"Teddy-bear, are you alright?" I brushed my fingers against his forehead. He was still warm, but it was only a little fever.
"I'll be fine in the morning. I just need a day of rest," Teddy sighed.
I smiled," Well, I'll leave you so you can get some much needed rest."
"I'm sorry that I can't go to the thing tonight," He apologized.
"It's out of your control whether you're sick or not. It happens to the best of us. The important thing is that you get rest. It's nothing that I can't handle," I stood up to leave.
He gave me a tired smile when I closed the door.
'Lucky bastard.' I thought leaning against the door, 'He got out of the parent night.'
'Oh quit your bitching. What was important that he was getting rest to get better.'
I always worried when he got sick. When we were little Teddy was always the one in bed with a fever or some other illness and he missed out on a lot of things. I was thankful that as he had gotten older, his immune system had gotten stronger.
With a sigh I looked down at my uniform and straighten the wrinkles. Just because my little brother was sick didn't mean that I could get out of my peace keeper duties. I squared my shoulder and pulled my crisp white gloves on. Walking at a quick pace I made my way down to the café where all the parents and students where gathered.
Inside people moved around talking and getting to know each other. I wasn't due to give a speech for few minutes and I had time to kill.
"You look like a fish out of water without Teddy," A voice spoke up behind me.
"Do I really?" I turn to face Lucky.
"Well maybe it's because I'm not used to seeing one without the other," He mused.
"What do you call Geometry," I chuckled.
He gave me a wry smile and turned to the couple behind him," These are my parents."
"Hello, M. and Mme Abel, I am Samantha Pruitt," I politely extend my hand.
"Oh we've heard much about you when Lucky writes to us," Mme Abel said with a thick French accent.
"Where is your twin? Theodore, I think," M. Abel asked.
"He is feeling under the weather and needs his rest. I'm sure he would very much like to make your acquaintance if he could be here," I firmly shake his hand.
"Tell me how has our Lucky been doing. He doesn't tell us much about himself," Mme Abel said.
"Maman," Lucky groaned.
His mother placed her hands on the sides of his face and stroked his hair," I worry about you, mon bébé. Also why won't you cut your hair. You have such a pretty face and don't need to cover it."
I smiled and shook my head. What I wouldn't give for my mom to tease me about my hair.
"Sam! Sam," Ami came running up to me.
"Ami! Ami! What is it?" I mimicked her.
"Meet my mom!" She grabbed my wrist and dragged in the direction she came from.
A woman with short sleek brown hair greeted me," Hello I'm Susan Moore. I presume you're Samantha."
"Yes ma'am," I hold my hand out for her to shake and she has a very strong grip.
"Daddy couldn't make it," Ami cut in," He's doing a mission trip right now."
"Yes, Drew, couldn't make it. He really did want to be here to meet all of your friends sweetie. So Samantha what is it you do?" Her mother gave me an appraising look.
"I am a Peace Keeper. Perhaps you have heard of them. It wasn't too long ago that there was some news about them," I replied calmly even though her mom gave me the jitters.
"I remember something about them. Weren't they murdered?"
"Yes… you don't remember what they did by any chance?"
"Not really, I do remember that they had two kids that ended up being orphans. I wonder what happened to them, poor things," Mrs. Moore put her arm around Ami in a comforting fashion.
"How awful!" Ami gasped.
"Yes, how awful," I said lifelessly," Poor things."
"So where are your parents?" Mrs. Moore asked.
"Mom!" Ami exclaimed.
"What dear, I was just asking her to see if I could meet her parents," Her mother explained.
"I'm terribly sorry to cut this conversation short but I must be going," I give Ami a smile and left before they could say anything more. I didn't care for Ami's mother she seemed like she was the type of person to sell someone out to the highest bidder and keep her hands clean of the whole thing.
I walked over to Kiko and introduced myself briefly to his parents. His parents were quite a pair with his father being a big muscular black man and his mother being a delicate pale woman. Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka were very polite and warm people. I learned by talking with them that Mr. Tanaka met Mrs. Tanaka on an army trip. He stayed behind and married Mrs. Tanaka and took her name because he totally wanted to embrace her culture as much as he could. It was actually very touching.
I saw Leroy sandwiched in between three girls, two older than him and one a few years younger. I could hear them picking on him from where I stood.
"Why don't you have a girlfriend?" The youngest one asked.
"I-" Leroy started to say.
"If you had one you could possibly use that as an excuse for your poor grades," The eldest one sneered.
I sighed and quickly moved into save him," Leroy!"
"Sam? What are you doing here?"
"To see you, silly," I smiled my prettiest and held on to his arm.
"Who are you?" The youngest one asked.
"I'm Sam," I giggled.
"Are you Leroy's girlfriend?" She asked.
"Uh huh, we're super in love! I couldn't help but over hear you guys talk about his grades and I have to tell you that is my fault. You see I'm constantly asking him for help and he doesn't have enough time to do his own work. He's such a sweet heart!"
"I'm glad he is helping you but it would be for the best if you let our son get his work done," A man who looked like an older stuffier version of Leroy spoke up.
"I'm really sorry, sir. I won't let it happen anymore," I promised.
Leroy's mother didn't say anything and fixed me with a cold look.
"Good," His father said simply and turned away from me. Neither of his parents seemed to care whether Leroy was here or not.
"I have to go see England now. I'll talk to you later," I stood up on my tip toes, hugged him around the neck and added," Tell anyone that I'm your girlfriend I will let Kailyn have her way with you."
"Thanks," Leroy whispered.
I briskly walked over to Mr. Kirkland to make up for lost time. He was chatting with Roze and her parents.
I smiled at her and she nodded back in response. Her parents seemed to be getting along with England and I could tell by the way they talked and held themselves that they had probably been an important family for generations, modern day nobility.
"Mr. Kirkland?" I cut in politely.
"Yes, Sam?" England turned to me.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I wanted to know if there was any place you wanted me before the opening ceremony started."
He glanced down at his wrist watch," We should be headed towards the stage now. Pardon me but I've got to be going."
England and I walked up over to the stage. He checks the adjustments on the sound system and asks me if I'm ready. I gave him a nod and take the microphone from him and set it up at the podium.
"May I have everyone's attention? It is time to start the opening ceremony," I speak in an even voice into the microphone. Almost instantly everyone makes their way to their seats. Translators make their way over to the side of the stage and in clear view of everyone.
"Good evening, I'm pleased to see so many parents here today. My name is Samantha Pruitt and I'm in training to be the next peace keeper," As I said that several soldiers and generals stood up and saluted me. I paused briefly to salute them in my own fashion and gestured them to be seated.
"I'm pleased to inform you over the last six and a half months everyone has been working hard to learn and use their unique skills to make the future world a better place. Not only that but we have also became a tight community of friends and family. We wanted to share with you our knowledge and wish for you to see how far we've come in just a short time," I take a moment to let the translators catch up.
"Please put yourselves at ease-," I started to say when I was interrupted by a man.
"I thought we had enough of you peace keepers!" A large man stood up and yelled.
"Pardon?" I fix my attention on him.
"Don't you act all high and mighty. You heard me you little brat. Who needs punks like you to run the world? All you do is sit on your ass and take our tax money! It was a blessing when the last ones got what they deserved but now we have to put up with you again."
Red hot fury burned through me and what I wouldn't like more to do is beat the living shit out of this guy. His stupidity sickened me. I carefully masked my emotion and kept my voice level as I addressed him.
"You may say whatever you want about me, sir, but I would humbly ask you to please not bring the past peace keepers in that way."
"I can say what I want to anyone! I'm glad those worthless pieces of shit are dead. I hope they enjoy burning in hell!"
"Shut up! You filthy lowdown piece of," I bit my tongue to get control of myself," Please get out. You are disturbing the atmosphere."
"Who's going to make me?"
"I am," Kailyn appeared at my shoulder with her gun pulled out of her holster.
I place my hand over her gun," Put it away."
She obeys but still doesn't leave my side.
"Look at you taking orders from a kid," The man crowed.
I softly whispered to Kailyn," Do not harm him in anyway. He is not to be threatened. Anything you do will be a direct reflect on my character, remember that."
"I can take care of him later," She grumbled.
"Nothing will happen to him that in anyway involves your meddling, that is an order," I hissed.
She gave me a cold glare but did as I asked and escorted the man out of the room.
"I apologize for that interruption, now as I was saying," I finished my speech and quietly left the stage and took a side door out and went to the library.
I laid my head on the cool table and did my best to rein in my temper. I had lost my composure up there and that wasn't something that I could afford to do. I could get by right now by saying that I was in training still but when I got out into the world it would be a very bad thing if I did. I wished that I could have done something more to that man. I wanted to yell and scream and hit him but that wouldn't look good on me and most of all that would be a poor way to respect their memory. I let out a shaky sigh and pushed my hair back.
"Sam?" Kiko spoke up. He and the rest of the gang were standing nearby.
I jumped; I hadn't heard them come in because I was so wrapped up in my thoughts.
"What do you want?" I whispered.
"We wanted to know if you were okay. We've never seen you lose your temper like that before," Ami rested her hand on my shoulder.
"Well I'm only human!" I snapped.
"We understand that and we don't hold that against you," She continued on bravely.
"Why did you get so angry back there anyway," Leroy asked," I didn't take you for the kind of person to let words get to you so easily."
"It wasn't because he was insulting me. I could care less. But when he spoke bad out my parents I lost it," I explained.
"Your parents?" Ami asked.
"George and Natasha Pruitt were the last peace keepers and my parents."
"Your parents, they died because they were murdered," Ami put the pieces together.
"How were they murdered?" Leroy asked.
"Shut it, moron," Lucky elbowed him in the ribs.
"They were shot through the head in their study," I press my hands to my eyes.
"I can't imagine how you took the news when that happened," Ami whispered.
"Heard it," I laughed bitterly," I was there with them when it happened."
My friends stared at me in silence.
Suddenly the memory burst to my consciousness and I sat helpless unable to shove the horror away.
I ran into my parents' study. My dress flowed out behind me. I clutched my brand new book to my chest and pushed the heavy door open.
"Oh, Samantha what a pretty dress," My mom admired.
"Huh, oh yeah, England made me wear it," I said," but that's not important!"
I held out my new book," Look what I got! It's a history book. I wanna read lots of books like Mommy and Daddy and help the countries!"
Teddy, who had been sitting on the floor playing with his toys the whole time, scoffed at me," It's because Sam loves Alfie~"
I blushed and yelled," Nuh-uh! I do not!"
Dad chuckled and Mom smiled at me softly. They were the absolute perfect pair. Dad had the kindest eyes and they always seemed to be crinkled up in some kind of laughter. Even though I should have had a favorite parent Dad was mine. Mom had noble features with a stern look to her most of the time but when she smiled the room seemed to get brighter.
"You don't have to decide what you want to be just yet," Mother says as she moves to sit on Dad's lap.
Behind them the window shatters and pretty pieces of glass explode into the air. Something hot and red splattered against my face. My hands moved on their own and touched my cheeks and pulled away so I could inspect what was on my fingertips. A sticky red substance stained them.
"Mommy? Daddy?" I whispered.
They laid there on the ground, unmoving. I heard screaming and turned around. Teddy's eyes were wide with fear and he just kept screaming. I felt his pain and paralyzing fear cut into my numb heart like a sharp knife. I did the only thing I knew to do and hugged him. He buried his face into my shoulder and his sobs shook both of us
After a few minutes his sobs dissolved into silence. He held my hand in a death grip. Seconds later the whole house shook and the window shattered and screams of the servants sounded from the hallway. Gunfire cut through the symphony of screams and things being broken.
I looked at Teddy and he stared back with a glassy gaze, like a statue and I couldn't feel anything coming from him. I tugged his arm trying to get his attention but it was in vain. I pulled him over to the closet and sat him down. I closed the door and settled down next to my twin. Teddy buried his face into my shoulder and cried some more, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms protectively around him. I would protect him no matter what because he was my baby brother and it was the job of the older sister to take care of him.
The house eased into an eerie silence. I didn't dare move for what seemed like an eternity. Footsteps sounded against the floor and crunched on the glass and I could hear someone saying "Oh my god!" over and over.
The door to the study opened and I heard several gasps. Teddy trembled against me and I tightened my grip on him.
"Don't make a sound," I breathed in his ear.
"Have you seen the kids?" A choked up voice asked.
"No, Sir, they haven't been accounted for," A calmer voice replied.
"Well find them damn it!"
"Sir, yes, Sir," A pair of footsteps receded.
I couldn't move even if I wanted to. Teddy was clinging to me and we both were thinking the same thing "Please don't find us!" I wasn't sure if these people were good or bad but I didn't want to risk finding out.
Only the one man remained in the room and he was talking to himself and pacing. The door swung open again as someone entered.
"Have you found them?" The pacing man inquired desperately.
"No, Sir. No bodies either." The man from earlier replied.
"Damn! Where are they?"
I heard footsteps crunch on glass again and I peak under the crack of the door. A pair of boots stopped in front of Daddy.
"I'm so sorry."
Teddy let out a whimper and I quickly clamped my hand over his mouth, it was too late.
"Did you hear that?"
"Sounded like a child, Sir."
Footsteps came closer to the closet where we were hiding. Feeling panicked I felt around for something, anything, to use as a weapon. My fingers brushed against a slim, metal handle and I grabbed it. The door opened and I shoved Teddy behind me, closed my eyes, and swung.
The club I had been holding was yanked from my grasp and I opened my eyes. Standing in front of me was the most welcomed person in the whole world, America.
"Alfie!" I ran and hugged him as hard as I could.
He knelt down and pulled me into a hug," Sam, you're alright! Thank god! Where's Ted-" at that very moment Teddy ran out of the closet and hugged him.
"Alfred, I'm scared," Teddy sobbed.
"Shh I'm here now. I will never let anyone hurt you," Alfie soothed.
I closed my eyes and buried my head in his shoulder. From that day on I never cried. I was going to be strong and protect my family.
I shuddered and looked at my friends.
"I was seven when they were murdered. Teddy and I didn't have any other family so the countries took us in. They feel like they owe it to us for not being able to stop the attack from happening. Teddy and I moved in with America and we've been with him ever since."
"Sam," Ami whispered.
"Don't worry about me. You guys go visit with your parents. God knows I would if I could," I forced a smile.
I walked with them back to the room and stand in the corner while they went back to their families.
"You okay, kiddo?" Alfred leaned against the wall next to me.
"Yeah, I just lost my temper. I'm okay," I murmured.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and squeezed me," If you need me you know where to find me."
"Thanks."
I make my way towards the exit again. Germany is standing at the door and lets me pass. Just as I was moving past him I tripped and he quickly caught me.
"Careful," he warned.
"Sorry," I whispered and hurried back to my dorm with the gym keys clutched tightly in my hands.
My head is spinning from all my emotion and I knew of only one way to calm myself down when I was like this. I quickly changed into athletic shorts and a t-shirt and run down to the gym's storage room, careful to make sure no one saw me. I grabbed a light metal baseball bat and a bucket full of baseballs.
Raising the baseball bat over my shoulder, I moved it in small circles keeping my muscles loose. I glared at the pitching machine and felt my anger, myself loathing build to my breaking point. As the first ball shot out at me I put all of my anger into that first swing. Clang! The vibrations of the bat shook my whole arm leaving it pleasantly numb.
"Don't you dare cry," I hissed.
Clang!
"Don't you fucking dare! You made a promise remember!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Crying is weakness! You have to be strong! Who's going to take care of Teddy if you break? Who's going to? Nobody, that's who!"
My breath left heavy clouds of steam as I kept working the bat. I couldn't feel the cold even though my sweat should have made me freeze.
"You don't gain a thing from crying. Not a damn thing. It's a waste of valuable energy and time. You know how short life is and how precious time is. You make the most of it and there is no room in your oh so busy schedule for sobbing like a broken piece of crap," I panted.
"If you're broken you don't show it. You fix yourself as quickly as possible. Any crack in your façade will be the end of you. Your enemies will jump you and cut your throat and watch you bleed just for the pleasure because people are horrible. People need to be kept in line. You have to keep them in line to protect the few that are actually good people."
'You don't mean that,' the little voice in the back of my head spoke up.
"Like hell I do," I snarled," Where are mom and dad then? People are monsters."
For the next half hour I kept batting until my shoulders couldn't take it anymore. I held the bat loosely in my hand next to my leg. I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and checked the time on dad's watch. 1:30 in the morning. I snapped the lid shut and stared at the cover of the watch. It still shone like the days when dad kept it in his pocket. I recalled how often that he would sit at his desk and just polish it.
"Daddy, why do you polish your watch so much?" I asked him.
"It helps me think. Sometimes this world just gets the better of me and I need to think," He smiled at me.
"What do you mean? How does the world get the better of you?"
"Well, Sammy, sometimes the world seems like such an awful place. People hurt each other and do mean things. Daddy just can't understand it sometimes and it hurts me to see people like that," His smile turned bitter.
"Then don't look at the people," I responded with the naivety of a child.
"If I do that the world wins and I can't let that happen. Someone has to take care of all those good people out there, right?"
"I guess so," I mumbled. I didn't understand what he meant at the time.
"Sammy, will you make me a promise?" My father asked.
"Sure, Daddy," I grinned at him.
"Remember, always remember, that there is good in everyone. You just have to look very hard sometimes." He looked at me intently.
"Why do you want me to make that kind of promise?" I asked him.
"If you remember that, the world will never beat you. That's what I do when I'm cleaning my watch. I'm reminding myself to look for that good in people."
"Okay, I promise, can we go play?"
"Yes, baby-girl, let's go play."
All of that anger suddenly drained out of me leaving me fatigued. I sank to the ground and pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes. It's just so hard to find it. Isn't it just easier to give up? I slowly shook my head and picked up my mess. I put the stuff back in the gym storage room and walked to my dorm.
A hot shower did nothing for me. I brushed my hair and watch myself in the mirror. My eyes are dead and I can't even muster up the energy to plaster a small smile on my face. I just felt so lost. Without paying much attention to where I was going I just let myself walk and I found myself at his door. I knocked quietly and waited to see if he would wake up.
"Sam, what are you doing up?" Alfred opened the door with blurry eyes. He must have been sleeping pretty hard judging the way his hair stuck up all over the place and the way his boxers were twisted around.
"I'm not sure. I just can't sleep," I mumbled.
"So you came to wake me up," He scowled.
I didn't have anything I could respond with. Instead I leaned and pressed my face to his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. Slowly he shifted and put his arms around me. He laid his chin on the top of my head and stroked my hair. I drew strength from his steady heartbeat. He's been around for a long time and he still hasn't given up on people nor has any of the other countries I told myself. That was a good thing, right. It wasn't impossible to find the good in people. And yeah it is easier to give up but it wasn't worth it. America, for example, could have gave into to England and it would have been easier, sure, but he fought a long hard battle and won. His freedom was worth the price of a few broken pieces. I'm sure if I asked him if being free was worth the rocky relationship he has with England he'd say it was worth it. That it's worth it to be yourself and live the way you want. Funny how I realized all these things by hugging someone, that he could give me all the answers I was looking for without saying a word but by simply just being here.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"You welcome?" He said, confused.
I snuggled closer to him feeling completely at ease when a few minutes ago I was at my whit's end. He pulled me into the room and softly shut the door.
"Sam, you know I love hugs and all but I'm exhausted so can you hug me in bed or something so I can get some sleep," He yawned.
I curled up next to him in bed and laid my head on his chest again. He put one of his arms around me and pulled me to his side. Slowly the heat of his body, his even breathing, and scent lulled me to sleep. It was just like when I was little and for a long time after mom and dad died that I couldn't sleep without him. He would hold me until I fell asleep. I smiled sleepily as I stared at him while remembering all of those times and drifted off to sleep.