Chapter Text
It was a sunny day, it was supposed to be a good day too. But what they didn't know was that in a year's time, everything would be torn apart, everything they loved ripped away from them, one at a time, one way or another. But right now, we'll focus on the happy days. For right now…
It was a hot and dry evening by Eliza’s logic. Eliza walked slowly, it was miserable for him, 86°F (30°C), having no water on him, and having to carry three bags!? God it was so miserable. Though two bags were small, he did have a black bookbag, it hurt his back.
He was only a mile (1.609 kilometers) away from the park he was supposed to meet up with his friends, Silver, Mia, JJ, and Lovino. He was excited, it had been at least 9 months since he's seen them, from months abroad in Germany.
“Only 20 minutes away Eliza… you can do this… you got this…” Eliza muttered softly to himself, the brown haired man sure was struggling to walk this short distance, but it would have a good price. “God, which bag has my inhaler in it..?” The man breathed. “Can't stop now… I'll be late… can't be late… just can't…” the man continued.
Through his mutters he got closer and closer, distracting himself really was the way to go.
“Only two minutes to go Eliza, you can't stop now…” Wow, encouraging I know, anyways the man's pace got somewhat faster. Finally, he was there, the park was beautiful, a huge oak was in the middle of the park, and there he could see them, sitting in the shade.
Eliza locked eyes with JJ, JJ seeing him looked ecstatic, she waved him over to where she, Mia, Silver and Lovino were sitting, Lovino looked mildly annoyed, Silver was on their phone, probably on tiktok, and Mia was rambling on about something.
As Eliza got closer his pace slowed down significantly, a rather feminine voice rang out, “ELIZA!! You're here! Finally, I thought you'd never come!” JJ called out “Hey..!” Eliza answered, his voice sounding exhausted, and out of breath
The young man sat down next to the woman he was talking with just a moment ago. “How's you and Francis doing?" Eliza asked, “Oh uhm good!" JJ answered, “Ah that's good, and you Lovino? How's you and Gilbert?” "Good.” Lovino answered, "What's wrong with you? You seem… mad?” Eliza questioned Lovino "It's none of your damn business!" Lovino practically shrieked, “Damn! Ok ok!" Eliza responded.
—
Two months back, two months of Eliza being back in the U.S, and he was already complaining about the heat, about how Germany was more bearable, and how Lovino and JJ’s other friends were so annoying. Sure he had missed his friends and some of his family but he never really liked the heat, and some people in the U.S he found annoying. JJ’s boyfriend, Francis was such a perv, his boyfriend Arthur was such a fake polite “Gentleman,” his younger brother (about Eliza’s younger brother's age) was such an energetic guy that even got on Mia’s nerves, and his twin, what was his name again? Matt? Something like that was overly polite, he probably thinks he's better than everyone.
Eliza was reading something about sharks when he got a text, from JJ
JJ!!!<3 2:27: Hey can me and Lovino come over?
A simple question at that, Eliza typed back fast
Eliza 2:28: Oh uhm sure I guess, when will you guys be here?
JJ!!!<3 2:28: Uhm we're about 10 minutes away
That was weird, JJ only lived two minutes away, and Lovino lived 3 minutes away. Maybe they went to the gas station?
Eliza 2:30: Can you get me a Dr. Pepper btw? Please??
Eliza 2:30: It's the right thing a sister would do
JJ!!!<3 2:31: Fine ig, but the next time you come over you gotta get me a monster
Eliza 2:31: Deal!
Eliza turned off his phone, he stood up, as he was sitting on the floor, walked out of his room and decided to actually clean. His house looked like a wreck, at least from his definition of what a wreck is; pillows on the floor, trash in almost every room, and dirty dishes in the living room and his bedroom, god he'd been putting off cleaning, but he had to do some tidying up before they got here.
It was tiring but he managed to get most of the rooms clean before they got here, then he heard a knock, two, three knocks, three was his limit, “I'M COMING GOD DAMNIT” he yelled. Walking over to his door and opening was… a shock. JJ, Lovino, and Feliciano. “Hey… guys? JJ I thought you said only you and Lovino were coming over?” Eliza questioned, though it did make sense on why they were so far away.
“Oh Feli and Lovino wanted to talk to you" JJ answered, “Ah ok, did you bring my Dr. Pepper??" Eliza asked “You and your Dr. Pepper… yes I got it” JJ replied "Thank youuu!!” Eliza exclaimed. JJ reached into the bag she was carrying, Eliza hadn't even realized she had a bag, and grabbed out a bottle of Dr. Pepper handing it to Eliza.
"Well? Come in, you're letting all the hot air in the longer you wait out there” Eliza nagged, Lovino and Feliciano walked in, Eliza stood there in the doorway waiting for JJ to come in "Are you coming or…" Eliza questioned JJ, “I was just here to drop them off" JJ answered Eliza, going in for a hug, Eliza hugged JJ, tightly, as if he was scared he would lose her, before letting go, "Well see ya in a bit” Eliza said, JJ nodded before walking back to her car. Eliza stepped back inside before closing the door.
Walking back to the couch and sitting down, Eliza asked "Soo what do you guys need?” which he could tell caught the two brothers off guard for a quick second, "Oh uhm me and Lovino have been getting into arguments lately and since you have two older siblings and a younger sibling we thought you'd have some advice!” Feliciano answered
“Oh so you want me to be your therapist yeah ok…" Eliza replied, sarcasm dripping from his words, “Well what kind of arguments? Like are you arguing over petty stuff, big stuff, small stuff, relationship stuff, or anything else?" Eliza asked, sure it might've been intrusive but he needed to know the problem with them so he could try and help them.
"Oh uh…” Feliciano muttered, he looked… Uneasy? Doubtful? Sad? Eliza couldn't place his finger on the emotion Feliciano’s face portrayed, "We've been getting into family issues… especially with Antonio and.. we've just been fighting a lot.” Feliciano answered melancholicly. “Oh? Well.. uhm.. I'm not good when it comes to problems that involve three people.." Eliza replied, “SEE!? I TOLD YOU that Ell couldn't help but WHAT do you do!? MAKE US COME HERE!" Lovino shouted at Feliciano
“Ok wow there, no yelling ok?” Eliza said, trying to calm down the situation, “I'm calling JJ to pick us up." Lovino hissed, “But we haven't even been here for 5 minutes fratello!” Feliciano shouted desperately. "Ok look, I'll take Feli home and you can call Ji-Ji to pick you up, Lovino.” Eliza suggested, he didn't want JJ to deal with them arguing while driving them home. "Fine.” Lovino agreed.
"Are you going to call her or..?” Eliza nagged Lovino, "WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING!?” Lovino screamed, he then pulled out his phone from his pocket. He got off the couch, opened the door and went outside, Eliza could somewhat make out what Lovino was saying, something about JJ having to pick him up, or something. It actually took longer than Eliza expected, it sounded like Lovino had called someone else, as his tone went from mildly loud to yelling. Lovino came back in, "Change of plan, Antonio is going to pick me up.” Lovino explained.
"Alright, do you know when he's coming?” Eliza asked, "He said he's 5 minutes away.” Lovino answered, he seemed pissed. "Well I'm gonna go look for my keys” Eliza responded, getting up from the couch, walking over to his room he could see how much Feliciano had tensed. Lovino really needs to work on his anger issues, Eliza thought while opening his door. God he had felt bad for not being able to help the two.
By the time Eliza had found his keys, Antonio had just pulled up. Lovino without saying anything walked out, got into Antonio's car, and Antonio drove away. "Found my keys, we should probably get going." Eliza told Feliciano. "Oh uh yeah ok-!" Feliciano stood up and walked out, waiting just a second so Eliza could catch up. The normally talkative young man, was unusually quiet on the drive back, it was weird for Feliciano to be this quiet. "Are you ok, Feli?" Eliza asked, "I guess, I mean I just feel awful because of the fights me and Lovino have been getting in!" Feliciano answered, "Oh" Eliza let out a quiet sigh, before pulling up to Feliciano's house. "Bye, Feli" Eliza called out as Feliciano got out of the car "Bye!" Feliciano answered before shutting the car door.