A few more weeks passed and Alfred never found out exactly why Bomont had the law that it did. All he knew was that every time he tried to dance, he was dragged into the principal's office. The only place he could dance was in his room which was small and often filled with clutter. Though he tripped over clothes, books, and various other items, he wasn't about to give up dancing just because of some stupid law.
His uncle wasn't happy with him losing the job at the hardware store. Alfred didn't really care. He didn't like the owner and if that stupid man was going to fire him for something he didn't do, so be it. He set out to find a better, more awesome job that would get him a good pay check and popular with the kids at school.
He wasn't doing very well socially at school in all honestly. Most of the kids thought he was an idiot and a jerk and didn't look past his obnoxiousness to see what a kind guy he really was. He and Toris became great friends and Ludwig, Vash, and a Polish boy named Felks also joined their group. Kiku, Feliciano, and Lovino were friendly with Alfred and his group, especially Feliciano who seemed to have a crush on Ludwig. The large German was seemingly oblivious to the poor Italian who was oblivious to the fact that Ludwig seemed to like him back. Both groups found this amazingly funny.
Alfred was never formally introduced to Francis or his friends, but Arthur's friends would talk about how they didn't really like him much and how they wished Arthur would break up with him. Alfred and Arthur talked every now and then, but the Brit seemed uninterested in the American.
Alfred did end up with a job at the local restaurant called the Burger Blast owned by a Miss Betty Blast. He was required to wear a red and white striped shirt and roller skates. The pay was pretty good, though, and his boss was pretty nice.
One Saturday evening, he had his shift from three in the afternoon until ten. Business was somewhat slow, especially for a Saturday, so he ended up taking a few mini breaks with his friends. Toris, Ludwig, Felks and Vash had shown up to support Alfred at his new job.
"Hey, Ludwig, like, look," Felks said in his valley-girl accent, pointing to the door as the four of them sipped their drinks. "Feliciano's here with his friends. You should totally go make a move." The other four boys turned and saw Arthur, Feliciano, Kiku, and Romano sitting down at a booth across the store. The four picked up their menus as they talked and Arthur pulled out a book.
"You're really going to read while we eat?" Lovino asked with a glare. Arthur looked right back at him and returned the harsh gaze.
"And why not? I can't read these books at home," Arthur snapped. "I have to read censored and appropriate books that Mr. Germania picks out."
"That is most unfortunate," Kiku said with a frown. "I could lend you some manga to read at school if you would like." Arthur shook his head.
"No, thank you. I'd rather read regular, real books. It's amazing, really. In books I can escape to other worlds. I can meet people who amaze me!" Arthur smiled to himself, completely lost in a little world he had created. The other three laughed.
"Yeah, because no one in Bomont amazes you?" Lovino asked sarcastically. Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Yes, this hick town is just so amazing," Arthur responded with the same sarcasm. "I like meeting new people in books."
"Alfred-san is new," Kiku pointed out. Arthur scoffed.
"Just because someone is new doesn't mean they amaze me."
"Is is pretty interesting, though. You must give him that."
"I guess..." Arthur shrugged and looked down at the book. The other three exchanged looks, wondering what he was thinking. But surely Arthur and Francis' relationship wasn't very good if Arthur had to turn to books to find amazing new people.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Look!" Feliciano suddenly shouted. "Luddy's coming over here! Act cool, kay?" he smiled stupidly and stuck a pencil in his mouth, trying to seem smart. However, he stuck the tip in his mouth so the eraser was sticking out.
Egged on by his friends, Ludwig uncomfortably made his way over to the table. "Hey. How's it going?" he asked gruffly, looking everywhere but the four people in front of him.
"Oh, you know. Good. Okay. Great." Feliciano, Lovino, and Kiku exchanged glances, realizing they had spoken at the same time. Arthur was too engrossed in his book to even nod to Ludwig.
"How's it going with you, Ludwig? Ve!" Feliciano asked with a smile.
"Good."
Then they sat there... And sat there... and sat there. The two looked off into the distance for at least a minute. They didn't speak or move, just stared in the awkward silence. The awkwardness was so heavy, it made Arthur look up from his book.
"Well, nice talking to you." Ludwig finally said and walked away. Feliciano smiled and waved goodbye excitedly.
"Yeah you two idiots sure do have a fucking 'connection.'" Lovino scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"When are you two dolts going to have a real conversation?" Arthur asked with a sigh, going back to his book.
"Oh, Luddy's not capable of a real conversation." Feliciano smiled. "But he's still dreamy! Ve...!" Lovino slapped him on the shoulder. "Ow! That was mean! Why did you do that, fratello?" Feliciano pouted and looked at his twin brother with teary eyes.
"Because you shouldn't hold an interest in that goddamn potato bastard!" Lovino shouted back. "He's an idiot and I'm not going to let my little brother date a bastard!"
"But, fratello, I know his parents were married when they had him..."
~.x.~
"So, how'd it go, Ludwig?" Alfred asked as he stood up shakily on his rollerskates to let the German back in and go take orders. Ludwig sighed and slid into the booth. The other three males looked at him expectantly.
"It doesn't matter." Ludwig finally said gruffly.
"Of course it matters! Come on, dude, we all know you like him! So, what did you talk about?"
"Well... We said hello..."
"... And...?"
"And then I left." The other boys looked at each other before sighing and slapping their foreheads. Ludwig could be as clueless as Feliciano when it came to love. Alfred pat Ludwig on the shoulder before going over to Arthur's table to take orders.
"And what can I get you dudes tonight?" He asked, rolling up on his skates.
"Diet coke, bastard," Lovino snapped.
"One diet coke, please," Kiku said with a slight nod of his head.
"I'll have..." Feliciano scrunched up his face in thought. "The spaghetti and meatballs with extra cheese and then extra spaghetti on the side. And the ziti and shells with extra cheese and meatballs and extra sauce too... And a diet coke." The other three snickered, but said nothing about Feliciano's odd order.
"Ah... Okay," Alfred replied with a slightly confused face as he wrote down the extra large order. "And what can I get you, Arthur?"
Arthur looked up at the blonde eyed boy and smirked. "Oh, it's not on the menu," he said slyly and returned to his book. Lovino rolled his eyes, but Felicicano and Kiku exchanged glances that made Alfred blush.
"R-Right... Okay, I'll be back with that order." He smiled before skating away to his friends. Toris was walking back from the bathroom and Alfred all but tackled him back into the men's room. Seeing the restroom empty, he looked back to his brunette friend.
"Okay, tell me everything you know about Arthur Kirkland," Alfred whispered. Toris looked at him for a moment before trying to think of what to say.
"U-Uh... Well, I know he's been kissed a lot..." Toris replied lamely, making Alfred sigh.
"By...?"
"Well, by a lot of people, Alfred. Especially Francis. And if Francis sees you flirting with him, there's going to be a whole lot of trouble that you do not want." Alfred looked at his friend for a moment before smirking.
"I'm going to win his heart!" he proclaimed.
"... Francis'?"
"No, dude! Arthur's! I'm gonna make Arthur like me!"
"Francis will kill you."
"Like I said before, I'd rather be dead than stuck here in Bomont." Toris sighed and wriggled out of Alfred's grasp. He opened his mouth to protest more, but realized that the blonde was dead set on his decision. There was no way to get him to change his mind and Toris figured that might end up for the best.
~.x.~
"So, how is it going with Francis, Arthur-kun?" Kiku asked. Arthur looked up from his book and sighed before looking down. "Not well, I assume...?"
"Not well at all. Stupid git's always ditching me. We have a date tonight.. I don't even think I want to go."
"Then don't. If that bastard's just going to lead you on, then dump his scrawny ass." Lovino said firmly. He was probably the only one in the group that would actually tell Arthur to dump Francis so bluntly. However, no one took his swearing and tough language seriously since he had proven to be a coward before.
"I can't, though." Arthur sighed. "Just image what he'd do if I tried to break up with him." The other three looked at each other. They had seen the bruises on Arthur's arms before. And Arthur's parents didn't abuse him at all. They had to have come from Francis. It wasn't often, nor were there many, but they were there all the same.
"You need to find someone else, Arthur! You're just getting hurt by him!" Feliciano frowned.
"I need a hero," Arthur said heavily, looking down at the ornate cover of his latest fantacy book. "Like in these novels."
"A hero?" Kiku asked.
"Yes, a hero. Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?" Arthur asked, waving the small paperback in the air. "Where's Hercules to fight for me on the streets? Where is the... The white knight upon a beautiful steed?"
"You know, Alfred-san always says he's a hero," Kiku said hopefully. Arthur rolled his eyes.
"I need a real hero. He must be fast and strong and fresh from the fight. He must be sure and confident and he must come soon. And... He has to be larger than life." Arthur smiled to himself, tracing the cover of his book with his thumb. "Just like in my books."
"Larger than life?" Feliciano asked. "Like a giant?"
"No, like a hero," Arthur responded.
"Oh yeah?" Lovino smirked. "And where is this so-called 'hero'?"
"In my wildest fantasy," Arthur sighed. "Somewhere after midnight, somewhere just beyond my reach, he's reaching back for me... Racing on... On thunder, and rising with the heat. And then he'll come, just like superman and sweep me off my feet!"
"That sounds so romantic!" Feliciano sang.
"That sounds so stupid." Lovino rolled his eyes.
"Look at his eyes," Kiku chuckled. "He is lost to us." Sure enough, Arthur was looking out at nothing, lost in his own little world. He was daydreaming, as he often did, of a wonderful man who never hurt nor harmed him and actually cared about him.
"Up where the mountains meet the heavens and lightning splits the sea, I know there is somewhere watching me," Arthur sighed. "Through wind and cold and rain, storm and flood. I can feel his aproach like fire."
"Arthur, you should be a writer," Kiku laughed, his voice finally making Arthur snap out his his daydream. The Brit blushed and looked down at the book.
"I would love to. I just want to get out of this stupid town, write my books, and travel the world." He looked up at the clock and gasped, jumping out of his seat so the chair flew back. This startled his friends who looked at him worriedly. "It's eight thirty! I'm a half hour late for that blasted date!" Arthur scrambled to put his book in his bag. He had just turned around when the front door slammed shut.
"Arthur!" a voice boomed. Almost everybody in the diner turned to look at the young French boy who had just walked in with a scowl on his face. He walked up to the table and stared down Arthur. "Where were you? You were supposed to meet me a half hour ago!"
"I know, Francis," Arthur sighed, rubbing his temple. "I lost track of time. I'm sorry."
"I don't like being made a fool of, mon cher," Francis spat.
"Will you be joining these guys for dinner?" Alfred skated up to the group, having noticed something was off. He was worried that Francis would get angry and hurt Arthur. He smiled and winning smile and Francis turned to glare at him. He looked the American up and down before smirking and pushing him backwards. The force sent Alfred rolling backwards into the kitchen where he fell and pots and pans crashed around him.
"Let's go." Francis turned back to Arthur and grabbed his arm forceful. Arthur's eyes widened. He glared at his boyfriend and shook his hand off.
"No."
"What did you say?" Francis blinked, then glared.
"I said no. What part of that don't you understand, frog?"
Francis smirked and came up to Arthur, wrapping his arms around him and placing a hand on his butt. "Oh, when Arthur Kirkland gets fiery... it just makes me hot!" Francis said seductively. Arthur growled and shoved him away.
"I believe the dude said no!" Alfred, Felks, and Toris came rushing over. Alfred had thrown off his skates the the other two had gone to make sure he was alright. He quickly told them something bad was going to happen if they didn't step in and darted back to where Arthur was.
"Alfred, just leave," Arthur snapped.
"Oh, yes? And who are you? The new student, non?" Francis glared at him, ignoring Arthur.
"Oh, right. I don't believe we've been formally introduced," Alfred said. He stuck out his hand, throwing it out about an inch from Francis' face. "I'm Alfred. Alfred F. Jones. Nice to meet ya."
Francis glared and slapped the hand away. "Get your hand out of my face," he said angrily. "And get your face out of my sight."
"Hey, Frenchy, are you, like, looking for a fight?" Felks asked, starting to pose.
"No, no!" Alfred turned to the Polish boy. "No fighting. You are not losing me this job!"
"Like, move, Alfie! I got this!" Felks moved forward to hit Francis, but Alfred and Toris grabbed him back. The Pole struggled, much to the amusement of everyone around them. A bunch of the kids in the diner started to cheer him on, begging the Polish boy to hit Francis, but Alfred and Toris held him firm.
"Hey... HEY!" A voice called and a young blonde woman on roller skates came into the dining area and over to where the almost-fight was being held. "Do we have a problem here?"
"N-No, Miss Blast," Alfred stammered. "I was just helping to serve your valued customers." Francis rolled his eyes and Arthur, Feliciano, and Kiku chuckled. Miss Blast looked at the scene and knew that Francis had been picking a fight again. It was often that he and Arthur fought, even at the quiet diner.
"Francis, your pickup truck is parked in the handicapped space," Miss Blast glared. "And that is a space we reserve for people with physical not emotional disabilities." The entire diner errupted in laughter and Francis turned bright red. With a glare, he turned and stormed out of the the diner. He pushed Alfred away harshly.
"You haven't seen the last of me," He promised before stomping out the door. Alfred glared after him as Miss Blast motioned for him to follow her to her office. With a sigh, he followed.
"I know, I know. I'll turn in my skates," he sighed, knowing he was about to be fired.
"Now hold up," she said. "I'll see you back here on Monday after school." Alfred smiled brightly.
"You mean...?"
"Yes, you can keep your job. I know you were tryin' to protect Mr. Kirkland there." She smiled and handed him his paycheck. He smiled at her.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Alfred said over and over until she finally shoved him out of her office. When he left, Arthur was waiting for him, his friends having left and Alfred's friends no where in sight as well.
"I... Thank you," Arthur mumbled, flushing bright red.
"Hey, no problem. It's what a hero does," Alfred smiled. Arthur looked at him for a long moment.
"Come on, there's something I want to show you." he said, starting to walk out.
"Where are we going?"
Arthur turned and smirked. "You'll see. Now come on."
And here's Felks :3
I PROMISE I'll go back and fix all the mistakes. I just wanted to get the next chapter out before I go to the show
Yes, I'm performing in Footloose tonight~
Sorry for any OOC, I'm trying to use actual lines from the play.
Song used: I Need a Hero
Thank you all for your support! Please review!
