Look at me, queen of unannounced disappearances and hiatus! I know that this chapter is basically a filler, but I have a majority of the next one, with more of a plot structure, planned. This was still necessary to set a few things into place that will come up later.

How is everyone? Good? Not so good? I hope you're doing well. Summer is almost over here and I've wasted mine, so I look forward to writing as much as physically possible in the next week and a half. Some will of course be my crappy fanfiction, so there's a plus-side in my self-induced solitude for you all.

Again, I would like to mention that I greatly appreciate follows and favorites, but reviews are hella cool and I really love them - it's like a reminder that people actually read the stuff I spew out, even the short (and necessary) filler chapters. Feel free to PM me as well if you have ideas or suggestions for the story. Or, honestly, just to talk. Do you like cabbage? I sure do.

I'm rambling, quick, save yourselves. Leave me here to drown in the ocean of unnecessary babbling.

"I just don't know how people can walk through the halls, day by day, and not do anything about what they see! Constant bullying and harassment. It's as if people are able to say whatever they want, do whatever they want, without consequence. And those that aren't willing to stand up for themselves, or speak against someone with a higher social status, they are preyed on. It's as if I'm watching lions pouncing on gazelles, an everyday Animal Channel but you have no option to change the station. But-"

Francis sighed, the quite, yet aggravated sound being heard clearly through Arthur's computer's speaker. "Please, please, please, just stop. Save my ears from their ongoing torment and misery. Forget that I asked how your day was, I promise to never ask again. It's time to stop Arthur. It's time to stop."

Stuttering wildly, Arthur made a high-pitched, squawking sound. "Did you just… Did you just use a meme?"

"Oui, and now it seems that they are the only thing able to get you to shut up."

Arthur's eye twitched. "I was just saying that the pre-existing stereotypes of social activity in high school, or life itself, are glorifying a select few and leaving the rest of us in a pile of shit."

Sniffing, Francis shook his head. "It's true but that's just the way life is."

"Why? Why is that the way that life just 'is'? That doesn't make any sense! If the privileged are outnumbered, shouldn't there be some sort of way to overthrow them?" Arthur, bewildered, began to shout.

After a second's thought, Francis shrugged. "What has gotten you so fired up, mon ami? Acting like those who are successful or popular are the equivalent to Nazi Germany. Besides, it is not like we are not popular ourselves. People know who we are, and regardless of gender, swoon. Why are you so upset if you're one of the privileged people yourself?"

"Just because I'm in a place of privilege doesn't mean I notice the current injustice. Even if a corrupt system benefits me, that doesn't leave me blind to its state of corruption!"

"Did someone make fun of your fan fiction again?" Francis asked himself, ignoring Arthur's ongoing, ranting statements. "It seems so, you must be more careful in hiding it." Arthur's eyebrows furrowed, and Francis laughed. "Oh no, you're forming the elusive bushy caterpillar! Please, spare me from your poisonous sting!"

With a stream of frustrated grumbles, Arthur ended the video call - but not before giving Francis a wonderful view of his middle finger. Shutting his laptop, he flopped down onto his bed. Obviously Francis didn't understand his point, and the asshole didn't seem like he would be coming around to it, so Arthur would work alone. Flopping onto his stomach unceremoniously, Arthur opened his laptop back up. Time to do some research.

"Hey Al, could you help me with my Calculus homework? It makes no sense to me." Matthew threw a stack of papers in his brother's direction, who let out a startled yelp.

Alfred picked up the papers, scanning through the problems before letting out a chuckle. "Oh, sweet, little Matthew, confused by the so-called complexities of Calculus."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "You called me little, but you realize I'm the older brother right?"

"And yet, you come crawling to me. Please, Al, you must finish these Calculus equations! You're the world's only hope!" He mimicked Matthew's voice with a high-pitched, squeaky tone.

Not very amused, Matthew shrugged. "Fine, I guess I'll do it myself. Then you'll have time to do all of that English homework."

There was silence while Alfred considered what Matthew had, sadly, brought up. "Trade?"

"Of course."

Alfred slid a book, along with some notes and papers, across the dining room table to Matthew. "It's my first assignment I turn in for that class, make it okay, but set low expectations."

"I'm going to pretend that I didn't see any of that." Their mom watched from the kitchen, before turning back to whatever was cooking on the stove, spreading pleasant aromas of spices that Alfred couldn't identify, other than the heavy presence of cumin."

Looking up from the schoolwork, Alfred craned his neck to try and get a better view of the kitchen without having to get up. "What's for dinner?"

Their mother shrugged, turning around to give him a sheepish look. "I'm not exactly sure, I sort of threw random stuff into the pot until it smelled nice."

Matthew shot a glance to Alfred, and when their eyes locked, an immediate agreement was made. Take-out.

Putting a lid on the large, increasingly ominous pot, their mom took a seat at the table. "So Alfred, how was your first day back at school? Did you make any friends?"

Alfred's face developed a dusky blush, and Matthew chuckled, enjoying his brother's embarrassment. "It was good, I thought that I'd be behind but I'm all caught up, so I don't have to worry about that anymore. And I did meet someone in my English class who was really cute."

Matthew looked up from the book he had been looking through. "Cute?"

Blush deepening, Alfred shrugged. "I mean, he was really nice. And yeah he was kinda cute too. Plus he had a British accent, so, uh, yeah."

The next few seconds were chaotic. Their mother squealed, going to hug Alfred and tell him how he was growing up, finding love, yadda yadda, only to knock the boy out of his chair and to the floor. Alfred's yelp was not heard over the shrieking of the smoke alarm sounding from the kitchen, set off by the small fire rapidly building in their kitchen.

Helping Alfred up from the floor, Matthew watched as their mother ran to the fire. "So," Matthew mumbled. "I'm thinking Chinese."