Sunrises and Snowfall [discontinued]

Chapter 5

     I stare blankly at the sunrise from my window. The sun is trying to leave the horizon, to start a brand new day, but its beautiful morning colors are muffled by an overcast.

     Taking a sip of my coffee, I try my best not to simply fall asleep then and there. I had some trouble going to bed last night, the events of yesterday plaguing my thoughts. Alfred plaguing my thoughts. His sandy hair, his light blue eyes as bright and carefree as the warm summer sky...

     Okay, this needs to stop. I need to stop thinking about him. It's that simple. I just need to stop.

     Think about something else, Ivan...

     I let out a soft sigh.
     I can't.

     Figuring my attempts futile, I think once more to our picnic. Why did he even ask me on that date? Was this...

     Of course, this was all just a trick of his! He was obviously trying to gain my trust, and then he would... he would... try to take over my country! But I'm too clever for that! I know he's just doing this for his own advantage. I know that now.

     Then... why is he still all I can think about?

     I shake my head, trying yet again to rid my mind of these troubling thoughts. What time is it?

     Blin! I need to hurry, or I'll be late for the meeting.

     I grab my coat, put it on, then wrap my scarf around my neck. I check to see I have all my papers in my briefcase, slip on my shoes, and head out.

     * * *

     It's been about twenty minutes since I made it to the conference. I arrived just on time, but it seems Alfred wasn't so lucky.

     "Does anyone know where America is?" Germany asks, rather impatiently. Or could you even call it impatience? We had been waiting quite a while to start the meeting.

     "Hon hon hon!" I hear a French voice laugh. "Perhaps he is still in Ivan's bed!"

     My face began to grow hot with anger and embarrassment. What was he implying!? I was about to interject, however, I was cut off by another nation.

     "Ai ya! What's that supposed to mean?" China asked, even though he already assumed exactly what France was thinking.

     "It means America asked Russia out!" Italy added. "Ve~ I was there when he did!"

     The other countries at the meeting began to turn their attention my way, wanting me to elaborate. I could especially feel Belarus's glare, but I didn't dare make eye contact with her.

     "Nothing happened!" I assured, maybe a bit loudly. "This isn't even important, I didn't want to go out with him... can we get back to the meeting?"

     "He's right. We're off topic." Germany agreed (thankfully) but he still looked at me strangely for half a second.

     Just then, Alfred burst into the room, and quite frankly, he looked like shit. His clothes were wrinkled and didn't match, papers were falling out of his briefcase. His hair was messy, his shoulders hung, and he had faint bags under his eyes.

     "Sorry guys, overslept." He explained frankly, a flicker of a forced smile flashing his face. His statement was a bit hard to believe, though, as it appeared as though he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night. An exhausted sigh escaped his lungs as he took the only empty seat, the one next to me, and his gaze didn't dare rise from his papers in front of him.

     "I suppose it is fine for today, America. Just try not to do it again." Ludwig said.

     As the meeting went on I began to wonder why Alfred was so incredibly down today. Germany was droning on and on about the African Union, or something else I didn't really care that much about (and to be completely and entirely honest, no one in the whole meeting seemed to care.) I looked over at America; his eyes were still locked downwards, his head leaning on one arm, and his pencil twirling in the other hand.

     I ripped off a small piece of paper and scribbled a message onto it.

     Are you alright? You are not acting like yourself.

     I then gently nudged his foot with mine. He turned to face me, and I slid the paper in front of him. He read the note, wrote something, then passed it back.

     yeah man

     We continued to pass notes for the rest of the meeting.

     Do not lie America. There is very obviously something wrong. What is it?

     what? im fine

     Alfred. Tell me.

     i guess i just didnt get enough sleep

     But you said you overslept.

     i went to bed late ok?

     Of course I didn't believe him, but I didn't have any counter arguments. Accepting defeat, I tried my best to pay attention the rest of the world conference.