Chapter 2: Emily

You shut your mouth

How can you say, I go about things the wrong way?

I am human and I need to be loved

Just like everybody else does.

Ah Mondays, I seriously hate them. Perhaps it's because heroines like me hate getting up after nice relaxing weekends. Or the fact I have to deal with Ivanna and Yue today. I sat up from my bed and yawned.

But today wasn't just any other Monday, it was the day the new exchange students came. Alice was totes stressin' over it all last week. I am still curious as to why though, I mean, it's only just a few students right?

I dragged myself over to my dresser, pulling on my school uniform, a red and white jumper. It took a little while longer to get on. Was it really this small? I mean, I only bought this one last month. Perhaps it shrunk.

"Emily! Time for breakfast!" I could hear Ma shout to me in her country accent. Of course it was time for breakfast. I always knew when it was time for breakfast. Like a true American hero!

Walking down the hall of my family's ranch house, I stepped inside our kitchen, taking in the sweet smell of bacon and eggs. Oh Ma, you're the one thing that makes Mondays bearable. Sitting down by my sister, Kala (A/N, my friend calls me that OTL), who indeed was part Hawaiian. Ma adopted her when she was about 2 years old. She didn't appreciate it at first, since she was so accustomed to the life at the shelter, but she eased up and is now about 11.

"Aloha," I teased at her. She glared up from her book and me and took a deep breath.

"Damn sis, racist much?" As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Ma turned from the stove, looking as if she was going to hit her with the spoon. I looked over to Ma and stared at her to calm her temper.

"Kal, we don't use those words, kay?"

Kala took another deep breath but nodded. I laughed. It was so cute and funny how upset she would get whenever I made a joke like that. One time, when we were planning her 8th birthday, I told Ma that we should hold a tiki party. My arm has never felt the same after how hard she'd hit me with her bike. Doesn't seem possible but somehow she had made it possible.

I heard the bus and stood up, running to grab my bag. Ma came and handed me my breakfast; I just grabbed a few slices of bacon and shoved them into my mouth. Getting on the bus, I sat right next to Maria. Most of the other students on the bus were speaking Spanish only, which I am proudly fluent in, yet Maria was bilingual.

"Hola, Em," she greeted smiling. I smiled back and pulled out my lunch bag.

"Ok, ok, Maria, stop with the cheesy grin and let's trade," I giggled out at her. She too laughed and pulled out her bag.

"I will trade you flan for your pudding," she started, pulling out the cup of the caramel flan. I nodded and pulled out my choco-nilla pudding.

"Deal, but how's about that churro for this here PB&J?" I asked pulling out the fresh, cut in fours, sandwich. She thought for a moment but responded, "Chica, that's no fair. But fine. Seriously, are you just eating snacks for lunch?" Maria giggled at the end of her sentence.

"No way! You know I always buy a burger and fries at school!" I pouted fakely. Her smile turned into a grin and laughed even harder.

"Chica, if you don't eat healthier, you'll wind up as big as mi madre!" I rolled my eyes. I always got enough exercise and occasionally eat somewhat healthy food. Just everytime I got new clothes, they'd shrink! Not my fault.

"Pssh whatever," I replied elbowing her shoulder. Her eyes got wide but shoved me back. Oh hell naw! I reached over and began tickling her.

"Basta ya, chica! Stop!" she said as she continued her outrageous laughter. I stopped and put away my lunch bag back in my Scooby Do bag. Some of the other Hispanic students looked over.

"Estoy bien, muchachos," Maria shouted. In fact, most of the students were cousins of her. Each from a different country. Carla was bolivian, Manuel from Argentina, Isabella was from Uraguay and Carlos, my next door neighbor as well, was from Puerto Rico.

After a while, we soon reached Hetalia East Coast High. Or HECHS. I waved goodbye to Maria as I headed for my locker. On my way there I heard someone yell behind me.

"Annyeonghaseyo, noona!" I knew exactly who it was. My close Korean friend, Yong Soo.

"Yo," I replied. Ever since Middle School, Yong Soo and I had been close friends. We met after I saved his butt from his sister, Im Eun Jo. (A/N: totes used Eun Jo from a Korean drama) Eun Jo was in a gang with Ivanna, Yue and Giang. After Yong Soo refused to join them, he'd been jumped by the three. Luckily, I was there to help him. Eun Jo had switched schools and we haven't heard from her since.

"Noona, have you forgotten what day it is today?" I shook my head, "May 3rd, right?"

"Ye! And guess what's coming up?" Oh lord. Was he starting his birthday calendar already? His birthday was September 2nd, about four months away.

Before I could answer, he cut me off, "The concert, da ze!" Concert? Oh yeah! The SNSD concert he'd been bragging about for the past 3 months. SNSD was an all Korean girl group that Yong Soo absolutely adored. I have to admit, their songs were quite catchy. And the girls were real' pretty and could dance real' good too.

"Oh yeah! Sorry, dude. I've been busy I've forgotten! It's Friday, no?" I asked him.

He nodded, "Ye! I can't wait, noona! Oh Oh Oh Oh, Oppa saranghae! Ah Ah Ah AH—"

"Dude, shush it will ya? I know you're exited but calm down!" I laughed.

"Whatever, noona," he pouted.

"You Asians and your emotions," I sighed giving him a hug, "Sing all you want at the concert, kay?"

Yong Soo sighed but nodded, "Ye. And also, soon I won't be the only Asian here!"

"Oh?" I asked.

"Ye, da ze! My cousins are coming. All 7 of them!" S-Seven? They must be the exchange students that were supposed to be coming. "Giang, Kaoru, Noi, Kiku, Sakura, Narrin, and Mei Mei."

I blinked about 10 times trying to understand all the names. One stuck out the most to me. Giang. "G-Giang is coming back?"

He nodded, "Ye, da ze. But she says she's different now." I sighed. How could someone change so fast? That's like saying Ivanna changed. Hmph, any of those commies changin' would be a shocker to me.

"Actually, Noi, Sakura, and Kiku arrived last night, da ze. They said they might attend school today."

"Do they speak English?" I asked my Korean friend, hoping he wouldn't find my question offensively.

"Sakura and Kiku know most. Noi may need some help, but I am sure she'll learn soon enough, da ze. Or maybe if someone here can speak Laotian then perhaps it could help her." Laotian? Is that even a language?

"Sabaai-dii!" Yong Soo and I both turned around to see a short, slightly longed face girl wearing a simple green dress run up to us.

"Well speak of the devil, da ze. Em, meet Noi. Noi, meet Em." The girl took a minute to think, as if trying to translate what he said but nodded, "Sabaai-dii, Em." She also bowed.

I bowed back and replied to the young girl's greeting, "Hey! Nice to meet ya! So what grade are you in?"

Again, the girl looked confused but answered, "I am what you call, a senior." A senior? I could have sworn the girl was a freshman if that! She could pass as a Middle School student if they'd let her! How could she be older than me when she's so tiny?

Obviously, my expression told Yong Soo I didn't believe her but he spoke up before I might've said something rude, "Most girls from Laos are…short. Actually, her name is Laotian for small, da ze!" His laughter filled the hall and both Noi and I stared at him.

"Okay then. Well, Noi, if you need anything, let me know, kay?"

"Doy." She nodded.

"Doy?" I asked, feeling dumb. Yong Soo whispered to me that it meant yes. I face palmed. Must I be so stupid. Gah. As if Alice didn't make me feel any stupider.

Crap! I was supposed to go help Alice with planning the upcoming banquet! Without saying anything I slammed my locker shut and ran down the hall, looking for the office. Although, my trip was cut short as I felt someone grab my shoulder, pulling me backwards.

"You bloody idiot," I looked up to see Alice, "No running in the halls you twit! Now I need your help for a sec." I could already assume what she needed help with. She needed clothes because obviously what she was wearing was way too casual for a school uniform.

"I'm guessing you lost your uniform?" I asked. I could feel and hard punch at my shoulder, "Ouch, Alice!"

"Sorry…but I seriously need to borrow your uniform. Or at least your Gym uniform. I mean it's not like you use it anyways," Alice said, with a hint of sarcasm at the end of her sentence. I rolled my eyes but nodded.

"What happened to yours?" I asked.

"It's none of your business. Now come on, before the bell rings," she answered, pulling me by my ear to the locker room. I pulled out my shirt and shorts, which looked brand new even at the end of the year, and handed them to Alice. She pulled off her own clothes and shoved them into my face. I locked up her clothes in the locker and turned back to my British friend. I would've laughed but I kept my mouth shut. The clothes looked so baggy on her!

"You fat arse, they barely fit but they'll work," I frowned at her comment.

"I am not a fat ass," I replied coldly, but shrugged it off as we headed to our classes. Alice walked to AP Algebra II while I ran off to World History class.

Right before I stepped into the classroom, the bell rung. Just. My. Luck. I tried to move as swift as I could to my seat. Just as I sat down, Mr. Smith turned around and yelled, "Ms. Jones! How dare you arrive late to class and try to sneak in! Detention!"

Oh god. Another detention. I didn't know which would be worse, what Alice would say or what Ma would say. I just know that I will be yelled at by both.

"Now that that's taken care of, students, please welcome our new classmates, Kiku and Sakura Honda. They're our exchange students from Japan. Please be kind and say hello." I looked up to see a short haired young male standing next to a slightly shorter girl who looked almost just like him. They must have been twins.

"Welcome, new students," The class and I groaned.

"Konichiwa," The young twins responded before taking their seats. Another twist of bad luck, the boy named Kiku decided to sit in the seat next to me, where I would always place my books.

"Excuse me, miss. But could you please move your books?" he asked. I was shocked at how well his English was. I thought he'd have one of those weird Asian accents like Yong Soo had.

"There's another seat over there," I retorted back at him. He just stared for a moment but shook his head.

"But I'd like to sit by you, if that's alright." The whole class looked over, about as shocked as I was. Usually people stayed away from me because I apparently meddle too much. So hearing a boy, yes a boy, wanted to sit next to me made my jaw drop about 20 ft.

"Is that ok?" He asked, a worried look in his eyes. I shut my mouth and quickly nodded.

"Ya, just a sec," I replied pulling my books off the other desk and placing them under my own. He sat down and smiled at me.

"Arigato, now what would your name be?" he asked me.

"Emily. Emily Jones. Most people call me Em."

"Ah, well nice to meet you, Jones-san. My name is Kiku Honda, you can call me Honda-san if you like." I nodded back at him.

"Eh, I'd rather call ya Kiku if that's alright," I replied back to the actually cute Japanese boy next to me.

"Anything is fine, Jones-san," Kiku answered. I looked over to Sakura, who had already began to chat with some of the students, including Gilbert, the annoying German who thought he was sooo awesome.

"Now students, if you would please turn to page 159 in your textbooks," the teacher began. I glanced over to Kiku, noticing he didn't have a textbook with him.

"Here," I moved my desk closer to his and spread out the textbook between our desks. He helped me balance it as the teacher began the lecture. The book began to slip, but both our hands caught it, touching each others own hand. It's so warm I thought to myself quickly moving away my own hand. I could feel myself blush, looking away from the book; away from him.

After only a few minutes with him, I felt already safe near him. Is that normal?

A/N: Oh yeus! I finished Chapter 2! Aren't I so fast? Nope. I just upload late. So basically you can already tell that Emily and Kiku have some feelings for each other. And they only just met! I just love America x Japan XD

Oh and btw, I loved writing the part about Noi. My best friend Oyo is from Laos, so I decided to use the knowledge about it in here. Same with Yong Soo. I wanna learn Korean so bad ;A;

Some Asian/other language terms used:

Annyeonghaseyo – Hello

Noona – Something a boy would call a girl for older sister or someone they looked up to

Sabaai-dii – Hello

Doy – Yes

Noi – Small

Ye – Yes

Estoy bien – I am fine/well

Muchachos – Guys/People/Classmates

Chica – Girl

Konichiwa – Hello

Arigato – Thanks

Oh and that part Yong Soo was singing, its lyrics from Oh! By SNSD. The lyrics translated are Oh Oh Oh Oh Oppa I love you; Oppa is something a girl would call her boyfriend or older brother.

R&R/Watch loves?

BTW this story is on both my deviantART and here. Just to let you know.