Give It a Chance | Rusame countryhumans

Second chapter: meeting new people

It was a cool autumn day, the sky was mostly covered by light-gray clouds. All of yesterday's colors and lights were gone, and the streets weren't as flooded with people. Russia made for the subway; he was exited yet scared, he was going to meet new people and a millions thoughts were flying through his mind. Upon descending the stairs he found himself in the most disgusting, smelly, dirty and sickening place he had ever set foot in. That was definitely not  like Saint Petersburg's metro at all. He instinctively covered his nose with his hand to protect himself from the terrible scent of pollution and feces. The whole place was badly-kept and all kinds of litter where laying on the floor, the walls (that seemed just about to crumble down) were filled up with murals containing all kinds of obscenities and swear words. 

He then bought a ticket and waited for the underground train to arrive. Once inside he found himself standing up for the whole lasting of the ride, there were seats available but he had preferred to leave them for scholars and elderly people - not that there were many - but perhaps it was just an excuse he himself had made up to avoid sitting on those unsanitary things. 

He was very glad when he finally reached his stop and could at last get out of there. So he rushed for the street and took a few moments to orientate himself. Then he started walking to his destination, with his phone in his hand and google maps opened. He was in no hurry after all, but his mind was very in disagreement with that: half of it wanted to be there as soon as possible; the other half wanted to escape and bury itself somewhere in a place where Russia didn't have to do anything and meet anyone. Of course reason won over cowardice and the boy could manage to find his target without any inconvenience. 

So there he was, standing in front of his objective: it was an old but freshly painted maroon shop exterior, the sign over the entrance read ''England's Book world''. It was a cozy little bookshop owned by Russia's father old ''friend''. No, they weren't ever really friends, but they had collaborated in the past when the both of them had found themselves serving in the army. Russia's father for his country, and the other for the United Kingdom, but at that time the countries were cooperating to solve a situation in a third country. In more recent times, England had found out about his former coworker's son, Russia. Russia's father had talked to him about his son and somehow convinced England to help him if something were to ever happen. 

England had never seen Russia in person before. So as the boy walked into his bookstore he analyzed him thoroughly. Russia felt completely uncomfortable, the only thing he wanted right now was to make a good first impression, as England was one of the only people that actually accepted to help him, and he was the reason he came here in New York in the first place. The English man had a long and difficult story, as was mentioned before he had been a soldier, he has been through much, but what is to be said for the importance of the narration is that he had married the woman of his dreams and then had four legitimate children. The eldest was just about five years older than Russia, the second was four, the third two and the smaller was one year older than him. All of them had finished school and were employed in some way: the smallest was in that moment present, she worked in her father's shop. She had long, curly dark hair, a pair of two black eyes that glowed with the light coming from the window. Her skin was rather tanned and she was wore jeans and a colorful T-shirt over long sleeves. Even though she was older than Russia, he towered over her. In fact, the teen was especially tall and looked a few years older than he was. England was overdressed, definitely shorter than Russia, he had ash blond hair and gray-green eyes. His first scrutinizing expression became a kind and serene one in matter of seconds - he had probably seen the boy's worry through his emotionless gaze, after all he was a wise man and had lived through way too many experiences and could figure out anyone. 

In the little store the colors brown and red prevailed, it was filled with books, so many that a lot were stacked on the floor. 

'Hello there,' said England, 'so you must be his son Russia.'