Changes

Chapter Four

Getting up out of his chair, Canada walked out of the almost empty room. He would have left earlier with the other nations had Russia not bombarded him with millions of new questions. It wasn’t like he didn’t like him, it was just that there was something about him, just a tiny little thing about him, that freaked him out a bit.

It could have been worse, Canada thought as he pushed open the door that lead out to the hall way. As he walked back to the door that he came in from the parking lot, he never noticed little Sealand sitting off to the side, pouting, or the fact that someone else was running to catch up with him.

“Hey Mattie, wait up! Dude, I wanna talk to you real quick!” America yelled as he quickly made his way down the hall. What does he want? Oh no, I hurt his feeling earlier, didn’t I? Matthew, you really screwed up this time. “Look, America, I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier.”

“What? Why?”

“I thought I hurt your feelings.” What’s going on here? He looks confused. What could he possibly want to talk to me about?

“You didn’t hurt my feelings, bro. But that’s kind of what I wanted to talk about,” America said having caught up with him. He hates me. I knew it he hates me now.

“How long have people been confusing you with me?” He doesn’t really care does he? This is America, he couldn’t possibly.... Swallowing hard and rubbing the back of his neck a little, Canada quietly responded, “Since we were little.”

Looking a little shocked at the news, America almost quietly said, “Oh...I’m sorry that I never noticed before. It’s just that nobody’s ever confused me with you before.”

“Yeah, well that’s probably because no one notices me either.” Why was he suddenly so bitter about the topic? He’d never felt resent towards America. Sure he’s gotten annoyed with him on several occasions, but he was his brother and he was used to the way he acted. Plus sometimes it good not to be noticed because no one bothered him.

“So it wasn’t completely because of me?” America asked cautiously, trying to look Canada in the eye, even though his gaze was glued to his shoes.

“I said, ‘reasons,’ didn’t I? Besides it doesn’t really matter.”

“Dude, it so does matter. If you don’t like not being noticed, I’ll make sure people notice ya!”

“Really?” Canada asked, slightly thrown aback by the statement. Russia had done something similar by sitting next to him no matter what during every meeting, even though he had said multiple times that it was fine and that he didn’t have to, but he insisted.

“Of course, dude!” America kind of shouted wrapping an arm around his brother and giving him an one-armed hug. It was weird to have America hugging him. No one had really hugged him in a long time, except Kumajirou, who had been recognizing him more in the last week.

“I think you’re fine just the way you are, Senpai,” said a voice behind the two. Turning around, they found little Sealand standing behind them, looking up at them with big blue eyes.

“S-Senpai?” Canada asked, mildly confused for a couple seconds before getting the reference.

“It’s just something I learned from Japan,” the little micro-country said quietly, looking down at his shoes for a minute or so. Smiling a bit, Canada walked a couple steps forward and embraced him in a quick hug while muttering, “Thanks” into his ear.

After the moment had finished, America fairly loudly asked, “So do you guys wanna go get burgers or something?”

“Of course!” Sealand said excitedly, smiling from ear-to-ear. “None of the other countries will actually recognize that I exist, let alone take with them to go get food!”

“That’d be fun,” Canada replied, a smile still pulling the sides of his mouth up. Smiling, more excited than before, America basically shouted, “McDonald’s it is then!”

“Alfred we’re not going to McDonald’s.”

“But McDonald’s is kick-a, man!”

“We’re not going to McDonald’s,” Canada said again.

“Fine, man. Whatever,” America said, letting it go. “But I’m driving us there.”

“Okay.”

Practically jumping up and down with excitement, Sealand half shouted, “This is going to be the best day ever!” before running through the doors ahead of America and Canada. Smiling, Canada happily thought, It really is, Sealand. It really is.