~Author's Note~

It's Thanksgiving weekend, so I was able to write more than I expected. I've just been buried and school and been a little lazy. I hope you're all doing alright, and I'm happy that you're still following my Story. I just want to say thank you to all of you because you have been with me until the end. I would specially like to thank IWantsRussia, FruitPireKiller, Tori Renee, and my sister, of whom have been with me since the beginning of the story and have stayed true to reading it to the absolute end. I would also like to thank all my loyal readers such as Masked Romeo of whom has given great constructive criticism as well as Aki-Chan. Thank you very much all of you. Thank you so much. I would have never made it as far as this without all of you, trust me, I have wished to stop writing this one too many times, but you all gave me the inspiration to end this. Really, I would really like to thank you all.

Sincerely, For the last time in "Please, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood",

~ Ms. AtomicBomb

Softly knocking upon the big white painted birch door, Ivan waited for an answer from the other end of the door.

"Yes?" A soft voice came from the opposite side of the big door. "Actually...I'll be right there." Ivan heard some shuffling about on the bed and then foot steps coming towards the door.

Softly creaking, the knob was turned and the door was opened fully, revealing a lovely shy fair-skinned girl wearing big red and white maple leaf printed Pyjama pants and a white tank top with the words "CANADA" written in crimson red. For a second, the strawberry blonde stood silent and surprised of who was standing before her. Why was Ivan at her house? Why was he standing at her bedroom door? Why was Ivan at her door? (Had she already thought that?)

Her glasses magnified the look as her indigo orbs grew wide in embarrassment and a blush spread across her cheeks. She immediately shut the door in Ivan's face and gasped at the exact same time. "What are you doing in my house?" She screamed from the other side of the door.

"What am I doing here? Your brother invited me to his 'get together' so I decided to come." Ivan shrugged although she could not see him. "You shouldn't be embarrassed, Madeline, I've seen you in your cheer leading uniform and that was way less clothing than you have on right now." He chuckled.

"Well! I go to sleep in this! So deal with my embarrassment, jerk!" She hissed, trying to find jeans and a sweater.

"Fine, fine, fine."

There was silence for the time afterward, as she looked for something to change into quickly, that didn't make her look like a hoser*. Finally finding sweat pants and a loose t-shirt, she changed quickly and opened the door again, fixing her hair on the way there.

"May I come in?" Ivan smiled.

"Yes, of course." Madeline stood aside to allow for Ivan to take a step into her room.

Ivan looked about the room, noticing the colour. The walls were painted light red and her bed had a leaf splash pattern with autumn colours, as her room smelled of maple syrup and lovely leaves.

"You can sit on the bed if you'd like..." Madeline finally interrupted Ivan's thoughts (Of how cute her room was).

"Oh...Da, thanks." He smiled softly and did just so.

Taking a seat on the bed he looked at Madeline, who seemed to be growing a blush as she stood still facing him, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"I'm guessing that this is the first time there's a boy in your room, da?" He smiled softly.

Madeline's head shot to look at Ivan, and seeing that his smile was sincere, she looked away in embarrassment. Her cheeks could be compared to the colour of her bedroom walls, but this made Ivan chuckle lightly.

"Madeline, you don't need to be embarrassed. If it makes you feel any better, this is the first time I've been in a girl's room other than my sisters'." He stated.

Madeline's eyes widened slightly, for she didn't really believe him. Ivan was known for many things, but one of them certainly not being very chaste. Gosh, how many rumors had she heard about this tall scary boy? Too many to count for sure. Of course many being of how annoying he was, how rude, how evil, how cruel, how stupid, how -you name it -he was. There was nothing really good about it, if you were to ask others. But Madeline knew better. She had gotten to know Ivan before she judged him, and she could see that he wasn't the kind of guy to be rude to people he wanted to be friends with. In actuality, he was always crying out a phrase she always saw him say. He was actually hopeless, and if people did get to know him, they'd see that he would plead through his thick amethyst eyes: "Please, don't let me be misunderstood."

"Is it that much of a surprise, Maddie. If you want to know the truth to rumors you've heard, I'm open to the idea of either confirming them, or telling you the truth." Ivan insisted as he got comfortable on the bed.

Madeline brought the desk's chair over and sat on it, facing the Russian male. "Okay, then. I may ask you anything?" She questioned, bringing an eyebrow up, only to hide behind her bangs. The Canadian brushed her curl back and waited for a confirmation from the male.

Ivan simply nodded.

"So you've never slept with a girl, or lady, or whatnot?" Madeline pondered.

Ivan began to laugh. "What?" He chuckled.

"There was this girl at school, who kept saying you slept with her. I only guessed it was true, because you don't have that good of a reputation." That was the first thing that Madeline was ever skeptical about considering Ivan.

"Nyet. I didn't sleep with anyone. Wow... people...Nowadays no? I'm very much chaste." Ivan explained.

"Ah," Madeline smiled, for she was relieved (For some odd reason she didn't understand), "what about... Is it true that you were in a motorcycle crash?"

"Da, that is true. It was around two years ago, and I just didn't slow down when I was turning, so I fell off the bike. Luckily, I was wearing my helmet." Ivan nodded.

"Have you actually gotten into sixty fights?"

"People count? Oh god, I really don't know. I don't keep track. But maybe? I'm not sure." He shrugged, biting his lip a little while in bewilderment.

"Hm... Did you actually send a guy to the hospital?"

"Yup." Ivan laughed. "In fact, it was your brother, that time he dislocated his knee. Yup, that was me. I hit him with my pipe that time."

Madeline's eyes grew wide. "So it wasn't because he fell, huh..." She felt a little cheated.

"Anything else?" Ivan smiled.

"I don't think so, I mean I pretty much know much about you to rule out every other rumor."

Ivan nodded and looked up at the ceiling. Finally gathering the courage he had, he looked back at her and smiled softly. "How would you feel if I were to tell you that in any second, I could leave to some far away place and we may never see each other again?" He mumbled.

"A-Are you t-telling me that you're going t-to die?" Madeline gasped.

Ivan couldn't help but laugh as he shook his head. "No, no, no. I'm just wondering." He shrugged.

"How would I feel..." She drifted. "Well...I would be sort of upset, because I had made a friend, only to loose them." She shrugged.

"Oh..." Ivan nodded. "Well, I'll be going to Russia in a month, I'm going to live there, and so I wanted you to be the first to know."

Madeline stood from the chair and walked toward Ivan, she grabbed his collar and brought him close, her nose almost brushing against his as she leaned in. Her eyes narrowed into a glare and she sighed heavily before letting go, leaving Ivan dumbfounded.

She stood straight and looked up at the ceiling, licking her rose red lips lightly and huffing in silence. "So, you're leaving just like that, eh?" She sucked air through her clenched teeth.

"What do you mean 'just like that', Madeline?" Ivan tilted his head, not understanding why she seemed so upset.

"Maybe you are what the rumors say. Maybe you are just a big jerk. Maybe you are a hoser. Maybe." She spat, venom lingering in her thick words.

"How Madeline?" Ivan hissed back.

"How could you make me like you, only to leave me? How could you blindfold me, then push me down a cliff? I put my trust in you, Ivan!"

"Your trust? Oh please, Madeline. No need to lie, there isn't anyone else in here. Get real! What trust? you don't even give a damn!"

Madeline bit her lip, so hard that she was able to draw some blood, with the realization of her pain she brought her left hand to her lips, to wipe the bit of blood away.

Ivan took this as an opportunity to take a hold of her right wrist and bring her down to meet his gaze. Madeline squeaked at first but then adjusted to the sudden movement.

Ivan stared at Madeline's lips, they weren't bleeding anymore (a good sign) and if he wanted to kiss her, it was now or never. Bringing her closer by pulling her arm, he got ready to push their lips together, but before he could do that Madeline stopped him by putting her free hand on her mouth. It was never.

Ivan rolled his eyes and grabbed her left wrist, bringing her hand away from her mouth. He held both of her wrists tightly with his hands and looked her in the eyes.

"You're a jerk! An idiot! I hate you! I'm sick and tired of standing around and doing nothing at all, being an obedient little girl who can't do a crap. I hate it, so now, I'm doing something. I'm sick and tired of everyone's shit. I'm done with your shit too. So go to hell Ivan." She hissed.

Ivan stood, bringing her to stand up straight too. He should've let go of her wrists but he didn't. Tightening his grip around her wrists he brought her closer. "You think you're tired of everyone's shit? Really, Madeline? Really? Well there are people that have worse problems than you, so suck it up princess! Because, trust me, you are the 'bad guy' here. I should be the one tired of your shit, but for some idiotic reason, it's like I have to accept you being a total asshole to me because I like you." He dug his nails into her delicate skin.

"Ivan! You're hurting me!" Madeline cried out loud.

Ivan's amethyst eyes grew wide and he let her go. "Oh my god..." He mumbled. "Oh god... Madeline, I am so sorry. Oh my god. I am so sorry. I-"

"Ivan, it's okay." Madeline cut him off and rubbed her wrists.

Looking at her doing so, he couldn't believe that he actually hurt her. As he stared at her wrists, he noticed that she had scars all over her forearms, most prominent around her wrists, and with that he understood what Alfred had warned him about that time in Gilbert's party. He shut his eyes tightly and bit the inside of his bottom lip. Oh god... now he was covered in horse shit.

"Oh god, I am so sorry. Madeline, I'm sorry." Ivan couldn't apologize enough. He began to make his way to the door.

"Ivan... it's okay. You don't have to leave. I understand that I've been such an evil person to you, so I understand how you feel, and I should be the one that should apologize." Madeline mumbled.

Ivan looked back at her with a sorrowful smile. "No Madeline, don't apologize. After all, I have the reputation of being an asshole, while you are the sweet innocent girl." He stated as he rested his hand on the door knob. "You deserve to be rude, I don't. I'm sorry."

Finally stepping out of her house, he headed home.

A week later, Ivan hurried down the halls, for he was to be late for class, and if he wanted to leave on a good note, he wouldn't skip Biology for the fifth time in a row. And seeing as to he had to be in school, he needed to be in biology.

Sitting down at an empty seat, Ivan took out his books and began to prepare for the lesson.

"Well, today we will be dissecting a rat, with a partner. I have decided upon which partner would work best for you so don't shoot each other looks." The blonde female teacher explained after the bell had rung. Announcing partners, Ivan only paid attention to his name: "Ivan and... Madeline. Alfred and..." Madeline! He was stuck with Madeline... To be frank, after their argument, they hadn't said a word to each other, let alone looked at one another.

Madeline stood and brought her belongings towards the station both Madeline and Ivan would share that day and shot him a faint smile. It looked like she hadn't slept the night before, and she looked really tired, but Ivan didn't care, to him she still looked like the cute girl he met so long ago.

"Bonjour mon ami russe." Madeline smiled up at the towering male.

"Priviet." Ivan nodded in acknowledgment, once they had placed on their gloves.

"Let's get this rat opened up." Madeline sighed heavily as she broke its arms and legs to pin it down on the platform given.

Ivan grabbed the scissors and pinched the skin, then proceeding to cut the rat open.

...

"I broke up with Lars..." Madeline mumbled, as they cleaned up their station after finishing the dissection.

Ivan looked at Madeline and then back down at the counter as he finished cleaning it.

"I thought you'd might like to know..." She pondered.

"Why is that so...?" Ivan kept on cleaning the counter.

"I just thought... he wasn't for me. But I mean that's life, eh?" She chewed on her lower lip, keeping her eyes fixed on the platinum blond male, while he kept his amethyst orbs fixed on the black marble counter.

Right then and there, the school bell rang signaling the end of the first period.

"Well, I should be headed to class... since what has happened doesn't concern my thoughts." Ivan picked his stuff up and slipped out of his lab coat before heading for his following class, leaving Madeline a little hurt.

Okay, maybe he did act like a total asshole right there, but if she did finally break up with him, it wasn't any of Ivan's concern. How was Madeline to expect anything from him now? If she didn't want to come to him before, what made her think that it was fine for her to go to him now?

The day of his departure came sooner than he expected. They had already sent a letter to their father and he had gladly accepted them to stay with him, while their stay in Russia. Ivan was actually quite happy to see his father once again, considering that for a long while he had believed that he was dead. But after reading all the letters from before, he had found that his father, the general, had missed them dearly and now they were able to meet once more.

Ivan had thought how hard this could be (emotionally) for his elder sister, who had to keep them all together throughout their struggles. He guessed that for once in her life, she could breath with ease, knowing that everything would be all right. And he guessed that was why whenever someone had said "Don't worry, it get's better. I promise." it was the truth, because no matter how deep you are in total Pandemonium, it would get better. Because no matter where you were and what you were doing, everything would get better if you wanted it to. Many people didn't understand that and Ivan was one of them not too long ago, but now he knew that it was the truth, and he was glad it was so because now, he felt a little bit happier.

Ivan sat still on his bed and awaited for the time of his departure, he was actually glad to be leaving because he didn't want to see Lydia ever again.

Noticing that his phone was ringing, Ivan looked down at it and noticed it was Madeline. He waited for it to ring a little longer and then answered. "Hello?" He mumbled.

"Ivan... Alfred told me that today's your last day here. Time flies, eh?" Madeline tried to chuckle from the other end of the line.

"Uh, yeah. It does." Ivan nodded softly, although she couldn't see him.

"Yeah..." The conversation began to slip into awkwardness. "Hey, Ivan, do you have time so that we can meet up for the last time?" She asked, a little nervous to hear his response.

"Yeah, just for like an hour or two, then I should be on my way." Ivan replied.

"O-okay. Thank you. Then, can you come to my place? It will only take a little while." Madeline mumbled.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be there in a bit." He stated and then hung up.

Exactly ten minutes later, he was standing at the front of her house, waiting for her to welcome him in.

"Come in." Madeline smiled softly and fixed her glasses, before leading him to the back yard, where they sat on a bench that was stationed beneath a large tree.

Her yard was large and very well taken care of. There were flower beds around the perimeter of the yard, and a shed at the back left corner. Around the middle there was a small water fountain of a small baby angel spitting out water through his mouth. The colours of the yard were very natural and mostly green, blue or brown. The shades differed.

"So..." Ivan looked into Madeline's indigo orbs, something he would miss.

"I wanted to explain to you why I wear long sleeves, I know that you've been wondering." Madeline chewed on her bottom lip softly.

Ivan kept silent and awaited her to begin, he would at least hear her out for the last time before he left to Russia.

"Before we met, I was always either ignored or bullied, and the only way I felt better was if... well, if I cut. I just felt like that was the only way I could escape the pain..." Madeline mumbled.

"I'm so sorry that you had to go through all that..." Ivan wasn't sure what to say, he was never really good at comforting others.

"But then you came around, and since I met you, it's been like life is better. I mean you were my first friend after Lars, who left just like you are leaving me. And that's why I felt so lonely, but when you have someone that actually wants to pay attention to you, it gets better. Because you can then distract yourself from everything." She smiled softly. "So thank you Ivan, thank you for being my friend. I really enjoyed being your friend and I hope you did too." She kissed his cheek lightly. "You could say you saved me..." She chuckled lightheartedly, finally feeling some sort of pressure lift from her shoulders.

Ivan exchanged the soft smile and looked her in the eyes. "Thank you for being my friend, you were my first friend. So I'd really like to thank you." He chuckled and kissed her forehead in return.

"What will I do once you leave? Lars isn't going to be with me anymore, and neither will you..." Her lips slightly parted.

"Make new friends, I'm sure you can. I know that Francis really likes to brag about how cute you are to his friends, well I'm sure you'll get a boyfriend soon enough. And Elizaveta and Jeanne can be your friends, no? They're really sweet girls and if you get bullied, they will stand up for you because they are also very strong. And if you ever feel you need to ever talk to anyone other than them, I'll always be there to listen to you, Maddie. We can meet up on Skype, or talk over the phone, whatever you'd prefer. I don't care too much about timezones so you can call me whenever, I'll answer, even if I'm in class. Okay Maddie?" Ivan assured her.

Madeline smiled brightly and hugged him tightly, nuzzling her face into his chest, making Ivan laugh lightly.

In a sequence of events, they had landed on the soft green grass looking up at the bright blue sky. Stratus and Cumulus clouds scattered the sky above them, and occasionally blocked out the glistening afternoon sun.

"Madeline, I can assure you that in less than a month you'll find a boyfriend." Ivan smirked.

"Ivan!" Madeline whined. "That's such a lie." She laughed.

"Oh come on, you're cute." His childish smile returned to his lips.

Madeline punched his arm playfully. "Stop teasing." She giggled.

"I'm not." Ivan retorted, and they both started to laugh quite loudly, before Ivan realized it was time to leave.

Walking him to the front yard, Madeline waited for the Taxi with him.

"So... I guess this is goodbye?" Madeline mumbled under her breath.

"I guess so..." Ivan nodded, smiling slightly.

After the Taxi had arrived they hugged each other goodbye and he was off.

Proceeding to the desk, to get his passport scanned to be able to board the plane, Ivan rolled the backpack close behind.

"Ivan Braginsky!" There was a voice that called for him.

From the second floor of the airport, a cute girl with long wavy strawberry blond hair and indigo eyes leaned on the railing, waving down to him. Her glasses seemed like they would slip from her face and fall down, only to crash against the floor or hit a person below her.

"I just realized..." She added, now the entire airport was looking her way. "I think I love you!" She hid her blushing face from Ivan.

After hearing said words, Ivan blushed slightly as his eyes grew, did she just confess to him at an airport? Bringing his childish smile to his sweet lips, he licked them slightly and mouthed some words. With Natalia now pulling on his arm, making him proceed with his life, he decided to yell back.

"I love you too!" He smiled brightly, and now the airport finally had found the Ivan that the girl had called.

"I still haven't kissed a boy!" She added.

"And I hope you don't change that until I get back!" Ivan didn't mind that the whole world had to know about what was going on between them.

Madeline squealed a little and waved at him. She had finally said it, but so late...

Upon arriving in Russia, Ivan had met his father the dear General, and was glad to finally live with him again. And even a month later he felt happy that he was still talking to Madeline over skype and all, keeping in touch with her made him feel great.

"Ivan, time for school!" The General called from the bottom of the stairs.

"One second!" Ivan called back. He turned to the web camera and smiled. "Bye Madeline, see you later." He grinned, pulling up his scarf.

Madeline waved from the other side of the screen. "Au revoir." She smiled before hanging up the call.

~Fin~

~There will be a sequel to this story, so keep your eyes open, for when I do post it. Of course, it won't be too soon. See you all next time.~