But it didn't.
That is, when he finally found the trio standing in a circle outside of school- Alfred, Francis, and Kiku striked him differently. They appeared more haggard than usual. Alfred's glasses were missing and the ecstatic joy in his eyes was replaced with unfeeling abyss of blue. Francis developed more of a beard than his kept stubble and Kiku's humble presence now held a grim feeling. He furrowed his eyebrows and carefully approached them. "Chaps?"
Francis was the first to spot him. "Well, well, well. Isn't it arrogant Kirkland. Did you come here for apologies? Because-"
"'Cause we ain't giving any." Alfred cuts in, glowering. The Frenchman shot him a glare. "If it's about coming back to us, go away."
Arthur frowned, knittings his brows. "What are you talking about? What did I ever do to you?"
The American rolled his eyes and spun around, restraining his sudden urge to yell. Kiku spoke up in a dry, soft tone. "We know you are joking with us, Arthur. You were the one who left us for..them."
"What are you guys talking about?!" Arthur repeated. "Who is 'them?'" No one spoke up. Alfred left without a word, Francis following after him. The Japanese transfer studied the Briton before leaving and catching up with the other two. With another helpless sigh, Arthur gripped his backpack strap and carried off.
Everything changed at school and as much as Arthur would love to accept the new and happy alteration in his experience; he couldn't give in to the adjustments about his old group of friends. Old group of friends. That caused him to shudder at the thought of it. Now, as he traveled down the sidewalk and to his house, he struggled with answering his own inquiries. "Did I say anything to them? What happened in this dream world before I came in? That's not the friends that I knew before…" In a way, Arthur missed them all too much.
A voice nagged at him, murmuring in his ear. All questioning thoughts in his mind cleared. "Time…" It whispered. "You should have used it wisely."
"Time?" Arthur echoed, wondering what it was all about. He rubbed his forehead and halted in his tracks, stopping in front of his home. He breathed out shakily and stared at the well-kept bushes surrounding the white-washed panels of the house. Arthur hoped nothing changed.
The blond opened the front door and strolled in suspiciously, clicking the door after he was inside. Everything seemed to be normal… "Mother. Father. Peter. I'm home." He shouted. No one answered or called back to him. The only thing greeting him was the wafting smell of cinnamon emitting from the kitchen. "Mother?" He questioned, wandering towards the room. Arthur peeked his head inside and saw his mother dancing around while carrying a silver tray of brown cookies. "Mum?"
Arthur's mother abruptly stopped and faced the direction of her son, waving her hand lightly. "Arthur, my dearest! Home from school already? How was it?"
Arthur tilted his chin downward and nodded gently. "It was alright…" He trailed off. "Where's father and Peter?"
"Oh, please. You can stop your new little act, Art." She giggled and waved her hand around dismissively, placing the tray on the counter.
"I'm not pulling a prank on you, mother! Where is Peter? My brother! And father?" He disputed.
She raised a thin eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. "Arthur. This is not funny. You don't have a brother." A sigh escaped past her lips. "It was a miscarriage, remember? And your father is at his house. Didn't we tell you we got a divorce?"
Arthur pressed his lips together in a line and his eyes widened, fear crumbling down on him. He dropped his bookbag to the floor, spun on his heel, and walked away from her. He hurriedly went out the same door he came in.
"Where are you going, honey?" She cupped her hands around her mouth and called after him. "I made some biscuits (cookies) for you!" Instead of responding, Arthur ignored her and continued off to the woods, completely feeling empty now. He soon landed in a clearing, the aching thoughts returning.
A/N: Haaa.. The previous author's note explains why. Again, please excuse me. Here is a short chapter.