More than a month had passed since I first arrived at W Academy. In that time, I had found some amazing people. Arthur was the openly gay friend who was obsessed with rock music, Vlad was the one you could always depend on to tease everyone else, Yao was kind, dependable and a great cook, and finally, Lovino was the angry friend who would waste no time to insult people but deep down you knew he cared. I had also briefly met Lovi's twin brother Feliciano, his boyfriend Ludwig and their Japanese friend Kiku. There were short times when I saw the infamous BTT and one member, Antonio, would always bother Lovi. This pleased Vlad to no end when he would find opportunities to poke fun. I would also spend time with Alfred - who was not as bad as Arthur made out - and a woodwork club I joined.

They refer to themselves as the 'Nordics' which makes sense. Tino Väinämöinen, the leader, is a bubbly, friendly guy from Finland. His boyfriend, Berwald Oxenstierna, a quiet stoic man from Sweden. My close friend Mathias, who, as you already know, is from Denmark. And me, a Norweigan. On the days I don't go, they say they have an Icelandic male participate (which reminds me of Emil). Speaking of Emil, I get updates from him every now and then. He seems to be happy and the surprising thing is, I am too. It's as if a switch was flicked when I met Mathias. Sure, my friends helped but he made the biggest difference. I'm slowly, very slowly but it's something, stopping inflicting harm onto myself.

Today though, seems to be special. I've never cared that much about Valentine's day but everyone appears to be really hyped. As soon as I reach the table, things already appear to be different. For one, Vlad's staring off into space with a strange smile plastered on his face. "Hey guys. What's up with Vladimir over there?" Yao and Lovino glance up but Vlad does not notice or hear anything I said. "I think red-eyed-bastard isn't alone on this stupid holiday." Just like me, the Italian looks really fed up and doesn't care. "You're not going to celebrate Buon San Valentino?" Arthur asks. "All it is a stupid day to remind certain people how lonely they are and for people like me, how much we hate love and couples." Lovi remarks and flicks a rubber at Vlad's head. That gets his attention. "You still have friends you know."

"Sorry. Morning guys. I, uh, saw my childhood best friend yesterday for the first time in a while and well..." He trails off. "Not so much of a 'friend' any more?" I inquire and he nods with a prominent blush. "Give us the details." Arthur smirks, probably going to use them as karma for all the times the Romanian has made fun of us. "Well, uh, I always liked him as a kid." Vlad replies through his fingers as they cover his face. "Hold up. 'Him'? You're gay?" The Brit interjects. Vlad gives him a small smirk. "So that only makes Lukas and Lovino the not confirmed gay people here." "What about Yao?"
The Chinese man looks at me, "I'm dating Ivan Braginski. He's the Russian in our history class that Alfred always disagrees with." Ok, nevermind. I guess this isn't the time - especially with Lovino's expression - to tell them that I might be gay. I mean, why else would I think Matthias is extremely hot? "Anyways," Vlad continues, "Damn guys did puberty work its magic on him. Oh my God. Very, very good looking." Arthur still has an amused smile, he's known Vlad longer than anyone else bar Yao so this is an interesting development. Lovi appears to be in a worse mood than normal today; he's actually got his head lying on the table. "We got talking and then, completely out of the blue, he kisses me." I continue to study the youngest member of the group (oh yeah, btw, Lovino is a whole year below us) as he groans at the word 'kiss'. Something is seriously getting to him. I scan around us and spot Mathias waving at me from across the room. "Oh hey guys, I'm just going to see how Mathias is. I'll be back soon."                 "Please do. Don't leave me with these romantic fools."                                                     "Going to ask him out are you?" Vlad calls out and for a second, a split second, I consider it. Then I shake my head and snap out of it. He's my friend. 

"Oh good. I don't have to third wheel anymore." Mathias grins, referring to Tino and Berwald who are - not so subtly - hugging. "Have you heard the gossip going around? I, for one, can confirm it to be true as I saw it." His bright blue eyes stare at me, clear, no clouds. I find myself again admiring every inch of him and a smile works its way onto my face despite me not feeling the need to smile at all. There's something about him that just makes me feel like everything's ok. That I'm not a freak, that I'm not suicidal, that things are really getting better for me. The strange emotion blooms in my chest again, "What gossip? And anyway, I thought you of all people were better than that." He flashes me a slightly guilty smile, "The gossip that Antonio kissed a kid whose a year younger than us. He's... uh, I'm so bad with names! He's the guy that... uh... Feliciano Vargas' twin."
"Lovino?!" I shout, attracting attention from a couple of people around us and a glare across the room from my aforementioned friend. "That's his name!"
"Mathias, Lovino is one of my closest friends. That must be why he's acting slightly weird." It all makes sense now.
"After the kiss, he kind of slapped Antonio." The Dane glances at me. "That is definitely Lovi. Definitely something he would do." I'll talk to him later.

A while afterwards, I crossed paths with my locker, a plastic bag hanging off of its handle. Vlad and Arthur immediately stop and stare at it. I walk up, open the bag and withdraw the piece off paper resting at the top.
Dear Lukas,
I've gotten to know you over these past few weeks and I just can't help falling for you. I know this is a lot to process and I'm in no rush to reveal my identity (heck, I'll probably make a fool of myself). I just wanted you to know that you are beautiful, caring and precious. Never forget that.
Love, anonymous.
Whilst I'm reading, Arthur and Vlad crane their heads to get a look but I move away from them. No thoughts race through my head and I'm mostly in shock. Then, I uncover what was underneath the note. A sailor hat. Whoever this is, they must have been around when I met up with Mathias that one time and wore a navy sailor's outfit. Or it could be Mathias... no. Stop. I don't know why I'm having these deluded fantasies about my friend but they have to stop.

That note was the start of something new. I'd never been in love and I certainly had never had someone fall for me. I didn't think it was possible. But, then again, I guess anything is possible when it comes to love. Man, was I going to learn that.

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Sorry for the wait! Anyway, since next week is half term I'll probably get a few more chapters out. So you can expect that coming this way.

Also, I don't know if you'd be interested in seeing this but I finished an A3 hetalia drawing I was working on. It contains quite a few of the characters.

(That's what it looks like!)

Hope you enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!
Bye!
~Peanutsfan1