Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

MalBel: Improvisation

Bella sipped her drink, her eyes scanning the crowd. Even though it was a college party, it was relatively calm. The music wasn't too loud, allowing people to actually speak to each other without the need to shout, the lights weren't too dim, and they had more than alcoholic beverages available. But this was standard for third-year students. They no longer had the need to explore their newfound freedom, like the first-years, and they had their second year to calm down. They also had enough time to decide what they found to be enjoyable parties, and you knew who to go to for each type of party.

Bella used this as a way to relax from her studies. They had practical assignments the following week, and she wanted to ease her mind a bit before she had to stress about them.

As her gaze scanned the crowd, her eyes landed on one person that she didn't particularly want to see. Her teeth clenched at the sight of her ex-boyfriend. She quickly went to the closest person and tapped him on his shoulder.

"Excuse me," she said, as soon as he turned around. "My ex is over there, and I was hoping that you could pretend to be my boyfriend for tonight."

He glanced over in the general direction that Bella had indicated, and she took the moment to examine him. She had to admit, he was pretty cute. His eyes were a rich golden-brown colour, and his hair a deep brown that was almost black. He also had slightly darker skin.

In other words, he was Bella's type.

He glanced back to her and smiled, and she was startled to see that he looked almost like a kitten.

"Of course," he said. "Bad breakup?"

Bella grimaced and nodded. It was easier than explaining what had happened. How her ex had cheated on her with another girl, and when Bella tried to break up with him, he wasn't willing to accept it. She didn't want to know what would have happened to her if she didn't manage to get away.

He smiled and loosely put his arm around her shoulders before guiding her away. The gesture was easy enough that it didn't feel threatening.

"I'm Akmal, by the way," he said. "And you are?"

"Bella," she said.

"Nice to meet you, Bella. Tell me if you think I'm going too far, okay?"

Bella smiled and nodded. Akmal guided them outside, where the music was more subdued and there were fewer people. He released her shoulders and went to sit down.

"So, if we're going to pretend, how far are you willing to take it?" he asked. "I just need to know your boundaries. I'm going to assume that kissing is out, at least for a bit."

"Oh, aren't you sweet?" she said as she sat down next to him. "I'll be okay with a peck on the cheek, but anything more intimate is a bit too much for me. And when we're inside, it's fine to hold my hand."

Akmal nodded as he took this in.

"So, are you doing this to make him jealous, or do you want him to leave you alone?" he asked.

"I want him to leave me alone," she said. "I was supposed to be here with a friend, but she texted me to let me know that she twisted her ankle and that she's staying home to rest."

"Oh, that's bad. I hope she gets better soon. So, your reasoning is that he would leave you alone if he sees you with someone else?"

"That's pretty much it."

Akmal nodded before he smiled.

"Okay, then, do you want to go get a drink?" he asked, before his eyes fell on the cup in her hand. "Sorry, didn't notice you already had one."

"No, it's fine," Bella said. She drained the last few sips of her drink. "I need to get a refill anyway. Strange how being surrounded by so many people can make it seem warmer."

Akmal nodded and stood up. He held out his hand to Bella, helping her up as well. The two then went to get drinks.

They spent the whole night around each other, getting to know each other a little better while making it look as though they were flirting. At least, Bella knew that she was flirting a little. She found herself genuinely enjoying Akmal's company, and she felt herself growing more comfortable around him. They also joined his friends for a bit, and after hearing about the situation, they welcomed her as though she had been a part of their group many times before.

She only looked in the direction of her ex one time, and it was to find him glaring at her. She pretended that she didn't see him, but she moved closer to Akmal, making it seem as though she was snuggling close to him.

"He's glaring right now," she whispered.

"Got it," Akmal said. He put his arm around Bella and pulled her closer, allowing her to snuggle even closer. "I'll make sure that he doesn't bother you."

Bella didn't know if Akmal completely understood all of what was going on, but she liked how considerate he was being.

Eventually, she grew tired of the party, and she told Akmal as much.

"I can take you home, if you'd like," he said.

"Thanks," Bella said, "but you've done more than enough for me already. I don't live too far away, so I'll be fine."

"If you're sure… Oh, can I have your number? You see… I-I enjoyed spending time with you, and I was hoping that I could see you again sometime? Maybe for a lunch or a coffee or…?"

Bella blinked at him before she smiled.

"Sure," she said. "I would like that."

The prompt is: 'You're at a party when you spot an ex. Quick, you urgently have to pretend to be dating the nearest person, who happens to be very attractive.'