Chapter 12
The car ride was anything but exciting. Most of it was spent in silence, with a few small snippets of conversation between England and Canada, the latter of the two happy that he was actually being remembered for once. It was a big milestone for Canada. Again, not much happened in the car. It's what happened when they got there did all the trouble start.
"Damn it, we're already five minutes late," England said, looking at the watch that was hidden by his jacket sleeve. "Come on, hurry up."
"Coming, mom," America teased. Canada and England walked inside the tall office building. They assumed that America was following them, which he was. He just needed to do something first. And it was really important. And besides, he was always late anyways. Although, maybe he should be on time, considering he was hosting the meeting, but eh. Anyways, he turned around and raced back to the car. He quickly searched the trunk. About a minute later, the white metallic box with the red plus sign on it was in his hands. He opened the lid on the first aid kit and found what he was looking for, gauze. He worked fast; it was only a matter of time until they came here. At the same time he worked carefully, trying to not injure himself further as he wrapped the long bandages around each wrist. Soon, his wrists were bandaged, so that if his jacket sleeve accidentally rolled up, anyone would just see a couple of bandages. Hopefully, that is. America had to hold onto the edge of each piece of gauze to keep them around his wrists. Not a second too soon. What seemed just seconds after finishing up and putting the kit away, America's phone rang. Now, his phone wasn't an IPhone or anything, it was an old flip phone from ages ago. It was so old that America feared he might have to replace it soon. The person on the other side of the line was quickly discovered to be England.
"Where the bloody hell are you!" England snapped. Everybody was waiting for the host to enter. Honestly, England turns around for a split second and –whoosh- the boy was gone.
"Bathroom," America immediately lied. In real life, he had already gone inside and was racing up the stairs. "Give me a sec, will ya?" America hung up the device as he rounded the corner to the hall where the room that the World Meeting was taking place in was. He gave himself a minute to catch his breath and walked inside.
Utter chaos was a word anybody who had never been to one of the World Meetings would use. Strangely orderly was what everyone else would call it. America weaved his way up to the podium, taking the notes out of his pocket as he walked. Not like he needed them anyway. America was just going to say something about heroes, like he did every time. He wondered for a fleeting second as he walked, ignored by everyone, if he should just stop researching his topics, what was the point if nobody ever knew, but decided not to. It was still a little interesting, although America personally preferred Sci-Fi, especially dystopia ones, and Realistic Fiction, with a little Fantasy over Nonfiction. Before he knew it, he was standing there, looking at every nation, although none looked at him. America wasn't even sure if anyone realized he had walked in the room. For a second, he felt like Canada, but quickly brushed the feeling off. He tapped once against the microphone, a high pitched shriek emanated from the speakers, and everyone covered their ears. America felt all their eyes on him as he placed a loopy smile on his face and threw on his mask.
"Hey, dudes. What's up?" America started. He heard a bit of laughter at this statement, but pretended he didn't hear it. He could still feel the tips of his ears heating up, though.
"Vhat took you so long?" Germany snapped at him. It didn't really surprise him that the way-too-serious German had immediately jumped on his case for disrupting the orderly schedule, probably the one he had personally made. America pretended to ignore him, once again they were snapping at him for not being on time. Like last time and the time before that and the time before that, basically every time he had come to this stupid meeting. Although it wasn't like he could stay home. Being a superpower, he had to go every time. Even if it meant missing his birthday, which happened so frequently America had to wonder if the other nations even knew he had one. Even if he was so sick he could barely stand, like during the worse of the Great Depression. Even if he got so humiliated he just wanted to crawl up into a corner and cry, which happened almost every single time, because they had to point out his every last flaw. America mentally shook his head; he couldn't think like that, it would only cause his mask to fall off his face.
"Okay, so you know that whole problem with global warming taking over the human race? I think we'll be okay if manufacture a giant hero to defend the planet," America babbled, feigning ignorance.
"I agree with America," Japan immediately responded. It was what he always said.
"You need to start making your own decisions, not agreeing with everything America says," Switzerland told him.
"What?" England said breathlessly, but it was not directed to the fight that was about to start between mostly everybody, like Greece and Turkey or Spain and Romano. It was directed to America. England must have been imagining it, right? He had been there; he had seen the other, more intelligent notes. So must have misheard, right? He turned to the person next to him, which was unfortunately France. "I'm only going to ask you this once, you frog. What the bloody hell did America just say?" England threatened.
"Ohonhonhonhonhon, Angleterre, but of course. Amérique just said something about heroes," France said with a chuckle. England was shocked. Why would America write notes if he wasn't going to use them? Why even research the topic if he wasn't going to share anything he had learned. He must have more to share.
"Where's the rest of it?" England asked the nation still standing at the podium, looking dully out at the rest of the meeting.
"Rest of it? There's more-aru?" China asked, befuddled. America wondered why it was suddenly so quiet in the room, hushed whispers being the only noise. He managed to catch a snippet from the person closest to the podium and realized that they were whispering about him. America was wishing for his twin's ability to disappear at that moment, he did not like where this was going.
"Vell, I vas about to say that it is England's turn, but zis seems much more interesting. So, show us zey rest of it." Germany ordered.
"Dude, I think there's some kind of mistake. I don't have 'the rest of it'," America said, barely keeping the worry unnoticeable.
"Don't lie, you idiot! I was there when you bloody wrote it!" England roared.
"Ah! England is scary!" Italy shrieked, hiding behind Germany, whose seat was next to him. Strangely, besides England and France, everybody was sitting next to people who they got along well with. And actually Canada and America's chairs separated the two of them, but everyone forgot about the former and the latter was still up at the podium, confusion and a tad of worry on his face, so you could consider the two were sitting together for the moment, at least.
"Did you ever stop and think that maybe that wasn't for this? That maybe it was for, I don't know, a school project or something?" America retaliated, slamming his hands down hard against the stand. He was not nearly as furious as England, but still a little ticked. In his mind, he was making a mental note to start re-saving for college. He had already made it through his first year a few years back, only three more to go.
"Why would you even be going to school?" England teased, or so it seemed to America. Sky blue eyes clouded behind glasses as the owner of both stumbled out of the room; he needed some time alone, somewhere they weren't. He knew that they would tease him, insult him like always. But he was the fool for forgetting. And as he raced to find somewhere private to release the pent up tears blurring his vision, he knew he was paying the price. His feet guided him to a closet-like place, one that was quiet. As soon as locked the door, he did one thing he wasn't allowed to do: cry.
Oh my gosh, done! Excuse me for a second (hugs America). Everyone give America a hug! You must! Today is Hug America Day, no matter when you read this! Anyway, I had such a hard time starting this chapter, I didn't even think it would end like this. Especially cosidering the fact that I broke out in laughter while I was writing most of it. I am now thinking that Italy is hilarious, England needs to learn to understand America better, and America can really read the atmosphere, considering he chose the seating arrangement (it is head cannon that while Germany always ends up writing the schedule, the host gets to choose who sits where). Okay, I think I've done enough rambling... no wait! I forgot to mention something! Listen too Lullaby for a Stormy Night by Vienna Teng. You will fall in love with it immediatly, especially if you first hear it on a stormy night (Like Me!). Now I'm done. See You Soon!