'I messed up so bad.'

It was a few hours later when I finally decided to leave my room. No one came into my room after Ludwig had come in so I kind of just laid there, face buried into my pillow. I actually had fallen asleep. All that yelling and embarrassment can really tire a guy out. My hair was now sticking up on one side thanks to some drool and a soaked pillow case. I didn't realize it till I headed down the stairs where I met with Roma half way down.

"Yo loser, fix that drool face, you look like you just woke up."

I looked at him with the 'I just woke up' face I always make. He then looked at the floor, "Oh you did just wake up. Have fun yelling at your new friend some more than."

And he went up the stairs and I went down, even more upset than when I fell asleep.

I could smell the dinner mom was making and it smelt like we were going all American tonight. The smells of barbeque sauce and spicy seasonings filled and nearly burning the insides of my nose. I turned the corner from the stairs and saw not mom, but Ludwig making and preparing dinner while mom was still outside. A face of shock and anger stuck itself on my face. My jaw dropped and I slouched over watching him cook.

Mom walking in behind me from the back porch and put her dirty glove on my shoulder, "He said he's got everything under control. He said he wanted to make a good impression on his new foster family." She took off her glove and closed my mouth.

"Why? Why? Why?! Why?! Why does he have be here?!"

She ran her fingers through the messed up side of my hair and fixed it. "Because I thought this would be better for you than just talking to Roma at school. Since he's so close to where we were from, I thought it'd be nicer for him to stay here than with some completely American family. He's happy here. You need to get comfortable with him here. Make him feel at home…" she then whispered something else into my ear, "or I'll tell him that you already have a terrible crush on him…"

My face went red, "h-how do you know that?!" I said it as a loud whisper as my voice crackled out.

"He does know how to talk, and he's noticed your little red tomato face and that little curl of yours."

"When did he mention that?!" My fists were balled up at my sides as I stood there and just watched.

"Honey, you're turning red right now just thinking about him. Ask him out. Maybe he likes you too. Who knows…"

"Mom! I'm not going to do that! He already hates me anyway and I don't need him knowing I'm…"

"I'm just teasing sweetie. Just go be friends. He seems sad because he thinks you hate him."

I put my hands to my face, "I know, I know. I just get so… ugh… I don't know. He just…" I didn't know what to say. This is the first stumbly crush I've ever had, or one that I've had in a while. I don't know what to do. This sucks.

Ludwig turned around and noticed us talking. Mom started walking to the kitchen, pulling me along with her.

"Lud, honey, Feli would like to help you with dinner. Is that okay?"

I shook my head no as fast as my neck would let me, "Oh yes, that would be very kind of him.", Ludwig said as he looked at me with a smile, "I would greatly appreciate the helping hand."

Again my red face was on display along with the slight twitching and bobbing of my little curl that hangs off the side of my head. I walked passed him and into the pantry to find our other apron. Hanging on a small nail in the wall was my bright yellow and white striped apron. I grabbed it and tossed its neck strap around my neck and tied the waste straps around me. Without making eye contact I asked, "So what's it you need me to do?"

"Well, the only thing I need help with is peeling and cutting the potatoes to make mashed potatoes." He gestured over to the cutting board with a few large potatoes were sitting with the knife and a peeler.

I walked over and began to work on them. Peel after peel of potato skin fell into the sink and once they were all washed and copped into cubes I chucked them all into a large pot to boil. I walked out of the kitchen, still slightly red. 'Why can't I say anything nice to him? Why am I such a jerk, like my brother?' I don't understand why Roma still lives here; he truly is a big jerk and he has other plans besides being mean to everyone here. He said he was going to move in with Antonio but he's always complaining that he hates him. For a brother, he's really dumb.

Lud finished everything else and I fell back asleep on the living room couch. What a helper I am… I can't even finish a simple task like make mashed potatoes, geese.

Mom woke me up and the smells in the house were terrific. I went into the dining room to see the table completely set with every morsel of food he prepared and silverware and cups already filled with ice water. A table prepped for four, something I've never gotten used to. Roma was already at the table. Ludwig pulled mother's seat out and she sat down. He scooted her in and he pulled out my seat. I looked at him and sat down, pushing myself in as he sat down.

The spread was outstanding. It's been a while since we've had braised ribs, corn, mashed potatoes, green beans, and homemade rolls. Oh and don't forget the large amounts of butter and barbeque sauce as well. It was beautiful. We all started to plate as everyone thanked Lud for the meal. I just looked at my plate and eventually the words, "Thank you," left my mouth. He looked over at me and smiled.

"I made this for everyone, even you Feliciano, so enjoy."

I slowly grabbed a few things for my plate and slowly ate them. Everyone else started up the usual conversation, "So what did all you do at school today?" Mom always asked us how our days were and what we did.

Roma started first, "I got detention for telling my history teacher to f*** off. And I had a terrible lunch today from the school. Oh and I saw the soccer team score a few goals but besides that, it was the casual Tuesday."

Mom rubbed one of her temples as she looked at Ludwig for his response, "Oh well I went to the counselor's office when I arrived at school and met the very kind counselor there. She told me everything I needed to know about the school and I met Feliciano outside her door. He had her change our schedules because of a rude teacher and we went on our day. But I did notice that Feliciano tried to avoid me for most of the remaining day." He looked over at me as he said the last parts of his sentence.

My hands went in my lap as I gripped on to the ends of my t-shirt in embarrassment. I looked down at my barely visible shoes thanks to the table cloth.

"So why have you been avoiding Ludwig Feli?" Mom was just asking me to see if I'd lie my way through this or tell the truth. Of course I'm going to lie.

"I just wish he wouldn't follow me around so much. It bugs me." My face began to glow red, "May I be excused?"

"Yes you may." Mom gave a heavy sigh as I picked up my mostly empty plate and glass. I put them in the sink and ran into my room where I closed the door and planted myself face first into my bed.

Ludwig looked down at his empty plate, "Well that was good. May I be excused as well?"

"Go right on ahead Lud, Roma and I will take care of cleaning up. Go talk to Feli…"

"Yes ma'am. Thank you." He picked up his plate and glass and set them in the sink. He walked up the stairs and again, I heard my door being knocked on. I didn't say anything again. He slowly opened the door and walked in, but this time apologizing.

"Feliciano, I'm sorry about today. I hope I didn't do anything to really upset you this much. I didn't mean to follow you around for the day, but our schedules are the same so. Please forgive me if I have done anything to offend or upset you."

I quickly looked up from my damp pillow, "Close the door."

He looked behind him and slowly closed the door and came closer to my bed.

"Lud… you've done nothing wrong. I promise you that…" I looked down at my red blankets, "It's my fault. You're not at fault here. I don't care that you followed me around and I didn't mean to avoid you. I'm sorry. I just, I just need some time getting used to this and I guess I'm not taking it very well. I do really like you and I want to be friends…", my face it's getting red again, "I just hope I haven't ruined my chances to be your friend…"

"Ah, that clears up the fog around you. So you don't hate me, just need time. We can do that. I'll be happy to be your friend."

I looked up at him, finally able to smile, "That's great."

He sat down closer to me this time on my bed. My whole body was getting too warm, just like in chemistry. I can't hide it this time though. I'm too happy knowing that now he knows I don't hate him.

"Well, I'll let you get back to drooling into your pillow. I must get to work on all the homework those teachers assigned. Well, night."

The smile left my face as he said "drooling into my pillow", but my face grew ever more red as he sat up and left my room. I flipped my pillow over to a cold dry side and dug into it. Again I fell asleep, but not because of anger, but because I knew that now I had a chance with the new transfer student that I was now stuck with.