"Bloody hell..." Arthur through his arm over his eyes, blocking the sun light that filtered through the opened window. He groaned, his head felt heavy, his throat was as dry as hell, combined with a splitting headache. Dear God, this day was not going to be easy.

Arthur slowly took his arm away from his eyes and sat up, causing the world to spin. Arthur gave another groan, he was never, ever going to drink that much again. Ever. As Arthur began to crawl off his bed to take a shower(he always felt so dirty after drinking), putting one slim leg over the side of the bed, he heard a crunch.

"What now...?" He mumbled to himself, looking over the side of the bed to find the source of the noise. "A sodding McDonald's wrapper?" Since when did he eat McDonald's...? Wait- Arthur's head snapped up(making his ears ring), he looked around. There were two beds in this rather small room, and it was like the room was separated by an invisible line. The side opposite from him was spotless, everything seemed to sparkle, it reminded himself of his own room, actually. But the side he was on... it was bloody disgusting. There were wrappers of all sorts, water bottles, soda bottles, fast food cups, dirty laundry- Oh, Dear God! It smelt awful-

But really, that was the least of his worries. He was in some dorm room, half sodding naked, and he could remember nothing from after the second drink at that Bar Elizabeta worked at. Arthur sighed and ran a hand through his messy, blond hair. Had he slept with someone- right after he was yelled at for sleeping around, and promising himself he would not sleep with anyone anymore, he goes and breaks it. Francis was right, as usual.

Arthur felt his tears well up- why couldn't Arthur just of said 'I'm sorry, Francis. I'm so, so, sorry. I never meant to hurt you- I promise not to sleep around anymore, I promise-' It was so bloody easy- but yet he could never bring himself to say so. Francis was his best friend, and he felt as though he was loosing him...

Arthur's head snapped up again(creating the annoying ringing in his ears again), as he heard the door open. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened at the sight,

"Oh- hey! You're awake, bro!" Alfred grinned, closing the door behind him. Arthur's heart beat increased, had he- no, no way... bust what if- No! He could not have slept with- with him, of all people! Not that he was g-gross or something, no it was the opposite, really- stop! Alfred was oblivious to the inner turmoil the other blond was having. "Here," Alfred tossed him a bottle of water, "I figured you'd need this! I know I do when I get wasted!" He laughed loudly, causing Arthur to cringe at the noise.

Arthur didn't say anything, he unscrewed the top and took a long gulp. His green eyes wandered back to Alfred, who was looking at him, smiling. Arthur felt himself flush, he quickly broke the eye contact, suddenly feeling very self conscious- he was only in a pair of boxers. It was silent. Awkwardly silent. Arthur didn't know what to say- he just slept with his best friend from years ago, what could he say?

Arthur inwardly sighed, he was an adult. He would resolve this. Yes, defiantly. "Listen, A-Alfred..." The blond perked up from the other side of the room, his smile grew bigger, he looked... anxious. Oh, God. Was he... was this another Michelle incident? The Brit hoped not... "U-um well... this is hard to say..." He took another deep breath, get it over with, lad! Pull with bloody trigger! "I know we shagged last night, b-but it was probably an accident! I didn't mean it, and-and..."

Arthur stopped, not know what else to say, he looked up at Alfred, hoping he wasn't angry, but instead he had a frown on his face. Like he was disappointed, but the expression quickly changed from disappointed to confusion, then finally to laughter.

He was bloody laughing at him.

He was clutching his stomach and wiped tears from his blue eyes(taking his glasses off, first). Now Arthur was annoyed. Alfred was sodding hysterical, when all Arthur wanted to do was not destroy their new relationship. He put his heart on his bloody sleeve!

"You're a right git, you know that? I-I was trying to be nice! And what do I bloody get? Laughed at- arsehole!" Alfred waved at him, probably trying to say hold on, while he caught his breath, eventually he did.

"Okay... so you thought, me and you("you and I!")had sex!" He barked out another laugh, causing the other to send a heated glare at the American.

"Well I'm sorry that the thought is that hilarious!" Arthur was pretty sure his face was a bright shade of red, he turned away from Alfred and slid back under the covers(which smelled like Axe body spray). Was it that hard to imagine? Was sleeping with Arthur that funny? Arthur scoffed under the covers, that's not what most people would say...

"N-no! Not at all, Art!" Arthur heard the other stand up from the bed across the room and walk to the bed he was on- whose bed was this anyways? It could have been Alfred's, but he couldn't have smelt this good... "It's just funny how you think we'd do that! I mean- I'm pretty sure you tried a few times- it's hard to resist my swag, so it was kinda not surprising-"

"What!" Arthur turned around in the covers to face Alfred, who was now sitting next to the bed. "What the hell does that mean?" He tried to have sex with him? Alfred tilted his head to the side, in a confused manner,

"Oh! You mean 'swag', well it's kinda means-"

"No-! I don't give two shits about your stupid American slang- I tried to have sex with you?" Alfred gave a lazy smirk. Arthur felt his face heat up again, so he turned back to face the wall.

"Yup! Dude, you totally kissed me!" Arthur narrowed his eyes in confusion. Why was he okay with that? They were old friends for Christ's sake, you don't snog with your friends- oh. Right, Arthur still hadn't told Alfred he remembered. Honestly, he probably never would. Things were complicated as is- if he told him, then it would become even more confusing... Alfred would probably never forgive him, anyways. If he found out Arthur knew and didn't tell him- if Arthur was in that situation, he would be beyond angry. Arthur took a deep breath,

"And you're okay with that?" Arthur had to keep his voice from shaking. He was still faced away from the American, who was silent for a few long moments.

"Hmm, I don't think it matters. I mean, you were upset, so... I'm not holding it against you, or anything."

"What do you mean I was upset...?" Arthur asked, furrowing his dark brows together.

"Well, you were kinda a crying mess!" Alfred laughed lightly, trying to lighten the mood. Arthur could practically see his face. "You wouldn't tell me what you were crying about though, all you really said was that everybody hates you..." He said that? That is why he shouldn't drink, especially when he's an emotional wreck. How bloody embarrassing... "Also... also you said that- that..." He trailed off, not finishing his sentence, instead he started a new one.

"Hey, Art?" Arthur grunted in response, "Wanna tell me why you were so sad last night?" Arthur was silent for a moment.

"Nothing else happened, right?" He asked, softly, talking into the blankets on top of his slim body.

Alfred chuckled, "I swear." After a moment, Arthur shifted back around to face the other blond, who was smiling happily, it contrasted heavily with the sad frown on the Brits face.

"I slept with Francis' girlfriend."

Alfred blinked, confused. He furrowed his eye brows, "Why would you-"

"I'm not a good, nor an innocent person. I sleep with people a lot, man woman- I don't have a preference. Michelle was just another cute girl at the club, she liked me, I liked her, she was drunk, I was drunk. I did what I normally did; went back to her place and had sex. It was supposed to be that simple. I didn't even know her bloody name." Arthur chuckled humorlessly, not looking at Alfred face. He knew what look he had on his face; disgust. How could someone just sleep with people? Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat and continued,

"Francis is all but engaged to her, now- a 'family arrangement'. He loves her, I can see it in his eyes- it's so nice to see him like that, you know? Apparently, the girl was bloody in love with some sodding fool, so she wouldn't tie the knot with Francis. Francis said she fell in love with her first- and that he refused to contact her. I hadn't 'met' her, at this point, but we did meet- and bloody hell, it was a mess! I made the poor girl cry- F-Francis was so mad. I understand why, I'm a child. A sodding child!

"He yelled at me. We fight all the time, but he was so disappointed in me. I understand, though... I deserved it. Hell, I deserved more! I put him through so much, and-and I'm so selfish! Over bloody everything! He constantly looks out for me, and I constantly stab him in the sodding back! Why does anyone stay with me-?"

"Hey-!" Arthur, who was crying now, stopped blubbering as Alfred stopped him. "Don't say stuff like that..." Alfred was wearing a frown on his strong face, his blue eyes filled with concern. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears on the others face, but Arthur slapped his hand away. Alfred's frown deepened, but he didn't protest it. "Don't talk about your self so badly."

Arthur was confused, he was expecting Alfred to not want to see him again- because he's done it before. And this is far worse then what had happened all those years ago-

"Why do you fucking care?" He cursed in his head, that came out so badly, but thankfully, Alfred didn't seem to mind.

"You're my friend, I'll always care-"

"How are you not disgusted! I sleep with everyone- I even thought I slept with you, and you seem perfectly okay with it! Why?" He glared down hardly at the American, who sat crossed lagged next to the bed, looking up at Arthur.

"Yeah, I don't like hearing about how much you sleep with everyone, I don't think it's a healthy habit either... but you don't like it, which means you wanna change, right?" He allowed a small smile to grace his lips. "I don't know that whole situation, but I do know that... that Francis," He spat his name, "does care about you, a lot. And no matter what you do, he'll always be there for you." He seemed to have a hard time saying that. "And now, I will too!" His blue eyes sparkled with determination, and something else...

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because!"

"You're a bloody lunatic."

"I know!" Wink.

Arthur rolled his eyes, he didn't understand that Alfred. The room was, again, silent. Arthur wiped the dry tears off his face, all the while sniffing. Alfred watched him, he

"Now," Alfred stood up from the floor and stretched, than sat down next to Arthur on the bed. "We can be like, one hundred percent honest with each other, right?" Arthur looked over at the other blond sceptically, just what was he getting at?

"I... suppose so." Arthur said slowly, eyes watching Alfred carefully.

"Great!" Alfred grinned and grabbed Arthur's smaller hand and held it in his own. Arthur blushed at the gesture, really, what was up with him? "Now, be honest... do you remember me? From ten years ago?"

Arthur's heart dropped into his stomach. How did he- there was- why? He didn't know what to say, he should have simply answered with a yes. It would be over, he wouldn't have to constantly watch what he said around him, they could be honest and reminisce over their past- and get over it, get over everything that happened all those years ago.

But he wouldn't be Arthur if he didn't lie.

So that's what he did, he lied.

"N-no."

"Arthur-" He could tell Alfred was holding back his anger- hell even he can't be all smiles and rainbows all the time. "I know you're lying, I have no clue why you are, but you're lying."

"I have to go." There I go again, always running away. He stood up, quickly searching the room for his things. He had to get out of there.

"Arthur-!" Arthur pulled on his shirt, not caring too much that it was backwards. "Can you stop- please!" Alfred angrily grabbed his shoulder, turning the other around. "Now it's my turn to ask why! Why are you lying! I don't fucking understand!" Arthur pushed the taller blond away, making him let go.

"I'm not asking you to sodding understand! I just- don't you hate me?" Arthur looked everywhere except Alfred's eyes, if he met them he just knew he would cry. And he fucking cried way to bloody much this past day.

"No! I don't!" Alfred was still yelling. "I never hated you-"

Arthur shook his head, what a bloody lie. He'd clearly stated that he hated him, he remembered Alfred's face when he said that, like it was just a few hours ago. He wasn't joking, he wasn't remorseful, he didn't just say he hated Arthur, he meant it. It was bloody obvious.

"Shut up! You're a bloody liar!" Finally, he looked up at Alfred, who looked equally as angry as Arthur did. "You said so!"

"That was ten years ago-"

"So? You were my best friend and you said you hated me! A-and he meant it too! I know damn well if I hadn't of moved to England, you would've still sodding hated me too!" Arthur scowled at Alfred, and Arthur scowled right back. Alfred walked up to Arthur, they were standing chest to chest. It was obviously the taller blonds attempt to intimidate him, but no way in bloody hell was he scared.

"Exactly! You fuckin' disappeared! I didn't have a chance to make up with you! Nobody knew where you were! I wasn't just going through life, these past years, hating you! I've missed you so, so much! And I know it's my fault you were gone! I took out all my anger on you, and I shouldn't have. I never regretted something so much in my life, Arthur..." Somewhere during the long speech, Alfred's hand found it's self on top of the Brits head.

"Then why did you say it?" Arthur whispered, staring into Alfred's blue eyes.

"Because I bottle things up..." Alfred chuckled, wiping his watery eyes(he had something in them). "My Mother and Dad were fighting a lot, you know... and they pretty much announced their divorce that day. Than I saw you so happy... your parents would never split up, they always loved you guys so much... and I was pretty jealous!" He laughed again, "It's not a big deal anymore, I think it's for the best, actually. They split up- for good, a little bit after you disappeared," Arthur flinched at that, "Mother took Mattie to Canada, and Dad and me went to New York..."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be!" Alfred grinned, running his fingers through Arthur blond, choppy hair. His grin turned into a simple, sweet smile. "I told you, it was for the best. Well... the only bad thing that happened, was me being a dick to you. I never forgave myself for that, y'know. One day I went over to your house to say sorry, and I knocked and knocked and knocked! Nobody ever answered the door! But I came back everyday until Dad and I left for New York. He had to pull me on the plain kicking and screaming!"

Arthur stared up at Alfred in wonder, he went through all that and he was still smiling and happy. Arthur became a mess. A pathetic mess that had to sleep with everything to fill that sodding whole in his chest. It's ridiculous.

"That explains things..." Alfred looked down, surprised that Arthur talked. "I called you but your phone number was invalid."

"Arthur..." Alfred's eye's were filled with sadness. Arthur huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Jesus fucking Christ I was pathetic back then! It's bloody maddening looking back on it now! I mean really, was I some girl?" He was joking to himself, really. But apparently Alfred can't comprehend sarcasm because he embraced him in a hug from behind. He buried his head in Arthur's hair, making him flush scarlet. "O-Oi-"

"I'm so freaking sorry, Artie! I never meant to hurt you so much!"

Arthur felt himself smile for the first time in a long time, "You idiot! If you're okay, why wouldn't I be!" He laughed. It was a foreign feeling... a big weight was lifted from his shoulders. The weight of lying, and knowing the person he cared about most, cared for him too.

This feeling... he hoped he could hold onto it for forever.

TADA! A month later! This is unbeta'd so ignore the mistakes~

So I am really sorry for the lateness! I had a ton of MEP parts to do, not to mention I'm obsessed with homestuck. Yup. Homestuck is the best thing ever! I absolutely adore it~ Karkat 3 I also don't really like this story anymore, just because there's butt loads of things wrong with it, but I know a lot of you do like it! So I'll finish it~

I don't know how many chapters will be left, but I'm trying to go by the hero's journey chart, so I'm on step 8 right now! There are 12, but I REALLY don't know what to do next! I wasn't even going to have the chapter ANYTHING like this one, it was going to be Alfred not telling Arthur he told him... but everybody was really excited for stuff to go down, so I changed it! I'm really bad at climaxes, guys.

PLEASE review! I have 80 and I really want to get to 100! I always reply, and I always love them! 3

Swag is my favorite word, btw. America has the best slang, yo.