"NO!" Alfred cried, falling out of bed, he landed on the blue carpet with a thud. Blinking, he sat up and looked around. He was in his bedroom - white walls, blue carpet, and red oak bed.
He pinched himself. How did I get here? Weirder yet he was dressed in his white shirt and boxers. Who undressed me? He swallowed, feeling bile rise at the thought that it was Arthur.
"Alfie~" His mother called from downstairs. "Is that you? Are you up?"
"Yeah, mom," he called, slowly standing up, he winced at the pain. His head throbbed. "Hey mom," he said, throwing open his door and rushing to the banister, he saw her staring up at him. She had on a pink dressed and yellow apron. Her blue eyes locked onto his.
"Yes, sweetie?" She asked, quirking a blond eyebrow in amusement. She pursed her lips, her eyes scanning his attire. "What did I say about running around the house like that? And you're hair is all mussy!"
"How did I get home?" He asked, an unnerving feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. He could recall bits of things like a mostly unremembered dream, but for the most part it just skipped from drinking a coke with Arthur to being here.
"You don't remember?" She said, looking concerned. "Arthur brought you home. Such a sweet boy."
Alfred's blood ran cold and his hands clenched the oak of the banister. "Arthur?" He said slowly as that name sunk in. "He was here? In our house?"
"Yes, he brought you up to your room and even helped you into your bed."
"He was in my room?" Alfred exclaimed, glancing over his shoulder like his room had been tainted. "How could you?"
"It wasn't that messy and well, isn't he your friend? He seemed so concerned," His mom said, smiling sweetly.
And you weren't? "Mom, what was I like? When I came home?"
She looked to the left, biting her lip in thought, "Well, you seemed very pale and rather drawn. To be honest, I was concerned. I thought about taking you to the hospital, but that Arthur boy reassured me that you were just exhausted. He was so convincing. What a silver-tongue!"
"Mom, if he ever comes here again, don't let him in my room," Alfred said.
"Why not?" She said. "Is there a problem?"
"Just don't," Alfred repeated, sniffing the air. There was a subtly sweet aroma in the air mixed with almost a burnt aroma. It was surely meant to be a delicious smell, but something about it smelled wrong. "Are you cooking?"
"Oh no, those are the scones! Arthur brought them," She said. "Would you like to try one? You're father has already had several."
"No," Alfred said without thinking and suddenly he didn't feel well. He felt very sick like something was pulling him to go down and try them. He shook his head, backing away. "No."
"Alfie, are you sur-."
He ran back into this room and shut the door. A though occurred to him. I need to call Kiku! Where's my phone? He dug around and found his backpack and zipped it open, searching. One thing was for sure, he would not be Arthur Kirkland's hero anymore. In fact, it was time they went their separate ways.
I'm declaring independence! He decided.
He was relieved to find it and popped it open about to search for Kiku's number when his blood ran cold. There was a text from Arthur on his phone that read: Take care, Alfred. I'll see you soon.
A heart was at the end of it. Suddenly, his stomach clenched tightly and he doubled over, curling into a ball on the floor. His mind flooded with thoughts and wave of heat passed over him as he blushed from head to toe. Sickening images of Arthur in seductive poses overran his mind as if something was trying to force the idea into his head that Arthur was attractive.
"Stop!" He cried, clutching at his temples. Slowly they abated, but never entirely left. "What's happening to me?" He whispered, feeling sweaty and damp. He kept his mind on anything but Arthur.
Slowly as if by sheer exhaustion he fell into another strange dream.
#
Where am I?
After a moment, he realized. He was on the rooftop of his school, looking down at the track and field. Someone moved behind him, whirling around, he saw Arthur standing behind.
"You came," Arthur cooed, taking Alfred's hand. Alfred tried to shove him away, but his body seemed paralyzed by Arthur's touch.
"What have you done?" he hissed.
"What I had to to claim what's mine ~" Arthur answered.
"Not interested, got that?"
Arthur chuckled and said, "You will be. You won't have a choice."
There is always choice. "What's that mean?"
"You belong to me now. Accept it," Arthur urged, leaning forward until their noses were touching. Alfred knew he should be disgusted, but his body flushed. What the hell is going on? He fought, tried to resist, but he could not move or stop those soft lips from pressing against his.
No! He struggled, pulling deep within himself. He would not be helpless. STOP!
Arthur pulled way, resting his other hand on Alfred's shoulder. "I'll never tire of you, my love. You're so delicious."
Am I gay? Alfred had been sure he wasn't until now. His heart sped up. His body reacted to Arthur, but something did not feel right. This did not feel natural. This is not me! Seizing on that, he managed to move and shoved Arthur away who went spilling onto the ground.
Alfred leapt onto the railing, realizing the paralysis would return, but while he could fight it he would end this dream. "I'll never be yours!" He yelled in defiance as Arthur watched him stunned then Alfred threw himself over the side of the building.
The ground rushed at him, wind whistling in his ears.
"No!" He yelled, waking up again on the floor, panting and sweating. Oh God, what was that? It had been so vivid and real. Like he had to desire Arthur.
#
Alfred hugged himself, shivering. He pounded again on Kiku's door. It had white paint peeling at the front and looked as old as the porch of Kiku's house.
"One moment" Kiku called. He heard commotion inside and then footsteps before the door swung open. "Alfred?"
"Sorry, Kiku-sensei, but I need your help," Alfred said, coming into the dark oak hallway past a surprised Kiku.
"But the house is not clean," Kiku fretted, but seeing Alfred's pale feature, he urged him into the living room and it's green sofa. "Alfred, you do not look good. Is everything okay?"
"When did you know you were gay?" he blurted out.
Kiku blushed and looked away. "Th-that is a very personal story."
"Sorry," Alfred said, feeling he had crossed a line. He started to stand, but Kiku urged him back down, sitting beside him.
"I first knew when I was thirteen. Yes, that was the age. I realized I was attracted to boys."
"You weren't straight first and then one night you turned gay?"
"No. I do not believe it works that way."
"But it can, right? You can just wake up attracted to a guy right?"
"I do not know. It is different for many people. Alfred, are you attracted to a boy?"
Alfred looked away, running his fingers through is hair, he stood up and paced the room. "I don't know," he admitted. "I don't even like him. I dislike him, but now it's crazy. He's on my mind all the time and then I blush. See it's weird. I've never seen guys in that way. Since I was eleven and noticed girls were different, I've just been into the - I mean yanno their looks. But then now it's like - I don't know - I can't look at them without this other image popping in.
It's like he's stuck in my head. What's wrong with me?"
"Al, there's nothing wrong with you. It's okay if y-."
"It's not!" Alfred interrupted and his features softened. "I can't put it right, but it's not like that. If it was just me denying I was gay that'd be one thing. But this isn't the same. I know I wasn't attracted to men! Now suddenly all I want is this boy. How did that happen? How can you be attracted to one person?"
Kiku smiled, "Love is blind. If you love him, does it matter what he looks like?"
"No, kiku-sensei, you're not getting it. This isn't... something isn't right!" Alfred insisted. "It doesn't feel real!"
"May I ask who is this boy?" Kiku said, smiling.
"You met him already. He came to Judo with me," Alfred answered.
Kiku's smile dropped off and worry filled his features. "Do you mean Arthur?"
Alfred nodded. "And I know I was interested in him before. Now suddenly I want him and it feels wrong. Unnatural."
"Tell me everything, Alfred," Kiku offered. "When did you noticed this attraction?"
#
"Let's keep this between us for now," Kiku said as Alfred waved good-bye.
"But you believe me, right?" Alfred begged desperately. "I'm not crazy. Something is wrong here."
"I think something is suspicious," Kiku said. "I will talk to some of my friends and ask them their stories. Do not do anything rash until we speak again. Okay Al?"
"Sure, Kiku-sensei," Alfred agreed, waving good-bye.
#
Alfred was just reaching the end of the block when a boy stepped out in front of him. "Jesus," He cried, almost veering into a lamp post. His bike screeched to a halt and he turned to see Arthur standing there. His blood ran cold.
"Alfred, what a coincidence! I was just returning home."
"Like hell you were," Alfred growled. "What the hell are you doing here? Don't give me that bull crap about coincidence."
"Alfie, I don'-."
"Don't call me Alfie!" He warned, moving his bike, ready to take off if Arthur got any closer, but the boy just stood there, smiling.
"You don't have to be ashamed of these feelings. They are nat-."
"They are not! Don't act like you know what I should be feeling! You don't know me and you certainly don't own me."
"I'm really hurt you would say that," Arthur replied, lowering his head. "I just wanted to be your friend."
"I don't know what you did, but I do know this isn't normal. Did you drug that coke or something? Put something in it that would make me see you like this?"
"Alfred, there's no such drug," Arthur explained. "You shouldn't avoid me. We can figure this out together."
"Like hell we can! Just stay away from me!" Alfred said.
"I don't know if I can," Arthur warned, raising his nose higher and staring at Alfred sideways. "You're such a beautiful boy after all."
Alfred wrinkled his nose in disgust. "You're nuts."
Arthur chuckled, "What were you discussing with Kiku?"
"Are you spying on me?" Alfred gasped, looking in the direction of Kiku's. "Well guess what I don't give a damn about some scholarship so if you don't leave me alone I won't be quiet. That clear?"
"Crystal," Arthur said, but the smile never left his features. Alfred shivered and took off, keeping his eyes on Arthur as much as possible as he sped off. But not before he heard Arthur call, "See you tomorrow, Alfie ~."
Kid's got a few screws loose.
As he rode, he felt that gaze following him.
