Fortunately, the children from the neighborhood did end up returning the following afternoon. Having expected this, Guatemala dressed Belize in something much more casual- a black, knee-length skirt with a simple puffy-sleeved white top and pair of sandals. Worried that the kids would start trouble with Belize, or vice versa, she watched over their game from the window.

"Do you know how to play this game?" the leader of the group was asking, dribbling the ball from foot to foot.

Belize nodded. "It's one of my favorites."

Guatemala was glad to see that when they started electing teams, Belize was the first to be picked. As she watched, she realized that the child wasn't half bad at football. Not amazing, but definitely good. What really stunned Guatemala, though, was how into it she got. Her expression was totally alive, a cheerful fire dancing in her green orbs as a grin was stretched on her face. So she did have personality…

Any trace of it was gone, though, when she returned home.

"Belize, sweetheart? Could you help me set the tables for dinner, por favor?" Guatemala called upon Belize's return in the evening. That girl was certainly gifted at sudden poker faces… Except for the ghost of her previous enthusiasm lingering in her eyes, her expression was perfectly blank. It was hard to determine how such an apathetic-looking person could possibly have obtained crinkled, dirt stained clothing and windblown hair.

They just stared at each other- Guatemala with a desperate smile, Belize with as much animation as a statue. Eventually, she gave a slight nod to her head and disappeared into the kitchen. Maybe she's coming around… No matter how slowly, Guatemala thought hopefully.

Without a word, Belize returned with a glass, napkin, and silverware balanced on a plate in her grubby hands. She passed right by Guatemala, not even sparing her a glance, and organized them all at the head of Guatemala's dining room table. Instead of revisiting the kitchen to fetch dishes for herself, she headed toward the stairs.

"Belize, what are you doing? Dinner is almost ready, and you could wash up down here," Guatemala reminded her, almost bumping into the girl as she headed to remove a casserole, which she'd prepared about an hour ago when taking a break from watching Belize's soccer game, from the oven.

"I already ate," Belize told her monotonously. Guatemala just stared at her in confusion until a further explanation was provided. "I've been home for a while now. When you were outside feeding the pigs and sheep, I made myself some rice." She casually pointed to a used pot sitting in the kitchen sink to help illustrate her story.

Taken off guard, Guatemala just blinked at her with an agape mouth. "I… Well… Alright, then…" she muttered. Belize narrowed her eyes ever-so-slightly before proceeding upstairs, leaving Guatemala to eat dinner alone.

Guatemala was just putting her emptied dishes away in the sink, José hopping around her feet on the wooden floor, when noisy knocking sounded from her front door. She hadn't even made it out of the room before a familiar voice shouted: "SURPRISE, GUESS WHO!" Guatemala hurriedly wiped her hands on a nearby towel, scurrying to welcome her rowdy guest.

"Hola, America," she greeted in a slightly choked tone, having not spoken in a good amount of time (she coughed quietly into her fist to fix this).

"Yo! So rumor has it that you've got yourself an underling?"

For whatever reason, the mention of Belize made Guatemala shiver slightly. "Sí, I have… Do you want to meet her?"

"Hellz yeah I do!" America answered immediately. Very much used to America's outbursts, Guatemala just led him farther inside.

"Belize, querido? We have company. Clean yourself up so you can come meet him," she called the stairs while America tried to attract José by saying "Polly want a cracker?"

Only a few minutes passed until Belize rejoined them in the room. Obviously, her idea of getting cleaned up was different than Guatemala's, who expected her to be in different clothes with brushed hair: she had simply tucked in her shirt, washed her hands, and brushed herself off. America halted sucking on his finger, which José had bitten, and instead grinned beamishly at the girl. She tilted her head at him with mild interest.

"'Sup little broha? I'm America," the blonde country exclaimed, extending a hand toward Belize. Something flickered across her usually blank face… Recognition, perhaps? No, that couldn't be… How would she know America?

"Hello. My name's Belize," Belize replied in an almost businesslike tone, lightly taking America's hand and letting her arm go limp. "You're rather loud, you know," she added with a quirk to one of her thick eyebrows.

In response, America let out his signature laugh. "You know who you remind me of? That jerky limey England."

To both Guatemala and America's surprise, alarm shot across Belize's expression at that. She quickly covered it up by gazing down toward the ground. Her demeanor was still rigid, though.

"Are you hungry, America?" Guatemala inquired slightly awkwardly.

"Uh, ALWAYS! But no worries, I got some grub right here." Absurdly, America dug into the pocket of his bomber jacket and pulled out a messily-wrapped cheeseburger, French fries thrown between the buns. "I'm kinda thirsty though…"

Chuckling at the American's ridiculousness, Guatemala shuffled into the kitchen to whip up some coffee for him. Wearing his usual goofy smile, America made himself comfortable on the sofa in Guatemala's living room. Belize hesitantly followed after him and sat in one of the armchairs opposite from the couch.

"So I hear that you like to give Guatemala a hard time," America began, crossing my arms behind his head and leaning back so as to use them like a pillow.

"…I do not. I avoid her more much than I bother her," Belize murmured, facing America's direction yet refusing to make eye contact with him.

America tilted his head slightly and crossed his legs, removing one hand from behind his head and taking out his burger. "That's still being difficult, y'know. What, d'you not like her or somethin'?"

"No," Belize answered immediately, "it isn't anything personal." Her gaze met America's for just a moment; she quickly darted her eyes away.

"Then why can't ya talk to her? You're talking to me just fine," America reasoned, tapping his foot absently as he chewed.

For a few moments, Belize was silent. "I'd act like that for anyone that took me into their household," she whispered honestly. She added something in an even softer tone, but it was so quiet that America only heard the words "except for."

"Huh? Can you repeat that, bra?" America requested mid-gulp, once again completely failing to read the atmosphere. Belize just stared at him with an expression that clearly read he was out of his mind until he changed the subject.

The two of them shared their mutual love for soccer and tortillas until Guatemala entered the room carrying a steaming mug. America thanked her perhaps too enthusiastically before gulping down the hot beverage and completely disregarding the heat. Guatemala sat down beside America, shaking her head fondly before flashing Belize her best smile.

"So are you getting along with Mr. America?" she asked. Belize's eyes drifted off to the side as if Guatemala's presence inconvenienced her.

"Pretty much, I suppose," she said softly. America looked back and forth between the two females with obvious confusion.

"Damn, bro, your vibe just went WAY down," he noted with half a French fry hanging out his mouth, using one hand to point in Belize's direction. He raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You totally don't like Guatemala."

"I do!" Belize insisted with more force than you would expect from such a small girl; it caught everyone off guard, including Belize herself. "I do like her," she repeated more quietly. Crossing her arms lightly, she stared at her feet again. "I'm just… still adjusting." Neither America nor Guatemala caught that Belize was fibbing.

"Oh… Thank goodness… I was really afraid you had it in for me from the start," Guatemala breathed, placing one hand on her chest over where her heart is. "If there's anything that can help you adjust quicker, just ask me."

"Well, I'm pretty tired right now, to be honest… Would you mind putting me to bed early?" Belize requested. Guatemala glanced at the clock on the wall, surprised to see how early it was, but didn't argue.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. Come on, miel." She got to her feet, gently gripping Belize's shoulder before following the girl up the stairs. America finished his unhealthy food before deciding he didn't quite like being alone, and joining the other two in the room that Guatemala had given to Belize.

The girl was already clothed in a nightdress and crawling into bed after saying her prayers by the time America found her and Guatemala. "Buenas noches, hermana menor" Guatemala whispered, pressing the doll she had found on the day she met Belize into the girl's hands. Furrowing her eyebrows slightly, Belize started to silently slide down under the covers… But then she noticed America standing in the doorway.

"…Good night, Guatemala," she replied reluctantly. To Guatemala's both shock and delight, the young country reached up and gave her a quick hug before rolling over onto her side and pulling the blankets up further. Guatemala smiled affectionately, giving her sister a gentle kiss on the cheek before slipping out into the hall with America following close to her like a friendly puppy.

They proceeded back to the living room without a word, casual smiles on their faces. Guatemala motioned to the couch but America shook his head. "Nah man, I'm gonna get goin' soon. Might as well stand."

Guatemala tried not to look too disappointed. "Oh, alright."

"You're pretty good at this mommy stuff… You big mush," America teased, lightly punching his friend in the shoulder. Guatemala rolled her eyes pleasantly.

"I'm trying to be her sister, not her mamá. And I'm just going to be all soft and sweet to her until I grow on her. Once she comes around and gets used to this whole thing, I'll start laying down some law and discipline," Guatemala explained.

America nodded slowly, actually understanding what she was saying. "You're devious, you know that?"

"Well I want her to start liking me- loving me as her sister, even- before I am all strict like I should be with my little territory." There was a pause. "…Belize really seemed to like you." Guatemala glanced over her shoulder toward the stairway.

" 'Course she did. I'm a pretty likable person." America grinned down at his Latin American companion; for whatever reason, a light blush swept across her cheeks as she smiled warmly up at him.

"I, for one, know that I like you. Even if you're a noisy, rude, obnoxious slob."

"Hey, I happen to be a noisy, rude, obnoxious slob that's gonna be buddies with your sis so she warms up and likes you quicker," America indicated with a pout.

"…You'd do that?" Guatemala said, her voice dripping with disbelief.

"Don't sound so surprised. You're my BFF! I'd do anything for ya."

I'd do anything for you. Those words echoed loudly in Guatemala's head, over and over.

Wait. What was going on? Her head was pounding (though not painfully), the room was spinning, her legs felt weak… But that wasn't because of America's words. Guatemala was already quite certain that he would do anything for her… No, everything was like this because America now had his hand pressed against her cheek; his blue eyes were bearing into her brown ones from behind his glasses; he was leaning forward slightly…

Guatemala didn't wait to ask herself if what she thought was happening would happen. Instead, she shot her eyes right closed, placed both hands on America's shoulders, and sprung upward, pressing her lips against America's.

Her first kiss…. This was really it…. Was this how she pictured it going? Who she pictured it being with? She couldn't be sure- it had only come to her in a distant, insignificant dream or two…

And then it was over. America brought his lips off of Guatemala's mouth with a very soft smack sound, rested his nose on Guatemala's for a couple seconds, and then opened his eyes. Both of them smiled blissfully at each other… But only for a moment.

"Well, I'll see ya later," America murmured while taking a half step backward. Guatemala nodded slowly, reluctantly sliding her hands off his shoulder with her eyes still locked on his. She didn't become fully aware of how fast her heart was fluttering until America turned and strode out the door, closing it behind him without another word. Guatemala closed her eyes and shook her head, finally breaking the gaze she'd glued to his retreating form. The now passed moment was already becoming a blur; it had happened far too quickly…

It took about a minute for Guatemala's mind to clear. She'd kissed America, and he kissed her back… That's what. She absently brought two fingers up to touch her lips. The taste of his mouth- a combination of French fry residue and coffee- still lingered. I wonder what I tasted like? My dinner, probably, she thought to herself. "Gross, don't think such things," she muttered aloud.

The sound of her own voice seemed to snap her out of her little love struck haze. Immediately, she became aware of the fact that something was wrong. At the time, kissing him had felt so right. She loved him… Surely she loved him… Why else would she always smile when in his presence? Why else would she feel so fluttery inside when he spoke in her language? Why else would she adore spending her days with him? Why else would she have kissed him?

It didn't take long for the answers to come to her. With all of the stress she dealt with, America's childish, upbeat vibe was easily influential on her mood. That fluttery feeling at hearing him speak Spanish was not a romantic one; she was simply honored that her boneheaded friend bothered to learn something near and dear to her. Enjoying his company didn't mean she loved him… It just reinforced the fact that they were best friends. And she kissed him because the moment was so heartwarming, and in the back of her mind she felt guilty about backing away from that time under the mistletoe.

But at least she had been in her right mind when she rejected him.