What's Up With These People and Curls? {My Hetalia Fanfic}

Chapter 16: Learning

~*Anthony's POV*~

Juli sat next to Jason in the cafeteria, kicking her feet back and forth in unison happily while eating her breakfast. Talia, as tiny as she is, sat in her shirt pocket.

Jason, on the other hand, looked worn out. He held his head in one hand with the elbow against the table, lazily poking at his breakfast with a fork.

I sat down across from him and Ethan sat next to me. "Hey, J. Why the long face?" I asked.

"Not sad, just tired..." he mumbled.

"Did you stay up most of the night playing video games?" He shook his head. "I did!"

"Anthony!" I heard Ethan exclaim.

I turned to him. "What? At least I wear my headset unlike Alfred."

"Because you know I would kick your-" He was reminded of Juli's presence after Jason sent a glare to him. "-your butt if you didn't. If I was in Alfred's room..." He sighed.

"I heard that!" I turned around and saw Alfred walking over and sat down next to Ethan.

"Whatever. Have you seen Peter?"

"Who?" Jason and Alfred asked in unison. I sighed.

"Sealand," I said. "We're best friends."

"I have a best friend!" Jason piped up suddenly and enthusiastically. "Her name is Victoria and she lives in Germany." He gasped. "I haven't Skyped her since I left the old house! Fudge nuggets!" He banged a fist on the table and I swear I thought I saw steam come out of his ears.

Alfred and Ethan burst out laughing and I rested my head on the table, trying not to laugh.

Jason pouted. "Why are you laughing at me?"

"What... you... said," Alfred managed to say in between his laughter.

I lifted my head only so that I could look at the now-angry man. "You don't seem tired, now."

"I know!" He hugged his little sister, who yelped out in surprise at the sudden embrace. "Just remembering her makes me feel so happy! Besides Julian and Talia, she was the only one I could trust with my life."

"Not that you really could trust a cat," Alfred said. Talia meowed and hopped onto the table. Juli giggled.

Klink-klink-klink!

"Juli, your bobby pin came loose again," Jason said with a sigh. He picked up a grey bobby pin off the table.

Juli covered her ear by cupping her hand over it and almost yelled, "Let me do it! You know what happens when you touch it!" Jason handed over the pin and moved back Juli's now empty plate to the side. Juli used the table as a mirror to put the bobby pin back behind her ear, making a spiral staircase shaped piece of hair disappear into her hair.

I put two and two together. "Little J has an ahoge?!"

"A-wha-ge?" Juli asked, tilting her head to the side.

I pointed at Alfred. "I'm pretty sure you know Alfred A.K.A. America, right?" Both Js nodded. "Well, he has one." I pointed at Nantucket.

"So that's what all those hair curls are. Do only countries and such have them, or can humans have them too?" Jason asked.

"No humans I know of have one," I said, "America, both of the Italy bros, Austria, Taiwan, Canada, South Korea, Mr. Rome, Greece, and some other maybe. I can't name them all off the top of my head."

"Oh. Question: Why are they called the Italy brothers if one is Italy and the other is Romano?"

"They're Italy Veneziano and Italy Romano and-"

Jason cut Ethan off. "Let me guess: Romano hates it when people call his brother Italy because he's Italy, too."

There was a pause, and Ethan said, "Yes, exactly."

We talked more about anything the Js asked, getting off track more and more. Eventually, Bianca joined or table to listen while she ate her breakfast. The bell rang, so we postponed or fact-chat for after class.

~*Maria's POV*~

I sat in 1st Period English, trying to focus the best I could. I couldn't help but think about all the things Anthony, Ethan, and Alfred had told me.

'Alright, so not many of the countries and such are biologically related, Anthony and Ethan have a middle sister who is New Mexico, there are multiple alternate universes for countries like your opposite gender, alter ego A.K.A. 2p, mochi (whatever the is), and ahoges are common among personifications. Man, this is complicated.'

I was trying to work on my essay and listen to Mr. Joe lecture Alfred on grammar rules. I could tell he wasn't at all doing well in the English department.

"... Those are my reasons... that the R-Rated age restriction... should not be lowered," I muttered while finishing the final paragraph.

I rose my hand. "...and why did you right L.O.L. in your..." He looked up at me. "Yes, Mr. Roberts?"

"May I turn in my essay at this moment?" I asked.

He gave me a perplexed look. "I assigned the essay on Thursday, and you are already finished?"

"Yes, Mr. Joe." He walked towards me.

"I shall allow you all to turn in the essay early," he announced the class, "It will show me who cares about their grade." He took my paper and went to his desk.

The bell rang and everyone started gathering their things to leave the room. "Have a good day!" Mr. Joe called out.

"He hates me," Alfred said after we left.

"No, he doesn't. He just strongly dislikes your grammar," I assured.

He grumbled then asked, "How did you finish that so quickly?"

"I've always been a multi-tasker!" I said happily. He rose an eyebrow. "Well, when you had to teach your sister and yourself, do your chores, and protect your sister for... who knows how long-"

"Okay, okay!" he interrupted, holding his hands up in surrender. "Jeez, someone's moody."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't remind me."

The rest of the day went by quickly with me being moody and learning even more things about the nations. When I got back to the dorm, Juli was sound asleep with Talia curled up in a tiny ball of orange and white fur.

I smiled and walked over to her to then move some hair out of her face, but then I noticed how in was clinging to her forehead. I put a hand on her forehead and drew back at the feeling of sweat and warmth.

She had a fever.