Cliché School Romance
Summary: Romania is an eccentric new student eager to make friends. Bulgaria is the school delinquent who hangs out with the wrong people. Against all odds they form a friendship which transforms into something more. Bulgaria x Romania
Warning: Coarse language, underage drinking, some violence in later chapters but nothing overly graphic
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia
Chapter 2: Play Date
Alin can best describe the rest of his first week in the new school as nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing special happens and he begins to feel even a little bored. The teachers are mostly mediocre and he is starting to understand the dynamics between his classmates.
Alfred is the apparent leader in everything, questioned only by his best friend Arthur, whenever the Brit isn't busy trying to kill a certain "bloody French frog" as he so eloquently puts it.
Alin finds his newly found friends amusing and easy going and his new favourite pass time activity is betting when Ludwig and Feliciano are finally going to address the seemingly obvious to everyone but them mutual love interest.
The only thing he has an issue with is the very obvious lack of any temperamental Bulgarians in sight. Nikolai hasn't bothered to show up since Monday and now, Friday, Alin is beginning to feel a little worried about the other.
He remembers Nikolai's mysterious phone call and the job he had to do. And while Alin doesn't want to jump to conclusions, it is obvious whatever his classmate is doing, it is no good.
'Hey, Alin, you okay?" he looks up only to meet Antonio's green eyes and gives him a quick smile.
"Yeah, of course, I was just thinking." he assures in a trained voice, having learnt a long time ago that people rarely care, but almost always gossip.
Antonio is a Spanish guy who is in a secret relationship with Lovina, a very temperamental girl who looks as if she might kill him if he makes their romance public. The thing is everyone but said Lovina knows it is no secret. The Italian is Feliciano's twin sister but there is a great difference in their personalities.
"About what? Some guy?" the Spaniard questions, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, "Sorry, babe but the best ones are already taken." he adds in a mocking flirtatious tone, making Alin burst out laughing at his antics.
"No, I was just think about school and you know…"
Antonio shakes his head knowingly, not buying it for a second.
"Just tell me his name." he says directly as subtlety is apparently not one of his strong suits.
Alin gives up in the end.
"Nikolai Ivanov. And no, I don't like him, I don't even know him I'm just…I don't know - he seems like a weird guy."
Antonio has a strange expression over his face, letting out a small sigh.
"Weird doesn't even begin to describe it. Look, man, I don't really know him either but there are bad rumours about Nikolai. And I don't mean bad as in he cheated on a math test, kinda bad."
"Then what?"
Antonio sighs once again.
"Well, listen. There was this one older guy – Ivan Braginski. Russian and someone you do not want to mess up with. He was fucking terrible. Alfred was the only one who could stand up to him and they had a huge fight one day after Braginski beat up one other student – Feliks very badly just for being trans. Both of them got messed up but Ivan was the one to provoke it, of course."
The Romanian listens intently but he still doesn't understand.
"What does that have to do with Nikolai?" he challenges.
"Just let me finish. Anyway, in the end Ivan beat up Feliks really bad so he got expelled and still hasn't graduated even though he's older than us…but before he was expelled guess who his best buddy was?"
Alin's dark eyes widen and he shakes his head.
"No, please don't tell me it was Nikolai."
"The one and only." Antonio confirms, "But that's not all. There is this one other guy Radko – he's a damn sadist. Some say that he is even worse than Ivan. You should stay away from him no matter what. But, anyway, him, Ivan and Nikolai were kind of the monster trio around here. Then Ivan got expelled and now it is only the two of them. That doesn't stop them from causing trouble, of course."
Alin can't believe what he is hearing. He knows the Bulgarian is a delinquent and he's obviously been in a few fights but this? Hanging out with a homophobe? It seems surreal to him as it doesn't correspond with the impression he has from his classmate.
Antonio is probably exaggerating, or so he hopes.
"That's not even all of it. After Ivan was expelled, rumour has it, he took in his father's footsteps."
"And let me guess his father wasn't much of an obedient citizen?"
The Spaniard nods in agreement.
"Everyone says Ivan is connected with some really bad people and Nikolai and Radko help him out. I mean, no one knows for sure and we're still children after all, but I'm sure whatever they are up to it is no good."
Alin doesn't want to listen anymore of it and tries to quickly change the subject. He doesn't have to, however, since Lovina shows up with frown painted over her face and immediately demands her non-to-secret boyfriend's attention.
Antonio's eyes light up for her and Alin is quickly forgotten as the Spaniard pulls the other into a bone-crushing hug, burying his face into her neck. Of course that is followed by a lot of screaming and kicking on the Italian's part. Alin chuckles, making a mental that he "ships" the two.
He makes his way down the hall, trying to push away any thoughts of the Bulgarian when he hears a familiar voice and someone taps him on the shoulder.
He spins around only to meet the familiar pale face and a pair of absurdly green eyes staring at him intently.
"Hey." Nikolai greets, offering him a miniscule smile.
"Hey." the Romanian responds, struggling to look as nonchalant as possible.
"What are you up to?" the other asks in his usual strong Eastern European accent.
"Uh, not much. You know just…same old." he says, mentally face-palming at how awkward he is. He can't help but be worried however if the rumours are true since he does not want to end up being friends with a possible criminal.
The Bulgarian nods and Alin hopes that is the end of their encounter but the other doesn't back off. In the end his curiosity prevails and he questions the other.
"So, I didn't see you the other days?"
Nikolai's expression changes but he scoffs, waving his hand.
"Get used to it. Not a big fan of this place anyway." he gestures to the hall and the classrooms.
"Yeah, I guessed."
Of course Nikolai wouldn't be one to attend school much, he has delinquent written all over him.
"You wanna go grab some lunch?" Nikolai offers out of the blue and Alin stops in his tracks from surprise.
"What?"
"Do you want to go eat something?" the Bulgarian rephrases, apparently thinking the other didn't understand what he is saying.
Alin does understand him – he is used to people having strong Eastern European accents but the problem is that he doesn't know how to respond.
What if the mysterious Ivan decides to join in for lunch? Or that other dude – what was his name? What if this is a trap and Nikolai is just interested in stealing his money or worse?
No, of course that is ridiculous. He is letting Antonio's penchant for drama get to his head when after all those could just be rumors.
His mind races to find an answer but his mouth seems to speak for him instead:
"Yeah, sure." he mutters and to his surprise the Bulgarian seems somewhat pleased.
They head towards one of the cafes nearby the school in silence.
Nikolai orders and Alin is surprised at how many things he buys, having in mind that just a few days ago the other didn't have money for the bus.
"So, I'm guessing you've already heard the rumours about me." the Bulgarian says all of a sudden, making him nearly jump in his seat.
So much for subtlety.
He looks up from his plate to meet the other's bemused expression.
"What? No, I really I haven't, I mean-" he begins to mumble, not wanting to anger the other. He remembers Antonio's words about the fights and raking havoc in the school. He does not intend on getting beaten up. Again.
Nikolai finds his discomfort hilarious ad he breaks into a heartfelt laughter.
"Oh, man you should see your face! You look as if you've seen a ghost or some shit!" he chuckles as he down a glass of beverage.
"Mmm, too bad they don't offer alcohol here. Pussies." the teen glares at the now empty glass, "In Bulgaria it wouldn't be a problem, you can get drunk at any age."
Alin doesn't doubt it – Bulgarians, just like the rest of Eastern Europe re notorious drunks and something tells him Nikolai lives up to that reputation.
He, on the other hand, is terrible with alcohol and aside from the occasional glass of wine, he would rather not drink (especially after a certain incident that involved lots of dancing, singing and pink underwear).
"I saw you talk to Antonio." the Bulgarian says, breaking the silence and looking him in the eyes.
Alin stiffens – so that is why the other invited him to lunch. He just wants to know what the others are talking behind his back. He doesn't actually care about Alin himself at all.
The Romanian can't help the wave of hurt and betrayed that washes over him. Not to mention embarrassment for thinking, even for a second, that the other was interested in him. Stupid, stupid. Why did he always have to be so stupid?
"Man, that dude's such a drama queen." Nikolai grunts.
"He seems nice." Alin forces himself to say as he clings onto the conversation as a way of not dealing with his own fucked up thoughts. Distraction, he needs distraction or else his thoughts might lead to -
The taller teen shrugs in disinterest.
"So what did he say about me?" he questions, amusement dancing behind his green eyes.
"Why do you care?" Alin questions back, feeling defensive.
The Bulgarian seems taken aback by the question, almost as if he is not used to anyone being interested in him.
It takes him a good half a minute to reply. Alin has to wonder – does the other have any friends at all? Other than his notorious partner in crime /criminal executive Ivan that is?
"I don't." he replies in a firm voice and if the Romanian looks closer into it, he could see the walls surrounding him.
Alin knows it is a lie but doesn't dare point it out.
An awkward silence falls between them as he is desperately trying to think of either a topic for them to discuss or a clever excuse to leave.
In the end he decides life is short and he might as well speak his mind.
"He said there are rumours about you. That you were involved with some really deranged dude Ivan Braginski."
Nikolai doesn't seem surprised at all and he just nods, opting to stare at the floor and firmly refusing to meet his gaze.
"That Ivan is involved with some dangerous people and he's dragged you into it as well."
The Bulgarian scoffs and rolls his eyes.
"Look, whatever the Spaniard told you – he exaggerated. He does this with everything, dude lives in a fucking soap opera with that crazy chick Lovina."
Alin can see the obvious dislike the other feels for his classmates.
"And besides, they just don't understand Ivan." he ads and his expression softens, morphing into something Alin can't quite label.
Affection? Friendship? Respect? A feeling of debt towards the other guy?
Is the Bulgarian defending Ivan?
"But you are not denying the rumours?" Alin asks in small voice as he clings onto the hope that maybe Antonio made that up and the Bulgarian is just waiting for a chance to clean his reputation.
Nikolai looks him in the eye for a few brief seconds, then looks a way and breaks into forced laughter.
"Look, dude, I'm not part of the fucking mafia or some shit if that's what your little brain has come up with." he says dismissively.
Alin tries to look convinced by it but fails at it miserably.
"Relax, I'm not going to kill you or whatever." the other ads, once again in a joking manner but the Romanian does not find it funny.
"And besides why do you care?" Nikolai inquires in the end, opting to use his own question against him.
"Well, I don't want any dangerous classmates. Obviously." he chuckles, trying to lighten up the atmosphere before he gets his ass kicked by a hostile Bulgarian and his even worse friend.
Nikolai gives him a poignant stare, indicating he doesn't buy it.
"I find you interesting, ok?" Alin admits in the end, exasperated, "You're just so different from anyone else in the school."
"Kinda fucked up you know." he adds, earning himself another glare from his classmate.
"Careful there, buddy, you don't want to anger a mob boss now do you?" the Bulgarian teases, mischief flashing through his uniquely coloured eyes.
"Oh, please as if you could ever be a mob boss. More like just a small, sad underling." Alin says, winking at the other.
Nikolai doesn't seem insulted at his joke and Alin likes it. People get so easily offended these days that it is fresh and exciting to meet someone who can take a joke. And the Romanian has a rather special brand of dark, cynical humour which involves lots of horror elements.
"Are you done with the interrogation?" Alin questions, still in a joking manner, "I mean that's why you invited me out – just to see what the others are saying behind your back?"
Alin hopes the other disagrees and maybe even say he finds him interesting as well but that doesn't happen. As usual he's disappointed by that's what he gets for letting himself think for a second someone might like him.
Stupid, he just feels so stupid and useless sometimes.
"Да." the Bulgarian responds, unceremonically.
He really is a total asshole, Alin proclaims the verdict, shaking his head.
"I mean it never hurts to know what the other are saying." he adds, staring out of the window, "It's good for…never mind actually."
The Romanian can't shake the underlying feeling that there is something more to his words but he forces himself to ignore it. Once again he is being a drama queen for nothing.
"But they seem nice." he opts to say, speaking of their classmates.
The brunette scoffs in apparent disagreement.
"They're all a bunch of pretentious fucking pricks." he mumbles.
"And you're better than them?" Alin questions, crossing his arms over his chest. He doesn't like the other's holier-than though attitude.
To his surprise, however, the other vehemently shakes his head.
"No, I never fucking said that. All I'm saying is those people might act all nice and sweet but they're mean."
Alin is surprised at the childish response – it seems somehow mismatched with the Bulgarian's entire persona but just as he is about to say something, he hears someone stride into the café.
He turns around, only to see a dark haired teen, dressed in an even worse manner than his classmate (as if that was even possible). The boy seems as tall as Nikolai, just as muscular.
And he doesn't seem happy. At all.
He strolls into the café, going straight to their table. As the Romanian looks closely he can see a rough looking scar, covering the other's eye and going down, almost to his chin.
"Oh, no." Alin thinks, quickly catching the drift and guessing this is apparently someone Nikolai knows. Of course.
"Get your ass up and let's get going, Ivan called." the newcomer grunts, glaring at the Bulgarian. He doesn't so much as look in his direction.
"What now?" Nikolai rolls his eyes, exasperated.
The other seems angered by his response and he narrows his one remaining dark eye. Alin is getting the expression that the two do not get along. And here he thought partners in crime had to look out for each other.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your fucking play date or whatever the fuck it is you're doing with this freak but we have work to do." he nearly shouts and Alin is taken aback by his horrible temper. Suddenly the Bulgarian looks like a little piece of sunshine in comparison.
"Добре, де добре." Nikolai rolls his eyes and although Alin doesn't know what that means, the other is already getting up to leave, so he follows suit.
The newcomer says something in what Alin can only assume is Bulgarian.
They walk out of the café and he feels quickly forgotten, as the two teens get into a somewhat heated discussion from which he can't comprehend a single word, other than the occasional "Да".
In the end Nikolai turns around, apparently having just remembered that they are not alone.
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to introduce you." he says, nonchalantly and Alin feels like face palming.
"Alin, this is Radko – the biggest fucking douche in the Multi Universe."
Radko glares at him once again but he doesn't even lift a hand to greet the Romanian.
"Alin is a new student from Romania. He's our neighbour, isn't that nice?" – the Bulgarian teases, eyeing his enemy/friend/whatever-the-two-are.
Radko finally looks at him and Alin is taken aback at how much hatred there is a behind the dark eye. What has he even done wrong when they've just met? Or is that the other's attitude toe everyone and everything?
"He looks like a fucking disgrace to Romania." the boys spits and Alin can't even reply because he's so taken aback at the venom in his voice.
Seriously, did someone ate the guy's breakfast? Every morning for the last seventeen years or what?
"Radko!" the Bulgarian glares at him .
He shouts at him something which once again he doesn't understand but it sounds an awful lot like some very colourful words in his mother tongue.
The dark haired teen rolls his eyes.
"Well, I can't help if he looks fucking gay."
Alin is about to say there is nothing wrong with looking gay or being gay but then decides against as he the other seems like a hopeless homophobe anyway.
They fall into an awkward silence as they walk towards the bus. Once again Alin is surprised Nikolai has money for it but apparently, whatever his mysterious job from Monday was, it has paid off.
"So it must be nice to have another Bulgarian in class." he tells Nikolai as he tries to break the ice and make some small talk to make everything a bit less awkward.
In that moment two things happen – first Nikolai bursts into what is quite possibly the most heartfelt laughter the Romanian has ever heard and second, Radko spins around and gives him what is definitely the most murderous glare he has ever seen.
"Ahahah" the green-eyed boy can't stop laughing "Dude, dude, he took you for a Bulgarian!"
Radko is so angry he can't even form a coherent sentence, so instead he just stands there, possibly murdering Alin in his mind. It is quite the hilarious sight.
The Romanian honestly doesn't know whether to laugh, cry or straight out run for his life, as far away as possible from the two apparent lunatics.
After what seems like ages Nikolai is done laughing and he wipes off the tears from his pale face.
"Fuck you both!" Radko screams, passing angrily ahead.
"Radko isn't Bulgarian." Nikolai explains to him in the end, "He is Serbian. And Serbians hate Bulgarians. A lot."
"Oooh." is all Alin can say at this point, wondering why he always had to make friends with the two psychopaths in town.
"Hey, come on don't look as if we're trying to kill you. It'll look kinda suspicious" Nikolai says, wrapping a hand around his shoulder.
Alin stares at him, taken aback by the sudden gesture. The Bulgarian catches the drift and pulls away immediately, acting as if nothing happened. But if Alin were to be honest, he likes the contact, especially having in mind he has no friends and can't even remember the last time anyone has offered him a hug.
It makes him feel all warm and nice, that kind of nice. But before he can get his thought going in that direction, he shakes his head, forcing himself back to reality.
They wait for the bus and in a couple of minutes hop onto it with Ratko very poignantly ignoring them. Nikolai imitates him behind his back, making Alin laugh.
He has to wonder how can the Bulgarian be so mean and threatening one minute and then amusing and well not exactly nice … but kind of okay the next?
The two teens drop off two bus stops before his own.
Nikolai offers a miniscule smile and Alin can't help but feel…glad for whatever reason. It seems nice that he is able to get along with someone as interesting as the Bulgarian even if he risks unwillingly becoming part of a crime syndicate…or whatever the other has got himself into.
As he sits alone in the bus, in the quiet September afternoon he can't help but smile. The warm sun rays tickle his face and he enjoys the orange and crimson sunset.
"So fucking cheesy, man." he can almost hear Nikolai say.
He can't stop wondering about his Bulgarian classmate – who he is, what he has got himself into and just how much of what Antonio says is really true.
Alin is certain about only one thing – he loves mysteries and as cliché as it sounds Nikolai is the biggest one he has seen in a while. And he intends on solving it.
Author's Note:
Ratko = Serbia. Serbia really hates Bulgaria in the real world and this will be a point in the story but I do need Ratko as a character (because plot!). All I am going to say is that he will be part of the reason why Nikolai changes for the better.
Serbia and Romania do get along but in the story he will be Russia's right hand in this and a huge asshole, you've been warned.
Shout out to: Keiryu-san and GarGoyl, thank you so much for the support! ^^
GarGoyl - yes, exactly! I don't buy the nice, shy, "Luthiania-like" Bulgaria for a second xD And I just adore writing Romania, he's a great character!
So what did you think of the chapter? Alin's already falling for Nikolai but he has no idea what the other has gotten himself into. What did you think of their "play date" xD?
And about Lovina and Antonio - aren't they just adorable?
Please share your opinion, all feedback is very much appreciated!