Someone please kill her.

Four hours. Four fucking hours had been wasted with that annoying frog tosser picking out and designing the new uniforms for the Academy's football team he blackmailed her into buying to hide her secret. Because of that she was forced to put her own disciplinary committee among other clubs under the Money Lending Organization into debt behind the back of the school board and director, just to hide her secret. Alice honestly could convey how much of a pushover and failure she felt like right now to abuse her power for something so trivial.

But it was done when the uniforms were delivered four days later and she had the uniforms delivered to the football team. They were surprised, obviously, but pleased none the less to have brand new uniforms for their championship game. Francis made it a point to visit her in her office as soon as he had his on.

"Ah, eggplant purple looks beautiful on me, non?" Francis asked her through his reflection in the mirror, where he was currently modeling the new football uniform in.

"You know others are in debt now because of you, right?" Alice questioned from her seat at her desk, a grimacing frown on her face.

"Because of you, you mean." He turned to her in a suave twist, a cat like smirk displayed on his lips. "You had the ability to refuse my request, non? But you let them fall in a debt they had nothing to do with, so you could save your own skin." He chattered on as he walked up to he desk, sitting himself down on top of the wood and leaned over her.

"Your point? I'm already fully aware of what I did and why I did it." She growled back, not at all nervous about how close he was to her, just irritated.

"But are you aware of the consequences, mon chérie?" He asked in a silky voice, reaching a hand out to hold her chin. Alice glared back at him, but made no motion to stop him, he did this all the time but never went any further so she wasn't worried about him doing anything, but her annoyance levels were beginning to skyrocket and slapping him felt really tempting. But in a way, she wanted to hear his opinion on her situation.

"What will you do when Alfred finds out about your little dark secret? He may be dense but he's smarter than most would assume. He will find out sooner or later, and when he does, all those people you turned your back on to hide what you're doing will have all been for not." Francis continued on, leaning his forehead against hers, staring into her green eyes with intensity, but also some form of concern.

"What will you do?" His voice rang in her ears. She didn't know how to answer him back, no words formed though she already knew her answer. She'd fall into regret and lose what she stood for. Her iron will to only serve for the betterment of the academy had twisted into protecting her own thin skin, and if it broke away she'd be left naked and ashamed, a weak child who got to far ahead of herself.

The look inside his ocean blue eyes told Alice that Francis knew exactly what kind of turmoil she was going through within her mind. Why was it that he knew her thoughts so well? In all the years she's known him, which was longer than how long she's known Kiku, Francis had always had the strange ability to read her mind and know what she's thinking, feeling, and what she's planning to do. Like the time he purposely showed off his new clothes to her from the latest fashion in Paris, knowing full well that she'd try to copy him even though she ridiculed the designs. Francis just seemed to know her better than she knew herself sometimes, like she was a locked book with a code that he always knew how to crack.

Saying nothing and letting go, he stood up and turned around to face the door. Revealing a shocked Alfred who stood in the open door way. Francis made his way over to Alfred, passing by his cousin with a knowing look, as if he held more knowledge than he let on, exiting the room with no words spoken.

Alice said nothing and held a straight face, as if she didn't just have Francis in her office, sitting on her desk, leaning over her, creating an awkward image for someone to walk in on. Alfred on the other hand didn't react so calmly.

"What was that?" He demanded, his voice at a louder volume and lower frequency than usual.

"Francis and I were talking." She replied easily, holding her hands together in front of her on the desk, her back straight and poise.

"About what?" He pushed, still speaking rather loud.

"Our business is our own." Alice said back with a slight snip to her voice, already feeling annoyed with out Alfred's unnecessarily loud tone.

"Business that included him kissing you?" Alfred said in an obvious accusation.

Alice felt her temper rise. "Kiss? I would never kiss that bleeding mime." She quipped back.

"Then why was he so close to you?" Alfred shot again.

"Why do you need to bloody know?" She repelled his question.

"Because I'm supposed to be the one protecting you from perverts remember?" He said with earnest. Alice felt her annoyance and anger plummet down at his words, instead feeling her heart warmed with his honest concern for her. Alice let a light smile spread on her face, only a small one.

"Thank you for worrying Alfred, but we were honestly just talking, it wasn't going anywhere." She tried at reassuring him. She may have been imagining it, but she could have sworn she saw a bit of red on his cheeks, but just a little.

"Who said I was worried?" He humphed and crossed his arm, turning up his head pointedly.

"Oh please, your entire demeanour shows how concerned you are." She giggled at him. Her eyes brightened when the red showed just a little bit better.

"Well moving on," Alfred quickly changed the subject and went to sit in his favorite spot. "Will you be coming to the game this Friday? It's gonna be a home game so it's not out of your way."

"Naturally, as student council president I must be there when we win or lose." She replied, looking down as she filled out forms, unknown to him that they were Debt Informative papers to request money from the clubs she took from.

"Aw, you won't be there simply for me?" He questioned with a puppy dog face. Alice looked up and instantly looked back down, not being able to handle his horrid adorable face. However, though she tried to stop it, her blush gave her away and he laughed.

"I knew it, you act professional but you weally just wanna see me pway." He said in an almost mocking baby voice, his smile playful and his eyes lit up.

"Humph, I have more important things to do than watching you get all sweaty with a bunch of other men." She said in a critic like voice. She did love watching football, but her busy schedule prevented her face from going to any of his games, she's never even gone as England, not that he ever invited her either. Strange.

"Right you just want me to be sweaty with only you, huh?" He said in a suggestive voice. Alice felt herself freeze and back track in confusion. Now she has heard Alfred make innuendos and dirty comments quite often, he makes them all the time when they text and when they're on dates. But he's only ever did that with England, and she's obviously Alice at the moment, so he's never said anything like this to her before. Looking at his reaction it looks like he is just as surprised as her by his suggestive commentary.

"Forget I said that." Alfred said, almost begged.

"Yeah, sure." She agreed, red faced.

She didn't think she would though. Alice was puzzled as to why Alfred would say something like that to her, but even more perplexed on why he was so bothered by Francis being close to her in the first place. Sure Alfred had stopped the frenchie from his perverted actions on her before, but only as part of his hero act, she's never seen him so irritated about his moves on her before now, not even when she 'met' him as England. It confused her immensely to say the least.

[One Week Later]

Alfred: Hey babe, can't make it to bash tonite

You: Okay, any reason why?

Alfred: I have a soccer game at 6

You: Oh, why didn't you notify me about it earlier?

Alfred: thought you wouldn't make it because of your band

Alfred: is there a problem?

You: No, I guess not. Have a good match, I hope your team wins.

Alfred: thanks babe, ttyl.

You: Goodbye.

The strange just got stranger. It makes a little sense that Alfred would assume that she couldn't make it because of her band, but she didn't perform until the final act so she could see him, he should have asked her if she'd at least want to see him play. He asked her as Alice so that makes it a little okay, but him not bothering with England, where she's his girlfriend, is a bit aggravating.

"Ugh, you're so confusing!" She groaned out loud, walking outside to the staff building while staring at her phone. Returning from delivering student requests she passed on to the school board of teachers and staff, she walked outside in the light drizzle, holding her brother's red umbrella above her head. Now being April, all chances of snow was gone and left only a possibility of rain. She only hoped her country would be so kind as to not down pour on them during the football match.

Alice headed back for the student council offices, planning to work an her homework and any extra work she had until the game started, then she'd head to bash, and then home. This means she'd be missing dinner, but she'd make up for it later.

As she headed for the shelter of the building she passed by the football field where the team was currently practicing for later tonight. There she saw many familiar faces including Francis's, but Alfred wasn't anywhere on the field. As she came to a stop to look for him she failed to she him walking up beside her.

"Hey, Ally." He greeted cheerfully, a hand running through his wet hair, a damp towel around his neck. Alice nearly jumped out of her skin when he popped up, but let out a breath when she saw him.

"Hello, did you just call me Ally?" She inquired, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"Yep!" He beamed a bright smile. "I thought it was better than your boring name."

"Wow, thank you for that complement." She said back sarcastically.

"Your welcome." He grinned.

A silence passed between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable and was actually quite relaxing. She was about to say something when a booming voice called in and stopped her from speaking.

"HEADS UP!"

Alice immediately looked up and saw a rogue football flying away from green and heading there way. Alfred also noticed it and took a protective step in front of her, preparing to take the hit for her, but Alice wouldn't let herself become a damsel in distress, so she stepped out from behind him and held out her left arm in front of him. Having the intentions to shelter him instead. It worked and the black and white ball ended up hitting her wrist instead of his left shoulder. However, both of them heard a loud crack and Alice felt coursing pain rise from her arm.

"Ahh!" She let out a yelp and pulled her wrist against her chest.

"Oh God, are you alright Alice?" He asked her distressingly.

"What happened?" Francis asked running up to him, apparently it was him who gave the warning.

"I think Alice broke her wrist." Alfred told him, taking her hand from her to inspect it.

"Nonsense, it's a sprain at the most." She claimed and tried to take back her hand, but winced when she tried to pull it back forcefully.

"Franny, tell Coach I'll be back in ten minutes. I'm taking her to the nurse's office." Alfred said, walking away before Francis could even reply.

Alfred directed her to the nurse's office carefully, even though she already knew the way and continuously tried to resist him, saying she was fine and that it didn't hurt that bad, telling him to go back to practice. However he didn't listen and brought her into the office anyway.

The nurse was about to leave her shift and couldn't do much, so she simply bandaged it quickly, gave her pain relief and advised her to go to hospital as soon as possible, which for her would have to be tomorrow. Thanking the nurse Alfred grabbed her by the right arm and dragged her out a bit aggressively. He didn't speak to her and it left an awkward feeling in the air, so she didn't say anything either. Eventually he came to a stop at the staircase that led to the secondary building, whipping around he finally faced her. Oh boy did he look pissed.

"Why'd you do that? I could have taken that ball without any injuries, I do it all the time. But you? Your too fragile to take that kind of hit from a ball." He said angrily, his face holding fury, but not so much at her, but at her if that makes any sense.

"Excuse me? I am not fragile! I don't need your protection!" Alice said back with almost equal fury from his insult. Offering her help from pervs was one thing, claiming she couldn't protect herself without him was another thing entirely.

"Yes you do! And you better take it because I'm not gonna let you go and be reckless like that again!" He declared in a fiery passion of something she did not know.

"I never asked you to protect me. What wrong with me stepping in and having your back at times? Your big game is today, I can't let you get hurt and not be able to play!"

"But I wouldn't have gotten hurt, you should have just let me protect you."

"Well you should let me protect you at times to! Do you not understand I did it because I love you..." As soon as she said it, she regretted it. If there was a moment where she wanted to get shot in the head by a sniper and be put out of her misery, now was that time. Alice flushed brighter than ever before, so much that it could rival the sun on that cloudy day.

Alfred stared at her with some sort of blank look, as if he was searching his mind for something and refused to speak until he found it. A blush was evident on his face as well, but it wasn't as bright as hers, and he didn't seem as embarrassed by her words as she did.

After another long moment of awkward silence, so different from the comfortable one they had just twenty minutes before, he reached for the wet towel around his neck and wrapped it around her bandaged arm carefully. When he finished he held her towel covered hand in both of his for several heartbeats as he stared at her. Feeling uncomfortable she wasn't able to hold eye contact with him and turned her head to stare at the tiled floor. Gently she felt herself get pulled into a small hug.

"Don't strain yourself." He said softly and let go. Not even sparing her another look he turned away from her and walked in the opposite direction down the hall to the main doors. "See you at the game, Ally."

And with that he was gone.

When he was finally out of her sight, Alice let herself fall down to the ground on her knees as she breathed heavily. This is what she didn't want to happen, what she had feared for and was terrified of doing. She fell in love with him.

"What is he doing to me?" She asked no one.

She didn't know what to think anymore, this was all too confusing for her.

...

Alfred leaned his back against the front doors of the building and allowed himself to slide down to his butt. Letting out a exaggerated sigh he combed a hand through his wet hair. He should be getting back to practice or else coach would kill him, but he couldn't find the strength to stand up on his jelly legs. He didn't know why and he didn't understand it, but her words... they made him feel... weird. It was a nice weird, but it also hurt his chest when it appeared. He's never felt this pain before so he didn't understand it. He's never felt like this when he was with his friends or family, not even when he was with Iggy, so what was it?

He kinda remembered something like it before; when Kiku told him to stay away from Alice, and when he saw Francis alone with her in her office earlier that day. It was a burning sensation and he felt angry, not towards her but towards them. It was a bit like a protective feeling, but not quite the same as when she was jumped by those two strangers, maybe because he didn't know her as well as he does now.

Then does that mean he's just feeling protective of her? But why did he feel it when he was alone with her where there was no danger but her already existing injury, what would that mean she needs protecting from, himself?'That couldn't be it.' If there was anything Alfred knew with absolute certainty, it's that he'd never purposely hurt Alice ever again.

The image of him slapping her in the face passed through his mind for a split second until he banished it as soon as it came.

Never again. Alfred would never hurt her again, now he just wanted to make sure she was safe. He thought back to just about twenty minutes ago when he stepped in front of her to shield her from the in coming soccer ball. He had all the intent to hurt himself so she wouldn't be, but her stubborn attitude led her to take the hit anyway, and now she has a broken wrist because of it.

That kind of emotion appeared also when she took the hit for him, so he is probably just protective of her. That was the only explanation of why he was feeling the way he was.

With his mind finally cleared and rested, Alfred stood back to his feet and made his way back to the soccer field, where, just as he expected, his Coach immediately told him off for taking so long. As punishment he was forced to do laps around the track, which was perfectly fine with him, he could always do with a good run.

[Two Hours and Forty Minutes Later]

58.15 minutes on the clock, and the score had been tight for most of them game, leaving it at 0-0. Liverpool's defense was strong but their offense was mediocre, World W came at them with a powerful offensive strategy, but was stopped repeatedly by Liverpool's goalie. As a result they were locked in a stalemate for the first half of the game. Coach Briggs was becoming increasingly irritated at each failed goal by their team, which was three in total already.

The crowd cheered loudly on both sides, their side of the bleachers filled up completely with students and family wearing their colors of purple and red. Alfred stood in his placement as a center forward, the ball had just went out on them and the other team was about to throw it back in, but he found his eyes searching through the crowd looking for Alice. She said she would be here watching, but he had yet to see where she is sitting or standing.

A call pulled his head back in to the game right as the ball passed him. Running after it he fought for the ball and managed to get it away from the other side. Taking it down the field three players from Liverpool by began to surround him, so he kicked it off in a pass to Mathias, who was waving his hands in the air twenty feet away. Once the ball was away from him he slowed down as the three players ran after it. Giving another glance to the stands he searched for his friend once again, but didn't see her in the large mass of people, blurred by the rain pouring on them. The sighs and angry shouts from his side, the cheers from the opposite side tells they just missed another goal.

The clock continued to count up and now at 70.41 and they were still at 0-0. Everyone was more and more nervous that they might not win. Their offense was beginning to tire, give the opposite team a chance to up theirs, switching sides with them on the defensive.

The soccer ball had ended up in the goalie's hands and he was preparing to throw it in over to Antonio on the right. Time was ticking fast and it was seeming that they would end in a tie, but a yell from the crowded told him otherwise.

"Kick their bloody arses, Alfred!"

Alfred looked over back to the crowd and saw Alice, her bright red umbrella above her, standing on the edge of the field by his teammates on the side lines.

In that moment that ball came to him, but he wasn't prepared so he quickly passed it back. Apparently that was a good move because it confused the other's offense and gave them an opportunity to break off of the defensive and move on to the opposite side of the field. The crowed roared as player number 13, Lucas Bondevik, carried the ball across the field before passing it to Mathias, who sent the soccer ball into the goal, earning them a point.

As the stadium screeched the players gathered around each other in pride and glory for a secured with. Time ran out and left the score at 1-0, making them the champions. Some family and friends even ran out into the field to hug the players and congratulate them. The Liverpool players yelled in frustration and went back to their own side, tail between their legs.

Moving his way through the crowd, Alfred immediately ran over to Alice, who was standing by the water table underneath the large umbrella above the table. He noticed as he ran over to her that she had a change of clothes on, no longer wearing her uniform, but a knee length black skirt with a blue button up with a white bowtie and a long dark purple coat on top that reached past her knees, a miniature sideways black top hat on her head. In all honesty she looked like she was cosplaying as some anime character, but it sure looked cute. Wait what?

"Congratulations Alfre-eeed!" She said in slight panic as he picked her up and swung her around in the air. The feeling returned as he held her close and whipped her through the, her addictive laugh filling his ears. "Alfred! Put me down!" She commanded. Alfred complied and set her down on the ground, letting his fingers linger on her waist. All awkwardness from before was broken like ice with a hammer.

"For a second I thought you weren't coming." He said to her.

"I had to run home and ask for permission, as well as this." She said holding up her wrist, which now had a black brace on it. "I had my family doctor patch me up."

"Does it still hurt?" Alfred questioned worryingly.

"A bit, but nothing I can't handle." She grinned at him. Alfred felt a weird tug at his heart again.

"Can I sign it?" He asked.

"It's a brace, not a cast you dolt. You can't sign it." She said matter-of-fact.

"Then give me your arm." He said grabbing a marker of the water table. Alice complied and reached out her arm to him. Alfred grabbed on to her arm and wrote just an over her brace. When he pulled away, Alice took her arm back and was shocked to his number on it.

"I just realized we've never exchanged numbers or really hung out outside of school." Alfred chided and put his hand on his waist. "So I was thinking it was about time we did."

Alice seemed to pale at his words, and became fidgety as she gripped onto the ends of her skirt. Her face began to blush pink, so she looked down to hide it, but that didn't stop him from seeing it. That face she was making made him slightly nervous all of the sudden. Was is normal to ask your best friend for their number? Or course, so why was he feeling like this? Thankfully they were interrupted by Mathias not a second later, running in with an almost skip to his foot.

"Yo Al, Francis is throwing a party at his place while his parents are in France, you should totally come." The Dane said enthusiastically.

"Sounds like fun. Hey Ally, wanna come to a party?" He asked turning back to his best friend, over his previous nervousness.

"It's 'want to' not 'wanna', and I have things I should be heading to." Alice said with a stiff look, gaining her composure back once again as well.

"On a Friday night?" Alfred raised a brow suspiciously. "Forget about work and come have fun!" He said grabbing her safe arm, and pulling her over to the parking lot.

"Alfred I'm serious, I have things I need to do." Alice persisted and tried to free herself from his grasp, but finding herself unlucky.

"Come on Ally, this will be our first time hanging out together like friends! Unless you don't want me as a friend anymore." He pouted adorably, pushing his two index fingers together. Alfred has long since learned that Alice is a sucker for adorable behavior and looks, he'd have her wrapped around his fingers.

"Humph, I guess... it will be alright. B-but just this once!" She voiced quietly with a blush, then attempting to sound more firm on her last statement.

"Good." Alfred grinned at her and let go her arm, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his keys, dropping them into Alice's hands. "I have to go and change in the locker room, wait for me in my car, I parked near the front on the left side of the lot." Alice looked at the keys then back to him with a questioning look, nearly a comedic look.

"You realize you sound like you're about to kidnap me right?"

"Who knows, maybe I am."

Alice chuckled and opened her red umbrella, holding it above her as she walked out from under the large tarp. Turning back to look at him she gave him a light smile, not big and just barely a curve of her lips, yet it shined bright amongst all the rain.

"Well then, I'll be waiting in the car. See you." She chimed and turned away, waving at him without looking back. Alfred felt his heart beat fast again, but chose to ignore it and went to change in the locker rooms. Minutes later when he was getting ready to leave, he received a text from England.

Iggy: I go on in 15. Can you make it?

Alfred wasn't entirely sure how to answer her on that. He probably should go and see her perform, he's been to every single one so far, but he's never had the chance to hangout with Alice like this before. He can miss a performance, just this once.

You: Sorry, something else came up. Next time.

A few minutes passed for her to reply, which was unusual for her, she's the kind of person to reply within the same minute. When she finally did text back she said:

Iggy: Okay then.

Alfred couldn't tell if she was okay with it or angry about it.

.

.

.

Wow! Longest chapter of this story! I have a feeling they'll keep getting longer. Next chapter I'll explain what happens at the party.

If you've been able to catch my hints, Alfred's had feelings for her for a while now, just to dense and devoted to Iggy to see it. But what if I take away that devotion?

My friend told me this story is basically Hannah Montana, not sure how to feel about that.

Hope I'm not writing crappily! See you!

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