Loving a Stranger

Chapter seven: A Tomato, a Potato, and a French Fry

The month was September, and I was completely fed up. But I couldn't lose my cool, even if I was drenched in tomato sauce, because that new worker Lili was staring at me with watering eyes. "I'm so sorry, Lovino!" She said again as she wiped my face with a towel.

I tried not to think about the fact that my shirt was ruined, because if I yelled at the poor girl her brother Vash would be at my door tonight. I sighed. "It's alright. It was just an accident."

"I know," she whimpered. "But I still feel awful."

Just then, our manager walked in, eyes wide as he observed the lovely tomato sauce look I was sporting, as well as the remains on the floor. "Lili, Lovino...what the hell happened?" Lili seriously looked like she was about to cry, so I clenched my fists and intervened.

"It was an accident, sir. She didn't know I was behind her, and turned around and crashed into me. It was my fault for not letting her know I was there."

Jensen nodded. "I see. Go in the back room, Lovino, and get yourself cleaned up. I think there is a spare shirt that would fit you. I'll show Lili where the mop is." I gave her a look to see if she was alright, watching how she blinked back her tears and nodded bravely before I made the trek to the back room.

"Note to self," I grumbled as I took off my now ruined shirt. "Never wear decent clothes to work." I poked around for the extra shirt Jensen mentioned, and finally found a crusty-looking extra large bearing the cheesy logo of 'Jensen's Pizzeria.' Creative, I know. "This is definitely my size," I grumbled sarcastically as I attempted to find my way into the shirt. When I finally got it on, it hung down to my mid thigh like some ugly oversized green dress.

I was trying to stuff most of the extra material into my pants when my cell started buzzing in my pocket. Weird, I never got calls during work. I fumbled to get my phone out and stared at the ID: unknown caller.

Huh, maybe Feli's calling from his room, I thought as I answered it. "Hello?"

"Lovi!"

I paled, immediately recognizing the voice. "A-Antonio?" I sputtered.

"Sí, mi amor. I am so glad you answered, you have no idea." He did sound relieved, but why was he calling me?

"I'm at work, you bastard. And shouldn't you be doing training or something?"

"Lo siento Lovi, but I won't take long I promise. And they're letting us call home for a few minutes."

"Why didn't you call your mother?"

"Because I missed your voice, mi tomate."

My eyes flicked to the door nervously, hoping no one caught me hiding out on the phone. "You're an idiot," I muttered, trying to ignore the warmth I felt spreading across my face. "Shut the fuck up before someone hears you saying something retarded and gives you hell for it."

"I wouldn't care, as long as I got to talk with you. How are things? I bet it's super quiet back home, huh?"

I nodded, although he couldn't see me. "Yeah. It was until you called."

He chuckled, then paused like he was listening to someone on the other line. "I have to go now," he murmured sadly.

"Already?" I asked without thinking.

"Unfortunately, mi tomate." I could hear the smile in his voice as he murmured, "I love you."

I held my breath for a second. "I know, bastard." Then all I heard was a dial tone.

I quickly shoved my phone back into my pocket and finished tucking in my shirt, washing my face of any stubborn tomato remains before I walked back to the kitchen. Lili smiled at me as she sprinkled cheese over the pizza she was making.

"I can't believe we've only been here for an hour," I grumbled.

She shook her head slowly. "It's kinda crazy, isn't it? Oh, and Lovino-"

"If you're going to apologize again, there is no need to do that," I interrupted.

"No- it's just...there are some people out in the dining area looking for you."

I raised an eyebrow, about to ask her who was asking for me of all people, when I heard loud laughter coming from the eating room. "Kesesese!" There was only one person in the entire fucking world who laughed like that. "Mio Dio!" I exclaimed. "Not him!" To make matters worse, I could hear tidbits of a French accent as well.

"Hey Lovino?" Sam- the annoying bossy guy who I mentioned before- popped his head in. "Can you talk to these guys? They're really loud and they say they know you."

"Tell them to kiss my ass," I muttered lowly.

"But they're disturbing the peace."

I rolled my eyes. "Screw you." With that, I marched outside to face those idiots. "What the fuck are you doing here?" I hissed, crossing my arms and glaring at the two of them.

Gilbert grinned with an evil gleam in his red eyes while Francis waved to me. "Bonjour Lovino! Fancy seeing you around here, oh honhonhon!"

"I work here, dumbass. Now tell me why you're here."

"We thought it'd be an awesome idea to eat extra greasy pizza for lunch," Gilbert exclaimed while the blonde beside him flinched.

"Actually, we came here to bother you. And nothing personal, but I'm not touching that pizza," he muttered as Sam brought them a large pepperoni. He sighed and glanced at me expectantly before walking away.

I fought the urge to flip the guy off and glanced around the near-empty dining room before leaning on the table. "I don't blame you," I said in a low voice. "The food here sucks balls. That stronzo of a boss claims that since he has an Italian worker, his food is legit Italian food. That's the only reason why I haven't gotten fired."

Gilbert tried to laugh even though he had food in his mouth, resulting in him nearly choking. "It's not that bad," he said with obvious sarcasm.

"That's because you don't know what real food tastes like, bastard." I crossed my arms and glared at the duo. "Alright, you've bothered me and got your pizza. Now get the hell out of here. I was getting used to not having to look at your stupid faces."

Francis looked at me with a playful smirk on his face, that one that caused an eery feeling to creep down my spine.

"Why the fuck are you staring at me like that?"

He chuckled. "Just wanted to let you know that you haven't seen the last of us."

Gilbert nodded. "Ja! Toni told us to look out for you, so that's exactly what we intend to do!"

"What?!" I sputtered. "That Tomato Bastard told you to look after me? What am I, a dog? Oh, I'm so giving him hell for this, idiotic stronzo! He wants me to write him back, ha! He can keep dreaming then!"

Jensen suddenly decided to show up at the wrong moment, glaring at me as he interrupted my rant. "Lovino!" He hissed. "Stop shouting at customers and get into the kitchen!"

It is to be noted that every single person living in our town- and probably a few over as well- has heard about the Bad Touch Trio: the strange name of Antonio, Francis, and Gilbert's friendship. And it was true that a whopping 80% of the more innocent mayhem around was a direct result of their doing. Roderich Edelstein was ambushed by a gang of masked creeps throwing tomatoes? Gilbert had coincidentally gotten into an argument with him the day before. Sabotage? Arthur Kirkland's car getting mysteriously wrapped in plastic wrap overnight? Every girl in school as well as her mother getting their hearts yanked out of their chests? Yeah, they were the ones to blame.

I had heard the story of how the trio met- and I bet everyone involved with getting them together regretted everything, as it was highly likely that if they had met during high school they wouldn't even be friends. It had started the very first day of kindergarten, during recess. A chubby-cheeked boy with bright green eyes, who had only been in America for a week, had been attempting to make friends with a group of boys, when the loudmouthed self-proclaimed leader started harassing him for no apparent reason- some dumbass shit about his accent and broken English or something completely juvenile. Well duh he wasn't that great with the new language, and sure Spaniards to talk kinda funny, but that stupid Alfred hurt the kid's feelings and he actually started crying.

That was when Gilbert came on the scene, righteously angry(just an the excuse he uses for his red hot German temper) and punched Alfred right in the face. The American kid recovered because the punch of a five year old really doesn't hurt, and taunted Gilbert about his 'demonic red eyes,' until a flashy kid from France waltzed up and broke up the fight, declaring that all anyone needed was love as he began making a whole shitload of sexual comments and succeeding in ruining all of their virgin ears. Don't ask me how the hell a kindergardener knew that stuff to begin with, that was just how the story went. That was when it all started: with Gilbert the arrogant instigator, Francis the perverted fashionista, and Antonio the oblivious idiot who simply went along with whatever the others said.

This was the worst part: two out of three of them were now pounding at my front door.

And I was home alone, for Nonno had left a note this morning saying he was going out of town for a few days, so there was absolutely no one to save me from the nightmare. I blame the Tomato Bastard for this! I was so going to kill him!

"Oh Lovino!" I heard Francis say in a singsong. "Open the door, darling. We know you're here!"

I was seriously considering running to the kitchen to grab a knife, but the door swung open, revealing the two evil bastards, a silver colored key glistening in the Frenchman's hand.

I didn't scream. Who the hell gave you that idea?

"Calm down," Francis ordered, slapping a hand over my mouth. "Do you want the entire neighborhood to think we're raping you or something?"

I wasn't convinced that they were not going to rape me.

I glared as Gilbert smirked, holding his cell phone to his ear. "Yyyup! We found it! Thank you so much Feli! Bye!"

So my brother told them where the extra key was? That little... "Surprised?" The silver headed one asked with a chuckle. "We told you, so have yet to see the last of us!"

I punched Francis in the gut, resulting in him yelping and jumping away from me. "Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House."

Introductions

Lili: Liechtenstein

Translations

Sí, mi amor(Spanish)- Yes my love

Lo siento(Spanish)- I'm sorry

Mi tomate(Spanish)- My tomato

Mio Dio(Italian)- My God

Bonjour(French)- Hello

Stronzo(Italian)- Asshole

Ja(German)- Yes

A/N: Am I the only one who feels like this chapter was kinda short? If not, I am sorry, I've just been really stressed out lately- finals are next week guys! And also, I am a bit of a procrastinator(snickers at the understatement) so judgement day is at hand for me!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I can't wait to reveal what great evil Franny and Gil have in store for Lovi! Mwahahaha!

Don't forget to REVIEW… I mean, what?

I love all of you so much!

altera vita mea