Chapter 6
Feliciano blinked wide-eyed at the seemingly endless, white-washed steps that led up to the Washington D.C. World Academy Campus. With a bright smile, he began running up the steps two at a time, leaving his exasperated boyfriend to struggle after him with the luggage.
"Feli!" Ludwig barked in annoyance.
"Check it out, Ludwig! Isn't it great?" Feliciano enthused. Ludwig (huffing for breath slightly) finally reached the top of the stairs and surveyed the towering school. Even he had to admit, it was a very pretty campus. The London campus was more like an old, renovated castle than a school, and it had it's own charm, but the D.C. campus was bright and modern. The style appealed to Ludwig with its clean lines and sparkling white exterior.
There was a crackle of static and then a announcement system flared to life.
"Hello World Academy students, and welcome to school! If you are a freshman, please head to Building A. All sophomores report to the gym. Junior registration is in Building C, and seniors can find their room assignments in Building D. Refreshments are being served in the cafeteria."
"Food! Let's go, Ludwig!" Feliciano bubbled. His stoic German boyfriend merely sighed and looked around, hoping to spot a sign that would guide them to the gym. He was distracted, however, by a familiar voice calling out to them.
"Ludwig-san! Feli-san!"
"Hey! It's Kiku!" Feliciano said, happily sprinting off again. With a sigh (and a smile—he was happy to see Kiku again, too) he once again took off after his bubbly brunet.
"It is so good to see you both again. Did you get my letters?" Kiku asked, a typical blush darkening his cheeks. Feliciano smiled brightly and pulled the most recent one out of his crisp, blue school jacket.
"Yeah, I read this one on the plane. I really liked your drawings—they were so cute!" Feliciano praised. Kiku seemed pleased and greeted Ludwig when he finally caught up.
"Have you found out your room assignment yet?" Kiku asked. Ludwig shook his head.
"We're going to get free food!"
"Nein. We're going to find out now. I haven't located the gym yet. Learning where everything is again is going to be a pain."
"The cafeteria is that way! I can smell the food!"
"Quiet, Feliciano. Maybe over there? Ja, that's it. Let's go."
"Pasta?" Feli begged. Kiku smiled fondly at his cute friend.
"Soon, Feli-san. Very soon. Don't you want to know if Ludwig is your roommate again this year?"
"What? You mean he might not be?" Feliciano sounded panicked, and Ludwig mentally cursed.
"Relax, Feli. I filled out all the necessary roommate request forms and I made several visits to the administration staff building last year to ensure—"
"HEY! It's my new roomie!" Ludwig froze in horror. Everyone knew that voice. There was no mistaking it. He swallowed thickly. The look of surprise and displeasure on Kiku's face confirmed it, without him looking to see who was running towards him...and then blessedly past him. Feliciano was suddenly trapped against Alfred Jone's side, smiling obliviously, unaware as to why the other boy had latched onto him so suddenly.
"Alfred! You're back, too!" Feliciano greeted. All morning, the air-headed boy had acted perpetually surprised to keep seeing old friends pop up at the new campus, as if he thought most of them would surely just stay at the old one.
"Alfred, that can't be right. I specifically requested Feliciano and I be roommates again this year," Ludwig protested. Surely Jones had just misread the list. Ludwig thought this especially likely since he doubted Alfred Jones' ability to read.
"Huh? Oh, ya mean those preference forms? Yeah...I don't think they read them. Artie filled one out, too, but we're not roommates again this year, either. He's paired up with the stupid frog."
"Hello, Kiku, Feliciano, Ludwig. It's nice to see you all again. I hope you had a good summer," Arthur said politely. Ludwig scowled at the look of discomfort on Kiku's face as he awkwardly shook hands with Arthur. This was not how it was supposed to go at all.
It seemed, however, that he was not the only one unhappy with the rooming assignments.
"There's no way in hell I'm rooming with you," Gilbert announced loudly (and rudely) shoving a clip board with the rooming assignments against Ludwig's chest as he joined them.
"Well I'm not rooming with you!" Ludwig retorted, scowling at the stoner and then scanning the assignments.
"Whoever made that list was doing crack," Gilbert announced. Ludwig shot him a sharp look.
"Oh? Did you write it then? You weren't supposed to remove this list from the gym. It clearly states—" Ludwig began.
"Ha ha ha. Suck my dick," Gilbert replied.
"Hey! Easy guys! They're just room assignments. Besides, we're all friends, right?" Alfred said brightly.
"Yeah!" Feliciano agreed. The small group shifted uncomfortably, and Gilbert rolled his eyes.
"Hey, what about your little Canadian friend? I wanna room with him," Gilbert said suggestively. Alfred's happy smile vanished and he scowled at Gilbert's suggestive eyebrow waggling.
"I don't know what you're implying about Mattie, but—"
"Somebody say my name?" Matthew asked with a pleasant smile. He and Alex had just strolled up, both looking pleased as they'd been paired together as roommates.
"Yeah! Stoner boy over here needs to watch it," Alfred threatened. Gilbert rolled his reddish eyes mockingly at the Hero Club president.
"Oh, jock-strap, I'm shaking," Gilbert replied flippantly. He winked at Alex and boldly put an arm around Matthew. "You get my texts this summer, Teddy Bear?" He made a suggestive kissing face, and Matthew frowned lightly while pushing Gilbert's arm off his shoulders.
"Yes, and they were lewd. Alex, these are some more of my friends from last year. This is Ludwig, Feliciano, Kiku, and the perverted one is Gilbert. You've met Alfred and Arthur already," Matthew said, hinting by his tone that the first meeting hadn't gone so well.
Alex glared at Alfred, and Alfred moodily looked away. Arthur sighed.
"Well, this is a real mess," Arthur concluded. Just as Kiku was trying to unsuccessfully get his hands on the list to see who his roommate was, he was nearly knocked over by the arrival of a newcomer.
"Arthur! I finally found you!"
"Oh, gods no," Arthur groaned. Everyone ceased bickering momentarily to watch the short, skinny little blond freshman press in even closer to the wary prince.
"I bet you never thought you'd see me here!"
Because Arthur was apparently struck dumb and speechless, Alfred moved to stand beside him and casually draped his arm over Arthur's shoulders. The scrawny freshman was cute, in a wide-eyed innocent sort of way, but he also looked about three years too young to attend World Academy.
"I think you might be lost, kiddo. This is a private school," Alfred said.
"Of course it is. I'm enrolled here. I'm not so dumb that I don't know where I am...or who you are. Arthur, are you entirely sure you want him hanging on you like that? If you don't, just say the word and I'll—"
"You'll what? Take out my knee caps? Who are you, kid?" Alfred demanded. The little blond drew himself up proudly.
"I'm Peter Kirkland, seventeenth in line to the British throne. I'm Arthur's favorite cousin...really more like a little brother. We're very close. I manage his fan site."
"Peter, you're ten! You're not old enough to attend here!" Arthur finally said, his exasperation obvious.
"I know your surprised, Arthur, but I studied very hard last year so that I could take the exams and skip a few grades. Now we can go to school together! Aren't I a genius?" Peter boasted. Arthur pinched his nose.
"Why didn't my mum warn me you were coming?" Arthur asked.
"She said you wouldn't come to school if you knew. Silly Aunt Mary. So, are you ready to show me around? I've already asked if we can be roommates. They're working on it."
"No, Peter, I won't show you around. I'm hanging out with my friends right now, and you're not invited," Arthur ground out. Alfred shifted his hold to Arthur's back, where he rubbed soothing little circles.
"Easy, Artie. He's just a kid, and he looks up to you. What harm will it do to let him stick with us? He's such a little guy—he might get picked on."
"Are you really dating him, Arthur? He's not the brightest crayon in the box, is he?"
"Hey!" Alfred said indignantly. "I was trying to stick up for you, kid!"
"Don't bother. Peter is rude and childish and he doesn't understand the word no," Arthur said.
"Nonsense. Can we go on our tour now, Arthur? Does your stinky boyfriend have to come? He looks like he's used too much tanning lotion. I haven't the vaguest idea why all those girls are fawning over him when they could be fawning over you."
"Gross! You're related!" Alfred protested, annoyed by the way the little boy had squirmed in between himself and Arthur and was now holding his older cousin's hand in a white-knuckled grip.
"It's perfectly legal for first cousins to marry in Washington D.C. I looked it up, and I wrote all about it on Arthur's fan site," Peter said. Arthur managed to shake his hand free, and quickly laced it with Alfred's.
"Peter, you need to go home. Call your mother and tell her to get you a ticket back to England."
"I was only joking about marrying you...unless you would."
"Peter," Arthur ground out.
"Babe, were you going to tell me you had a mini-stalker or just let me wake up one day with him trying to steal my face?"
"Alfred, no need to be dramatic," Arthur said tersely.
"Eww. Who would steal your face? I don't think you could give it away, much less inspire someone to steal it," Peter replied saucily.
"My face is pretty! You shut your mouth, pipsqueak!" Alfred roared back, holding Peter off with one hand placed firmly on his forehead, while the angry little child attempted to swing at him.
"We'll just leave you to your family reunion, Arthur-san," Kiku said politely, though looking rather disturbed. Feliciano just grinned.
"Your little cousin is cute! Scary...but cute! See you later, Alfred!" Feliciano chirruped. Matthew and Alex sneaked away during all the confusion, and Gilbert tossed the clipboard carelessly to Kiku, who fumbled with it a bit before he managed to look at it properly. His dark eyes slid down the paper until he spotted his name...next to neat little letters that read "Heracles Karpusi," the Greek boy who was in the theater club.
Relieved that his roommate was not overly loud or Alfred Jones, Kiku trailed after his friends to return the clipboard.
Matthew and Alex placed their lunch trays down in the pretty courtyard and smiled at the scenery. The circular tables were surrounded by a teeming garden filled with bright, white hibiscus and pale blue hydrangeas. The little courtyard was separated from the cafeteria by a big glass wall, which allowed for lots of natural light to flood the cafeteria and sparkle off the polished stainless steel furnishings.
"It's so different here," Matthew commented, not for the first time. Alex flashed him a warm smile.
"Different good, or different bad?" he asked. Matthew shared his friendly grin.
"Definitely different good. What do you think about the campus?" Matthew asked. Alex took a big bite of his pasta salad and glanced around.
"Nicest school I've ever seen," he said after swallowing.
"No homesickness yet?" Matthew asked. Alex shook his head.
"Naw, not yet, socio." Just as Alex offered this reply, something (or rather someone) caught Matthew's eye. His fork paused mid-air and he hastily dropped his eyes to his tray. Alex cocked an eyebrow and turned, but other than seeing a general swarm of students in the cafeteria, he had no idea what had provoked such a reaction. He could only assume one thing. "Did you see him?"
"Yeah...he's with her," Matthew said hollowly, sounding on the verge of tears. Initially after the break-up, he'd been very strong and resolved. Now, nearly a week later, his eyes started watering at the mere mention of Francis.
"Oh...I see him now. He's very French-looking," Alex replied.
"He's always been really good-looking," Matthew sniffled. The morose boy poked sadly at his mashed potatoes.
"So he's your type?" Alex asked, clearly a little bewildered. Matthew glanced up, blushing a little. He and Alex hadn't really talked about him being gay much after he'd dumped Francis. Alex kept him distracted with sightseeing, hockey games, and baseball the past week. The few times that Francis had tried to call him, Matthew had let the other boy go straight to voice mail and then he locked himself in the bathroom and cried over whatever Francis said in his messages.
But Alex was proud of his friend. Despite clearly hurting, and wanting to forgive and forget, Matthew stayed strong.
"He'd be anybody's type, wouldn't he? I mean, he's perfect," Matthew said almost wistfully. Then he scowled. "And that's the problem—everyone else thinks so, too."
"I dunno, socio...he looks kinda...sissy to me," Alex replied lightly.
"He's not. He's just confident. He takes care of himself," Matthew defended. Alex sighed.
"Matt...do you want him back?" Alex asked, a shrewd look crossing over his features. Francis had spotted them outside. He said something to the girl walking at his side, and she shot an irritated look towards Matthew before sauntering off. Francis was heading towards them alone.
"I do. I really do...but there's so many things messed up now," Matthew said.
"Then let's give him a taste of his own medicine," Alex suggested.
"What?" Matthew replied confused. Francis was almost at the door. He looked determined.
"We'll pretend to...you know. Make him jealous."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Alex. I tried flirting with someone else to make him jealous before, back when we first met, and he saw right through it."
"Then we have to do more than flirt. Do you trust me?" Alex asked. Francis was nearly in the courtyard. Matthew's eyes slid to his old love and a single word slipped past his lips.
"Yes."
Francis opened the door and strolled outside. Matthew's eyes moved to his nose, but he couldn't tell it had been broken. It looked as smooth and perfect as it always had.
"Matthew...finally," Francis said, his voice full of longing. Matthew couldn't bear to look at him. His purple-blue eyes fell back to his lunch tray. It was Alex who replied for him.
"You must be the guy I need to thank," Alex said confidently, as he spun in his seat and stood up. He was a little taller than Francis, and as different to the other boy as night was to day. Francis looked him over with narrowed eyes.
"Pardon?" Francis said, his voice cold. Alex just smiled, but it was the smile of a boy who loved a good fight. Francis involuntarily flinched backwards, perhaps remembering the punch he'd already taken to the face earlier that week.
"Yeah. You know. The unappreciative singao that let a guy like Matthew go. So thanks. He's amazing," Alex said. "And he doesn't want to talk to you right now. He's ignoring your calls for a reason, chocha." Alex cracked his knuckles and popped his neck. His dreads swayed behind him, and Francis took a step backwards.
"Matthew, please...just talk to me for a second," Francis pleaded. Matthew kept his head down. Alex intensified his glare, and he was genuinely intimidating.
"I said—" Alex warned.
"Matthew, forget being boyfriends—we used to be best friends. How can you not even talk to me? Please, Matthew. This is killing me, truly," Francis said. The French boy's voice cracked tellingly.
"I...I'm with Alex now, Francis. You should go. It's over," Matthew whispered.
"Fine. That's...just fine. But don't think for a second that he'll put up with your shit either! How long will he want to listen to you tear yourself down? How long will he be faithful when you get interested in Gilbert's dick again, and leave him hanging while you do some sexual exploring? Will he believe you when you say it doesn't mean anything? Will he give you a second chance, like I gave to you? Like you're not giving to me? Will he be more willing to share when it's a dirty threesome you want? Does he know how you like it rough? How you like to act out your little fantasies in bed?"
"Shut up, Francis!" Matthew replied, but Francis's shouting overpowered Matthew's meek demand. Alex began to twist off his heavy golden ring, which had once been his father's, and pocketed it protectively.
"I'm about to break your nose again if you don't get the fuck outta here," Alex threatened.
With a furious scowl in Alex's direction, Francis left.
Alex let out a huge breath of air and then returned to the lunch table. He sat down heavily beside Matthew. Uncaring that several other students were now peeping through the glass at them, Alex dropped his arm around Matthew's shoulders and pulled him comfortingly against his side.
"I'm not a...a f-freak or a p-pervert!" Matthew said, clearly mortified. Alex just grinned against Matthew's silky hair.
"Damn. I always imagined my fake boyfriend would be kinky," Alex teased. Matthew snorted in a pathetic mix of laughter and sobbing.
"Now you'll never get a girlfriend," Matthew said, blinking away tears as he looked up at his friend. Alex just smiled at him reassuringly.
"Hey...if the girl can't understand that I'm trying to help out my socio, then I don't want her!"
"No, Alex, you can't do this. Francis is right. Our relationship has been far from perfect, and I've messed up tons of times and he's always forgiven me. I'm being a hypocrite. I should apologize," Matthew said, sounding resolute. Alex suddenly slammed his fist against the table, making Matthew jump.
"Listen to yourself! You're honestly considering going to apologize to him because he cheated on you! You said it yourself, socio, he's trying to twist things. You don't need a jerk like him."
"M-maybe you're right..." Matthew replied shakily.
"I know it's hard, but try to stop worrying about him. We've got a whole year ahead of us, and it's gonna be the best year ever, right?"
Matthew nodded, and Alex heartily patted his back a few times. At the very least, Matthew had survived his first face-to-face confrontation with Francis since the break-up, but he couldn't imagine what he would have done if Alex hadn't been present.
Francis started ranting before they'd reached his room. Shell walked along beside him, graceful and ethereally beautiful, not-so-secretly pleased that the reunion had gone poorly.
"He did far more than kiss someone else. And does he suddenly have no taste? Did you see that monstrosity? Those eyebrows! And those awful dreadlocks!"
"I heard that dreadlocks grow mold inside," Shell replied. Francis's face screwed up in disgust, and then he winced when the action hurt his recovering nose.
He unlocked his dorm room and entered, not even sparing a glance at Arthur, who lay on his bed reading a textbook.
"This is ridiculous. I don't have to put up with this. Matthew always plays these childish games—flirting with Jones, then with the stoner, and now with this poor, ugly Cuban kid. He's not making me jealous."
"I think he's doing exactly that. But his closeness with Alex isn't a game. They're best mates, Francis. It's a little odd, but somehow they just click," Arthur said, glancing briefly over the top of his book at Francis and his female friend. She offered a smile.
"Hello, Prince Arthur. I'm Michelle. Francis and I met on the plane," she offered. Unimpressed, Arthur merely returned to his book.
"So I've heard," he drawled.
"Did he put you up to telling me that they're actual friends?" Francis asked as he sat on the edge of his own bed. Ignoring Arthur now, Michelle joined Francis and casually looped her hands around his upper arm in a "comforting" way. "Then again, they have to be real friends. If he was just paying someone, I'd hope he'd pay someone better looking."
"That's an awfully low thing to insinuate about a boy you claim to love," Arthur offered dryly.
Francis did feel a little guilty. He turned his head away from Arthur, gazing out the window. The irritation and jealousy gave way to bitterness.
"Love isn't real. It wasn't real for my parents and it wasn't real with Matthew," Francis replied. Shell frowned and gave Francis's arm a gentle squeeze.
"Why all this talk about love? We're too young and beautiful to fall in love. That's so boring. There's a whole school—a whole world—full of interesting people. Why waste time with just one?" she questioned. Unimpressed by her logic, Arthur just rolled his eyes.
"Oh, I dunno...maybe it's emotionally fulfilling to care about someone other than yourself?" he suggested. Michelle glared at him.
"Excuse me, but did I do something to offend you?" she asked. Annoyed with his room assignment already, Arthur snapped his book shut.
"Beyond being a homewrecker? No, not as such. You're right, Francis. She's very beautiful, and she definitely seems to like you. You needn't worry, either. No risk of falling in love with this one," Arthur judged harshly. He put his book into a bag and tossed in his night clothes as well. Francis was glad to see him leaving.
"Fine, leave. Side with Matthew. Just don't come crying to me when he sets his sights on your beloved Alfred next."
Arthur gave Francis a very cold look as he swung the bag over his shoulder.
"You should fight for him, Francis, like you planned. You're a coward if you give up this soon, and honestly? I respect you less for it."
"Stay the fuck out of my room, eyebrows! We're going to be busy!" Francis half-shouted. Arthur slammed the door.
"Forget them. Let's just enjoy ourselves, hmm? No strings attached. Love is stupid," Shell whispered sweetly against the curve of his ear. Arthur's words still rang in his mind, but Francis tried to shake them out. He turned his head to capture Shell's puffy lips in a needy kiss. Clothes were shed hastily and he fucked her with little consideration, finding her feminine curves and her natural wetness almost alien after all the time he'd been with Matthew. He thought of Matthew the entire time, and after it was done, he had to send Michelle away so he could have a proper cry in the shower. He felt empty and numb inside, and all he wanted was to somehow fill the void that Matthew had left behind.
A/N: Man, my life has been so crazy these past two months! Death in the family, followed by two failed relationships, and now a new teaching job. I'm super behind, and I should be working furiously to catch up on lesson plans and what-not, being hired so late in the year, but I needed a break. I thought of you guys and wanted to bring you a new chapter. I'm sorry to say I don't know when I'll have time for the next one, but I'll try!