A/N: I would've had this out sooner but school was being a pain and I was a little under the weather for a short while... Well I'm back now! Thanks of the reviews! They were greatly appreciated! Now, on with the story!
Chapter 3
Matthew extended his arms above his head to partake in a much-needed stretch as he walked out of his last class of the day. He loathed the fact that he had a late class on Thursdays but it was made up with not having any classes on Fridays. Somehow both he and his brother managed to have no school Fridays. He glanced at his phone to check the time: 5:30. Alfred would be out in about fifteen to twenty minutes.
Once outside he sat on a bench and gazed at the clouds passing by in the steadily darkening sky. Well, he didn't completely have Fridays off anymore…He thought back to the encounter after lunch.
Matthew sat in his seat as he looked over his notebook. What could Ms. Berlin want to talk about anyway? Was it about their interviews?
Ms. Berlin walked into the classroom, glancing to each of her students in turn. "Ah, I see you all are here." She set her bag on her desk and leaned against the desk. The T.A., Arthur Kirkland, waltzed in after her, taking his place near her against the wall.
"What is it you wanted to tell us?" chirped Feliciano.
She smiled at the younger Italian. "It's about your interviews."
Matthew glanced at his brother who was…Looks like Alfred wouldn't be listening anymore. He was dreamily gazing at the British male that had walked in after their teacher. Yep, Al was infatuated with the T.A. There was no hiding that. Matthew glanced over to Lovino who was sitting next to Feliciano. There was a devilish smirk on his face. It seemed that Lovino had noticed as well. Looks like Alfred wasn't going to hear the end of this… Matthew quietly sighed and directed his attention back on the teacher.
"Based on the people you've chosen, the six of you are all going to the same place: Holly Hill Research and Rehabilitation Center."
"We signed up to talk to a bunch of crack heads and alcoholics?"
Cold forest green eyes glared at the elder Italian who had asked the question. "Just because someone's in a Rehabilitation Center doesn't mean that they were on crack or addicted to alcohol." Ms. Berlin continued, turning to Arthur, her demeanor had completely changed. "Would you be a dear and retrieve the envelopes that I've prepared for them?" Once he had retrieved the envelopes and began to hand them to each group, she continued. "Inside each one there will be some basic information on the person you're interviewing, all the requirements for the project, and some questions to help break the ice of awkwardness." She paused for a moment. "Oh, I almost forgot! You all will be going there on Fridays. The first meeting will be tomorrow at 10:00 am."
"What?!" Lovino exclaimed.
Ms. Berlin warily glanced over at Lovino.
"What my brother means is that we have classes on Fridays, unlike the other four who are here." Feliciano clarified.
"Oh, that. I've already spoken with your teachers about that and it's all taken care of." She clapped her hand together. "Your new schedules are in your envelope. Though I'm still trying to figure out how the rest of you managed to have no classes on Fridays." She directed the last statement to the other four students in the room.
Arthur handed Matthew the envelope. The Brit glanced at Alfred who was staring down at his lap with a faint dusting of pink on his face. Yep. Al was no use to him at the moment. The Brit huffed, rolled his eyes, and made his way to where he was earlier. Lovino was going to have a Field Day teasing Alfred later on. Matthew sighed and nudged his brother to get his attention and save the other from any more embarrassment. Alfred jolted, lightly furrowing his brows as if trying to figure out where he was and how he had gotten there. Just to give the other something to do so that he wouldn't become embarrassed once again, Matthew handed the envelope to his brother.
Alfred eyed it for a moment, then opened it. They both skimmed over the papers until Matthew came to a photograph. This must be the person that they'd be interviewing. He had long, wavy blond hair for a male that was tied back with a blue ribbon. He was seated in front of a large tree, the leaves giving off patchy shade, but Matthew could tell that he had crystal blue eyes that seemed to be dancing with the slightest amount of mischief. Matthew frowned. The blond in this photo looked to be in his teens, but the documents said that he was twenty-five. Matthew flipped over the photograph and found a date printed in orange ink on the middle of it. Oh, it was taken about ten years ago. That would explain the age discrepancy.
"Looks like he's up to something. I don't trust him," Alfred muttered under his breath after glancing at the photograph.
Matthew gaped at his brother in disbelief. "You don't even know him! You have no right to judge him!"
"Well, I don't trust him."
Matthew narrowed his eyes. "Go back to ogling at Arthur," he murmured darkly.
A light blush dusted Al's face. "I was not!"
Matthew huffed. He couldn't believe his brother. Why did he have to be such an ass sometimes? Matt couldn't take it anymore. He needed some space so he glanced to where Feliciano and Lovino were seated; who were conversing in Italian, with Lovino being the more animated one with agitation in his voice. Well that wasn't new. Lovino probably wasn't too keen on the idea of a new schedule. No use bothering them right now. He glanced over to where Roderich and Vash were seated. The brunette looked pale, like he had witnessed a ghost. Roderich was slightly pale to begin with so to actually see a difference in skin tone was pretty shocking. Matthew stood from his seat and walked over to them. "You okay, Roderich? It looks like you've seen a ghost."
They both looked up. Roderich seemed completely lost. Vash said something to him in German, making the other shake his head as if to clear his mind and actually look at Matthew.
"Are you okay?" Matthew asked again.
"J-Ja...I am."
Matthew didn't buy it but Roderich would tell him what was wrong if or when he was ready. Though he shouldn't have asked Roderich this question because of how he was acting, but curiosity got the better of him. "So, what does your person look like?"
The brunette stared at the photo for a moment as if he were contemplating on whether or not he would let Matthew see the photo. He slowly handed it over.
The picture was taken indoors, maybe in someone's house. He was seated in a chair looking away from the camera. Maybe he was looking out a window or something. There must've been a window open in that direction because the tablecloth that was on the small table beside him was moving as if the wind was pushing it. He had very pale hair, almost silver or white. His skin was pale as well. Looking closer Matthew could see a hint of red for his eyes. Was he an albino?
"How old is he?"
"Twenty-two," Roderich supplied flatly.
Matthew furrowed his brow. "He looks young for a twenty-two year old." Looking for the date that should have printed on the back, he turned it over, but he found
nothing.
"It was taken about five years ago."
What? How could Roderich have known that? There was no indication of when it was taken. Oh well, maybe the brunette was just speculating. Matthew returned the photo to Roderich.
Matthew felt someone sit down beside him on the bench.
"You ready to go?"
Matthew nodded hearing his brother's voice.
They both got up and headed towards the parking lot. Within a few minutes they had pulled into their personal garage across from their apartment. Matthew glanced at the motorcycle parked on the other side of the garage. Usually they drove it to school unless one of them had a mountainous load to carry or the weather was nasty. That morning the sky looked like it was going to take revenge on humanity for putting so much crap into its atmosphere, but before lunch it had cleared up.
Once the garage had closed, they made their way to their door on the second floor. Alfred unlocked the door, dropped his things just beyond the threshold, leaving his brother to nearly trip over the other's stuff but caught the door frame to catch himself, and jumped onto the couch letting out a over-dramatic sigh of relief.
Really? Seriously? "Your carelessness is going to get me killed one day," Matthew exasperatedly muttered. Sometimes it was hard living with his twin. It wasn't like Alfred was a really messy person; it was just that sometimes he would leave things in the most awkward of place like invisible land mines ready to detonate.
Alfred turned his head and glanced at the other. "You're still talking, aren't you? I think that means you're not dead," he commented in a-matter-of-fact, flipping on the television.
"You're hopeless." Matthew walked passed him, glancing at the floor to make sure he wouldn't trip on anything else, to put his stuff in his room. His room, well no, both of their bedrooms were a fairly large size. There was too hockey sticks above his bed. Hey he had to be able to defend himself while half sleep if an intruder came. His comforter looked like a giant Canadian flag. There was a desk near the window with his laptop. There were a few knickknacks on the bookshelf and dresser. Above the door hung a Canadian flag. His brother's room looked just about the same just with the American flag instead and a couple of footballs too, which Matthew still didn't understand how to throw... He also failed to understand how "football" had become so popular in America. Hockey was more up Matthew's alley.
It had taken quite a while to find this apartment. Neither of them had liked living in a dorm on campus, so after freshman year they acquired this apartment. They both worked to help with the rent and other expenses, but they didn't have to have a job. Their dad was a very influential politician in D.C., their mother a surgeon. So when they sent money, they sent money.
Matthew returned to the main room and plopped down beside his brother. Alfred had a childish grin on his face. "We've been having Fridays off for the past two weeks! And this one's on different! I could get used to this." He leaned back folding his arms above his head.
Freshman year they had piled on as many classes as they could, even taking summer school for a few classes, in order to get ahead. Sophomore year they took a normal class load, leaving this year, their junior year, with an exceedingly light course load. The first three days of the week their last class, usually only an hour long, was after lunch, but on Thursdays they had a late class. He figured it couldn't be helped; they basically had almost half-days every day.
Matthew arched his eyebrow. "You weren't listening after lunch were you? We have to be at Holly Hill at ten in the morning."
Alfred groaned. "Do we have to?"
"Do you want to fail the class?"
"No…."
"Then I suggest that you should come with me."
A/N: That's it for this chapter. I'm sorry that there was no Francis in this one, but I couldn't decide what to do for his section. So I decided to post the chapter instead of delay it even longer... So next chapter will probably be their encounter. Please review!
