"What the bloody hell are you doing in my bedroom?" Arthur shrieked.

I gave him an awkward stare and shuffled a few steps away from his bed.

"You're really creeping me out now. Are you a rapist or a murderer in your spare time or something?" He clutched one of his blankets closer to him.

"Shut up!" I whined. "I'm supposed to be here to walk you to school but you're not even out of bed yet! I mean, talk about lazy!"

"I can stay in bed if I want to!" Arthur argued defiantly and threw his covers over his head.

I growled a few curses to myself.

"Come on, Arthur. Stop being such a blanket-whore!" I snapped and tugged some of his duvets and throws off of him. "You'll make me late for school!"

"Blanket-whore?" He scoffed, clinging to pale green fabric. I managed to pry it from his grip. "Was that the best you could do? Stupid Americans... you lot need better insults. Like tosser and wanker."

"Get up!" I yelled. I grabbed one of his shoulders and dragged him from beneath his warm, cozy haven.

"God, I didn't think you'd be one to be so anxious about getting to bloody school on time!" He yelped.

"I'm not, I just can't be bothered with half of the teachers that are gonna' give me crap for being late!" I pushed him towards his wardrobe and left him to change in peace.


I spent fifteen whole minutes waiting for Arthur to change into his uniform. Peter, who had already left the house, had shouted a few unrecognisable curse words up the stair to his brother and, to my suprise, just as Arthur grabbed his black messenger bag, a woman, who looked worn and fatigued, stumbled through the front door of the house.

Arthur glanced at her quickly before freezing.

"M-Mum?" He stuttered. He rushed to her side and offered her a shoulder to lean on. "I thought you weren't due home for another few days!"

"Ah, well..." She yawned. "I'm back now, aren't I love?"

"You must be tired. How was California?" Arthur asked. I really didn't want to ruin the moment but school was due to start in ten minutes.

"Yes, I'm absolutely shattered." She laughed shakily. "California was beautiful, love. I should be home for a few days. After all, your dad will be working night shift. I'll be going to bed now anyway, I'll see you- oh, who's this then?"

I shot Arthur's mom a toothy grin and extended my hand. She shook it.

"Good morning, Ma'am, my name's Alfred Jones and I'm your awesome neighbour!" I laughed and she smiled gently.

"Wonderful. I assume you're friends with my dear Arthur here then, hm?" She spoke with a soft tone.

"Well, actually, I wouldn't class-" Arthur muttered.

"Yup! He's awesome! If I had a quarter for every time he has made me smile, I'd be rich!" I grinned as a blush spread itself across Arthur's face. "At the minute though, Ma'am, we'd better be on our way to school. Otherwise, we'll be late and Arthur really doesn't need that on his very first day of American high school!"

"Polite, kind and considerate! You could learn a thing or two from him, son!" Ms. Kirkland smiled at Arthur.

"Lets get out of here..." He sighed in defeat.


Winkelman High's uniform was something I always thought to be unflattering. Arthur, however, messed up my thoughts and opinions. The checkered blue pants of the uniform clung to his slim form tightly and the blazer, which wasn't compulsory, drowned his figure - it was huge on him! It almost reached down to his knees and he had folded his sleeves several times to ensure that the material didn't get in his way. Arthur looked a lot smaller in the uniform than he really was. It made him appear feminine and almost vunerable.

I couldn't deny it; to say the least, Arthur looked appealing in Winkelman's uniform. He still seemed tired and wreaked of spearmint toothpaste. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his hair was unruly and wild.

"How far are we from school?" He asked and I glanced at the worn plastic and faded numbers.

"Five minutes," I seethed before tightly latching onto his wrist and dragging him down the street. "If you've made us late, Arthur Kirkland, I swear, I'll fucking kill you!"

"So you are a murderer!" He yelled. "Bloody brilliant!"


A/N: I've just corrected a few mistakes from this chapter. I hope you're enjoying the story so far!