Hello! Not much to say, I may or may not be slightly hung-over XD

Thank-you so much for your reviews guys, they really mean the world to me. Enjoy today's entry!

Twenty-Eight: Crush

Auburn eyes locked onto green and a staring match ensued between the two. The other pair of eyes, a melted-chocolate brown, shuffled nervously back and forth, wondering how exactly they managed to get themselves into these situations.

Wanting to break the extremely awkward silence which had clouded the outside table in the late English summer twilight, the brown-haired girl grinned before saying brightly, "So, the economy, huh? Kind of sucks doesn't it?"

The flame-haired girl who looked scarily like the other female at the table glared at her.

"Hmph. Don't even start…" She muttered, picking up her Guinness and taking a huge gulp, the faintest of smiles gracing her handsome features as she tasted its creamy texture.

The Englishman who was sitting with them, tried (and failed) to conceal a snort of derision.

"Yes, I suppose my economy is pretty much in the gutter too. But at least I didn't have to get a bailout…" He trailed off, eyes twinkling, mouth twisted into an infuriating smirk.

"England…" The brunette pleaded, her soft Northern Irish accent becoming desperate. God, she thought exasperated, I shouldn't have even started talking.

The other girl choked on her drink and let out a low, dangerous growl.

"Why you cheeky little-"

"HEY EVERYONE, HOW'S IT GOING?!"

The island nation known as England let out a short sign of annoyance. Now, never one to regret the seeing of his extremely good-looking boyfriend, he was still pretty angry because he was positively itching for a fight with his ex-sister, the beautiful but slightly mad Eily, otherwise known as the Republic of Ireland.

Giving a slight sniff of disdain, Ireland gave a curt nod to the newcomer while her sister simply winked at him.

'Evening America.'

America blinked, his face flushing a faint pink and he dropped his eyes to the floor.

Unbeknownst to the group of three, America always had a little crush on Ireland. She was just so unique. He knew his boyfriend would murder him if he ever found but so far America had been pretty tight-lipped about the whole thing. Not only because he would be killed by England but his sister, quite possibly the most mischievous nation in the world would never let him live it down and since she and Ireland looked so alike, Northern Ireland would assume he would want to jump into bed with her too. A notion, America was sure of, she would be only too happy to oblige to.

Unfortunately for the great superpower, earlier that day that damn Commie, Russia, had challenged him to a 'how many vodka shots can you down in a minute?' game and so was really, very, very pissed.

Northern Ireland gave a small giggle and whispered to her brother.

"Your boyfriend reeks of booze. God knows what little secrets would pour out of that brain of his, given an ounce of encouragement."

England glowered at his sister, giving her a don't-you-dare look and turned in his chair, smiling.

"Hello America." He opened his arms to get a welcoming hug but instead America crashed into him, jumping onto his lap and eagerly pressed his lips to his.

Northern Ireland grinned and gave her sister a wink, who, in turn, couldn't help but find the situation quite humorous.

"Geez, get a damn room." Emily muttered, after taking a sip of her red wine.

England, who had been in a state of shock, suddenly became animated and gave the American on his lap a hard shove so that he drew back, dazed and confused.

"America! Not in front of certain…company!"

America just laughed, throwing his head back but keeping his arms latched around England's shoulders.

"Awk, come on England, it's not like they're all innocent and stuff."

Ireland gave a quiet cough and shot her sister an incredulous look. Northern Ireland? Innocent? Oh look! A flying pig!

"What's that supposed to mean?" England demanded, looking at Emily now, who had suddenly become very interested with a rose bush in England's garden.

"Well let's just say if you went into Northern Ireland's closet, you wouldn't find just her clothes." He smirked at England and England blushed, turning his face to Emily.

"Northern Ireland? What is he talking about?"

"Oh come on, England! Are you seriously suggesting that the way France and I get on is no more than playful banter? How many times have you seen him and I in the position you are currently in with America and never said a word?" She made a slight tsking sound, "And to think they say America is oblivious to everything that goes on around him..."

"Hey!" America barked indignantly, "I'm totally good at sensing the mood and stuff; something a hero needs to be awesome at!"

Northern Ireland snorted.

"Yeah right Yankee. Just how long exactly did it take you to figure out that it was England who was sending all the love-letters, chocolates, flowers etc.?"

"It's not my fault that England was being so mysterious. If he had just come up to me and said, "Hey America, don't know if ya noticed but I'm kinda in love with you, fancy going for some dinner?" then that would have be brilliant. Sorry if him leaving soppy sonnets on my desk at world conferences confuses me a little."

England sniffed, looking slightly hurt, "I apologise for being a traditionalist America. Where I'm from, one must flatter their loved one first if they want their feelings reciprocated."

"Anyway," Northern Ireland interjected, eyeing up her brother's boyfriend, "I kind of understand America. I mean, I would be confused about getting love letters from someone else when I was crushing on a different person, you know?"

America stiffened and both England and Ireland turned to their sister.

"Meaning?" England asked, confused.

"Oh, you know the way America fancies Ireland."

Ireland choked on her drink for the second time that evening and gave her sister a disapproving look.

"Emily, you shouldn't make things up like that! Have some consideration for your brother."

England shocked, gazed at Eily.

"That is possibly the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Ireland stuck her tongue out at him.

"Don't get used to it."

England rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Northern Ireland.

"Emily, stop making up blatant lies to start an argument for your own entertainment. God's knows you do it enough times with France and me."

Northern Ireland seemed offended as she squawked out, "I'm not lying! Look, it's written all over his face! America, go ahead and try to deny that you don't like Ireland."

America still situated on England lap gulped and stood up.

"Um…"

"America?"

England looked up at him, not quite understanding the situation. America winced, his drunkenness not making him brave enough to either try and deny that he didn't like Eily (even if it was only a little crush!) or admit it and get his comeuppance.

Giving Northern Ireland his best 'I'm so going to kill you when I'm sober' look, to which she just raised an eyebrow in mockery, he turned on his heel and bolted.

…

Northern Ireland stood up as she watched him flee through England's front gates and bellowed, "COWARD!"

Sitting back down, she was greeted by a glare from her two siblings.

"What?" She asked defensively.

"Nice going, idiot." Ireland spat and turned to England and gave him her best apologetic look without looking sarcastic. She hated being nice to him but she did feel a little sorry for the guy.

England simply shook his head at Ireland as if to say it wasn't her fault. He did, however, glower at his sister.

"You should just shut your face the next time you notice things like that."

"Wait, you're not angry at him?"

England scoffed.

"Angry?" He laughed dryly, "I'm fucking furious, Emily."

Northern Ireland smiled in spite of herself.

"So I assume the next world conference is going to be interesting then?"

England downed his drink and narrowed his eyes.

"You assume correctly."

Poor, drunken America! Can't get a break! Hope you liked! Cheers, LucyMoon1992 x