France's Daughter // Hetalia

Chapter Eight- You're Beautiful (Psyche!)

Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie)

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"Alfred, I'm so stupid", I whisper, joining him on the couch.

"Are you still mad at-"

"Don't speak"

He obliges, and I curl up next to him, watching whatever action movie he has on. He puts his arm around me, and I accept the gesture. Even if he spit in my face, I wouldn't move. I'm just so tired. I need to think everything over.. I need to keep Bryce out of my mind. 

"Hey, where's Matt?"

"Dunno..", I whisper sleepily, closing my eyes slowly. "Call him if he's not back by morning."

"Nah."

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The Next Day, 11AM, Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie)

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I wake up and stretch, letting out the loudest groan I can muster. Alfred isn't on the couch with me anymore, but a blanket is draped strategically over me. I yawn, and try to rub the tired from my eyes. 

"Sleep well?"

"Holy shit", I jump, opening my eyes fully, to see the man I least expected sitting in the chair opposite of me. "Matthew, don't do that!"

he chuckles softly, fixing his wide framed glasses. "Sorry, ma cherie."

It's unsure if he's recovered from the weird hormone filled night, but I totally have. I'm not even thinking about it as I stare at his cute, innocent face.. No, not at all. I'm definitely not remembering how it felt against his fingertips.. and how soft his lips were in that dark alley way..

Why would I?

"So... Where's Alfred?", I ask, trying to break the tension floating above the room.

"He's.. um.. out. Bringing someone home, so I suggest maybe you get dressed. They'll be here soon."

He seems on edge.. nervous, even. I wonder what that's about.. it could be about last night, but would he really let all that get to him so easily..? I sigh, running a hand through my uncombed hair, and sit up. 

"Can you get me some clothes.. I'm too tired to move"

He nods, and scurries off. He's moving awfully quick. Who's visiting that's so important that I need to change? Ah, maybe we're actually going to a World Meeting! Alfie promised me I'd be able to go to the next one. Of course, I hadn't gone to the others, because I'd rather not see Papa, but I told him I wanted to go soon. To prove to Papa that I'm still alive. As far as I know, he doesn't know I'm staying with Alfred. 

Now that I mention it, staying with Alfred has made me gain a bit of weight.. Not much, just in my thighs.. but what would Papa say if he saw me like this? All my hard work at the gym is in vain.. No, what do I care what he'd say. Screw him! I'll gain 100 pounds if I want!

Matthew comes back down quickly, holding a pile of clothes. A grey college sweatshirt I had gotten from Goodwill, and a pair of black shorts, identical to the ones I'm sporting right now. He's flushed, and I know why. A pair of panties and a bra stick out between the shirt and pants, and I laugh internally. Why is he embarrassed about that after what happened last night?

"H-Here..", he holds them out to me. 

I smirk, and grab them, carefully making sure the panties drop. I pretend not to notice, and stand up. He's staring at the floor, and the internal battle inside is evident across his face. Suddenly, he clears his throat, and picks them up- like a man.

"Y-You uh.. dropped your.. under.. pant.. things..", he mumbles, handing it to me.

"Merci", I wink, strutting off to the bathroom. I don't dare look back to his reaction.

I quickly change, brushing my hair and teeth in the process. My face is breaking out.. It's never done that before. Papa kept me on a strict skin-care routine.. He even monitored the amount of sunlight I got each day.. I never knew I had freckles, too. I pinch my cheeks. Have they gotten chubbier? No, no, that has to just be my imagination. Oh God, what would Papa say?

I sprint into the living room, and grab Matthew by the collar. He's taken aback, obviously, and sweating nervously. He looks like he just saw a ghost.

"What would Papa say if he saw me like this!?", I screech, letting him go and pacing around the living room. "Oh God, I'm getting fat, he always warned me about that! I know I shouldn't care what he thinks but maybe this is the real reason why Bryce broke up with me! Mon dieu, I'm going to end up all alone and fat and ugly!"

"Ch-Char-"

"And look at my skin! I'm breaking out, I'm so tan now- I look awful! I even have blackheads, BLACKHEADS, Matthew! Who could stand being around me? My hair is so damaged and dry- Oh I never should have left Papa! I'm so ugly and there's no way for me to fix that, because I have no money and I don't wanna bug Alfred with any of this because he doesn't understand girl stuff!", I throw myself on the couch, burying my face in the cushions.

"F-Fra-"

"I miss Papa, Mattieu, I really do. I know I act tough but it's all a lie, Bryce changed me so much! I left the man who raised me for him, and what does he do!? Leave me because I wouldn't give him some cul!?", I stand, pacing around the room again, gripping my hair.

"Charlotte!"

"What, Matthew!?!?", I scream, glaring at him, arms crossed.

He motions behind him, and I see two men in the doorway.

Alfred...

...and Papa.