Coming To Terms

by Canadianapologies

After moving to America, Arthur Kirkland considers himself to be even more of an outsider than he did back home. Just trying to get by through the rest of high school, he meets Alfred Jones. And so begins the rest of his crazy, unpredictable school year. This is your traditional USUK cringe.

11. Chapter 11

"Do I really have to go?" I whine, glancing over at him.

"Hell yea," he childishly makes his case.

"But it's going to be so crowded and stuffy," I bicker.

"But it's to commemorate the end of the football season! And all my friends are gonna be there!" he argues back.

"The football season ended last month and you can go by yourself. Hang out with your friends, dance with a pretty girl. I don't give a damn. Just as long as I don't have to go anywhere."

"You're so difficult to work with."

"Damn straight."

"But you're gonna look back on this years from now and feel nothing but regret!"

"Regret that I went?"

"C'mon, what do I gotta do to make you come?"

I tighten the fists I've placed on the desk and lower my head, bringing my shoulders damn near up to my ears.

"Ask me properly?" I sarcastically suggest.

"Will you come to Homecoming with me?" Alfred asks politely.

"No," I contradict.

He gasps, placing a hand over his heart, "You played me, meanie!"

"And you're surprised by this?"

"Just c'mon! I want ya to be there with me so I can show you off and-"

"No means no, Alfred!" I hiss in assertion.

He pouts and dramatically folds his arms over his inflamed chest, returning his eyes to the white board directly ahead. I fume my anger through my note taking, Ms. Jones rambling on in the background of my thoughts. The bell rings and everyone scrambles to collect their things from the overdue lesson and to catch their bus. Psh, my ride's not going anywhere, I don't need to hurry for shit. I finally zip up my bag just as soon as Alfred slings his over his back and waits patiently by my desk. His neutral expression strikes me intrigued, but I head for the door, anyways, trekking down the hallway.

"Aren't ya gonna hold my hand?" I overhear Alfred grunt from behind me. I turn around and give him my best bitch face. Or my resting face, in simpler terms. He smiles and grabs my hand regardless and swings it around like his own personal plaything. I forcefully take my arm back and he whines.

"Why won't you let me hold your hand or anything?" Alfred asks, trailing behind me as I pick up the pace.

"Because," I think for a second to come up with an excuse. "I don't like PDA much, so drop it."

"Can I get a kiss instead?" he applies.

"If I don't want to hold your bloody hand, why in God's name would I want to kiss you?" I lip back.

He looks down perplexed at his fore stretched fingers, muttering, "My hand's not covered on blood." Alfred shakes his head, proceeding in conversation, "Pick one."

I stop, causing Alfred to bump into my back and almost fall into the near empty hallways. He nervously chuckles as he grabs my shoulders and brushes me off unnecessarily. I roll my eyes and whip back around, takings his wrist with me and sliding his hand into mine. He seems pleased as I drag him out of the school, he squeezing my fingers like the ignorant idiot he is. Damn, it hurts. Alfred staggers behind even when I've finished towing him back to the car.

"Open the car, fuckwit," I demand as nicely as I can muster today.

He pulls out his keys and unlocks the vehicle as I pace to the other side, climbing in and waiting as patiently as I can for Alfred to start the car and take me home. Instead, he jabs the key into the ignition and leaves it there, turning to me with that stupid look on his face.

"May I help you, sir?" I backtalk, crossing my arms and projecting my glare through the windshield. Damn, all I want is to go the fuck home.

"Do you remember a couple months ago when we had that oh so perfect romantic encounter in this very car?"

"Huh?"

"When you told me to shut up and I told you to make me and you said you would-"

Oh shit, I remember doing that now. "I don't remember anything of the sort," I cut off. He leans in closer and lovingly taps his forehead on mine.

"You owe me, Artie," he commands.

"I don't owe you flaming shit," I toss back.

Alfred does his own thing and tilts his head back for his lips to reach mine. He retracts but keeps his closeness to my mouth.

"And if my memory serves me right," Alfred starts again, "you did the same thing again shortly after."

I bring my eyebrows together and he laughs, "I'm waiting."

I suck it up and kiss him again, quicker than the last time, if that's even possible. He does a little happy dance in his seat, eyelids remaining shielded, and I press, "Drive, moron."

Alfred shrugs it off and starts the car, taking me back home and escorting me back up to my place. I open the door and look back at him, shocked by his presence.

"You aren't coming in?" I ask, perplexed. He's usually so clingy all the damn time.

"No, I have to go run errands." he excuses, hands in his jacket pockets. He shrugs his shoulders and walks off, "Guess I'll see ya later."

I watch him walk down the flight of stairs to my right and cringe my face in aggression. He's definitely up to something.

"Not even the slightest goodbye kiss," I mumble under my breath. I storm to my bedroom, slamming my front door, and retrieving my laptop, picking up where I left off on this chapter.

t(-_-t)

A rhythmic rapping comes down on my front door, like I couldn't already tell who it would be. I bury my face deeper into my pillow, hoping he'll go away. A couple minutes later: No progress. Okay, scratch that. Just get off your ass and answer the fucking door. I throw the blanket off of my legs and force them to carry me to the living room. My tired eyes glance around the moonlit room in search of my alarm clock. 3:49 AM. I attend to the door in a disheveled manner, a face nobody could say good morning to, not even Alfred. I unlock the door handle and swing it open, discovering him standing like a goon on my doorstep.

"What the fuck do you want?" I inquire, fed up with his bullshit. "Have you any idea what time it is?"

"It's about four in the morning and I wanted to ask you something," he responds a little too drawn out.

"Yes?"

He grabs my left hand and gets on one knee, looking up to me with those perfect blue eyes.

"Artie, will you go to Homecoming with me?"

Well, at least he asked nicely. And he did ask twice. "Why not?"

Alfred shoots back up to his feet and envelops me in his asininity. "Aw, thank you, Artie!"

I warily pat his back, not knowing what exactly to do. He lets me go, holding my hands and I finally notice how unfastidious he really appears. Bags patrolling his under eyes and his hair a little ruffled.

I cock my head and ask, "What's with you? And why did you think coming here at this ungodly hour would make you seem more appealing as my date?"

"I told you, I had errands to run," he makes as clear as mud. "And I wanted to wait until after my errands to ask you, just in case you were still mad at me."

I sigh and wrap my arms around his neck, "No, I wasn't mad at you. Just annoyed."

"Jeez, that's any better," he yawns, turning his head the other way and snaking his hands around my waist afterwards. I start to feel my eyes droop and Alfred bob his head and rests it on my forehead.

I stand for a little bit with him, closing my eyes for a brief minute, before I mumble, "Do you need to stay over?"

"A little bit," he answers half awake.

"Then why don't you come inside?" I suggest.

He takes a sharp breath through his nose to reposition his head on me. "You go."

I twist my neck to rest my ear on his neck and and mutter, "You go."

He continues breathing normally with his head on my neck, as if he actually fell asleep in my arms. Instead, I feel Alfred's feet shuffle forward and I blindly follow, not wanting to take my hands off of him. I stagger my way backwards as he lazily closes the door with the back of his foot. He pauses a moment to get a better grip on me and I lift an eyebrow in concern, but still not bothering to open my eyes or move for that matter. Then, I sense my feet leave the ground and a surge of panic shoots through me.

"What're you doing, Al?" I mumble, keeping my head on his shoulder. He remains unresponsive and I put the pieces together that he's carrying be back to bed as I feel the linen sheets come in contact with my exposed skin. I sense his presence back with me when the bed sinks and a pair of arms wrap around my neck, the head resting itself on my stomach. I pet him and take a big breath, inhaling the drug of sleep.

"Ugh, are you sure you still want to go?" I ask, looking down at my attire. Black dress shirt, black suit, and a little dark green tie.

"Yes, now, fix your bowtie," Alfred bends his back down and plays with my tie as I wrench my neck back to allow him to. "So you'll look even more adorable!"

"I just think going to the dance's going to be a bad idea," I state my opinion, bobbing my head even further back.

"No it won't! Just stick by me and you'll have fun, promise!" Alfred lets go and observes my appearance, attempting to pat my hair down flat with just his hands.

"I somehow don't believe you," I retort, cringing my face.

He shrinks to my level and lifts his eyebrows, "Like how you didn't believe me when I told you you let me stay over last night?"

"That was fucking creepy, and no, I don't believe you." I fold my arms and purse my lips in defiance. "I don't remember you showing up at all last night. Just you leaving to 'run errands.'"

"C'mon, Artie," he persuades. "I'm still a guy, so I forget to get shit here and there."

"Like your entire Homecoming outfit?"

Alfred sits up straight. "You're so hard to figure out, Artie."

"And you're so cute, Alfred," I trick, glazing my eyes over his bright blue tie and black suit.

Just as I suspected. Alfred nearly chokes over his own spit and sputters, "W-What?!"

I brush it off, heading out of the car door, "Nothing."

He follows shortly after and snatches my hand to pull me back. I notice the swarm of kids in the gymnasium, a short line waiting at the entrance.

"Explain it to me," I respire, "why are these events so popular?"

"Because," Alfred explains. "Normal teenagers get off on it."

I huff a breath of aggravation and he takes notice.

"Hey, don't be mad, Artie," he attempts to comfort. "Do you have your cell phone?"

I nod my head and he praises, "Good, so if ya get lost, just call me!"

Alfred grabs my hand tighter as we stand in the line, he handing out tickets to the ticket master. We walk inside and I feel my stomach churn. Couples everywhere, either eating each other alive or just annoying me with their mere presence. I look back up to Alfred, whose face is lit up with excitement.

"Doesn't it look fun?!" he squeals like a child at a ball pit.

"Heh, heh. Positively charming," I obviously fake. No way in Hell someone like me would enjoy being locked in a dark lit gym with sweaty, horny teenagers. I grasp his hand tighter as he waves to someone off in the sidelines, dragging me with him.

"Yo, Steve! Phil! How ya guys doin'?!" He does his little handshake bullshit with his football team friends, a group of friends I can't even stand to look at ever since that mall incident a few months back.

"Hey, and ya brought Arthur, too," a recognizable voice comes through to me. I bring my brow to the bridge of my nose and jerk my head to Steve, the bipolar bastard that can't decide if he likes me or not. Asshat cockhead piece of shit. Speaking of shit, they talk about random things I can't bother to pay attention to, but that's the least of my concerns. Mentally, I using every insult in the book against them.

"Can't ya say hello, Artie?" Alfred asks, breaking my connection with the blessing that is my daydreaming.

I glare up at him and back to his friends. They appear friendly, but I'm still choosing to be difficult. I let go of his hand and assertively excuse, "I'm going to use the loo."

Everyone in the group snickers, even Alfred, and he asks, "You need to use the what?"

Shit face bitch, I've said 'loo' before around him. He's just showing off in front of his posse of assholes. I flip my middle finger and exclaim, "Sod off, wanker."

I storm my way blindly to the bathroom and cover my eyes as the luminescent light fixtures burn through my skull.

"Dammit," I mutter. I stumble around the corner and hear distinct whispering as I do. That's odd. I rear the bend and find myself face to face with a group of young women. Oh shit, this must be the girl's powder room. Way to fuck things up, Arthur. They widen their made up eyes at me as some of them back away from the mirrors to get a better look at the monster that made his way into their private bathrooms.

I slap both of my hands over my eyes and excuse myself, "I-I didn't see anything, I'm so sorry-"

"Hey, Artie!" one the females exclaims. I feel her arm around my neck and her hands rip at my wrists. "C'mere, you're safe!"

I lower my open hands to my hips as the girls chuckle at me. I look to my right and see Natalia from the Halloween party around me. She beams and I sigh a breath of relief, thanking God I'm kinda sorta close with at least one of these poor girls. How ungentlemanly of me.

I try to re explain, "I'm sorry, it's so dark out there and I guess I didn't see the sign-"

"C'mon, Kirkland! It's totally fine!" Another girl calls out, letting her straight brown hair cascade off of her shoulders. I glance around and find Lili, as short as her blonde bob cut, and Natalia's older and much heavier racked sister, Irina, who're in the bathroom with me. All three wearing knee high dresses that brings out their eye colors out from their make up. I glance back over to Natalia and she looks almost like the others, as if it's some sort of girl dress code. Why do girls do that?

"Hey, nevermind. It's not okay," the brunette, Lin, contradicts her previous statement, a certain look in her sparkling brown eyes.

"It isn't?" I follow up.

"No, you've gotta give us something in return," Lili devilishly catches on the the other girl's games. Irina smirks evilly and I dart my eyes to Natalia for an answer, only to find her grinning like a fool, as well.

"Ya know, I've never danced with a British boy before," Irina states 'innocently'. I sigh a laugh when I realize what they want and Lin runs out of the bathroom, grabbing my left wrist and screaming, "I go first, ladies!"

I'm dragged like a ragdoll back into the unilluminated gymnasium and forced onto the dance floor by the Taiwanese girl. She whips me around intertwines her left hand in mine, her other coiled around my neck. I place my remaining hand on her waist as she leads to the preppy pop song, "Stutter", by Maroon 5, she tells me. I smile wildly as she swings me to the enthusiastic drumbeat and her facial expressions.

"What's that face for?!" I laugh as she continues making it.

"Trying to get you to loosen up! You're always so uptight in school and I'm so happy to see you here!" she exclaims, a pretty smile on her face.

"I'm glad to be, I guess," I mutter.

I slide my feet back and forth to try to keep up with her, my eyes closed half the time from laughter when she lip syncs the lyrics to the song. Her happy attitude makes me completely forget the incident with Alfred's shit head friends.

"And may I say, you look so handsome, Artie!" Lin rubs the side of her face dramatically on my chest.

I chuckle and compliment, "Thank you, you look beautiful, Lin."

"Aw, REALLY?!" When the song ends. she runs back to the other girls and trades me off to Lili, who nearly takes my arm out of it's socket bringing me to middle of the floor.

Another song that's strangely similar to the last one, Lili informs me, is another Maroon 5 song, "Lucky Strike". She reigns the male role by slamming her hand on my waist and bringing my hand down to her height. I smile and place my hand on her shoulder as she jerks me around to the beat. She start the conversation:

"How come you're even here?!" Lili asks, eyes growing big. "You're, like, every girl's DREAM date!"

"Is it because I'm British, because I find that very prejudice!" I pout my lips and turn my head, watching her laugh from the corner of my eye.

"Yeah, little bit!" she manages through her giggling.

"Mr. America dragged me here," I clarify. "But he's probably still talking to his friends somewhere."

Lili brushes her blonde hair out of her face and harshens up her footwork, practically marching me backwards. I feel her push me off her and extend the distance between us, pulling me back into a twirl and holding me inches from down on the floor.

"Y-You're a pretty strong person," I nervously compliment. "But not as pretty a girl you are."

She blushes and pulls me back up and we dance ecstatically for the rest of the song. She grins the most I've ever seen her in school or anything as she, too sings the song playing. What's with girls and Adam Levine?

The song comes to an end and another Maroon 5 song, even one I'd know, "Misery", comes on like a never ending playlist. Lili thrusts me over to Irina, where I almost land into her exaggerated breasts. I apologize, but the choppy blonde haired girl disregards me and pulls me by the wrist and back where the basketball court should be again. I puff out my chest, exhausted from the excitement, and offer my hand in which she accepts and starts dancing happily with me. I smile at the way her almost white locks sway with her movements until she grins maniacally and grabs both of my hands, lengthening her arms.

We sway in almost a circle like motion as she hails, "WOW, did you pick out your outfit?! You look rather dashing, Artie."

"Alfred picked out the bowtie, but other than that, yes I did." I use my gentlemanly charm and cajole, "But you look even more gorgeous, Irina."

I watch my third girl fluster as I smile and grasp her hands tighter until the silence of the song. Her face lights up as she hands me off the last one, Natalia. Natalia looks down at her feet and rubs her upper arm. I present her my hand but she darts my attention.

"How come you don't want to dance?" I question, hand still out.

"I already danced with you at the Halloween party," she goes on. "And I'm pretty sure you got in trouble with Al for that."

"Sure, but," I disregard. "Did you come here with a date?"

She looks rather confusedly up at me, her pupils burning for clarity. "No?"

"Then you're coming with me." I grab her hand and lead her onto the dance floor to another Maroon 5 song, "Harder To Breathe".

"Why are there only Maroon 5 songs playing?" I laugh, half asking.

"Us four requested a playlist," Natalia winks. I roll my eyes and she roars with that pretty grin.

"You look amazing, Natalia," my praise comes early. She turns pink and I laugh, poking fun at her for it.

"Just shut up and dance with me, Artie," she insults. We sway in time to the music and laugh at each other as if we've known one another for all our lives. The song comes all too close to a departure and she leads me back to the other girls, where I see a familiar figure standing with them.

"Hey, guess who we got?" Lili asks rhetorically, pointing to Alfred who sulking, not looking me in the eye.

"Hey, Alfred," I greet, letting go of Natalia's hand and reaching for his. His hands jump back from mine and I look up at him, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just thought maybe you'd pay a little more attention to your actual Homecoming date, that's all."

"So you saw, huh?" He keeps his gaze the opposite way, his arms crossed like an impatient child. "Did you see me kissing them or anything?" I ask. "No. I'm still your date, Alfred."

I feel an abundance of different hands pull on my arms and the back of my blazer, pulling me down from my height, or lack of, is the better term. Then, I feel four pairs of lips simultaneously on my head and face. I try to recollect my thoughts and to realize what just happened. The girls pulled me back to kiss me, completely contradicting my point to Alfred. I see Alfred's crimson face cringe in the darkness. Oh shit, he's really mad. The girls let me go, giggling, and push me onto an unwilling Alfred.

"Don't tell me you're jealous?" I point out. He turns his head the other way, pursing his lips in a way he only does when he's angry. I grab his fingers and pull them as far down as I can and stand on my tiptoes, puckering my lips. "You know you're the object of my affections. Can't you kiss me?"

Alfred continues to ignore me and I get back on my feet, still holding his hands. Okay, so he's livid.

"Hey, I have an idea!" Lin announces, index finger pointed proudly in the air. "Date abduction!"

Alfred's eyes widen and Lin continues, "Why don't Natalia and I take Artie and Lili and Irina take Al?"

"No way in HELL!" Alfred finally speaks, beginning to tighten his grip. I let go of his hands and waltz over to Lin and Natalia, wrapping my arms around their shoulders and escorting them away. As I walk past Alfred, I wink at him and give a sly smile and I watch out of my lashes him being kidnapped by the other two girls. The girls and I chuckle as they grab my hand dangling off each of their shoulders, twisting my arm straight.

"So, what's the purpose of abandoning Alfred?" I ask, my head turned to Lin, who suggested it in the first.

"He's too damn cocky for his own good," Lin points out the obvious. "So, if we dangle you right in front of his nose, maybe he'll start to think how lucky he is to have you."

"But I know that already. He tells me at least once or twice everyday."

"But you wanted him to kiss you and he said no," Natalia reminds me. She bats her pretty little eyelashes and asks, "And you're not one for affection, are ya, Artie?"

"Oh, put a sock in it," I joke. The two smile and comb their fingers through mine, Lin resting her head on my arm.

Lin writes off, "You're our Homecoming date for the rest of high school, alright?"

"Where did this come from?" I ask sarcastically.

Natalia rubs her head on my upper arm and looks up at me, agreeing, "Yeah, you're taking us four to Homecoming next year and any other dances we wanna go to."

"What about 'dead from the neck up' over there?" I notion my head to Alfred's direction.

"Meh, he can have you for Prom, I guess," Lin assumes. "But don't think you're getting out of this, mister."

I shrug my shoulders and the two punch me in the arm synchronously, making me cringe and nod my head in agreement.

(*/^/*)

We wander around the gym, occasionally stopping by to talk to a few friends, but remain holding hands. Especially when we pass Alfred.

After passing him for the millionth time this evening, I turn to Natalia, away from Alfred, to disguise my laughter from him. "Oh, God. Did you see his face?!"

"He look totally ready to burst!" Lin laughs.

"I've never seen him so pissed off!" Natalia giggles outright.

When the dance draws to a close, Lin and Natalia drag me back to the spot where we left Alfred earlier to the wolves. Irina and Lili beam happily as they let go of Alfred's hands and push him onto me. I release the girls and coil my arms around his waist, Alfred's arms lazily resting his elbows on my shoulders.

"Are you ready to apologize?" I ask, cutting my eyes at him.

"Almost," he compromises.

"What?"

Alfred leans his head closer, lightly headbutting me, "Ya know, when I saw ya dancing with the girls, it made me really mad."

I move my chin onto his shoulder and whisper, "How so? You were talking with your friends, clearly ignoring me."

"Because it wasn't me you were havin' fun with. And nah, babe. My buddies and I were just talkin' and I got caught up in it all. Can ya forgive me?" He repositions his face to my ear.

"I still don't hear that apology," I hint.

Alfred sticks out his bottom lip childishly, "I'm sorry, baby."

"You're forgiven."

"And I'm pretty sure I owe you something."

"Huh?"

Alfred leans back in and shortly kisses me. The other girls hang around, tightening their fists by their pink and flustered faces.

"Oh, my God!" Lin starts. "You two are just so precious!"

"Oh, and Alfred," Irina begins. He turns his head towards her and she warns, "Don't you think it's about time? It's coming up next, ya know."

"Ah, I forgot for a second!" Alfred moves off of me and goes for my hand, "C'mon, Artie! I got a surprise for ya!"

"What is it now, idiot?" I laugh. He moves his hands onto my waist, his head turned the other way but still looking at me. Then, the DJ speaks up on the microphone.

"Alright, for our first slow dance of the evening, we received a special request for a song." I overhear the guitar entry that I remember Alfred playing for me the first day we met. Josh Todd's nerve calming voice rings in with a:

Buried way beneath the sheets, I think she's havin' a meltdown.

Findin' it hard to fall asleep, she won't let anyone help her.

I gasp, taken aback as Alfred grins that goony smile. "Did you do this?!"

"Maybe," he purses his lips, smitten for revealance. I feel myself internally screaming with joy as I snake my arms around his neck, he, bending down to get a better grasp on me. I listen to Buckcherry's, "Everything", and follow along in my head, breathing in Alfred scent and closing my eyes.

If I had everything would I still wanna be alive? Or wanna be high?

If I had everything would I still wanna be alive? Or wanna be high?

Now and then she talks to me, and sometimes writes me letters.

"Hey, Artie," Alfred voice interrupts. I mumble as an indication of his message and he goes on to ask, "I remember you told me this was your favorite song and you and it had a history."

"It still is and yes."

"What did you mean by that?" He shifts his lips by my ear. "If I can recall, you never told me why."

"When I first started learning guitar, this was the first song I could successfully play," I tell.

"Is that why it's your favorite song?"

"Not anymore, really."

"How come?"

"It's because of what you've turned it into for me. That's why it's my favorite."

"Oh, Arthur!" Alfred nearly chokes me half to death as he gives me another one of his heart stopping hugs. "How romantic of you!"

Your eyes, never close your eyes.

And open up your mind, and baby, you can have everything.

Kinda Don't Have Anything For You At The Moment

Alfred rocks my hand in a back and forth motion as we exit the gym and waltz back to the car. I let the voices of the other teens fill my ears to an overflow. I drop my head onto my shoulder farthest from Alfred and allow myself to smile.

"So, Arthur?" his voice penetrates the barrier

"Yes, Alfred?" I grin.

"Is there anywhere else you wanna go before I drop you off?"

I ponder for a brief moment before I realize what he just said. "Wait, you're not coming back with me?"

His mouth goes askew, "It's Homecoming, and ya know what that means, dontcha?"

I grasp his hand with my left and fan the fingers on my right out to demonstrate my understanding. "You know any virgins here in this crowd?"

Alfred looks around the parking lot and nods his head.

I continue, "Well, they're not going to be as soon as Saturday morning rolls around."

Alfred chuckles, making me feel nice that I actually made someone laugh, and he responds, "Yeah, that's exactly why I can't stay over with you!"

"Pfft, please," I swat my other hand at the air. "It's not like I was going to bring you home and ride you like a horse all night." He blushes profusely with an uncomfortable frown accompanying it as he swings his head down at me and I wink suggestively, my tongue sticking halfway out.

"Y-You hang out with Francis too much," he accuses.

"You can say that," I obtain my original outlook once more.

"And it's not anything like that!" Alfred defends. "It's my parents' stupid rule!"

"Oh, have you had this rule for every school dance?"

"Yeah, my parents always think the girl I go with is gonna end up pregnant the next day," he smirks.

"But you're not going with-"

"It's because they don't know I'm going with a boy," he confesses, turning his head the other way. "But I'm pretty sure they'd still be pissed if I stayed over at your place, even if it's just to spend more time with you and not to do anything immoral."

"Pft, what do you know about being innocent?" I snort.

"Well, I was," he pointlessly starts but never finishes.

A moment of silence starts building a temporary brick wall between us until Alfred knocks it down with his boisterous conversation starter.

"So did you actually mean what you said earlier?!" he bounces up and down.

"No."

"Meanie."

Alfred squints through the hazy black to look for his car in the utter darkness. Once discovered, he fumbles with his coat pocket for the keys but somehow manages to find them. The vehicle beeps in response to Alfred's pressing of the unlock button and we formally approach the car.

"So, I ask again," he pauses to open the car door for me. "Is there anywhere else you wanna go?"

I smile and enter the vehicle, Alfred trailing behind to start the ignition. "I dunno. What time is it, anyways?"

The digital clock flashes on as if I asked it instead of Alfred and displays 11:46 PM. I look down at my lap and mutter," You should just go home now, so you won't get in trouble."

Alfred heads for the mostly empty street and asks, "When was the last time you ate anything? Wanna go eat somewhere?"

I remain silent, resting my arm on the car window ledge and Alfred reprimands me like a child, "Are you serious?"

"I told you, I forget things and eating just so happens to be one of them."

"Okay. That still doesn't answer my question."

I huff, "Probably Wednesday."

"Really?"

"Tuesday night."

"I thought you stopped doing that a while ago," he voices.

Alfred stays quiet for a moment and I gaze out the window to distract myself. I replay the evening in my head and rub my finger up and down the window control button and catch his attention.

"I never said that. How do you even know?" I inquire.

"When I touched you, I could feel them."

I tilt my head down and look at my chest, reminding myself of my appearance a few months back. "Back in England, I didn't have to eat if I didn't want to."

"Well," Alfred takes a big breath as he repositions himself in the seat. "We're not in England, are we?"

"Sure we are."

"Well, around me you have to."

"I need to meet new people."

"I sincerely hope that was a joke, Artie."

"I didn't think it was that bad."

Alfred parks the car, uninteresting me, and runs to my side of the car to opening the door for me. I glance up at him for a second shoot my eyes back down. I lifelessly unfasten my seatbelt and swing my feet out as Alfred takes my hand to lead me to our next activity.

"Where are we?" I ask, shuttering my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

He looks back at me and smiles his toothy grin, "I'm takin' ya out for dinner!"

"But where?"

"Here!" Alfred spreads his arms out wide to present a McDonald's to me. I let my expression settle, looking unamused as usual, and turn on my heel back to the car. Alfred's arm halts my future footstep by creating a barricade and pulling me back to him.

"C'mon, don't tell me you're goin' back to the car!" he coos.

I observe my nostrils flare as I inhale the pale night sky, and not for an addict's reason like it used to be. I cock my head to the side and respire, "Why here?"

Alfred bites his tongue, "It's the only place I could think of that's open at a time like this."

I nod my head and exhale as he proceeds to take me inside, a smile painted on his face. Well, if he's happy, I guess I am, too.

(T/^/T)

He swings my hand back and forth as soon as I exit the vehicle.

"What else are we doing, Alfred?"

"Hey, you should totally come up with a pet name for me," he ignores.

We stop in front of the hood of his familiar green car. I look down at his hand consoling mine as I bite the inside of my cheek, "You're dodging the question."

"Just come up with somethin'!" Alfred shifts his nose by mine and grabs my other hand, now holding both of them affectionately. "For me?"

I think of the possibilities I have to talk shit about him. What does he mean by 'pet name'? I call him plenty of those. For example, idiot, asshole, jackass, pain in the ass. Well, there is something I've been dying to address him by. At least one time.

"Alfie?" I suggest, half knowingly.

Alfred blushes and I take a half step back, "What? Can't handle it?"

"N-No, it's just'," he lets go of me and hops gently on top his car, swiveling his legs around to rest on the hood and his back on the windshield.

I widen my eyes and sputter, "I thought you hated doing that to your car."

"Not entirely," Alfred pats a spot next to him. "Just as long as you come with me."

He props his back up against the windshield as I approach him climbing the best I can on top. I take a seat in his open arms and he strangles me with his love, kissing my hair, more or less, like the idiot's he's been since day one.

"Why're we just sitting here?" I ask, glaring up at him.

Alfred gazes out into the rest of the empty field ahead of us. He turns back to me, "It's because it's a private place, just so I can talk to you."

I feel my face flush and I just settle onto Alfred's chest to make up for awkward encounters. He laughs much to my annoyance as I wrap my arms tighter around him to hopefully constrict his breathing. We stare up at the burning stars and continue to ramble about useless things. More like, Alfred goes on how My Little Pony generation three 'totally sucked ass'.

"Hey, Alfred?" I ask.

"Yeah, Artie?" he motions his head to me, but remains his attention out on the sky in front of him.

"Promise not to laugh at me or think I'm stupid?"

"Of course not! Tell me."

"I think I'm in love with you."

All that comes from Alfred is silence as I feel like my face's fifty shades of red. After a full thirty seconds of nothing, Alfred frantically pulls back and looks over to me with flustered cheeks.

"PLEASE say something!" he outbursts.

"Hell NO!" I cover my face with my hands and he tugs at my wrists.

"C'mon, look at me!" he asks.

"No! I don't know how to react!"

"Artie!"

"Give me a minute and I'll come up with something!"

He places his hands on my arms and I sway my torso the other way. "Arthur, it's okay-"

"No! I'm still thinking!" I bury my face deeper into my hands.

"Artie, listen!"

"No, give me-"

Alfred clamps his hands on my shoulders and yells, "I love you too!"

I get even more heated as I replace my hands with tinted cheeks, glazed over eyes staring up at Alfred. His face is even more laughable than mine, if that's even possible, as he reiterates, taking one hand off me, "I love you, too."

I raise my knees up and plant my face in them to cover my face, "Gah, so embarrassing!"

"Artie, c'mon! How do you think I feel?!"

I don't say anything back to him, only let my thoughts run rampant around my overridden skull. Alfred pulls on my arm and I sit up straight, extending my legs back out flat.

"I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not," Alfred says, sounding like he's choking up. "I love you. Can you calm down?"

I breathe heavily, peaking my eyebrows and looking him in the eye. "I didn't think it'd be this hard."

"It isn't," he corrects.

"Yes it is! Now I have no other choice but to tell you everyday, now!"

"C'mon, Artie!" he tries to reassure. I face my hunched over back at him to escape his thoughts about me.

Alfred reaches over and kisses my forehead, somehow making me feel better about this awkward conversation. Yeah, I feel better. I laugh, "You missed."

He leans back over and pecks my nose and I insult, "You have shitty aim."

"Third time's the charm, right?" Alfred asks rhetorically. He tilts his head back and meets my lips, kissing me sweetly. When he retracts to gawk at me again, I smile infectiously.

"I've never kissed an angel on the hood of my car before," he praises.

"Neither have I. How's it feel?" I ask.

"Amazing," Alfred mutters. He realizes my statement's double meaning and yells, "Hey! You're so mean!"

"That's none of your concern right now, Alfred."

"Then what is?"

"Shut up and kiss me, jackass."

His eyes grow big as he glomps me onto my back, hard. Surprised the car alarm didn't go off, Alfred proceeds to laugh and kiss me, but pushing me off the car slowly. I brush it off and wrap my hands through his hair instead, instantly regretting it.

"Alfred, what're you doing?"

"Showing Artie how much his Alfie loves him." Alfred jokingly glares me in the eye as I sit up at a forty-five degree angle, by elbows hanging off of the farthest edge of the car. "He needs to know."

He has a happy fit and hugs me way too tight and I try to back off, obviously failing in my pointless attempts. Suddenly, I feel an empty space begin to pull on me and swallow me up, Alfred, not helping with his overpowering body weight. I feel the small of my back slam with the ground and the rest of me follow, the American crushing overtop me.

"AL! GET OFF!" I scream, pushing him with my palms.

"Was that another cutesy name for me?!" he exclaims, getting on his knees overtop me.

I ignore him, sitting up and accidently headbutting him in the forehead and plummeting back down to the dying grass. "Jesus Christ, Alfred," I whimper.

He rubs my head for me and caws, "Aww, do I need to kiss it to make you feel better?"

"No, you can stay the fuck off."

Alfred smiles and takes my hands, helping me sit upright again, but turns into a hug fest, instead.

"Piss off, Alfred," I demand. He removes me from himself and kisses above my eyebrows. When he parts, he gives me that stupid American grin I want to punch and kiss at the same time. Alfred's eyes light up as he stands to his feet, removing his legs off the majority of my petite body, and heads for the car door.

"What're you doing?" I question, ruffling my hair out of paranoia for grass and other shit that may've found its way in between my golden locks.

He twirls back around to me and exclaims, "Dude! I was supposed to go home an hour ago!"

The corners of my mouth pull my skin back to reveal my bottom teeth. "Shit."

"Get in the car! I'll still take ya home, though."

AN: Gomen, désolé, EST TUT MIR LEID! This is HELLA LATE and WAAAY overdue! Well, what had happened was, I had written 50 pages for the original Chapter 11, but I realized I had written the climax-ish and the story was SOO not ready for that. So, I wrote this to lead up to the next chapter and I'm SO SORRY FORGIVE ME. How are you guys? Having a good day? Just trying to make awkward conversation to make up for leaving my precious little doll faces :'C Anyways, if you hadn't noticed, I published a PruCan story called, "The Blind Man's Afterimage" and I was so hella happy to see all the views and favs and shit 'cuz I worked hard on that bitch. Anywho, I what I was listening to while writing this was pretty much Buckcherry and Maroon 5 *has nervous breakdown while Lupe Fiasco's 'The Show Goes On' blares through a shit fanfiction author's earphones* RANDOM RAMBLING, PROCEED: And guess what? I've this friend since the third fucking grade and the last time I spoke to him was probably the beginning of the school year. When my I lost my main BFFL in a swarm of sweaty freshmen today, I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to greet her, but looked up to see it was my other friend. I was like, "Hi Da-WHo da fuck?" And when I mean 'look up', I mean that shit. I used to be as tall as him, but now I barely reach his shoulder XC And the funniest part was the way he looked at my shaved patch on my head (like, 'you cut it ALL off'). BACK ON TRACK: Anyways, maybe chapter 12 won't take that long to post, since I think all I have to do is revise a few things. Well, my little poupées, I'll see you next time!