A/N: I'M SO SORRRY. I promise you all, if I could get on my knees and apologize to each one of you, I would. This is so late it make's me ashamed of myself... So on with why...
So, you all knew I was going to be gone two weeks ago, because of band camp (which wasn't so bad because I met a couple Frosh who like hetalia, and one who LOVES it like me (yaoi included)). When I get back I don't usually do much of anything to be honest. Most of my week after is spent sleeping or hanging out with friends before school starts again. Which is mostly what I did. I tried so hard to write this chapter, but by friday last week, I'd written and erased about five drafts of this and was kind of giving up )not that I would ever stop writing I was just getting frustrated lol). To make matters worse, that weekend I got sick and was to dizzy and tired to even think about writing. So. What about this week? Well, I started school on thursday, so the beginning of my week was spent preparing for that. On Thursaday, I didn't even get a chance to touch the computer...
Do yea... there's my excuse. Pretty crappy one but that's why this is so late :( Also, I might start getting irregular like this... I pray that I'll be able to keep up, but on the second day of school, I already have an essay and two chapters of my book to read due for APUSH and a poetic analysis assignment for APLIT on monday... plus math homework and I'm in physics this year... TT^TT We'll see. It hurts when I'm late though so I'll try to keep up as normal as possible.
On that note, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my wonderful friend and beta, who is leaving tomorrow for a far off place XP Miss you!
Unfortunately, she won't have time to beta my chapters anymore, so at current I am without a beta... I know some of you have asked (and I have asked some of you) but if you seriously want to beta, please go ahead and PM me a nd I'll see how timing is... I'm a little random, and I like being able to upload chapters as soon as I'm done. You don't need to have a free schedual (cause I sure don't lol) But it would be nice if I knew that you would be able to have it done the day I sent it to you ^^
Thank you so much for all your reviews! I don't deserve them... T_T
Onward!
O ~ O ~ O
Alfred sighed quietly, flipping through the red English textbook on the table. Their class had been dragged down to the library (of all places) to read the short stories in their books. Why they couldn't have stayed in the classroom was beyond him. He supposed their teacher just wanted some peace and quiet for a change, and had decided to take advantage of the librarian's strict demeanor about the noise level. Although where said teacher was he had no idea. It seemed to Alfred that she'd slipped out at some point, leaving the students under the care of poor Ms. Tayner who was frantically rushing around and trying to control the group of miscreants.
Either way, here they were, being anything but quiet in the large and familiar room. Alfred felt and uncomfortable lump settle in his stomach as he glanced towards the open space near the doors.
"Those were my..." "Sorry..." "To much..."
"Hey Alfred, you alright man? You look a little pale."
Alfred glanced up at the albino who was standing over him with an expectant look in his deep crimson eyes.
"Oh, yea fine Gilbert. Just thinking..."
"What for?" Gilbert snorted. "There's no teacher."
"Ignore him." Elizaveta muttered, coming up from behind Gilbert and slapping him across the back of the head. "He's just being stupid as usual. I think it's great that you're still working."
"Well I didn't say I was working, did I?" Alfred laughed. "Just thinking, that's all."
"Well then if not work, what are you thinking about?" Elizaveta asked, sitting down beside him. Alfred shrugged.
"Come on, now you gotta tell us." Gilbert insisted, grabbing a chair on his left. "What's up?"
"Ah, I was just thinking..." He fumbled with the thoughts in his mind. Something. He had to come up with something that wasn't the night in the library. "About the play we did two weeks ago..."
"Oh yeaaaaa in theatre." Gilbert snickered. "Man the teacher really must not like you two."
Alfred felt inclined to agree.
Not that they had received a poor grade by any means. In fact, ha and Arthur had scored best in the class. Even so...
"Boy's this is wonderful!" He had exclaimed, handing them back the script. Alfred felt a tremor of pride in his chest. After all the shit they'd gone through to write it, it was appreciated that their teacher thought it was good.
"But there is one thing I might modify."
Alfred and Arthur stared at him curiously.
"Make it more modern!" He informed them, clapping his hands together. "Oh there have been loads of plays set with forbidden loves way back then. No no do something for this day in age!" Alfred felt his body slumping.
"You... want us to rewrite it?" Arthur stammered. "But sir, that took ages!"
"No my boy don't worry, it is perfect as it is. What I am suggesting is that you change the scene and perhaps the characters as well!"
Alfred blinked. "The characters?"
"Right! For example, what would be a forbidden love this day in age?"
"Uh... one the parents didn't approve of?"
"Large age differences?"
"People who are already married?"
"No you two, one which involves a couple of the same sex of course." He sighed, as if they were completely missing the point.
"S-same... what?" Arthur stammered in protest. "But sir that's not what we had in mind. Isn't it easier to just stick with a boy and a girl?"
"Nonsense! You two must play the leads in your own production. Besides, that type of relationship has a much more dangerous feel to it now then any between a man and women."
"Do we... have to?" Alfred murmured. It had been bad enough just practicing the lines with Arthur. To actually go up and say them in front of everyone... thank god they hadn't written a kiss in the script.
"If you want a good grade, yes I would suggest it." Mr. Brown nodded, handing them back the papers. "Class starts in ten minutes. Why don't you see what you can do about it until then?"
Alfred slumped in his chair, hitting his forehead against the open pages of the textbook. To say that things had been awkward between he and Arthur after that was an understatement. Not that they become anything close to friends in their time together, but now even being in the same room was smothering. Awkward glances, long pauses of silence, a petrified look now and then when they actually happened to bump into each other and accidently touch. It was driving Alfred insane that he couldn't even be comfortable in his own room. Not that Arthur was making it easier.
"I'm officially declaring that as the single most miserable moment of my life. Ever."
Elizaveta laughed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Oh come on Alfred, it wasn't that bad. I thought it was sweet, and very clever. Besides, you did so well on it, can you really complain?"
"Yes." He grumbled.
"Of course he can." Gilbert cried. "He had to act out a romance skit with a DUDE. How much more humiliating can you get?"
"How about getting beat up by a girl?" Elizaveta growled.
"Oh aha yea that too..." Gilbert agreed, giving her a nervous look. "Any way, Alfred, what did you think of MY play huh?" He grinned brightly, showing off his teeth. Alfred restrained a laugh.
"What can I say? It was... interesting."
It was indeed. Gilbert's play had been, something of a cross between a historical skit and a comedy. By the end, Alfred wasn't sure if he was supposed to be laughing or just staring numbly. Since everyone else in the room was doing the latter, he assumed that to be the more appropriate response.
"Hah it was totally awesome is what you mean!" Gilbert boasted. "Of course anything with me in it would be."
Elizaveta scowled at him. "Why you egotistical little-"
"Alright, class dismissed!" The ever-familiar voice of their teacher called over the commotion. When had she gotten back? "Don't forget to have those three stories read by next class!"
"Alright! Lunch time!" Gilbert exclaimed, stuffing his book into his knapsack. "You two coming or what?"
"No, we're just going to sit here in the library for the rest of the day." Elizaveta drawled. "What do you think, you moron?"
Gilbert shrugged. "Just making sure. But seriously, let's go, I'm starving!"
"You can't go on your own?" Elizaveta muttered, flattening her skirt as she stood.
"Me? Walk around on my own? Who do you think I am?" Gilbert exclaimed, setting his hands on his hips.
"I'd like to know who you think YOU are." She chided sourly. "Come on Alfred let's go."
"Don't be so hard on him." Alfred chuckled, stepping to Gilbert's aid. "I mean, he and I are pretty similar and you don't hate me."
"Yea but you don't go around proclaiming your own self worth for all the world to hear."
"Ouch, that hurts." Gilbert snickered, placing his hand over his heart. "Seriously, you've wounded me."
"Oh grow up." She muttered, throwing her bag over her shoulder and storming out the door.
"Sheesh what did I ever do to make her hate me so much?" Gilbert complained, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"I think existing might be it." Alfred laughed. "Let's catch up with her."
They jogged out the oaken doors and glanced down the empty hall in search of their teammate.
"What the- she was just here!" Gilbert hissed, stepping out into the corridor. "Where could she have gone all of a sudden?"
"She couldn't have just disappeared." Alfred assured him. "Maybe she stepped into one of the classrooms?"
"Why would she do that? We were going to lunch!"
"What are you two standing around for?"
Alfred jumped and turned to see Elizaveta poking her head out of a door on the other side of the hallway, a curious expression on her face.
"There you are!" Gilbert sighed, exasperated. "We were wondering where you'd gone off to!" Elizaveta furrowed her eyebrows and snorted.
"What do you care where I go?"
Gilbert blinked widely, as if caught off guard by the question. He rubbed his hand across the nape of his neck and shrugged. "Well uh I mean it's not like I particularly care but-"
"Elizaveta? Who are you talking to?" A familiar voice arose from inside the room. Elizaveta glanced behind her and smiled.
"Oh, Gilbert and Alfred. We have the same English class, remember? They were just heading off to lunch. We should get going too. I can't believe you missed the bell."
"That's what happens when a musician is at work I suppose." The voice replied. Alfred cocked his head. Roderich? The brown haired boy stepped out of the room beside Elizaveta, tugging at the ends of his jacket to straighten it. "I apologize for making you wait for me."
Elizaveta giggled ad shook her head. "Don't be silly, it's no trouble at all!"
"How did you know he was in there?" Alfred blinked.
"Oh, well I asked Roderich why he's been late to lunch lately and he said he has a free the period before so he goes to the old music room and practices. I could hear a piano when I entered the hall, so I figured it was him and went to tell him class was over." She smiled.
"You can't even hear the bell when it rings?" Gilbert sneered. "What kind of an idiot are you?"
Roderich frowned and kept his place on the other side of Elizaveta as they started down the corridor. "At least I do something productive with my free period. If I recall, don't you spend yours with Antonio and Francis, goofing off?"
"Heh." Gilbert snorted. "Don't patronize me just because I have friends and you don't."
"Gilbert!" Elizaveta cut in angrily. "What is wrong with you?"
"He's the one who's being mean to me!" Gilbert shot back. "And why are you siding with him huh?"
Elizaveta's eyes went wide and she looked away. "That's none of your business!"
Alfred raised his eyebrows curiously. He didn't really understand what was going with her, but something was definitely up.
"T-the hell it isn't!" Gilbert muttered. "We're all team mates, we're supposed to tell each other stuff!"
Elizaveta glared at him coldly. "Who said that? If I recall, we were just supposed to work together. I don't remember anything about having to talk to each other." Gilbert flinched uncharacteristically. Weird, Alfred thought. Both of them were acting really strange. They never did get along, but when had it become so, vicious? They were acting like...
"You guy's are acting like Arthur and I."
"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Gilbert asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Furthermore, don't put us in the same category!" Elizaveta insisted.
"Well why not? You two are fighting just as much as we do!"
"Yea," Elizaveta said, crossing her arms, "But unlike you and Arthur, I actually can't stand him."
Alfred blanched.
"What do you mean by that, I can't stand him either! We're way worse then you two! And anyway, I was just saying you were kind of like us, that's-"
"But you guy's haven't been fighting lately, have you?" Gilbert interrupted. "I mean I've barely seen you talk since theatre two weeks ago..."
"Irrelevant." Alfred protested. "Anyway, weren't we talking about you two?"
"Absolutely not!"
"I cannot believe you three are actually arguing about such a thing." Roderich sighed in exasperation. "Please act your age."
"Sorry." Elizaveta squeaked, lowering her head.
Gilbert rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Alfred said nothing, staring at the ceiling as they worked their way through the labyrinthine castle. It was sunny today, a rare occasion but a most welcomed one, especially on a Monday. For once though, the florescent rays of the sun felt suffocating and unwanted to him. Rain clouds would surely fit the solemn mood that had been working it's way around their house as of late.
It wasn't as if they were all doom and gloom of course. Everything really was pretty much as it normally was. But even so, the mood just seemed a bit off at times amongst all of them. Even Soren was quieter and more restrained then usual. Alfred figured it had something to do with the Lukas thing. They'd discussed the issue amongst themselves numerous times, but both had yet to come up with and explanation for the Scandinavian boy's strange behavior.
Matthew seemed his normal self, for the most part, but Alfred couldn't help notice the puzzled lines that would set into his forehead at the strangest of times, as if he was thinking about something far more troubling then whatever was going on at that moment. Even Kiku seemed a little out of sorts. Although Alfred couldn't tell if anything was really wrong, or if it was just the strange mood of the house that was getting to him.
Either way, with Soren's newfound obsession with Lukas, and Matthew's own irksome silence, Alfred found himself spending more time around the kind Asian boy (much to Arthur's annoyance it seemed). The onyx haired boy had made fast friends with the entirety of the house, and Alfred was glad to have his company when it seemed everyone else was to busy to give him the time of day.
"Hey, Alfred, you OK?" Elizaveta asked, concern lacing her voice. "You've been staring off into space this whole time. Look, we're at the dining hall."
"Oh." He blinked, looking around. Indeed they were. Through the great doors, he could see their house gathered around the sturdy cedar table where they sat for lunch, as well as the other teams assembling in their own respective spots.
"Hey Al, we thought you guy's were never gonna show up!" Soren popped out from behind them, startling the group, but earning a laugh from both he and Gilbert. "Where ya been?"
"Sorry." He smiled, shoving his friend playfully. "We got kind of side tracked."
"Hmph well hurry up! We were waiting for you before we started eating."
"You waited?" Roderich inquired skeptically. "Whatever for?"
Soren shrugged. "Arthur suggested it. He didn't want everything to be gone before you guy's got here. Besides, we all decided it didn't feel right not to eat together, ya know?"
"Arthur did?" Alfred asked, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. The Dane nodded.
"Yea I know right? I was pretty surprised, but it seems like he's ain't so bad huh? Now let's go! My stomach's gonna eat itself!" Soren whined, pushing Alfred forward.
"Bet I'm hungrier then you!"
"Liar I'm so much more hungry!"
"Hah! I'm the most hungry, so I get to eat first!" Gilbert cut in.
Elizaveta let out an amused chuckle. "You two are fighting over who's stomach hurts more? Really guys?"
"It's a boy thing. You wouldn't get it." Soren assured her, shooting the girl his most cunning smile. "Come on Al let's go!"
As his friend pushed him through the crowds of staring students, Alfred couldn't help but laugh, despite himself. Ah, he thought. This was one of those good moments.
O ~ O ~ O
"Good morning students," The loudspeaker boomed, echoing through the room where Arthur Kirkland sat at present. "I am here to inform you that exactly one week from now, we will be holding the second challenge of this school year."
The room burst in to a chorus of animated cheers and a loud round of applause.
"New teams will be referred to a student leader to gain instruction on how these competitions work. The first clue to what this challenge will be shall be posted beside the house point tallies. And as usual, the team with the laurea crown will get an advantage in the upcoming event. That is all."
Not a moment of silence was spared. As soon as the voice clicked off, the students began chattering excitedly amongst themselves. Arthur almost wished that Mr. Lewis would call them to be quiet, but that would be to much to ask from their laid back homeroom teacher.
"Our first challenge huh?" Alfred said suddenly, cutting into his thoughts. "Wonder what it'll be like?"
"The hell should I know?" He muttered, crossing his arms and slumping in his seat. Laura laughed from the seat beside him.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you're not excited?" She smiled, prodding him gently in the side. "It'll be fun! Don't you think Alfred?"
"Yea, I can't wait!" The American replied enthusiastically. Arthur could just imagine that stupid smile plastered on his face as he said it.
"That's the spirit." She laughed. "Oh, but I guess I should tell you how they work huh?"
"Shouldn't we wait until the other groups are all together?" Arthur asked, keeping his eyes glued on his desk. She shook her head and placed her finger to her lips.
"I'll tell you guy's first, so you have a head up on them. No telling though, I'll get in trouble!"
"Wouldn't dream of it." Alfred promised. "Soooo..."
"Well, they work sort of like they sound." She explained. "It's a competition. But I'll warn you now, they get way harder as the year goes on, and they never repeat or anything. I've been here four years and I've never seen one quite like the others. Also, the team who wins gets house points, a lot of them, and is granted automatic possession on the laurea crown."
"What's that?"
"The laurea crown is an award that is granted to the teams that, at the end of the year, have been given passage to the international academy. As the term goes on, it get's bounced around from team to team. Although it ultimately doesn't decide who win's, it's nice incentive, no? Plus, the team that has it get's an advantage in the next challenge."
"So the team that one the last challenge should have it, right?" Alfred inquired. Out of the corner of his eye, Arthur saw Laura shrug.
"See, that's just the thing. Although the laurea crown is given to the winner, it doesn't necessarily stay with them. Other teams are allowed to steal it for themselves. So what ever team has possession of it by the competition gets the help, even if they didn't win before."
"Whoa..." Alfred breathed.
"Yea. I'm pretty sure the Angola house has it right now."
"Are you guy's going to try to take it?"
Laura laughed and shook her head. "No, we're not really big on the whole stealing the crown thing. Never have been. But I can pretty much guarantee you the Script house will go for it."
Arthur furrowed his eyebrows. "But..." He turned slowly in his chair, avoiding eye contact with Alfred. "They're all new student's, aren't they? So how would they know about the stealing thing? And just because the group last year did..."
Laura sighed and shook her head. "It's odd, you know. I've been trying to figure it out for years, and yet I still can't get my head wrapped around that team. The thing is, they never change. I mean, I know that each house is assembled by one particular trait, but they, they're just ridiculous. I've NEVER met a Script team that fights fair. Not one."
"What do you mean?" Arthur murmured.
"They're filthy cheaters, that's what I mean." She ground out angrily. Arthur quelled his immediate surprise. It wasn't like the girl to get so upset and worked up. "My freshman year we had a swimming competition. One of the juniors in our house then, Marie Carella, who had just been admitted to the academy like me, was the fastest swimmer in the school. We were so confident... I mean there was no way we could lose..."
"But?" Alfred pressed. Laura's expression darkened.
"The day of the meet, she got sick all of a sudden, really sick. It was so bad, she couldn't compete, and we ended up in 7th place. The script house took first. When we finally got her to the nurse, she confirmed it as food poisoning."
"Food... poisoning? But what does that have to do with-"
"The Script house?" Laura nodded. "Turns out the day before, a boy on the team who Marie dearly admired gave her some sort of pastry that he made, as a good luck for the race. She said she had eaten it just before she went to bed, and it was the last thing she'd had before she got sick."
"They put something weird in it." Arthur breathed. "But that's so dangerous! What if she had been allergic to it? What if she had died?"
"Of course we thought of that." Laura muttered. "We were furious! It was so obvious they'd done it purposefully too, what with their smug grins and feigned worry for her. We tried, we tried so hard to get the teachers to believe they'd sabotaged us, but they wouldn't have any of it. They got off scot free, and Marie's sickness was dismissed as having ingested some raw meat or something."
"That's horrible!" Alfred exclaimed loudly. A few heads turned in their direction, but the other students quickly went back to their chatting.
"Yea..." She shook her head. "They've fooled every house at this point. Not a single year I've been here has the Script house been trustworthy. We got tricked more then once, and so have others. Not to mention they've thrown the competitions, and have unfairly taken back the laurea crown on numerous occasions..."
"Do you think that maybe this year they'll be better?" Alfred asked hopefully. Laura shrugged unknowingly.
"I've hoped for that every year. But they only seem to get worse. It's so confusing. Maybe that's just the nature of all they students they've ever picked for that house, but it feels like something else is going on. I just can't put my finger on it."
"So they're trouble." Alfred mused, drumming his fingers on the desk. "We'll watch out for them then." Laura nodded.
"Please do. I hope they don't give you as much grief as they've given us."
O ~ O ~ O
Arthur rolled over in his bed, watching the fan spin lazily about, barely disrupting the stuffy air in the room. Rain pattered against the windows, the only sound besides his own breathing that echoed about the space. His sleeping patterns were becoming ever more irregular, and felt as if they were getting all the worse as of late. He glanced over to Alfred's bed. The boy still had yet to come down from his study session with Kiku, and it was already past midnight. Not that he minded the emptiness. Being around Alfred had been a bit of a chore lately, and he was glad for the alone time. Even so...
Propping himself up in bed, he leaned over the side and rummaged through his school bag.
"Paper... paper... let me see..." He muttered, searching blindly for something to write on. "Ah!" Gently, he pulled out a small black spiral notebook. His English journal. He could always tear the page out...
Slipping his hand back into the bag, he managed to grab and pencil between his forefingers, and clumsily, lifted it out and set it on the notebook.
"Right then..."
He thumbed his way slowly through the pages, glancing at his writing as he went until he found a blank page. It felt like it had been ages since he'd done this. He pressed the tip of the pencil tentatively against the paper, and began to write.
Dear Scott, Patrick, Bryn, and Peter,
I know it's been a time since I've written you. I've been rather busy since I arrived at this academy. You remember, the one I told you about in my last letter? I've been here near a month now, and I have to be honest, it's not at all like I was expecting it. The people are... interesting. Especially those in my house. Did you know, my brother's, I'm the only true Briton here? It was rather disconcerting in the beginning, but I think perhaps it doesn't bother me as much any more. What DOES bother me is the American boy in our group. You wouldn't believe him. He's so rude, and loud and obnoxious. I think you would get along well with him Scott.
He's been a thorn in my side for every second of my time here, and I'm honestly running out of way's to put up with him. We fought a lot at first. Hit each other, lots of yelling matches and the sort. He was just so irritating; I couldn't help it, really. But we've been ignoring each other lately. I think I should be happy, but for some reason I just feel odd about it all. I've enjoyed the quiet, but it seems to drag on sometimes. Don't misunderstand, we're not friends. We're just...
Arthur trailed off, staring at the paper. What were they, exactly? Not friends of course. Enemies? That didn't feel quite right either.
Well, whatever we are, the silence is starting to get to me. I wonder how long we'll stay like this... Not that I care, it's just something I've thought about. Our first competition is approaching, and I don't know whether to be excited or nervous. Bryn, you've always been the most competitive. I bet you'd be bouncing of the walls. Francis is his normal self. And I've made friends with a boy in our house named Kiku, so I suppose it isn't all bad. I wish you all the best. Tell mother and father that I love them, and miss them.
Love,
Arthur
He set down his pencil and looked over the letter. Too much of it was spent talking about Alfred... but whatever. Carefully, he tore the page out of his notebook and creased it gently, folding it in half. Stepping out of bed, he wondered over to his suitcase and slipped the paper inside the top pocket, hand brushing against another crisply folded sheet before withdrawing and re-zipping the bag. It felt good to write to his brother's again after such a long time. Not that they ever received them, but it was something for him to do.
He flinched at the sound of the door creaking open. Seemed like Alfred had finally decided to come down.
"Yea." He heard him whisper, amusement in his tone. "Of course Kiku, sure I can."
Arthur frowned, staring at the boy's back, half way through the entryway. Kiku had wandered down as well? Alfred laughed at something inaudible to Arthur.
"OK, sure. And don't worry about the math help. I'm always happy to lend a hand. Night."
Slowly, the American inched backwards into the room, pulling the door closed with him. Arthur fought back the sense of panic rising in his chest. It would have been better if he had just gone to sleep, so as not to have to sit through another one of these awkward silences. Alfred turned around quietly, as if he was trying not to wake him, but froze dead on the spot at the sight of the Briton standing there very much awake. Arthur blinked at him. Alfred looked away, hand still firmly grasping the handle. Arthur frowned.
"Wha..." He stopped himself, unsure of how to continue. Why was he even making an effort for this idiotic boy? "What were you and Kiku studying?" He finished, swallowing hard. It was the first time one of them had specifically addressed the other in nearly two weeks, and it was, admittedly, harder then Arthur had expected it to be.
Alfred shrugged, relinquishing his iron grip on the doorknob and shuffling awkwardly over to his bureau.
"Oh you know..." He muttered, digging through his drawers. "This and that. Mostly math."
"Ah..." Arthur trailed off, glancing at the floor. "You're really good at that, huh?" Alfred's head snapped up to look at him, startled amusement flickering in and out of his azure orbs.
"Did- did you just compliment me Kirkland?" He raised an eyebrow, and even in the dim light, Arthur could have sworn he saw a ghost of a smirk pass across the little pricks face.
"Who said anything about that?" He growled defensively, crossing his arms. "I'm just acknowledging that you're good. That doesn't mean I'm giving you a compliment."
"Doesn't it?" Alfred muttered, almost to himself, as he turned back to rooting through his clothes.
Arthur snorted and fell onto his bed. Maybe he did like it better when they weren't speaking. Not to late to turn back now.
"Damn it where's that t-shirt?" Alfred grumbled, pulling open another drawer. "All of my stuff is dirty, I haven't had a chance to put it in the wash this week..." Alfred bit his lip and let out a tired sigh. "Well whatever, I'll live."
Arthur turned away as the honey blonde began to tug off his pants. He still was uncomfortable with the idea of the other boy being near naked around him, and he did his best to keep clothed at all times (because he wasn't to keen on being shirtless in front of him either). On cold nights like this, he always wore a long sleeved top and pants, not boxers, and Alfred usually taunted him to no end about 'acting like an old man' or whatever the hell he would do on about. Stupid prat.
Alfred yawned loudly and Arthur glanced back at him. He stiffened.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?" He hissed, pulling the covers over his head. "Damn it Jones, put a shirt on for god's sake. You're not going to sleep in just your boxers are you?"
He heard the American settle down on his own bed. "Sure, I don't see a problem with it."
"It's completely indecent! Besides the fact that you'll freeze to death in this weather!"
"I've got a high body temperature, I'll be fine." A long pause. " And- and since when were you talking to me again?"
"Since never!" Arthur muttered quickly, letting the sheets down a hair to glare at the other boy. "You're just being annoying is all, so I felt the need to point it out."
"Good, cause I don't want to talk to you either."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Arthur hugged his blankets around him in a desperate attempt to hold in heat, ignoring the sounds of the other boy shifting around in his bed. It was disconcerting. Just ignore him, he thought to himself. Just ignore him and go to sleep. And so he lay there. He tossed and he turned, he pulled the covers up and down, he even tried humming in his head. Nothing. The same restlessness that he had been met with all night. He let out a tired groan. It really wasn't any good...
"Hey..."
Arthur glanced over at Alfred's bed, startled at the sound of the boy's voice. He wasn't asleep yet?
"Yea..." He replied softly.
"You're still awake?" Alfred murmured.
"Obviously..."
"Oh... right..."
Arthur shifted uncomfortably under his sheets. If he wanted something, he should just spit it out.
"You... can't sleep either?" Alfred asked lamely.
"No."
"Oh..."
Arthur frowned and pushed himself up in bed. "Were you getting at something? Or are you just trying to be obnoxious?"
"No!" Alfred snapped, sitting up quickly. "I just... can't sleep."
"That makes two of us." Arthur snorted. "What do you want me to do about it you git?"
"I don't know I just wanted to know if you were still awake." Alfred grumbled. "And..." His shadow shifted awkwardly atop his bed. "I was wondering if you knew any good way's to get to sleep..."
"You're asking me for advice?" He asked skeptically.
"Not really." Alfred muttered, his black form pulling his legs to his chest. "But if you had any..."
Arthur shrugged. "When I was little, my mum used to count sheep with me until I fell asleep. It doesn't work when you do it alone though."
Alfred stopped shifting around on his bed, stiffening abruptly. He let out a quiet cough, but to Arthur's surprise, continued the conversation. "Oh yea! My mom always told me to do that, but it never worked for me." The American laughed. He sounded as nervous as Arthur felt. Although he'd never show it, his insides were a tangled mess. But how was he supposed to feel, talking to him after so long?
"Like I said, you have to have someone count with you." He explained.
"Aha... right..."
Arthur stared at his hands in the darkness. He would have rather rolled around in his bed all night then suffer this kind of torture. Seriously, what was that idiot-
"Hey."
He grit his teeth and slid his eye's to look at the other boy. "What?"
"How about we count together?"
His heart leapt up into his throat. What? What the bloody hell was he saying? And anyway, why the hell was he getting so worked up about it damn it? He wished he could slow his heart down. Shit it hurt.
"W-wha-"
"Please." Alfred cut him off. "Please, Arthur. I haven't slept well in weeks. I need to sleep tonight. I-I know you haven't either..." He trailed off quietly. "For both of our sakes, why don't we at least give it a shot?"
Arthur let out a shaky sigh. He was right. It couldn't hurt. Even so...
"Fine." He muttered. "But put a shirt on, would you?" Alfred laughed.
"Whatever you say." He watched the cerulean eyed blonde slip out of bed and continue rooting through the drawers. Almost immediately, he pulled out a piece of material. "Don't know what it is, but it's definitely a shirt." Alfred pulled the fabric over his head and let it fall gently down his arms. "Better?"
"Yea." He admitted.
"Good."
Alfred fell onto his own bed, sprawling against the sheets. "So, want me to start?"
"Go ahead." Arthur replied, curling himself under his covers.
"One." He said softly.
"Two." Arthur followed.
"Three."
"Four."
"Five."
"Six."
"Seven."
"Eight."
Arthur let out a long yawn and closed his eyes. "Nine."
Alfred snickered. "Tired already huh? Ten."
"Shut up." He mumbled, trying to shake off the fog of exhaustion clouding his mind. No way was he falling asleep first. "Eleven."
"Make me. Twelve."
"Hah. I would if I wanted to get out of bed. Thirteen."
"Sure. Fourteen."
"I would. Fifteen."
"Mhm. Sixteen."
"Idiot. Seven-" He stopped suddenly, startled by the groaning and squeaking of the other boy's box spring, and the sound of footsteps padding against the wood floor, and suddenly something's brushed his side through his sheets and he's sitting up again. "Bloody hell!" He cursed, scrambling away from the side of the bed. There was Alfred, plopped down on the floor beside his bed, arms crossed atop his mattress, glasses gone, and this sort of self satisfied smirk painted on his face.
"So. You going to hit me or something? By the way, you didn't finish seventeen." Arthur just stared at him, to surprised to say anything but just that.
"Se-seventeen..."
"Eighteen." Alfred whispered, laying his head on the blankets. Arthur went ridged. How on earth did that twat expect him to sleep like THIS?
"Nineteen."
"You're not laying down." Alfred chuckled dryly. "Twenty."
"M-maybe I like to sleep sitting up." Arthur snapped. "Twenty-one."
"Hmm. Twenty-two."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Why are you doing this? You can't sleep if you're sitting on the floor. Twenty-three."
Alfred looked up at him, close enough now that Arthur could make out every blink and fidget. And every time his lips moved... Those lips that had been so close to his own. Those lips that he had touched. Arthur suppressed a shiver. Suddenly, that night in the library was the only thing on his mind.
"Because I'm a hero." He stuck out his tongue. "And I think if you're asleep, I'll be able to sleep as well. Beside's I'm already tired enough that I'd be ok with falling asleep on the floor. Twenty-four."
Arthur swallowed hard. "What makes you say that? Twenty-five."
Alfred shrugged. "Dunno. Twenty-six."
Arthur looked away. What a weird guy. "Twenty-seven."
"Twenty-eight. You know, sitting here and counting won't do either of us any good if you don't lie down."
"Why don't you lie down first?" Arthur insisted, still staring at the wall. "Twenty-nine."
"Because you're the one in a bed, not me. Thirty."
"Then get back in your bed would you! Thirty-one."
"Don't wanna. Thirty-two."
"I'm going to hit you. Thirty-three."
"Not if you can't use your hands. Thirty-four."
"What's that supposed to mEEAA-" He gasped as a large body tackled his own.
"Gotcha! Now you can't hit me."
"Alfred Jones!" He swore, trying to break free of the stronger blonde's grip around him. "You fucker let go!"
"No."
Arthur shuddered. The American's mouth was far to close to his ear for comfort. Not to mention that fact that they were pressed flush against each other. But Alfred hadn't been lying about the body heat thing. He was already boiling.
"Come on you wanker, I'll go to sleep, just get off!"
"No."
Arthur's stomach churned uncomfortably. "Geeze what's with you?" He griped. "I thought you wanted me to sleep, but now you're preventing me from doing just that!"
Silence.
"Let go of me!" He hissed, struggling out of Alfred's grip.
Still nothing. Only a soft, gentle breathe against the nape of his neck, cooling his heated skin.
"Don't tell me you fell asleep already." He exclaimed under his breath, sucking in oxygen as the boy squeezed his midsection.
"You're cold." Alfred slurred into his shirt. "Dun move I'm gonna sleep..." He trailed off, mumbling incoherently as he clutched Arthur tighter.
"Hey hey hey don't drift off now damn it!" Arthur swore, wriggling beneath him. Alfred let out a weak snore in reply.
Shit!
He turned his head side ways against the pillow, biting his lip in annoyance. How the hell was he supposed to sleep like this? The rise and fall of the taller boy's chest against his back was agitating. His hands, that were holding on to him as if he was some sort of teddy bear, were constricting. His hair was tickling his neck. His mouth was half way between his skin and the collar of his top. And to top it all off, he could hear the idiot's heart thumping rapidly.
In perfect sync with his own.
O ~ O ~ O
"Man this place is epic!" Soren cried, spinning in circles to get a better look at his surroundings.
"That's right, I'd forgotten you didn't go last time." Alfred remembered, grinning at his friend. "Isn't it? It's a lot nicer now that the sun's sort of out." He mused. "And everyone else came along this time too."
"Yea but it's packed, as usual the weekend before a competition," Laura sighed as she bumped into him. "Oh sorry Alfred, I got pushed..."
"No problem." He assured her, shifting around the crowds of students. Where were they? Back in the local town. It was Sunday, and the sun was peeking shyly through the clouds, as if it was still trying to decide whether it wanted to come out. Still, it was far better then the storm they'd had a couple nights before, and perfect weather for the hoards of students that were swarming the streets in preparation for the start of the second challenge.
"So Laura, what exactly is it that we need here?" Ludwig inquired, popping up behind them.
"Hmmm." She paused. "Well since we don't know what the challenge is, who knows? It's best to stock up on everything though. Food, basic supplies, first aid..."
"Can't we get all this stuff after we know what's going on?" Francis asked, bewildered. "That sounds much easier."
"Well it would be, except the stores in this town close down during competition weeks." She explained. "If you came back here tomorrow, there wouldn't be a single door open. It's so that students who have less work to do won't take advantage of that and buy more specific supplies for the challenge. This way, everything's fair game. My guess is that it'll be a physical challenge this round."
"So we need to stock up and stuff. By the way, Laura, where's your group?" Alfred inquired. She waved her hand dismissively.
"They're off getting stuff, don't worry, I'm going to meet up with them in a little bit. Hey, we haven't lost anyone, have we?"
Alfred glanced behind him and narrowed his eyes, gaze sweeping over their group. "We're short one angry Briton." He muttered.
"Arthur's gone?" She exclaimed. "Where do you think he could have gone?"
"I think I saw him turn a little way's back." Soren offered. "Matty pointed him out, right Matt?" The tiny blonde nodded, fumbling with a bag of food that they'd bought.
"That's right. I thought he was just looking at something in a store window, but I guess he slipped off. Augh!" The paper bag slipped from his hand and Alfred tensed, making a move to grab the heavy sack before it hit the ground. Francis beat him to it.
"Are you alright, mon cher?" He asked, steadying Matthew as he hoisted the bag away from the ground where he had caught it. Matthew nodded nervously.
"Ah thanks I'm fine really. Hey Alfred, wasn't there somewhere in this place you wanted to show us?" He turned to his friend, surprising the American. What was with the sudden subject change? Not that he minded. His friend was finally starting to seem like his old self again. In fact, the whole house seemed better as of late. Maybe it happened when he and Arthur started talking to each other again...
Either way, it was nice to have his normal, fun loving buddy back. Matthew had been starting to worry him almost as much as Soren (who seemed to have given up on the Lukas thing, and was now thoroughly enjoying himself again).
"Oh yea! That place that Arthur and I wandered into last time!" He exclaimed happily. "I don't think we ever got the name, but it was really great, and I would recognize it for sure. Plus there's someone I want you guy's to meet!"
"Do you think Arthur could have wandered off there?" Ludwig said. "After all, you said that was the only place you went last time you were here. I can't imagine he'd go any place else."
"Why don't we check it out?" Laura suggested, nudging her way past a boy with a green hat. "Alfred, we'll go look for him and-"
"Ve~ Alfred said that it had really good hot chocolate right?" Feliciano called, appearing beside them. "I wanna go too! You promised the next time that I could go!"
"Sure why not." Alfred shrugged. "Why don't we all go?"
"Hurray!" Feliciano cheered. "Did you hear that brother? We're going to get hot chocolate!"
"Yea yea whatever just stop screaming in my ear." Romano grumbled.
"Hey Look at that! Are those toy guns?" Gilbert yelled, drawing a few weird looks from passerby's. Alfred glanced in the direction he was pointing. It looked like... a toyshop. And sitting in the window was one of those old toy pistols.
"I used to have one of those!" Alfred burst out laughing. "I loved it!"
"So did I!" Gilbert grinned, eyes shining. "But I lost it when we moved to England."
"Ve~ What's going on? Lemme see I wanna see!" Feliciano whined, glancing around the students to see what they were looking at. "I wanna go in an see it!"
"But Feliciano, you never played with toy gun's." Romano snapped.
"That's cause I never got to try!"
Romano opened his mouth to yell again, but stopped short, eye's growing wide and nose twitching. "Hey, do you smell that?"
Alfred blinked and sniffed the air. "Nope, don't smell anything."
"Ve~ I do. It smells like cannoli's."
"Damn right it does." Romano turned sharply, starting to push his way through the crowd.
"Roma where are you going?" Feliciano called. "What about the toy store? What about the hot chocolate?"
"Forget the gun's Feli. Take the cannoli's." And in an instant, he'd disappeared.
"Oh no he wandered off!" Feliciano cried, eye's beading with tears. "I have to go chase after him ok? I'll be right back. Hey Roma! Fratello wait up!"
"H-hey Feliciano!" Ludwig exclaimed, reaching to grab the brunette's wrist. Barely missed. "Hey where are you going you can't just leave!" He stammered. "Ah..." He glanced back at Alfred. "I'm going to go after them. If you and Laura leave to find Arthur, tell Kiku that he's in charge." And Ludwig too disappeared into the mass.
Kiku? Alfred snorted inwardly. No one would even be able to hear the Japanese boy. Still, he was his friend so he would give him the benefit of the doubt and leave matters in his hands.
"Matty, I think it's best if Laura and I just go." Alfred sighed, glancing over at Gilbert (who had been joined by Soren and was still transfixed with the toy's). "Can you relay that to Kiku? I think he's in the back, talking to Yao."
Matthew nodded. "Sure, no problem." He assured him. "And... I'll keep an eye on Gilbert too." He chuckled. "So he doesn't kill himself."
"I'm sure he's perfectly capable of taking care of himself without you watching him." Francis muttered. Matthew shrugged and gave him a weak smile.
"No harm in trying anyway. Now," He pushed Alfred lightly. "Get going. We'll meet you back by the train OK?" Alfred nodded.
"No problem. You ready Laura?"
The blonde girl crinkled her eyes and smiled. "Ready as I'll ever be."
And together, they wandered off into the crowd, in search of Alfred's emerald-eyed teammate.
O ~ O ~ O
Gilbert's Last Word
I seriously think my play was the best. No, I KNOW it was the best. Why? Cause I'm awesome. But noooo Alfred and Arthur got the best grade in the class. I mean, we're pals and all but what the hell mine was so much better then their sappy gay love story (that was kind of weird to watch, by the way. I don't know what Elizaveta's deal was, cause she seemed to love it… must be a girl thing).
What was my play about? The coolest thing ever, beside's me: Prussia. Now, what is Prussia you might ask? Prussia was an awesome country that used to rule over all of Europe! Well, most of Europe anyway. It was freaking badass, I'm telling you. Anyway, since I know a lot about it's history, I decided to do my skit on it. Pretty cool right? It kind of went well… something like this:
Enter, me, wearing a Prussian blue 18th century coat (Kiku made it for me. Damn that kid can sew), map of Europe in hand and a stereo and iPod that I "borrowed" from Antonio. I'll give them back. Eventually. The room was noisy, the sound of the other student's chatting echoing around the hall. It was annoying. Didn't they know I was about to start?
"HEY!" I yelled. "All of you shut the fuck up, I've got to perform this thing!" The voices died down and I let out a satisfied sigh. Good, now I had their attention. "Alright listen up, my skit is about Prussia, because Prussia is awesome, Verstehst? Good!"
And so I began. I flicked on the stereo, and a tune (recognized by myself as the Prussian anthem) drifts softly out of the speakers. Don't want them to not be able to hear me.
"Here," I pointed to the map, "Is me. I'm the awesome Königreich Pruβen! I'm kind of in little bits... but that's not the main point! For I am here to tell you a tale of my life! But first- I should warn you; I don't really like this Austria guy. And plus, this guy's got a TOTALLY un-awesome leader! So, I have decided to do something about it." I slipped off the stage, grabbing a piece of material on a pole that looked suspiciously like the Austrian flag. Ok, so maybe I had been digging through Roderich's drawers, and accidently GRABBED his drawers… no big deal right? As long as the stuck up prick didn't find out… Besides, what kind of weirdo had underwear with a flag pattern on it? I tossed a brown wig over my hair, and paraded back onto the stage, the makeshift flag, and a piece of paper in hand. The auditorium burst into a fit of giggling at the sight of the boxers on a pole. I allowed myself to let out a small snicker.
"I'm Austria, and I just got a letter from that Prussia guy. He say's he wants me to give up my land… because I have a woman as my leader. Really now. Well, I'm not going to do it. Not a chance in the world! Mark my words, he will never have Silesia. Even though he's already invaded, we will fight him off at all costs! We will…"
I trailed off, holding my hand over my ear, as if listening to some sort of radio. "What? What do you mean we're going to give up? No I don't care how strong he is, we're going to fight. No he cannot have my vital regions tell him to give them back right now! Well..." I wandered off the stage, muttering to myself and trying to hold back a laugh. I loved this sort of stuff, really. Pulling the brunette wig off of my silvery hair, and leaving the "flag", I marched back onto the stage, Prussian flag proudly in hand.
"So… that wimp has decided to fight after all! To think my great country's first battle would be with Austria…. Those pathetic weapons and sad excuse for an army! Austria, I thought you were better than that!" I raised my head, as if looking off into the distance. "I will win this battle. Of that, there is no doubt." I dashed off the stage and pulled one of the levers. So, I hadn't actually asked if I could use any of the stage features. But I figured as long as I didn't break anything, it was all good, right?
A white dummy fell from the ceiling, hanging from a rope that I'd tied it to. The room burst out laughing. Ok, so maybe I had stolen more then one pair of Roderich's boxers…
I ran out on stage and steadied myself into a fighting position. The theatre class cheered and I grinned to myself. "I will fight you, and win Austria!" I yelled. And I began to move.
God, how long had it been since I'd sparred? Even with just a doll? It must have been a long time, because my blood was pumping more furiously then I ever remembered it had when I fought. Careful. Not too much. Don't hit it too hard, you might pull something down. I forced these kinds of thoughts through my head as I fought with my immobile opponent. I pulled the wooden sword out from my belt and raised it high, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"This battle is for Prussia! Victory is mine!" I called to the ceiling. With a swish of my sword, I cut the doll, and out poured a pile of candy. I laughed loudly and raised my fist.
"The riches of this war belong to me now! Praise me, hail me, on your knees!" And with a flourish, I bowed lowly, letting the sword clatter to the floor. The room was silent. I stood and rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. "Ah, anyone want candy?"
My classmates laughed and let out a few whooping cheers. I raised my fist into the air and with a last wave, disappeared off the stage. I fell against the back wall, covering my eyes and breathing hard. I ached all over.
But it wasn't from pain.
O ~ O ~ O
A/N: More information about the challenge is slipping in, and about the script house... I was planning on making this longer, but I left it to set up the next chapter. Oh, and Gilbert's bit it is because I love him dearly and he hasn't gotten enough time lately XD I'd like to thank my beta for that last part, because she helped me write it :D It was meant to me completely comedy, but I couldn't help throwing in my own pieces lol. It seems as if things are better between Alfred and Arthur again... well as good as they were before.
And yea, I'm out of things to say... except, THANK YOU! For your support and everything, it means the world ^^
See you!