Author Commentary; Hi again. I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I have a job now. The bad news is that I won't have as much time to write. I know it's annoying, but I hope that everyone understands. Also, to anyone who has been following the I am Matthewian Project on Youtube and DeviantArt, I'm now a member. I've already done some artwork on DA under the name HitomiMaaka, so if you're interested, go check it out. Now, enough with my rambling, on with the story!

Title; Audition

Characters; England, France, America, Canada

Pairs; FrUK

Rating; T

Warnings; Yaoi, depression, bulimia

Disclaimer; I don't own Hetalia.

Alfred stared at the slightly crumpled flyer in his hand. He'd done a little research about the play and found out that it was a Shakespearian romantic comedy centred around a pair of twins and their mishaps. It intrigued him. Could he be part of it? Did he want to be part of it?

A knock at the door brought Alfred from his thoughts.

"Alfred?" Arthur called through the door, "Can I come in?"

"Go ahead." Alfred called, sitting up.

Arthur opened the door and walked in. He strode over to the bed and sat down next to his son, "So how have you been feeling?" Arthur asked, trying not to sound nervous. He really wasn't good at the whole 'emotions' thing.

"Good, good." Alfred said, "Been feeling better every day."

"That's good." Arthur said. He then noticed the crumpled flyer in Alfred's hand, "Oh, ae you trying out for that play?" he asked.

Alfred shrugged, "I'm not sure. I kind of want to, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea right now."

Arthur patted Alfred's shoulder, "I think it's a wonderful idea. Maybe finding something to focus on will take your mind off things." he said.

"I'm not sure I want to focus on other things right now. Mattie needs me." Alfred said.

Arthur sighed, "I agree that Matthew needs you, you are his older brother, but you also need you. You can't focus only on your brother, you need to make your own mark on the world. Furthermore, Matthew won't be alone if you do some extra-curricular activities, he does have your Papa and I you know."

Alfred sighed, "I suppose. I'm just not sure if I'll be able to focus on anything else."

Arthur smiled, "Well, you won't know until you try." he said.

Alfred smiled a little, "Guess so."

"That's a good lad. Now, why don't you come down to dinner? Papa's made parmesan chicken." Arthur said, smiling.

"Sounds good." Alfred said, standing and making his way down to the kitchen, Arthur right behind him.

Matthew was already sitting down at the table when they walked in, looking rather meek, still in his bandages and not quite filled out enough to be healthy at this point.

"Hey Mattie, how have you been?" Alfred said, sitting down next to his smaller brother.

"Okay. I'm still a little soar though." Matthew said, smiling up at his brother, "I'm getting better though."

"That's good." Arthur said, sitting opposite to the boys, "You'll be just fine in no time at all."

"Oui, soon you will be able to return to school." Francis said, coming out of the kitchen, "Maybe some normalcy will return to our lives, hm?"

"That'd be nice." Matthew said, smiling lightly.

Alfred smiled; his brother was getting better, good. After what had happened to him, he deserved it. He reached over and took Matthew's hand in his own, giving it a squeeze. Matthew looked over and smiled at him, making him feel warm on the inside.

Later that evening, Alfred sat down with Matthew, who was reading on his bed.

"Hey Mattie," Alfred asked, "I'm thinking of trying out for the school play."

"That's great Al. You'd be good at acting." Matthew said, leaning into his brother's side.

"You think so?" Alfred asked, wrapping his arms around Matthew.

"I'd go see it." Matthew said, snuggling into Alfred, "I'd see anything you'd be in."

Alfred smiled, "Thanks Matt." he said kissing Matthew's forehead.

The next day, Alfred stayed late after school, heading to the auditorium. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to do this, but it couldn't hurt to try. Who knows, maybe he would like it.

The theatre teacher looked up as he walked in, "Oh hello Alfred, what brings you here?" she asked.

"I'm, um, here to audition." Alfred said, not sure what he was doing.

"Okay then, did you have a particular role in mind?" she asked.

"Not really." Alfred said. Shoot, should he have picked a part?

The teacher chuckled, "That's fine Alfred. Do you know any lines from the play?"

"Er, no. I'm just here sorta on a whim." Alfred explained.

"That's fine Alfred." she said, "Why don't you take this script and show us what you've got?"

Alfred took the offered script and made his way to the stage. He flipped through and picked a part of the script. He took a deep breath and decided that it was now or never.

"By your patience no!" he started, " The malignancy of my fate might distemper yours. I crave your leave that I may bear my evils alone." he paused for effect, "My name is Sebastian. My father was Sebastian of Massaline whom you have heard of. He left behind him myself and a sister, both born in an hour." at this point, he thought of his brother, and what had happened to them, "If the heavens had been pleased, would we had so ended! But you, sir, took me from the sea. My sister drowned." he finished, his tone sombre and sad.

The auditorium was quiet for a moment. Alfred expected the worst, but the teacher began applauding, as well as some other students who had been hiding out at the back of the auditorium.

"My goodness Alfred! If I had known that you were this talented, I would have hunted you down ages ago!" the teacher cheered, "Welcome to the play!"

Alfred felt his chest swell. They liked him, they thought he was good. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The teacher put her arm around his shoulders, "Now, we already have a Sebastian, but we are looking for an Antonio. What do you think?"

"That's fine with me." Alfred said, "I didn't think I'd be that good."

The teacher laughed, "Honey, if that was your first performance, the performance you put on after some practice will be spectacular."

The words of the teacher replayed over and over in Alfred's head, even as he shoved his finger down his throat to get rid of his daily fast food. He retched and leaned over the toilet, closing his eyes as his stomach heaved and the greasy food rushed back up his esophagus. He coughed and spat out whatever residue was in his mouth.

"Gross." he said to himself. He stood and exited the stall, going to go wash his hands before finding something to soothe his throat.

"Alfred-san?"

Alfred spin around. Had some one seen him? Shit! His eyes caught sight of the small Asian boy he spoke to the day he picked up the flyer. Shit shit shit. What was he supposed to say?

"Uh, j-just a little nervous from the audition is all. Must have been something I ate." Alfred said, laughing nervously.

"Alfred-san, were you throwing up on purpose?" he asked, eyes wide.

Shiiiiiiiiit, "N-no!" Alfred said, too quickly, too loud, "I-I mean, why would I do that?" more forced laughter.

The boy didn't look convinced, Alfred was screwed now, "L-look, don't tell anyone what you saw or heard, okay?"

Alfred quickly rinsed his hands and went to walked past the young boy and never see him again, but a quiet comment, almost a whisper, from the smaller boy stopped him.

"I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Alfred turned and regarded the smaller, "Okay. What's your secret?"

The smaller boy looked around nervously. Actually, now that Alfred looked at him, he saw the other wasn't just tiny, he was skinny as well. Really really skinny. Was it even healthy to be that skinny? He looked back at Alfred, an odd nervousness showing in his eyes. He took a deep breath and lifted his shirt a little bit.

Alfred gasped; the boy was nothing but skin and bone. His ribs poked out from under near translucent skin. Blue veins crawled across the expanse of his stomach and chest. His stomach itself was nearly non-existent.

"I have anorexia." the boys said, his voice shaky, then he repeated, "I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Author Commentary; You know, technically, I gave you what you wanted. Alfred got found out, just not the way you figured it would happen. I'm just evil aren't I ?