Hey guys...
Sorry it's been so long, I'm not dead or anything I've had writers block and it was terrible. But I suddenly got my inspiration back!
Let me be honest. When I write my chapters, I get really excited and sometimes I don't check over them properly. After I write this one, I'm going back to fix some of the mistakes of my earlier chapters so everything will be ok. Just thought I'd put that out there...
I really wanted to get this out here to i'll just beta it later...you won't be mad will you?
I do now own Hetalia nor anything related to it...
After the club ended I said bye to Kiku and went to look for Mattie, he said he'd be in the library right?
I started walking down the hallway but I stopped when I heard yelling...
"Like, you leave him alone alright? I won't tell you again!"
"Oh? And what will you do about it my friend?"
"Get your disgusting hands off me you freak!"
I turned the corner and I saw Feliks, that really hot Polish-Wait. What? Don't get me wrong, Arthur's the only person I have eye's for but I'd be lying if I said that Feliks wasn't attractive.
He was standing in the hallway wearing a pink kilt above his jeans , which isn't anything new for him at all; no matter how many times Arthur tells him to stop he always finds a way to wear what he wants ( and technically he's wearing pants so he wasn't breaking any rules...)
I admired Feliks for being so brave, and for the fact that he looks really cute in his girly clothes.
Feliks was standing tall, as much as he could, against Ivan.
I cringed.
Ivan was pretty much a giant, he was Russian and extremely creepy and just plain weird. He stood there smiling while Feliks tried his best to look intimidating. Yeah, he was doing his best...
"That isn't very nice to say..." Ivan began.
"Like, I don't care! Just leave Toris alone you got that you creeper!" He huffed. Feliks jumped slightly as Ivan took a step closer to him and continued to smile.
"But Toris and I are friends, and I like to look at his tear filled face, it's rather adorable."
"That's disgusting and freaky! H-Hey don't touch me!" Feliks whined as Ivan placed his hand on his hair bow.
"But I don't like you, you're annoying ..."
"Hey!" I decided to step in and both turned to look at me. "Leave him alone you commie bastard!" I demanded. Russians are still communist right? History may not be my best subject but I'm sure they are! And whatever it is I know it's terrible because we fought them during the World War one about it!*
Feliks was right when he called him a creeper, he just stood there and smiled at me. At least he let go of Feliks who stood back a little before Ivan turned toward me. "I don't want any trouble Ivan, so just leave Feliks alone-"
"And Toris too!" He added from the sidelines.
"Him too, alright?" Ivan may have had everyone else scared of him but I wasn't. I was the hero and he was the villain! I'd be damned if I was going to let him push me around!
So I stood there, staring him down for at least a good two minutes before he decided to crack another one of his smiles.
Ivan said something to me in Russian before turning around and waving at Feliks who responded by sticking his tongue out at him as he went by.
I finally let out my breath and turned around.
I jumped slightly when I saw Feliks giving me this really big Kool-Aid smile...
"Like, thanks for that!" He began. "Ivan's a totally creep! Who knows what he would have done to little ol' me? But I couldn't let him just pick on Toris, I had to help him because he's like, totally defenseless y'know?"
"It's alright it's was nothing really." I told him. "Where is Toris anyway? " Those two are always together...
"Like, he went home today because he said he wasn't feeling well, but I so know why he really did it. He's scared of Ivan and I'm all like, 'don't let him bully you Toris! You have to stand up for yourself!' but he's all 'He's so much bigger than me Feliks, and I think he might be crazy!' "
As he spoke I noticed him changing his voice to mimic Toris, it wasn't very good but I got the point well enough and I didn't have the heart to ask him to stop.
"And I'm all 'I don't care! I won't let you be bullied!' So I went right up and told that creeper to leave Toris alone or like, he would suffer my wrath!" He nodded proudly. "But then he was all, 'kolkolkolkol' whatever that means but he was like, touching me and that didn't fly but then you came and totally rescued me! You're like, my hero!" He batted his eye lashes.
I felt myself blush. He called me a hero!
"It's nothing to worry about, just doing my job!"
"But still, I mean I always thought you were a total jerk but Toris says your really nice but I didn't believe him..." Feliks looked down at the ground, suddenly getting really shy before asking "how do you like, know Toris anyway?"
"He lives a few doors down, our moms are friend and she used to baby sit me..."
"Oh that's so totally sweet! " He began to bounce on his toes and he smiled before looking down at his boots. "a-anyway I totally have to get going so I'll like, see you next week or something!" He twisted his hair around his finger before smiling up at me. Feliks gave me a small wave before turning and almost running down the hallway.
I grinned. I should help people more often!
I started off toward the library and went inside to look for Mattie.
I didn't see him at first but I could hear people talking toward the back and I figured that maybe he was over there. I started walking back and the voices were getting louder and louder, I could recognize a few of them but I couldn't really put my finger on it until the group of people came into sight:
It was Antonio and Gilbert, along with a few other people.
I didn't mean to draw attention to myself but Antonio looked at me and gave me a really funny look, like he didn't know what I was doing over here or something, he didn't look mad or anything just confused.
I turned away from him and looked at Mattie who was sitting next to Gilbert who was laughing and talking really loudly to that girl Eliza...something (I really have to remember her full name!) who looked ready to hit him with...was that a frying pan?
Regardless everyone seemed to be having fun and for some reason I felt a little...mad? Maybe?
I never really hung out with a my friends like this, it wasn't really fun to be with them and all they did was make fun of other people.
They seemed to be having honest fun and I was really curious to know what they were doing but finally Mattie seemed to noticed me and he smiled.
"Hey Al, are you ready to go?"
"Yeah..." Everyone seemed to finally acknowledge me, a few of which didn't really seem too pleased with my sudden appearance but most of them just went back to whatever they were doing beforehand. Mattie began to gather his things and Gilbert said something to him that I couldn't hear, apparently it was something nice because Mattie just smiled.
"Um...bye guys..."
"See you later birdie!" Gilbert smirked at Mattie and gave me a look that I couldn't really label. No one seemed to really notice Mattie leaving as he walked toward me looking really cheerful and...blushing?
"How was your club?" He asked me.
"It was alright, Kiku and I made this really cool mouse trap car and I'm thinking of painting lightening on it!" My brother sighed and shook his head.
"You're such a dork..."
"Whatever...hey, I didn't know you were friends with Gilbert, isn't he two years older than you? How do you even know him?" I felt really confused. Gilbert was in my grade but Mattie was only a sophomore...by the time Mattie three or four he moved away with our dad so I know he didn't really know him as a kid either.
"He's in my art class..."
"Oh..."
Mattie and I continued walking, he seemed like he had something on his mind but I didn't ask about it. If he wanted to tell me then he would.
We were about to leave the school but I heard my name being called from down the hall, I rolled my eyes and Mattie sighed as we stopped.
"Hey..." It was one of my so called friends.
"Sup Alfred, uh...Alfred's kid brother..."
"Matthew" I corrected. "How many times do I have to tell you guys?" I really didn't feel like talking to him, I had better things to do! Things like getting home, hanging with my brother, eating dinner (maybe) and finding out about operation Joker! (or was it JoKir? whatever! Same thing!)
He laughed.
"Sorry Al but dude, me and the guys saw that fag Polack skipping around in his dress again, I don't know how many times we have to teach him that skirts are for girls. He just never listens..."
I could feel my stomach lurch and vomit threatened to come up. Why exactly was he telling me this? What did they do to Feliks?
"Dude you should have been there he looked like he wanted to cry, what a pussy. But that wasn't even it! He was upset that we ripped his skirt! Like seriously? He was just asking for that punch in the face..."
How could someone be proud of hurting another person? It's one thing to tease people but physical violence was something different entirely right? Ok maybe they weren't so different but that was still a line that I just didn't want to cross.
After a while of not knowing what to say I think he noticed that I wasn't laughing with him.
"What's up Alfred? "
"Dude that's not even funny..."
"Whatever, he was just asking for it, I shouldn't have to see him running around in a dress blowing kisses and shit at people, I'm not gay and I don't like him trying to make me into one of them either..."
"Whatever dude, you're just being paranoid" I rolled my eyes, I knew he was confused and somewhat degusted at what I said to him but it was the truth! At least the truth as I saw it anyway.
Who cares if Feliks is going around blowing kisses at people? If you were really comfortable with your sexuality you wouldn't feel threatened and feel the need to retaliate!
" What?"
"Nothing...come on Mattie let's just go-" Before I could finish my sentence I was rudely interrupted by his laughter.
"Dude, you call him Mattie? That's so gay!"
"What? It's a nick name. He's my little brother..."
"He's a grown ass man Alfred, you can't go around calling him Mattie and expect not to be called out on it!"
"Whatever, it's not even that serious...it's just a name."
It's funny how quickly a situation can escalate...
"Yeah a gay one..."
"Whatever..."
"Al...can we just go? Please?"
I knew that on the inside I was just looking for a reason, one good reason to finally do it, to break off this 'friendship' and move on with my life...
"Psh, ok. Let's just go Mattie..." I began turning around, I knew he would say something and I was waiting for it, praying that it would be good, and it was-well, it was a good enough reason for me.
"Have fun fucking each other..."
And that was it.
I turned around and before anything else I punched him square in the jaw.
Was my reaction a bit much? Maybe. But it felt good.
"Alfred!" Mattie gasped. I didn't have much to say, I knew I didn't punch him over his comment, I punched him for all those times I should have in the past. I wanted to hit him again but Mattie grabbed my arm and started to pull me away.
"What the fuck!" He yelled. "The hell is your problem?" I watched him as he checked for blood but I didn't say a damn thing. I knew he wouldn't come after me, he's too much of a coward to try to come after me alone but I didn't care.
I had my reason, my excuse, my way out...
Or at least that's how I planned it in my head...
...
Antonio (5:21PM): Hola Arthur! You didnt hang out with us today :( everyones really worried that maybe something happened? You were really dethatched earlier amigo so is everything alright?
Me (5:36PM): Everything is fine. I'm sorry to have worried you but I had a lot of work to do, I apologize.
Antonio(5:40PM): Thats alright amigo! :)
I sighed as I set my phone on the bed and laid back. Was Antonio expecting me to reply to that? What was I supposed to say? I'll think about it.
I felt so tired from today, school may have been nice but I found Peter sitting on the doorstep when I got home.
Thank heavens it stopped snowing earlier.
He didn't have his key, apparently he gave it to Alistair last night so he could come back home after partying.
When I finally let him in I found our brother sprawled out on the floor by the end of the stairs, Peter was worried but I assured him he'd be fine and managed to get him back into the guest room.
He apologized to Peter , saying that he heard the doorbell ringing and tried to get up but his hangover was so massive that he couldn't really think and ended up falling down the stairs.
Right now he's sleeping, I made him tea and tried to cook something for Peter but he opted to eat a can of ravioli instead, not that I minded or anything.
I made myself a can as well but unfortunately I ended up sitting in the washroom for a half an hour afterwards.
Why does my life suck?
I closed my eyes, perhaps I could get a little nap in? I didn't have much homework, only seven problems in that cursed chemistry book. I know I have to get it over with eventually and I might as well try to figure it out now so hopefully I won't be stuck asking for help. Who did I know who was even remotely good at chemistry anyway?
It was such an accursed subject...
I sighed and rolled over, snuggling into my pillow wanting nothing more than for my pills to take effect and settle my stomach.
But unfortunately my phone's constant ringing did not allow me much relief, especially as I noticed the caller. Should I pick up? If I ignore it than it will go away right?
Wrong.
He called again...
Then he sent me a text message:
Frog(6:12PM): I know your there! Pick up!
He called once more and I growled.
"Bloody hell Francis, it's you're as is Y-O-U apostrophe R-E! That means you are!"
"Must you be so meticulous Arthur?" Francis sounded tired. Very tried.
"What do you want from me Frog?"
"Ah, I just wanted to know why you didn't hang out with our friends today?" Seriously? Why was that any of his business? Why does he toss around words like 'friend' so freely? Friendships do not come that easily. In fact in my entire life I believe I only called one person a friend and meant it, Al-...
Alfred. Fucking. Jones.
Let me not think about that person at the moment, lest I be in for another stomach ache.
I didn't have friends, none who were truly there for me...
"Why?" I asked.
"Because, mon ami, Antonio sounded very concerned for you, saying you were dethatched all day. Don't tell me that you're really this hopeless Arthur? Must I drag you around all day for you to make friends hmm?"
"Be quiet! What I do is none of your concern, I do what I want. Furthermore I am perfectly capable of making friends thank you! In fact, I'm spending time with one tomorrow..."
Francis gasped dramatically.
"Is that so? Who is it? He is cute? You must tell me all the details!" What? What? What?
Did Francis mishear me? He sounded as if I told him I was going on a d-date?
A date? With...Kiku? Oh God were my cheeks turning hot? O-of course not! Kiku was my...'pal'
He was nice a-and perhaps friend worthy yes but...
"Arthur? Arthur are you listening to me?"
"What!"
"Who are you 'spending time' with?"
"Like I'd tell you..." He was silent for a moment before continuing.
"Tell me Arthur! Please?"
"Ugh...Kiku Honda, I don't expect you to know him, he came here during freshman year and he's in my class..."
"ah..." He fell silent once more. Can you say awkward?
"Is he cute?" For some odd reason his question did not have the usual chime to it as usual- why did I even think that?
"B-Bloody hell Francis? Why does it matter?"
"Curious..." A mental image flashed in my mind. I couldn't say that Kiku was unattractive, he was a nice looking person with a model personality. I could see our relationship deepening into friendship and maybe...something more?
"Gaaah!" Thanks to Francis my cheeks were now red I knew they were! I didn't like Kiku not at all!
"Arthur?" He questioned.
"W-what?"
"Nothing...what are you doing now?"
"Nothing at all, I'm readying myself to do homework."
"Homework? But it's Friday night!"
"Which makes it the perfect time to do homework..."
"Nonsense! Friday night is for enjoyment! In fact, when I went back to France I met this beautiful American girl, she was in college, art school that is, studying abroad. I would see her every Friday evening to...rendezvous in Paris." I twitched. Was there was a reason why he was telling me this? I didn't want to hear about his sexual (?) exploits with an older woman!
"-and let me tell you, her face was a sight to marvel at: big brown eyes, long dark hair, a lovely smile, and her voice was so light and cute~ plus she had the biggest set of knockers I've ever seen! That was a only a bonus of course because she was very swe-"
"Francis I don't want to hear this!"
"Ah...jealous?"
"Of course not!" Why would anyone want to listen to this story? "Why weren't you in school today?" I needed to change the subject.
"...I wasn't feeling too well this morning, I couldn't tread through that snow!" I rolled my eyes at his laziness.
"Yes I bet you couldn't..." My phone beeped, alerting me of something and I glanced at my screen. A new email?
I ignored whatever it was Francis was saying in favor of clicking on the alert and opening my mailbox to the message.
It was from Kiku.
Sender: .edu
Subject: Museum Trip
Good evening,
I hope that everything is well and our trip to the museum is still scheduled as planned.
I felt that it was best to begin early, perhaps about eleven or so rather than later in the afternoon. However, my schedule is relatively free for the day and I am able to go later if need be.
Although it is free day, my research informs me that only the main exhibits are free and there is a fairly interesting exhibit on Ancient Greece that I would be very fun to explore. If you would like to see it as well, I will pay for both of us. With our student discount the cost should not amount to more than fourteen dollars collectively.
Would you like to go? (Also I noticed that you enjoyed those riceball's I made today for lunch, I could make more and we could bring our lunch instead of buying it.)
Please, feel free to call or text me,
(XXX)XXX-XXXX
Best Regards,
Honda Kiku
I copied down the number, absentmindedly listening to Francis go on and on about something or another and decided to text him after my conversation.
I didn't want Kiku to pay the extra fare for me, I was certain I had seven dollars and although he was the one who suggested we pay more to see everything I didn't want to be a burden to him.
"Arthur are you listening to me?"
"Honestly I am not..." He huffed and I smirked to myself. I had more important things to do than listen to him talk nonsense.
Despite this, I stayed on the phone with him for another half hour before he claimed his phone was dying (what a drama queen!) he told me to 'let 'im in on ze details of my date with ze mysterious Kiku' (heh. my French accent is spot on!) and I rolled my eyes, wishing he could see me do so but I had to settle with informing him that it was not a date. Finally he hung up.
Oh. I nearly forgot to text Kiku. I sent him a short message, informing him it was me and telling him that I was fine for paying and such. His reply was almost immediate and he asked if I was alright with the time and asked where we should meet , we went on from there.
In about twenty minutes everything was settled. Apparently it was Kiku's turn to make dinner for his house hold because he'd been avoiding his turn all week but finally Yao, his eldest housemate, forced him too. He had to go and to be honest I was somewhat disappointed but I understood that he had responsibilities.
I yawned and placed my phone on my nightstand, connecting it to the charger. It was only about eight, too early to go to bed and my episode earlier ruined my appetite. After a few moments of thinking, I pulled myself out of bed and dug into my school bag for my chemistry book.
Why not start on my homework?
...
Come on...come on pick up!
" Laurinaitis residence this is Toris speaking, how may I help you?"
"..."
"Hello?"
"Um...Hey Toris, this is Alfred..."
"Alfred? Hello. We haven't spoken in a while, is everything alright?"
"Yeah dude. I was just wondering if you heard from Feliks at all sense school ended, I know you're friends and all..."
"Oh. Yes I have, he's actually here with me. Um, Feliks told me what you did for him, thank you Alfred."
"Heh, it's nothing really...um...i-is he alright now? I heard something happened to him and I don't know his number or anything..."
Toris was silent for a moment but started talking a bit lower
"He's perfectly fine, he was mostly upset about his kilt but I managed to mend it thanks for asking."
"Toris? Like, who are you talking too?"
I could hear Feliks in the background.
"It's Alfred!"
"Really? Like, lemme talk to him!"
There was a struggle and finally Felik's voice was practically screaming in my ear.
"Like hey Alfred!" He was panting pretty hard, like getting the phone from Toris took a lot out of him but he sounded alright and I was happy that nothing bad happened to him.
"Hey, um I heard what happened are you alright dude?"
"huh? Oh yeah I'm totally fine! Did you call just to check up on me?" He sounded really excited.
"erm...well yeah. I kinda felt like I should apologies to you..."
"That's alright you can't help what those jerks do, but aren't those like, your friends?"
"...No, not after today, I felt like they took things way too far and I'm really sorry things got this way..."
"I told you don't worry about it, I'm perfectly fine and like, my face is still fab as always. Oh! I'm painting my room this totally wicked shade of hipster pink tomorrow! Toris is like, totally going to help me do you want to come too? It'll be like, so much faster and funner! And if you really feel that bad than you can like make it up to me by coming!"
"Feliks!" I heard another struggle and this time Toris came to the phone.
"Hello Alfred," He sighed. "Don't worry about his room, Feliks won't be painting anything pink..."
"Hey! You can't like, make that choice for me!"
"Feliks you can't do that sort of thing in an apartment..."
"Ya. Whatever!"
I couldn't help but laugh at their bickering, it was obvious they were best friends.
I remember when Arthur and I fought over pointless little things like that, now I really don't fight with anyone except Mattie but we're brothers so that's pretty much a given.
I haven't had a best friend in years...
"Alfred?" Toris called.
"Huh? Yeah?"
"Um...Feliks wants to speak to you again..."
"Oh, alright." Toris must have handed the phone to Feliks because he came chirping on the phone again, this time without a struggle.
"Anyway Alfred, I like, really appreciate your checking up on me and saving me earlier today..." Suddenly he reverted back into 'shy mode' I noticed a while back that he did that sometimes. He would be loud and boastful but then turn shy again afterwards.
"Oh, you don't have to thank m-"
"No seriously, you're my hero! "
"Gee, thanks Feliks!"
"You're welcome, so like...I'll see you on Monday?" His voice lowered a bit when he said that. Um...not sure how I feel about that but...
"Yeah of course..."
"Great! Ow! Toris!"
"So," Toris was back on the line and a part of me felt relieved. "I'm sorry we can't talk longer Alfred, but I really have to get to taking Feliks home before it gets too late..."
"No that's ok, thanks bro!"
"No problem, um. Maybe we could hang out sometime?"
"Yeah sure, it'll be fun..."
"Great, I'll see you on Monday or...whenever. Good bye Alfred, have a nice night."
"Yeah you too!"
I hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.
Nothing bad happened to Feliks and for that I was grateful.
I yawned and looked at the clock, it was only about ten and that's way too early to go to bed, especially on the weekend so I might as well play so videogames.
I wonder if Kiku will message me...
**Lets Learn Some History:
Polish-American Relations:
The relationship between these two states began during American Revolution. Two Polish men: Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski, took part in it on colonies' side and played very important roles in it. Pułaski in fact is one of the most honored figures in American history, there are a lot of places and events named after him and Illinois (and a few other places) celebrate Pułaski day in March. Despite the fact that poor Kościuszko is largely left out of the school children's lessons, both became heroes of the Polish and American nations.
Poland, even during its partitioning which prevented a official relationship to be formed , always considered the United States a positive influence.
Much, much later the USA and Poland were on allies' side during World War II. (Go Allies!) Poland was a very important ally to America but in 1945 it fell to Soviet Influence (Oh no!). After a while, Poland became a democratic country again and became a very important ally of America, ever sense the countries have had very warm bilateral relations and when Poland joined NATO in 1999, they became part of the same military alliance and vigorously supported the USA and it's missions in Afghanistan and Iraq and such. Poland cooperates closely with the United States on such issues as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human rights, regional cooperation in central and eastern Europe, and reform of the United Nations.
However, Poland's feeling for America have decreased over time mainly due to the fact that most American's are jerks and don't treat them very nicely at all, refusing them passage into the country with visa's and all that. In fact USA remains the last non-Arab developed country in the World to require short-stay visas from Polish citizens. (Keep strong Poland!)
America has a very large Polish American Population you know.
I know that the relationship between America and Poland in Hetalia terms isn't very defined but I think it's safe to assume that, while it may not be the strongest, Poland may have a little(slowly dying) crush on America...just saying.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter~
That was a fun little history lesson...kudos to anyone who read that in the hetalia narrator voice!
Things are starting to get rather interesting eh? I stay tuned for more!