Fake (Hetalia: FrUkUs)

.2.

It's been four years since my younger brother died. I'm a senior now, and he should be starting his first year of High School.

He would be, too.

He should be walking through the front doors of the school with me, because I would have given him a ride, and I would show5 him to his first class, but then tell him his second class was on the third floor and rush off without telling him anything else, because its tradition to tease the freshy.

But, that wasn't the case.

Because, Matthew wasn't starting school today. Because, he died three years ago.

Because, I didn't protect him.

~

My morning started with a phone call.

"Figures you'd still be sleeping," Said an annoyed voice. I rolled over and faced my wall.

"It's too early, dude," I muttered as I slowly fell back asleep.

"Early my arse! It's seven-thirty!" I bolted up out of my bed. My blankets tangled around my ankles, and I fell to my floor.

"You fell, didn't you?" Arthur sighed through the phone.

"No way!" I laughed it off. "I was just- I have to go!"

I hung up the phone quickly.

I untangled my feet from the blankets, and my phone began ringing angrily. I sighed as I picked it up.

"Yo!"

"Don't you 'yo' me! You're my ride, hurry up!" Arthur yelled through the phone and I held it away from my ear. When the sqwaking was done I put it back to my ear.

"If you keep talking I can't get ready," I yawned. He quickly bid good-bye and hung up. I set my phone on the small table by my bed, brushing aside some trash that was in the way, and grabbed a t-shirt and jeans from my dresser before trudging into my bathroom.

I stripped, not bothering to glance at what another restless night of nightmares had done to me, and hopped into the still cool water of the shower. It slowly heated up, but by the time it got to a comfortable temperature I had already finished bathing.

I slipped into my clean clothes, and finally looked into the mirror over the sink. My hair was dripping slightly, but it would dry soon enough and I didn't need to bother with a brush. I turned on the cold water faucet and splashed it on my face, mainly around my eyes. There were light purple rims under my eyes, and the freezing water helped them go away. I hoped that maybe just being active would make any other visible traces go away.

Next, I cleaned my arms. Up to my elbows I applied an antibacterial cream before wrapping it in clean bandages. I brushed my teeth quickly, and went back to my room. I grabbed my bag, which consisted of one notebook and pencil for the first day, and my bomber jacket, slipping it on and then throwing my bag on one shoulder. I slipped my cell into my pocket, and then headed out my room.

I jumped the railing, landed on the first floor, and headed to the kitchen. I didn't really expect anything, yet I felt disappointed when I walked in to find the kitchen dark and empty. The coffee pot was off, though the faint smell of the black beans lingered in the air, and the stove was turned off, also giving off a faint smell of eggs.

I flicked on the light, hoping to maybe find a note on the table, but there was nothing. I let out a long breath of disappointment, and turned to flip the light switch on the lifeless kitchen. I paused however, when I noticed a piece of paper laying kn the bottom shelf of the bookshelf. It was a family picture, one I knew to be from when I was in the eighth grade, but it was torn. It was torn, so that only my mother and Matthew were left. She had ripped my father and myself out. I left it there before switching out the lights, and leaving the kitchen and then the house.

I didn't blame her. If I had to choose between myself and Mattie, I would have preferred to be the one who had passed. Mattie was always the good son. He was quiet, yet funny, he got good grades, and hung out with kind people. He had had a sweet girlfriend and he hadn't even been in High School yet! He was the perfect son by the age of twelve, and I had yet to achieve that at nineteen. Getting held back a year made it hard for me to be the perfect son.

I opened the door to my 2014 Scion FR-S, black (I'm still making payments) and tossed my bag into the back before hopping into the drivers seat. I rolled down the windows before pulling onto the road, and I pulled out my phone before hitting the main road.

"Yes?" Answered a grumpy voice.

"I'm on my way. Be there in five," I said as I pulled onto the road. I could practically see him throw up his arms.

"Finally!" I hung up and tucked my phone in my jacket pocket before quickly jerking the wheel as some jackass cut me off.

"Fuck you, ass-hole!" I flipped him off and hit my horn. "God damn, dumbass..." I muttered as I switched lanes, and was out from behind him. I made it to Arthur's in good time and he was waiting outside, a rather pissed expression on his face.

"Took you long enough," He greeted as he got in the car.

"Yeah, well, what can I say? I need my sleep." I shrugged.

"You wouldn't sleep so late if you didn't stay up playing those ridiculous video games!" He snapped. I mocked offended.

"They aren't ridiculous! GTA 5 is the best game ever! It's like all the other GTA's but times ten!" He waved a hand and waved it off with a smirk.

"So attached to your games," He teased, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you probably even sleep by your consoles." I jerked the wheel as my cheeks heated up.

"N-No, I don't!" I defended myself. It's true that sometimes I fell asleep while playing my games, but I never like, purposfully fell asleep with them.

"Sure, whatever you say," He chuckled as his phone beeped. He pulled it out to check it and groaned. "Shit."

"What's up?" I asked as I pulled onto the highway.

"New student's transferring in today," He muttered as he typed away at his phone, "I'm busy this morning with council duties," I let out an immature laugh, "And," He stressed the word, "No one can show him around the school... Alfred!" I jumped slightly as he practically shouted my name.

"Jeeze man, you can't do that!" I said as I clutched at my chest with one hand and steadied the steering wheel, "Coulda put us in a ditch!"

"Sorry," Yeah, sounded real apologetic, "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Can you show the new kid around?"