((Oh goodness, it's been so long! I finally finished everything I needed to do for college, so I finally had the time to write. I have actually been looking this story over, and I realized that when it's all over I'm going to rewrite it so it's clean and without all of these damn OOC comments. Anyway, I'm happy to be back!
I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always, reviews and such are loved!))
Weeks passed and soon the talk of school floated about. Alfred wasn't exactly sure how he felt about being told he had to go to school. He had never actually been to one considering he was stuck at his previous household all day.
Matthew was only a year older than him, but that still meant they would be in different classes. Or at least, that's what Oliver was telling him. He had no idea how the school system worked. A part of him was excited, yet another part of him was uncomfortable and almost didn't want to go at all. However, after much convincing from Oliver and Matthew, he decided it might be fun. Maybe he'd make new friends for once in his life.
So it was a week later that Alfred found himself in front of a large red building. It seemed like it was smack dab in the middle of town. Oliver told him it was because it was where most of the kids around here went. Alfred hoped they were nice.
Alfred's knees were shaking as he stared at the crowds of children already entering the building with smiles on their faces. They probably had friends already. He closed his eyes for a moment while trying to calm himself down. He turned his head to Oliver and gave him his best hurt puppy look. Oliver, who was dressed in a carnation pink flannel shirt, frowned at him and knelt down.
"Now Alfie, I know you're scared dear, but you'll be fine. Your big brother will be around too, so don't forget that." He patted the boy's head with a weak smile. Matthew, dressed in a flannel shirt as well but in red, jumped out from behind the pink man and nodded in an encouraging manner.
Alfred let out a heavy sigh and finally grinned at the man. There wasn't any use in fighting it anymore, he supposed.
"Now you two have a good day, alright? Francis will be here to pick you up after school." Oliver leaned over to kiss both of the boys' foreheads before standing up and walking off slowly. The brothers waved at him as he forced himself away from them, biting his lower lip as he waved back.
"Remember to be cool, okay?" Matthew placed a hand on his shoulder and beamed down at him. Alfred meekly nodded and decided it was best to keep his gaze to the ground. He trailed after his brother as he went inside. He didn't want to lift his head up in fear that someone might try talking to him, however it was impossible to ignore the dozens of kids walking by. Adults, who he assumed were teachers, ran in all directions while calling out the names of their new students.
It wasn't going to be long until he had to separate from Matthew and would be all alone. Alfred was tempted to hide in a corner all day. He would if he could, but Oliver probably wouldn't be too happy about that.
"Matthew Williams," a teacher called out which caused both the American and his brother to look at her. Matthew gazed at the woman for a minute before turning his head to look at his brother. Alfred bit his lower lip and nodded at him, as he was fully aware he would have to depart.
"Just call me if you need me, okay?" His eyes burned into Alfred's.
"How will you hear me?" Alfred whispered. For a brief moment he wondered if the other didn't quite catch what he said.
"Don't worry, I'll hear ya." The brother gave him a thumbs up as he started walking in the direction of his new class. Alfred swallowed thickly and immediately dropped his gaze back to the floor. He could see his brand new sneakers with their red and black design Oliver let him choose. Francis had made fun of them earlier while they were preparing for school. He liked them though.
"Alfred Kirkland," another teacher called out and made Alfred's body tense up. He felt frozen in place as his heart began beating at a rapid pace. He felt like he was going to fall down and puke his heart out at this rate. He just wanted to go home and make cupcakes with Oliver. Before he could react there were tears building up in his eyes. Please, don't cry. Matt said to be cool, and crying isn't cool! He gnawed on his lower lip as the tears began making their way down his cheeks.
"Alfred Kirkland?" The teacher called out again. Any partial confidence he had that today was going to be a good day quickly disappeared as his tears began to drip onto the floor. Why couldn't he do anything right still? He didn't deserve to go to school like normal kids. He wasn't a normal kid. He was a freak. Mother was right.
"Excuse me," a voice called out next to him. Alfred glanced to the side and watched as a boy around his age stared at him with worried eyes. He had an orange shade of hair that could easily be mistaken for red; his hair was in what Alfred could only explain as multiple braids or something. His eyes were a matching shade of orange and he wore a blue shirt with multiple flowers on them. "Are you okay?"
Alfred sniffled and brought an arm up to wipe his eyes on his sleeve. Once he focused back on the boy he shook his head.
"What's wrong?" The other asked while tilting his own head to the side.
"I don't want to be here," Alfred coughed out.
"Is it your first time in school?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, school can be really fun." The boy broke out into a smile. Alfred looked at him for a long moment as he bit the inside of his cheek. "I think we're in the same class too." He gestured to the teacher watching them from afar with a smile. "Mr. Bondevik is really nice."
Alfred cleared his throat as he looked the boy over before smiling. "O-Okay!"
Both boys grinned now as they began walking toward their assigned classroom.
"I'm Diego," the other boy said as he waved at Alfred.
"I'm Alfred!" the tanned boy responded as they made their way into the room.
After taking a seat next to Diego, Alfred was much calmer than before. He was finally able to scan around the room and examine his new classmates. Dozens of faces smiled while others didn't. Were they angry? Sad? Alfred was curious considering he had just been crying a few minutes ago himself.
"I thought I knew all the kids here," Diego said from the seat next to his. "I never seen you 'round though!"
"I'm new here," Alfred shyly told the other. Diego made an 'o' shape with his mouth before turning his attention to the front of the classroom. Alfred followed his example.
After school Alfred had a big grin on his face. He had successfully made friends! He spent the day with Diego and the boy had introduced him to some other kids. Now he was friends with Diego, a nice girl named Mei, and a funny kid named Leon.
When he stepped out of his final class he was surprised to see Matthew waiting for him by the door with a smile. His smile didn't look real though, Alfred noted. It looked completely strained. As suspicious as that was, Alfred was just too happy to be concerned about it at the moment. Instead, he returned the smile and waved to the other.
"Let's go home," Matthew quickly responded as he gripped the younger boy's hand. Alfred's grin faltered then as he wondered why his brother was in such a hurry to leave. He decided it was better not to question it as he turned around and waved at Diego who was just exiting the classroom himself.
The two boys speedily made their way out the school gates and met up with Francis. When they got home, Oliver practically scooped them both up into his arms and spun around in a circle.
"Oh my babies! The house was so lonely here without you! How was school? Did you make any friends? Did you eat your lunch?" He continued asking as he lowered them down and inspected them over. Matthew groaned while Alfred smiled at the man's barrage of questions.
"Yes dad, we ate!" Matthew slumped over, mouth agape in disbelief as Oliver began to fiddle with a strand of his hair.
"Oh look at this hair, I keep telling Francis to cut it!" The pink-loving man began to mumble over to himself as Alfred found this opportunity to slip away. He knew him well enough to know that he was going to comment about his hair or clothes next.
He hurried to his and Matthew's room, but bumped into someone else along the way. He yelped as he nearly toppled over to the side, had it not been for two arms pulling him upright. He tilted his head up and peeped at the man in front of him. Francis glowered down at him with a grunt.
An awkward silence filled the air as the man and boy stared at each other for a long period of time. Finally the mute tension was filled as Francis crossed his arms over his chest and arched a brow. "How was school?"
Alfred cleared his throat and nodded, "It was fun!"
The grown man darted his tongue out and licked his lips as he pulled out a cigarette from his shirt pocket. "Good, you need an education or some shit," he nodded before turning away and walking off.
Alfred gazed at him as he left until he too turned away and continued into his room. After lowering his book-bag and collapsing onto his bed, he found himself yawning and pulling his pillow close.
Today was fun, but he needed a nice nap now.
The next day Alfred was up before anyone else in the house. He made it his mission to wake everyone up as soon as possible because in his mind if they woke up earlier then he would be able to go to school and see his friends sooner. It made perfect sense at the time.
"Oliver! Oliver!" He called out to the man as he hurried into his room and began tugging at the blankets Oliver and Francis were covered in.
"Mmn?" Oliver responded as he pulled a pillow over his head and yawned.
"Get up! Get up!" Alfred chanted as he began to climb onto the bed and jump up and down.
"Alfie honey, what's wrong?" The pink-haired man began to rub at his eyes as he sat up and pulled the young boy onto his lap.
The figure on the other side of the bed grunted. "Do you know what fucking time it is?" Francis barked as he too pulled his pillow over his head to try and block out the other two.
"Francis, language!" Oliver lightly hit the body to his side before facing Alfred again with a tired smile. "Honey, why are you up so early?"
"I want to go school!" Alfred showed his teeth with how big he was grinning.
The cupcake loving male couldn't keep himself from giggling and squeezing the boy close to him. "Oh you're so precious dear! School doesn't open until another three hours though. Go back to bed sweetie. You wouldn't want to fall asleep in class, would you?" He stroked the young American's hair as he spoke.
"No…," Alfred admitted as his eyes began to droop shut from the motion.
He was quickly asleep in a minute.
When he awoke later he was in his bed again. He wasn't sure how he got there, but he took a guess that Oliver brought him back. Upon looking outside the window and seeing daylight he hastily stood up and ran out of his room once again. This time, being positive that everyone was awake now since Matthew wasn't in his bed, he jumped down the stairs and nearly tumbled into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Alfred!" Oliver chimed as he placed a couple of plates down on the counter. "Go get ready so you can eat and go to school, okay?" Not having to be told twice, Alfred dashed away with a nod and got himself ready.
After his new morning routine and breakfast, they were off to school for another day.
"I'll see you two later!" Oliver waved as both Alfred and Matthew departed into the building.
While they were strolling down the main hallway Alfred looked up at his brother and noted his frown. They remained silent as they made their way to their assigned classrooms until Matthew stopped moving. Alfred arched both his eyebrows as he turned around to face the other.
"After school make sure to meet with me right away, okay?" Matthew whispered almost harshly.
The younger boy nodded despite the numerous questions he wanted to ask. Matthew didn't look willing to answer anything at the moment anyway. After they separated into their distinct classrooms again Alfred found himself almost worried. It didn't last long though due to Diego initiating a conversation with him almost immediately as he sat down.
It was probably nothing anyway.
As soon as the final bell rang and school was officially over, Alfred made sure to head over to Matthew's classroom right away. However, on his way down the hallway, he found himself being blocked by a few girls. There were three of them as far as he could tell.
"Excuse me," he whispered, taking a step to the side. However, one of the girls just mimicked his movements in order to continue blocking his path.
She had two rust-colored ponytails and a short purple dress. As he tilted his head up he noticed a smirk graced her features. "So you're the new punk we heard about? Rumor has it you're brothers with Matt."
Alfred found himself biting his lower lip as he took a step back from the suddenly alarming girl. She looked much older than him. In a flash of panic he began quickly backing away from the girls, hoping to reach the exit of the school. He had no such luck though because as he twisted around in order to run, the collar of his shirt was gripped and he felt himself be lifted up off the ground.
"I'll take that as a yes," the ponytail girl laughed and shook the small boy in the air. Alfred found himself sniffling as tears began to build up in his eyes again. It was only the second day and he was already about to cry again. "It's nothing personal, kid. You can blame your brother for what we're going to do."
"W-What are you gonna do?" The tears that threatened to escape now found their way down his cheeks.
"Payback."