"Why was he glaring at me like that?" Francis asked.
"Glaring at you like what?" Arthur asked not making eye contact by putting up the groceries.
"Gilbert, he glared at me it felt creepy." Francis said watching him.
"Oh he's just over protective." Arthur excused.
"Maybe but I think he's putting bad things in your head." Francis said looking back at the closed door. "And that other guy I don't like him either." Francis said turning back to Arthur who wasn't looking at Francis.
"Alfred's harmless." Arthur excused him as well.
"If I think you're being threatened then I have a right to speak don't I?" Francis said grabbing Arthur hands roughly.
"Y-yes." Arthur answered. "You think they put me in danger?" Arthur asked starting to conform to his thoughts. "Ive been friends with Gilbert for years he's the only friend that doesn't threaten you." Arthur said still not looking at his face.
"People can change quickly and slowly and Gilbert is a slow changer." Francis said.
"I-if you think he's not good for me I'll c-cut him off." Arthur said only trying to please Francis to prevent him from setting off.
"Thank you," Francis said kissing Arthur's hand. "I only do this because I love you." Francis said with no tenderness.
"I-I know." Arthur said a tear falling. Francis slowly walked around the island and pulled Arthur into a tight embrace.
"I know it's hard to lose friends but it's for your own good." Francis said hugging him. Arthur clutched Francis' shirt and he actually let him cry on his shoulder for once. He let as much out as he could manage. "I think your ready to call him." Francis said gripping Arthur's shoulders tightly. Arthur nodded sadly.
Arthur dialed gilberts number and it rang twice before he answered.
"Hey iggy! How goes it?"
"D-don't call me that please!"
"What's wrong? You sound like you've been crying. Has he hit you?"
"N-no its nothing like that."
"Then what is it?"
How is he going to do this? "W-we can't spend time together anymore."
"W-what?"
"I-im sorry I really am."
"What are you talking about? Im the only friend you have left!"
"Y-you thinks I don't know that? I don't want you to feel burdened by me."
"I could never be burdened by you! You idiot! Why are you doing this?" Arthur flinched at idiot. Francis put a hand on his shoulder. "Did he put you up to it?"
"N-no Gilbert im doing this out of my own free will."
"Then why? I don't see any reason for our friendship to end over nothing!"
"L-look j-just don't c-call me a-anymore."
"Iggy!"
Arthur pressed the end button and held the phone to his chest.
"You did the right thing." Francis said wrapping his arms around Arthur.
"Then why does my heart feel like its been ripped out?" Arthur asked.
"Because he's been a friend for a long time." Francis said.
"Then why did I do that?" Arthur asked clutching the phone.
"Because he was starting to poison your mind." Francis said.
"I-im going for a walk." Arthur said putting the phone down and grabbing his jacket.
"Don't take to long." Francis said more as an order than as a suggestion.
Arthur walked to the park subconsciously. When he looked up he could remember the first time he met Francis. He had to keep reminding himself that he loved him, as Francis would say to him over and over. Arthur walked over to the swing and sat in it. Why did he feel like he couldn't get anything else from Francis but bruises? Yea Francis hit him but he disserved it didn't he? Every time he got a bruise it was just his own fault he kept getting in his way. He knew Francis had a temper and he knew to stay out of his way when that temper rose up. The French are the people of love then what does him beating him mean? Arthur tilted his head back and looked up at the winter night sky.
"Uh hey." He heard a voice behind him say. Arthur turned to see Alfred and Arthur had the feeling in his stomach again. Arthur decided not to say anything more to this man or else things where going to get very hard for him. "Why did you do that with Gilbert?" Alfred asked sitting in the swing next to Arthur. "He's in his house right now crying his eyes out." Alfred tried to get a good look at Arthur's face. Arthur's head hung down farther. "Y-you know I was abused once." Alfred said starting to use the swing as it was intended for.
"What?" Arthur said starting to catch interest.
"Yea I had a boyfriend and it took about a year before I decided to stand up for myself." Alfred admitted so easily.
"H-how did you do it?" Arthur asked a feeling rising im his chest.
"I punched the bastard." Alfred said plainly.
"Wow." Arthur said actually feeling impressed.
"Yea the bastard was so stunned he let me leave." Alfred said.
"Francis have been together for a few years if you count how long we've been friends." Arthur said starting to push slowly.
"How did you both start going out?" Alfred asked.
"W-well one day he just admitted to me he liked me and he convinced me to start being his boyfriend." Arthur said. Alfred jumped of the swing after getting as high as he could get it.
"So your telling me this dude told you to like him?" Alfred said walking to Arthur grabbing his chain.
"W-well I felt the same even if it was a little less than him." Arthur excused. Alfred got behind him and started pushing him. "W-what are you doing?" Arthur asked. Alfred ignored the question and went on in the conversation.
"But you didn't actually have mutual feelings for this guy?" Alfred asked.
"Not exactly. C-can you please stop im afraid of heights!" Arthur looked down at how far from the ground he was.
"Oh don't be a baby." Alfred said. "But you never felt the same?"
"I love him now. P-please stop!" Arthur started begging.
"Does he feel the same?" Alfred asked continuing pushing him.
"He says it to me all the time! Ow!" Arthur cried out jumping of the swing landing on his butt and holding his side.
"Uh oh! Im so sorry!" Alfred said loudly rushing to Arthur's side.
"Ah I-its ok its just a bruise." Arthur admitted. Alfred unbuttoned the jacket and lifted the shirt to see a large bruise and a lot of smaller ones littering his body.
"Oh my god!" Alfred said holding his mouth. Arthur hurriedly pulled the shirt down and buttoned up his jacket.
"Its nothing important." Arthur excused.
"Nothing important! He's really hurting you! And you think its nothing important!" Alfred said surprised by his words.
"I disserve it when he hits me." Arthur said.
"I thought that to! But it's not true! No one disserves it!" Alfred said trying to stop him.
"I-I do I know he has a temper he warned me about it but every time I set him off I don't get out of his way like he told me to." Arthur said excusing him again.
"But you 'keep' doing it? Isn't that weird? You're the one who gets hurt when he gets started! And that's what Gilbert was worried about! He is seriously thinking about murdering him!" Alfred said trying to show him just how much others cared about him. Arthur got up and started off for his house but Alfred stood in his way.
"G-get out of my way." Arthur stammered.
"Im betting you didn't used to studder before you got with Francis." Alfred said holding his arms gently.
"I need to get home." Arthur said checking the time.
"He give you a curfew?" Alfred suspected. Francis did actually did give him a curfew and Arthur remembers the last time he broke that curfew.
"N-no." Arthur lied.
"He gave you a curfew and I know it does Gilbert know? Does he get pissed when you break it?" Alfred asked trying to make Arthur look at him.
"Don't your parents when the same thing happens?" Arthur said trying to make a connection.
"Your parents wouldn't beat you if they did than that would be considered child abuse." Alfred countered.
"I-I really have to get going." Arthur said trying to walk around him.
"Think about it! Why would he beat you! Sure he's under stress from the test but weren't you? Did you beat anyone?" Alfred asked trying to make Arthur think about Francis' actions.
What point was there to these beatings? Arthur started to think. No! He loves me and he just has a lot piled on his plate right now. Arthur shook away all doubts.
"I have to get home." Arthur said pushing past Alfred.
"Ok but if you call me saying we shouldn't see each other im going to suspect something." Alfred said. Arthur believed every word he said in that last sentence.
Arthur walked faster.
Arthur walked in the door. "I know im late and im very, very sorry." Arthur apologized before Francis started lecturing him. Francis looked up at Arthur from cutting the sausage.
"Why are you late?" Francis asked wielding the knife.
"I uh I ran into Gilbert he tried to convince me to leave you." Arthur lied.
"I told you he wasn't good for you." Francis said putting the knife down and walking over to Arthur.
"Y-yea your right." Arthur said still nervous he would find out he wasn't talking to Gilbert.
"Maybe I should call him, stop all this madness." Francis suggested.
"No! Uh he's not home right now." Arthur said hoping he wouldn't call.
"There's no reason for me not to call him unless you lied or something." Francis said grabbing the phone.
Arthur started feeling scared. He couldn't move.
"I'll just have a talk with him." Francis said. Arthur was debating in side himself. If he calls him when he finds out he'll be angry. But he'll be angry if you tell him.
"F-Francis?" Arthur said interrupting Francis' call. Francis looked up. Arthur really felt sick and just, as he was about to say something his legs buckled under him.
"Arthur?" Francis said and for the first time Arthur thought he heard worry in his voice. Then he fell into unconsciousness.
Ohh and the plot thickens! Not really I wish! But poor artie! He has so much crap to put up with. Ugheth! Im sorry ive been doing a lot of this shakespeir crap. But any who if any of you haven't looked on my profile you should because its important. It has an encrypted message and whoever finds it out first gets a cookie from me!
Any one enjoy this chapter? Im going to say this one more time…. R&R!
Until next time!