"So, yes, I do come here often." Arthur concluded.
"Wow! So how long ago was that?" Alfred asked excitedly once Arthur had finished telling him about meeting Jenna.
Arthur looked up at the ceiling before saying, "Two years ago." He looked back to find Alfred staring at him. "What?" he asked.
Alfred shook his head a bit, blinking. "Oh, what, nothing. Just lost in thought. Um, that's really cool. Two years, huh. And that would make you…" he trailed off, looking expectantly at Arthur with a hopeful look in his bright blue eyes.
"14, turning 15 this April. Why?" Arthur asked, a bit put off by the question.
"I just wanted to know if you were my age. And you are. I'm turning 15 this July." Alfred replied eagerly, excited that Arthur was his age. He wondered if Hetalia High would be willing to let him in as a late acceptance. He pointed to Arthur's uniform and asked, "So, what school do you go to?"
"It's a private boarding school called Hetalia High. It is very secretive. They don't like us to talk about it." Arthur replied, shifting uncomfortably. He opened his book again, signaling the end of the topic.
Alfred raised his eyebrow. He never realized that the school was a secret. He had gotten a letter to it after all. He briefly pondered trying to get Arthur to tell him more about the school but quickly dismissed the thought. How could he hope to build a healthy relationship if he didn't even give Arthur his space? The topic clearly bothered him. Alfred looked over at Arthur as he picked up Killer Angels again under the pretense of reading, racking his brain for something else to say. Finding nothing, he settled himself in to actually read the book, since he had liked it the first time.
There was no clock in the room and Alfred had forgotten his watch that day so he didn't know how long it was before Arthur closed his book and started to stretch. Alfred roused himself too, and admired Arthur slender build. Seeing the nice watch on Arthur's wrist, his mind latched onto it, and he asked, "What time is it by the way?"
Arthur stifled a small yawn and answered, "7:30. Jenna usually closes the store around 7:35."
Alfred glanced at the still very much closed bookcase-door. "So, how do we get out?" he asked pointedly.
Arthur smiled a bit, and said, "She opens the door from the outside." There was a moment of awkward silence as they waited. Finally Alfred broke it.
"Hey, Arthur? Can I tell you something?" he said quietly, heart racing in anticipation.
Arthur looked a bit caught off guard, but nodded, facing Alfred seriously.
Alfred rocked back and forth on his heels a bit, and then said, "I like you. Like, like like you."
Arthur stared at him for a second, while his cheeks colored. He appeared to search for words, before finally sputtering, "I, but… You just… met me. How can, you even say such a thing?" He ducked his head, clutching his books tightly to his chest.
Alfred was focused on the blush that still colored his cheeks though. Taking a deep breath, he leaned in and pecked Arthur on the cheek, before saying, "I guess it's just an American thing. Sorry if that made you uncomfortable…" he trailed off, blushing as well.
Arthur stared at him in shock, and Alfred saw the battle going on in his eyes. He waited, and finally Arthur gave him a shy smile. "Well, er, Jenna should be opening the door soon to close the store. Uh, shall we meet here tomorrow, perhaps?" he stammered, looking at Alfred.
Alfred resisted pumping his fist in the air and instead replied, "Yeah, sounds awesome!" grabbing Arthur's hand.
Arthur paused a bit, before squeezing Alfred's fingers. They looked at each other, gazes locking, lost in each other's eyes, and both jumped when the familiar piano riff sounded, followed by the slight squeak of the bookcase sliding back.
They walked out, said good-bye to a smirking Jenna, and opened the door, and crossed the threshold into the sun's last setting rays.