Chapter 18: Over

Chapter 18: Over

“We are NOT doing a cosplay café!” yelled Britain.

France poked him in the shoulder, annoying him even more. “C’mon mon ami, you’ll even get to see America in a dress.”

At this, Britain blushed. “I don’t care about that! That was the last thing on my mind!”

France rolled his eyes, looking down to the plans again. “I don’t see why you’re so against this. It’s not as if this will change anything.”

Britain crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re only doing this to see Canada dress up and you know it.”

“What? Me? How absurd.” The Frenchman smirked.

Britain took a quick look over at me and then back to the ground, blushing. What was he all flustered for? I mean it’s not like he’d be the only one to dress up, we all would be dressing up.

“All right, fine! Just leave me out of costumes. I don’t want any part of it.” He let out a deep sigh.

He stood up from his seat to walk out of the student council room, grabbing my hand as he went. I followed him like I always did out to the rooftops. This time he led me out to the rooftops though, he wasn’t smiling. He had a tight hold on my hand, refusing to let go. He turned around to face me, eyes wavering.

“Britain, do you hate me?” I asked, head tilting.

He shook his head, face growing angrier. “Don’t you ever ask that! Don’t you dare!”

“Britain?”

He let go of my hand, tossing it aside. “Forget it, it’s nothing. Go back to class before you get into trouble.”

I looked at him as he walked away, counting and listening to every single step. Every nine of those steps felt like he was stepping all over my heart. How did things turn out like this? Why couldn’t I stop it? Was I really that powerless?

I suppose it would be best to start explaining how it got to this point. It’s a sad story, really and I keep wondering how it’s ever going to turn out ok. When will he realize?

“Hey, America!”

I smiled, looking back at him. “What’s up?”

He walked up, his cheeks flushed. “Do you want to walk home together?”

I gathered my books and slung my book bag over my shoulder. “I thought you’d never ask.”

We walked side by side, almost shoulder to shoulder. I had one hand on the strap of my backpack, the other dangling near my side. He was using both arms to clutch his books to his chest, his bag slung over his shoulder at his side. His finger’s danced on the top of the books nervously over the pages.

I gave him a look. “You ok?”

He nodded. “Y-yes, I’m fine.”

“You know you can do anything and I won’t care.”

“I know that, idiot!”

He hesitantly reached his hand over and slipped it through mine, making us both blush a little. I smiled at his innocence, kissing the top of his head lightly. “Come on, let’s go home.”

He nodded. “Alright.”

It all started on that afternoon. Walking down the street we all got random stares and soon enough people started to talk. Laughs and snickers were heard and pretty soon, people were calling us names.

“Hey, look! No wonder this country is going to hell, he’s already gay so why not?” One said with a laugh as I walked by.

Another looked at Britain. “He was always so girly, anyway. Let him lose his virginity with a man, it suits him.”

The comments escalated and the words they used were unspeakable. Unable to withstand the abuse, Britain let go of my hand. He rushed down the street ahead of me, not bothering to look back. “B-Britain!”

I ran after him, only able to catch him when we actually got into the house. “Hey, look at me!”

He refused, gaze on the ground. He looked like he was about to cry but he was also as angry as could be. “If our own people think those horrible things about us what is the world going to think, huh!? Do you even care about your image at all!?”

I scratched the back of my head. “Of course I do but it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

He looked at me, gaze like a blaze that burned my insides. “It doesn’t matter!? The hell it doesn’t matter! You wouldn’t be disappearing if you didn’t think stupid things like that!”

I flinched back. “But, Britain I-“

He put his face in his hands. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to go that far.”

I nodded, willing to forgive. “It’s okay, you’re absolutely right.”

He turned his back toward me, hands on his hips. “Then that’s it then, you have to break up with me.”

My eyes widened. “What!?”

“If you want to keep from being forgotten then you need a clean image, an image that no one is disgusted with. With me, that’s impossible. You have to dump me.”

“But Britain! There’s no way I could-“

He put a finger over my lips. “Shut up. I always hated the way you spoke out of turn.”

I went to grab for his wrist but he pulled it away. “And quit being so clingy, it’s annoying. I hate that too.”

“Britain!” I said furiously.

He walked past me to the door, opening it. “What I said the other day, it was all a lie. That’s all I need to tell you. Goodbye, America.”

I turned back to the door, tears streaming from my eyes. How did this happen? How did I let myself get fooled like this? Everything was all real to me- every little thing. How could it have all been fake for him? It all just seemed so real…

Since then, Britain has remained leader of the student council and I have been the rebellious student that always skips class. He always drags me to his meetings and takes me to the rooftops to yell at me. He usually starts off with a smile, trying to be a good mentor to me but he eventually ends up with a big frown.

After only about one week of dating we had already broke up, all because of some stupid crowd. I was so mad at myself for not being able to keep him with me but I guess he felt ok with the matter. He acted like he was totally ok and was as cool and collected as ever. Me, however, I was falling apart.

I went home that day, throwing myself on my bed. Britain hadn’t come back since and I didn’t expect him to either. My house was turning into a huge mess without him around to clean it up but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to care.

Out of the blue, I got a call on the telephone. Picking it up, I spoke into the speaker, “Yo, America speaking.”

“Do you know what the country has been saying about you!?” yelled my boss.

“Yeah, I heard first hand.” I said with a sigh.

He was totally furious. “How could you!? How could you make us look like that!? Now everyone thinks it’s all ok! It is NOT okay!”

“All right, I get it. Quit yelling.”

“I don’t want to see you two together ever again unless needed, you got it!?”

“Quit worrying. Everything between us, it’s over.”