Chapter 3: Secrets

*Chapter 2 has been revised.

America

America woke up, groggy and disoriented. It was all a dream. Right?

Getting up to peek in the mirror, America was greeted with a slender form and blonde hair with two red clips stuck in. She sighed. I guess I have to start getting used to this form.

She briefly considered calling someone, maybe another female country like Hungary, Belgium or Taiwan, to help her with "girl-stuff", but changed her mind because Hungary might end up telling Prussia, and Taiwan might "accidentally" gossip about it. She wasn't close with Belgium and thought that would be kinda awkward.

Then America perked up, reminded of Canada. Maddie will totally help me right? Right? I mean, she got turned into a girl too.

Suddenly America remembered that there was going to be a meeting in a few days. She groaned. How am I supposed to hide this?! I can't call in sick, because it's an important meeting. But I can't show up like this either. Wait I know! She grinned to herself.

Running over to her closet, she pushed the various garments around, searching for a baggier jacket. I just need to hide my clearly female body, but I gotta wear something nice for the meeting. Met with suits and sweatshirts, she face palmed. Okay that's it; I don't have a choice but to call the reinforcements.

Just then the phone rang. Oh shoot, the phone. She ran downstairs, expecting her sister.

"Hello?"

"Is Alfred Jones there?" Hearing a familiar British accent, America froze.

"C-could I ask who you are?" She stammered, praying that it wasn't who she thought it was, that maybe it was someone with a similar voice.

"This is Arthur Kirkland speaking." The person on the other end spoke.

Her eyes widened and she sighed to herself. I knew it, it's England. What do I say now?

"He's not here at the moment. And I'm a visitor! I, uh, came by to see Mr. America for some favor." She fibbed quickly.

England paused. "Oh I see. Well, could you leave him a message saying that I need to talk to him when he gets back? Wait, why are you in his house?"

Clearly, everything was getting more and more complicated. "I saw a sign on his door that said that he wasn't here at the moment but visitors were free to come in and wait. So I came in."

"That's not very safe…I have to lecture him on privacy and safety when he gets back–

"Oh, no please don't!" She interrupted him, not looking forward to a lecture. "I'm pretty sure he was expecting me because I, um, called him yesterday and made an appointment at this time."

"Ah, okay. That makes more sense…somewhat…"

"Um sorry! I have to go!"

"Wait, I'm coming over–

"No it's okay! I'm pretty sure he's fine!" She panicked and cut him off.

"Goodbye!" She hung up the phone before he could respond.

America leaned against the wall, clutching her chest. She sank down, breathing heavily, onto the floor.

I'm really in for it now aren't I?

England

England stood there, gripping the phone, hearing a dial tone from the speaker.

He was puzzled.

She sounded nervous, almost as if she didn't want me to come over or find out about something. Is she having relations with America? Why that bloody git…

Wait, why am I upset by this…?

It's because I care about him and don't want him doing indecent activities without any concern for his well-being. Yeah, that makes sense.

He sat there, stewing over what just happened. Suddenly he slammed his palms on the table and got up, shoving his chair back.

That's it. I'm going over there no matter what that girl says. I need to figure out what's going on.

He yanked open the door and marched out of his house, demanding answers.

America

This is bad. This is very bad. Knowing England, he's going to come over here anyway despite what I tell him.

She paced back and forth, running her hands through her hair anxiously. Her fingers accidentally snagged in her tumble of curls. She tugged, hard, freeing her fingers but also pulling out a clump of hair. The twinge of pain made her wince.

Ow...

Then her face brightened. I got it! I'll just scribble a quick note saying that I stopped by about that random favor but I left after I got tired of waiting. Hopefully…my handwriting looks different.

She pulled out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote in loopy scrawl.

Alfred,

Stopped by to ask you about the empty building and whether I could rent it for my bakery business. Left because you never showed up. Call me when you come back.

Amy

She grinned. There was an empty building that said "for rent" in the neighborhood, and it sounded reasonable. America left the note on the table.

Now, I have to go somewhere so he doesn't catch me in here.

She grabbed the keys off her table, then facepalmed when she realized that she forgot something.

I have to leave a note that says that America's also not here! Whoops.

She grabbed the pen and another piece of paper and scribbled a quick message, taking care to write in a different font.

Hey this is America!

If you've stopped by about something, I'm currently not here.

I've gone out and won't be back until sometime later, so leave a memo or call me and leave a message.

If you're that girl who stopped by about the bakery, sorry about missing the appointment, but you can come in. You know where the key is.

Satisfied, she taped the note to the front of her door and left, whistling to herself.

England

England had made his way to America's house after the plane ride.

I haven't seen that wanker in for some time, and it's really rather strange. No visits or even an annoying phone call. Not a word. I wonder where he went.

He approached the door and noticing the note taped to the door, started to read it.

Hey this is America!

If you've stopped by about something, I'm currently not here.

I've gone out and won't be back until sometime later, so leave a memo or call me and leave a message.

If you're that girl who stopped by about the bakery, sorry about missing the appointment, but you can come in. You know where the key is.

England furrowed his brows, feeling skeptical.

So I was right. There is something going on between the girl and America. I mean, why else would he only let her in, but no one else?

England dug under the doormat, feeling his fingers come in contact with the shiny metal of the spare key.

I know where the key is as well. He smirked.

He inserted it into the lock and turned, hearing a click as the lock snapped open.

He pushed the door open gently, apprehensive.

It is really quiet in here. Maybe he had some urgent matters somewhere else in the country.

England spotted the note on the table and picked it up. He skimmed it and tossed it back on the table.

I feel like there's something I'm missing. What is going on between those two?

A/N: Oh look, Sherlock-mode activated! I read some other person's fanfic and I really liked the idea of the countries going incognito, with only other countries knowing. They use human names to keep their real identities secret.

So what's America going to do now? Is England going to figure out what happened yet?

More reviews mean I'll feel more like updating, because I've got expectations to live up to then.

Kudos to those who favorited and followed this story! :)