"Right well as I understand you completed your first unit on performance and have written up all your coursework. Is this correct?" Mr Kirkland asked the class after completing the register. The class mumbled and nodded in agreement. Matthew quickly took a seat next to his brother. "Well I have the job of preparing you for your written exam." There was a class groan.
"Why do we have to do a written exam?" Alfred asked in a winy voice. "I took this subject so I wouldn't have to do any written exams"
"I'm sorry...erm..." Mr Kirkland looked to the American trying to remember his name.
"Alfred... Alfred Jones." Alfred said after seeing his teacher struggle.
"Thank you Alfred." He seemed relived. "It isn't a hard exam. It's in three simple sections. The first is about what rehearsal techniques you would use with your cast. The second is questions on directing the set piece and the third is about a live performance we will watch next month." He explained. Everyone in the class perked up at a live performance.
"Where would that be?" Natalia asked. Mr Kirkland looked back unsure.
"I don't know yet." He said quietly.
"Will we get a silly small performance or a proper professional one?" Ivan asked, testing his teacher. Was he going to make a promise he couldn't keep?
"Again...I don't know yet." He said honestly. Ivan smiled and lent back on his chair. "While I'm setting up the trip we will look at different rehearsal techniques. This exercise will hopefully get me to understand you all better and get us working on the first section." Mr Kirkland smiled weakly to the group. "Alfred... can you lead the first activity."
"Awesome dude!" Alfred leapt out of his seat. "What am I doing?"
"Just run a rehearsal technique you know with the group. I'll watch and note down how you each work as directors." Mr Kirkland said. Alfred shrugged and turned to the group.
"Okay dude." Alfred turned to the group "First thing... Hot Seating!"
"His lesson should of finished by now." Gilbert said glancing to the clock. Francis and Antonio looked over to him.
"Well. I guess it's time to meet Mr Kirkland." Francis smirked getting up from his seat. Antonio got up as well.
"Maybe you could catch Lovino this time." Gilbert smirked. Antonio hit him playfully as the trio walked to the Drama Studio. The bell rang down the corridors and the Drama Studio doors opened. Francis, Gilbert and Antonio waited for the class to come out. The first student out the door was shy Matthew. Matthew looked up and saw the teachers and froze. His violet eyes moved quickly between the teachers.
"Bonjour Matthew." Francis said slyly. The student seemed to panic seeing all three of them at the same time.
"Hey what's the hold up!" Lovino shouted pushing past Matthew.
"Hi Lovino." Antonio smiled seeing the angry Italian. He didn't even manage to finish Lovino's name before Lovino had retreated back into the Drama Studio.
"You weren't fast enough mate." Gilbert chuckled nudging Antonio.
"What's going on out there?" A voice unknown to the trio said. Arthur managed to reach the door. Slipping past Lovino and Matthew. "Erm... can I help you?"
"Mr Kirkland I presume?" Francis asked raising an eyebrow. He didn't expect the new drama teacher to look this cute. He would definitely like very much to get closer to him.
"Yes..." Arthur replied. "Who are you guys?"
"They are the perverted language department!" Lovino shouted. The rest of the students were slowly making their way out of the studio. They all stayed close in a group, Matthew stayed close to Alfred, Lovino stood on Alfred's other side. Ivan and Natalia stood together on the other side of Mr Kirkland.
"We are the language department." Gilbert announced. "I'm Mr Beilschmidt. I teach German." He stepped forwards to shake Arthur's hand. Arthur smiled politely and took it. Gilbert shook his hand firmly. Gilbert took a step back.
"I'm Mr Fernandez Carriedo. I teach Spanish." Antonio smiled taking Arthur's hand. Lovino hissed as Antonio took a step forward. He smiled down to the Italian. "Lovino is one of my students."
"Stay away from me you bastard!" Lovino shouted. Arthur was surprised at the level of disrespect Lovino had for one of his teachers. He was about to say something when he felt another person shake his hand. Looking up he met a pair of deep blue eyes.
"I'm Mr Bonnefoy." He smiled. "I teach French and Food." He gently shook his hand. The whole class tensed up watching the teachers. Alfred felt uneasy about this. He didn't like the way Mr Bonnefoy was looking at Mr Kirkland. Shaking his head quickly, he was being stupid. It was us and them. That's how it was and how it should be. Another bell rang signalling a warning for the next lesson.
"Come on. We need to get going to PE." Alfred said turning away, Matthew quickly nodded and followed him.
"We have music." Ivan said. He started to leave with Natalia. Lovino quickly looked around, going pale. He was the only one left of the Drama class.
"Don't worry Lovino. I'll take you to your next lesson." Antonio smiled stepping forwards.
"No way in hell!" Lovino shouted running off down the corridor. Antonio sighed.
"I'll catch up with you guys later." He smiled following the student.
"Erm so where are we going?" Arthur asked nervously.
"I'll show you to the staff room Mr Kirkland." Francis smiled seductively. "It's this way." He wrapped his arm around Arthur's shoulders. He tensed at first but relaxed as he was walked down the corridor with Gilbert on his other side. As they walked they past Mr Edelstein.
"What are you two doing?" He asked suspiciously. Francis turned to him smiling.
"Just taking him to the staff room sir." Francis said sweetly.
"Showing him the ropes sir." Gilbert followed up. Mr Edelstein glared at the two but turned away. The pair grinned as they reached the staffroom. Gilbert opened the door for Arthur as Francis took him inside.
"This is the staffroom." Francis announced gesturing around the room. Arthur looked around, it seemed like a normal one. Not really very different from others he had seen. There was a load of different seats around the rooms in small groups. A small kitchen to one side with tea and coffee. A pool table in the corner and a wall covered in pigeon holes where paper were piled up. Francis lead Arthur to onside of the room where there was three chairs separated from the main bulk. Gilbert had plonked himself down on one of them. Francis sat down on another, patting the remaining seat for Arthur to sit down on. Arthur did so politely.
"Why did the students seem so scared of you three?" Arthur asked remembering Matthew and Lovino's hasty retreat. That sort of reaction should never happen in a school. Francis sighed.
"There are rumours about us." Francis said dismayed. "They think we want to have our way with them."
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked clueless. Gilbert chuckled.
"They think we would...take advantage of them." Gilbert tried to explain. Arthur looked at him for a moment before the light bulb flicked on. His expression changing to one of outrage.
"How could they?" Arthur asked surprised.
"We don't know." Francis said innocently.
"But Lovino said you were all perverted." Arthur said feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"It is true that we can sound like that at times." Francis admitted. "But it is only banter. We never mean to hurt any of our students. We would lose our jobs."
"Yeah, no kid is worth that much." Gilbert chipped in.
"But they unfortunately have a bad attitude towards the teachers. Especially Lovino, Alfred and Ivan." Francis said. "Lovino...well you saw he has no respect for us. Alfred and Ivan act more protectively of their younger siblings. So beware of them."
"They all seemed to be alright in my class." Arthur said quietly.
"They seem alright now because they are trying to work out if you're a threat." Gilbert said. "If you don't lay down the law pretty quickly, they walk all over you." Arthur looked worried after the last comment. Francis relaxed and wrapped an arm around Arthur's shoulder.
"Don't worry Arthur. I'll help you." Francis said softly. Arthur's green eyes turned to him, they looked scared. Arthur had no clue what to expect. Francis smiled softly to him. "I'm here for you Arthur. I always will be."
Meanwhile Alfred and Matthew were getting changed for PE.
"What do you think of the new teacher Matthew?" Alfred asked as he pulled on his sports t-shirt. Matthew looked up to him while doing his laces.
"I think he's nice." Matthew said smiling softly.
"He's definitely better then some of the teachers." Alfred said. "And better looking." He added quietly, Matthew stared at him.
"You think he's good looking?" Matthew asked surprised.
"I didn't say that!" Alfred said quickly.
"I'm pretty sure you did." Matthew replied standing up.
"Who said what?" Feliciano asked, bouncing over to them.
"I didn't say anything." Alfred said quickly his face heating up. Feliciano grinned.
"Is Alfred in love?" He asked Matthew. Before Matthew could reply there was a shout from outside.
"You better be changed in there. Lesson starts in two minuets!" A stern voice shouted.
"Yes sir! Coming sir!" Feliciano shouted back, running out of the changing room faster than you could say...well anything. Matthew sighed.
"We don't want to keep him waiting." Matthew stood up and started to walk out of the room. "You coming Alfred?"
"Yeah I'm coming." Alfred pulled his trainers on. "And I don't like him."
"Sure Alfred. Sure." Matthew giggled.