Notice! I left out some ideas in this story that I really like because once this and Myths are done I will rewrite/re edit my stories so keep an eye out and thanks.
The next morning an alarm clock goes off around 6:45 am, waking the campers, but not enough to get the out of their bunks. Everyone just lays around till the band dad's turn on the lights and tell them to get up. Ludwig sits up in his bed, groaning, stretching, and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The boys get up, grab their morning things from their suitcases, and head for the bathrooms. They stop just outside the bathrooms where there is a trough-like sink system.
"So, today we're gonna get an earful, aren't we." Gilbert asks Ludwig. He nods as he wets his brush and begins to brush his teeth. It wasn't long before they noticed the other campers staring at them. The two brothers decide to ignore their peers, at least for now. To get ready for the day Ludwig puts on a black tank top, green camo shorts, and combs his hair back, and of course wears tennis shoes.
While the campers get ready this adults in the staff cabin start stirring as well.
"So, Lovino, you are Feliciano's twin brother?" Roderich asks with a cup of hot coffee. Lovino nods. "Twins are very interesting. Well, I have to go make sure everything is going on schedule. We will talk later." Roderich gets up and heads for the cafeteria.
"I have to take a shower." Feliciano goes into the bathroom and hops in. Lovino sits at the table in the staff cabin alone until Elizabeta sits across from him.
"Hey, don't worry about Rod. He seems kinda angry and scary but he is actually a pretty nice guy." Lovino nods and she gets up and goes to the field to repaint the lines.
The students all gather to the cafeteria for the morning meal. Ludwig, Gilbert and his two best friends sit together at a table. Feliciano sits next to his brother and the other staff members at the staff tables. Roderich stands up and everyone slowly stops talking.
"We will now say grace, those of you who do not want to partake feel free not to. Does anyone want to speak?" Feliciano raises his hand. Roderich nods at him and sits down.
"Dear God, we thank you for the food on our plates. We hope to have a fun camp and everyone be alright. Thank you for giving us this experience to have, we appreciate the opportunity to be able to do something like this. Amen." Everyone quickly begins to eat their food.
Slowly everyone finish their food and one by one begin to leave. Everyone but Ludwig's cabin. It is their turn to clean up the dishes. They stay behind, turn in all the plates and cups, swipe down the tables, and turn in any extra food there is. Ludwig starts to pile on the plates from the staff tables but gets interrupted by Feliciano. He also piles plates and turns them into the wash basin at the end of the cafeteria.
"Mr. Vargas, the staff doesn't help us when we clean the cafeteria." He smiles and continues to collect dishes.
"I know. I'm an alumni." This is something Ludwig didn't actually know about him.
"You were in band last year?" He asks in surprise. Feliciano nods and starts to wipe the tables. "I didn't know that… I don't remember you, at all. I don't remember him from anywhere, none of the senior speeches made, none of the practices or shows, no football games. Where were you?" I ask him. He remains quiet for a little bit.
"We need to hurry before practice begins." They finish cleaning the tables and leave to prepare their instruments.
Ludwig walks back to the cabin with the three boys, tuning them out for his own thoughts.
'What is he hiding? I mean… He has no reason not to tell me. Maybe, he doesn't want us being close anymore. But we're only three years apart. I know he's in a position of authority and I'm a student, but we can be appropriate and mature. I just don't understand why it's such a big deal because if it was any other situation it wouldn't be a problem.'
"Yo Ludwig!" Gilbert yells in his face, bringing Ludwig's attention back. "What is wrong with you? Our cabin is back there." He grabs Ludwig's arm and pulls him back to the cabin.
"I was just thinking, alright." He sighs and drags both of them inside. "Just put together your tuba." Ludwig does as told, and the other boys get whatever they need ready as well.
Practice goes by long and arduously. From the morning, the students march all the way till noon, where they go straight to lunch. After lunch everyone gets a half hour break where you are only suppose to be lying down and resting.
Before lunch started Roderich had informed Ludwig and Gilbert to stay behind. They do as instructed, remaining seated after cleanup is done. Roderich, Feliciano and Lovino sit down across from the brothers.
"So. First tell me why Lovino is here." Feliciano and Lovino stare towards Roderich.
"It's our father. He is not well and asked to see Feliciano. I know he wouldn't have his phone on so I came up here to get him."
"I am very sorry to hear this," Roderich states, "but he has a job to do and cannot be taken away at this moment."
"I understand. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused." Lovino says trying to sound sincere and professional.
"Now, why where you fighting with a student?"
"It wasn't just him Mr. Edelstein." Intervened Gilbert. "I was provoking him too. We both sorta lost our tempers." Roderich sighs and removes his glasses. He runs his fingers through his hair and dismisses Gilbert and Lovino.
Ludwig and Feliciano stay, sitting across from each other. "Mr. Vargas," Roderich asks, "would you please be seated next to Ludwig?" Feliciano does as instructed and takes a seat next to him. Roderich rubs his face then puts his glasses back on.
"So, is there anything you two would like to tell me?"
"It was my fault sir, I had a small crush on Feliciano and I felt protective of him when I slapped him and I got too gentle with him afterwards." Roderich glares into Ludwig's eyes and an uneasy feeling creeps into his stomach. He turns to looks at Feliciano.
"Is this true Feliciano? Do you indeed have no feelings for this student?"
Feliciano blankly stares back into Roderich's eyes. "Yes." He says with a slight nod of the head.
Releasing a sigh of relief, Roderich becomes less tense and closes his eyes.
"I'm going to trust the two of you. But, if I catch you two at all, no matter how small, you two will both released and won't be allowed to come back. Do I make myself clear?" The two nod. "You may leave."
Feliciano gets up and heads back to his cabin, leaving the two others alone.
"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused Mr. Edelstein." Roderich shoots up and leans in over Ludwig.
"Mr. Beilschmidt you have caused more trouble than your brother and his friends this year than they have all their years combined!" Ludwig doesn't flinch at the sudden outburst. He's use to this kind of treatment because his brother explodes on him all the time.
He sits back down sighing. "I'm sorry but you haven't made this year easy for me, it's only been a few weeks and have already caused several scenes with your brother. Why? What is going on to make you act up?"
Ludwig isn't even acting up, he doesn't go out of his way to create chaos or anything. It is simply his temper that is getting him. "Are things alright at home?" Roderich finally asks. This question does send Ludwig into a slight shock.
"Yeah, everything is fine." He says a little bit stiff. Roderich stares back at Ludwig, not convinced what he's telling him is exactly true. Time is running short so he lets Ludwig go back to his cabin without another word.
Ludwig walks back to his cabin slowly, letting what just happened sink in. Does Feliciano honestly not love him anymore? Does he think that Ludwig doesn't love him anymore? Or maybe he is even mad at him. Thoughts like these swim around his brain as he makes his way back to the cabin. Gilbert is waiting by the door when he enters the cabin.
"What happened?" Gil asks. He seems semi concerned about his brother.
"Nothing happened, I don't want to talk about it…" Ludwig makes it to his cot and flops onto it. The two other cabin mates stare at Ludwig in surprise at his dreary, almost lazy aura. The three friends gather together to start discuss and agree that it would be best to let some time pass before pestering him for information. They all have seen Ludwig mad and this could easily turn into a bad situation if they try to egg him on too much.
The rest of the day goes by smoothly, everyone returns focus to marching and the guard and the band are separated for the rest of the day. They march on the field, sections are held, then full band is help out near the cafeteria under a tree. The guard practice inside the chapel for the whole day, working on the show and the techniques that go with it.
It becomes dusk and at the staff cabin Feliciano and Lovino are found sitting at a table.
"What's wrong with dad?" Feliciano asks his brother. Lovino was correct when he said Feliciano wouldn't have his phone on him. It hasn't left his bedside table since the first day.
"We don't know yet, all we know is he is ill. But what am I gonna do? I can't go back without you, everyone will get pissed. You know how they get." Feliciano nods in agreement.
"Yes, our family does get like that. I can't leave though, these children need me. Without me being here the guard won't learn their drill and will be behind the marching band."
"Yeah but what about dad? He could be dying, if you don't go now you might now see him again." Lovino gets up and walks out of the cabin, as if he were offended that Feliciano won't leave work to go see their father. Lovino passes Roderich coming in while leaving.
"What's his problem?" He asks.
"He's upset that I won't leave to see our papa." Roderich sighs and sits across from
Feliciano. His hands cup together and sit in front of his mouth.
"Is there anyone else that could teach the guard their work?" He asks. They sit there, contemplating. "There just isn't anyone Feliciano, I'm sorry. We need you, so please don't quit."
"Please," Feliciano interrupts, "can you spare one day? I'll leave, and be back by morning. The section leader can at least go over techniques to improve themselves while I'm gone, I need to see my papa."
"... Fine, but if you aren't back by the next morning you will be fired." Feliciano smiles at him.
"Thank you." Feliciano leaves the cabin and searches for his brother. Once he finds him Feliciano explains to his brother the deal Roderich and him made and Lovino agrees to drive him down and back up. Lovino helps Feliciano pack in his suitcase in the car. While packing Ludwig, Gilbert and friends wonder pass the parked car.
"Mr. Vargas, what you doing?" Ludwig asks Feliciano, looking calm and collected.
"Oh! Ludwig, I'm leaving. Actually, can you give this to Mr. Edelstein for me? I had it in my suitcase and I forgot to take it out." He hands Ludwig the binder full of the marching band and guard drill.
"I will make sure to give it to him." Ludwig puts it between his arm and body.
"Thanks, I appreciate it… Be safe, alright?" Feliciano gives Ludwig a smile.
"Yeah." He walks away without another word. Gilbert looks at his friends, to Ludwig, then to Feliciano.
"Hey, Mr. Vargas, everything will work out, alright?"
"I sure hope so. Goodbye, and tell Ludwig I said goodbye, alright?" They nod and catch up to Ludwig. The roaring engine can be heard as the Italians drive into the night and away from camp.
