Eleven
March 18th
So I got a job today. Ironically enough, it's at that Italian place that stupid jerk who won't talk to me anymore and I had dinner last month. I should have guessed it was the place Feliciano told me about though; Italian people, Italian restaurant… Yeah. Lucky me, I can now say good-bye to my weekends. I have practice every Saturday morning, and then work from five to ten, and then on Sunday I have practice from one to three, and then work from five to nine.
Thanks Mom. Since I hated sleeping and having a social life, this is just the best!
Anyways, Lovino was there (his Uncle owns the place so sometimes him and Feliciano help out) and he was being his usual sour self until Antonio, Feliciano, and Ludwig walked in. Then his bitchiness went through the roof. He stormed into the kitchen and refused to talk to anyone. I felt bad for Antonio; he had no idea what was going on. Feliciano followed him and tried to talk to him, but I'm pretty sure Lovino threw a can of tomatoes at him. One of the big ones. And I kind of want to ask him what's going on, but I'm afraid he might try to kill me, too.
Ok I'm seriously just killing time here. I sort of thought that Iv- Braginski would have called me by now with a "Haha I was just kidding! You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm too creepy and persistent, da!" but he hasn't.
…But I bet he will.
This is probably just one of his mind games and I'm not going to fall for it and call him first or something.
Not that I'd ever call him.
Later
Ok but for real why hasn't he called yet.
Later
Ugh. This is really starting to piss me o- oh wait. Someone's at my door. Ha! I bet it's him.
Later
It wasn't Braginski.
It was fucking better than Braginski- it was Arthur!
Course I thought he just came by to pick a fight or make fun of me, so when I saw who it was I crossed my arms and leaned against the door frame with this "what the fuck do you want?" expression on my face while Arthur furrowed his massive brows and refused to look at me. He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest like he always does when he doesn't like the situation, and stuck his nose in the air.
"Matthew said you wanted to talk to me," he said haughtily.
I blinked a few times, completely shocked. "Wait, you and Matt talked?"
His shoulders deflated a bit and he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Erm, yes," he said. "We've been on speaking terms for a while. There really was no point in my staying angry with him."
His reference to the whole "I like Francis and you're a shit friend don't talk to me" deal left us both unsure of what to say next, and we fell into an awkward silence for the next few moments.
Arthur recovered first. He cleared his throat and straightened his sweater. "Right. So, was there anything you needed to tell me?" he asked.
I shook my head no. After all, I hadn't gone to Matthew.
He pursed his lips and turned around. "Well, then I'll just be-"
I put a hand on his shoulder, silencing and stopping him in his tracks. I really didn't know what I was doing, I just knew that I was sick of fighting and not talking. So I said, "I didn't break my promise. I never told a soul."
I don't know what he was thinking since I couldn't bring myself to look at him, but he said, "I know."
After a minute I chanced a glance at him and he chanced a glance at me and we both cracked a smile.
"If you think I'm going to apologize then you're sadly mistaken," he said gruffly. "You've really got to work on your communication skills!"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever! I'm not saying I'm sorry either cause you were a real jerk about the whole thing!"
And then I stepped to the side and he came in and I asked if he wanted to play Devil May Cry and he said no and asked if I was hungry and I said hell no and it was like thirty-eight days of fighting had never happened.
Later
Not that I had been counting or anything.
Later
Man it's good having that stuffy little Brit around. I missed making fun of his clothes and picking on his weird spelling and bribing him to "speak American". He is never allowed to be mad at me for more than a few hours from now on. Not talking totally sucked. It was like, I had over a month's worth of stories and grievances and gossip and happy thoughts and zombie survival plans just dying to get out, but he can't think as fast as I can talk (which is really his own problem) so it really sucked having to pick and choose the most important things, since he was only giving me a two minute time limit for each topic.
He is a real prick like that.
So anyways, I told him about how Braginski kept stalking me, and how he told everyone we were dating, and how he made me spend Valentine's Day with him and how Natalia tried to kill me until I convinced her that we weren't dating and how his life totally sucks and how it's not fair that his family is so lame and how they ought to treat him better because really he's not all that bad and how he's being a jerk and not talking to me.
He just looked at me completely horrified.
"What?" I asked.
"Good Lord you've gone and fallen for that creepy bastard, haven't you?" he asked.
And so what if I blushed? It wasn't like it was a "oh my gosh you discovered my secret!" blush. It was totally a, "No! Holy shit that's gross!" blush.
So, just to help with the distinction, I said, "No! Holy shit that's gross!"
Arthur looked at me skeptically. "Alfred, your ears have gone all red round the edges. There's no point denying it."
"But I don't. What the hell! I don't!"
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
"Man, fuck you."
Arthur laughed and proceeded to do a really bad impression of me. "'Oh, Ivan! You're so hand-"
And that was when I tackled him. I was gonna give him a noogie or something since he was being such a big asshole, but I settled for a hug instead.
"I really, really missed you, you stupid asshole."
"You too, you big git." Arthur said, giving my back a proper, awkward pat, but I know he missed me too, cause he didn't shove me off like he usually would have.
Later
I just went by Francis's room and, ignoring Gilbert, the piano guy, and the creepy camera woman, gave Mattie the biggest hug ever and told him that he was the bestest brother anyone could ask for. He smiled and asked if me and Arthur had made up. I said yes. He hugged me back and was super happy too, but said the weirdest thing.
"Don't thank me, thank Ivan."
I raised a brow. "Why?"
He scratched the back of his head and blushed. "Well, a few days ago he came by asking me what would make you happy, and I told him that fixing things with Arthur would, so he suggested that I trick the two of you into talking."
I blinked a few times, taken aback.
Elizabeta sighed and got all sparkly-eyed. "Just like Mr. Darcy!"
Whoever that is.
March 19th
Braginski ignored me in class today, which pissed me off because I owe him a thank you. And I really don't want to be in his debt for long, but no matter what I did, he wouldn't look at me! I even went out of my way to accidently drop my homework that had really bad scores on it in front of him. He didn't even give it a passing glance. And when I told him that he still had to tutor me because Coach said so, he told me that other arrangements had been made!
Well fine. I was gonna try to be his friend, but whatever.
If he wants to be a loner, that's fine by me. I don't care.
Later
And it's like, not that I care, but I can't even talk to Arthur about it, cause he'll make fun of me! I don't even think he believes me when I say that me and Braginski never dated, that douche.
Later
So Lovino just demanded that we let him stay in our room tonight, but like hell am I going to allow that again. Last time he stayed over I didn't get any sleep. So I told him just that, and then he had to go look like a kicked puppy. Of course that worked on Matt, who has this thing for anything even remotely cute, but I stood my ground.
"Why can't you just man up and talk to Antonio!" I said, exasperated. "It's obvious you're mad at him!"
That stupid Italian sneered at me. "Like you're one to give advice; you can't even figure out your own relationship, don't tell me what to do!"
My eye twitched. What did he mean by "my relationship?"
I decided I didn't want to know and didn't comment on that remark.
I looked to Matt for support, but he looked away. Stupid pacifist. Then I turned to Arthur, who had been reading the paper, and cleared my throat.
"What?" he asked.
"A little back up?" I hissed.
He went back to reading. "I'll let you children duke it out," he said.
My roommates fucking suck.
March 20th
So it's like, 1:30 AM right now, and Lovino is actually… being quiet. Which is weird. What is he doing? Why isn't he yelling at his phone and acting like a big baby and keeping me awake like usual?
Well I guess he's still keeping me awake, but it's just because I keep expecting to hear his phone hit my door and it's not. Which is weird. I'm gonna investigate.
Later
Dude. I just cracked my door open a bit and when he heard me he gasped and then got all silent so I laughed and apologized for "interrupting" him and he sniffled and told me to fuck off. I think he's crying.
Later
Why is he crying?
Later
You know what? Lovino is the world's biggest bitch. See if I ever try to help him out again.
I felt kinda bad for him, even if he had been a little shit earlier, so I asked him if he wanted me to make him some of Arthur's tea, since it's supposed to help you calm down, but he just told me to fuck off again. So then I asked him if he wanted to talk and he told me to mind my own business. So then I asked him if I'd been right about him being upset with Antonio and he blew up at me!
"Yes, it's about that fucking bastard! He can't think of anyone but himself, but why am I telling you this?" he scowled. "You're just as bad- no, you're worse! I don't know how Ivan stands you."
"This again? What the hell, Lovino," I narrowed my eyes and dropped the friendly tone. "I'm just trying to help. Don't drag Braginski into this; he has nothing to do with anything. You know there's nothing going on between the two of us."
He snorted and rolled back over. "Whatever. Leave me alone."
See if I ever try to help him again.
Later
So after English Arthur and I sat at our old table again, just like old times. I sighed and commented on that fact, and he rolled his eyes and told me to stop acting like we're long lost friends. Even though we totally are! He's got to be faking indifference; I know going a month without me had to be hard on him.
Anyways, I don't remember what we were talking about, probably something about class and our 'Personal Heroes' papers. (I got a B, I was so proud. I knew X-Men was the way to go. I bet Artie got an A though, and I didn't want him to rub it in my face so I made it a point not to ask him.)
But then Braginski walked in with a few people, some of them I didn't know, but I recognized a few of them- Yao and Alvarez and Maria. Maria caught my eye and laughed. I scratched the back of my head, a little embarrassed thinking about our last encounter. I mouthed, "Sorry," and she smiled and shook her head. "Thanks," she mouthed back, indicating to her and Alvarez's joined hands. I smiled. Even if Alvarez is a big douche bag, if Maria's happy with him that's cool.
I felt someone's gaze on me; it was Braginski. But when I looked at him, he turned his attention away and said something to Yao who laughed. Then Braginski lightly touching his shoulder like they were old friends or something.
Which they totally aren't because I'm the one who introduced them. That ungrateful jerk.
"Alfred, Alfred, hello?" Arthur waved his spoon in front of my face, trying to get my attention. I guess I sort of zoned out.
I blinked and looked at him. "Sorry, were you saying something?"
He quirked a brow and followed my line of vision.
"Braginski again?" he asked.
"What?"
He gave me The Look. "You know what I mean, Alfred." He rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. "What exactly is going on between the two of you?"
"I don't know what you're talk-"
My phone vibrated; it was a text from Maria. She asked me if we could hang out some time… and then asked me what had been going on between me and Braginski that I hadn't told her about. And then she added a fucking winkie face. A winkie face!
I looked up to yell at her, but they'd already left the DH.
Arthur gave me a knowing look. "Well?" he asked. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
I stood up and slammed my hands on the table. "There is nothing going on between me and Braginski!" I shouted.
The entire cafeteria went silent and Arthur fucking laughed at me.
-
theres nothin goin on between me n braginski! If you say so, querido… stfu maria or i'll tell alvarez you asked ME out! But I didn't, you did! That's cruel! :( but he won't know that ;) Fine. Then I'll tell Ivan you're madly in love with him! ;) DON'T YOU DARE Well at least talk to the poor boy! pobrecillo, he is so sad! he ignored me first! Ugh, men… Dinner next Thursday? Ugh women… yeah sounds good :)
-
March 20th
Dude. Kiku has been acting weird as fuck lately. He's always blushing and he's been even quieter than usual, and today when I got back from practice, I caught him outside Arthur's door, about to knock. But when he saw me, he got all embarrassed and ran back to his room.
Are they… Are they hiding something from me?
Later
So I knocked on Kiku's door to see what was up. I asked him if he wanted to hangout, since it had been a while since the two of us chilled. He said he'd like that, so we settled down to play some good old fashion Mario Cart. Half way through the second round I asked him what was up with him and Arthur and he tripped up and ran over a banana peel, which never happens.I asked him if he was ok and he just gave a small smile and said it was nothing.
After a moment he cleared his throat and said, "Actually, since the two of you made up I haven't really seen him mu-" But then my phone rang and I told him to hold that thought.
It was Arthur asking when I wanted to go to dinner, and I told him I was with Kiku, and he asked if we both wanted to eat with him and I sure. I put my phone down and asked him to finish what he'd been about to say, but he just shook his head and said never mind.
I narrowed my eyes.
They are totally hiding something from me!
March 21st
It's not like I haven't noticed them before. Hell, they've been all over campus since last week. But for some reason today they've just been like… all up in my face, begging me to look at them.
Stupid fucking ballet posters.
I am not going to that stupid thing.
In fact, I hope Braginski falls and breaks both of his legs.
Later
Ok, it's not like I'm a stalker, but I just happened to walk by the performing arts center, and guess who was talking to Braginski?
Lovino!
I thought he was afraid of him. That has to be the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Ever.
Later
So I went to see the ballet. I made Arthur go with me, who said he would have gone without me anyways, but whatever.
To be completely honest, I thought it was weird and boring. It wasn't what ballet was supposed to be. No one was wearing tutus, and they even had their toes pointed in. It was all pretty strange. I read the little pamphlet thing, and basically it was about Braginski's character dancing himself to death in order for the village to gain the good graces of the Spring God. If you ask me, that is a load of bull. You're going to pass out from exhaustion before you die from dancing. And anyways, who wants a god who demands sacrifices? That's pretty lame if you ask me.
But… It was kind of cool, too, in its own way, I mean. I thought he'd look like, I don't know, girlie, cause I mean, come on, it's ballet, but he didn't. The way he moved, it wasn't flowing or graceful by any means, but it was raw and powerful. Suddenly it was obvious why he was so sure footed on the basketball court; there was nothing awkward about the way he carried himself.
But still. They were all dressed like fucking Indians.
And I just could not take that seriously.
March 22nd
I went to Francis's to get Matthew since we were supposed to go see a movie together, but when I got there he was too busy trying to get Francis to shut up, who was too busy trying to get Antonio to shut up, who was too busy crying over the fact that, to put it in his words, "Lovi h-hates me and he won't tell me why!"
So then I tried to get Matt to give it up, but he said that he couldn't just leave the two of them together because Francis was giving him "bad advice" which probably means that he was telling Antonio to just seduce him and ask questions later, and Antonio was probably contemplating suicide.
So I just left and asked Arthur and Kiku to watch it with me instead. Arthur wanted to go, but Kiku declined.
Why is everyone acting so weird?
March 23rd
Practice and then work. I seriously have nothing else to say about how bad today is going to suck.
March 25th
Me and Artie had a good ol' heart-to-heart last night when I got off work. He came by around nine to walk with me back to the dorms, but we just wound up sitting in the parking lot for a while, talking.
"What did you think of the ballet?" he asked, taking a long swig of his beer.
I looked down at my own bottle, watching the dark liquid swirl around as I rotated my wrist. I shrugged, "I don't know anything about dance," I said noncommittally. "I didn't really get it."
He downed the rest of his beer. "But you couldn't take your eyes off of him."
"Who?"
"Braginski. You never looked away from him."
"It's not what you think," I said. "I was just trying to pa-"
"Isn't it though?" he asked, cutting me off. "Be honest with yourself, Alfred. It bothers you that he's not talking to you, when it shouldn't."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Arthur tossed his empty bottle into the dumpster. "I'm just saying, it's a good thing he's leaving you alone. You shouldn't push it."
I stood up, fists clenched. "What would you know?" I demanded. "You don't even know him."
"I know he's put you through hell and you're just asking to be hurt! He's nothing but bad news."
"Not everyone is out to hurt you. You're just comparing him to how things worked out for you with Francis!" I snapped.
I know, dumb move. If it helps at all, I felt like a complete ass for saying that. Not to mention, I couldn't believe that I'd just compared Braginski to Francis. But Arthur was really pissing me off. I know he means well, but damn does he have a controlling streak.
He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't feel like fighting with you over this," he caved in. "Do what you want."
I smiled triumphantly, then realized something.
"So, uh, what should I do?"
Arthur smiled and ruffled my hair. "You're a hopeless mess, you know that?"
I slung an arm over his shoulder. "Yeah but I'm your hopeless mess."
He shook his head. "Just be careful, alright?"
We walked back to campus in comfortable silence, but half way there I stopped. He gave me a questioning look, but I turned my face away.
"I'm sorry I brought up Francis," I muttered. "That was a pretty low blow."
He pulled away from me dramatically and placed a hand over his heart. "I think I'm going into cardiac arrest," he cried. "Did Alfred Jones just apologize?"
I kicked him. "Don't get used to it, you prick." But what I really meant to say was, 'It's good to have you back.'
Because, somehow, things don't seem so bleak when you've got a good friend in your corner.
-
Translations:
querido- love, darling
pobrecillo- poor little thing