Hey guys. Thanks for all your support. It was a rough couple of weeks, but I got through it and am now on spring break! I got to surprise my family. they didn't think I'd be able to get home and I told them I had plans so they were all sad, but I secretly set up a ride home and my older sister was the only one in on it, and she picked me up from the drop-off point and took me to her house. Then, on my sister's 18th birthday, which was the next day, she went to their house for dinner and I popped out of the trunk of her car! It was the greatest! They were all screaming and crying and it was hilarious.

Anyway, this is a kinda angsty Lovino chapter. He's kinda taking over the fic, isn't he?

Ivan didn't show up for class the next day. If he was being honest to himself, Alfred was a little glad. He didn't know how to deal with the information he'd received the previous night, and would probably have ended up avoiding Ivan anyway. Was what Arthur had told him true? And what about Yao? Why hadn't he said anything to Alfred about Ivan?

Lovino, too, was acting strange when they met up for lunch in a random classroom. Because of the awful weather, they hadn't been able to be outside for a long while and Alfred found himself missing the sun and flowers, as rare as they were in this blasted place. He munched on his PB&J sandwich and glanced at his companion. Lovino was quieter and for some reason, had a scarf flung fashionably around his neck. Well, he was Italian, so maybe that was why. Alfred didn't know a thing about fashion. He crumpled up his napkin and threw it in the trash, settling himself next to his unusually taciturn friend.

"Sooo, what's up?"

Lovino barely acknowledged him, merely grunting and teasing his pasta with a fork. He hadn't been able to get much sleep, his tumultuous thoughts keeping him awake. Should he tell Alfred? Would Alfred even believe him? And if he did, would he avoid Ivan? Then, at least, he'd have Alfred to himself. But why couldn't he get that image of Ivan trembling and weeping out of his head?

Despite Alfred's best attempts to get him to talk, Lovino remained lost in his own thoughts for the rest of the day.

When he got home that evening to the delicious smells of cooking pasta and the cheerful sounds of chattering in Italian, Lovino's mood was dark and stormy. He hadn't been able to focus on school all day and had been called out on it by his teachers, one of whom even gave him a pink slip when he mouthed back. He hadn't given it to his Nonno, already anticipating the disappointment in his eyes. Feliciano never got pink slips. He tried to sneak past the kitchen and into his room, but to no avail. The closing of the entryway door had alerted the bubbly Italians in the kitchen that he was home and his grandfather grabbed his arm before he could flee up the stairwell. Lovino sighed and wrenched his arm away.

"Lovino. What happened at school today?"

Ugh. So he knew about it. Of course his teacher would go straight to him.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lovino stubbornly crossed his arms and made certain his face was neutral. He couldn't show any emotion when talking to Nonno, or it would be used against him.

"Mr. Whitely came to me about you today. He said you were ignoring him and when he reprimanded you that you told him to 'piss off.' I am extremely disappointed in you, Lovino. I thought you'd been getting better lately. Though, I suppose this is to be expected. You always revert back, don't you?"

Lovino glared at a spot on the wall. This is what he hated most about talking with Nonno. He never asked Lovino what was going on or why he was doing something. He never even asked if he'd actually done it. He just assumed that Lovino was a screw up and that it was in his nature to do such things.

"No dinner for you tonight and I expect you to have a written apology ready for Mr. Whitely tomorrow. And don't let me hear about anything like this happening again."

Lovino's stomach twisted painfully. He blamed it on the hunger, as he barely ate any lunch that day. He didn't want to think about any other reasons. He hoisted his backpack onto his back and turned with a sniff and his stubborn blank mask on his face. Before he left, he couldn't help but have the last word.

"It's not like I'd want to eat with you bastards anyway. Wouldn't want to ruin your idiotic happy time with my presence."

"What was that?" He heard the dangerous tone in his grandfather's voice but didn't care. What did it matter? He was already in trouble and nobody cared to hear his side of the story.

"Oh, nothing. Just didn't want to pollute the taste of pasta by being around, seeing as I spoil everything. Why do I even come here? This is no home."

Romulus grabbed Lovino's shoulder and swung the boy around to face him. Lovino tried not to flinch away from the anger in his eyes and the grip he had on Lovino's shoulder. "Try saying that again, Lovino"

"I said," Lovino repeated matter-of factly, "that this is no home. It's not like you even want me here. You'd be perfectly happy with just Feliciano." He glanced at his brother, who stood against the wall looking confused and lost. He felt an overwhelming anger at Feli, but immediately quelled it. He couldn't help it if everyone liked him. "Why didn't you just leave me at the orphanage. I thought you were going to, you know. Now, I wish you had."

"Don't say such things." Romulus growled. "I am your grandfather. Of course I would take you in. And where is this coming from? You've never questioned this before."

"So it was a sense of duty."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You felt like you needed to."

"Of course. I am your only living relative."

"So, what if you weren't."

"What?"

"What if you weren't my only living relative. What if there was someone else to take me in. And you got to keep Feliciano. Would you still want me?" Lovino didn't know why he was even saying this. Did he even want to know his grandfather's answer? Not unless it was the answer he wanted. And would it be?

Suddenly, Lovino was terrified. He wanted to stop his ears and run away. He felt like it had been an eternity since he had spoken and when he looked up, it was into the shocked eyes of his speechless grandfather. No answer. Well, no answer was an answer of its own, wasn't it?

Lovino smirked and pushed his grandfather away, calmly ascending to his room and gently closing the door behind him. He grinned into the darkness and let out a small laugh. He suddenly began to chuckle and then to gasp for air, laughing and grabbing at his sides.

He had his answer.

He laughed and laughed as tears poured down his cheeks, but he took no notice.

#sorrynotsorry

I love you guys! Thanks for all you support and reviews and everything!

Also, have you guys seen the latest Age of Ultron trailer? OMG! I'm freaking out. Can't waitttttt!

8i8

~sparklybutterfly42