Hold on to Us
Chapter 4
Note: I will try to post a new chapter one or twice a week. Next week, I'll be going back through and fixing all the little typos I've noticed throughout the chapters. Don't you dare go back and try to find them!
At the end of the school day, Julius picked the boys up, and took them each to their homes. Francis was the first to be dropped off, and then Antonio was of course next. He said bye, pulled his green backpack over his shoulder, and got out of the car.
He waved once he opened the door to his house, yelling a few more goodbyes.
The first thing Antonio did was kick his shoes off at the door, and then run into his parents room. His mother, Isabel, looked up at him from the bed, smiling. Antonio always thought he had the prettiest mama, with her perfect tanned skin, and deep green eyes that matched his. Even when she started loosing her hair from the medicine she told Antonio she had to take to get better, he still thought she was perfect.
"Hola mama!" Antonio jumped into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her thin body. "You look so pretty today!" He smiled, kissing her.
She laughed, touching the top of her head. She was wearing a hand scarf that was stylishly tied up in a bow at the side.
"Gracias bambino. How was school?"
Antonio flopped down beside her, his body cuddled up close against hers.
"It was good. I think I made a new friend. His name was Arthur. I like him. He didn't talk a lot though."
Isabel nuzzled him, running her bony fingers through his dark, wavy hair. "That's good ninito. Are you hungry? I can go make you a snack." Antonio gasped, jumping up from the bed.
"No! No! I'll go make us a snack. I have to go feed Estrella anyways. So you stay right here." He scrambled down to the floor, making sure to tuck her back into the blankets. "You stay here, mama."
Smiling fondly at her baby boy, Isabel reached out taking his hand. "Stealing my job aren't you? I'm supposed to take care of you."
Antonio squeezed her hand gently. "It's only for a little while." He said. "Until you get better, remember?"
Isabel fought off the sadness from spreading to her features, squeezing his hand in return.
"Only for a little while." She sighed softly, pressing a kiss to his small hand. "Gracias amor."
Antonio nodded, and then ran off to feed his pet turtle, Estrella. He named her that from the weird, star shaped pattern on her shell. After that, he went to the kitchen and made himself and his mother a snack. He wished she'd get better soon. For now though, he didn't mind helping out.
Back at him, Lovino immediately walked into his room and took a nap. The day had worn him out. When he woke back up a little less than a couple of hours later, he went downstairs to get a snack before he'd have to start his homework. He thought it was rather cruel for the teacher to give it to him on his first day here.
He walked by the living room, and noticed that the tv was on. It was a cartoon, one of Feliciano's favorites. That only meant that he was in there watching it. More than likely he was sitting in their nonno's lap, because he was Julius favorite. No. He was everyone's favorite. Everyone's favorite besides for their mother, but she was gone now along with their father thanks to Feliciano.
In class the next day, Lovino could tell that something was off with Francis. It was obvious since they picked him up from his house. He came up with his hair down, and a light sweater worn over his arms, which was already odd with it being as hot as it was that week.
Francis also was very quiet that morning. By the time class had started, Francis had said a total of two or three things that entire morning. But what sealed the deal was when Lovino kept seeing Antonio turn away from what he was going on about with Arthur to glance back worriedly at Francis.
Of course, Lovino thought it was his fault. He had been so mean the day before. As much as he didn't to, he felt like he had to do something. Lovino glanced up to make sure the teacher wasn't looking his way. Clear. He reached over across Francis desk, and grabbed the notebook that Francis had been doodling in once again instead of listening to Miss. Larsen. Francis sat up straighter in surprise, watching Lovino with careful eyes instead of snatching the notebook right back.
Lovino looked over the page, an amused and slightly annoyed look gracing his young Roman features. More cats, but this time with glasses on them. Lovino tried really hard not to smile, but easily rolled his eyes. He liked cats too. He quickly scribbled something down, and pushed the notebook back onto Francis' desk.
Francis leaned over the notebook, reading the messy handwriting.
Are you okay?
Francis felt his heart thump a little faster.
Lovino watched as Francis' cheeks turned a light shade of pink. He fidgeted, tugging the sleeves of his sweater down over his hands before he wrote something back.
I'm okay. :)
Lovino frowned; he didn't look okay. He drew little mustaches on all the cats to match their glasses before giving the notebook back.
Francis smiled.
Recess seemed to come quicker that day, and started off like any other day. Arthur sat alone on the swings, watching the other kids play with each other, until Lovino walked over and sat on the swing next to him.
"Hey..." Lovino mumbled. He wasn't exactly good at meeting new people, and he really didn't want to talk in the first place. He just came to swing since he didn't have anything else to do.
"Hi."
They were the same. They didn't say anything else, simply sitting there, swinging side by side.
Lovino soon noticed Antonio walk out of the building with a soccer ball in his hands. He lifted it up, and a group of kids cheered running over to him. They all ran over to the field, even Francis, who slowly trailed behind the crowd.
Lovino never did actually apologize, and it was nagging at him enough for him to get out of the swing, and walk over to Francis. It irritated that he felt like this. He didn't like feeling bad for the things he did, much less have to apologize for them.
"Hey stupid!' He called, reaching out and grabbed Francis arm. The other boy visibly flinched, as if Lovino's touch had been fire on his skin, relaxing only when he saw it was Lovino.
"What?"
Lovino looked down at his shoes. Julius had bought them right before they moved, so they were still brand new, without a single scruff.
"I...I'm sorry." He mumbled, rubbing at his arm shyly. His chubby cheeks reddened brightly. This was even harder than he had thought. "You were being a jerkface, but... I kind of was too. So yeah. Sorry." He looked up at Francis slowly, nervous that he was going to yell at him or something. But he didn't.
Instead, Francis took Lovino's hand and smiled.
"Do you want to football with us?"
"It's called soccer!" Another young blond boy yelled, coming up behind him. This was Alfred.
Francis sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Only Americans call it soccer. Americans that speak English at that, stupid."
"Yeah? You're American, and you live in America! Plus, you're speaking English right now!"
"But my parents are French."
Alfred laughed, "Still!"
Lovino snorted, trying not to laugh. "Well soccer sounds stupid."
"Oh my god, can you guys shut up and come play!" Gilbert groaned, pulling at his light hair.
Francis rolled his eyes.
Lovino smiled, watching as Francis tied his hair up. When he lifted his arms, the sweater rolled up and Lovino could clearly see bruises all down Francis' arms.
"Hey, what happened to your arms?"
Francis shoved his sleeves back down, startled. His face paled.
"Nothing."
The game was fun. There was two teams. Gilbert's who had Francis, Antonio, a red-head girl, and girl with her hair tied in a ponytail named, Elizabetha. Lovino ended up joining their side. The other team was Alfred's. He had Matthew, Michelle, Bella, a boy with a faux hawk, and a tall, skinny boy with hair tightly braided to his scalp.
By the time the whistle blew, signaling that it was time to go in, they were all tired and panting. Gilbert's team won, 3-2. It had been close. Antonio made the last goal, and for the rest of the time, it was game of keep away, and close misses.
Lovino especially felt good about the game. He even scored once. For the next few weeks, Francis invited him to play. He said yes every time.
A month after Miss Larsen had changed seats and disturbed the balance, she came to the class with another announcement.
"So class, our next project is going to be very exciting. We'll be starting it today, but the best part is, you'll be working with partners." All at once, the classroom exploded into gasps, everyone asking their best friend if they wanted to partner with them
Francis grabbed Antonio's shoulder and shook it gently.
"We're going to be partners, right?"
Antonio looked back, and grinned. "If you want to, Francis!"
Arthur was one of the few who groaned out loud. He hated doing things with partners. No one ever wanted to partner with him, and when they did, he had to do everything.
"Here's the catch though." Miss Larsen said, quieting down the class. "To further encourage a good relationship with your deskmate, you'll be working very closely with the person beside you."
The rest of the class groaned this time.
Everyone besides for Antonio. He looked over to Arthur, big smile on his face. He had wanted to be Francis partner, but this would give him a chance to become better friends with Arthur.
"Isn't that great, Arthur?" Antonio said, grabbing Arthur's hand. "We're going to be partners! Maybe you'll even come over my house and work on it with me. I can show you my room, and my turtle..."
Arthur sighed loudly. It sounded anything but great.
End Note: By the way, for those who don't know, Julius is Grandpa Rome. AnotherHetaliaFan, LittleMonsterStick, and Shadow Fairy Princess, special thank you to you guys for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it, and it really makes me smile. Also, be patient! c: They are still babies, there won't be any asking anyone out yet...well not officially at least. And who's to say that Francis and Antonio will be the one's doing the asking. Hehe
