"Rghhhhh..." I reached out, smacking my alarm clock. With a yawn I sat up, remembering what today was and smiling.
After taking a moment to wake up, I got out of bed. Quickly I slipped into a pair of faded blue jeans, deciding to pair them with my favorite Vampire Weekend tee. Then, remembering my wrist, I opted for the long-sleeved version instead.
"I'm off!" I called over my shoulder as I grabbed my bag. My mother waved, and I opened the door. When I did, I was met by a surprised pair of blue eyes. The matching hand was poised a half inch from the doorbell, ready to ring.
"Oh, hey Artie! I was just gonna ask if ya wanted to walk to the bus stop with me!" Alfred smiled at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"Sure, sure. And please quit with that name...!" But he didn't hear me; he'd already taken me by the hand and headed for the bus stop. With a sigh and slight blush, I had no choice but to follow him.
Once we arrived at the appointed destination, he released my hand. The other people waiting looked at me funny. I turned my attention to a tree across the street, feeling my brow twitch in aggrevation. They were forming an opinion of me before I'd even said two words!
Alfred immediately began to babble away to a tall, blonde boy. He looked as if he could be in the eleventh grade... Or part of the military. He wore camoflauge jeans and a black tee shirt. His schoolbag had a Tetris pattern printed on it.
"So," The blonde said casually. "Who's the newbie?"
Alfred looked at him blankly a second, then grinned as it dawned on him who he was talking about. Those beautiful eyes lit up in excitement. "Vash, this is Artie. He's my new neighbor!" The glittering blue orbs behind his glasses sparkled.
"Nice to meet you, dude!" Vash smiled at me. Another guy in the group tackled him from behind, and he turned around.
I shot Alfred a dark look. His face went innocent in an instant. "What?" His eyes glinted mischievously, knowing full well what he did.
"please don't introduce me to your friends with that godaweful nickname!" Alfred just giggled. Which was extremely cute [yet childish] for a fourteen year old boy, might I add.
When the bus pulled up, Alfred grabbed my arm. I immediately felt a blush creep into my cheeks. He tugged me on, headed to the end of the bus. We sat on the very back bench, and he tossed his bag nonchalantly into the seat between us. I sat, resting my head against the window. Glancing over at him, I saw him put in a pair of earbuds. I noted he had a green iPod in his hand.
Imitating him, I pulled out my identical blue iPod and popped in my earbuds. I turned shuffle on, relaxing to a mix of smooth and ragtime jazz.
The bus ride was about forty-five minutes. When we pulled up, my stomach dropped. I suddenly felt afraid; new school, new people, new life, new leaf. What kind of reputation would I gain? Would I try to maintain it?
I didn't get a chance to think about it much. People had already begun to file off the bus. I tugged out my earbuds, wrapping them around my iPod and shoving it in my bag. Looking over, I realised Alfred was gone. I felt panicked. Not knowing what else to do, I just got off the bus and joined the throng of people heading inside. Over the intercom, I could faintly hear the voice of one of the staff.
"Attention Freshmen students, please report to the Auditorium to receive the welcome speech and brief runthrough of the day's schedule." Was repeated over and over. As I made it inside, I followed a small crowd of girls heading for what I assumed to be the auditorium. We entered and took the first seats available. One girl looked at me, giggling. Her big brown eyes glittered, and I sighed. This was going to be a long year.
Before I could even begin to think about the slight anxiety attack that was rising in my chest, the principal stepped to the microphone and began his speech.
I sighed, taking a seat at lunch with Alfred. He and Vash immediately slid back into the conversation they were having earlier in the day. "And then I was all like, whoooa! And he was all like, yeahh! So we were both like, whoa yeah!" Was all I could even begin to comprehend. The girl beside Vash fidgeted with the ribbon marking the page in her book, her green eyes glancing at me every few seconds.
"Oh yeah, Artie!" Alfred exclaimed. I felt my brow twitch at the nickname, but I somehow managed to refrain from saying anything. "This is Vash's giiiiirlfriend!" As soon as the teasing words left his mouth, the girl's face turned crimson and she buried her nose deep into her book.
"Sh-she's not my g-girlfriend...!" Vash stuttered, his cheeks tinging pink. He turned his head to the side, trying to hide it. Wanting to save him some embarassment, I changed the subject.
"My name's Arthur." I introduced myself, emphasizing my name and shooting Alfred a dark look. He just smirked, and I knew he would only use it again.
"I'm Lilli..." The girl looked up from her book, her green eyes sparkling. "I go to the school across the road. I'll be a freshman next year, though!"
"What brings you here then?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I-" As she went to answer, the brunette from this morning walked over, plopping her tray down on the table beside Lilli.
"Don'tcha know?" The brunette began. "Lilli here's in total love! She spends all her time with Vashy-chan! Too bad he's meant to be with Roddy-sama!"
Lilli blushed once more, smacking the brunette on the arm with her book repeatedly, the brunette's brown eyes glittering from her laughter. "He isn't gay I'm not in love and I don't spend all my time with him!" She cried in one big rush.
Alfred burst into a laughing fit as Vash put his head in his hands. "Someone, kill me now..." He groaned, making Alfred laugh all the harder. I couldn't help but chuckle at the scene before me.
"Oh, by the way!" The brunette exclaimed when Lilli had finished trying to beat her to death. "Joanna's my name!" She held her hand out to me across the table, and I shook it firmly.
"M'name is Arthur." I smiled, and she smiled in return.
"So Arthur," Lilli said, clearing her throat. "Haven't seen you around. Where you from? Anywhere around here?"
"England, actually." When I stated this, Joanna looked at me oddly.
Her face was a mixture of surprise and... Bitterness?
"You're from England?" She emphasized my country's name as if it were a bad place. She looked at me with disbelief clear in her eyes.
"Why'd you come all the way here? Isn't all your family over there?" Lilli asked.
"Well, my mother and I needed a fresh start." They all leaned closer, expecting me to say more. "When my father left, we decided it would be best to move here, where we could start anew."
"Just because that douchebag left, you guys abandoned the rest of your family and moved here? You abandoned your own country?" Joanna spat.
"First of all, I only had one other living family member left in England! Second, we didn't 'abandon' our country. I miss my old house in London, thank you so very much." I held my ground, staying calm.
"I was purged from my country, mister! I miss my home land more than anything! My entire family is still there! But my mother, father and I were forced to leave the country!" Joanna continued, not seeming to have heard a word I said. "I wasn't allowed to stay in my home, and you who had the choice just decided you wanted to start over, leave, and forget about your home?"
Thank god the bell rang then, or I swear I might've snapped at her. She got up, flipping her bag over her shoulder and walking away huffily. Alfred just laughed, walking with me to our next class.
On the bus ride home, Alfred scooted over beside me. He tugged my earbud out, and he asked if I heard him. "Hn?"
"Dude, I asked if you wanted to hang with me today! The crap from history looks impossible!" Alfred looked at me, pleading.
"...You do realise it's only a five paragraph essay on Alexander the great, right?" I looked at him, my eyebrows raising.
"B-b-but I don't remembeeer!" He whined, and I sighed.
"I give up. I'll come over!" I laughed, and he hugged me, doing that cute giggle thing again. I blushed slightly.
"Alfred, you do know there are still other people on this bus...!" When I glanced up, I saw Joanna peeking over the back of her seat, snickering.
I apologize if Seychelles isn't very in-character! D: This is my first time writing her, and I don't know the character very well either...
Gilbert would review for me, cos he's awesome. Are you awesome?