Fraternity or Love
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the characters! Just this story! And sorry for any OOC
That Dreaded Day
Setting(s): Alfred's House, School, Park
"Not counting today, four days left! Ha-ha!"
Alfred smiled, pointing at the calender that Matt put up on their door. Today was a Monday and, on Friday, was the last day of school, Alfred couldn't wait to be able to sleep in on week days again!
Matthieu chuckled, pulling on his T-shirt and walking over to the door to head to the bathroom. Alfred, actually up early, which happens this time of year every year since he started school, was dressed, cleaned, and everything! He even when downstairs and ate a pop tart.
Alfred let him pass and went downstairs to get his backpack. It was quiet and empty down there, his mom's extra busy this time of year. Alfred jumped onto the couch, kicking up his feet on the coffee table and watched the TV. Though, after a bit, he realized that he wanted coffee himself. Though, it was too late for that...
Matthieu came downstairs and smiled at his brother, standing next to the couch and looking at the TV too. But, after a few minutes of this, Alfred slid his feet off of the table and jumped up, rushing to the door,
"Well, if we don't go, then it'll be hell to wait for four days! Let's get this over with and go!"
He then ran out the door to the bus stop, sitting on the side walk and bouncing in place. Did I forget to mention that he gets more hyper by the end of the year? Matthieu, who left about a minute later, reached the stop three minutes after Alfred.
The quiet blond chuckled at his brother, stating,
"You know, we don't have to even be here now, right? The finals are over already, so this doesn't even count. They don't even take attendance, Alfred..."
The hyper American shook his head,
"So? I like coming at the end of the year! It's fun and I could just stay in the lunch room if I wanted to! Besides, it seems bad if I just skip the last official four days."
Matthieu shrugged, adjusting his stance and place his weight on his left leg. He looked up the street as he said,
"Well, if Gilbert is going to come to school, I'll stay the last four days, but if not, I'm going to his house this week."
Alfred shuddered at the thought of what Gilbert and his brother would do... Ever since he found out about... Gilbert and Matt's sexual relationship, he gets shivers whenever he thinks about Matthieu going over his house.
Alfred then sighs, looking up at the pale blue sky, thinking about Arthur. They had had sex that one time not even a month ago. It was, as of current, the best night of his life. Arthur was everything he could want and more! He wants him to always be happy, though, with Francis coming over again this summer, natural stress, and even Arthur's family, he will never be truly happy. So, Alfred knows that, whenever Arthur is in his presence, he will try to grant him peace and serenity.
The bus rolls up the street, slowing to a halt for the two boys. Alfred gets up and follows his brother onto the yellow vehicle. Matthieu sits next to Gilbert, who was actually there, and is pulled into a messy kiss. The few girls who are there cheer as if there is no tomorrow.
Alfred sits next to his own boyfriend, behind all of the other(very few) students on the bus. No one can see them. Keeping his eyes on the girls for a moment, he turns to Arthur and pushes him down onto his back and kisses him.
Arthur moans and laughs into the kiss, pulling away to wrap his arms around Alfred's neck, saying back with a cheeky smile,
"Well good morning to you, too."
Alfred chuckles, pulling Arthur up and into his lap for the bus ride. It is relatively calm, though the girls in front of them kept on asking for Matt and Gilbert to kiss more, and, heard above the other girls was Elizabeta's voice saying,
"Use some tongue!"
Alfred and Arthur watched cautiously to see if Gilbert, let alone Matthieu, would comply. And, not shockingly, he did, earning applause from their audience. Alfred looked at Arthur, pulling him down to kiss him like Gil was doing to his brother.
When he pulled away to breathe, Arthur looked at him and cocked his head to the side, a curious smile on his face. He sighed. asking,
"Are you okay? You seem really friendly today... And on a bus of all places! You hate busses, don't you?"
Alfred shrugged, saying casually,
"I'm just trying to be happy today. I have a lot to look forward to!"
Arthur tilted his head a little more, then a smile blessed his features and he let it go. He didn't really care, he liked it when Alfred was happy, it kept him in a good mood.
The bus finally reached the school and the(few) students got off the bus and went to their first periods, though there was literally no need to; they just did. Alfred and Arthur were some of the only students actually there; Kiku and Heracles. The four boys all talked about summer and such, Kiku saying he would be leaving for Japan tomorrow and Heracles was going to Greece to visit his family.
Alfred told them how he and Arthur were going to stay in America, Arthur not wanting to go back to England until, in his own words, 'I'm eighteen and will be able to purchase a drink there legally.'
The teacher came in not to long after, a bright smile on his usually dark face and, when he entered the room and looked at his four students, his face suddenly became grim at the sight of Alfred Jones waving at him like a spastic child... Which he was...
So, that was how it was. Almost every class Alfred and Arthur went to, they were some of, if not the, only ones there. Alfred had been the only one in his Geometry class and therefore was subjected to the worst torture known to students; Extra, unnecessary education!
When the bell, almost reluctantly, rang, Alfred literally ran out of the class room and to his next class, not being able to wait for lunch! But, this class too had only two other students...
With his hand placed up against his chin, leaning into it and almost falling asleep from not even being able to talk to the other two sorry souls of students, he let his mind wander. Before his eyelids he saw images of warm summer beaches, of his old home in D.C. and how he and Matt would walk by the White House over the summer in hopes of seeing Mr. President. He remembered the time that this strike group had been there and chanting for his help in a genocide somewhere. He remembered that he and Matt joined them; two random kids who actually understood.
He smiled, chuckling at the memory. He loved to do things around Mr. President's home. He just liked being there in general. He told his mother and Matt that he wanted to work for the president when he was older. Never to be the actual president but to be his right hand man! He would be like an advisor!
Alfred continued to let his mind wander. His thoughts led him to times he had, nearly single-handedly, won football games, soccer matches, baseball tournaments. He loved to play sports and sports loved him back!
Thinking of love, Alfred saw images of Arthur pass before his eyes. Him smiling, that pouty but cute face he makes when he's mad, that perfect shade of red his face would blush to when he was embarrassed, how his face would lighten up as he laughed, when a guilt ridden expression would sometimes take him when he said something perverted that Alfred wasn't meant to hear- Alfred never had enough of him, he never would have enough of him! He... He loved him.
Yes, Alfred loved him. And, ever since that day Arthur had admit it first, Alfred has never had the guts to say it back! The first time, Arthur fell asleep right after saying it, the time after, Francis was there and it would have been fucking awkward to say that with him there! Arthur didn't say it a lot, probably four or five times in all... And, each time, Alfred never said it back...
Well, today would be different! There would be no one to listen to him, he would be alone with Arthur, he wouldn't have any distractions, nothing! Today, today he is going to tell Arthur how he loves him too!
Though... If only the damn bell would ring already... Then he could run to lunch and tell him! But, that is, if only the bell would hurry up and ring...
It felt like ages before it finally did. Just before the teacher would've probably handed out those dreaded, impossible to solve crossword puzzles! Thank God! Alfred jumped out of his seat and pulled up his little 'bag' and sprinted out of the class, heading for the flight of stairs leading down a floor to the cafe.
However, what he didn't expect was to run right into the head of security and have to be delayed for knocking him over. Almost as if it were some old cheesy movie, Alfred was pulled by his ear into the principal's office to explain and, to the security man's hope, get in trouble.
The principal, an older man with long blond hair and the Co-principal who was Feliciano's and Lovino's grandfather, just looked at the man and the poor boy he held by the ear. The head of security pushed Alfred in front of him and said to the principals,
"This little delinquent ran me over in the hall, running, too!"
Co-principal Vargas looked at Alfred and smiled, saying almost as if he were without a care,
"So? It's the last few days of school! He must be excited!"
Principal G. nodded, adding sternly,
"This boy is exonerate... Since there is only five days left of school and he even bothered to come to these unnecessary days, he is exempt."
Alfred smiled and, giving the guard-man a nasty look for stalling him so much later that the bell had rung already, he hurried out of the office and downstairs; Walking of course! Alfred was pissed that he was delayed so much! He has important things to get to! He has to see his boyfriend and tell him just how much he loves him!
Alfred burst through the lunchroom doors and ran to his and Arthur's table. Though, when he got there, no one else was there. Alfred looked around the cafe to see if Arthur had sat with someone while he waited for Alfred. He was no where to be seen. Alfred took a seat and rested his hand on his cheek, thinking to himself,
Iggy doesn't have that many friends other than me... Now that I think about it, Kiku is the only other one I think he has here in America... Maybe he went to find him? Kiku has this lunch period, so I'll go find them!
Alfred jumped up and began walking around the cafe and looking at the(few) students to recognize his friend and lover's face. Alfred found Kiku sitting alone but ran up to him anyway. Skidding to a halt in front of his Japanese friend, Alfred beamed, asking,
"Yo, Kiku! Have you seen Iggy?"
Kiku smiled softly, shaking his head,
"Not directly. I saw him go outside with a few guys three minutes ago, though. I thought he was going to meet up with you?"
Alfred arches an eyebrow, shaking his head back at the Japanese. He looks to the doors that led out to the courtyard and the back of the school. With one last look to Kiku and a farewell, he jogged outside to finally find Arthur.
Still nothing. Alfred pouted and walked around for a bit, hoping to see a sign of the Briton. And a sign didn't come for some time. Alfred was sure that half of lunch would probably have ended by now... Damn it, Iggy. Where'd you go?
Alfred, hands in pockets, kicked the side of the school, grumbling about Arthur possibly going home early... And without him? How inconsiderate!... Though, Alfred knew Arthur would never do that. Arthur was a good enough student to not skip school, even if he didn't have to stay there. He was also a good enough person to not leave Alfred without telling him. Damn it... Where are you?
Alfred sighed, preparing to go back inside the school when he heard a few people laughing. The voices sounded vaguely familiar but not enough to identify. Alfred followed the voices, hoping they might be able to lead him to someone who might be able to help him find his beloved Briton.
It was Arthur who he was looking for, it was Arthur who he found. After finding those voices, he saw Arthur leaning up against the back wall of the school with three larger, more muscular men in front of him. Alfred was nervous for a moment but he calmed down when Arthur just looked annoyed more so than afraid.
Alfred went over to him and was about to hug him but he knew that Arthur would have probably swooned from embarrassment if he did that. So, instead, Alfred went up and put his hand on Arthur's shoulder, saying to him,
"Found you!"
Arthur looked to him and beamed, taking a step towards him. Alfred looked at Arthur as the Brit glared at the three men. He followed his gaze and gasped. Maybe he should have been more afraid; These were the guys from the Cipher.
Alfred stepped in between Arthur and the Cipher members. They laughed, Arthur saying,
"Finally you are here. They wouldn't let me leave until 'Ally came'."
Alfred glared at the Cipher, almost willing them to just let them go. The second he made contact with their eyes', he knew why they found Arthur. It was high time to get them out of there! But, before he could, another member came up in front of their path away. Alfred took Arthur's hand and began to go the other way. Though, a fifth gang member appeared, cornering them against the wall.
Alfred, keeping Arthur behind him, put his hand on the wall, pressing the Briton against it. Arthur and Alfred glared at their captors. The 'leader' stepped up to Alfred, smirking as he said,
"Let it go, you don't have to pretend to like him anymore."
Alfred bared his teeth at him, nearly snarling. The man chuckled, looking dead on at Arthur as he said,
"You don't have to lie to him anymore."
Arthur arched an eyebrow, looking at Alfred,
"What does he mean by 'lie'?"
Alfred shook his head, continuing to growl at the Cipher. The man shrugged, answering Arthur,
"Oh, so you didn't figure it out by now? We heard you were so smart, too. Well, I guess it means you just overlooked the obvious or that Ally was a better actor than we gave him credit for."
Arthur ducks out from under Alfred's arm, looking at him,
"Alfred, what is he talking about?"
Alfred looked to him for moment, praying that he was dreaming. But, despite these prayers, the Cipher's spokesman continued,
"Wow, you really didn't know. Well, Ally here has been lying to you, Artie. Since the beginning."
He put his hand on Arthur's shoulder, the Briton didn't take his eyes from Alfred, trying to look for something in his blue, sky blue eyes. The voice continued,
"From day one, Ally had an assignment, an assignment to become your best friend. Why, you might ask? Well, to be one of us."
Arthur's eyes never left Alfred's, what was he looking for?
"And, after he became your very bestest friend, he had to break your dear little heart. He could do anything he pleased; Spread a nasty rumour, ignore you randomly for the rest of your life, expose a secret-"
He chuckled, relinquishing his hold on Arthur and taking a step towards Alfred, pushing him closer to Arthur,
"Wait, he already did that. Remember, Artie? Remember how he so callously reveled your true sexuality to us? Remember how he so easily broke your trust? So fast after you told him?"
Arthur looked up into Alfred eyes, squinting his own slightly. Alfred looked into Arthur's, hoping to find what he was looking for in his in those green eyes of his, those darkening forest green eyes into his mind, his heart.
The speaker shrugged,
"Well, Artie, that's how he is. He is cruel, he is inconsiderate, he didn't even give a second thought when we told him he had to break you-"
Alfred broke his gaze with Arthur to bark at him,
"I hesitated! I knew it was wrong-"
"But you accepted!"
Arthur looked between both of them, feeling his throat tighten as he said to Alfred,
"You... But you just admit you did..."
The Cipher-man went to Arthur, saying into his ear as the Briton's eyes bore into the ground,
"Don't you see? He lied all along. He never felt anything for you, it was all to make the bond stronger, the make your fall even more great, to hurt you more, to-"
Alfred took a threatening stance, growling,
"Stop it!"
He didn't comply,
"Didn't you find it weird how he went to you in the beginning? How he neglected his other friends? His own brother? Just for you? Do you think that he really would have done that if he was not given the initiative? Would someone like Alfred F. Jones look in someone like your direction without some ulterior motive?"
Arthur felt his chest tighten as he took this all in. Deep down, this had occurred to him in the beginning. But, with Arthur liking the blue eyed American since he saw him his first day in his new school, he let slide all of his other notions and gut feelings. He let his emotions take control of him.
The more he thought about it, the more he could see all of these faults, all of the times he had slight doubts, they seem to hit him now for ignoring them then. Arthur shook his head, breath shallow.
Alfred tried to see his eyes, tried to get him to look up. He frowned, saying,
"Arthur?"
A sob broke from his chest, Alfred could see tears falling to the ground. Almost like a movie, it fell in what Alfred saw as slow motion, hitting the ground and making a distinctive splatter. Arthur slowly shook his head, saying quietly as though that was the most his voice could muster up,
"I should have known... I should have known, damn it..."
Alfred took a step towards him, wanting to comfort him, but Arthur jumped back, nearly yelling,
"I loved you!"
This earned a small gasp from the Cipher members. Alfred froze at Arthur's next words,
"You never even said that back to me! I should have known simply from that that you didn't feel the same way... I should have known..."
Tears poured from his eyes as his trembled, holding himself, repeating the words,
"I should have known," and, "I loved you."
Alfred felt his own heart clenching at this. He had feared this for so long and he thought that they had forgotten about him and Arthur. He never would have thought that they would really have eld out for this long! Why?
Alfred frowned, stepping towards Arthur. The blond Briton didn't move, he just stood there, hunched over and holding his forearms, crying violently. Alfred took his face in his hands and pulled up, bringing Arthur's lips to his own.
However, the kiss was short lived when the Englishman thrust his hands against the American's chest, forcing him away from him. Arthur looked at him, the look penetrating his heart, his soul, his whole being. The look itself was so weak, fearful, dejected, pained, hurt, and lost that Alfred could almost, no, he could feel his suffering; He felt the same. Arthur's face contorted with agony as he bit his lower lip, saying,
"I loved you so much... But now..."
Alfred felt tears welling up in his own eyes at Arthur's next words,
"I hate you... I was so blind..."
Alfred felt a whimper reverberate up his throat. Arthur smirked at him as if he were an opponent, tears never ceasing to run down his red cheeks
"No more need to act around me, Alfred."
He shook his head, reaching for Arthur as if begging him to stay. Arthur swatted his hand away, turning to his side and growling,
"Don't you dare touch me..."
Alfred advanced slightly, wanting to tell Arthur that this was all a mistake, but it only came out as whimpers and sobs, sorrowful sounds the only noise heard. Arthur didn't hesitate when he said,
"Forget me... Just forget me... I don't love you anymore..."
Then, breaking down finally, a loud, torn moan coming from him, he ran, the Cipher member letting him pass. Alfred screamed,
"ARTHUR!"
The took a sprint and started for his dear Briton only to be block by the same member of the Cipher who let Arthur go before. He glared at him, trying to squirm his way around him and take chase for his love.
The leader chuckled, clapping his hands, a large, cat-like grin on his face,
"Well done, Ally-boy. You did it. You broke the limey. Congrats."
Alfred froze, feeling a new, stronger feeling pooling in his guts. He looked at his feet, thinking one thing now. And, in his pained haze, turned on the Cipher leader, balling his fists, crying aloud,
"You fucking son of a bitch!"
He swung at him. Just before his knuckles made contact to his jaw, his arms were pulled back by two of the other members. He was suddenly thrust up against the wall, his elbows and back getting the hardest hit of the bricks. He groaned at the pain, looking up with a glare Satan would be scared of at the leader who 'tsk'd at him, shaking his head,
"Not a good move, Ally. Striking a fight with us? And one on five? I do think you might have lost it a bit. Maybe part of your sense went with that fag?"
Alfred kicked him successfully, yelling,
"Don't you evercall him that!"
He chuckled, holding his knee,
"You have spunk, Ally. But, why? It's not like..."
He chuckled, smirking,
"You loved him too."
Alfred bared his teeth, saying through them,
"More than anything, I did."
He laughed again, saying,
"Oh, my poor naive Ally. You must have gotten too close to him to have picked up on his faggot-try. Maybe you need to be brought back to the real world."
He smirked at him, snapping his fingers. The other two members came up to his sides, waiting for his signal. He leaned down to Alfred, saying to his ear,
"By the way he acted and what he said, I wouldn't be that surprised nor disappointed if... Heh-heh..."
He stood erect again, saying to Alfred's horror,
"He killed himself."
Alfred felt his heart stop. Because of Arthur's own history and fear and love for him, for it to all have come crashing down onto him at the worst level, Alfred knew that Arthur probably did think that already.
The leader smiled evilly, saying to his 'henchmen',
"Bring him back to the real world now."
And then he began to walk away so slowly. He left, his men remained there to add to Alfred's pain. He hurt mentally and emotionally, now he was going to physically feel the hells that his mind and heart were experiencing.
-
Keep running! Keep running! Bloody hell, I can't stop! No!
Arthur ran from the school, from the person he used to love… No… the person he still loved. Everything that they had been through… It was all a lie? Why was he so gullible? How could he have fallen for such a stupid lie? He should have known!
Arthur looked at his surroundings, finally seeing where his aching legs brought him; The park, of course…
Arthur swiveled, feeling nauseous from running so much. He took weary steps down the walkway towards the bench. But his legs decided to take him to a tree closer.
He slumped down against it, gripping his heart as though he couldn't breathe. Might as well, running for so long and feeling his heart breaking into millions of pieces. Those pieces kept going to farther places, places Arthur did not have the strength, endurance, stamina, or just the desire to anymore.
Arthur looked up through the green tree leaves at the empryean sky… It was the same colour as Alfred's eyes… His tears began to fall again so he diverted his direction to the stone path. He and Alfred came here on a few dates. It was so fun. They would hold hands until someone came by or, when someone did, Alfred would pulling them aside into a bush or behind a tree and hide, usually followed by a sweet kiss to his lips…
Arthur sobbed silently, not wanting to remember. Though, despite his wishes and whims, the memories came; The first time he saw Alfred on the bus, thinking he was cute, when he and Alfred first talked in the shower house, when he first went over his house… The first time he slept over… He had started to like him more, he even admitted his sexuality… After that he was beat up, but Alfred had brought him back to the nurse and saved him… He kissed him… It felt so right, but it was so fast at that time… Arthur was amazed but he wanted that to keep happening.
After that, they began to go out… It was such a peaceful time in his life… Such a good time… Eventually, he and Alfred had had sex… to Arthur, this was the final stepping stone to how he really felt… God, he loved him!
But, it was all an act… Alfred had pretended on everything… He was so dedicated to becoming part of that bloody Cipher that he went as far as to lose his virginity with a man…
Maybe that's also why he never said 'I love you' back? Because, someone like him wouldn't use that term without meaning it too… Most Americans would without second thought, but he never would… That had to be the reason…
Arthur embraced his knees, sobbing violently into them, crying whatever was left of his heart out. He wished he would have realized sooner so he didn't have to feel this now. He wished that he had at least realized before he had fallen in love with him!
Arthur looked up to the sky, ignoring the forever blue and saying softly in a broken voice,
"I don't know what to do…"
He shook his head, the tears not ceasing. He then did something he hadn't done since he was a little boy; He prayed,
"God… Please… I don't know what to do. I love him, I know it is a sin to you, but I love him… What do I do?"
But, like always, he never got a response, a sign, nothing. He frowned, looking at his feet, saying to himself,
"I don't know what to do…"
And thus chapter 10! Ha! This is a sad chapter in my opinion, but it's up to the readers. Well, this was the chapter where "Everything goes wrong", which was how I described it ^-^. But, more so, this is a meaningful chapter and it is not the last sad, darker chapter! Next one or two maybe even three will be sad/dark too! But, what do you think Arthur is going to do? Leave a response to that! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
PS: Today, as I typed this in school, is the National Day of Silence. Or, in other words, a Gay Pride holiday. You do not talk all day! April 15th every year! So, to have this finished on this day actually means a lot to me ^-^