Chapter One: Introductions and a Social Update

Arthur Kirkland had always been one of those kids that enjoyed school. He'd always felt empty and disappointed whenever the summer holidays came about. Mainly it was because he would miss his friends; even if they did see each other in the holidays, it was always different somehow.

Arthur had been like this all his life, some people agreeing with him, and others raising an eyebrow wondering how anyone could like school.

However, this liking for school had all turned on its head at the beginning of September for Arthur. The start of Year 10. The start of his GCSE exams. The gateway to hell its self.

Within a week of Year 10, Arthur had soon realised why everyone had hated school so much. Lessons were no longer fun, as he was split up from most of his friends as they'd chosen different subjects to him. In Year 9 it was rare that they were given homework, now it was rare they weren't given the dreaded paper, more often than not due in within a few days. Every lesson felt it was important, too, like it held a scary amount of the future in it. Year 9 you could just slack off and send notes to each other if you felt slightly tired; it wasn't like it mattered. Now, Arthur felt permanently tired, had massive bags under his eyes, and knew that if he switched off for even a minute then there was a scary chance of him not understanding the rest of the lesson. Arthur rolled over in his bed, trying not to think about the homework that he'd forgotten to do.

Owain, Arthur's big brother had warned him of this. Owain was in his second year of college, and was enjoying it a lot more than Arthur was Year 10. Owain had said Year 10 was the year you discovered who your real friends were, and also the extent you cared for them. It was also the year that self harm and depression was no longer just in fictional teenage books, and it became a real struggle, affecting everyone that it touched. It was the year about 10% of the students decided to come out as gay, and then change their minds the week after and say they were bisexual, and the week after that they were straight, until finally they decided that they were confused.

One thing Owain had told him to look forward to was that you often made a lot of substantial bonds, and 'discovered yourself' properly. Also you discovered a load of cool bands that you'd never heard of before, and were suddenly the stars of all the posters on your wall. Arthur was mainly looking forward to the band one.

Though none of this had yet to happen to him, two weeks into term. He'd noticed no social changes, or changes about his personality like Owain had promised him.

His new classes were interesting, thankfully. He'd decided that Separate Sciences was his favourite. Separate Science was basically a lesson for the kids that wanted to go in a science-related direction; they took an additional three lessons of science a week, and got an extra GCSE in science at the end of it all.

It wasn't so much the science that Arthur was interested in, however. More the people in his class.

First there was his rather odd teacher Mr Leroy. He was an interesting man. Sometimes very moody, however others very playful. For instance, last year on the 4th of July, he'd taken out a Bunsen Burner and a pan full of water, cooking hot dogs. He then took the American student, Alfred F. Jones, to the front of the class, handing him a hot dog and instructing him to give a hot dog to whoever wished him a 'Happy Independence Day'. The lesson had ended with everyone happily eating hot dogs while being remotely confused by the randomness of the situation. Arthur hadn't been in the class to experience it in person, but Mei Xiao had told him all of the details in their weekly flute lesson.

Alfred F. Jones was another interesting element to his science lessons, him and his odd group of friends; Alfred, Matthew, Kiku, the Italian brothers and Antonio. Arthur frowned as he thought about them. They were all very interesting. All of them were very clever, to be fair the majority of them were quite... nice-looking, and they were all incredibly popular. Yet, somehow they managed to be very nice people, from what Arthur could gather, and all had a bit of a closet-geek side. They were everything popular people should be, but never were.

Of course, St. Katmore High school had its fair share of your usual bitchy popular kids, though through the years, they'd slowly lost more and more of their reputation, and most people were looking through the layers of makeup or the abundance of foul language and began to see them for who they really were; judgemental cunts that were given power, drugs and more often than not hair extensions. Yes, they still had power, but a significantly reduced amount than one might think.

Alfred was a particularly odd one. Lovely guy, yeah. Arthur hadn't spoken to him a lot, but he'd heard all about it from Gilbert last year. Gilbert was the guy Arthur had handed position of 'Best Friend' over to back in Year 7. He was still trying to work out if that was a good decision or not. Gilbert was a lovely guy, yeah, but a bit of hard work at times. Arthur remembered last year the stress of Gilbert's life when he was 'in love' with Alfred.

It had all started in the summer, when Alfred had begun to hang around the music classroom, where Gilbert tried to impress people by playing his guitar. It had worked with Alfred and the two of them had become fast friends. This did not help Gilbert's heartache, and he had planned to confess to Alfred his 'love'. Incidentally, the exact moment Gilbert was about to confess, Alfred had asked him out on a date. Over the moon, Gilbert had nearly fainted. He would be happy forever.

Until Alfred broke up with him for an unknown reason the following Monday.

Arthur remembered the tears Gilbert had shed while telling the story over and over again on how the breakup didn't even happen as a result of anything. He just woke up one morning, a terrifying breakup text waiting for him. Gilbert still had no idea what he'd done wrong.

Though what Arthur had found most intriguing about the story was the sexuality issues. Alfred had never mentioned anything about being gay, or bisexual or whatever. Nor were there any rumours about him. However his and Gilbert's relationship wasn't exactly secret. Gilbert told whoever he could about it. Everyone knew that Alfred F. Jones had dated Gilbert Beilschmidt, but no one had said anything. Whether it was because no one wanted to get on the wrong side of Alfred and his well deserved power, Arthur didn't know, or it might've just been a show of maturity and lack of caring from the student body. Arthur frowned, neither seemed likely.

That was a thought that'd he'd tried to keep hidden away. Sexuality. Arthur shuddered while lying in his bed. Was he gay? Bisexual? Pansexual? Bi-curious? Straight? He didn't know. All he knew was all summer he'd done... 'stuff' with another boy in curiosity and attempt to work as rebound for the heartbroken boy. All that they'd achieved was a few awkward joint orgasms, and a jeopardized friendship that they'd managed to fix by the skin of their teeth. That boy was Gilbert. Every time Arthur thought back to summer, his toes curled in guilt, cursing at himself for being so stupid and horny and just being just a bastard towards Gilbert.

Fun times, Arthur thought sarcastically.

He glanced at the clock. The red figures told him he'd better sleep or he'd be very tired tomorrow.

Hm. Monday tomorrow. Separate Science. Maybe he'd be able to find out a little more about Alfred.

"Francis why are you calling me at eleven o'clock at night?"

"Because, mon amie, I simply have no one else I feel I can turn to."

"Oh? Why, what's happened?"

"Me and Emma broke up."

Bella sat at the other end of the phone line, unsure how to respond. She was very happy that Francis and his frankly awful girlfriend had broken up. She was literally one of the bitchest girls that Bella had ever met. Emma was manipulative, two faced and controlling. What Francis had ever seen in a girl like her was beyond Bella. Though, Bella knew that Francis did not share her glee. He needed a friend right now rather than someone to laugh in triumph.

"Ah... You okay? What happened?"

There was a pause on the other side of the line, and then finally Francis answered in a timid, quiet voice that Bella wasn't used to hearing. "I broke up with her. The details aren't important, I don't want to talk about them. We had an argument. She called me a dick and said I was using her. At that point I snapped. Everyone thinks that I'm oblivious to the fact that she was using me; that I was in the dark the whole time. By the time I'd figured out people were right when telling me that she was using me, it was too late; I was already in love with her. I still am. How will I ever live another day, Bella?"

Bella frowned, rolling her eyes, "Oh Francis don't be so melodramatic. I'm here to give you sympathy but seriously you guy were dating for a month or two. No way you were in love. And yes you will live another day, I'm bringing in waffles to school tomorrow, remember?"

Francis sniffed, "Okay perhaps I'll live... and perhaps I wasn't in love with her. But she was using me. And I did break up with her. I'm regretting it. Was that the right thing to do? Shit it wasn't, was it? I should go back and apologise..."

"Francis, Jesus Christ stop worrying, you're never like this! Personally I think you were right to break up with her, yeah? Though admitted, I am biased massively. Things'll be okay, yeah? Calm it. This really isn't like you. And look on the bright side, she'll always take you back because she's desperate for a fuck buddy."

"I was not her fuck buddy, Bel! We didn't even go that far, Jesus what do you take me for?"

"Ah but she did beg you at least twice for it, didn't she?"

"... Yes. And I refused all five times she asked."

"Five times! Jesus she was desperate!"

"Hm." Francis was silent for a moment, and Bella was a little worried she'd offended him, until he said, "Thanks, Bel. I do actually feel a little better now. I'm starting to see that I was mad to be with her in the first place... It still hurts though."

"Of course it does, Francis. Don't worry, you'll get over her pretty soon, I'm sure? And Shell'll give you a good cheering up tomorrow. Now get some sleep froggie, school tomorrow!"

"Do not call me froggie."

"Why? It's cute!"

"It is not cute. I swear I will kill Arthur for coming up with that blessed nickname. Talk to you tomorrow, Bel."

"Bye!" Bella hung up, stuffing her phone under her pillow as she heard a knock on the door.

"Why're you on the phone at eleven at night?" Lars poked his head through the door.

"Because Francis is having a 'crisis'. He and Emma broke up."

Lars nodded half-heartedly. "Oh. Night."

"Close the door on your way out! Night!" Bella turned over in her bed, snuggling up to a pillow and sighing. So the first drama of the term had begun, apparently. She wished it'd been a little more... dramatic. An inevitable break up wasn't one thing she was going to tell stories about in years to come, after all.

"Shell!"

"Ah Liz there you are. I was about to leave without you, girl. You seen Ludwig on your travels? He asked us to wait for him but he hasn't turned up... Not like him to be late."

Elizabeta frowned, "Nope haven't seen him. Though if we don't leave now, we're gunna be pretty late..."

"We'll apologise to him when we get to form. I'm sure he'll understand," Michelle said with a shrug, "I told Bella and Francis to meet us at the gate. And Arthur's walking from the opposite direction so he'll meet us in form like usual."

"Did you hear about Francis and Emma?" Elizabeta said, grinning.

"I know! Brilliant isn't it? Like, in the nicest way possible. Yeah, Francis is sad but at least she won't be using him now..." Michelle said.

"Yeah, Jesus it made me sick seeing them together," Elizabeta shuddered, "Just knowing that she was going to hurt him, and we couldn't do anything about it because he was so... happy."

"Well it's over now, at least. He can move on. Hey speaking of, what about your little crush on Gilbert, Lizzie?"

Elizabeta spluttered, blushing, "That was last year. Not sure what I saw in the little shit. Probably because he was just so confident, I don't know. But yes. No more crush on Gilbert I can tell you that. Nothing there. Besides nothing would have ever happened. Ever."

"Hmmm? How can you be so sure?"

"Well have you seen him and Arthur?"

Michelle rolled her eyes, "Gil and Artie aren't together. Not only would Arthur have told us, but Arthur isn't even gay! And why on earth would there be a thing between two best friends?"

"I can argue with literally everything you just said there Shell. Number one, why would Arthur tell us if he was doing stuff with Gil, or if he were gay? And number two, duh of course things happen with best friends. Especially if two people get curious. They start to talk about the things they'd like to do in the future... and it just happens and they do them and then feel full of regret afterwards."

Michelle shot a glance at Elizabeta, "You seem awfully confident in your reasoning, Lizzie. Perhaps a little too confident, hm?"

Elizabeta frowned, "What're you getting at?"

"You haven't had a friend you've been... fooling around with, have you?" Michelle said, waggling her eyebrows.

"No! I am perfectly happy waiting for stuff like that until I have a boyfriend!" Elizabeta said confidently, before adding, "Or girlfriend."

"Oh yeah... You came out didn't you..." Michelle's tone was casual. In all honesty she had actually just forgotten that Elizabeta had announced at one sleepover that she liked boobs and dicks equally.

"How can you just forget something like that, Shell?"

"Because it just doesn't really matter, does it? Not like you've changed since then." Michelle shrugged, "Oh hey, Bel and Francis are over there!" She ran off, waving.

Elizabeta blinked a few times, and then ran after Michelle. She reached the three, about to grin and ask Francis and Bella how they were, but by the expressions on their faces it was very obvious how they were.

"What's up?" Elizabeta asked, furrowing her eyebrows, not sure what to say.

Francis was looked close to tears, Bella patting his back encouragingly with a rather pained expression on her face. Michelle was watching, worried, but didn't quite know what to say or do.

"Um, guys?" Elizabeta asked again when there was no reply from the two.

Bella sighed, giving Francis a final pat before coming a little closer to the two girls, speaking in a hushed voice, "I'm sure you heard about him and Emma," she whispered the name even quieter.

"Yeah?"

"Well um... he was fine about the breakup, or as fine as you could expect him to be..." Bella said before pausing to send a sympathetic glance at Francis, "that is until Emma came along just now screaming at him that he was a cunt and deserved to die, a load of shit about how he was using her and how his dick was tiny and whatever. It only added to the wound that Alfred's lot were walking past at the same time..."

Michelle and Elizabeta winced slightly, not sure what to say so just sent empathic gazes at Francis who looked as white as a sheet.

"No, no I'm fine. I am perfectly f-i-n-e," Francis straightened up, straightening the tie of his school uniform, taking a deep breath and clearing his throat. "See? Fine. She can say what she wants, she's still wrong. And if Alfred's lot believe the shit she said about me then more fool them. Apart from Matthew, he's too cute to be a fool."

Bella rolled her eyes, about to reply before she stopped, seeing Arthur walking their way and waving, "Artie's here, guys!"

Arthur strode over, waving goodbye to Mei Xiao, the girl who was walking with him, "What happened here? Did Frog and Emma have a fight?" Arthur asked with a mocking grin.

Everyone froze, and Francis whimpered a little.

"Oh. Not funny then." Arthur said, his voice stiff but his eyes wide with alarm as he genuinely hadn't meant to hurt Francis with the joke. He had no idea the two had broken up.

"Francis broke up with Emma, was just getting over it before Emma came over screaming abuse at him right as Alfred and his lot were walking past," Michelle explained to Arthur under her breath.

"Oh. Wait Alfred? Alfred F. Jones Alfred?"

"Yes what other Alfred do we have in this school?"

Arthur frowned. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to clarify that.

The five of them stood there for a moment, no one quite sure what to say. Luckily the silence was filled with their maths teacher, Mr Harlan coming over.

"Oi you lot, quit standing around and get to form will you?" He said. The five ginned at him in apology, sulking through the gate right as the bell went.

"See you first lesson, sir," Bella called as they scurried off to their form class, hoping they wouldn't be too late.

"Late. Disappointed in you all, you little shits. Even you Artie!"

"Oh shut it Gilbert," Arthur said as he walked through the door with the others, glaring at Gilbert before sliding down in the chair next to him. "Oh hi Ludwig, didn't see you there."

Ludwig nodded in greeting.

"Ludwig there you are! We were waiting for you at the gate but you didn't turn up! I thought you were waiting for us?" Michelle walked over sitting down and frowning at Ludwig.

"Sorry. Had something to do in P.E. so I had to be in earlier."

"Well you could've told us."

Ludwig didn't reply, and just carried on reading something important-looking. Michelle frowned, but turned to talk to Elizabeta, Francis and Bella who'd just sat down.

"Yo man and how are you?" Gilbert clapped a hand on Arthur's back, making Arthur cough and splutter a little, "Oops. Sorry."

"Hm. No worries. But things are all right yeah," Arthur said without really thinking, "You?"

"Normal. Pretty shit really. Though saying that nothing to be happy about, but nothing to be depressed about, y'know?" Gilbert frowned, "Apart from the fact Alfred got a haircut."

Arthur couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Still not over him? You did break up what... four months ago now?"

"What? Of course I'm over him you prick. Why would I still be holding on to him, it's not like we're ever going to date again anyway."

"Admit it, you're not over him."

Gilbert paused, looking determined not to give in before he finally caved, his eyebrows shooting up and he rested his head against Arthur's shoulder, "He's so fucking attractive. And fuck his personality ugh why is he so perfect the little dick."

Arthur patted him mindlessly, "I'm sure you'll be over him soon. But if I'm honest, I think he's changed since you two were dating. He got too high up in the hierarchy. Popularity went to his head. He's not the guy who hung out in music with you all the time talking about Star Trek and anime. Or at least he'd locked up that side of him."

Gilbert frowned, "No way, Alfred wouldn't be like that. He'd keep himself over his social status..." Gilbert trailed off, not sounding so sure.

"Hm whatever, I'm sure you'll be over him soon."

"Right class," Mr Ruskin, their form tutor walked in, late as usual, "Sorry I'm late. I'll take the reg."

After the register had quickly been taken, the bell rang signalling the start of lessons.

"Great, maths. See you in history, yeah?" Arthur called to Gilbert as he followed the others out of the class.

"Sure thing, man. Oh, mind if I stick around with Kiku at break and stuff?" Gilbert called back.

Hm, Kiku. Arthur had never pictured those two being friends, but he shrugged it off, "Sure. See you later!"

Arthur looked at the clock with a frown. Ten more minutes until his normal science lesson was over and separate science began. He sighed again, probably the tenth time this lesson. He wasn't sure why he was looking forward to separate science so much. It was only separate science.

"You okay there, eyebrows?" Francis asked in a hushed whisper.

"Perfectly fine, frog," Arthur replied with a frown, though then felt a little bad. "Look I'm... I'm sorry about this morning."

Francis frowned, "It didn't exactly cheer me up..."

"Yeah... Sorry."

"It's okay, I guess."

"Jesus you could sound a little more forgiving..."

"You're the one who's meant to be apologising here, don't have a go at me!" Francis said, his voice a little louder than was usual, causing Mr Leroy to frown at the two of them.

The two sat in silence for a moment, just doing their work.

"Look I'm sorry for being a bit... snappy. I'm not in the best of moods," Francis explained, his voice very low now. He sounded a little more apologetic and friendly than before.

"S'okay. I'm sorry too," Arthur said, ashamed to admit it for the third time. "Shame about you and her, really. She made you happy, at least. Though she was a bitch."

"Yes, she was a bitch, one that'd I'd already fallen in love with before I realised it..." Francis sighed.

"Oh don't be so melodramatic, frog."

Francis shot Arthur a glare, but didn't attempt to continue his pity party. Instead he changed the subject, "How're you and Gilbert, then?"

Arthur made sure not to show any physical reaction other than slipping as he underlined something in his book, giving him a lovely ink line down his book, "Shut it, I told you that stuff was over."

"Over you say? Somehow I don't quite believe you. But I'm the only one that knows?" Francis sounded a little too smug for Arthur's liking.

"I needed to get it off my chest to someone, and you were the only person that wasn't going to over react and make a big deal out of it. So thank you for your help and advice on the matter, but can we please drop it, because it's a bit of a... touchy subject."

"What, do you feel guilty?" Francis leaned in, putting his pen down. Arthur cursed, why was Francis so interested in a topic that was obviously making Arthur feel so uncomfortable?

"Because I feel like I used him. There I said it, now can we please drop the subject."

Francis looked as if he was about to ask more, but luckily for Arthur, the bell went. Francis gave Arthur the eyes of 'this conversation isn't done', but left with Bella and Lars to go off to their next lesson. Michelle and Elizabeta sat down on the chairs near to Arthur, and Ludwig took the seat next to him. Arthur frowned. Not that he didn't like sitting next to Ludwig, but the boy hardly spoke, and he always felt awfully left out whenever Michelle and Elizabeta were laughing their heads off.

Arthur sat there twiddling his thumbs waiting for the lesson to start. The door opened behind him and in walked Mei, the girl Arthur actually quite good friends with. Kiku had introduced them. Mei and Arthur were both in the school band and both went to the same Karate class, they also lived quite close to each other. Because of the amount of links between them, Arthur and Mei had struck up an unlikely friendship.

"Artie! You coming to band tonight?" Mei asked, her friend Lien Chung not leaving her side.

"I am," Arthur said with a smile, then called to Michelle, "Shell, you coming?"

"Where?" Michelle leaned back in her chair so's to look at Arthur.

"Band, you going? What about you Ludwig?" Arthur asked, trying not to get distracted by Alfred and his friends who were making their way into the classroom.

"Yeah I'll be there. How would we manage without our only clarinet?" Michelle smiled before turning around to continue her conversation with Elizabeta.

"I can't come sorry. I'm quitting," Ludwig announced.

Arthur and Mei looked at him as if he'd gone mad, "What?"

"I'm quitting. I'm taking up another athletics class on a Monday night, and I don't particularly like band anyway. I'm quitting."

"You can't quit you're our only tenor horn!" Mei cried in shock.

"Find a new one, I'm not going," Ludwig said simply.

Arthur frowned at Ludwig, "Fair enough. See you later Mei."

Mei departed with a wave and dragged Lien Chung down to their seats across the room.

The lesson swiftly began with Mr Leroy announcing that his dog had just given birth to puppies, and everyone had better be good because he wanted to go home and see them rather than sitting in an after school detention.

"So no calling out Alfred," Mr Leroy had said.

"What!?" Alfred had said with a grin, "Aw come on sir, you love me! And I don't call out, I just... think loudly."

Arthur had frowned whenever Alfred had said that. If it were anyone else who said that then it would have really annoyed him. Now he thought it rather funny. Arthur wasn't conscious of the fact that he was staring at Alfred before he turned at Arthur, smiling. Arthur panicked a little, forgetting to smile back before he averted his gaze.

Shit now he probably thinks I'm a moody bugger, Arthur thought to himself. He made a personal oath to catch Alfred's gaze again and smile to ensure that he knew that Arthur wasn't a complete twat at least.

The science lesson it's self was actually quite interesting if Arthur had bothered to listen. They were doing chemical bonding and isomers. Arthur did enjoy chemistry, but found himself more bothered about Alfred than atoms. Arthur didn't watch Mr Leroy while he spoke, instead he stared at the blank pages of his chemistry notebook, occasionally looking up at Alfred before quickly looking away in case Matthew or Antonio looked up and caught him staring.

"Arthur, so can you define an isomer for me, please?" Mr Leroy asked, pulling Arthur out of fantasy.

"Um... yes it's a... chemical..." Arthur said, struggling for words before giving up and ending it pathetically with "...thing..."

"If only examiners would accept 'thing' as an answer on your papers, and we'd all have A*'s under our belts. Try listening, Artie?" Mr Leroy grinned, and then explained the actual definition of an isomer. It went through one of Arthur's ears and out the other. Arthur was too busy watching Alfred giggling at Arthur's pathetic response to the question. The laugh looked nice rather than spiteful to Arthur's relief.

Arthur couldn't help but wonder why Alfred had smiled to him. Like, they'd only spoken once or twice before now. He was probably just being polite, after all he did seem to be a very nice guy. Well... very nice might be pushing it. Pleasant was a better way of phrasing it.

Perhaps he has a crush on me, Arthur thought to himself as a joke.

Twenty minutes later Arthur felt like banging his head repetitively against the desk, wishing he'd never made that fucking joke to himself. The 'joke' had now turned into a conspiracy theory zooming about his mind and refusing to leave. Arthur, although he knew that it was about ninety nine per cent certainly untrue, had managed to actually convince himself that Alfred was secretly crushing on Arthur, but simply couldn't tell Arthur about his undying love because Arthur and Gilbert were best friends, and that would be too mean to Gilbert. Everyone knew you don't date your ex's best friend unless you're a total dick. That was why Alfred decided to express his feelings as much as he could through little friendly smiles.

Arthur knew that was certainly not the case. Or the rational side of him did anyway. Still the part of him that had kept his wild imagination had already come up with a conversation between Arthur and Alfred of them standing outside science after school, with Alfred confessing his feelings, and Arthur rejecting him and explaining why.

Arthur wanted to punch something. He did not want to be imagining this! Not only did he feel like he was betraying Gilbert in a terrible way, but he also was warming up to the imaginary rejection conversation a lot more than he felt appropriate. Arthur gritted his teeth, determined that for the last part of the lesson he would actually concentrate on isomers and atoms and... and...

One look at Alfred told him that that was definitely not happening, or at least not this lesson.

Arthur had begun to space out again as he was staring at Alfred, not really looking at Alfred, more through him. Of course it was at that point Alfred looked up and saw Arthur staring at him. Arthur panicked, blinking.

SMILE YOU FUCKING TWAT, Arthur's inner voice screamed at him.

And for once he managed to remain composed and calm, and smile at Alfred - there! Now he would know Arthur wasn't a complete dick.

Arthur found himself rather satisfied upon seeing Alfred's returning smile. Then he felt confused as to why he was satisfied. Then he simply gave up trying to understand anything he was feeling and just doodled in the margin of his book for the remainder of the lesson. At least it was lunch next.

"Homework is to write about Juliet's anxieties, class. I want it in on Wednesday or there'll be detention."

The bell rang, and the school day ended. Arthur let out a sigh of relief. Now he just had to sit through band.

"See ya," Gilbert grinned at Arthur, ruffling his hair.

Arthur frowned, flattening it, "piss off. See you tomorrow," he smiled slightly with a little wave as Gilbert ran out of the class to find Kiku and 'the others'. Arthur hung back waiting for Michelle.

"Right, to band we go, Artie. You sure you're not coming, Ludwig?" Michelle asked Ludwig as he walked past. Ludwig ignored her. "Lovely."

The two walked over to the music block, Arthur picking up his flute, and Michelle her clarinet. On their way down to the hall, where they always had their band practice with Mr Fisher, Arthur heard a familiar voice calling him.

"Slow down will you, you two?" Mei said, catching her breath as she stopped running when she finally caught up with them. "No Ludwig, then?"

Michelle raised an eyebrow, "Apparently Mr Honour Student can't take time out of his busy schedule to come to something as pointless as band. Good riddance to him, I say."

"Aren't you guys meant to like him?" Mei raised an eyebrow, laughing a little.

"Hm. Makes you wonder why he wants to hang around with us; it's not like he likes us anyway. I wouldn't say I dislike him but Jesus Christ he is fucking arrogant at times... just because he skipped a year..." Michelle said with a frown.

"Calm it Shell, it's not like we can do a lot with him being with us. Plus I hope we don't all get into an argument or something because it'd be awkward every time I go round to Gilbert's house," Arthur muttered.

Mei and Michelle exchanged a glance, giggling a little.

"What. Why're you looking like that? Why're you giggling?" Arthur demanded, eyes growing wide, realising he'd probably missed something.

"You and Gilbert are totally fucking," Mei deadpanned.

Arthur spluttered, nearly tripping over his own feet.

"Fuck off! One, I demand proof! Two, that's gross he's my best friend! Three, I keep on telling you this; I'm not fucking gay. And four, just no!"

The girls giggled, "Incredibly defensive there, aren't we?" Mei said shooting him an annoyingly confident grin.

Arthur looked about ready to be released into a room full of pillows that he would proceed to rip apart in his anger and embarrassment.

"We're only teasing, Artie!" Mei said with a giggle, slinging her arm around Arthur. "Chill. Oh! You coming to karate on Friday?"

"I told you last Friday I was," Arthur frowned, looking away in annoyance.

"Great! I heard Yao wants us to work on our sweeps. So prepare to feel the cold ground if you're paired up with me!"

Arthur was dreading Friday even more now.

"So this year, guys, I want to concentrate on doing more well known songs, yeah? Last year we were great doing all the Mozart and stuff, you sounded great! But I think some of you, especially the younger ones, found it a bit boring, right? So I've gone out and bought a load of movie theme arrangements, some of everything; we've got Harry Potter in here, we've got Raider's March, the Great Escape, hell we've even got some Les Miserable! It'll be great fun. We may be running thin on a few people... but hey, we can be an ensemble rather than a band. Right to get us warmed up let's try a bit of that Lionel Richie we played just before the summer..."

Everyone groaned, reaching down to rummage in their folders for the dreaded slow and boring Lionel Richie song they all hated with a passion, apart from their conductor, Mr Fisher, who when followed around school could often be heard humming the dreaded song.

In between songs, as usual, Mei and Arthur would have short conversations about nothing in particular. Now and then the two flautists would mouth messages to Michelle, who sat across from them on her own in the clarinet section. There could never be a particularly brilliant conversation because there was never more than two minutes in between their songs. Now and then they did pull each other's hair, or knock their flute away from their mouth while playing, and then cackle about it later.

"Oh Alfred was funny in science today whenever he tripped over Toni's chair and dropped his textbook right on to Matthew's head. You know I reckon only a guy like him could recover from that and make it funny," Mei laughed, shaking her head.

"Hmm... You do? I reckon quite a few people could pull it off..." Arthur muttered.

"Oh? Who?"

Arthur frowned, suddenly unable to think of anyone remotely witty. "Erm... I guess Gil could give it a go... Wouldn't surprise me if Mathias could make something like that comedic too. Though he'd probably be a bit of a dick about it afterward."

Mei grinned, "oh Arthur you're so cold at times. Wouldn't hurt for you to give a bit of loving! I tell you the day Arthur Kirkland bucks up and confesses to someone is gunna be the day that iceberg in your heart melts and turns into a lovely hot bath."

"What the actual fuck are you even talking about, Mei?"

"I dunno I was half way through the sentence and I sort of went with it, okay?" Mei said, "but hey seeing as we're on the subject, you like anyone?"

"No not particularly, you?"

"Nah, no one here quite fits my taste. Hey I'll tell you someone who does have a crush on someone!"

Arthur tried to look interested. He knew Mei was just dying to tell everyone her gossip.

"Well. I don't know how true it is... and I don't actually know who this person likes. But apparently Alfred likes someone! But I heard they're no one anyone would suspect or something and he doesn't really want people to know."

Arthur frowned, "hmm... Well if I ever find anything out on the matter I'll be sure to tell you. You do seem awfully interested Mei... Sure Mr Jones is not up to your taste?" Arthur managed to keep his cool, but the part of him which had been raving about fantasies of Alfred before had just emerged from its sleep from this new fuel for its raging and frankly embarrassingly desperate fires of fantasy.

"I totally don't like him. He's sweet but just not enough, y'know?"

Mr Fisher then announced that Stevie Wonder was to be played next. Oh joy.

The rest of band was just the usual combination of cracking jokes and pulling gags on each other, but doing so in a manner that didn't draw unwanted negative attention from Mr Fisher. Their new songs were a mix of badly played Katy Perry, Adele, the usual 'old' pieces that no one liked (by old that counted for both classical composers, and then singers such as good old Mr Stevie Wonder), some odd remixed version of Ode to Joy which they overplayed, a piece Mr Fisher himself had composed, incidentally the band's favourite piece to play and then a sprinkling of famous movie themes here and there. That is what made up St Katmore's 'wonderful' band. That and eleven amateur wind instrumentalists.

What did make Arthur feel a twinge of guilt that even in their very small numbers, no one had even mentioned Ludwig's absence.

The twinge was soon replaced with more freakishly vivid fabricated confessions from Alfred. Arthur wished he could just shake them out of his mind. They weren't leaving that easily though.

Arthur got home finally, sighing with relief as he unlocked the door stepping inside.

"I'm back!" Arthur called.

But before he even had time to take his shoes off, someone came racing around the living room and out into the hall, squirting Arthur square in the face with a squirt of ice cold water. Arthur made a little grunt of shock, wiping the water from his eyes, already knowing who he would see when he opened them again.

Sure enough his devilish younger cousin, Alastair Kirkland was grinning up at him, water pistol in hand. "Welcome home Artie!"

Arthur snarled at the boy, "it's Arthur you twat; also what the fuck are you playing at with a fucking water pistol and squirting me!?"

"I don't like you so I squirted you." Alastair shrugged as if it were common knowledge.

Owain, Arthur's older brother, then came out of the back room door, "Alastair there you are, what're you doing?" Owain looked up and then saw Arthur's soaking wet face. "Ah."

"Yes it is fucking 'ah'."

"Don't use language like that in front of Alastair, Artie! He's only twelve!" Owain protested.

"I can guarantee he hears worse in that school of his and probably uses worse."

"I do not," Alastair said, a smirk on his face. He always acted so sickeningly sweetly around Owain.

Arthur growled, "so would one of you care to explain why you're both carrying around water pistols and soaking innocent onlookers."

"Um... Alastair wanted a water fight." Owain explained pathetically.

Arthur started at his brother like he'd gone mad, "It's September? It's just over ten degrees outside? You can't have a water fight inside?"

"Um... Yeah I know."

"What!?" Arthur seriously couldn't understand Owain's reasoning.

"I kinda figured we'd keep it to the kitchen. Then Al ran off... and yeah that happened. Sorry about that, Artie," Owain said, still sounding more than a little pathetic.

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I'm going upstairs."

Arthur stormed up the stairs, now in a very bad mood. He dried his face off on a towel as he passed the bathroom, and then sat on his usual comfy chair at his computer in his bedroom and began to procrastinate on the internet for probably what would be a good part of his evening. He'd probably go downstairs a little later to play some piano if he felt like it.

Ahh Arthur could happily kill his cousin right now.

Bella was lying on her bed, just watching a reply of the charts when he phone began buzzing violently. She checked the caller ID and grinned, picking up.

"Two calls in two days, Francis?"

"Hello to you too, Bella. I just wanted someone to talk to, y'know."

Bella frowned into her phone, "you feel shitty about the breakup don't you?"

"Yeah... I know it was for the best but I'm still lonely. I figured a chat with you would help take my mind off things?" Francis said, sounding like he'd just finished crying to himself.

Bella wasn't quite sure what to say. Usually at this point she'd ask how he was doing, though that question had already been negatively answered. "You got some chocolate there? Make sure to make yourself comfy. Blast music."

"Check, check and check. I look like a wreck."

"Well at least no one's there to see you?"

There was silence for a moment. Bella knew she'd better do something about it.

"So Francis! You and Artie looked like you were having a pretty serious conversation in science, what were you talking about?"

"Just the breakup and stuff. Then I tried to get a bit more out of him about him and Gilbert... He still doesn't know you know about that so don't mention it."

Bella winced a little. When she heard that Francis was keeping a secret about Arthur, she'd all but tortured him to death trying to get it out of him. Eventually he'd caved and told her, but Bella realised then that she probably shouldn't have pestered him to find out about a secret that could hurt Arthur so deeply if he knew it'd been blabbed.

"What he say?"

"Insisted nothing had happened since the last time. He still feels guilty. I swear he's got something wrong with him, he'd feel guilty for at least an hour even if he stood on an ant. I can't help but feel sorry for him though. It's obvious that he's just experimenting a little. He just blew it up in his mind, felt like it was an entire relationship."

"Poor Artie..." Bella frowned. Already three people were feeling shitty about relationships.

"All he needs is a crush and he'll get over it," Francis sounded very sure of himself.

"Oh god no I don't want Arthur to have a crush again bless him. He's always so unhappy when he likes someone," Bella paused, "no that's not quite right. He's sometimes so happy about the smallest things, but then all of a sudden he's the saddest we've seen him. It's really depressing to watch..."

"Hey maybe this time his crush won't be unrequited..." Francis said. Both knew the chances of that were slim. Not that people didn't like Arthur, but he did have a great talent of liking people that would never view him in that way, either because they were too close to him, or just didn't know him at all.

"I guess Jones is an option..." Francis said after a moment of them both pondering in their silence.

"Alfred?"

"Mmm..."

"Really?"

"Well Arthur was expressing a bit of an interest in him... and we all know Alfred has at least one leg out of the closet..."

"You're joking, right? Arthur and Alfred? They're so... different, I could never see it working!" Bella really didn't get where Francis was coming from with his suggestion. She tried to picture Arthur and Alfred walking hand in hand, it just didn't work. Or, from her position it didn't.

"Well, at least he's coming to terms with his sexuality, he kept on denying it before now."

"He should take a leaf out of Liz's book, she literally doesn't give a shit," Bella laughed a little, remembering the very casual coming out explanation Elizabeta had provided. "What about you Francis?"

"Hm?"

"Well everyone seems to be coming out. You got anything to flounce?"

Francis smirked, "just because I'm slightly... feminine in certain interests and mannerisms doesn't mean I am attracted to men, Bel."

"Oh come on cut the crap, do you like guys?"

Francis paused, "if I'm honest I really don't know."

"I knew it."

"What? No I didn't admit to anything there. I'm just one big question mark at the minute. I guess, if I fall for a guy, I'm okay with that? I really don't know. If I'm honest I can't be bothered sorting through all the names and labels and working out which one I am."

"Hm... nice attitude I guess..."

"What about you?"

"Me? Hm... Now you've said that I actually kinda agree. I'm jumping on your bandwagon and saying that."

Francis smiled, "more people are like that than meets the eye."

There was silence again. Bella could sense that there was something Francis wanted to talk about, but couldn't bring himself to bring up in conversation; he would have hung up by now usually...

"Are you okay Francis?"

A pause. "No, not right now."

Bella sighed, "I wish I was there so I could hug you, you sound like you need a hug."

"A hug would be golden right now if I'm honest," Bella could tell Francis was smiling a little.

"The breakup getting to you?"

"Yeah... I feel a bit pathetic right now."

"No, Francis, don't feel pathetic, you did go out for a long while anyway. Or at least a while in comparison to most lengths of teenage relationships."

"Thanks, Bel, you make me feel a bit better at least."

"Is there anything else getting to you?" Bella could sense that this wasn't the end.

Francis paused, "well... Yeah..." he paused again, thinking how to phrase it. "Picture our friendship group is a sort of... vase. And someone dropped the vase. Luckily it didn't break, but cracks have been formed, and if it breaks again there's going to be more chance of the vase totally shattering. I feel like we're all on little parts of the shards, separated by these cracks."

"Mmm..." Bella mumbled in response, "what're you getting at?"

"I reckon there just needs to be one major argument and then it's gunna split, and we're going to take sides. Arthur will bugger off with Gilbert, probably still be a bit friendly with Shell. I reckon you and Shell will stick together, maybe Liz with you. As for me, well I'm not sticking around Ludwig on my own. I just don't really... know where I'll go..."

"What Francis why're you saying all this?"

"Because it's like a storm is brewing... I dunno I feel massive tension levels between Liz and me... I don't know what I've done wrong..."

"You haven't done anything, Francis! It's all in your head, she isn't annoyed at you! Why would she be?" Bella hadn't even entertained the possibility it seemed so abstract. "We'll all be fine, Francis! We've got strong friends, and we all love each other, though it might be rough at times! Plus I think everyone's wise enough to realise that the last thing we need in a year like this is an argument. We'll at least hold out until the summer holidays!"

Francis frowned on his side of the phone, but he kept his tone pleasant, "I can't say I'm convinced, but I do hope you're right Bella... An argument would be really fucking inconvenient."

"Don't worry Francis, we'll stay strong friends," the smile was obvious in Bella's voice.

"Thanks Bel, you don't half make me feel better. Really thank you."

"Well, I think we'd best be getting some sleep. It's gunna be a hard year, and lack of sleep isn't going to help! Night Francis, sweet dreams!"

"Night Bel, thanks again."

"No probs, night!"

Bella hung up, smiling and yawning. She snuggled under her fluffy covers, surrounding herself in pillows. The thought of a big argument had never occurred to her before, but after Francis had sewn the seed in her mind it was becoming more and more apparent of how many tiny cracks had formed in their vase.

A/N

Hello and to being, thank you for reading! Yet another Hetalia USUK Highschool AU fic. I will warn you now, if you've read my other fics, this WILL be like them.

This fic has been an idea I've been entertaining for quite a while, and I'm not going to lie but it is incredibly semi-autobiographical. This fic was born with an exercise I did while planning; I planned out the relationships between everyone who is close to me within my school year; those who're friends with each other, who hate each other, who fancy each other etc. etc. But then I looked at it and though 'damn, with a bit of dramatic enhancing, this could be a pretty good fic'. So this was born. And I kept a sort of... minature digital diary, and anything that happened in life that was remotely dramatic/funny/sad/whatever, I would note down. Before I knew it, I had chosen a fandom, pairing and a set of main character (which 90% of I haven't really used before) and boom, 10,000 word plan and a lot of time later here we are!

Also, sorry to blag but I want to leave it here in the first chapter.

I hate to admit it, but I don't really get Seychelles, Belgium and Hungary (though I'm a little wiser about Hungary than the other two). so if they are horribly out of character, please try and explain to me what I'm doing wrong! Any hints at all are very welcome.

Speaking of out of character characters, I will warn in advance: for the first part of the fic, Germany isn't 'himself' and as a result he is so out of character, when reading over it, it makes my face go ':s'

Once again, thank you for reading! Any feedback is very, very welcome!