Thanks to Ttdfhgfhhfhjffh, Vzubv, 0, SparklyMagix, WickedInk, Carina Sicily, Yaoi-Is-Life-and-Love and an anon for reviewing. Thanks for 150 reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Chapter 44
Thursdays were when Lovino had an entire hour to himself. No classes scheduled for him for that one hour. But instead of using that time to do homework or read, he had to go to Mr Bondevik's office.
But it was the agreement. He had no choice but to see the counsellor, who needed to ensure that things were going smoothly for him at the new school.
After what felt like an eternity of waiting, he was finally allowed to go inside. Mr Bondevik gave him a small smile, which Lovino didn't take too personally. He'd learned that the Norwegian male wasn't too expressive.
"I'm glad you came," the older male said. "Are you settling in okay?"
Lovino shrugged, before nodding his head.
"Everyone's been… nice to me," Lovino said. "To be honest, it's a bit strange. I just wish that they'd stop treating me like some sort of spectacle."
"It's unfortunately hard to stop that," Mr Bondevik sighed. "Your bruises can be a bit distracting. But I'm pleased to see that you're not trying to cover them up. Hiding it wouldn't have helped you at all."
"…I guess I'm used to it. This isn't the first time I've been covered in bruises. This is the first time that no one's told me that it's my fault."
"That's good to hear, I suppose. And how are your classes?"
"I actually have a practical for CS later."
"Have you made arrangements to make up the extra credit?"
"Si. I have to do extra homework assignments, and we'll need to schedule for the practical. Ms Tazi gave me a break this week, but next week I'll have to pick a day."
"Which days are you free?"
"…Thursdays and Fridays. I'm seeing Dr Williams on Monday and Wednesday, and Tuesday's book club."
"I see. Well, it's good that you're keeping busy. And do you enjoy being with Dr Williams?"
"He's… nice. I can't really complain. Yesterday, he made me do a drawing exercise. So weird."
Lukas smiled.
"Tell me, do you enjoy drawing?" he asked.
"I guess so," Lovino said. "But, I'm not nearly as good as my brother."
"But do you enjoy it? If you ask me, whether or not you enjoy doing something is more important than whether or not you're good at it. Tell you what. Why don't you draw something for me sometime? Don't worry about the quality, okay?"
Lovino bit his lip, but nodded his head. He wondered what the point of the drawing would be, but…
"Should I do it now?" Lovino asked.
"I actually need to see a few more students," Lukas said. "I'm sorry. Think of it as homework, alright? And speaking of which, you have a group for the Life Skills project?"
"Si. Gupta and Heracles."
"Then you're in good hands. Anything else you'd like to tell me?"
For a moment, Lovino considered telling him about Miguel being the cousin of one of his bullies, but decided against it. After all, Miguel had done nothing to him (yet). It would be unfair to have that kind of attention placed on him. So Lovino just shook his head.
"Alright then," Lukas said. "I'll see you again next week. Take care, alright? And if you do have trouble, come to me or your friends, alright? Don't handle this alone."
Livino didn't know whether or not he could call them friends yet, but the thought sent a thrill through his body.
…
"What's with that shirt?" Lovino asked.
Miguel sighed, shaking his head. One by one, his friends had asked him about the turtleneck. He could understand why. This wasn't the season for something like this. And those that knew him a long time would know that it wasn't something that he wore a lot.
And naturally, Lovino was the last person that he wanted to ask him about it.
"Well, I think it looks totally great," Feliks said. "Like, it totally suits you."
Miguel smiled gratefully at Feliks. Of course, he'd told Feliks about what happened, and he had a feeling that he managed to impress the Pole. Feliks certainly seemed a bit friendlier around him.
The group had come together for lunch, and Miguel made sure that both Lovino and Feliks had food on their trays. They had smaller helpings than the rest of them due to being unused to eating lunch at school, but at least they had something.
"By the way, my mom said it's fine to work on the project this weekend," Heracles said. "Lovino, will you be able to get here okay?"
"Are you talking about the Life Skills project?" Vlad asked.
"That's right."
"I asked my dad about it, and he's okay to take me," Lovino said.
"Like, it's totally unfair that we're not in the same class," Feliks said. "It would have made things so much easier."
They'd actually asked Gupta about this, since he had inside knowledge. He explained that, while the original plan had been to keep Feliks and Lovino in the same classes as much as possible, there was still the issue of a Chemistry class and Consumer Studies class not being in the same timeslot, but coincidentally, a Life Skills class was at that same time for both subjects, so it was decided that they would have to be separated for Life Skills in order to go to their other classes.
Miguel and Yao were partnered up, and Vlad and Feliks. Of course, that didn't stop them from discussing the project with each other.
Actually, Yao and Miguel would be getting together that afternoon in order to do their project. The quicker they did it, the better. They didn't want to have this weight over their heads longer than necessary, especially since it was Life Skills.
With no offense to Mr Bondevik, of course. He was an awesome teacher. The subject was the problem.
Well, at least they weren't doing drugs again. Miguel loathed that topic. Alright, they got it, drugs were bad, moving on! And then there was the awkwardness years ago when the topic moved on to puberty, and the video that came with it.
…Actually, on second thought, perhaps the topic on drugs was better.
"You're doing that practical in CS after lunch, right?" Heracles asked.
"That's right," Yao said. "We're making a roll cake. Usual place?"
"You know we'll be there," Vlad said, grinning toothily.
"Huh?" Feliks enquired, looking around.
"It's kind of become a Thursday tradition," Miguel explained. "Whenever Yao has CS practical, we'll meet afterwards to get a sample of whatever it is they made in class."
"You're welcome too, you know?" Yao asked, looking at Feliks. "Or, would you rather take a slice from Lovino, if he's willing to share?"
Feliks looked towards Lovino, who simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Great," Yao said. "Then Lovino, as soon as you're finished eating, I think we should head over there immediately. Ms Tazi doesn't like to be kept waiting."
…
Lovino couldn't begin to describe how happy he was that they would be working in pairs.
Usually he had a problem with working in pairs, but since this was his first practical in a subject that he'd never had before, he appreciated any guidance that he could get. And fortunately, they could choose who to cook with, and Yao had decided to take him under his wing.
As it turned out, there was a lot more to the subject than merely cooking. For example, if he wanted to use the electronic whisk, then they had to place the bowl on a folded tea towel before they set to work. And they had to spray the pan with non-stick spray outside the class. It actually all made sense, once Lovino thought about it. They also had to heat the oven to about ten degrees more than they were supposed to, and they had to wait for the oven's light to go out before they placed the cake in the oven, and then they had to lower the temperature to the intended target.
It was hectic, and Lovino was glad that he had Yao to help him with everything. In the rare moments when only one of them was needed, they made turns washing the dishes. That was something else that Lovino discovered was absolutely important.
Ms Tazi walked through the classroom, seeing how everyone was doing. She lingered at Yao and Lovino's station, probably to make sure that Lovino was managing alright.
Lovino breathed a sigh of relief when they placed the cake in the oven, but they couldn't relax yet. Lovino went to clean the dishes while Yao prepared the creamy filling.
"Are you keeping up alright?" Ms Tazi asked, walking towards Lovino.
"Si," he said. "It's just… a lot more hectic than I imagined. And hot in here."
"The ovens. You'll get used to them. Now, have you thought about your extra credit?"
"…The only days I have available are Thursday and Friday."
"Hmm, Fridays don't work for me, so Thursdays then?"
Lovino nodded his head, and the teacher went off to check on the next station. She seemed a bit strict, but she appeared to genuinely show concern for her students, and whether or not they were doing alright in the subject.
After adding the filling and rolling the cake, Yao and Lovino had to decorate the counter, as though they were setting a table for a tea party. Lovino had absolutely no experience with something like that, but Yao at least took charge, stating that he had a younger sister.
Lovino didn't realise how nervous he would be when the teacher came to evaluate their cake, and he was a bit disappointed to get a six out of ten. Yao smiled at him reassuringly.
"Ms Tazi is a strict marker," he explained. "Getting a six isn't so bad."
Lovino couldn't help but smile when Yao told him that, and the two tasted their cake as well. Lovino couldn't help but think that there was a subtle difference in taste from when he practised two days ago, but it wasn't bad. Actually, he would say that it tasted slightly better with Yao's help.
…
"Like, this is so awesome," Feliks said.
It turned out that the usual place was in the staff room. One of the perks of having the principal's son as a friend was that they had access after school. And they used that access to enjoy a slice of cake.
"So, any idea what you're making next week?" Vlad asked.
"You know we wouldn't be able to find out until Monday," Yao said.
"It doesn't make sense, if you ask me," Heracles said. "I mean, why doesn't she give you a chance to practise it over the weekend?"
"I don't know," Yao said. "But at least I usually get dinner out of the mix. And occasionally, dessert."
"Do you have any other recipes?" Lovino asked. "I need to make up the credits, and if I could practise a bit…"
"Of course," Yao said. "I'll give you my book tomorrow, so if possible, make copies and give me the book on Monday, okay?"
Lovino nodded his head, a smile on his face.
"Grazie," he said.
The advantage of going with a public bus instead of a school bus was that there would be another one half an hour after the first one. After saying goodbye to the others, Lovino and Feliks went to get their bus. Lovino sighed in relief when he sat down on the bus's seat.
"Like, you seem tired," Feliks said. "Are you okay?"
"Si," Lovino said. "CS is a bit more hectic than I thought it would be. I need a damn nap."
"So take one."
"Can't. Your dad's orders. I'm not allowed to take a nap. They're scared I'll have a nightmare again and… hurt myself."
Lovino glanced down at his right wrist, which still hurt a lot. And it itched. The splint wasn't as clunky as a cast, but still couldn't be removed, and it was starting to get seriously bothersome.
"Like, if it's giving problems, I'm sure my dad can take a look at it," Feliks said.
"It's just itching," Lovino said.
"Oh. Like, clothes hanger. Or pencils."
"I'll keep that in mind."
…
Heracles set about cleaning his room. Lovino and Gupta would be coming over in two days, and since Heracles and his mother had somewhere else to be the following day, Saturday was the only option. And why he was cleaning his room at that moment.
He jumped a bit when rapping came from his door, and he turned to see his mother there, eyebrow arched.
"We're ordering pizza tonight," she said. "Any requests?"
"The usual," Heracles said.
"Of course. So, has that friend of yours made arrangements?"
"His father would be bringing him on Saturday," Heracles said. "You're not going to scare him away, are you?"
Helena smiled.
"You make it sound as though I deliberately chase them off," she said. "Still, I guess it would be nice to have someone new to get to know."
Heracles felt a pang at his mother's forlorn look. She hadn't been the same since his father's death five years ago. And he knew that she had tried to move on, but not only did the sorrow make her dating life suffer, her social life also had to be laid to rest. The only friend she had now was Eshe Hassan. Which was also why Gupta and Heracles were such good friends.
"If it helps, I know that Lovino lost his mother," Heracles said. "His father might be a bit more sympathetic, you know?"
She chuckled at his efforts to make her feel better.
"I guess I should leave you at it," she said. "You know, you should invite your friends over more often. Maybe then this place would get a regular cleaning."
He rolled his eyes. He didn't like cleaning too often. What was the point in doing it every week? It would just get dirty again. And it was valuable time he wasted. Time he could have spent reading or sleeping.
Speaking of which… before doing homework, and after he was finished with the cleaning, then he was going to take a nap. A nap sounded great right now.
…
When Lovino entered his room, he was surprised to see something on his bed. When he walked closer, he saw that it was a bookmark, with intricate designs of wolves and with a dark green background. Frowning, he went downstairs (grabbing his bookbag) to ask his brothers about it.
"H-hey, does anyone know about this bookmark?" Lovino asked, holding the item for his brothers to see.
"Do you like it?" Feliciano asked. "I've been working on it since last week. Finished it yesterday in art club, but had to wait for the final touches to settle."
Lovino paused, before looking down at the bookmark again. Feliciano made this?
"I wanted to finish it sooner, before you got out of the hospital," Feliciano continued. "But it's harder to draw something on such a small canvas. It took a lot of tries. But I really wanted to make you something that would be special to you."
Lovino paused, before he looked at the bookmark again. Feliciano made this… specifically for him? It wasn't part of some project they were working on or anything? Feliciano made this because… he wanted to make something special for him?
He'd also felt, for a brief moment, the familiar twinge of jealousy when he realised that Feliciano had designed this. He remembered the task that Mr Bondevik had given him, and he didn't think that he could compare to his brother. But being told that this work of art was made for him… the jealousy was gone. Instead, there was a warm feeling in Lovino's chest. He felt… blessed.
"Grazie," Lovino said softly. "It's beautiful."
Feliciano beamed at the praise, and Lovino started making his way to the dining room table. Feliciano and Marcello followed after him. He didn't know when it had become a tradition, but they seemed so happy that Lovino was joining them to do their homework. And, he had to admit, it felt nice to not be cooped up in his room alone, doing this.
Lovino cringed as a shock of pain raced through his body, and he looked down to see that Chiara had bumped into his injured ankle. The puppy looked up at him with her head cocked, and Lovino bent down to place her on his lap.
"You need to be more careful," he lightly scolded.
She licked his hand, as though apologising to him, before curling up to sleep on his lap. He smiled. While she was still small enough for this, he didn't see why he shouldn't spoil her a bit. As he did his homework, he lightly stroked her with his injured hand, a bit upset that he couldn't give her proper attention like this. He couldn't wait for the day when the doctors decided that his wrist was healed enough.
…
Feliks sat down on the seat opposite Matthew. He'd actually come to enjoy his sessions with the therapist. Matthew made him feel welcome, and didn't make him feel as though he was being dissected.
"I see you're in a good mood today," Matthew observed.
"Like, totally," Feliks responded. "We got a slice of cake after school."
"Oh? What's the occasion?"
"Lovino had his first CS class. And apparently, it's like a tradition with the other group of friends."
"I see… And tell me, how are you settling in with that group of friends? You missed your session on Tuesday because of book club, right?"
"Y-yeah… Sorry about that."
"No problem. I'm just glad to see that you're expanding your horizons. And getting to know a few more people."
"R-right… Did… Did Lovino tell you about that one, Miguel?"
"About him being one of the bullies' cousin? Yes, he told me."
"Like, he went to confront his cousin about it yesterday. Managed to get him in trouble, but… Antonio attacked him too. His throat is all bruised and… like, he doesn't want Lovino to know."
"I see… And what do you think of all that?"
"Like, he's totally brave!"
"Indeed."
When I had to edit Life Skills and the topic was puberty… We're not allowed to use headphones in the office, but I had the defence when the boss came in that I didn't want to bother my colleagues with the topic. Five videos… One of them was general, while the other four were gender-specific. It's even worse than when I had to edit reproduction (that was for Natural Science, and there wasn't a video to go along with it).