Sticky Notes And Trinkets(Rusame)

Sharing Days and Telling Tales

America sighed as he walked back to the locker room, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he let out a breath. He grabbed his clothes and headed into one of the bathroom stalls of the locker room to change out of his cheer uniform. He loved cheer, but he had to admit that it was very tiring. He let out a huff as he tugged down the skirt and pulled off the top. He sat on the toilet seat, allowing himself to catch his breath for a moment. Then he put on his sweater and pants again.

He collected the uniform and tucked it into his bag before unlocking and leaving the stall. He knew his dad would be at the gates to pick him up soon, so he ran out of the locker room and the building it was in, making a sharp left to head towards the gates. Once he was at the gates, he took a seat under one of the trees and waited for his dad.

Soon his dad was there, and he excitedly ran over to the car and opened the car door.

He smiled at his dad, and let out a happy chirp, immediately falling back to his avian habits. But since he was around family, it was fine, it was safe. He knew he wouldn't be hurt over it or questioned about it.

His father took one hand off the wheel and ruffled his hair gently before he asked about his day.

"So, how'd your day go?"

America giggled a little as his hair was ruffled, before he thought for a while as to how to summarize the day. "Well, the new student wasn't the kindest - but I think he was probably having a bad day." America started, settling himself into the car and buckling himself in.

"What makes you think that?" His father asked with a raised brow.

"Well... I think I recognize him from the orphanage - I see him volunteering there sometimes" America said with a nervous smile.

His father nodded and waited for him to continue talking about his day.

So he did. "Also, I finally got the little scarf I made to Mrs. Dackermon! She liked it. Someone also left me an apology note- I'm not sure what they were apologizing for or who they are- but I know they're in Mrs. Dackermon's class with me. Also, my team won the game of dodgeball we played today! I also got a note from the same person as earlier- they called me beautiful. Then we had a substitute for Chemistry today, so I got to draw a lot after I finished the packet!"

His dad nodded as he drove them home so that he could get some food in America's system.

After a small thing to eat, America was out the door, walking towards the orphanage with a book in hand. It was one a few of the kids had wanted him to read for a while, and who was he to say no.

Once he was there, he walked to his normal spot and took a seat, waiting for some of the kids to come over. It wasn't long before there were several kids eagerly waiting for him to start reading the story. He'd be reading from "The Strings of Fate" by an author of the pen name Niji Moon. He smiled a little and started reading the story.

"Once upon a time, in a world not too dissimilar to our own, there was a boy named Aster, he could see the strings of fate that connected people to those they are destined to meet." He started, smiling softly as he settled into his chair further. "The red strings connected people to destined lovers, blue to mentors or parental figures, and yellow to those destined to be the best of friends. However, he couldn't see his own."

The kids were now eagerly crowding together to listen to the story he was telling.

"So he thought he didn't have any strings of kind and spent his time trying to help others connect with their destined people," America smiled softly as he read. "That was until he met someone who he didn't see any strings for. So he spent some time with this person who also lacked the strings, a deep connection forming between them."

The kids listened eagerly, seeing that the story wasn't quite over yet.

"Eventually, he came across someone else who could also see the strings, she told him he had a string, and he didn't believe her, even giggling at the thought-" He smiled, he knew where the story was going, but he didn't mind. As long as the kids were entertained, he didn't mind. "She told him he had a red string, and then laughed a little. She took his hand and lead him to the friend he'd made, the one who had no strings like him. He didn't believe it at first, but the more he thought about it- the more sense it made. It had started as a friendship, but only that day did he find out that his friend had developed a deep love for him, and he also realized that he'd come to return that. The two of them linked hands with a promise to face what time had to offer together."

America smiled, the story was wholesome, and the kids were now quietly excited. He loved seeing those excited little faces.

"Mr.America?" One of the kids piped up, a shy smile on their face. "Do you have time for another story?"

"Always," He said with a small smile. He happily reached for another story to read. Soon he found one and started reading.

He continued on to read several stories, eventually having to pack up and head home.

He'd noticed that some of the kids had headed off to bed, so just bid goodbye to the remaining children.

Once he was out, he saw that it was sunset, he sighed, he hated walking home this close to dark. It felt unsafe, and the darkness always allowed him to feel like someone was watching him.

He heard someone approaching him and almost jumped high enough to land himself in the tree above him.

"It's a nice night for a walk, would you mind if I joined you?" The person asked, he recognized their voice. He relaxed a little about that.

"Do what you want to do" He hummed with a small smile.

"That's great 'cause I'm going to!" His friend, Sebastian chirped. "And what I wanna do is get you home safe"

"You ruined your own reference," America chuckled out with a smile. "But alright, I suppose you can if you want."

"Are you in an English mood, or would you prefer something else?" His friend asked knowingly.

"Nimis egi cum Anglis, elige quod vis." America agreed, letting out a little sigh.
(*I have dealt with too much English, pick whatever you want.)

His friend nodded and hummed. "Русский с тобой круто?"
(*Russian cool with you?)

America nodded, letting out a relieved sigh.

They walked and talked, ending up in front of America's house, where they bid each other goodbye.

By the time he was home it was pretty dark, so he was glad he'd been walked home by a friend.

He greeted his father who was reading at the table, heading up to his room to collect a few art supplies. He then joined his father at the table, starting work on a gift for Russia. He worked on it until the early morning, his dad leaving for bed midway through the night.