A/N: So Hello! I'm only going to disclaim that HETALIA DOES NOT BELONG TO ME! and then on with the story! Action!
Getting to Lovina: A Story of Hetalia Academy
Chapter 4: What We Call Life…WHAT?
As January drew to a close, the weather decided to revert from a premature spring back to a mildly cold winter. Hetalia Academy was located on an island in the proximity of the equator, so the weather was supposed to be pleasant year round. Unfortunately for the population that dwelled there, it was not. In addition, the population of Hetalia Academy now also had to contend with a very grumpy Italian.
Lovina was already sick and tired of her mentees and the rest of her tutoring period. Zombie-cat freak did nothing but sleep, while Allison was the world's largest inventor of tall tales; furthermore, Sakura was exceedingly politely discerning, which made Lovina squeamish. And well, tomato bastard was tomato bastard. He would never leave her alone, pestering her and babbling on and on and on about whatever useless, insipid topic he deemed to be worthy of her attention. For Lovina, it only amounted to headaches and angry rants to Madeleine and Elizaveta. For unknown reasons, the girls always found amusement in Lovina's tirades. She could only huff angrily when they chuckled.
Feli and her macho potato freak of a German henchman were now practically glued to the hip, as if they weren't before they were a couple. Lovina, of course, would never approve of the buff German publicly, but those who knew her best already knew that her grip on Feli was loosening. However, one could argue that it was the presence of Antonio that caused her to relax on the touchy subject of Feli and Ludwig, and many did. Interestingly enough, no one dared to mention this to Lovina except for Madeleine and Elizaveta.
"I'm going out to town with Roddy! You girls want anything?"
Elizaveta was dressed in a flawless combination of black skinny jeans and ruffled green blouse. Her wavy locks were done up nicely in a French twist with only a few strands left out to emphasize her slightly pointed face. Earlier, the Canadian and the Italian had fussed over her make-up; now, tapping her foot impatiently at the door of her dorm, Elizaveta looked immaculate. It was obvious that she was eager to leave on her date, her friends knew.
"If you could get more maple ice cream on your way back, that would be great. And I'll pay you back later," mumbled Madeleine through the maple-flavored doughnut she was currently stuffing in her mouth.
Lovina shrugged. "If you can find tomatoes, then feel free to buy me some as an early birthday present."
Elizaveta rolled her eyes. "Your birthday isn't until March, Lovi."
The smaller Italian scowled. "It was worth a try."
Elizabeta grinned, waving mockingly, and then departed. The two single girls stayed where they were, lounging and indulging in junk food.
"How's your tutoring period now?" teased the blonde.
Lovina glowered at her friend. "I want to kick all of their butts to the skirts of outer space."
"Even Anton-"
Madeleine expertly ducked the pillow Lovina chugged at her.
"Did you have to bring up the tomato bastard?"
"Of course. I think you're the school's most unofficial couple there is."
Lovina puffed out her cheeks angrily. "That is not true. Now shut up about it so we can have a round of Truths. I'm bored out of my fricking mind and you're not helping."
"Fine, fine. You go first."
"Highs or flats?"
"I thought you knew my shoe preference, eh."
"Sh-shut up! We needed a starting question."
"Flats, of course. I don't need to too much help in the height department."
"Was that supposed to mean something?"
"No. And it's my turn anyways, eh. Do you admit that you find Antonio good-looking anyways?"
"Chi-chigi! I thought we dropped that subject!"
The Canadian chuckled darkly, the hidden aggressive nature of her mild demeanor shining through. "Oh no. You're the one who wanted to play Truths. Now own up."
"Fine. Maybe. Happy now?"
They continued pleasantly for another hour before Lovina decided to turn the tables against Madeleine.
"Do you have someone you're interested in?"
"Uh…"
Madeleine had turned bright red as she sunk her face deep into the silky fur of her polar bear.
"Well? Own up!"
Madeleine muttered something unintelligible.
"Come on," urged the impatient brunette.
"Gilbert…"whispered Madeleine.
"WHAT?" bellowed Lovina, ready to tear down walls in her unmatched rage.
"Sh-shush! You can't tell anyone!"
"How did potato freak number two seduce you?"
"I've liked him for ages!"
"And you never told me?"
"Liz and I agreed that it would be better if you found out later."
"So you like the unawesome bastard and you told Liz but not me?"
There was no doubt in Madeleine's mind that Elizaveta and Roderich would come bursting through the doors at any moment scolding them for interrupting the concert. Lovina was raging about the room, throwing pillows and tearing up any loose useless papers lying about the room. The taciturn Canadian was starting to become more angry than upset.
"Well you're one to criticize me, eh! At least I'm not shooting down the person that I like at every chance I get. And I don't laze about and eat tomatoes when I should be doing homework. Not to mention that I actually own up about my feelings. And I don't lack in the height department! Unlike you, I don't need to wear heels in order to be average height. And I don't have an unwholesome obsession with a red vegetable that is not able to be classified properly!"
"They're fruit, you bumbling maple-syrup-obsessed Canadian midget! And at least I don't have a crush on an unawesome egotistical potato freak who thinks he's Prussian!"
"Your tomato bastard is only a tomato-obsessed idiot with no true character or depth! And you never clean up after yourself when you bunk here! Liz and I always have to clean up after your shit! I don't think you ever get off your fat ass!"
"Who said he was my tomato BASTARD! AND what do you have against TOMATOES, asshole!"
Madeleine had reached her breaking point.
"DO YOU NEVER ALLOW YOUR FRIENDS TO BE HAPPY, EH? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS PURSUING WHAT MAKES THEM HAPPY?"
"Girls! What is going on?"
Elizaveta was obviously startled as she walked in to find Lovina crying and Madeleine redder than the vivid hue of the Canadian flag. The perceptive Hungarian rushed in and dropped her bag on the bed, all the time questioning her friends. Lovina had had enough. She was tired of feeling like the third wheel. She was tired of always being told last for fear of a volcanic eruption. She was just plain fed up with it all.
"GOD DAMN YOU ALL!" she screamed, slamming the door as she ran out.
"GOOD FRACKING DAY TO YOU TOO!" yelled Madeleine after her.
Lovina didn't know how long she had been running or where she had been planning to run to when she heard the frustrating idiot. Through the blur of her tears the concern in his face shone in the fading dusk light.
"Lina! Querida, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Do I look goddamn ok, bastard? Just go away!"
"It's ok, Lina! Come here and let me give you a hug, mi tomate. Why are you crying? Who hurt you?"
By now she had finally stopped to see that she was on the field of the campus. Antonio tried to put his arms around her in a comforting gesture, but she angrily pushed him to the ground. Somewhere deep down, she recoiled slightly at his hurt look. At the moment, though, she truly did not care.
"Goddamnit! I don't need you! I don't need anyone! I just want all of you out of my damn life!"
"Lina!"
Lovina should have known opening up would only cause her harm. She should have known better than to believe that anyone would ever appreciate her or anything she did. Maybe it was time to close herself off again.
As she headed back to her dorm, she realized that it was the first time she had ever fought with Madeleine. And it had all started over a guy.
Back in their shared dorm, Elizaveta was startled to hear of what had passed between her two best friends while she had been gone. Madeleine was still enraged, although she occasionally leaked a tear or two.
"I can't believe her! How is she never happy for anyone? First you, then Feli, and now me? What is HER problem?"
"'Leine, darling, I don't think you were helping the matter by pointing out all of her faults. I thought you were going to change after Arthur found Ally crying while you were ranting about her faults."
"Ally's family! We're practically sisters, even if she forgets about me sometimes. At least she never gets in the way of my life. Sure, she has a tendency to get overprotective, but she always respects my final decision, if not on the surface. I'm tired of Lovi's incessant disapproval of everything!"
"Are you willing to throw away our solid friendship of nearly three years over a little argument over Gilbert?" asked Elizaveta quietly.
"Maybe I should," replied Madeleine bitterly. "After all, he's never even noticed my existence, since he's always liked you. Now that I really think of it, no one has really ever remembered me. Not Ivan Braginski when he used me as a cushion for years. Not Arthur Kirkland, although his parents practically raised Ally and me. Not even my own parents remembered me, since they threw me up for adoption and then committed suicide. Everyone forgets me. Poor little Madeleine, with basically no friends and always pushed to the back. Maybe it's time for some new friends."
"What about me?"
"Don't say that you've never forgotten me either. What happened when you first started dating Roderich, eh? You never came back to this dorm except to sleep."
"I see," replied Elizaveta tonelessly, her heart heavy. "I'm going to grab a few of my things and spend the night at Emma and Mei's. We can talk in the morning if you want to."
As Elizaveta swept out the door with her duffel bag, Madeleine realized that it was the first time Liz had ever spent the night away from their dorm.
A/N: Drama! Passive aggressive Maddie comes out! Wow is she harsh. But yes, she does have a very complicated backstory. I'm wondering how to put Franis in so that I have a rounded FACE family. I get the feeling he's a cousin of Maddie too, but not related to Ally. I'm probably going to write a companion story about that. And here is also Antonio, although he doesn't have much of a big part. Or does he? And Emma is Belgium, and Mei is Taiwan. I figured those three would be good friends.