Chapter 4

~*7th Grade*~

The sun was beaming through Arthur's window and the warm light touching his face and hearing his alarm clock blaring off. Arthur quickly got up and put his old bolded black glasses, and then changed into his new uniform that he had recently gotten. Went to the bathroom and quickly brushed his hair until it was decent, then brushed his teeth and had went to the open kitchen when he saw his mother already awake in her bathrobe making breakfast. She turned around and gave Arthur a tired expression.

"Morning honey how was your sleep?" his mother had asked with a tired smile.

Arthur noticed how tired she was, and then he frowned, "mum if you're tired then you shouldn't be up this early, especially with you late night shifts." Arthur had stated.

"Well I wanted to see my son go to his first day of middle school," Arthur mother had replied, and then she had plated Arthur's breakfast and gave it to him.

Arthur took the plate and sat at the small table in at the end of the small kitchen Arthur took his seat and began eating the breakfast.

Arthur soon finished and gotten up to clean the plate. Once he had finished he put on his black dress shoes and was about to walk out the door, until his mother had called out to him.

"Have a nice day sweetie," she called out from the kitchen.

"Okay mum have a nice day also," then Arthur closed the door.

He walked to school; he thought it would be nice. Plus he left earlier than expected so a walk would be nice. Arthur had slowly made his way to the school he'll be attending. He gave a small smile, but it quickly had switched to a straight line.

'That's right' Arthur thought to himself. 'I left my friends, avoided them halfway through 6th grade, what will make any difference trying to make amends with them now? I had been and now avoiding them, they probably don't want to talk to me.' Arthur stopped his dark thoughts as he reached the front doors of his school.

Arthur pushed through the double glass doors as he came in he saw the floor was a picture of the school's mascot which was a hawk. Arthur had slowly made his way to the cafeteria through the semi familiar halls. He had made it to the fairly reasonable sized cafeteria, which was already filled with students that were waiting for the first bell to ring signaling them that classes will start soon. Arthur's bright blue eyes scanning the crowded cafeteria as he had spotted a empty space on the long tables. Arthur had walked towards the empty space and sat on the bench, he cautiously looked around. Then he had put his bag down beside him, but was unaware of vibrant red eyes looking straight at him.

"I don't get it," Al moaned in frustration.

"What don't you get?" Matt asked, as he set down his DS.

"Why is he there? Also what's up with you and those games?"

"Why my dear brother, they're my babies," Matt had picked up his DS holding it in his arms like a baby and began stroking it.

Al gave him a weird look but ignored it, Matt was Matt and that was what he dealt with almost every day. Matt chuckled as he put the DS back in its case and put it back in his bag. Then he saw 3 familiar faces walking up to the twins.

"And why do you care? He left us so be it…" Matt had stated, but Al shrugged and kept staring at the strawberry-blonde.

"Ni hao," A tired Chinese pre-teen had appeared plopping down next to Matt.

"Oui… oui… bonjour," A not so happy Frenchmen had sat next to Al.

Then Ivan didn't say anything he just sat next to Yao and set his bag down.

"Crappy morning?" Al asked everyone.

"It's too early!" Yao whined as he put his head in his arms.

"I just don't like being here," Francis complained.

"Where's Arthur?" Ivan asked, changing the subject, "or is he still avoiding us?"

"He's avoiding us," Matt stated as he put his new shades over his eyes covering his violet eyes.

Al nodded still frustrated why the Brit was alone, "I'll be right back," Al said then stood up.

The others looked at him, and then Francis broke the silence, "hmm he's acting differently, non?" Francis asked.

Matt nodding in agreement, "yeah, but ever since Arthur had been avoiding us Al has been acting more grumpier than usually,"

Francis only nodded in agreement.

Al walked up to Arthur. Arthur had put away his schedule and then looked up, and then once he saw who was standing beside him, there was his blue eyes had pure terror. Al stepped back, he didn't see the Brit so scared before, but he didn't do anything to him, right?

Al was about to speak, but then he saw Arthur stand up picked up his bag and left the spot, leaving Al confused, frustrated, but most importantly angry. He hadn't got that feeling in a long time, but in his opinion, he didn't want to angry with Arthur. There were always these mixed feelings for the Brit and he hated it. His mother called them hormones; Al just wished the hormones would pass. With a frustrated sigh he walked back to the table. The others asked what happen, but Al didn't want to talk and he just shrugged and put his head in his arms hiding his face trying to calm down all of his emotions.

Arthur went to the bathroom hiding in the stalls waiting for the school bell to ring.

'Belt up Arthur!' Arthur had thought to himself, 'you didn't have to run like some kind of idiot!' Arthur sighed, 'but I can't afford seeing him hurt because of me…' he sat on the closed toilet and put his head in his hands trying to get his thoughts straight. After a moment of hard and long thinking the bell had rang and echoing through the empty bathroom. Arthur quickly got up grabbed his bag and unlocked the door then dashed out of the bathroom starting out his long day of middle school.

He had Home Ec and his teacher was surprised by Arthur's cooking skills, then Math which had struggled dearly through the pre-test. Then he had lunch, he had went to an open and empty space. He had sat down on the lunch table bench and grabbed his cold lunch and began eating. Arthur had scanned his light blue eyes around the lunch area. He sighed as he had finished his sandwich and packed the rest of his lunch he wasn't hungry anyway. He had stood up and walked out of the cafeteria and walked outside to the football/soccer field where the teachers by the bleachers while they were monitoring the other students that were also outside. Arthur had walked past behind the teacher and sat at the bottom of the bleachers. The teacher turned around and smiled.

"Hello, are you new here?" the teacher had asked kindly, and taking a seat next to Arthur.

Arthur nodded, not wanting to talk.

The teacher had thought for a second and asking the smaller pre-teen Brit, "so how's the first day treating you?"

Arthur shrugged awkwardly, "I suppose its different compare to schools in England, but it's okay, I guess"

The teacher beamed, "so you're from a different country? That's nice I bet you'll make a lot of friends here, plus there's strangely a lot of kids this year from different countries this year"

Arthur nodded again, the teacher stood up, "nice talking to you, but I got to keep an eye on those troublemakers,"

Arthur smiled a little, at the small conversation he had, he looked around the field, and then a group had appeared in view, they were playing catch with a softball. Arthur fixed his gaze on the ground, he heard footsteps then he looked up seeing a different, the two twin Italians, a German, and a Japanese pre-teens looking down at Arthur.

"Ciao Brit," the head of the group, Feliciano, had spoken out.

"What do you want?" Arthur growled, "Can't you see I'm enjoying the peace and quiet,"

Feliciano looked unaffected by the Brits words, "its best if you keep that trap hole you call a mouth shut," the Italian had spoken in a calm, but dark voice.

The voice had sending shivers down the smaller Brits spin, having his mind going to 6th grade, once he snapped out of it, he spoke, but only close to a whisper, "I'm sorry,"

Feliciano had smirked, "that's better, pet,"

Arthur had fixed his gaze back to the ground and focusing his shoes. He heard footsteps faded, but he had still felt a presence of someone still lingering around him.

"I'm sorry for my fratello," A bit higher pitch Italian voice had spoken he knew who it was, it was Lovino, he would always apologize to Arthur about Feliciano. Once after some time with Arthur not responding still looking at the ground, and then he heard footsteps and they faded.

Arthur looked up and saw Al, Yao, Francis, and Ivan playing catch, while Matt was lying against the small hill that had led to the field, while he was playing his DS. Arthur had an urge to go and join them, but after what happen this morning maybe they didn't want to see him. He wanted mend the relationship with his old friends, he was about to get up until the peers had rang their whistles and told everyone to get inside the school. Arthur had sighed sadly and looked back at the group, then he caught a familiar red eyes staring at him, he felt his cheeks burn. He quickly got up from the bleachers quickly throw his backpack on his shoulders, and then he had speed walked to the front doors of the school. As soon as he had walked in the school the bell had rang signaling passing period had started, he had sighed in relief and walked to the second to last class.

'Not today, but soon I'll gain the courage and stand up to that Feliciano and his stupid gang.' Arthur thought to himself.

~*8th Grade*~

Arthur coughed as he was kicked in the stomach. There was chuckling Italian watching his German friend doing his dirty work.

"P-Please… stop…" Arthur gasped slightly trying to get air back into his lungs.

The Italian smirked at the trembling Brit lying on the floor helplessly. "You should start thinking before you speak, pet," Then the Italian saw Arthur's abused black glasses, "well it looks like you won't needs these in a while," then he crushed the lenses under his boot.

Arthur didn't protest he let the Italian and German to abuse him until they got tired of him.

After some time had passed Feliciano and Ludwig had left Arthur lying on the cold concrete. Arthur had gotten up slowly; his whole body ached, with bruises everywhere. Arthur gasped in pain as he took a step forward and fell back on the ground face forward. Once he hit the ground with he groaned of pain.

Arthur took short breaths trying to get rid of the pain rushing through his body. Arthur got up again; he took a step forward keeping his balance when he walked. As he got closer to his house he was now walking limp, now it started to rain, how ironic right? His body in full pain and wet, he couldn't take it. Then he started to see black spots in his vision, his body getting heavy every step he had taken. Arthur had fell forward he didn't feel himself falling on the ground. Arthur laid their helpless, couldn't move nothing he felt pathetic.

"What the hell dude?" Matt whined as Al took the DS from the Canadians hands.

Al needed to get his mind of something so why not try playing his brothers DS for a while, he had other consuls to play with.

"Shut up you got you iPhone, don't you?" Al asked in a dull voice.

"Come on Al this is getting ridiculous you hate video games, and no because I left it home, remember?" Matt reached for his DS, but Al had a death grip on it, trying to concentrate.

Matt sighed as he sat back against the cheap backrest of the booth then looked around the small mostly empty café they were in; they were waiting Yao, Francis, and Ivan. They agreed to meet up at the café and hang out around town and just walk around. Then spend the night at Francis's house.

"Hello," a Russian accent had filled the air causing Al to slam the DS on the table top.

"Great you had to come first," Al spat.

While the other two teens were glaring at each other, Matt was checking his DS to see if there was any damage to the portable device. Once everything checked ok Matt gave Al a death glare.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Matt yelled causing bunch of worker and customers looking their direction.

Al turned and faced his brother. "What's wrong with me?" Al said, "I don't know Matt, I'm fucking confused with myself," with that Al had gotten up, "I'm going home," then he slammed the door of the café and walked towards his house, leaving the Canadian and Russian alone. People now turned their heads away and continuing with their own business.

"What's wrong with the comrade?" Ivan asked.

"I don't know," was all Matt could say at that point.

Alfred pulled his bomber jacket closer so half of his face was covered by the fur of the jacket shielding him from the rain, and having his sunglasses over his eyes with raindrops hitting his lenses. He sighed and took of his sunglasses and shoved them back on top his head in his now wet messy hair.

He honestly changed over the years he went back his usual self, he fights with local kids at school, sometimes even gets kicked out of the house from his mother telling him that he should get fresh air and stop being negative for once. Then again, under all that tough meat was a soft spot, that soft spot was always for Arthur he couldn't explain it himself, he can't stand him getting hurt. Then he saw a body lying on the concrete sidewalk he thought is some drunk there but as he had came closer to the figure, his eyes had widened. It was Arthur, in Al's first instinct was to run toward the wet and cold teenager on the concrete.

"Arthur!" Al called out.

Arthur didn't respond it worried Al; he had sprinted to the Brit. He passed and saw Arthur's crushed black glasses, he quickly grabbed them and shoved them in his bomber jacket pocket then continued to dash to Arthur.

As soon Al had gotten to Arthur's side he had slowly picked up the unconscious Brit acting act like that he will break if he hadn't held him right. Al held him close to his chest trying to shield him from the rain. As soon as he made it to the front door of his house, he opened it trying not to drop Arthur in the process. He kicked the door closed and gently laid Arthur on the couch in the living room. Al had walked into the open kitchen, and then opened each cabinets looking in them, trying to find the chicken soup. That his mom had always made when Matt or Al were sick.

Once Al had found the soup he looked at the directions and started making it, once he was done he put the burner on a low temperature so it was still warm enough to eat. He went to the sink and got the First Aid under the sink; he grabbed it then walked into the living room. Al had walked over to Arthur he put the First Aid kit on the coffee table, he grabbed the hem of Arthur's wet white dress shirt, and then he hesitantly move the shirt up till his stomach and chest was showing, once he saw the Brit's exposed chest and stomach made his blood boil. Seeing Arthur's body covered in old scars and bruises and new ones also. He quickly worked grabbing the First Aid opening it and he grabbed the bandages and wrapped them around Arthur's torso, he was no doctor, but from the injures he had in baseball his mom would cover them with bandages and would be okay the next few or couple days. Once he had finished he put the remaining bandages and put them in the First Aid box and pulled Arthur's shirt back so it was covering his chest and stomach, he got up walked back in the kitchen and putting the First Aid kit back under the sink. Then he walked back in the living room seeing if Arthur was waking up.

"This so déjà vu all over again," Al had mumbled to himself.

He walked up to Arthur then he put his tanned hand on the Brit's drying hair, he didn't want to move Arthur in case he might cause pain. He noticed Arthur moved a little and seeing his eye lids lazily opening. Al felt his heart beat faster, and quickly withdraw his hand away from Arthur's strawberry-blonde hair. Arthur looked around then his blue eyes had met with red eyes. A faint blush had appeared on the small Brits face.

"Al?" Arthur asked confused.

"Yeah that's me," Al answered acting like that his heart wasn't going to explode out of his chest.

Arthur tried to sit up his body had been filled with pain as soon as he had sit up. Al forced his body gently back in a lying position.

"Don't move," Al had said in a serious voice.

Arthur did as he was told and waited for a while till he spoke up, "where am I?" He asked being confused.

Al looked at a different direction, "my house," he mumbled, but loud enough for Arthur to hear.

Arthur looked around then he quietly nodded slowly, he didn't want to respond.

"You know…" Al started off, which caught Arthur's attention, "um… why are you avoiding us? You know Yao, Francis, Matt, and me, you're acting like we're some kind of plague," Al said now staring at Arthur solemnly.

Arthur looked down at his lap, he just shook his head, and he spoke "I can't tell you…" Arthur lifted his head to look back at Al's eyes. "I'm sorry," Arthur whispered holding back the tears that were threatening to fall down his cold cheeks.

Al sighed and got up, he walked down to the hall and turned and opened the first door on his right. He took out a blanket and closed the door then walked to his bedroom went to his closet and pulled out a shirt and a pair of sport shorts that'll look like they'll fit Arthur's skinny body and then walked back to Arthur. Once he came back he saw Arthur sitting up his back against the backrest and having his knees to his chest. Al had cautiously had walked up to Arthur.

"Um… Arthur?" Al had blushed slightly. 'What the hell is wrong with me? For fuck sakes, why am I blushing?' Al thought bitterly.

Arthur lifted his so he was looking at Al. Then he got up really slowly. "I want to go home…" Arthur stated.

Al quietly gritted his teeth, "no, you're not going out there Arthur you're sick, injured, besides you need the rest, and my mom and dad are out of town and Matt and I were going to spend the night at Francis's, but I stormed off," Al trailed off, but he quickly finished his point, "so you can stay, just you and… me…"

Arthur looked at the tanned American with a light dust of pink on his cheeks, "u-um, but what about mum, I can't worry her so much,"

Al sighed as he practically jumped on the couch and lying against the backrest, "just call her, I'm sure she won't mind," Al shrugged and looked up at Arthur who was quietly shifting his weight on his legs every now and then, he sighed, "sit down I'll get the home phone." With that he got up and went to small table by the front door and grabbed the wireless phone from the charger and walked back to Arthur and handed it to him, "here…" he said as he went back to his seat on the couch next to Arthur.

Arthur quietly thanked him and limped out the room and to the open kitchen. After a few minutes had past he had came back to the couch and silently thanking him and giving the tanned American the home phone back.

"So what did she say?" Al asked.

"She said I can stay… she thought it would be a good idea considering I barely hang out with anyone… anymore," Arthur whispered, but loud enough Al to hear.

Al nodded, getting slightly mad, but he shook it off. Then he stood up and gave Arthur the spare clothes.

"Here, you should get changed out of those wet clothes," Al said looking away trying not to show his embarrassment, he's got a reputation to keep. Arthur nodded quickly and grabbed the clothes, quietly thanked him and slowly walked to the bathroom in the semi-familiar halls.

Al sighed and walked to the kitchen grabbing two bowls from the cupboard and poring an equal amount of soup in each bowl. Then he walked back carefully not to spill anything on the carpet. Once he had made it to the couch that Arthur was sitting on with new baggy clothes on. Al had walked up put the bowl of soups on the coffee table, and then he grabbed the duvet and placed it on Arthur. Arthur looked up as Al had giving him the soup. He sat on the other end of the couch reaching for his own soup and taking occasional sips from it. He looked over and saw Arthur wasn't eating his soup. Then Al had reached over to Arthur's bowl, he grabbed it causing Arthur to look at him then the next thing he knew there was a spoon that was shoved into his mouth, Arthur's eyes widened as the warm liquid was shoved in his mouth. Arthur had swallowed it harshly down his sore throat and coughed a few time, he gave Al a quiet glare and scooted closer to the arm of the love seat and away from Al.

Arthur looked at the blank light tan color wall. He breathed slowly trying to get his thoughts sorted out once more, until Al had scooted closer to Arthur.

Arthur turned his head so he is looking At Al, "what?" Arthur whispered.

Al stared intensely into Arthur's eyes trying to find something then looked away, "nothing…" then he looked back, he sighed, "you know it might be best if you eat that soup,"

Arthur looked at the soup then the other teenager. Arthur nodded slowly and began to eat his soup.

"You know," Al started off catching Arthur's attention, "we can watch a movie, to pass the time."

Arthur thought about it nodded and gave Al a smile, but Al knew it was fake, like all the ones he wore after 6th grade. Al nodded, and walked swiftly to the do cabinet where the CD's are kept.

Al had picked an appropriate movie a child's movie he had when Matt and him had watched when they were younger. Al had popped the CD into the CD player and played the movie. Arthur kept quiet just staring at the TV blankly.

As the movie was halfway done Arthur felt his eyes getting heavier by the second. Arthur soon found himself falling slowly to his right side until he landed on Al's shoulder. Al looked at his shoulder and gave a half-smile.

"I swear," Al whispered to himself, "even if you won't tell me or won't give me a straight answer, I will always be there watching you Arthur… just remember that, okay?" He sighed, and chuckled to himself, 'great, now I'm turning into a softy,' Al thought to himself before letting himself fall asleep.

OMG this is way over due! Sorry

School has been crazy with the crazy big ass assignments every single bloody day! Uhg so annoying.

But I manage to get the story done.

So I'll make a promise that I'll get a chappie out at least once or twice a month or so and during the upcoming break (Thanksgiving) I'll be working on this 12/6 (need meh breaks)

Review? Yes? No? Maybe so?

Love ya poppets~