Dear Annabelle,

I may not show my feelings all the time, but I want to convey my feelings to someone. I'm worried that she might not like me back because she's been staring at this other guy for a while. What do I do?

-Hidden Behind A Mask

Dear Hidden Behind A Mask,

The best thing you can do is to tell her how you feel. Even if she has feelings for someone else, as long as they aren't together there's still a chance for you. But there won't be if you don't tell her! Good luck, mon ami!

-Annabelle

Berwald hated being tall, he finally decided, as he walked down the hallway clutching an icepack to his head.

It wasn't like being tall didn't have its advantages- he couldn't count how many times he'd gotten a ball out of the back of the basketball hoop, or retrieved something off a high shelf, but for every good thing there was at least one drawback. Running into doorframes, slouching wherever he went…

But the looks he got in the hallway were the worst part.

He didn't know what the rumors were that were being spread about him, ever since he started going to this school. But whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Maybe they thought he was expelled... For assaulting a student... No, a teacher!.. And that he was part of a gang. Because judging by how everyone treated him, it had to be 10 times worse.

Sure, it was the same way back in Sweden, but at least there the school was small. Everyone knew everyone, and even if people were apprehensive of Berwald, they still knew he wasn't all that dangerous.

Now, he was at this huge school, where he didn't know anyone, yet everyone seemed to identify him as "that freaky Swedish kid who doesn't talk in class and is probably planning to stab you..." Or something like that. Berwald never found time for gossip.

At least the halls are empty now, he told himself, hall passed crumpled up in one hand. But knowing his luck, he'd be getting plenty of stares when he walked into the classroom late, and everyone would assume the ice pack was because he was in a fight, not that he walked into a pipe hanging from the ceiling.

He didn't even realize he tripped and fell until he hit the cold linoliem with a "Oof!" and heard his glasses skitter across the floor away from him. Startled and practically blind, he felt his way around the floor and attempted to gather his belongings.

"Are these yours?" A cheerful voice asked him. Berwald didn't know how to respond, until he felt something plastic get pushed onto his face. He blinked, and saw what was definitely the most beautiful sight he'd seem in a long, long time.

Blonde hair created a halo around a perfect face, with porcelain skin that was dusted with a bit of a nervous blush. Round violet eyes were framed with thick black lashes, and precious pink lips were curved into a perfect smile.

"I'm Tino," the boy said after a minute, biting his lip. "And you are?"

"Oh! ''m Berw'ld." Berwald silently cursed his accent- now that was the reason he didn't talk much, not wanting to give anyone more reason to think he was a freak.

"It's nice to meet you Berwald!" Tino was cheerful again, seemingly unfazed by the accent. Their eyes met for a minute, and Berwald quickly looked down, clearing his throat and collecting his things.

Tino handed Berwald a few books with a smile. "Where are you off to, Berwald?"

"Chem'stry," He stood, not meeting Tino in the eye. "Ah'm comin' b'ck fr'm the nurse."

"Oh," Tino replied, like he just saw the icepack in his hand. He reached up to look at the bump on his forehead. "That looks like it hurt a lot," he ran his thumb across it cautiously.

"'s not th't bad." Berwald was thankful he didn't ask about some sort of brawl in the alley. But Tino didn't seem like that kind of person. He seemed much nicer than most of the students here. "Wh're 're ya comin' from?"

"I was just delivering a message for my art teacher while the paint dries," He started walking, and Berwald quickly followed. "I just did the first coat on my landscape on canvas and I decided to let the bark dry before I try to paint the leaves with this technique I found on the internet and I think it'll turn out great but my art teacher saw me just sitting around and decided to send me to give some paints to the other painting instructor and so I did and I just happened to see you fall but that meant I got to help you! Isn't that great?" He giggled nervously at Berwald's silence. "Sorry, I babble a lot…"

"Don't worry 'bout it," He replied. Tino talking meant he didn't have to.

Tino smiled. "You seem really nice, Berwald. Would you like to eat lunch with me tomorrow?" His hopeful smile made Berwald's heart swell.

"Ah'd love ta."

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow then!" Tino practically skipped away into the classroom. Berwald watched him go and sighed. He was just so… Beautiful. Perfect. And he was the first person he'd met here who'd actually thought he seemed nice.

Tomorrow was sure to be great.

Author's Note: Thanks to hetaliaforever123 for the letter at the top. Keep 'em coming, guys! Sorry for taking so long with this chapter, but the next one will be up very soon. Talk to you guys then!