I just found out about this a few days ago, and it had not done anything to renew my faith in America. Did you know that 68% of Americans don't know that New Mexico is a state? How stupid is that? It's not that hard to believe though, because whenever I tell someone I'm from NM, they usually reply with, "Oh, so you're from out of the country?" The worst is when they say, "Wow, your English sounds really great!" I'm just like, "Yeah, and it'll sound even better when my fist high fives you face." Really people, how hard is it to recognize us as one of your own? We're like the Canada of the states.
Anyway, sorry about that rant! Here's the next chapter! I think you guys will be happy (maybe) by the end.
Dead leaves crunched loudly under the feet of teenagers, running freely down the "road" that ran through the school campus. Really it was just a large dirt path that occasionally broke off into smaller roads. Lining the path were stands of every kind; snack bars, caramel apples carts, traditional games like bobbing for apples, and good old arts and crafts benches were set up for everyone's entertainment.
Alfred laughed to himself when a few girls ran by screaming as two boys chased them with a giant worm slung over a twig. They looked like they were only freshman, right out of middle school. Poor worm, Alfred thought to himself.
"What's so funny?" Ivan was perched on top of the small picnic table, not doing much besides relaxing into the calm autumn weather. This question was close to the only thing uttered between the two of them since they had met up again.
As usual, Ivan had been one of the first students to arrive at the festival, and after walking around aimlessly for almost half an hour, he finally laid down on top of the table and settled down. He would have fallen asleep, too, if it wasn't for a pesky American plopping down on the bench next to him, making a snide comment about Ivan's choice of beds. Neither of them had made a move to do anything after that, and continued to sit there in silence.
It seemed that silence was broken now, however. "Nothing, there's just some kids being stupid."
"Sounds a bit like you, да?"
"Dude, shut up," Alfred lightly smacked Ivan's shoulder, rolling his eyes. It was different, though. Ivan could tell it was more playful than hurtful. Strange.
Ivan smiled slightly and bent back, sighing in satisfaction when his back popped loudly. He was just about fed up with this apathetic atmosphere by now. Ivan shuddered, thinking back to a few days ago when he had cracked under his boredom and invited Natalia to the park with him. When he had seen Alfred there with Matthew, some hope that he could use them as an escape route had sparked, but was sadly snuffed out when Alfred blatantly ignored him. That day was one he did not want to repeat.
Alfred was here now, and couldn't just ignore him, so this was Ivan's chance to do something fun. All he needed was to find something fun that they both could enjoy.
He was going to spend his whole day looking for that one thing, wasn't he?
"We're here, we might as well do something," Ivan suggested with a sigh.
"Well, commie, what did you have in mind? It's not like there's much to do around here. It's the same as all the years before."
"That's not true; they add lots of different things all the time."
"What, like a new snow-cone stand, or that new karaoke machine that only has, like, ten songs on it? That's not exciting, though! If we're going to be stuck together for the day, I want to do something that makes it worthwhile."
Ivan thought for a moment. Alfred liked food, didn't he? He supposed they could start with that. "Well, assuming you're up for food – which I know you are – let's get something to eat, then we'll go from there."
Alfred's eyes lit up at the mention of food. He wouldn't admit it, but that was one of the reasons he was glad the festival was the same every year; the food was so delicious.
"Yeah, sure. I think there's a small café down that way that has some good teriyaki chicken. It's like a small Chinese place – I think Yao's parents are the ones running it – can't miss it."
Alfred led the way as they pushed through the large mobs of teenagers that were littering the road, and was somehow able to find the food court. Ivan was convinced Alfred had just followed the smell of fried food that would make you gain five pounds just looking at it; Ivan wouldn't have found it if he had spent hours looking for it.
"I think I'm going to get the teriyaki chicken – maybe I'll add the side of rice. How 'bout you?"
"I can't believe they can call any of this Chinese food. I pray that you know this isn't like anything they really have in China, right Alfred?"
"Whatever, it tastes good! Now pick something; it's our turn to order."
Ivan settled for the fried rice, and they were handed a number for their order.
Their food was ready faster than it should have been, and they found some chairs to sit down in to eat. Ivan thought the rice was decent; the large peanut crumbs really added flavor and texture. He turned to ask Alfred if he liked it too, but didn't bother. He doubted he'd get a comprehendible answer with so much food stuffed into the Americans mouth.
Ivan rolled his eyes, but couldn't keep the corners of his lips from turning upward, a small chuckle escaping him.
Alfred grunted softy beside him. "Ugh, this chicken must be really dry or something."
"Why do you say that?"
"It's making my throat kind of itchy or something. I don't know…" Alfred starting eating more of the rice; maybe it would make it feel better.
Ivan shrugged and continued looking around, thinking of other things they could possibly do. His thinking was interrupted by Alfred clearing his throat again.
"Man, I think I need more rice," Ivan looked at Alfred's rice bowl, completely empty. He must have downed most of it in one go, "Although, it's not helping much…" Alfred trailed off. He brought his hand up and started softly rubbing at his neck.
Now Ivan was starting to worry a little. He watched Alfred, the other's brows furrowing in discomfort.
"Actually…I think it's just getting worse," Alfred stood up, still rubbing his throat.
Ivan stood up with him, "Where are you going?"
"Back to the food court; I need to ask the cook something."
Ivan followed Alfred back to the small café. Did Alfred have allergies to something in the food? If he did, that really wasn't good, considering how much Alfred had eaten. Of course, it would depend on the severity of the allergies.
The walk was brief, and now Alfred was leaning over the counter, calling over the lady who had taken their order.
"Excuse me, ma'am?"
She came over to them with a smile, "How may I help you?"
"Yeah, are there any tree nuts in the teriyaki chicken?"
Her smile disappeared and was replaced with a concerned one, matching Ivan's. "No, I'm pretty sure there aren't."
Alfred thought to himself for a second, "Are there any in the fried rice?"
"I do not know, I'll go ask the chef." The lady went into the back, leaving Alfred and Ivan waiting at the counter, both starting to worry.
"Alfred, are you allergic to tree nuts?" Ivan asked warily. Fretting blue eyes turned towards the Russian.
"Yeah, that's why I'm asking."
"Oh, dear...Alfred, there were peanuts in the rice. You probably didn't notice them because you ate it so fast."
"What?" Alfred grabbed Ivan by the scarf, yanking him down to eye level. "Please tell me you're trying to scare me or something."
"нет, I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"Oh, shit," Alfred released his tight grip on the light pink scarf and instead brought his hands to his throat again, this time holding it like he was trying to protect it, "Ivan, I'm really allergic to those. As in, 'my throat will swell up and I won't be able to breath' allergic."
The American looked up at Ivan with worried eyes. At that moment something in Ivan clicked, and all resent or dislike he felt for the blonde disappeared, leaving behind a desperate urge to protect him.
It was then that the young woman came back, an older man in a chef's outfit. she approached them and gestured to the man. "The chef says that the only nuts in the rice are peanuts. is something wrong?"
Before Alfred could answer, Ivan jumped in and took matters into his own hands. "Yes, there is a problem. My friend here is highly allergic to peanuts and just ate a whole bowl of the rice. Could you please get and allergy kit out here?"
"Oh honey, of course! Ming!" she called out into the back. "Get the allergy kit out from the top shelf in the back. We have a boy here who's having a bad reaction," She continued to say something in Chinese, which Alfred didn't understand. Right now he was too busy trying not to have a panic attack. He could feel his windpipe constricting, and his lungs were starting to work harder to get enough air.
Ivan led them to the closest bench for them to sit down on.
A younger Oriental girl in her teens rushed out, stumbling a bit with a medium sized blue bag. When she spoke, she had a heavy accent. "What has your doctor told you to do in a situation like this? The needle or the pill?"
"The shot," Alfred held his hand out as the girl opened the bag and rummaged around for the device. She pulled it out and handed it to him.
"You know how to use it?" she asked him.
"Know how? Please, I'm like an expert at his by now," Alfred laughed half heartedly and took the shot out of the carrying tube as he held the device with the black tip pointing down, removing the activation cap. He lifted his hand, aiming the tip at his thigh.
"Are you going to stab yourself with that thing?" Ivan looked at Alfred, nearly horrified. He'd never learned exactly what you do with the epinephrine injections. He knew he shouldn't be so shocked, since it was an injection, but it surprised him nonetheless.
"Well, yeah. I mean, that's how you get it into your body." Alfred stated like it was common knowledge. Ivan groaned and looked away. Alfred shrugged and continued.
With one swift movement, Alfred jabbed the black tip into his thigh, wincing. Ivan had, unfortunately, decided to man up and look back at that moment. He instantly regretted it. He wasn't the squeamish person at all, and usually he would have loved to see Alfred stab himself with a needle, but for some reason seeing the black tip disappear within Alfred's leg made his stomach lurch.
After a few seconds, Alfred pulled the needle back out and pressed the tip firmly on the top of the table, then replaced it in the carrying tube.
Ivan waited for something else. "What, was that it?"
"Yup, now I just wait for the epinephrine to kick in, which should be pretty quickly." He could already feel his airway easing open again. He handed the used vaccine to the girl, who was still sitting there looking pale from what just happened. She took it and brought it back in the cafe to dispose of.
"Wait, but not all of the liquid was injected," Ivan was looking confused.
"It's not supposed to. Like I said, I've done this a lot. I don't really pay much attention to the ingredient labels on food..."
"I can believe that." They both sat there for a while, not feeling like talking. ivan was still concerned for Alfred, though. "Are you okay?"
Alfred looked at him with wide eyes, before scoffing. "Of course I'm okay! Something like that isn't going to kill me or anything. I mean, as long as I get the injection, of course. Or the pill, but those things taste disgusting." Alfred laughed it off, but stopped when he saw Ivan staring at him intensely.
"Alfred, would you tell me if you weren't okay?" Ivan asked.
Alfred didn't know whether to be flattered that Ivan cared so much, or thoroughly creeped out. He was stuck somewhere in between: annoyed. "Dude, you need to have more faith in me! I'm the hero - heroes can take care of themselves." Ivan still looked worried, though, so Alfred faked a reassuring smile.
Ivan seemed to relax, and smiled that stupid smile right back. He stood up and held out his hand to help Alfred up. "Shall we go find something to do to make this day worthwhile, then?"
Alfred hesitantly placed his hand into the larger one, letting Ivan pull him up. "Sure," he sighed, and they began walking down the road again. Alfred started to open his mouth his yell at the Russian for not letting go of his hand, but closed it before he said anything. He had no idea why he was, but...he sort of liked the feeling.
After a while, Alfred gripped Ivan's hand securely, and his natural bounce was evident in his steps. His smile was no longer forced.
The cricket's still there, so editing here was especially crappy. Please review and tell me what errors are here and I'll gladly go back and fix them. And yes, I won't deny it, this is really just another way for me to squeeze as many reviews out of you guys as possible. XD