Wednesday's dreaded math exam had come and gone with no problems. Well, other than I could hear Alfred's voice in my head the entire time that had my face blushing the entire time. I think that was the only reason I had actually passed the test with the best score I've ever gotten on a test. I was so relieved that I practically skipped to Alfred's table. This time I was going to thank him properly for all of his work.

But Alfred wasn't there. There was some other boy sitting in his place instead. I stopped short, thinking I had imagined things. No, it was Alfred. But this boy was sitting correctly in his seat, had slightly longer hair, and didn't have that obnoxious cowlick. He just had a really long curly strand bobbing in the light breeze. His nose was stuck in a book and he was eating a salad.

"Alfred?" I asked slowly as I approached Alfred's clone.

The boy looked up with violet eyes. He didn't seem surprised to be called another boy's name. I think he was rather annoyed actually. He gave a slight smile as he shook his head in the negative. "No, my brother isn't here today."

"Your…your brother?" I asked. "Oh, then you must be his brother Matthew. Yes, Alfred mentioned you a few times."

Matthew nodded, closing his book. "And he's mentioned you as well. You're Arthur Kirkland, eh?"

My heart jumped as my face flushed slightly. "He's-he's talked about me?"

Another nod. "Well he had to explain to our parents why he was coming home so late when football season has ended already. I'm more surprised he actually remembered me. My brother isn't that… Anyways, you wanted to talk to Al, eh? I'll give him a message if you want."

I held up my hands with a polite smile. "That won't be necessary. I'll wait until he comes back. Is he sick today?"

Matthew paused for a moment. I could see in his eyes that it looked like he was thinking before he came up with some explanation. I realized that Matthew was about to lie to me. Why would he lie to me? Was Alfred actually hurt and he couldn't tell me? Suddenly I felt a need to know what really was wrong if Alfred was really injured. I mean, not that I cared, but I was still waiting to practice for that jazz band Alfred had promised we'd create. I didn't plan on ever performing, but if I found a way to hear the boy play that saxophone then I'd play in front of him.

However, Matthew must have thought that he could trust me. "Alfred got hurt."

"What?" I could hear my voice crack; a leftover embarrassment from puberty. Maybe Matthew would burst out laughing and tell me he was merely joking. But he didn't.

"It's nothing serious. He…" Matthew hesitated. He looked down at his book, possibly wondering if he could jump into its pages. "He and dad don't get along very well. They fight a lot. Sometimes they get physical. Last night was no exception."

"Well, that's what my dad says. He doesn't like that I can play it, especially since I like it. I only play at school and I've never performed since I was little. My dad wouldn't like that very much." I heard Alfred faintly say in my ears. When he had told me that, I didn't want to believe that he and his father didn't possibly get along, even though Kiku had mentioned his home life a few times.

I balled my hands into a fist. That man. If I met him, I'd probably belt him right in the jaw. Not only had he discouraged a gifted boy to pursue something he loved, but now he had laid harmful hands on his own son. On Alfred.

"Arthur?" Matthew said lowly. He had his head bent low with a nervous look behind his eyes. "Are you…ok?"

"Fine. Quite fine." I'm sure anyone could tell I wasn't fine. My body was shaking in rage and my fists were clenched so tightly I'm sure my knuckles were white. But then, there was a horrible aching pain in my heart. Alfred was always so happy, so carefree when with me. With anyone, really. He never let on that he was under that kind of emotional stress back home. "Tell me, Matthew… Has your father had a history of…these kinds of violent tendencies with your brother?"

Matthew nodded meekly. "Since we entered high school, I guess… Dad never bothers with me, though."

"But then why has he never said or shown any sign of that pain…?" I whispered.

Sighing, Matthew explained. "Al's never been one to do such a thing. He lets things roll off of his back and laughs it off. I don't know how, but I think it has something to do with how once he graduates he's moving far away from dad so I guess he's just putting up with this for another year."

An uncomfortable silence fell between us. I just couldn't get myself to pick one thing to say. There were hundreds of thoughts swirling in my head. I'd known Alfred since we were in middle school and while we had never become anything close to friends, I still saw him from afar. How could I not? He was the most popular boy in school; beloved by the girls, admired by the boys, and respected by the teachers. But by the time he had graduated to high school to join me, I had forgotten him. My life had taken such a spiraling change as all teenagers do when entering such a scary place.

It was hard for me to remember if Alfred had gone from his cheery self to a rebellious boy like he was now. But even in that sense, Alfred wasn't as bad as some hooligans around campus. He didn't spray paint walls, desecrate lockers, or get caught smoking illegal contraband. I had heard rumors that he raced around town, drifting with stolen cars, but I just couldn't picture it. The worst thing that I recalled him ever doing was breaking into the main office and stealing a printer and laptop, but those charges had been dropped when he returned them and did a few hours of community service.

The most Alfred ever did was just bother the piss out of me and a few teachers. Apparently, he seemed to bother his father as well. But that never warranted physical and emotional abuse.

"Does Alfred ever act out at home like he does here?" I found myself asking. I couldn't stop. Suddenly, the boy had become a lot more interesting, and while I'd rather learn these facts from the boy himself, I was also deeply concerned for his well being.

Matthew nodded. "It's worse. He gets rather violent at home, but only to dad. He's protective of mom."

"Your father fights with your mother?" My eyes widened.

"S-sometimes." Matthew was growing ever nervous. I felt bad that I was pushing him with such personal information shortly after we had met, but he had made the decision to tell me the truth and to keep answering my questions. He had the ability to stop at any moment. And now he chose to end it as he stood up abruptly. "I-I'm sorry, Arthur. I should go. Al will be fine. He'll be back tomorrow, I'm sure. My dad left for the week, so Al's safe for awhile. You can always ask him yourself when you see him."

"Alfred doesn't like me," I said sadly. While I had agonized over that kiss all weekend, I had come to the conclusion that Alfred was merely just overly affectionate, probably caught up in the moment. Who wouldn't be if you were forced to never participate in something you enjoyed and then found someone that had a shared passion with you? No, there was no way Alfred cared for me as I had for him.

Matthew had been in the process of gathering up his things, but my words stopped him. "Alfred cares very much for you. He has for awhile."

"Wh-what?" I whispered. But that accursed bell rang and Matthew was gone. I think the twins had a knack for leaving me speechless at the most inopportune moments.

Numbly, I headed to class, but I never took down notes. It didn't matter, it was just English class. I was never worried about how I fared in this subject. The real matter at hand was if Matthew had been lying to me or not. As far as I could remember, Alfred had always been a rather attractive object of my eye, but he was much too far out of my league. We were far too different, even by most standards. He was the boy with the good looks, the charm, and the drive to excel in physical subjects. I, on the other hand, was the one with forgettable looks, a nasty wit most sneered at, and a desire to be left alone. Let's not forget the obsession with rules compared to that of Alfred who obsessed with breaking them. How Alfred had even remembered me after we had graduated still had me slightly baffled.

There was a memorable moment when we were in a shared Physical Education class. The freshmen and sophomores were grouped together the first two years of class, having the option to drop P.E. from their regular list of classes afterwards. I knew I would drop it as soon as I could, seeing as how I'm not built for long strenuous activity. I think it was because my teacher knew I was running from his class once I became a junior that he partnered me up with Alfred. Here was a strapping young lad and a twig, why not put them together and laugh at their awkward misery? And awkward it was from the horrible arguments between us, to miscommunication that ended in my pain, to Alfred teasing my lack of skill.

It had been another day of football, or soccer as Alfred kindly reminded me every single day, and I was standing by the sidelines catching my breath. While I enjoyed the sport and bragged about English players back home in England, I found I wasn't particularly good at it. Still, Alfred had come up beside me, pat me on the back, and complimented me. I knew he had been putting up with me for quite some time, as I had with him, but he still found it in him to give me a smile and a few kind words.

I believe that was when I took him off the list of "only good looks" to "and is rather kind." These days it seemed he had jumped drastically to a list that he claimed all to his own. The "crush" list.


True to Matthew's word, Alfred was in school the next day. He had no visible marks or bruises, leaving me to believe that his father had hurt him in places that were more intimate. I quickly looked him over and noticed he was wearing a scarf. It was gradually getting colder as December came upon the town, but the scarf seemed so out of place as it was a putrid orange color. If his father had truly hurt him on the neck, I found that I could never forgive such a human being. Even if I wasn't attracted to Alfred, I didn't think anyone deserved to be hurt by their own father.

Slowly, I approached him. "Alfred?"

He turned, smiling brightly. "Arthur! Hey, sorry I wasn't here yesterday. I was a little under the weather. My bro says you came to see me?"

His eyes looked so clear and blue, but under them I could see lines from exhaustion. My heart clenched as I realized that he was so good at this fake mask of his that he had it up even when I was around. "Oh…yes… I just…wanted you to know I passed the math exam."

Instantly, his face lit up even more and he gave me a tight hug. "That's great dude! I knew you'd pass!"

"Yes… Thank you," I mumbled. This should have been a joyous moment, the two of us relishing in my success. Over the weekend I had envisioned a scene where Alfred and I would agree to hang out outside of school, getting to know each other more. My heart interjected that he would give me some sappy confession, kiss me senseless, and we'd begin to date. Of course that would never happen, so I had to remain content with staying friends.

"Hey, so you wanna hang out today?" Alfred asked after he had released me. I gasped in surprise. Maybe my vision was still a possibility. "We could practice together."

While it wasn't a date, it was still something. It was more than something. It was time with Alfred. I felt myself smiling slightly, pushing aside the gnawing pain I felt in relation to Alfred's own, and agreed. With another hug, Alfred left on his merry way to class.

After the final bell had rung, I made my way quickly to the music room. On the way there I decided I would not ask Alfred about his troubles. If Matthew was right and his brother really did care for me, then he would tell me on his own. I had to trust the boy. How could I like him if I didn't? Feeling confident that something good would come from our time together I entered the music room. There stood Alfred by the window.

He turned, but didn't smile. Briefly, I worried if there was something wrong. "Are you okay?"

"Arthur? Can I ask you something?"

My heart stuttered in my chest. Was he going to ask me about yesterday's meeting with Matthew? Or worse, was it about my feelings? "Y-yes, of course."

"…Why do you try so hard to be perfect?"

That caught me off guard. While it wasn't completely far off base, I didn't think I was aiming for perfection. I was just trying to be good at something, anything. I walked up near Alfred, hugging my arms as I looked at the piano.

"I have three older brothers," I started. Alfred looked confused. "They're all accomplished men, married, and making the Kirkland name proud. Scott is in finance, Will is a famed author, and Shane owns a company that builds ships. So it's not a matter of trying to be perfect, it's rather a way to try and be good enough. When we were younger, we fought quite often. Shane is only 5 years older than me, but is already so successful."

"But you're good at playing the piano," Alfred offered.

I shook my head, a sad smile on my face. "My parents might support me, but it wouldn't go far. Will was lucky with his first novel in that it was a rather cunning fantasy novel that was turned into a children's movie."

A hand fell on my shoulder causing me to look up and into those ever crystal blue eyes. The weariness from earlier had vanished from underneath his eyes. "That's why we'll play. Maybe you can find the confidence in yourself. If you released a CD, I'd buy it."

My face warmed again as he complimented me once more. Things I had never gotten from anyone. My family would toss a few my way, but it always seemed to be forced. Something you do because you're related. I toyed with the end of my uniform's sleeve, unsure of what to say. But I didn't want to be caught always off guard, unable to say anything and never let Alfred know what his words meant to me. Besides, he had such a rough weekend that I figured some nice words from me were in order.

"Thank you," I mumbled. "I'm not used to so much praise. I dare say I was wrong about you. You're awfully nice to me when I don't think I've done anything to deserve it."

Alfred's mouth fell open a bit in surprise. "Not done anything? You didn't have to try and help me in English, you know?"

"Yes, well, I couldn't just let someone destroy my country's language," I replied.

Alfred laughed. "In any case, you've always been a lot nicer to me than I have to you. You don't know it, but you cheered me up a lot back in P.E. and sometimes even in the hallway when you bark orders at me."

"How do my threats of a write-up cheer you up?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"They just do." Alfred shrugged. "I guess I'm a bit of a masochist. You've just always been that way. It's cute."

Again with that word. It made me fluster on the spot knowing Alfred was watching my reactions. I only hoped he wasn't laughing at me and thinking something bad about me.

"You didn't think that way of me when we first met," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "Do you remember that?"

Alfred thought for a moment before laughing and pointing at me. "Oh yeah! I told you to go back to Russia!"

"You also asked if I was a girl," I grumbled.

"Well your hair was kinda long back then."

"Belt up!" I punched him on the shoulder, earning a hearty laugh; that loud one that reverberated off of the music room walls. I found myself enjoying it more and more with every time I heard it. I wondered if that was his true laugh or not. If Alfred was truly going through such a hard time at home, I wanted to make his time at school, preferably with me, just a little easier for him.

"To answer your question, I do remember when we first met," Alfred said. He looked down at his shoes with a reddening face. "I thought you were…adorable."

"A-adorable!" Again with the voice cracking. "That's too bold of a joke, Alfred."

"It's not a joke," Alfred said seriously. He looked at me and I could tell he meant it. "You were so different from the other kids. So true to yourself. I really admired how much you stuck to the rules, but didn't put up with anyone's shit. I wanted to be like you."

This situation had suddenly gone from playful to serious. My heart was beating far too fast, but not in happiness; in fear. What if I was merely taking his words too far and Alfred didn't mean anything by it? Just harmless compliments that I turned vicious in my head. I tried to find some way to make the situation lighten, so I laughed. Alfred looked at me in surprise, but I kept laughing. "Alfred, you are a comedian as well? I didn't know you had it in you."

"I'm not…making any jokes, Arthur." Alfred started to look hurt the more I rejected him.

"You make it sound as if you fancy me," I laughed. This was it. I put my heart on the line. Don't hurt me, please.

Alfred scratched the back of his head nervously. He was looking at the piano, but turned his attention to my desperate eyes. "If 'fancy' means 'I like you' in British, then…yeah. I do. I have for awhile, actually."

My breath caught and I stopped laughing. "That's impossible. How?"

"Damnit Arthur, I don't know. Don't question my feelings." Alfred turned, staring out the window again. "Look, I've liked you for a few years, but I knew you didn't like me even as a friend. Since you loved the rules so much I thought I would break them so you'd notice me. But that wasn't working. It only made you hate me more. So… when Kiku told me his half-brother was coming for a visit, I asked him to suggest you come see me for your math problems."

He stopped suddenly. I made no movement, no sound in fear that this moment would shatter. He was being so honest with me. He always was honest. How is it he did it so easily, so painfully well that I was always left standing like a fool with my mouth open? Why couldn't I tell him that because he was the first person to notice and appreciate my talents my spirits had been lifted? Or that I deeply enjoyed knowing he saw me as a person beyond that of a nitpicking Englishman? Or make the first move and kiss his cheek?

Alfred turned back around slowly. I think he was scared too. He had just put his heart on the line like I had. I wasn't about to crush it, not when he was being so brave. All for me.

"Alfred…," I whispered. The moment was still here as long as I was quiet. "I've… I… Since you… You're…"

He furrowed his brow in confusion, but waited. I bit my lower lip, closing my eyes. "Damnit. Alfred, you're so insufferable, how could I not like you?"

"Was that a yes or a no because I'm a little confused there."

I sighed, keeping my eyes closed. "Yes, Alfred. It's been a yes for quite awhile too…"

The moment had broken then, but not into the dangerous shards of glass we both had feared. No, this was like a warm and enveloping burst of pure relief and happiness that engulfed me. Or rather, Alfred had in another tight embrace. This time I could feel my arms wrapping around him. He was a lot larger than me in frame and slightly taller than me, but it felt like the perfect mold to me. I hope he thought the same for me.

He kissed the top of my head, my forehead, cheeks, and was moving for my lips again. But I stole that moment in a rare burst of confidence. Perhaps the boy was affecting me what with all of his own certainty pouring out of him. Alfred made a slight noise before he kissed me back. His hands slid up my backside to cup the nape of my neck, entangling his fingers in the base of my hairline. My own fingers gripped at his broad shoulders, enjoying the feel of everything. My heart raced as his pounded against my chest. What a wonderful feeling to know I made someone's heart pound as hard as my own did for them.

I could feel him open his mouth, licking along my upper lip as a request to take this new relationship to the second level. I complied wanting it as much as he did. Alfred's kiss was like his personality; a whirlwind you're not ready for, can't really fight back (and didn't really want to), and leaving you wanting more. Or maybe that was just me.

Slowly, I could feel my feet moving backwards towards the piano behind me. I didn't stop, allowing Alfred to push me so I leaned against the piano's keys. He continued to kiss me, creating so many new emotions I never knew existed. A few notes tinkled out into the air. That was a wake-up call to me that this kiss might be a little too heated for my first one.

I politely stopped the kiss with a gentle push on Alfred's chest. He pulled away with a smack of his lips and a content sigh. I opened my eyes to look up at him feeling more at peace with the world around me than I believe I've ever been. All this from one kiss? I could feel my masculinity melting away into a sap of a teenage girl.

"So…," Alfred started. He stared at me behind a warm smile and half-lidded eyes. "Does this mean we're still on for the band?"

"The…band?" I asked, slow to regain the other senses aside from touch.

"Yeah, our jazz band. Matt says he's totally in. I still want to do this with you."

"Oh…yes. The band… That sounds quite lovely." No, what was lovely was the way Alfred looked with this glow to his face. Had I really caused that to form on him? I caressed his face, brushing his bangs from his forehead. "What shall we name it?"

"I vote for Grammar Nazi." Alfred grinned.

Needless to say, I didn't accept such a horrendous name, but I laughed all the same. Alfred returned the laugh and I could tell that this relationship, where ever it would go, would be an interesting one. At least it'll be full of good music.


Hoshiko2's cents: So this chapter did not head in the original direction I had wanted it to go. To be honest it was because I wrote it to be the last chapter, but then decided I would expand this series, so I added in a back story to Alfred. While Al's home life is not the best, I don't plan on making it a critical part of the series just because Al doesn't talk about it and Arthur doesn't ask. Yes, it'll pop in every now and then to add some drama, but this series will revolve around their relationship, the band, and how these two grow into adults.

Had to put in a Yugioh the Abridged line (huge props if you know it).

NOW COMES SOMETHING IMPORTANT! You guys asked for it and you guys got it. I WILL be totally expanding this series, but I need a band name. I am TERRIBLE with names. Hell, it took like 10 minutes to think up a title for this series. Also, if you guys have great recommendations for jazz songs that you'd like to see the boys perform, please send links this way. Surprisingly, I don't know jazz that well, though I love smooth jazz the most.

Also, for your folks. I have put this series as a T rating, but the next chapter will be raised to a higher level. However, since that isn't allowed on this site, I recommend you check out my LJ to see the scenes that I'll sadly have to take out on here. I'll include the link at the end of that chapter so feel free to pop in.
Way too much talking this chapter from me. Please leave a review. They make my heart super happy.