Warnings: (lol probably shoulda done this in the last chapter. Whoops.) Implied drug and alcohol abuse. By the way, there is a potential that one or more characters will get high/drunk in any upcoming chapters.

I knew what I probably should have done, being packed into a grocery aisle with multiple people who I don't particularly enjoy the company of at the moment. It would have involved standing there silently, letting the two individuals who seemed so unreal just being in the same vicinity, one strongly disliking the other, letting them do whatever unpredictable things they were about to do. That is, if Arthur was being rhetorical about his earlier question. But I won't ever know.

"S-sorry for bumping into you." I nearly whisper to Arthur before backing up completely. My steps take me as far as Abel, who thankfully everyone is looking at. Bella shattered the silence.

"No Abel, we always get 1%. You are so hopeless!" The blonde huffs. Her eyes drift to mine quickly, visual communication saying it all. She wants me to know that she acknowledged my movement. Anything she's thinking beyond that is out of reach, she doesn't give any real emotion away.

"I-I'll go back with you!" The young man's eyes travelled down to meet mine, a look of curiosity in those pale green eyes. "I-if you don't mind."

"Who're you?" Gilbert spits, red eyes locked on Abel, and I can't be sure if he's intentionally sounding rude about it or if that's just how he addresses things.

"Can you really not make the connections yourself? He just asked Bella what kind of milk she wanted, what does that suggest to you?" Arthur asked, voice very much condescending with a disapproving scowl on his face to match.

Gilbert looked between the siblings, eyes narrowed and seemingly in very much thought. Just taking Arthur's suggestion in at all instead of instantly shooting him down was rather unexpected. It always seemed the dislike Arthur had for him was neutral, but maybe it was just Arthur's projected and enlarged perspective that was felt too strongly for it to be just a one-sided thing. But here was Gilbert, and never once had he looked at Arthur in a mean way or even really took notice of the Brit at all.

"…lovers?"

…What? While my mind was too busy progressing what Gilbert had just said, Bella had busted out laughing. Looking at her was much easier than thinking. Her entire face was a bright, glowing red, tears were forming at the corner's of her eyes from the sheer joy Gilbert brought her in such a backwards innocent answer. Once again her brilliance outshone everything else, all the stresses and people to deal with faded in the back as I slowly giggled, the small noise being absorbed into Bella's louder one and that was okay with me. Arthur had been laughing the whole time, rather than a good-natured chuckle they were more like short barks, cynical in style and presentation. Kat had joined in just before I did, the tips of her ears a rosy pink.

Gilbert's face grew in annoyance at the prospect of being, well, laughed at. "Okay I get it, I was dead wrong. Ha ha, so fucking hilarious."

"So he gets it now." Arthur commented, but went largely ignored.

Bella rights herself up, shoulder's shaking and wiping at her eyes, laughter still on her face. "He's my brother." She says breathlessly, trying to calm down.

I had almost forgotten about him, and upon being reminded I turned to look at him, but not upwards to avoid his face. He looks as intimidating as Mr. Vargas. But instead of glancing at a solid body beside me there was nothing but air and the shelves. Panicking, I backed up a bit more, ready to bolt at any given second. Abel must have ditched when Bella started the laughing riot.

"I-I'm gonna go make sure he doesn't get lost, being new to the city and all…" My voice cracks and I know it sounds falsely cheerful and just plain wrong but it's the best I can muster with being so overwhelmingly flustered and nothing to distract me anymore.

"You don't have to go." Bella said, and the other three nodded along with her, looking like they were about to say something too.

"N-no, it's fine" Nearly at the end and not about to give up the opportunity for anything, I step away from their sight. It's too much to handle, having Gilbert and Arthur together. They aren't supposed to exist together, they're supposed to be on different plains of reality. One the old world containing Arthur and Alfred and all things reserved and quiet and just how they're supposed to be while the new is fresh and exciting with Gilbert and Bella and kind of scary but not too fast. Not so fast and light that I lose myself. Then there's Kat who exists in both, what keeps me grounded and reminds me that these realities aren't so big and all-consuming, they're my high school life.

That thought calms me down as I find my way to the dairy section. Kat knows that this is only one part, one miniscule fraction of what I'll be going through for the rest of my days. All these outcomes, they feel so big and important, too dramatic for my liking but that's what it is. And maybe I'm starting to give into all of this teenage drama and I don't really know if that's because I'm inclined to do it as a youth or because I'm tired. Just so tired of being boring whether I'm naturally like that or not, I see all these people around me who are always looking like they're enjoying themselves more than me. Like they're happy. And maybe that's all I want, to surround myself with happiness so that maybe it will rub off on me too. I know I'm not sad, at least that's never what it felt like, more as if I were just going through the motions and maybe just subconsciously waiting. Waiting for happiness to come to me. But maybe that's not how happiness works.

There he is, jug of milk in hand and starting to walk away. As I catch up to Abel, I start to wonder if he ever feels the same way. Does he think escaping away with the use of drugs and alcohol brings him happiness? I can't be the judge of that having never tried before, but he has to do it for something. Otherwise there would be no point. And while I'm contemplating this Able startles, a breathy sort of noise coming from his lips. I glance to my side to see what he's looking at.

It's me. I must've forgotten to make my presence known. Well, nothing I can do about that now.

"What the hell…?" He mutters, not angry at all.

"I-I s-said I wanted to… -to come with you, if that was okay." The words barely got past my lips, stumbling over each other as if, after waiting impatiently in line they all just decided to push their way through instead.

"Didn't really think getting milk required company."

"O-oh, well I'll go if you want." Of course, why would he want me to come along? I haven't made a single effort to even look at the guy, he could probably tell I was trying to avoid him or something. It must have been annoying for him that I just invited myself along.

"No, you're already here. Just afraid you were going to be one of those annoying teenage girls, can't exactly handle that attitude while sober."

What can I say to that? 'Oh, thanks for not mucking me up with the rest of my age group, wouldn't want to be associated with that kind'.

He laughed, a deep baritone that must go all the way down to his stomach, like every part of him was feeling it. "Shit, not expecting that sort of response from you."

W-what? Did I just say that out loud?! Dear God he's going to start thinking I'm some sort of smart-alicky, over-confident stick in the mud like Arthur! I'm only maybe two of those things.

"So Bella's friend, what exactly was it back there that I witnessed? Seemed kind of fucked up where I was standing."

"We just ran into some people from school." My voice evens-out a little as I found an acceptable, very general answer. I was even proud of myself for how clearly I spoke.

"Than how come you, my sister and that other chick all looked like you were about to go into cardiac arrest or some shit?"

What exactly did this guy see? He popped up right after I stumbled into Arthur, so I must have looked horrified. Okay that's a little harsh, more like overwhelmingly shocked. The other's must have had varying degrees of surprise written on their faces too, except Gilbert. No, he probably never cared about Arthur's sudden appearance to begin with.

When I didn't say anything in turn Abel merely carried the idle chatter along. "So which one are you; Katyusha, Madeline or Elizabeta?"

"She's talked about us before?" I ask in wonder.

"Sure, all the time."

"W-well, I'm Madeline."

At that Abel looked down at me, studying my appearance and making things rather uncomfortable for me. "Makes sense I guess, with how she described you guys."

"W-what kind of things did she tell you? I-if you d-don't mind my asking…"

He shrugged noncommittally. "Dumb things, mostly tied into how her day went. Kind of tuned her out."

We walked on in silence for a bit, stopping off a lot so he could take closer looks at items on the shelves. "So I'm guessing the other girl over there is Katyusha." He piped up.

"U-uh yeah… how… -how did you know that?"

"Something about how you two are together all the time, can't remember the details. And she talks about you two the most."

"Oh…"

"We should find them." Abel straightened up, staring at me.

"Yeah, okay." I agree easily following his step as we make our way to the side of the store we left them in, searching the aisles for familiar faces. When we did stumble upon them, I searched for signs of thick eyebrows or white hair, and found both. They hadn't left yet. The scene was almost comical actually, Bella acting as commander and ordering the others to gather food items and stock it in a cart, with them following her guidance wordlessly. Well, almost wordlessly, Arthur could be seen mumbling incoherently under his breath, most likely irritated at being bossed around.

With absolutely no eloquence, Abel spoke. "We're back."

Hardly glancing in our direction to begin with Bella sprung forward, engulfing me in one of her bone-crushing hugs as if I'd been gone for years. "Maddie why'd you have to leave me and Kat with these two idiots just to go with another idiot?! Not to mention he's my disgusting brother, you're too pure to be around someone like him!" She whined, needy voice too loud in my ear.

"Cut the fucking dramatics, Bell, you're giving me a headache. And would you please stop squeezing people to death?" Abel pulled Bella off of me, shoving the milk into her hands. "Now I would just love to play house some more with you and your little friends, but frankly this is taking too long and I want to take a nap."

She gave him a dirty glare, then tossed the milk into the cart carelessly without breaking eye contact. "Whatever. Go find us a spot in line, I just need to get a couple things first." He did as she said, walking off down the aisle.

"Your brother is weird as hell, Bella." Gilbert commented once Abel was out of sight.

"Coming from the albino kid, not sure how much value that particular statement holds."

"Ouch, low blow, Bell." For effect he held his heart, feigning a pained expression.

"You'll be fine. Now-" She looped an arm around Kat's shoulder and lead her over to me so we stood as one, blonde unit. "I'm glad you boys took the time to help us, but we really must be going before my most dreaded brother blows a gasket."

"I should be going now anyways, supposed to meet Luddy at HMV fifteen minutes ago." With that Gilbert started walking off, "See ya Maddie, Bell, Kat." He nodded at the three of us as he passed with a lingering smile. "And…" He glanced back at Arthur for a fleeting moment. "British guy. Cool accent by the way, not as awesome as my own voice, though."

"Sod off!" Arthur barked in turn.

Gilbert only laughed at the retort as he too left the group. He seems very amused by Arthur if their interactions so far have amounted to anything. Maybe in time, if Arthur starts hanging around us more, that could be more than a possibility. Lord knows that Arthur could use a few more friends. Hopefully he'll sit with us again at lunch tomorrow. Gilbert hasn't done so yet, but it would probably be for the best if he didn't while Arthur's around.

"Well Arthur its been real, but I'm afraid we're off. Please, feel free to buy as many fish and chips, biscuits and scones that this fine establishment has to offer. Cheerio!" She gave a short wave before spinning herself and Kat, beckoning for me to follow.

"W-wait!" He calls before I even get the chance to turn with them. "Er… Madison-" He looked uncomfortably at Bella and Kat.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll leave you two alone so you can be all awkward and weird or whatever the hell." Bella offered, going out of the aisle as well.

"You're not going to scold me again, are you? You got the chance to see Bella's brother, too, so I'm sure you have something to say about him as well. Go on and tell me about people you barely know yourself."

"Wha- no! No, that's not what I was going to-" He interrupted himself again, running his hand through his hair. "You know you really are getting harder to talk to, these days. Bloody hell compared to you Alfred's getting to be a walk in the park."

"I've always been like this, you just haven't noticed." I say, a lot quieter because although I want him to know I don't at the same time. He looked like he might have heard, just for a second, with the growing amount of frustration written on his face falling. But it was only for a second.

"I wanted to know if you left like that because I showed up." He said honestly, so bluntly and forward that I had to process it for a moment.

"I-…I-it's less like that and well, not really you, specifically, b-but more the situation a-and you- you just don't like Gilbert!" I blurted. "So what am I supposed to do when you show up, and we're all together and he's there?"

"I already know that you all hang out together."

But it was like his words went right through me. "We both know what you think of them and even though I can't change that, I-" I slowed down, realizing what I was saying, and to who. These sorts of things can't be told to him, not to Arthur. He needs to be handled delicately, always with caution, to be danced around and each step avoiding an eggshell. "I-I'm sorry, Arthur, I didn't mean to stick you with them, I know it must have been really annoying for you."

Arthur was dumbfounded. His mouth agape and almost disbelieving. Did he not think my apology was up to par or something? "Madison I'm not mad at you, why are you saying sorry?"

Now it was my turn to have my mouth hanging open slightly. "B-because… you don't like Gilbert." I said slowly, deliberately so maybe he won't keep prodding.

"Seriously?" He asked incredulously. "That's- I don't even know what to say about that! It's not your fault I don't like him, Madison, that's my problem. Will you please just think about that for a moment?" And his tone was growing more infuriated, more annoyed and high-strung by the minute.

"O-okay Arthur, if that's what you want…" Somehow, I don't like him getting mad anymore. Maybe because those emerald eyes are looking at everything but me. Or there could just be a difference.

"No! Just- you wanted to hang out with them, right?"

"Y-yeah, but-"

"Just forget about what I think, alright? Don't worry about it so much."

"Okay, but you…-you won't ignore me for it, will you?"

"Bloody hell, no, I won't! I promise."

"That's… good, thank you." With that ordeal taken care of, the conversation suddenly felt a lot more tense as I took in everything.

"So, see you at school tomorrow." Arthur said curtly, petering back a bit.

"S-sure, a-and you should have lunch with us, too. Alfred will be there, if you don't mind that."

"He's not so bad when his head's out of his arse." We parted ways, me going down the aisle after Bella, Kat and the rest, and Arthur the opposite way. Walking to the check out lines, it dawns on me that Arthur never said why he was here. Or, if he did, I wasn't there.

By the time I regrouped with Bella, Abel and Kat they were already getting their items scanned. Kat was the first to take notice of my arrival, smiling at me. "Hello again, Maddie." She greets.

At the sound of my name, Bella spins around and pulls me right next to her, so close that our shoulders touch. "What did that Kirkland boy want with my fair, ever lovely lady Madeline?" She inclines.

"The real question is how the hell you knew Gilbert was going to be here." I grill.

"Ah, the fair lady also knows how to switch subjects smoothly, I will give her that. If she must know, the handsome, if questionable sir had informed me of his meeting with his most likely equally attractive brother. Not that Gilbert is attractive, his attitude generally ruins that aspect for him. Oh but I'm getting side-tracked, I just so happened to mention we'd be going to that very mall even though we weren't, and we so happened to decide to rendezvous here. It was all rather happenstance."

"Happenstance my ass." I mumble, which she catches and only grins at.

"It wasn't so bad, Maddie." Kat cuts in.

"You're on her side. I bet you knew from the beginning." Kat flinches at the accusatory tone.

"Don't go tainting sweet Katyusha's honour like that, she's a very good girl. Unlike you, who avoids questions and generally acts un-cute. Such a shame."

"Do you know what Arthur was doing here?" I inquire, taking my chances.

She sighs lightly. "There she goes again. You're like the energizer bunny sometimes, I swear. What do you think people do at a grocery store? He was shopping just like us."

"Bella got him to stay and help once you left." Kat said.

"Really it was cute, he was like a fish out of water when you up and left like that, so confused." Bella cooed. "But he's still a pain." She slipped in.

"R-really?"

"Yes fair lady, it's all ringing with truth. Especially the 'being a pain' part. Though it might have been more to do with how you're the only one of us he actually likes."

"He was rather awkward the whole time." Kat noted.

"But very compliant! Sort of." Bella remarked proudly.

"Will you girls shut up for a second and pass me that can?" Abel cut in, pointing at one lone can of beans or soup or something, the last item they had to scan. Abel had been doing all the work so far, skirting around them to grab food items as they idly chattered and bringing them up for the cashier to scan and bag. Kat handed said can to him, and he took it swiftly.

"Hope you're happy with your stupid can Abel, may you two live in holy matrimony forever and ever till death do you part." Bella said sarcastically, heavily dosed in venom.

"I am, we'll be kicking you out soon enough too, to get more alone time." He played along, just as spiteful.

With just the four of us together again, the tension between the siblings had risen up in full force once more. I've heard of sibling squabbles before, and even been witness to a few between Kat and her siblings, but none could measure up to these two. Speaking harshly in private was one thing, but in front of God and everyone? That was a whole new level. The fight itself, or whatever it was they were having, had to have lasted for a long time. Bella, for the entirety of the time I have known her, has always spoken with conviction of her brother. I may have known her for a short amount of time, but a month is a little too long to hold such a strong grudge between brother and sister.

I might just be comparing it too much to my own relationship with Alfred, and even if we aren't really siblings we may as well be. For as much as Bella has spoken about herself, I may have tuned her out too much to quite understand how their brother and sister duo work. Not everyone has such an easy time as I do with their close relatives.

She snorted at that, then faced her back towards him as if he didn't exist. "As a thank you for putting up with my insufferable brother, we'll be driving you guys back to your homes."

I was quick to object. "No, that's okay Bella. My house is only a couple blocks away, no need to waste gas." No way in hell do I want to be in a metal contraption with Bella and Abel together for any period of time.

"I was just going to take the bus." Kat said sheepishly. "I wouldn't want to be a hassle."

"Neither of you could be a hassle to me. Really, it's no skin off my back."

"Said the girl who doesn't pay for the gas." Abel muttered.

She glared at him, quickly taking a few bags into her hands. "Says the girl who drives." She retorted in challenge.

"You don't drive?" I ask quizzically, without any real thought as to what I was saying. He wouldn't bother answering anyways.

"Yes-"

"No." Bella said in contradiction.

"-I just prefer not to."

Although the knowledge that, for whatever reason, Abel didn't like to drive should have stuck out to me, it didn't. Instead there was a satisfying, pleasant feeling at the pit of my stomach. They both took in what I said. Bella may have heard every word I stuttered and whispered for these past few weeks but it was still unforgettable every time I witnessed it. Kind of pathetic, taking so much enjoyment out of as little as someone else's attention. And Abel, tall, intimidating Abel had quickly recognized me just as Bella had. It must be something about Belgian people.

That was how Kat, Bella, Abel and I all ended up tightly packed into a ford pickup truck, the fiery spirited Bella at the helm. Being closest to the mall it was decided that I would be dropped off first. Afraid of just what kind of driver Bella was, I kept an eye on her the entire way. She proved herself to be a decent driver, at least, so I keep that in mind for the next time.

The next few days had turned out to be rather ordinary. Arthur sat with us at lunch on Friday much to Bella's distaste, the Englishman mostly spoke to Alfred though so she didn't complain much about it afterwards. The weekend went smoothly, my mom and I going on our scheduled hunting trip together. Monday, being Monday, was horrible. Tuesday came, with it the promise of a day trip to Camp Encounter with my P.E. class.

Bella, being much too energetic for a normal person at all hours of the day, made sure we got a seat at the very back of the yellow bus that would transport us to the camp. She wasn't the only one excited for the bus ride, everyone seemed to be much chattier than usual. Bella wouldn't stop talking about how the boy's class were coming, too.

"Ya know, Maddie, towards the end of the semester, one of those boys will be our partners for the dance unit." She said conspiratorially, and none too quietly.

"Please, don't remind me."

"Aw, come on! There are a few cute ones here. If you're lucky, I'll let you have first pick of the ones who'll undoubtedly fight to the death for the chance of dancing with me."

"You never told me what happened with your coach. If she got mad at you guys or not."

"You've got a nice silver tongue there Maddie, I like it. She was a total hard ass, but since Kat, Liz and I are perfect in every way a person can be, she didn't really bitch at us."

"That's good to hear." I say absently. Really, I'm just glad Katyusha was spared. If there's anyone she hates to disappoint, it's her instructors. I know this first hand, since I'm the same way.

"Kat's never mentioned anything about a crush to me before. Do you know if she likes anyone, Maddie?"

"Have you tried asking her yourself?"

"No, she'd just get all flustered and clam up. You may be stubborn, but that girl can hold things in like a vault."

"Well the last boy she liked was two years older than us, he graduated last year so we haven't seen him since. I don't even know his name." Katyusha didn't talk about him much, just got all moony eyed around him. He was good looking, tan skin with coffee coloured hair and soil brown eyes.

"So did she tell you she liked him or did you guess?"

I narrow my eyes suspiciously at her. "Why do you want to know?"

"No reason, I was just thinking about maybe setting her up. Only if she wants, of course."

"So then what made you the designated love guru?"

Bella snorted. "Love guru? Jeez, Maddie, I thought you'd come up with 'love expert' or 'matchmaker'."

"A-Alfred made me watch that movie with him, okay? It just kinda got stuck in my head, I guess."

"Huh, I don't think I've heard of it before." She mused, propping her legs up against the back of the seat in front of us.

"Uhm… Bella, I know now may not be a good time to ask but felt texting wouldn't be good and I wanted it to be between us two so… what's the matter with you and your brother?"

She blinked at me. Then, slowly, gave me a smile. "Haven't you been paying any attention? I thought you were more observant than that. I mean, it's pretty obvious, we argue because he gets high all the time and goes out to clubs, and hits on underage girls. Well, he does more than hit on them…"

"But… why does he do that?" I know I'm imposing, and it's not very nice to try and force people to tell you things when they don't want to, but I believe that Bella and I are, at least somewhat, friends. At least I consider us to be, and she's made it abundantly clear that she saw things that way from the beginning.

She lowered her head, resting it on her propped up legs and turning away from me. Her voice came out as a raspy breathe. "He's a selfish person. He thinks that drowning himself in these things will make all his problems disappear when they won't. It helps him forget and that's alright with him, and maybe it would be alright in general if it didn't affect me, too. He's supposed to be stronger than that."

"I've never tried drugs before. Well, my dad's suggested I take a shot every year at New Year's since I was ten, and my health teacher once said that alcohol counts so-"

Bella chuckled. "I used to go to a lot of parties. Obviously none here, but it's not like I've been here long. I don't think I'll go to another party again though."

I frown. "How come? Is it because of, uh, your-"

"No, not him. He's been like that for a long time." Does that mean they've been fighting just as long? "It's just a decision I made when we moved."

"Oh… I think that's really responsible of you." Each time I get to know Bella a little bit better, it feels like she's less of a crazy, possibly manipulative girl and more like she's just like the rest of us. Trying to figure things out.

The conversation started to take a shift and soon enough we got to camp Encounter. The bus rolled up to an open entrance with a sign displaying the location, a wide makeshift parking lot with dirt just in front of a large, wooden general office for the facility. Slowly we all trickled out of the bus, where campsite workers and the P.E. teachers gathered and stood before us, ready to put us all in groups. Our teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, had put Bella and I in the same group as the bun-blonde who has repeatedly harassed me. What fun.

As it turns out, her name actually is Laura. She gives me a snide look when Mrs. Mitchell calls out who's in the fourth group, as if I bribed the teacher to put us together. Like I would want to do that, I would have a better time with the devil in my group. At least he wouldn't be tormenting just me.

I get a nudge to my side. "So it looks like bun-girl really is the other candidate. You think we'll get some dirt on her while we're here?"

I don't say anything. What's the point? Bella doesn't know my problems with this girl, no need for both of us to have a bad time over it. When all the group arrangements are made, Bella and I walk towards the bored looking guy with the number four, our groups number, on a tag planted against his blue shirt. When the other four are spread out around him, too, he begins our day.

"So there's lot's of stuff we have to get through, any of you have something in mind you want to do first?" His voice is like molasses, rolling across his tongue.

Bella sticks her hand up immediately, and doesn't wait for him to acknowledge her. "Oh, oh, I wanna go canoeing first! No, I change my mind, rock climbing!"

He looks at her indifferently. "Anyone else have any requests? No? Okay, let's get moving." He hardly gives us a chance to speak but no one seems particularly bothered by it as we take a dirt path through the forest. Eventually we get to said rock climbing wall, where another group is just getting their equipment on.

"Alright, you can only go two at a time, don't do anything stupid. Equipment is over here." We all follow him to the set up area. Bella volunteers for us to go first, and the guy helps us put all the necessary straps on before we go.

"This is gonna be so great, Maddie! I've never really been an outdoors person before but I think I could get used to it." Without waiting for me to be ready Bella jumps at the wall, encasing her foot on two crevices. That is as far as she goes with as much enthusiasm, as she becomes too concentrated with the task of deciding where her feet should go. By the time she makes it halfway up the wall I'm already on my way down, just about to surpass her.

"Hey, how'd you-"

"I've been to summer camps before, rock climbing is a pretty regular activity there."

She looks at me dejectedly and I have to roll my eyes. "Don't worry, just keep going." She nods, still not convinced, and places one foot higher.

Yet again no one objects to Bella's desire to go canoeing. It's a two person activity again, so Bella and I partner up. With the way things are going, it seems that I'll never have to come face to face with Laura at any point. That doesn't stop Bella from talking about her.

"Do you think she hates you?" Bella asks as we're at the lake, paddle in hand.

"Who?"

She tilts her had at one of the other canoes at a much further range. "Laura."

"Why do you think that? D-does she make fun of me when I'm not paying attention?"

"What? No, well actually I don't know. Don't talk to her much, she seems like one of those too-good-for-you girls, right? I just mean since everyone likes you more."

"N-no one likes me more, no one even knows me."

"Sure they do! You're a way more popular vote than she is, according to my media sources. Then again that might be because I pimp you out like a classy whore, but it's still true. No one even mentions her when it comes to the elections, just you, Feliciano and Felix. It would make more sense if she hated me though, since I am the one working like a dog to make you noticeable."

"N-no, it's me she doesn't like…" I admit under my breathe.

"Huh. She really must be a sore loser then."

"I guess…" I agree, though that isn't the whole of it. Unless Laura is psychic or something and knew I was going to be her competition on that first day of school, then there's no way that could be the only thing to it.

We row some more. "I found out there's only going to be one debate thingy before election day, so you don't need to sweat about that part too much. After school we could even write down some notes for you, and when the debate comes just pretend like it's just you arguing with Alfred."

I nod, hardly caring about the election stuff. Camp Encounter really isn't a bad place. It's one of the summer camps I went to when I was younger, my parents sending me away so they could get some alone time. The first time was awful, I cried for hours when they dropped me off. At night I had restless sleep and I could hardly swallow the food they gave me. It got better, when they allowed Alfred to come with me. It wasn't so lonely.

I secretly gaze over at Bella. If she weren't here, this whole entire day trip would've been lonely. Or, if not that than boring. Before long we all row back to the docks and rope the canoes so they don't drift off into any random directions. We take a break, heading to the mess hall for lunch. Predictably, Bella and I sit together. But to my great annoyance, the leader of our group forced us all to sit at the table, so Laura is sitting across from me and a few seats over.

"-no, I've always thought using things like face book and twitter was kinda like cheating. I mean, where's the spirit of an equal campaign?" Laura says loudly, conversing with the girl next to her who looks all too interested in what she has to say.

"Yeah, that's so true. Plus it's so attention-seeking." The girl says in complete agreement.

"See, you get it." Laura gives her a contrived smile, like she just taught her what two plus two was.

Bella gives the two a curious look, catching on to what they were saying. She's much more open than I am about staring, directly looking rather than giving subtle glances. The other girl, not Laura, stares back when she notices. Although she looks on the offence, there's a feeling that she's a little intimidated by Bella's green stare down.

"Do you have a problem?"

"No, I just happened to hear what you guys were talking about."

"Uhm, eavesdropper, much?"

Bella shrugs. "It just got me thinking, is all. I don't see how using social media could be cheating. Everyone has access to it after all, it's not like it's an exclusive think that only some people can use."

Laura gave her a tight smile. "Yes, but traditionally it's just not in the spirit of things, where people run an honest election and speak about their issues in font of each other-"

"Who says it's not honest? People can just as easily lie to your face as they can on a screen. Politicians in real life do it all the time. Hell, tons of elections today use social media, it's a lot easier to get your message across, more convenient." Bella was heated, like she couldn't believe what Laura was even saying.

"Well I guess it's just a matter of opinion." Laura looked down at her food, taking a bite out of her sandwich.

Bella looked like she was about to take that sandwich and throw it across the room but thought better of it. The ordeal had quieted her done a fair deal, she hardly talked throughout the rest of the break.

When we were all waiting for our turns at the zip line, Bella spoke more freely once Laura and the other girl made it across. "That chick is such a bitch, trashing my methods right in front of me. Not even really in front of me either, just enough for me to hear. Probably thought I wouldn't say anything about it."

The guy in charge of the zip line get's me to put on some safety equipment, as I'm close to the front of the line. "S-she's just mad, what you've been doing is working and she's just not happy."

"Doesn't mean she has to be a jealous dick about it."

We moved up a bit in the line. "It probably made her feel better."

"She's just lucky I'm not Liz, 'cause if I were than I would've kicked her ass. Unfortunately I care about being a lady."

The person ahead of me goes down. "Liz wouldn't actually do anything, she'd just say she would like you're doing right now. None of you guys would actually beat someone up."

The guy in charge pats my back, forcing me forward. He instructs me to wrap my hands around the handle and tells me to push off. All I can hear is Bella, still talking behind me. "That's what you think. Gilbert's beaten people up before."

"W-what?!" But I'm too late, the words drag out as the wind rips them out of me, and even if Bella heard properly I'm already away. My breathe is figuratively and physically pulled out of me so that I can't get oxygen back in quick enough and as I'm processing it's like I can't do two things at once. The scenery is whipping past me and all I can take in are flashes of green and bright yellow and too much brown because it only reminds me of the earth and how close I could be to hitting it. And why not? Anything is possible.

Like Gilbert getting into fights.

Or Arthur being worried about someone other than himself.

Bella must have really screwed around with the laws of physics for those things to be true, or more likely that I can't comprehend them. Then caramel locks get caught in my throat and I almost choke on my own hair, the current predicament distracting me from these groundbreaking revelations. Ha, groundbreaking. And it's like I was never on the zip line to begin with when I touch back down, like I'd never heard what Bella said at all. I've successfully forgotten, taking off the safety helmet and undoing the equipment. Most of the group members are waiting together to the side, huddled in the corner. I join them, thinking about caught hair and shadows running across the forest outlined by brilliant yellow light.

It's not until Bella, with her sunny blonde hair and vibrant green eyes, pulls off her helmet and gazes over at us, and her regular smile isn't on her face, that I remember. And it's not Bella that I see anymore but Gilbert, with flashing red eyes and a mean smile on his face as he faces off another young man, both ready to throw real punches, not the ones Liz gives in the arm though those can hurt, too. There's a sort of queasiness in my stomach at the image.

"So uh… that was fun. Never went zip lining before, so I can cross it off my bucket list. But first I would have to make one." Bella attempts a joke, but it falls flat. "Did you really not know that Gilbert got in trouble like that?"

I look at her, and it must have been a lot harsher than I thought because she frowns a bit. "A-Arthur said he was a delinquent, I just thought he got bad grades."

"He does." She clarifies. "I don't think he's gotten in a fight since last year, at least. I only know because of his reputation."

"So everyone knows?" My voice is a lot smaller than I'd like.

"Yeah, but it's not-"

"Alright everyone, time to head back to the buses. Hope you all had a good day at camp Encounter." The leader of our group says monotonously. That can't be right, did everyone even get down the zip line? I do a head count of six, the number accounting for each one of our group members. So then time really flew by that fast. We walk silently to back to the general office, where we cross paths with a couple of the other groups. When we're herded in the parking lot again each teacher makes sure their students are all there before we can board the bus.

"Everyone knows Gilbert as being more of a pranskter than anything else, Maddie. He's done a lot of stupid things, sure, and the whole fighting thing being one of them, but you know him. He's not a bad person."

"I don't know him. I barely talk to him."

"Okay, maybe you don't, but that doesn't mean you can't even try to be friends."

We didn't get the back seats this time, more towards the middle. No one is really paying attention to us, which is good. I would rather not everyone knowing how upset I am over this. "No, this just means Arthur was right the whole time and there was no point in even trying."

"What the hell? How does this have anything to do with that? What, did you promise Arthur that you'd stop hanging out with Gilbert if he proved to be no good? Or is it some really fucked up game where you try to one up each other all the time?"

At the sound of Bella's voice growing angrier, I turn to her. Her mouth is twisted down, brows furrowed and hints of anger and confusion in her eyes. "N-no! I-I mean sort of… it's just that he tried warning me about him, Bella. And for whatever reason, I want to listen to Arthur a lot of the time. I-I don't know, I might just want to seem good enough for him, he's always ignored me a lot and it hurts sometimes… he's always given more thought to Alfred when we were kids and I guess I got it stuck in my brain that if I listened to him he would want to be my friend, too. So when I didn't listen to him, this one time, and everything he says turns out to be more than true…? I don't know, I think I might be too much of a pushover."

The anger fades away from Bella, leaving confusion and a bit of sympathy. She doesn't bring up how I've always denied thinking of Arthur as a friend, or the times I've mentioned how much I hate listening to him. Instead she slings both arms around me and pulls me into a hug. Not a stronghold one where I can barely breathe, but a loose, delicate one. Like she thinks I'll break if held too tightly, or she just knows it would make me want to pull away.

"I don't really understand how that is, but it's okay." She tells me, and it's the quietest I've ever heard her, a real whisper. It kinda sounds like me. "And you're not a pushover, you just care a lot."

And maybe it's a bit strange that I slowly place a hand on Bella's back, hugging her in return for once. I should probably be more open with other's anyways, papa is always telling me how important it is to express those types of things. Maybe I've just been doing it wrong this whole time.

"Ha ha, lesbians!" Someone shouts from a few seats in front of us. No one, thankfully, seemed to care much for their claim.

"Shut up." Bella bit back, but her command hardly mattered as the two laughing boys faced forward again, hardly caring about what they said. "Fucking morons." She glares in their general direction, then suddenly reels back. "Jeez, I'm starting to sound more and more like Liz, aren't I? That girl is a bad influence. Speaking of bad influences, you're just cast off Gilbert, are you? 'Cause it'll get really awkward in math, if that's the case."

"No… Arthur said I should just hang out with them if I want to."

"Then what was the big deal you just made?! Father Arthur let's you off the hook and your first reaction afterwards is to wallow about it?"

It's a little soon for her to start making jabs at my melt down, and only really makes me feel worse. She stares at me for a good minute and I have nothing to say back, both out of not wanting to and just not knowing how to put it into words. How can you explain that you don't want to disappoint someone who doesn't even have any expectations of you? It's a rather difficult thing to do, seeing as it would never make enough sense for someone else to even pretend they understand.

"I-it just came out of left field, that Gilbert had done that sort of thing before. I was just acting on instinct."

She groaned. "Your first instinct is to immediately take the negative, and I mean more than the average negative, advice of Arthur Kirkland. No wonder you barely have anything that counts as a social life."


Author's note:

Thought I would finish it off with a joke this time. Oh and the amount of UKxCan in this chapter is overflowing, Jesus! I blame it on how terrible I think I am at writing Prussia. And the British Empire's sphere of influence. But yeah by the end of this, just remember that she could end up with neither or someone else entirely, this isn't your normal eventual character/character folks! Mostly 'cause there won't be much romance fluff. And the 'ha ha, lesbians!' thing was only a reference.

I also forgot to mention that Abel is Netherlands in the last chapter. He's so cool, he took up a good chunk of the grocery store fiasco.

And thanks to ChocolateAlliance and Marshmellow for reviewing last chapter, glad you guys liked it. And this marks Granny Panties (GP's) 50k word count! Next chapter will be the double digits chapter!

HIATUS: I'm sorry but this story will be on hiatus until summer begins. Go to my profile page for more info