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He turned over slightly, just enough to glance out the window. The sky stood still, sitting there. Clouds drifted across slowly, just enough to test his patience. He looked at the messy papers and pencil in front of him. Looking around, he saw others writing down nonsensical things. He couldn’t help but scoff. There in the back, sat one kid, twirling a pencil between his fingers.
Alfred Jones. Look, Lovino knew he was kind of popular. But only for a few reasons. Maybe just one. He was part of the baseball team. And, because he was cute. Even though Lovino wouldn’t dare admit that aloud, he could at least think about it.
It was a few hours later.
He trudged down the sidewalk beside his brother, Feliciano. He felt a few pellets of something on his head, then his shoulders. And as he tilted his head back to look up, he was met with the sight of grey clouds.
“Dammit... rain...?” He muttered under his breath. Looking back down, he barely had enough time to react to the person about to walk into him.
They collided with a plunk, both landing on the wet sidewalk. Feliciano glanced over, noticing.
Lovino looked up, already scowling. But then saw the distinctive blonde hair. And just for a moment, his expression faltered.
“Oh-... dude are you okay?!” the blonde said.
It was Alfred. Of course, of all people, it had to be him. Lovino scoffed, getting up.
“I’m fine. You should be worrying about yourself.”
“But..., I can’t knowing you just slammed into the ground like that!” He replied almost instantly. Could he not worry about poor Lovino? Apparently not with how stubborn the both of them were. He then continued, “But seriously, dude,” he paused for a moment then continued, “are you alright?”
He extended his hand outwards to Lovino, now sitting up on the sidewalk. The drizzle slowly getting more aggressive, rain drops falling more and faster than before. Feliciano watched from a few steps away. Backpack slung over his shoulder. Lovino reached his for hand, taking it within his grasp and standing up.
He noticed Alfred’s scraped elbow, probably from falling on the sidewalk. His brows furrowed as he focused on it. And Alfred obviously noticed. Since it felt like Lovino was burning a hole through his arm with the stare.
He looked down, turning his arm slightly, just enough to see where he scraped his elbow. “Oh,” He looked as well, then looked back at Lovino, “it’s just a scratch!” He laughed, though he still knew he was underplaying what it actually was.
Lovino’s eyes narrowed, but still looked away, tearing his gaze away from the ‘scratch’. He sighed exhaustedly, “Alright then...” he met Alfred’s gaze, and adverted it. Alfred’s smug smile annoyed him. Vividly. So vivid it reminded him of someone, maybe Feliciano? Maybe his older brother Antonio. Despite all that, he was still bothered, nonetheless.
Lovino looked to where Feliciano should have been standing. But he was gone. He inconspicuously frowned. He looked back at Alfred. “Well... have a... good day.” He tried turning to leave, but Alfred grabbed his wrist.
“...wait.” Alfred interrupted, grabbing his wrist to pull him back gently. “In the rain? Like this rain? You’ll get soaked! Especially with no umbrella dude!” Lovino felt his cheeks warm up, that familiar feeling he got around Alfred.
“Why do you care...?” He couldn’t help but ask the other holding his wrist.
“Cause I... I uh...” Alfred looked away, before meeting his gaze determinedly. “I hate seeing people get sick! Y’know? Like I feel super bad even though I...-” He continued blabbering before Lovino stopped him.
“I’ll be fine.”
Alfred paused, looking at Lovino again. “Can I at least walk you home?”
Wow, Alfred was really being bold with this. Even Lovino couldn’t believe what he heard. He tried pulling away but Afred was still holding his wrist. “Please?” He asked once more. Lovino remembered Alfred had a baseball game, probably cancelled in this weather. Though, that was his only excuse. So, he might as well use it.
“Don’t you have a baseball game?” Alfred stared at Lovino for a few moments before bursting into laughter, making him feel like an idiot. “Yeah, I mean I guess so, maybe if it wasn’t raining! Even if I still did, it would be at six!” Lovino watched Alfred continue to laugh. Man, when would this guy stop laughing? A deadpan expression replaced his frown.
“Dude, just let me walk you home!” He said, his laughing starting to slow. He let go of Lovino’s wrist more gently than when he grabbed it.
Lovino looked around to make sure no one was watching. “Fine. Only this time though.” he said looking down, a small hint of shyness creeping in.
Alfred smiled, this time genuine unlike his smug one from before. Lovino could swear he saw a slight tint of pink on Alfred’s cheeks. “Great!” Alfred said, cutting off Lovino’s thoughts. He looked up at the sky, noticing the clouds getting darker. “Oof... at this point it might be a storm!” He chuckled awkwardly and started walking beside Lovino.
As they walked, Alfred tried striking up a conversation. “Sooo... dude, I was just wondering, do you do anything outside of school?” He looked slightly down at Lovino. “You know? Like sports... clubs..-”
“No. I don’t.” Lovino replied. “Why are you asking? Do you see me as lazy?” He scoffed and crossed his arms. He was clearly twisting Alfred’s question. Seeing it in another way rather than what he meant.
“No! But I heard your brother mention you do something...” He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
“Which one?” Lovino asked, keeping his gaze forward.
“Wait you have multiple? I only have one!” He said, completely forgetting their conversation.
Alfred looked genuinely baffled, thrown off guard by Lovino’s so called ‘nonchalance”.
“Yes, multiple. Feliciano and Antonio. Now, like I was saying, which one.”
Alfred appeared to be thinking for a moment before focusing back on Lovino. “Uh... the one with the curl! The one like yours!” He waved his hands around, as if trying to add to his description.
Lovino paused, looking over. His mind suddenly flashed with everything Feliciano could have said. He remembered the one time Feliciano mentioned his dancing skills. But the problem about that? He did the more feminine Sicilian dances, some even involving skirts. “What did you hear him say...” his voice barely above a whisper.
“Nothing much! I did hear him say movement or something though!”
Lovino cursed under his breath, hoping Alfred was telling the truth. “Just... that?” He asked Alfred hopefully.
“Yeah!”
Thank gosh. Lovino had never felt so relieved before.
They passed by the local bakery, its lights still on. Alfred peeked at Lovino hopefully. “The bakery’s still open-” “No.” Lovino said curtly, crossing his arms and looking at Alfred. “Oh come on bro! We're soaked! And I’m hungry!” He blurted out.
Lovino stared, unimpressed. “I’m trying to go home, not sit in a bakery where everyone can see us!” Alfred paused mid step, his eyes boring into Lovino’s side. “What’s wrong with that?” Lovino choked on his words for a moment, awkwardly, he took a glimpse of Alfred’s expression.
“You’re captain of the baseball team! And I’m... err... I don’t know.” He replied, making Alfred stare harder. His brow furrowed as he processed the words. Alfred might as well be offended for Lovino himself, since he just basically dissed himself. “I don’t know?” Alfred repeated, flabbergasted. “You did not just say I don’t know.”
He clasped his hand onto Lovino’s shoulder. “Dude! That’s unbelievable!” Lovino nodded, “It is believable.” Alfred gasped audibly, almost dramatically. This caused Lovino to shrink slightly under his gaze.
Alfred then continued, “You could have at least said... uh... you could have called yourself awesome or something!” Lovino rolled his eyes “Ew, no I’m not trying to be like Gilbert.” He noticed something in Alfred’s expression as he mentioned Gilbert. “Well then...”
Alfred stopped, waiting for Lovino to say something nice about himself. “Forget it, we’re already at my house.” He sidetracked, glancing upward at Alfred. Alfred looked up, noticing the clean-kept house.
“Your house is nice!” He smiled, looking at Lovino, who was perceptively pouting. Alfred blushed slightly, looking away. By the time he glanced back, Lovino was already at the front door. “Oh- well bye Lovi!” He waved enthusiastically. Lovino’s ears turned red at the edges.
“Don’t call me that idiota!” He huffed, still waved back, then opened the door. Alfred snickered quietly, watching him finally walk in.