Rosalina: SUUUUP Y'ALLLLL!? This update was super quick, don't you think?
Germany: Very quick. Just the way it should be.
Authoress: Excuse me but I don't always have time to write, you know? Plus your sarcasm is awful.
Rosalina: You created me, it's not my fault.
Germany: I didn't mean to offend.
Authoress: It's okay.
Japan: How about we start the chapter?
-Previously in How To Live With Hetalia-
The mall was huge. It had three floors and it was crowded. We gathered at the entrance hall to discuss what we would do next.
"I know where I'll take you guys first!" Danielle turned around to face us, "Abercrombie & Fitch!"
"Dan, that store was soooo 2011."
"Who cares? I bet everyone will look amazing on those shirts!" She said, rather confident. She proceeded to squeeze Italy's non-existent muscles, "See?"
"I actually refuse to enter that store. Like, one needs a flashlight inside it." I observed. And plus, since nobody buys shit from there anymore, I doubt it will be a nice place to be…except that their prices might be lower, but oh well.
"Where do you suggest, Lina?" Danielle crossed her arms, "Hot Topic?"
I laughed sarcastically, "Ha ha ha do you think I am Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way?"
"Who's that?" Germany asked.
"You definitely don't wanna know." Caitlyn replied for me.
"What if we split up?" America suggested. Hell, that boy can be useful when he wants to hahaha.
"That's actually a really good idea." Kiku agreed with me. Agreed with my mental comment, of course.
Alfred shrugged, and I added, "I'd never see that thing come out of your mouth, Alfredo."
"Who's going with who, then?" Cat asked, "We're in three girls and there are nine nations, so three for each."
At least I wasn't the one who had to do the math. Cause you know, Vikings thought that math was witchcraft, "Also, I personally forbid England and France to stay together." I complemented.
"Why?" Danielle glared at me, like if she was genuinely surprised with that.
"Why? Seriously?" I facepalmed. I'm so sorry that I sometimes mentally say that Danielle is stupid…I don't actually mean it, you know?
"I'll have the Axis!" Thank goodness Dan never takes anything personal, "Kiku, Luddy and Feliiiii~" She squeezed the three of them in her arms. Luddy didn't look really pleased with being hugged by her. Unlike Feli, though.
"Okay, Dan gets the Axis." I made some mental calculations. Well, we have China, England, Russia, Canada, America and France left to be divided.
"I'll be with Matthew, Yao and Arthur." Cat closed her arms, really decided. The three boys quickly gathered beside the ginger haired-girl.
Why do I never end up with the quiet ones… "Okay, Alfredo, Ivan and Francis, you guys are mine." I finally said, as I figured I couldn't think of any plausible reasons how I could get rid of Alfred without him knowing that I kinda hate him.
France took a step closer to me, "I can be forever yours if you wish."
"Shut up Francy-pants! Nobody likes you!" Arthur complained, pushing Francis away from me.
Act like I don't know them. Act like I've never seen those sexually tense people…
"See everyone, that's why France and Britain must not be together." I said, as I brought Francis back to my team.
"We can meet up in the restaurant plaza at 2:00 pm, cool?" Caitlyn suggested, glancing at her watch. "That will give us plenty of time to walk around."
Alfred jumped up, "What about team names?"
"Why would we need team names, you git?" Arthur complained.
I facepalmed, "Arthur you are such a killjoy…"
"It'll make everything more the fun!" Ivan added.
"Alright…pick a name!" Dan turned to her team. Cat turned to her's and I turned to mine but everyone just stared at each other. Ivan looked particularly murderous while glancing at Alfred.
"'Team Pasta'!" I'll give you my soul and my heart if you can guess who said that. Too bad I have neither lolz.
"Wouldn't it be easier just to name your team 'Axis'?" Cat lifted an eyebrow.
"Don't argue." Kiku bluntly said. Well, couldn't have said it better myself.
"Okay, 'Team Pasta'." I said. "How about your team, Cat?"
Cat proudly announced, "We'll be 'Team Rich Nations'."
"I like the way we do the thinking together, aru!" China high-fived the entire team. His attempts on trying to seem less old are actually working pretty well.
"And my team is 'Team Rosalina the Boss.'" Well, I have the right to make one by myself since nobody suggested anything. And what's better than inflating Rosalina's ego?
Alfred frowned, "Who agreed with that?"
"You don't need to agree to anything." I smiled sweetly.
"I say we name it 'Cold War'." Ivan suggested. "Like the good old days, right Amerika?"
"But I wasn't in it." France observed. OMG isn't that super exciting? I'll get to shop with France!1111!1!1!eleven.
"Okay, 'Team Cold War + France'." Whatever dudes, I couldn't care less about this, I grabbed Ivan's and Alfredo's hands and dragged them with me to the left, "Off we go! See everyone else at 2:00!"
And with that, the three teams went on to different directions in search of cheap and fashionable clothes for a bunch of nations.
-Reality in Rosalina's POV-
Me, Russia, France and America walked for about two minutes immersed in a mortal silence. Ivan walked in my right, Francis in my left and Alfred beside Francis.
The mall's air was now pretty chilly since I've been out of the sun for a while now. Also, we almost couldn't see the daylight, but the corridors were super clear with artificial lighting. However, it was whiter than what I'd prefer, you see, the floor and walls were made out of white marble, plus the artificial white light. That's a very smart strategy because it white is a color that makes us stay awake.
I hope we don't need to stay here for long. To be honest, I'm not even in the mood for this shopping trip. Not after what happened at home. No, for real.
There are people everywhere staring at us. And I don't like the feeling of being stared at. Not that I don't stare at people myself, but it pisses me off so much that they're not staring at me but at the boys who are wearing weird clothes who just happen to be part of 'Team Cold War + France'.
You know what would be pretty damn cool? If I grabbed a drink at Starbucks and let the boys get their own clothes and they'll only call me to pay. I like that idea.
I love how I'm such a genius.
After a while, France broke the silence, "Sooo, ma-chérie [French- my darling] where are we going to start?"
"I dunno." I shrugged. I glanced around and I finally spotted a Starbucks. My call.
"I think we should go to…" Alfred began talking and reciting names of stores I swear to you I've never heard of. Of course I wasn't paying attention to him.
I slowly began to lead my team to the coffee shop as Alfred still talked.
Ivan looked a bit confused, "Where are we going, Подсолнечник [Russian-Sunflower]?"
"I'm having a coffee with a fancy name." I replied. I mean, look, who are you to say a 'latte' or 'frapuccino' are not fancy names? And where anything 'big' is 'venti' for some reason? "But you guys don't need to go with me if you don't want to, I mean, you guys are free to do whatever you want."
Alfred sighed. He now probably realized I'm not taking him to any shops, "You were not even listening to me, right Rosie?"
"Of course not Alfred, you're boring me to hell." I said, and Francis laughed. I led the three boys to the shop, then I opened the door and led them inside.
The atmosphere of the place exhaled a kind of cozyness…Maybe because we are in a surrounded by chill music playing and many sofas and armchairs. Meh, couldn't feel more at home.
I made my way to the line that led to cashier as France asked, "So you will 'ave a coffee instead of 'elping us choose our new clothes?"
"Why of course." I answered, cocky and bitchy as usual, "If you want to search for stuff on your own, be my guest, Francis." I shrugged, "just call me when I have to pay."
Alfred looked around, almost as he was trying to look for another alternative other than doing stuff on his own or just watch me do nothing at a coffee shop. My, my, Alfred, how the tables have turned. The United States of America obeying a teenager. "We'll stick with you."
That was not exactly the response I was hoping for but…well, as I had just said, you can't always get what you want. "You guys want something?"
"I'm good." Alfred said.
"Me too." Francis added.
"I would be wanting some black tea if that is not doing the bothering, Подсолнечник [Russian-Sunflower]." Ivan asked, as he smiled sweetly at me. However, as he did it, some insensible people, more noticeably three white girls who were taking pics of the whole place, who were in line before us stared at us creepily and took a step back.
Why? Are they scarred of the cinnamon roll that is Ivan? Idiots. I glanced back and gave them a disapproval look.
"Of course it isn't, Ivan." I smiled back. Then I pointed to a table where there were four armchairs, "You three wait for me at that table over there."
"Got it." Alfred agreed, and with that he led the other two with him.
When the three of them were away, there were still about five people in my front in the line to buy my drink, so I decided to have a little chat with the girls who were creeped out by Ivan. "Ahem, excuse me, but what you did could make him very sad, you know?"
The girl with the most bleached hair turned to me and replied, "He was creepy, what'd you expect us to do?"
FUCK. That second I realized I've met the evil skank's minions. What evil skank, you ask?
Daphne. My all-time rival. And those girls are Marcella, Myrella and Marianna, her three main minions. They are what we call…high school royalty.
Daphne is rich and pretty, plus she could get any guy she wants.
"I don't know? Maybe look the other way?" I crossed my arms, "Come on, he's just new at making friends…"
"Whatever, we've got more things to do." The girl turned back and started chatting with her friends once again, leaving me with no response. Was that really necessary? Like, really? The last time I checked I was the only girl allowed to bitch around here in Toms Rivers.
I took a deep breath, "I hope you get unfollowed on Tumblr and no one likes your pic on Instagram."
The three girls looked back at me in shock like I had just wished that they were dead or worse. Luckily, my turn to order arrived and I could excuse myself from such an awkward social situation.
Ahhhh, sometimes Lady Luck smiles at my humble existence….
The cashier was a woman, approximately 30 years old judging by the lack of wrinkles. She had mildly curly brown hair and eyes, and her skin was tanned. To sum up, she looked Latina to me, "Yes, ma'am, what is your order?"
"I'd like a big caramel frapuccino and a black tea, please." I always hate ordering stuff here because I always mess up the names of things. Like, how am I supposed to say 'frapuccino' without a basic Hebrew course?
The word 'frapuccino' is Hebrew, right?
"You mean a venti size frapuccino?" The attendant said, looking at me dead in the eyes.
"Yeah, that thing."
"What's your name?" I quickly glanced at the woman's green apron and read the cashier's nametag. It read 'Ana'. Always when I go to Starbucks I pick my name based on the cashier's in the hope of them giving me a free drink because we 'have' the same name. It has never happened before, but there's always a first time.
"Ana."
"Really? My name is Ana too!"
I faked a surprised expression, "What a coincidence!"
"Since we reached our monthly quota fifteen days before planned, how about I give you your order for free because we have the same name?" No way…No way this is happening! OMG Luck is definitely by my side today! After 17 years and almost nine months I finally did get lucky for once! Suck that, karma!
"Oh my, thank you!" Now I was genuinely surprised and happy.
"We'll call you by your name to pick up your order, Ana." The cashier Ana gestured to the balcony where the baristas made the coffees and then waved goodbye when I got out of the line.
After ordering the stuff, I went back to the table with the nations. "What took you so long?" Francis asked.
"I had to deal with some stuff." I replied, as I sat down in the brown armchair with a thud. Ivan smiled happily when I did so.
Alfred glanced suspiciously at me, "What kind of stuff?" Does he think that I'd sell them to the black market? That is not a bad idea at all, you know? I know of people that would pay a lot of money for personifications of nations lolz.
"It's not important." I crossed my legs dramatically. Also I had to make sure that I had crossed my legs right since I'm wearing a dress and any wrong movement may cause people to see more than they should, "What's important is that I got free drinks."
"How did you?" Alfred asked, as if it was super difficult for a pretty girl like me to get free stuff. Didn't I tell you readers about Dan's cousin? She gets free stuff because of her boobs, and I get free stuff because I'm smart.
"One venti caramel frapuccino and a black tea for Ana!" The barista called out from the balcony. Yay, my order is ready.
That was actually really quick, I was expecting it to take much longer. "Oooh, that's me!" I said, as I quickly got up from my seat and headed to the balcony to get my shit.
"But your name is not Ana." Alfred raised a suspicious eyebrow. Francis looked a bit surprised as well.
"Congratulations on figuring that out! You aren't as dumb as you look, Alfie." I turned to face the table clapping my hands together and smiling sarcastically.
I bet I left Alfred with a stupid expression, for both Ivan and Francis are laughing at him. Mission accomplished hahaha. I made my way to the place where I'd grab my order.
The male barista who made my drinks smiled as he handed me my cold caramel frapuccino and Ivan's hot black tea. "Enjoy your drinks, Ana!"
"Thanks, have a nice day!"
"Don't tell me what to do." He said. I raised a suspicious eyebrow, "Don't look at me like that I saw that in Drake & Josh."
"Ahh hahaha same here fam."
I got my drinks and returned quickly to the table where the boys were.
"Here's your tea, Ivan." I handed the hot mug to the Russian boy.
"Спасибо [Russian-Thank you]." He smiled.
I took a sip from my frapuccino and gosh…it was good. I'm glad I didn't need to spend a single penny in it. Such a clever lass you are, Rosalina. It's a pity the government doesn't take an interest in you.
The four people present at the table were completely quiet for a couple of minutes, mainly because Alfred kept staring at my drink, as if waiting for me to give him a sip, which is defo not happening.
Ivan apparently wasn't enjoying his drink too much. Every sip he took looked like he was about to throw up, which was not a very pleasant sensation due to the fact that I was seating right beside him and I would probably be the target of his vomit.
I glanced at the pale blond as he took a little satchel from one of the inside pockets of his beige coat. It appeared to be some sort of bottle, "Ivan what are you doing?"
"This tea is of very bad. Russian tea is best." He replied, not taking his eyes from the operation of pouring a transparent liquid inside his tea, "I'm adding vodka to make it taste better. You be wanting some too?" He handed the little metal bottle thingy to me.
"Yes, please." I smiled, as I took hold of the thing. I'm very curious about the taste of that thing. It must be good for an entire country to be into it sooo.
Francis looked at me with an apprehensive glance, "Ma-chérie [French-My dear] that thing is very strong, you know that?"
"Of course I do silly Frenchman." Actually I have no idea but damn I'm too proud to admit that, "Oh crap never mind I'll have to drive you guys back home and a ticket for driving drunk is not in my list of things to do." I handed the bottle back to Ivan sadly.
Of course I am not interested in a ticket, I don't fancy spending money in mundane things like tickets.
"So, who were those girls you were talking to in the line?" Alfred inquired, with his usual smirk. Oh crap so they saw that? "Are you one of those teenage movie girls who meet everyone they know in just one trip to the mall?"
"Nobody important." You are very very very nosy Alfie, just because I was being shady it doesn't mean I am doing illegal things or hiding potentially dangerous things either, "And the last time I checked I was not a movie girl." Hell yeah I wanted to be one, but I guess I have to stick with being a fanfiction girl, oh well, "But if you must know, they were annoying the shit out of me."
Ivan grew a smile as big as his face, "Are they needing a good smacking with Mr. Pipe?"
"What did I say about violence, Ivan?" I scolded, between my bites on my drink's plastic straw.
"What the hell dude, you can't just do that to people just because they annoyed Rosie! If that was the case I'd be dead for a day already!" Apparently Alfie got a bit fired up with that. Let's see where this discussion will lead.
Oh how do I love fights.
The Russian shrugged, "I just do things to my friends to keep them safe, that's all."
"Funny that when we, your friends, needed you to help for us during World War One you simply backed off…" Alfred continued, a bit more angry.
France added, "That was not cool, mon amie [French-My friend]."
"That was 1917 and I was going through revolution, Amerika!" The Russian smacked the brown wooden table with such might that all the drinks on top of it shook. Also all the other tables started to look at us, and I don't like that, "And also, if you could do a better job pretending to be my friend I probably would have helped!" He added, a little quieter.
"Guys, guys noo don't do that…" I hate to be the one to stop conflicts, I am the one who start them, "You're all my friends and I don't wanna see you fighting. Come on, we have shopping to do." Okay I'm just that fake.
Who am I fooling, I don't want them to fight here with so many people around. It could attract attention to us and since I've seen Daphne's minions already, she might be around too and I really don't want to see her.
"Finally." Francis breathed out, as he started to get up from the table.
"Shut up or I'll change my mind." I said. That made the three boys jump up from the table like lightning bolts in fear of having to stay at this café for a long time, "You guys are so ungrateful sometimes."
"What do you want from us so that we can express our gratitude?" Francis asked, "A night of 'appiness?" He added.
What the shit? Did he just invite me to have sex with him? Uh, no thank you.
I smiled sweetly as we left the coffee shop, "Don't be silly, Francis. You're not my type." Even if I had a type of guy he would most certainly not be France.
We resumed walking around in the hallways while we looked for a shop we could enter.
America frowned, "Who's your type, then? Certain people with a long nose?"
Almost instantly Russia retorted, "What did you say about my nose, Amerika?" Wait was he blushing?
Is he assuming I like him? Well I do but as a friend. I probably will never find someone who's gonna be able to put up with me so I kinda lost hope. The only guy who wants to have something with me is that creep called Victor who is always sending me messages saying 'oh you look so pretty on that new pic' or 'are you free this Friday?'.
"Why are you assuming it's you?" America can read minds now? "You want to be Rosie's type, don't you?"
"I'm not assuming and I don't want to be her type." Okay, Russia's reply kinda hurt me deep inside my frozen heart. Come on you could be less straightforward.
Because I don't want to be labeled as a sad girl who gets rejected, I'll reject him first. "So that you know, I don't have feelings which means that it'll be me alone with my 27 cats when I die."
"Okay?" The three boys replied together, as if they were all thinking the same thing about my declaration.
"Oh look, there's a swimsuit shop there, let's see what's inside." I pointed at a shop that looked kinda nice. The front window had some mannequins with some nice swim shorts and I think the boys will look good with them.
"Swimsuits maybe?" Francis replied sarcastically? No.
"Was it really necessary to say that?" I asked, raising one eyebrow at the comment.
Francis honhonhon'd, "You just want to see me shirtless, that's the truth."
?
Okay who am I fooling…
How did he guess?
-The end-
Rosalina: Okay so the chap was short, what can I do?
Authoress: It's that I'm not having *that* much time to write anymore so I guess I'll have to make short updates so that nobody abandons this story in fear that it is discontinued.
America: Either way, thank you for the positive feedback you guys give us, it means a lot!
France: That's really nice of you guys to review, it motivated the story to keep going.
Russia: Indeed.
Rosalina: So, okay, since you are nice have a little sneak-peak on next chapter:
-NEXT CHAPTER SNEAK-PEAK-
I waited some good five minutes for Russia to come out of the changing room wearing the swim trunks I've told him to try. When he finally did, I had a fit of giggles:
"Ivan, what are you wearing? This is not what you wear to the beach!" I clutched my belly as I laughed.
He was wearing the brown swim trunk I picked but he also wore his coat and scarf. He looked at me rather embossed. "This is how you go to the beach in Russia."
"But we are not in Russia so you will be kind to take off those gloves, scarf and coat please." I said between giggles.
"But I will be shirtless…and I am ashamed of that." Ivan glanced at the floor, blushing. Is his self esteem so low like that? I wonder what made the biggest country in the world to be like this.
"Why are you ashamed, it's not like I'll judge you or anything…" I smiled, taking a step closer to him, "Remember, we are friends and friends don't judge each other."
He looked back at me, "Are you sure?"
"Of course." I smiled even greatly, "And plus while you are shirtless at the beach you can show off."
"Not a convincing explanation, Подсолнечник [Russian- Sunflower]." The Russian shook his head in denial, "I told you I am ashamed of my body."
"Look, Ivan, you are cute in every way, okay? Trust me." Oh shit Rosalina what the fuck did I just say? I'll give a bad impression! I don't feel anything, he is just cute as fuck, and I have nothing to do with it, "Not to mention that America will wear one of those shirtless, and you don't want him to look better than you, right?"
"Дa [Russian-Yes]…I suppose I wouldn't." You are damn right. Imagine him being more looked at by the girls at the beach than America? It would be great for his self esteem.
"Great, so let me help you take this off…" I walked up to him and extended my arms so that he could put his clothes on top of them. He quickly took off his coat and then his black tank top I've seen yesterday.
…
"Ah…wow…" I accidentally said in surprise, swallowing. His body looked even better shirtless. Imagine those muscled guys from TV and magazines. Now add some Russian genes to them and boom you have Ivan. Imagine him walking by my side at the beach making all the girls jealous. I grinned to shake the thoughts from my head.
"I knew you would laugh." His everlasting smile vanished and it turned into a face in the verge of tears. He quickly turned around and entered the changing room once again, hiding from me.
As the sympathetic being that I am, I went after him, not before putting his clothes on the floor for a second. "Hey, Ivan…I'm not laughing at you. I would never do that."
"Why did you say 'wow' then? Am I worse than you imagined?"
"Wait, no." Oh shit, my irresponsible mouth failed me once again, "It's not like that…"
Oh dear how will I explain that…
-END OF SNEAK-PEAK-
Rosalina: You guys must love to see me in awkward situations.
America: Who knew Russia was sensitive about his body?
France: I didn't.
Russia: …
Authoress: Let's not make him blush even more, okay? It's the end of the sneak peak so no more spoilers! See ya all soon!
Rosalina: Don't forget to R&R guys! It means a lot and it doesn't take much effort. Just click the little box bellow :D