An.
Of course, my essays are always picked to read out loud to the class, so - GUESS WHAT GAIZ, I GETZ TO REED AN ESSAY TOMORROW.

Oh, and for the reviewers - DON'T WORRY, THIS ISN'T A FRUK. There might be a small amount of it, but it will remain a USUK.
And by small amount, I mean incredibly awkward one-sided love stories that would scare the shit out of Arthur if he knew.

So, don't worry. And please, don't Fruk me. I'm still a virgin, and I don't plan on losing it until I meet Ezio Auditore. ;D

Chapter 10.
February

Ah, February. An utterly disgusting time of year, February is infamous for "St. Valentine's Day", a marketing ploy to get people to buy chocolate and give it to their lover, only to find out that the receiving end is allergic to chocolate, which basically is telling them, "Hey, I love you, and I hope that on this romantic date, you get explosive diarrhea and can't leave the toilet."

[Well, maybe that's only me.]

It's also a day to buy shitty fake flowers from the dollar store (or Wal-Mart) and proclaim your "true love" to the slut in your English class. Whoever has the nicest fake bouquet usually gives said whore a ride on the disco stick, then breaks up with her the week afterwards because she has a really bad personality and an enlarged asshole that can't contain shit correctly.

[I just ended the first two paragraphs with defecation. Awesome.]

However, it wasn't quite there yet. You see, this chapter begins with the very first day of February, which happened to fall on a Tuesday. The hallways were decorated with pinks and purples and reds and other disgusting organ colors. When Arthur entered the school grounds, he wanted to vomit. Not only because he had a broken leg and everyone was fucking staring at him, but how the freshmen were admiring the halls, and everyone was frantically trying to pair up.

He dropped his book on the floor and cursed himself as a bunch of teenagers ran over to try and help him. Francis made his way over and beat them to it, not only picking up the textbook, but taking everything else from Arthur's hands.

"Oh, hello Francis," Arthur replied. Only days ago had Francis helped him home after he was attacked by Alfred, and they were already becoming good friends in a normal, friendly, not sexual way.

"You're going to need help again today, and this time, I'm not going to let you refuse. You were miserable yesterday, Iggy."

Arthur sighed, and nodded his head. They found a table to sit at, since the bell hadn't rung yet. Ludwig and Feliciano were nowhere to be found. He looked over his shoulder to see Heracles' harem of women crowding around him, fighting for who would sleep with him thirteen days from now. His response: "Maybe it could be Valentine's Month, and I could sleep with each of you?"

Surprisingly, they took the bait.

"Hey, Francis?"

"Mm? What is it?" he asked, smiling in a friendly way.

"Why don't you do that? You know, take advantage of women? You could...I mean, you have a following."

"Because, romance isn't something that you can just toss around...you see-"

The bell rang.

Thank Jesus.

Chapter 10, Part II
IT'S THE GREAT VAGINA, LUDWIG BROWN.

Here we go: Valentine's Day.

Ludwig was pacing the ROTC classroom, watching the few girls in the class making moves with the few semi-attractive-but-nowhere-near-as-attractive-as-him guys. He was going to do it...

He was going to celebrate this holiday.

Of course, he didn't want to just buy a bouquet or chocolate or something else cliche and annoying. However, upon trying to think up something original, he realized that nothing is original on Valentine's Day unless you're a billionaire, so - guess what - he made a card.

"Hey, Beilschmidt!"

It was Kirkland.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked, not willing to talk to anyone due to the nervous tension.

"Are you going to give anything to your lover today?"

"M-my lover?! What on earth are you talking about?!"

Of course, the shouting attracted the attention of all of the other cadets.

"You know..."

"No, I don't know..." he said, trying his best to not come out about his crush.

Kirkland stared at him for a good minute before the bell rang and dismissed them all.

"Very well then, have a good Valentine's Day!" he shouted, running out of class. Ludwig quickly made his exit as well, because A.) the ROTC classoom smelled like horse shit and B.) he had Feliciano to catch up with.

He all but sprinted down the hallway, knowing that if he didn't make it to the end in time, he'd miss Feliciano by a long shot.

Of course, as is cliche in anime, he ran into him quite literally.

"Oh, hello Luddy!" he yelled, smiling. Luckily, the noise of the hallway prevented anyone from hearing the nickname.

"F-Feli..." he responded, dumbly. Feliciano tilted his head, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"You look like you just saw a ghost, Luddy."

"I didn't...I just...um..."

His face was turning a light shade of pink that matched the hallway's odd smelling ribbons.

"Here."

He handed Feliciano his card and ran off.

Please read it, Feli! Please!

Feliciano stared at the card for a second, then smiled as he opened it. On the outside, there were two poorly drawn (but exceptionally well drawn for Ludwig) figures, one with brown hair and one with blonde. They weren't holding hands or kissing, but just standing beside each other on a hill.

"Oh, Luddy..." he sighed, not very impressed but still happy that Ludwig had actually given him something. That's when he opened it to find that it wasn't so simple - it was a flip book, where when he turned the pages, it showed an animation of Ludwig's character getting closer to Feliciano's until eventually he kissed his cheek. It ended with a simple "Be mine?" signed by Ludwig.

Feliciano stood there, blushing for quite some time, before he realized that he was going to be late to his next class.

I'll see him after school, Feliciano thought, suggestively smiling. Today was going to be fun.

Chapter 10, Part III
This is going to be a long fucking chapter.

Arthur made his way to Francis' car, since he had offered to drive him home. It was definitely quicker, and easier on his leg.

"Hey, Arthur!"

He turned around and, of course, there was Francis, running towards him.

"Hello, Francis. You still going to give me a ride?"

"Yes, of course..." he said, catching his breath. "Erm, I have a few questions to ask you, since we're friends and all..."

"I can give you a few answers, but don't expect me to pour out my life story. I'm sort of having trust issues."

"I understand," he said, opening the car door for his crippled friend. Arthur sat down and put his books on the ridiculously clean floorboard. Francis got in the driver's seat. "So...well, this one's personal."

"Go on?"

He put the keys in and started the car up, turning the heat on high. "Did you love him? Alfred, I mean?"

"I'm not-"

"Yes you are."

Arthur sighed. Of course, this guy was French - he was a walking gaydar.

"Yes, I did."

"Do you still?"

"He beat the shit out of me...and..." he sighed, shaking his head. "Well...for some reason, I do...why?"

"Because, being alone on Valentine's Day is depressing. I have a few dates I could hang out with after school, but if you're going to be alone..."

Was he asking him to hang out, or asking him out?

"I'm fine," Arthur said, letting Francis down a little. "If I can't spend it with Alfred, why would I want to romantically spend the day with anyone else?"

"I didn't mean...Well, don't you want to hang out?"

Arthur sighed. "Just um...not today, okay?"

Francis pulled over onto his street. "Suit yourself. Have a good day, Arthur!"

He smiled, and decided to flatter him by practicing his french. "À plus tard, Francis."

Francis smiled. "Au revoir."

Chapter 10, Part IV
GASP, A PART FOUR.

Feliciano walked home with Ludwig, and nothing happened for the longest time, which irritated him beyond belief.

"So?" Ludwig asked.

"So...what?"

"Did you erm...was it okay? I'm not the best artist, but..."

Feliciano grinned. "It was fantastic. I loved the whole concept of an animated card...I'll keep it forever, Luddy."

Ludwig blushed and looked away.

"Shall we...go inside?"

They stood awkwardly outside of Ludwig's house.

"Y-yes, that sounds fine."

"My brother's gone...but he'll be back soon."

The two entered the house and sat on the couch, watching cartoons like mature high school boys.

Feliciano kept looking at Ludwig, who was too sucked in to the TV to notice. He couldn't decide whether to make a move, or just sit there awkwardly.

"Lud-"

"Feliciano, I-"

They both stared at each other, then looked away, faces reddening. Feliciano knew what was about to happen, so why didn't it just hurry up?

"You go first," Feliciano said.

"Alright...um...so...it's Valentine's Day..."

"Yeah?"

Ludwig blushed and looked him in the eyes, begging him to just take the awkwardness away. Feliciano smiled, and leaned forward. Ludwig's heart stopped as those beautiful lips pressed against his, lightly, but lasting. The two sat there, not moving, for several seconds, before one of them decided to make it better and add more lip movement.

Feliciano put a hand against Ludwig's face.

"Luddy...thank you for today...I thought you'd never say anything..."

The blonde pressed his forehead against his crush's, smiling.

They stayed like that until the door opened, then returned to their previous positions. While Gilbert sat with them to watch TV, both of them couldn't help but miss each other's warmth.

end of chapter notes.
GOD, I SUCK AT ROMANCE.

Look, a review game!
The question is: How do you cheer yourself up?
My answer is: Assassin's Creed usually helps, but other than that, I go on frantic cleaning sprees until I pass out from exhaustion. That, or I talk to my gay best friend, because he's just that amazing.
I used to complain to people, but that tends to lead to people bitching about me in return. :I