A/N: I just want to apologize for how long it has taken me to update this story. First, I had gone overnight for a week and hadn't had the chance to write at all, since I was literally either sleeping or working. And then I moved into an apartment with a friend from work, and come to find out that my laptop won't connect to her Internet. So, the only time I can realy update anymore is when I go over my boyfriend's house, or when I'm at my dad's house. Unless I can somehow connect my laptop to the Internet, I won't be able to update regularly anymore.
I'm sorry for such short notice, and I hope you all will continue to read this story through to the end. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Alfred watched in confusion as Arthur exited the locker room. He didn't notice the laughter at first, not until Gilbert walked up to him and placed a wet hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, man, that kid cracks me up." His laugh was loud, echoing through the locker room and drowning out the laughter of the others. Gilbert had always seemed to steal the attention when he was in a group of people, no matter what was going on.
Alfred turned to Gilbert as he slipped his shirt over his head. "But what's so funny?" he asked once his shirt was all the way on. His eyes shifted to the door leading out of the locker room one more time before turning back to his locker to finish dressing.
Alfred heard Gulbert scoff behind him. "You mean you didn't hear that girlish noise that kid made?" Even without seeing his face, Alfred could picture Gulbert's expression of disbelief just by his tone of voice.
"I honestly wasn't paying attention. I've been thinking about this practice all day. I don't really have time to think about anything else," Alfred explained. He reached for his shoes and a fresh pair of socks from his locker as he spoke.
Gilbert moved closer. "So, you think Coach is going to fall for it?" The albino's face was only a few inches from Alfred's ear, his breath moist and hot as he spoke. Alfred suppressed a shiver, moving farther down the bench and leaning over to put on his shoes and socks.
"More than likely," Alfred confirmed. "He never turns the light on when he walks into the closet, so I don't see why today would be any different. I just hope Kodi is smart enough to stay hidden so Coach doesn't know who did it."
Gulbert scoffed. "Kodi is an idiot. Of course he'll get caught. But that's going to be the exciting part, not the prank itself."
Alfred shook his head, chuckling under his breath as the bell rang to dismiss class. Standing from the bench, Alfred followed the rest of the guys out of the locker room and made his way with Gilbert to their next classes.
Alfred didn't notice at first that Arthur wasn't in his seat in the next class. It was Gilbert who had point it out, chuckling wickedly as he tossed a balled up piece of paper in the direction of the empty seat. "It isn't as fun when he isn't there to get angry. Right, Al?"
Alfred looked up from his paper, his eyes going immediately to Arthur's empty seat. It was three rows over and two chairs up from where Alfred and Gilbert's seats were in the back of the classroom. He watched as Gilbert pulled another piece of paper out of his notebook, writing a short note on the one side and crumbling it up again.
Alfred reached over and grabbed the paper out of Gilbert's hand before he could throw it again. Gilbert's cry of surprise was silenced by the teacher's harsh clearing of her throat. Instead, he leaned over and whispered loudly to get Alfred's attention. "What's the deal, man?"
"He isn't even here. Pay attention to the work for once, will ya?" Alfred turned his attention back to the work laid out on his desk before him, stuffing the balled up piece of paper into his backpack. He heard Gilbert huff beside him, but the obnoxious albino stayed silent for the rest of the class.
Arthur hadn't been in calculus, and Alfred couldn't help but notice. Normally, he wouldn't have cared, but the comments Gilbert had made throughout the classes and within the hallway, and even during the warm ups before practice, made Alfred more aware of the smaller blonde's location (or lack thereof) than before.
The loud burst of laughter that came from the group of linemen gathered around Gilbert was no doubt because of his hundreth retelling of the incident in the locker room. Alfred was down on the bottom of the bleachers, relacing his shoes so they didn't fall off this time. His knee throbbed painfully from the fall he had taken the first time they had run through one of their plays.
"Gilbert, drop it, will ya?" Alfred called up the bleachers. "It's time for practice, not gossip."
Gilbert's scoff was loud. "Practice is almost over, actually. Which is disappointing, considering the fact that Coach never went into the storage shed. He always goes into the storage shed before practice. It's where he keeps his stash."
The group of guys gathered around Gilbert laughed at what Alfred assumed was a silly face the albino had made. Or it could have been the mocking tone of voice when he said the word "stash."
Alfred straightened up when he was finished with his laces, trying to wipe the dirt and grass off his clothes as best he could. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a few of the cheerleaders heading their way.
Leading the group was Alice, the school's "flyer." Her long, blonde hair was pinned on the top of her head, her practice shorts were way too short for her long legs, and her toned stomach peeked through the bottom of her shirt.
Admittedly, Alice was beautiful. She was the most beautiful girl in the school, and for reason, she had this weird thing for Alfred that he didn't understand. He never showed any interest in her, (never showed any particular interest in any girl, for that matter) but he guessed that was why Alice was so into him. People tend to be drawn to things and people they can't have.
"Well, hello there, ladies," Gilbert cooed from beside Alfred. He must have jumped down from the top when he had noticed the girls coming. None of the other guys were around, either, which Alfred thought was weird, but he didn't question it. He assumed Gilbert told them to scram so he could score a threesome. The pervert.
Gilbert put his elbow on Alfred's shoulder as he slicked back his hair, his pearly white teeth flashing in the sun. Alice approached the two men, but turned her back to Gilbert as she leaned the side of her body against Alfred's chest. Her hand laid flat against his heart, fingers drumming against his body to the beat of his heart.
"So, Alfred," Alice began, her fingers still drumming against his chest. "I heard you have a nasty prank against the coach set up? Maybe you can tell me about it over dinner? We could go somewhere out of town, so no one we know could interrupt."
Alfred placed his hands on Alice's arms and pushed her away gently. "Sorry, Alice, but I have something to do later tonight Maybe another day." A lie, but she didn't need to know that.
Gilbert laughed loudly and threw his arms around Alfred's shoulders, forcing Alice to back up even more. "Yeah, girl, he has more important things to do. They involve a certain little exchange student and the locker room, isn't that right, buddy?" Gilbert's cackle echoed in the wind that blew gently across the football field.
Alfred's face turned red as he saw the expression that crossed Alice's face. He watched as they changed from disbelief, to disgust, to uncertainty, to rejection. Her shoulders slumped. "I guess that explains the lack of interest." Her voice was small as she spoke, her head falling forward so her hair covered her face.
Alfred shoved himself away from Gilbert. "I'm not gay, man, and there isn't anything between that kid and me." Alfred's face was still burning red as he spoke, his mouth twisting into a grimace as Alice stared at him accusingly.
Gilbert threw his arms around Alfred's shoulders again, this time holding on tighter than before. "He wants there to be something, my friend. Why don't you go entertain him? Show him a good time? Give him a reason to drool over you?"
Gilbert winked at Alice as he spoke, his grip tightening around Alfred. "What are you talking about, Gilbert?" Alfred asked as he struggled to remove the albino's arms from his body. He never took his eyes off of Alice, however, as he watched her gaze shift between the two football players.
Alfred felt Gilbert's hot breath as the albino placed his mouth right beside Alfred's ear. "I'm saying, you entertain the kid in his fantasies, and we can all have a laugh afterwards about how infatuated with you he is."
Alfred's heart thumped at the suggestion, but he couldn't figure out if it was anticipation or regret at even thinking about doing it. He knew Gilbert liked to play games, (and frankly, he did, too) but he couldn't see how messing with the school's loneliest kid would bring anyone joy.
Alice jumped forward, placing her hands on Alfred's chest. "You mean that weird British kid? Oh man, that would be so funny. He is so strange and quiet. Maybe if you 'hang out' with him, he will be more social."
"So... you both want me to sleep with him? I don't get it." Alfred looked between the two, his stomach beginning to turn at the looks on their faces.
Gilbert finally released him. "Well, you could sleep with him, but that would be a little gross, now wouldn't it? I just want you to embarrass him. Get him to think that you're genuinely interested in him, and then expose him to the whole school. It isn't that difficult. Just having a conversation with him would probably make him think you're in love with him."
Alice was nodding her head enthusiastically. "Although," she added, "iIf you do sleep with him, make sure to film it. If that video got out, it would definitely ruin him."
"And me!" Alfred snapped, his face flushing at the thought of there being video evidence of him being "romantically involved" with the strange British kid.
Alice shrugged and smirked. "Oh well, mate." Her lips jutted out into a fake pout, her hands coming up and shoulders shrugging to show that she didn't really care. "Well, if you boys don't mind, I have to go find myself a new man, since this one isn't into what I have to offer. Bye-bye!" With a wave of her fingers, Alice and the other cheerleaders disappeared.
"So!" Gilbert exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air and slapping them onto Alfred's shoulders. "What do you say?"
Alfred tilted his mouth to the side as he pretended to think about it. "What's in it for me if I do it?"
Gilbert looked up to the sky as he thought. "Hmmm... well, I could do all the free weed you want, as long as you humiliate the pants off that kid. Deal?"
Alfred's eyebrows flew up into his hairline. Gilbert... giving up his weed just to make sure a kid got humiliated? It was almost too good to be true, but the proof was right before him, sitting in a small ziplock bag dangling from Gilbert's fingertips.
Alfred snatched the bag from the albino quarterback. "Are you fucking stupid? Don't pull that shit out here! I'll do it, just make sure not to be dumb like that anymore." The bag of weed was stuffed into Alfred's duffel bag, and the boys made their way to the locker room to clean themselves up.
While in the shower, Alfred thought of what he could do to convince Arthur he wanted to hang out. When he remembered the incident before, he knew what he had to do. Taking out his phone, Alfred searched through his contacts, wondering if he had even saved the kid's number from last year. When the name "Transfer Student" came up, Alfred knew exactly who it was and sent him a quick, short message.
With a deep breath, Alfred gathered his things and shot Gilbert a murderous look. The albino flashed Alfred a toothy grin and winked, disappearing out the door and onto the football field.
A/N: This chapter wasn't that great, I know, but I tried my best. And in case it wasn't super clear, yes, Alice is Fem!America. I am horrible. I tried, though, so that's all that counts.
