Chapter Five:

"I've had a brilliant idea" Merle said in her teeny-tiny fairy voice, "you're going to love it, Iggy!"

Arthur didn't look so impressed, rather, he ignored her and continued to pour more hot water into the teapot. Being honest with himself, this wasn't the right kind of tea to be serving right now... but he was out of the other kinds. He frowned – it'd been a while since he'd been to the shops too. How long had he been living on scones, biscuits and tea?

Far too long.

"Stop ignoring me!" Merle yelped, kicking Arthur's earlobe. He swatted her away. "Gosh, you're being so rude! We talk ALL the time when you haven't got other smelly people around".

"Shhh!" he hissed in reply, pushing Merle closer to the bench. "You're being noisy, you twat". Merle, in her tiny black dress and her tiny pink ribbons, blinked. Her little black bob-cut hair bounced around. She wasn't a very brightly coloured fairy, even she'd admit. "I don't want to cause a scene. You know I'm the only person that can see you, so just behave, okay?" Arthur pleaded.

"No"

"Why not!?" gasped Arthur, trying to straighten up all the cups and spoons Merle was kicking. Her feet flew around the bench-top, scattering everything around, giving Arthur what he knew was the start of a nasty headache. "PLEASE?"

"Not until you hear me out!" Merle snarled, baring her little pearly teeth at Arthur. She couldn't help but look past him too, growling at the blonde intruder sitting in her lounge – honestly, why did HER Arthur have somebody like that in their house?

Arthur gave in, "Alright... but be quick, the tea will go cold".

Merle smiled.

"You're lonely – I don't know why, because you have Peter and I, not to mention Mr. Unicornopolis" she said. Arthur looked at her, a little horrified.

And why did she need to drag Mr. Unicornopolis into this?

"You want some of those real people friends? But you're not very good at just going up to people and asking, right? So, I've got it all worked out! You form a drama club; you told me just the other evening that they're closing a bunch of the clubs at school because they don't have enough members... everybody will be forced into the new club!" Merle wasn't very good at explain but Arthur was starting to catch on.

"That's preposterous!" laughed Arthur, leaning over to fish more biscuits from his nigh empty tin.

"No it's not!"

"Why on earth would I want to construct such a club? It'd be suicide" muttered Arthur, angrily. Merle was meant to be the smart one in this imaginary menagerie.

"You'd get to make friends...and, well, they'll need somebody to write scripts and direct it, won't they? You'd be very good at that!" Merle chirped away to herself, twirling around on a biscuit. Arthur placed it, with her on, back into the tin.

"Hey!"

"I'll let you out when you make more sense" he said, putting the lid back on – a tiny crack providing enough air for the little fairy. Merle growled and snarled; Arthur just went back to ignoring her. Picking up the silver tray, he headed back to the lounge.

There, Alfred was waiting for him.

"Dude... were you talking to yourself?" he asked, an eyebrow raised up high.

"No! Don't be so stupid!" blushed the English boy, green eyes locked on the kitten-pattern teapot. Shit! He thought. How could he have let Alfred hear that?

"I thought I heard you mention something about the clubs at school?"

Arthur paused – there was eagerness in the other boy's eyes, Alfred wanted to know – wanted to be a part of whatever Arthur was pondering, poor Arthur didn't think he could refuse a face like that. "Ah... yes. Well, I'm sure you've heard already, a few of the clubs at school are closing because of insufficient numbers and such. They're going to need a new club to go to, don't you think?"

Alfred stopped to think, "I suppose so. Though they could just join another old club"

"Oh, they won't want to but! If they didn't join THAT club back then, why would they join it now?"

Alfred nodded – Arthur always said things in a way he understood. It was like picking vanilla icecream, then being told they had none and you had to pick another – if you didn't want another flavour when you wanted vanilla, why would you want one now that there was no vanilla? Frankly, Alfred would have rather gone without.

Actually... he usually did. He usually went without dinner most nights.

His tummy grumbled.

"Have a biscuit, you dolt".

"Can I join your club?"

"What about football?" blinked Arthur.

"That's okay – it's considered a subject! This would be my first proper club!" Al smiled, big and toothy and fully of cheesy goodness. Arthur nearly laughed.

It was just like when they were little.

"Alright, but there's going to be singing and acting, Alfred. I won't have you messing around like a silly child and making fun of my work!" Arthur was rather serious now, "Plus, with that job I'm going to get you, you're going to have a lot of work on your plate. You'll have to knuckle down while you're here".

Al's smile grew a little wider.

"Okay".

Somewhere in the middle of the smiles and the light hearted laughter, both of the boys fell silent. Alfred still had no home, no money and –as far as he was concerned- no future. His stomach twisted back into a little ball.

He dismissed himself, heading up to the guest room to sleep. He hadn't been there in years, but wouldn't have Arthur show him the way – he wasn't a stranger, after all.

Arthur, however, felt like a stranger. Alfred, despite everything, was still warm and kind and loving. Arthur wasn't like anything that he used to be. He wasn't little, wasn't fun loving and adventurous. Arthur was just delusional and awkward. He shivered, holding his tea closer. On top of it all he was going to make his own drama club...

Why did he let fairies talk him into things?

AN: Thanks guys, sorry the OC-fairy, it's just there as filler. Just to get the drama club kinda rolling! Haha, aw, I'm so glad you all liked the Shakespeare line!! So here goes my loving thanks:

Kami011 – haha, I'm so glad you like Peter. Sealand is awesome. Gavvers720, YAY! And I love France too, so much, so so much. He's pretty, smart, perverted... what more could a fangirl want? Oh, and glad you like my style. Nerica – your consistent reviews are pleasing, they give me a fuzzy happy feeling. I'm so glad it makes you laugh and that you enjoy it so far. =D Syous99 – bwaha, I know right? Iggy's so cool.

Thelivinggirl – It was hard not to suddenly go all USUK on this fic, just like about two nights ago I was tempted to go all CubaCanada. But I resist temptation well. HappeDaez – you have the best avatar ever. I lol'd for like two minutes straight then linked your profile to some friends so they could too. It's so WIN. Glad you liked!!

Andraeb182 – Heracles will come soon! Chapter 7, I think. And aw, your story was sweet, and I bet you could be an amazing writer (I checked your profile and you've done a HEAP of fics... but I can't read them because I'm poorly educated and only speak English. Sorry!! But keep up the excellent work!!) Plus, you're studying medicine!? That's AMAZING!! Inkie – totally cracked a smile when you said "WIN" haha, glad you enjoyed! Foxyaoi123 – Oooh, see I like PruCan, but it can't happen in this story (for certain reasons), but if I stay at a while then I might give it a shot one time?

Kezi-chan – Yosh! Glad you like it, and Treeland is such an obscure idea but I just couldn't resist. I really couldn't. Hm, you are making an interesting suggestion... New Zealand, aye... reckon he'd be a Maori? I'd love to see that! Sassy – LOL! Yes, Bruce is a bit... hm. And Cody is gross, ew. But there was a suggestion for Angus, and I'm likin' that!

Right guys, well, a friend said I should wait between updates ... but that's just bullshit. I'm too impatient!

I won't make you wait long. Next one up within 36 hours.

-Bande.