If Forever Existed: Friend

Calloused fingers from years of guitar playing tapped on the chocolate colored table as green eyes coldly glared at the happy couple only yards away. It was only by coincidence that Arthur managed to spot them at the local Applebees. It was only by coincidence he allowed his heart to shatter once again. For only a few years he loved the woman with chocolate brown hair, named after the food that came from the branch of peace, Olive. Although it had been for a few years they knew eachother, and a few years since they lived in the same house, the blonde Brit felt like he knew the woman for decades. He felt his heart skip beats as she talked to him, but then it would always break into smaller and smaller pieces as she shared her love with the other Spanish nation. Every day, his heart slowly felt like it was wasting away to nothing.

The English nation watched as Antonio ran his fingers through her chocolate colored hair. He watched as Olive laughed and kissed his tan cheek, saying things in Spanish that Arthur never bothered to look up. He only caught two words that made him even more depressed: "Te amo." He sighed, and drove his attention to his adopted daughter, Hannah-Maureen, nicknamed Reena. "Dad, are you honestly going to eat that chocolate cake slice or do I have to finish it off for you?" She asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow. Arthur chuckled and passed the plate over. "No, love. Enjoy it." He said, trying to ignore Olive pressing her lips to Antonio's. That Spanish demon doesn't deserve her.... He thought to himself, averting his eyes back to the couple. He used to flirt with women all over the planet as a pirate, and he was always sweet on Belgium, why did he have to take the girl I love? "Dad, I can see why you wouldn't eat this. The cake is as dry as fuck." Reena nonchalantly interrupted his thought, pushing her once crimson and now permanently dyed blonde hair out of her face. "I know, right?" Arthur didn't even look at her as the dry reply escaped his lips.

"Why are we even here again?" His daughter asked. "I play guitar in about five minutes, love. If you could wait for about another hour or so, I'd really appreciate it." Ah, yes, the Englishman played gigs at various restaurants, due to being semi-popular around the city. As the tiny stage lit up, he grabbed the guitar at his side, and as the manager gave him the signal, he walked up with everyone's eyes on him. Of course, Olive watched in pleasant surprise, and clapped. After all, who wouldn't applaud for their friend about to perform? Key word: friend. Arthur brought the microphone close to his lips. "Good day, everyone, my name is Arthur Kirkland." His English accent rang through the medium sized restaurant. "So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show...if you want." He chuckled at his little comment, and began playing the thick strings of his electric guitar. "Yellow diamonds in the light, now we're standing side by side." He sang with the strums on his guitar strings, trying not to meet the eyes of the young female staring at him. He was also trying not to glare at the Spanish male holding her hand. "As your shadow crosses mine, what it takes to come alive." Olive had no clue that he was singing about her. She didn't know that he ever felt this way about her. She only thought he liked her as a friend, and was more than content with that. She would have never guessed he had feelings for her as she wrapped her fingers with Antonio's. "It's the the way I'm feeling I just can't deny, but I gotta let it go." The song's lyrics rang true. He loved her, but he had to let his feelings go to air. He couldn't keep giving his everything to a girl who only saw him as a close friend. "We found love in a hopeless place." Lies. "We found love in a hopeless place." More lies. "We found love in a hopeless place." The lies were drowning him. "We found love in a hopeless place." He saw the crowd swinging their lighters, and he put his guitar down. "Thank you...unfortunately, I have to leave. Good night." He rasped as he stood up. Arthur couldn't take it anymore. It was his fault. He fell for an innocent siren. "Reena, honey, go to your mother." He instructed the fourteen year old teenager. "O-Okay... Sure, Dad." The demon girl responded with a nod and ran to her mother and stepfather. No-one noticed the tears in his eyes as Arthur left for the nearest pub.

After about an hour of drowning his sorrows in shots of whiskey, Arthur noticed the door to the empty bar open. "That was a great show you put on, Iggy." Olive voice said to him as the raven-haired female sat next to his seat, ordering a small margarita. "Thank you." The blonde slurred, barely looking her in the eyes. Those beautiful, mesmerizing eyes. "Where's Spain?" "He and Reena took a cab home." "Oh." He was grateful that the Spanish male was out of sight. He didn't want to see that Olive-stealing, tan skinned he-witch right now. "Are you drunk?" Olive asked, eyeing the redness on Arthur's pale cheeks. "How'd you figure me out?" The Englishman groaned as he downed his 14th shot of the heavy alcohol. "Iggy, you reek of alcohol and your cheeks are redder than Espana's tomatoes." Oh, she had to bring him up right now? He was stupid to think the rest of tonight would be drunk and Antonio-free. "I'm fine, Olive. I can make it home by myself." "Oh, cute, you think I'm gonna let you drive in your state. AHAHA, that made my night." She rolled her eyes. "I'm driving you home whether you like it or not." "You're a stubborn woman, you know that?" He skeptically responded, shakily standing up. Olive tried to help him to his feet, taking his large hands in her much smaller ones. She ignored his alcohol stained breath hitting her cheek as he slumped on her side. "Oh, Iggy, you really need to stop drinking...." She quietly scolded as she dragged then nearly passed out male to her car. The last thing Arthur saw before falling into a state of pure blackness was Olive affectionately brushing the blonde, scruffy locks out of his eyes.

He woke up the next morning to a pounding headache and the female sitting in his old rocking chair, reading a dance book. "Olive....?" Arthur groaned, sitting up. "Rise and shine, Iggy." Olive looked up with a small smile. "It's about time you woke up." "How long has it been?" "10 years." He watched as the woman chuckled at her own comment, saying, "Just kidding, it's only been ten hours." Arthur stood up, now much more stable, walking over to the door. He noticed how he was only in his boxers, and instantly blushed. "Did you-" "No. Once we got home you woke up for about five minutes, stripped all the way to your undies, and ran all the way to your rom where you passed out again." Olive smirked. "I always thought you were a whitey-tighties kinda gu-" "A lady shouldn't use such languages!" Arthur snapped as his cheeks turned from pink to scarlet. He started pulling on a pair of black pajama bottoms and a plain white t-shirt. "Did you stay here all night?" He finally asked, and the woman nodded. "Yeah, I slept on the floor." She pointed to the sleeping bag right by his feet. "Hope you don't mind." Arthur blinked, innocently. "Why?" He asked, and he was answered by Olive's warm embrace. "You know I'd do anything for a good friend." She then left the room. On the outside, Arthur was content. On the inside, he was sobbing.

If forever existed, he would love her for eternity. But sadly, she only thought of him as a friend.