Hello...
To Anon: Yes, well I really did want to post up the next chappie, but when I went back and read all the chappies, I thought, "Imna edit all of these." I do apologize for restarting the story, but I really did need to get them edited. I have a beta but I don't know how that works. So instead I asked a couple of friends to edit them. But hopefully by the next weekend or the week after all would be posted back up and fairly edit.
NOW readers. Read this!
Little Madeline looked out the window. Houses passed by, some looked nice some didn't, but the neighborhood was in terrible shape. She saw groups of people in saggy clothes, young girls pushing strollers and kids playing in the street, all these people didn't look like the people on TV. She put her gaze at her twin brother. Alfred looked very excited. "Auntie, where are we going?"
"For the last time, we're going to our new home. Now shut up and listen to Sex Pistols!" Their aunt, a woman of aggression and addiction was their guardian. She had a cigarette burned voice and the attitude of an angry teenage girl even though she's in her mid-twenties. The woman took a deep drag from her Winston* and turned up the radio. The song 'Gallow Is God' blared through the speakers. "This is real music okay both of you? I don't want to hear any hip-hop or techno crap, unless it's industrial!"
The twins nodded letting their wild blonde locks bounce around. Their aunt put the vehicle to a sudden stop then she turned in her seat with her cigarette dangling between her fingers "Well here we are. Now get your butts out and unload!"
Their new home was a wrecked suburban home of the seventies. Its paint was the color of piss, the grass badly maintained, even the garage looked like there was a family of raccoons living in there. Madeline hesitated; she wondered what the inside was like. Their aunt left the car and yelled over her shoulder to hurry and bring the things inside.
Alfred held the car door open for little Madeline. Then he ran around to the back of the station wagon to retrieve the belongings. Madeline examined the concrete beneath her feet. It looked like someone was killed, the blood stained there, never being cleaned, and from the looks of it, the previous owner used the area as a toilet, and oil drainage.
"Maddie?" Her twin brother's concern voice startled her. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah. This place is just…different." Madeline awkwardly whispered, then pulling out some duffle bags from the trunk. "R-ready?"
The twins slowly entered the home. The first thing Madeline noticed was the carpet, it was the color of shit brown, some horrifying looking stains and what looked like gum spotted the floor. The wallpaper wrinkled with olive green stripes and a tine of orange flowers. A damp moldy smell hung in the air.
"Where's that girl?" Their aunt emerged from the kitchen holding a warm Old Milwaukee.
"Right here!" Eagerly smiling Alfred nudged his twin with a free elbow. Her aunt looked at her in surprise. Then she quickly walked over like she was ready to kick the child in the face. Madeline winced when the taller woman knelt down to face level.
"Alife, get out of our little space" She monotonously ordered. Taking a loud gulp of her beer, she wiped her lips. "I want you to get my black bag on the passenger side of the car, and take out my needles and the little squares, then come back in here and prepare it for me. Okay sweetie?"
"O-okay."
Madeline carefully dug through the black bag. There were tons of things in there like, pocket knives, pill containers, shoe laces, pipes, there was even a gun in there. Madeline knew not to play with all those things, after last time when she thought a vitamin looking pill with an animal design was candy, then finding herself in the hospital for 'accidentally getting into auntie's medication'. She found what she was looking for, a case filled with needles and aluminum squares with white powder inside it. A large white dually truck loaded with the basic home necessities: couches, tables, a TV, and mattresses. The little blonde girl quickly walked inside to tell her aunt that her 'friends' are here.
"Good, now prepare four, and this is for you!" Her aunt patted Madeline's wave messy hair, and put something in her mouth. To make her 'feel' better. She placed the case of needles down on the old ash colored counter. A small J.D cap and drops of water mix in the powdery contents. A lighter. Finally the cotton ball. "Auntie, I'm finished." She didn't hear her. Madeline left the contents on the counter, she started to not feel anything.
The little blonde girl made her way down the hall to where Alfred has claimed their room. She felt heavy, relaxed, she felt that there was nothing around her, and then laid her head down on a lumpy duffle bag. She closed her eyes, deep into sleep.
"Welcome to Hetalia Academy. I hope both of you will like our school. We have the nicest students, great cafeteria, fun classes, and comfy dorms." A tall middle aged man stood in front of Alfred and Madeline in a tan suit. He spoke like he was advertising a commercial.
Welcome to hell for a day or a lifetime. I giggled when Alfred grumbled his silly comment. I know he dislikes school, but I'm sure he'll like it here at this one. The tall man in front of us is the dean, and it seems like he heard Alfred because he ceased his speech.
"Well son, this place is better than public school and you kids will be safe here." The dean patted Alfred's shoulder then patted Madeline's head; she winced at the sudden contact. Alfred grabbed Madeline's hand giving it an assuring squeeze "You'll be treated like my own children. Lots of food and respect!"
Alfred fist pumped at the mention of food.
Alfred and the dean walked towards the main building as I stood lingering. I thought of that word. Safe. Will I be safe here? Does that mean I'm supposed to be happy? Am I going to make friends? There were questions I wanted to ask someone who knew, but only I wouldn't know if I did try, right? But the thought of making friends, it made me nervous. I'll admit it, I never really had friends and I'm too socially awkward. Usually I get really nervous when someone talks to me, I worry I might be judged, that I might not be liked and I would be hated.
The girl's dorm seemed massive from where I stood, it was four stories. The outside was made of red brown brick with tall windows. This place seemed really old fashion on the outside until I passed through the glass doors. Inside it looked modern. With the white walls and the sun shining through the tall windows I felt like was back in the old church where those nuns temporarily took care of us.
Somehow I found my way up to the room where I was to stay. It took me a while but I found it on the third floor. Inside the wall was white, mid-way down the wall it turns into oak brown. I like the ceiling the most, it's smooth like it's never been pricked with thumbtacks or tape. Two beds lined either side of the wall. To the left was the bathroom, it looked clean white! The bed near the bathroom seemed like the bed of my roommate. It has so many pretty looking colors. Now that I scan her side of the room, she might be Asian. Her bed is just a mattress on the floor with lots of pretty blankets. There's a lamp in the shape of a tiny tree, what were those trees called? I'll have to ask my new roommate when I meet her! And look posters of anime! She's an anime lover? I am always curious about anime! I can't wait to meet her.
"Hello Are you my new roommate?" I heard a soft voice behind me. Turning on my heel, I was excited to meet my roomie.
"Hello." I can see that she is Japanese. "M-my name is Madeline Williams"
"I'm Sakura Honda, pleasure to meet you Madeline" She had her hair in a short bob that framed her jaw and straight cut bangs that made her eyes somehow pop out. I noticed she was at least 5'1 as I stood a few more inches taller than she.
"Maddie! Why do you have a bunch of stuff! I didn't even you had this many things!" My twin entered the room out of breath. "Oh, hello! I'm Maddie's twin brother Alfred! I'm also a hero!"
I giggled at Sakura's confused expression. "Hero? Oh, My name is Sakura. Nice to meet you, Alfred"
Alfred seems tired. "Here Alfie, Let me take this bag, and you can set the rest on the floor. And also I think you should get settled in."
"Alrighty Maddie-o! Remember I'm in room um… 79! See you soon!"
Smiling I closed the door. Looking back at Sakura she gave me a small smile. "Well its lunch right now, would you like me to show you around?"
"Yes, that would help a lot!" I looked back at my luggage. "I'll have to get settled in first."
"Hai! I'll go get us our lunch and bring it up."
"Thank you!" I chirped.
Sakura left me alone in the room. Closing the door, I huffed, and dug through the bag in my hand. There was a small hand held radio. Popping in a cassette labeled 'Sleeping Where I Want' then turning up to the highest volume, I was ready to settle in. My favorite song played from my mix tape, *Daydream. Somehow I love the way Alternative bands of the nineties express their music, it makes me feel really safe and it's a haven for me. I never really liked the pop music either, just a few thought, like The Cure, or maybe P!nk. I guess I picked that up from my aunt who endlessly listened to this kind of music.
"Okay, what's first. Oh, sheets." Pulling out a red comforter, it fitted nicely onto the bed. My pillow white of course, and two blankets, one is a red, which is thick, and my other is white with maple leaves, it is thin, were placed neatly on the bed. My wall looks blank; luckily I brought some nice posters. First goes the Canadian flag!
Carefully choosing a space to put the flag, I decided to place it right next to my bed. "My daydreams, screams bitter til' the end, the love I share, true, selfish to the heart"
Singing along until there was an angry knock on the door, I was surprised someone is here to complain already. There was yelling on the other side.
"Y-yes?"
"Can you turn that crap down! I'm trying to finish some work!" A short Asian girl burst through the door pointing an accusing finger at my face.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know you disliked this kind of music. M-my name is Madeline, I am new here!" I rapidly spat out an apology. I was not aware that an acoustic song by Smashing Pumpkins is considered crap, it's an acoustic song!
"Oh, so you're the new student?" It was hard not to laugh at the Asian's expression. Priceless. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. Oh and my name is Wang Yao by the way."
Chinese? Wow, is this floor filled with Asians? "Uh it's alright, but it's nice to meet you Wang Yao."
At least today a couple of people will notice me.
"Oh, hello Yao, did you come to meet Madeline-san?"
"Sakura you're back!" Yao glomped Sakura.
Madeline walked around the surprisingly large campus with Sakura and Wang Yao. The expedition was going great but Madeline felt that she was being watched otherwise stalked. The only person I can think of surveillance is Alfred. I bet he's just making sure I'm meeting the right people.
As odd as it may seem Madeline was smiling down at her feet. She told herself that maybe she can finally have a new start like she was promised many times. The sisters were talking away, asking Madeline about her old school, about her classes, and the usual girly stuff.
The school was rather large, with a variety of students from different countries. There were so many hallways, so many stairs, and so many candy machines, Madeline had to have all her classes far from each other. 'It'll be a workout!'
"Do you think you'll date anyone here?" Yao nudged Madeline on the side. She stopped in her steps. Madeline viewed into golden and brown orbs that appeared to be waiting for an answer.
"Date?" The thought of dating frightened Madeline. She didn't want to date anyone after her bad history with men; even if she never dated or had a relationship she was either terribly tormented by the boys from her old school, or molested or nearly raped by her aunt's so called 'guy friends'. "P-probably not."
"Well I bet you'll change your mind!" Yao again nudge Madeline's side. "Sakura here has a boiiifriend"
Sakura blushed. "Yao!"
"Our friend Maddie should know! I mean I did date someone but he transferred! Now tell our dear friend about lover boy Sakura!"
'Friend?' The word friend was foreign to her. She has never been called 'friend' just a 'lab partner' or 'gym partner' who was forgotten. It sounded very raw to repeat friend over and over in her head. Thinking the word made her want to say it. In her usual whisper voice while Yao and Sakura were having a sibling rivalry moment. "Friend"
"What was that Madeline?" Sakura face was pink.
"Ah nothing, sorry, what is your um boyfriend like?" The blonde girl awkwardly laughed that sounded more of a whimper.
Sakura's face was now hot pink. "W-well he likes cats-"
"Hey, Maddie! Making friends already? Neat! Heyyyy um Saaaakuuura right?" Alfred literally skipped up to the girl trio. His blue eyes were shimmering with enthusiasm.
The Japanese girl nodded with a slight smile. "Hai, hello again Alfred. This my elder sister, Wang Yao."
Yao loudly said 'elder' as Alfred laughed his 'heroic' laugh "Hiiiiii Yao!"
"Hello, so you're Madeline's twin brother? Hmm" The Chinese girl seemed to be scanning Alfred, tracing her golden eyes up then trailing off a different direction.
"Yao what's wrong?" Madeline was suddenly concern for Yao. She was eyeing him like he was guilty of a crime. Which I'm sure he is but she doesn't have to know that.
"That really tall guy has been following us since the dorm. Did you speak with him yet, um Alfred?" Yao pointed in the direction of the library. I saw the end of a scarf or jacket disappear behind the double doors.
"Uh yeah I think I did, Forgot his name though. Freakishly tall, with a sadistic smile, right?" He scratched his head then flicked his tongue like he was thinking too hard to remember.
Both Asians nodded in agreement. Madeline shrugged off his bizarre description.
"Does this guy think he's Patrick Bergin? Well why the hell is he following us? Does he have a thing for either of you?" Alfred loudly spat out question after question that it echoed throughout the large hallway. I tried to sink into the background but it was no use, Alfred already caught everyone's attention.
"Alfred, Patrick Bergin stalked his wife who left him in that movie, so please drop it" I poked the side of my twin's head.
"No matter what! THE HERO, which is me, WILL NOT LEAVE YOUR SIDE!" Alfred stood in an overly confident stance ignoring my earlier statement.
"Hero?" Yao crossed her arms and gave a 'is this guy serious' look at her sister who just cumbersomely smiled. "Very protective brother aren't you?"
"Alfred, what if I had to use the restroom" Madeline giggled when her twin's confident face became blank at trying to process the information.
"Uh?" Alfred thought for a few seconds.
"Okay, lets go, we need you in school uniform and then get to class. Let's see again, the class you're starting with is fifth period. World History with Mr Carlton." The short Chinese girl hooked her arm around Madeline's arm then took her the opposite direction. "I'll see you back at the dorm Sakura."
"Okay, bye." Sakura bowed. "See you around Alfred."
"Yeah, I'll see you later."
Yao escorted Madeline back to the dorm. "Okay so this is our winter uniform. Sophomores are pretty much required to wear this." She held out Madeline's uniform. It was black and red. The skirt black and a bit shorter than her old uniforms, and a thing gold stripe lined close to the hem. The jacket was also black, but the undershirt was red. "The freshmen, or fresh meat, wear blue undershirts, and juniors are a brown beige, more like gold." Yao pulled on her collar to show that she's wearing a junior class uniform, "And the seniors wear white. Got it?"
"Y-yeah." Madeline hurried into the bathroom. Luckily it's a jacket; I don't think I would be able to hide these scars. Closing her eyes, she traced thin fingers down her arms, remembering their history, the way the lines, and the dots felt, she was disgusted with her body. She examined her torso in the mirror. Her ribs still sort of showed, and her collar bone was very noticeable. The skirt was a problem. Bruises were a faded purple where on her shins and a lot of terrible scars littered her skeletal legs. "Um Yao can you um hand me the tights on my bed?"
"Here you go," A small hand along with black tights entered the crack of the door. "Need anything else."
"N-no, but thank you." Madeline was finished dressing. Checking one last time in the mirror for anymore flaws glanced down to her legs. The tights didn't help much. The black fabric pooled around her ankles, and fitted loose. It made her look like she was too skinny for her clothes. Then again all she had to do is whisper "My body is disgusting."
Nodding, she quickly tugged on her blonde pigtails then emerged from the lavatory.
"Wow that uniform looks good on yo-…." A sudden silence. "Are you really gonna wear those hideous shoes!"
She looked down at her shoes. They were worn out combat boots. It was the only pair of shoes Madeline ever had, since she was unable to get any other type of shoes, unless her old ones no longer fit or grinded down. Madeline couldn't help but feel ashamed in her boots. "I-it's the o-only pair I have."
"I see." Both girls heard the bell ring. "Oh we'll solve this later, but right now, I'll get you to class."
"O-okay"
"Madeline, where the hell are you?" An furious voice thundered through their new apartment. "Damn it Madeline. When I get my hands on that girl-" She stomped over to the bathroom then kicked open the door. Crying Madeline and Alfred were hiding in the stained tub that had no shower curtains. "What the hell is this? I told you that the dealer will be coming over today! You fucking screwed up." She yanked both children out of the tub nearly dislocating their shoulders. Watching the woman kick open the bedroom door, a bright light blinded the two children. "I'll teach you both a god damn lesson!" The voice was stone cold and sour.
The young Canadian shot up from her bed hyperventilating and shaking. Her roommate was still sound asleep. "It was just a dream" 'about when we were little'. Madeline wanted to run to Alfred's dorm room but that would be breaking the rules going out after curfew. She rested her head back on the pillow.
The room is very quiet. Madeline looked through her school bag. She pulled out her mp3. Choosing a random song she closed her eyes. I am doll eyes, doll mouth, doll legs, I am doll arms, big veins, dog bait…. Madeline wondered if she was not the only one with the aching pain.
Sometimes when I think hard enough I see my mother. She would be waiting on the bridge where she always took us to listen to the birds, to the river, and to her stories. Her eyes, pools of blue, would be looking over the wooden rail, wearing her favorite white sun dress that had tiny faded maple leaves dotted on it, I still remember that dress. The sun would be in the evening, and reflected off the river below making it glitter, and making her like an angel. I would see her smile, and I'd hear Alfred's loud laughing waving over at me. They both look the same. Blonde hair, eyes pools of blue, and that smile. I'm glad Alfred has her smile, so I would never forget. I wonder if I have her smile. No one has ever said anything about it. I hardly remember her laugh. Was it full of joy? Or was it sad? I want to feel her soft blonde hair again, I want to remember her smell, I want her arms to be around Alfred and me, telling us that she loves us.
Why am I haunted by her dead eyes so suddenly? Oh yeah, her dress, she died in that dress, she drowned in her eyes, the pools of blue. The blonde girl sighed repeating the end of the song. "Someday you will ache like I ache."
The Canadian girl finished putting up her posters that morning. She looked from left to right. "Let's see, so the *Canadian hockey team looks good, and the *Frances Farmer poster looks nice. Now the, oh, I think I should switch these two." Madeline pulled the thumb tacks from the 'Smashing Pumpkins' then swapping 'Billie Holiday' where it was above the hockey poster. "Yay."
Madeline dug through her bag checking if she missed anything. There were some folded papers, with the familiar poster texture hidden at the bottom beneath some books. She pulled four folded squares out, each the size of her notebook. Careful to not tear the delicate paper, she suddenly blushed. This is Alfred's pin-up girl posters!
"Your um band poster reminds me of Alice's posters Madeline-san." Sakura reached over placing her hand on one of the posters. "I'll introduce you to her later, okay? Uh, Madeline. Are you okay?"
Breaking out of shock. "Y-yeah, I uh, I n-need to go see A-alfred." With that said Madeline darted out of her dorm room. Oh Alfred.
She dashed out of the girls' dormitory building like there was a fire. She made way across campus to the boy's dorm. It appeared similar to the girls' dorm; however there were fewer trees around. She heaved open the glass doors then abruptly ran into someone. She fell straight to the floor.
"Watch where you're goi-" The stranger she bumped into turned around waving his fist. He was unaffected by the sudden force, but was dumbfound when he saw that there was no one in sight. He heard a whimper from below. His eyes widen to his surprise. "Oh, hey, sorry! The awesome me is sometimes a klutz, you know, being awesome 24/7, its hard work."
Madeline held the square papers close to her chest. "I-it wa-as my faul-t." She was startled to see the person she bumped into. She looked up at him. Red eyes? White hair? So he's albino. What are the odds? Shaking her head out of the trance, the albino held out his hand.
"My name is Gilbert. The awesome Gilbert. And what's your name birdie?" Gilbert threw in an unusual laugh, "Kesesese"
Madeline looked once more up at the albino's face. She suddenly cowered when she saw his smirk, and his laugh made it worse. She wanted to turn around and run but a familiar voice boomed out of nowhere.
"Get the hell away from my sister!"
The * stuff:
Winston: Its a cigarette brand.
Canadian hockey team: I don't know anything about hockey.
Francis Farmer: A beautiful woman and actor from the 1930s era
Note: If you were a previous reader you must have noticed that I have restarted the story. I did contact some readers who favorited the story but those who were Anon or just a reader I couldn't think of any other way to contact any of you. I do apologized for that. Once I reread most of the chapters to this story I took note of the mistakes, the short chapters. I do have Beta, but I don't know how the hell that works, so instead I have a couple of friends reading/editing this for me. Possibly I'll invovle my teachers from school cause they're just cool and they always ask me if I write and I'm just "Fyeah I write" (I really don't say that), but anyways I just won't tell them its fanfiction, pfft. I got off topic.
Oh yeah, has anyone ever listen to those songs that I use to recommend to go along with the chapter? If so, just say so and I'll possibly recommend songs again!
Please review or PM, whatever makes you happy :D
