walked home, he paused to look at a few rolling clouds. It might just rain. That might be nice... Or it would make him for homesick for England then he already was. Either way, he was staying inside tonight. He kicked a rock and looked around at the houses. Did this city have a library somewhere? Or had it been flushed out by an arcade or a movie theater? He sighed and kicked another rock off the sidewalk.
Stranger: As fate would have it he'd find there was indeed a library, nothing huge but it was at least something right? The next few days proved to be, far less eventful than the first. In fact it almost seemed as if he'd be able to last this school, without ever going noticed. Even Francis didn't seem to pay him any mind, always too focused on ignoring the teacher and writing in his journal or drawing or just staring forlornly out the window. It was thankfully the only class he had with him so he only had to put up with people's direct fawning over the frenchman at the end of the day. No of course things couldn't go that perfectly, that much was obvious when the teacher decided to pair them up for a project. "..." Francis jumped a bit when his name was called, seeing her pointing back towards Arthure able to put together what she meant. Dully nodding sighing softly. well, thats unfortunate for you isn't it Arthure? he thought to himself, he'd gathered that for what ever reason the boy hated him and he was honestly okay with that.
You: "Bloody hell..." He mumbled under his breath. As the teacher had them get together, Arthur was hesitant to move. But he didn't want to make a scene so he did as he was told and sat next to Francis. Over the few days he had been here, he had heard more then a couple rumours about the frenchie. Some of which he found out to be true. Things like: he flirts with everyone,and he will sleep with anyone he can get his hands on. Jeeze. It wasn't like he was asking; it just so happens to be that all people talked about at this school was Francis Bonnefoy. And now they were partners. Arthur could feel the glares on his back from all the people who would kill to take his place right now. It was like he was sitting next to the devil himself with all his demon minions surrounding him.
Stranger: "Don't look so miserable mon cher..." he chuckled softly, not paying much mind to anything around him, more focused on what he was drawing than anything. One of the students up infront of him that was busy at work, doing his best to try to capture that focus, that intense air of frantically trying to finish his work before the teacher realized he wasn't done what should have been finished last night, just trying to capture a fragment of that emtion at the very least. Francis had only been at work for about ten miniutes or so but already it was in a rather detailed state. He wasn't that grand with his academic classes, writing, art, cooking...his talents lay more in the right side of his brain than his left and it was obvious. "Honestly you act as if I may bite you~"
You: Arthur was pretty sure he might try. He looked at the options for their project. Seemed simple enough. If he put his mind to in, he could get it done in three class periods. He quickly circled choice 'a' then went up to get supplies. He came back with an egg, a cup and some corn syrup. Tomorrow would be the same egg and a cup of vinegar. The day after, the same egg and a cup of water. He already knew what was going to happen. He wrote down his hypothesis, took the weight of the egg, measured the amount of corn syrup, then placed the egg inside the cup. He wrapped it up with tin foil over the top then put it on the teacher's tray. There, done with day one. He gave Francis his worksheet. "Fill out yours." He said before cleaning up his supplies. Now he had thirty minuets to kill and seeing as he wasn't allowed to go back to seat, he was stuck here. He pulled out a book and began to read.
Stranger: He glanced up as he hurriedly went about doing everything, raising a brow. "You can get quite pushy you know that?" starting to fill it in. He had principals, he was a lazy bastard when it came to his work but if someone else's grade was on it as well he made it a point to get it done, and done right. "I'm not quite sure what I did to get up your ass about something though."
You: "It's not anything you did, it's the kind of person you are." Arthur said with a frown as he tried to focus on his reading. He didn't want to talk to him but the teacher had to see them talking at some time if he wanted to get full participation points. He flipped a page, only to flip it back and reread the entire page again.
Stranger: "The kind of person I am? Do tell me cher, just what kind of person am I then?" Finishing up his own sheet setting it aside and opening his own journal a bit more angrily than he would have liked. Here he had figured maybe there'd be one person in this school with some sense. Oh it was better for him in the long run but...just once he'd like SOMEONE to maybe at least even question if he was who he wanted them all to see him as.
You: "The kind that hides in a crowd to avoid being found." He looked up at him with narrowed his eyes. "I've seen your type before. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the last time you looked in the mirror, you didn't like what you saw." Why was he even bothering with his kind? He wasn't going to drop his mask even for a second. Unless he was wrong, and there was a 20% chance he was. Maybe Francis really was a man whore who enjoyed flirting with everyone. Maybe he flourished in all the attention. Either way, Arthur wanted nothing more to do with him. If given the chance, he would change partners in a heartbeat.
Stranger: That actually completely off guard. He actually... "What do you..." staring at him, something almost fearful crossing his face. How could he have...seen past it all? He avoided mirrors throughout the day if he could. He hated them, every time he looked at one it made him sick. Not in that annorexic kind of way, he was actually proud of how he looked but...every time he saw himself he saw all the lies he hid behind. Somehow this little brit had seen them too. That actually caught him so off guard it dropped for a moment but he just shook his head looking away quickly, trying to regain his composure. "I...I haven't the slightest what you're talking about..." never in his life had he sounded so unconfident in himself.
You: So he was that type. Hmm. Not that it mattered to him. He went back to his reading, happy to have shut him up for the time being. Though it was curious how he sounded a bit scared. What was there to hide from? It's not like anyone here at the school wanted to hurt him. Maybe he had a bad father at home and he was keeping the anger inside. Maybe he some strange disorder. Who knows? He let out an annoyed sigh as he kept his eyes glued to the page. Oh yeah. Francis had responded. Well it would only be polite to respond back. "Keep telling yourself that." Arthur muttered as he flipped the page. Hey, Francis was the one who kept talking.
Stranger: Shit. Fucking hell. He'd worked so hard, these last five years, making sure no one saw, making sure there were no cracks in his mask, and this...little punk comes along and gets through to see it. What the actual hell. Keeping his gaze away from him, the longest ten miniutes of his life, nearly falling out of his chair he stood so quickly when the bell rang, holding a hand up silencing some kid as they approached him, before they could even open their mouth. "I have to go" he explained quickly, trying to rush out before he had to confront anyone else, not realizing he'd left his sketchbook behind.
You: Ha! He had scared him! Arthur had the urge to laugh out loud but decided to put his book away instead. He pushed both their chairs in and was about to leave, until he noticed the sketchbook on his desk. He was in such a hurry he forgot it... Arthur frowned before picking it up. He couldn't just leave it there when that girl I the corner was eyeing it. It probably had personal information in it. He would return it tomorrow.
Stranger: He hurried off down along the hall ducking into an empty music room. Well mostly empty. "...roderich." raising his hand just letting the other know he was here. He'd snuck in here along with the Austrian, they had their art in common, him with his ivory and himself with his lead. They didn't mind each other and left one another alone, it was something of a place he could hide for a while when people started giving him a headache. The other didn't ask questions or pry, nor did he ask why it was he always was in here himself. Francis's phone going off scaring the ever loving shit out of him. "Christ on the alter- " looking down as he calmed himself. "...work...great..."
