Chapter seven – Matthew's 'cold'

To say Matthew woke up with a cold would be stretching it a little. Well, it'd be a full blown understatement, as his 'cold' was a slight sniffle and a tickly throat. It wasn't that the Canadian was avoiding meeting up with Alfred – he just had to urgently see someone else.

The Canadian made a quick, guilty phone call to his new friend, emphasising his coughing as he explained the reason for his absence. Alfred had brushed it off, wishing his friend to get well soon, but even so, Matthew could hear the very slight tone of disappointment in his friend's voice.

Telling himself there was no avoiding it, Matthew got about getting ready for the day. Trying ever so hard not to wake

Kiku, his roommate, the Canadian pottered around, swiftly changing into his clothes and chucking two pieces of bread into the toaster – the canteen wouldn't be open that early, and even if it was, the food was eaten at your own risk. After pouring too much maple syrup on the cooked bread and plastering the pieces together to form a maple-syrup sandwich, the soft-spoken boy munched the bread down like he hadn't seen food in days. Within five minutes he was out of the door and ready to begin his day.

He just so happened to be wondering down the corridors. His wondering just so happened to take him toward the Year Nine's dorms, and he just so happened to be pacing outside a certain door. Checking his watch, not wanting to seem to early, Matthew hesitantly sat down in the corridor waiting for the very person he needed to waltz out of the door.

And five minutes later that's exactly what Francis Bonnefoy did; waltz out of his room, and almost trip over Matthew in the process.

"Oh! Mon cher, what're you doing there? I almost tripped over you!" Francis beamed at the sight of the Canadian, helping him up off the floor, "Ah! Now I remember, you'll have to excuse my bad manors~ I said I was going to spend the day with you, did I not?"

Nodding hesitantly, Matthew mirrored Francis' smile, though not as confidently, "Only if it's no trouble! I don't want a problem or anything."

"Oh, ma belle, you could never be a problem, even if you tried~ well. No if you brought Alfred along, then it'd be a problem." The French boy pouted, linking arms with the smaller Canadian, "I don't like the look of that boy, he seems all too loud, obnoxious and all around American. No taste whatsoever! I'm surprised he appeals to you as a friend, mon cher."

"Well, Alfred's loud and everything, but he is really nice. Plus he always notices me!" Matthew smiled happily, "It feels nice to be seen."

Shaking his head jokingly, Francis ruffled the fluffy locks of Matthew's, "Ah, mon cher, those who don't notice you don't know what they're missing!"

Continuing with their conversation, Matthew and Francis continued strolling around the school, neither entirely sure of their destination. Both were just happy to talk to each other, and didn't really care where they spoke. Matthew still felt a little guilty for ditching Alfred with such a crappy excuse, but he needed a day with Francis – it was like having French withdrawal symptoms or something. It wasn't like the two were dating or anything, and Matthew didn't want that at all – he was straight after all! Last the Canadian had heard Francis was in a relationship with some scary looking, spiky-haired boy from the Netherlands.

"So! Given any more thought to your sexuality?" Francis grinned wickedly, a clever glint in his ice blue eyes.

"Francis! I've told you – I'm straight. S-t-r-a-i-g-h-t." He spelt the letters out loud, and even went so far as to write them in the air with his finger-pen.

"Ah, yes, yes, that is why your shower is full of hair products, your wardrobe is full of pink and you smell of the cleanest of roses~" Francis taunted patronisingly, knowing just where to aggravate the Canadian.

"Don't judge me! That's all stereotypes! If I judged you because you're a bisexual French guy, I wouldn't have come near you! I'd have thought you'd be eating frogs by the dozen, and sleeping with both men and women, have a range of freaky fetishes and a porn library under your bed!" Matthew cried, blushing, until he realised everything he'd said about a stereotypical French teenager had in fact been a pretty accurate description of Francis.

"Ah, mon cher, mon cher, I do all of those things! You've witnessed my library, supplied me with escar go, and you know how many times I've tried to persuade you to sleep with me~" Francis admitted shamelessly, nothing to hide, "What were you saying about stereotypes?"

Now flustered and annoyed that his point had been flattened, Matthew narrowed his eyes half-seriously, "Just because you fit your countries' stereotype to a T, it doesn't mean because I act gay I am gay. I. Like. Girls." Matthew insisted, folding his arms.

"Sure, sure~ ever kissed one?" Francis winked happily.

Slightly ashamed, Matthew looked at the floor unhappily, "N-no…"

"Then, mon cher, how can you tell which gender you like? You need to take a good browse at what each gender has to offer, and if you can't pick between the two, then naturally, you're bisexual~ It is nothing to be ashamed of if you like men, in fact you might find it an advantage! I know I do~" With another flirtatious wink, Francis stopped walking, cupping Matthew's cheek in his hand, "I could let you have a kiss with me if it helps you decide~"

Matthew shook his head repetitively, unable to speak as he was afraid he might sound like some sort of kettle – his ears looked like they were about to turn into steam, and his cheeks were the rosiest of reds. Flustered and spluttering, Matthew whacked Francis' hands away, and finally gained control of his voice, "N-n-n-no thank you."

"Ah, you don't know what you are missing, mon cher~ perhaps when that special someone comes along you will be a little more willing. If you ever are heartbroken, you know where to come for a one night stand!"

"Shut up Francis!"

"One day, Matthew Williams, one day I will have you in my grasp!" Francis grinned, half-joking. Matthew decided to ignore the half-serious part of his statement.

Before either of the two could continue their rather off conversation, there was a bellow from behind them, "Francis! Slow down you complete and utter asshole!" Spinning around to greet the voice, Francis welcomed Gilbert, the speaker with a quick flash of his middle finger.

"Mon cher, mon cher, do not use such foul language when we have such a pretty princess in our earshot~!" Francis teased, flicking Gilbert on the head.

"Matthew!" Gilbert greeted gleefully when he noticed the Canadian, "Sorry – Francis took all my awesome attention and I didn't notice you there!"

"S'fine, I'm used to it." Matthew smiled at the albino. He loved hanging around Gilbert and Francis – on their own both of them were good friends, and always put a smile on his face, but when all three of them together, Matthew was always suppressing a laugh, even if the two of them were arguing. They were hilarious together, but it wasn't like they said anything funny, they just tickled Matthew. Everyone else wondered why Matthew was constantly giggling in their company – they annoyed everyone else!

"So where're we going? It's one fine day, to be fair." Gilbert squinted his red eyes to look up at the sky, using his hand as a sun-guard. The albino was right – the weather certainly was very warm – unusually warm for Britain.

The three racked their brains for a place to hang out. School was boring, town was off limits in case Matthew ran into Alfred – so where else to go in such a small town?

"I guess we could go to the beach…? It's still pretty early, so it wouldn't really be a waste of time." Francis chewed on his finger, his eyes gazing into the distance, focused on nothing in particular.

"You kidding? I'll go redder than Lovino when Antonio kisses him! The sun hates me!" Gilbert pouted.

"Gil, it's called sunscreen." Matthew pointed out, then returned to Francis, "That'd be a good idea! It's been ages since we've been out, and it's not like they're far away! Constantine Bay is… what a fifteen minute bus ride?"

"We could invite Antonio and Lovino too~ they look adorable in their swimwear~" Francis drawled all too happily.

"It's not like they're wearing fucking bikinis! What about Ita-chan and my brother?" Gilbert suggested, grinning.

"And Kiku!" Matthew grinned.

In a matter of minutes, the three boys had gleefully invited the others, and were back in their rooms, throwing on some trunks under their long shorts. Kiku was blushing slightly when Matthew came back into the room, unsure what he should wear, as he refused showing his chest or the top part of his legs. ('It is improper!') Before they knew it, all of the eight boys were squished in the back of a bus, happily swearing, pushing and shoving each other. Well, everyone apart from Lovino, who was always swearing.


Back in the town of Padstow, Alfred had been very right about his prediction on how long the day was going to be. It was only one o'clock and he already felt like jumping off one of the harbours from stress. Though he had to admit, the Kirkland brothers – or at least four out of five of them – knew how to have fun. Of course Arthur being the odd one out.

Especially the twins, Alfred had noted. From the moment they'd shown up the mood in the group had been immediately lightened. They were your perfect image of a stereotypical pair of twins – light-hearted, mischievous and happy-go-lucky. They were constantly telling Alastair that it was weird to flirt with Owain (to which both Alastair and Owain had begun swearing heavily and sending rude hand gestures to the twins.) To Arthur, they would constantly poke at him, and ask him how his fairies were doing, and if he'd convinced them to wank him off yet – Arthur had just blanked the two, which surprised Alfred, as he was pretty sure that the English boy would've got as worked up as his brothers, and throw a fit. Obvious he was used to the teasing. For Owain, every time they passed a dress shop they'd point out the most feminine dress and made comments on how 'it was so beautiful, darhling. You should totally try it on' and 'it was so your colour, Owain, and it would highlight your figure perfectly'. To Alfred they just made racist comments, asking him not to eat the whole of Britain's hamburgers for lunch.

"It's not my fault the portions over here were made for dwarves!" Alfred pouted with two bottles of coke in his hand.

So now, the group had collapsed into a café – The Clipper to be exact - a cute little place that looked fairly local, and was teeming with tourists. Not the best place for a load of teenagers, it seemed, as parents were glaring at the six of them, especially Alastair and his cigarette. But hey – did they care?

"I still haven't got that book I needed…" Arthur moaned, taking a sip of his tea.

"No sweat, we can go and get it next, right?" Alfred glanced at Owain, who nodded happily.

"Hey, hey – who put you in charge? I'm the oldest, shouldn't I get to decide?" Alastair narrowed an eye in suspicion, his eyebrows getting closer together.

"You'd just lead us to the nearest porn shop." Shane accused, sticking a tongue out at his brother.

"Which, FYI is two miles to the east, a quick right and a sharp right – first door on your left." Colin added, chuckling. Though no one was quite sure if he was being joking or not. They hoped he was joking, at least.

"Shut up, you complete twats." Alastair said, detaching his words and blowing a huge puff of smoke into the faces of the grinning idiots, "Go suck each others dicks."

Their cheeks flaring up, the twins separated quickly, "Just because we're close brothers, it does not end twincest! We are not your personal fanservice!" Colin pouted, Shane nodding in union.

"Idiots." Owain muttered, rolling his eyes before returning to a bacon sandwich he'd ordered, nibbling at the crusts in a mouse-eque fashion. Arthur nodded in agreement, and Alfred looked very close to cheering the three of them on.

After they'd been all but chucked out of the café (they finally got the hint when a waiter walked over, glaring and asked them if it was time they got going) the boys strolled around aimlessly in the approximate direction of the book shop Arthur needed to go to. Owain was content too, as he needed to get the next volume of Shugo Chara. Alastair and the others wouldn't shut up about how girly the Japanese manga was, and told Owain that he was slowly turning into a girl, and next he'd be wearing skirts. Owain always ignored them and told them the same thing – 'Kiku recommended it! Blame him!'

Deciding that they were too badass for bookshops, Alastair, the twins and oddly enough Alfred waited outside the falling apart little store. Leaning on the wall and dropping his finished cigarette to the floor, stamping on it, Alastair turned to the American.

"So Alfred. You and Arthur." The Scottish boy began.

Not really sure where the redhead was going, Alfred just grinned up - completely gormless, "Yes?"

"You're… friends?"

"No, they fucking hate each other, Alastair." Shane drawled sarcastically.

"Shut up you retard." Alastair glared at his younger brother, and returned to Alfred, "Are you? Friends that is?" Alfred nodded a little confused, "just friends?" Alastair continued to push Alfred, as if willing him to answer the question with the answer he wanted.

"What do you mean?" Alfred cocked his head slightly, signalling for Alastair to continue. To his surprise though, one of the twins – he thought it was Colin – answered instead.

"You see, my little American, my brothers and I have a little bet on. I believe that you and Arthur are best friends and nothing more; Alastair believes you're secretly dating and won't tell anyone; Shane is convinced that you're friends for the moment, but that will all change soon; Owain said he really didn't care, and was happy whatever; and Peter's too young and too annoying." The Irish boy explained with a wicked glint in his eye as he saw Alfred's cheeks flush, "Which is true?"

Unsure how to react, Alfred stared at the smirking brothers, "W-wh—I—I don't even know what you're on about any more! Me and Arthur are friends. And that was friends as of last night! We're hardly best friends, or not yet anyway, and we're certainly not dating, and I hope we never do!" Alfred blushed, waving his hands about.

Sighing, Alastair lit another cigarette, "It had to be so complicated, didn't it? Who the fuck gets the money now?"

"I think I should – I was closest!" Colin insisted.

"Aah, but dear brother, I think we all know that there's no way they're just going to stay friends. We know Arthur too well." Shane nodded knowingly, "Soon they will be dating – just you see! I think I deserve the money!"

Shaking his head, Alfred turned on the debating brothers, his cheeks burning. They really were odd.

"Wait a second." Colin suddenly realised what Alfred had said before, "You're not Arthur's best friend?"

"What? No! I can barely say we're friends. But hell, if I get to know him I don't see why we couldn't be best friends." Alfred shrugged indifferently.

Exchanging awkward looks, the brothers shared a sigh, "You do know that Arthur will have already put you on his mental best friend list? You're pretty much his very first friend." Colin explained.

"So what he's saying is don't let him know that you don't class him as a best friend yet. Knowing him and his weird feelings he'll probably get upset by it or something. He may be one hell of a pain in my beautiful backside, but we do care about him, believe it or not." Shane continued.

Wincing, Alfred could imagine Arthur getting hurt by something like that, what being all sensitive and everything. But hopefully Alfred would become fast friends with the boy, and this awkward, almost one way friendship wouldn't stick around for too long.

"Arthur may be a little shit at times, but we're his brothers." Alastair began, cracking his knuckles menacingly, "But, because I'm a fucking awesome brother, I will stick up for him if he gets hurt. And that will involve beating up whoever hurts him. Which could very well be you. So watch it, American, or you will be watching not only my fist, but the Twin's first, most defiantly Arthur's fist, and possibly even Owain and Peter's fists as well. Well, with Peter he's more likely to bit your kneecaps, but you get the picture."

Nodding very confidently, Alfred mock saluted, "Understood. I understand Arthur – I'll be the best friend in the universe for him!"

"Good. Now 'best friend in the world' go and follow those nerdy bookworms we call our brothers. Scram." Alastair commanded. Deciding it would be best to stay on the Scottish teenager's good side; Alfred did just that, and ran inside the bookshop to find Owain and Arthur just paying for their books, smiling to each other.

Little known to Alfred, Owain and Arthur had just had a similar conversation to the American's, only minus the swearing.

"So – Alfred…" Owain started, following Arthur around the classic book section, "You two seem… friendly."

Narrowing his eyes slightly and raising an eyebrow in question, Arthur flicked idly through a book, "Well surely that's the nature of friendship, Owain?"

"You know what I mean." The Welsh boy nudged him gently, grinning, "Why is he the only person in the bloody world you'll be friends with?"

Arthur pointedly ignored his brother.

"Arthur. Answer me or I'll start talking in Welsh."

Who knew Animal Farm could be so interesting, Arthur though to himself as he continued to ignore his brother.

"Dwi'n hoffi…" Owain began.

"Okay, okay! I'm talking!" Arthur growled, giving in sooner than the Welsh boy thought he'd have lasted. Closing Animal Farm and putting it safely back on it's place on the shelf, Arthur looked up at his brother, taking a deep breath, "Well, I guess Alfred understands me."

"And I don't?"

"You know I don't mean it like that – I mean he's the first person that's not related to me to understand me. He's been through what I've been through."

"I understand." The Welsh boy smiled, "So… Just friends?"

"What're you implying, brother?" Arthur suddenly got defensive, "Just because you've jumped out of the closet doesn't mean we all have."

Owain blushed at the obviously awkward memory of outing himself to his brothers, "Ah… Yeah sorry. I guess I jumped to conclusions. Well I'm glad you've made a friend, at least."

There was silence for a moment as they paid for their books, and Arthur looked up and genuinely smiled at his brother, "You know what? So am I."

That was when Alfred walked in – completely oblivious to the fact he'd just been the sole subject of the brother's conversations, both inside the bookshop and out.

"You two coming? 'parently Alastair wants to go and get some fishing tackle or something. And I was promised ice cream." The American grinned, patting his stomach patronisingly.

"You and your bloody stomach. Stupid American." Arthur muttered, with Owain giggling at his side.

"I heard that!" Alfred cried, running after the blonde, both of them sharing a huge grin.

Thanks to the Kirklands and their weird, protective family methods, Alfred finally began to understand Arthur and his family a bit more. Although they acted like they hated each other, each of the brothers were deep down very caring of each other. It wasn't much different to your average family – but of course with the Kirklands, everything was taken a few steps further.

A/N

I have a cold Q_Q Colds suck, no? It's like you're not ill enough to get a day off school, so you have to go in with a headache and a stupid cough XD
So yes~ This is where the romantic stuff kinda kicks off XD before this, Alfred is still really confused if the fact that most people in the school are gay. Of course we all know that because this is Hetalia – of COURSE they're (pretty much) all going to be gay XD but poor naïve Alfred doesn't know that ^^ So you'll have to discover who's bisexual, straight or gay (or hiding in the closet) as Alfred does XD and yes, Owain has already been outed XD And Matthew thinks he's straight. Lol. Not gunna happen, you deluded Canadian XD

So thank you for reading ^^ and thank you if you reviewed! :'D love you! And to Mrs. Kyouya Ootori, I try to make these twins stray away from your stereotypical twin, and that includes Kaoru and Hikaru, and Fred and George, because the whole ginger twin mischievous thing is being abused, no? X'D but I can't seem to write them in any other way Q_Q I hope they don't get too similar to the Hiitachins or the Weasleys X'D Also, I love Ouran, and your username really made me chuckle X3
Thank you very much for reading! :D

Also, the other pairings for this haven't really been decided yet, (apart from the obvious, unavoidable GerIta X'D) so if anyone wants to see a pairing, if it doesn't interfeir with any plans I have for future characters, (and if I support the pairing X'DDD ^^") then I can do my best to write it in :3
Au revoir, lovelies!