*UsUk* Through the years: 8 years without a friend

Arthur leaned back into his designated comfy chair and held his stuffed, mint-colored bunny as he opened his latest book. His eyes trailed along the text, his thin index finger tracing under the words as he read, pausing when he heard his mother call his name. He slowly bookmarked his page and held his mint bunny close to his chest as he walked down stairs.
He peered around the corner, into the living room. He was confused when he saw the door was open, showing a small boy, probably his age, and what appeared to be the young boys mom. Arthur's bright green eyes blinked as he stared ahead. He stepped out and held his toy closer "Y-yes mum?" He said, his voice quiet.
"Darling, the new neighbors have come to visit!" Mary, his mother, explained. "They're from America, and they have a little boy that's just your age!" She said happily.
Arthur hid behind his mums leg and peered from behind it, looking at the taller boy in front of him. He had bright blue eyes and a wide grin on his face, his sandy blonde hair was perfectly placed atop his head except for this one stray piece that seemed to defy gravity. His golden tan skin simply didn't fit in with the normal British standard of being pale as a ghost.
His mother laughed softly and ruffled Arthur's hair "Why don't you two go up into your bedroom while I talk to Mrs. Jones?" She said, smiling.
Arthur bit his lip but nodded "alright" he said, looking at the other and stepping out from his mums protection.
Alfred laughed and stepped forward, sticking his hand out "Hey! I'm Alfred, Alfred F. Jones!" He exclaimed, his grin seeming to taking up half of his face.
Arthur looked at the offered hand for a moment, he was awfully shy when first meeting people. He gently shook it "Um... Arthur Kirkland... It's nice to meet you Alfred..." He said, pulling his hand away "Lets go to my room" he said, turning and walking up into his room.
Alfred ran up ahead of him, then saw the boys name on one of the doors. Figuring the room belong to Arthur, he burst into the room "Woah! This is your room? Why is there unicorns everywhere?" He asked, laughing.
Arthur blushed "Um... I... I like unicorns..." Arthur managed to say, petting one of his stuffed unicorns.
Alfred smiled at the other "Ha-ha, that's cool!" He said, rather enthusiastically.
He sat on the others bed and looked at him, patting the spot next to him and smiling brightly at the other. "So, I'm your new neighbor! Mom said that she would take us to the movies this weekend if you wanted to be my friend! Would you like to be my first friend here in London, Arthur?" He asked, his tone hopeful and enthusiastic. Alfred seemed to be running on electricity as he bounced lightly on Arthur's bed, watching him.
Arthur winced a bit and sat next to him, setting Mint Bunny in his lap. He looked over at Alfred, rather puzzled at his offer of friendship. He didn't know what to do, he's never had a friend before... Well, except for his mint bunny. So he nodded "Alright..."
Alfred smiled happily and hugged Arthur, playfully tackling him to his bed. He started to tickle the other, laughing as the Brits face turned cherry red
Arthur gasped as he was pushed down, his eyes widening. He let out a laugh, then another, then another. He hadn't laughed like this in ages! He just let himself laughed and be tickled until his sides hurt.
Before Alfred had stopped, Mrs. Kirkland walked in and paused for a moment. She smiled softly "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I would like to tell you that Alfred will be joining us for dinner tonight!" She said, smiling.
Alfred cheered "Yay!" He exclaimed, sitting up beside Arthur.
Arthur sat up, wheezing from the loss of breath he had from being tickled. "Al...right... Mum..." He breathed, a giggle slipping last his lips.
Mary laughed "Alright, come on Alfred, your mothers ready to go home" he said, opening the door a bit more.
Arthur's grin slowly faded. He didn't want Alfred to leave. "Mum does-"
Alfred interrupted him "Could I please stay here until dinner, Mrs. Kirkland?" He asked, not wanting to leave. He wanted to play with Arthur.
Mrs. Kirkland raised a brow. "Well, if its alright with your mum, I couldn't see why not" she said.
Alfred smiled "Sweet!" He exclaimed. Alfred looked back over at Arthur as Mrs. Kirkland left the room to consult Alfred's parents. "Hey, Arthur, do you want to go outside and play football?" He asked excitedly.
Arthur's eyes lit up, football, the only sport he liked. "That's sounds like a good idea, I have my own football right here" he said, hoping off his forest green bed and went over to his closet. He opened it and pulled out his football, white with green, Arthur's favorite color.
Alfred quirked a brow "I said football... Not soccer..." He shook his head.
Arthur looked dumbfounded "what... But this is a football!" He protested, his favorite on in fact. "What do you mean?" He asked.
Alfred laughed "Oh, Arthur, that's a soccer ball!" He said, giggling. "Let me go get my football!" He exclaimed, hopping down and running towards Arthur's door.
Arthur followed him, confused. He watched as Alfred opening his backpack that his mum had put by the stairs, his eyes focusing as Alfred pulled out an oddly shaped ball. He quirked his head "That's not a football..." He said, confused.
"Yea-huh!" Alfred said, grinning. He grabbed Arthur by the wrist and pulled him out back. "This is a football!"
Arthur tilted his head "What do you do with it...?" Arthur asked, reaching out to touch the leather-coated ball.
"You throw it!" Alfred exclaimed.
Arthur was now very confused "then why is it called a Football when A. It's not round like a ball and B. you don't even use your feet!" He said, not understanding this concept at all.
Alfred shrugged "Dunno, that's just what it's called! Wanna play? We can just throw it to each other!" He said, stepping away from Arthur to set some distance between them.
Arthur looked down at the ball and then back up at the obnoxious American. He sighed "Alright... I guess..." He said wearily. "This way" he explained, going downstairs and tugging on his mums shirt "Mummy, can Alfred and I go outside?" He asked as the said blonde came bounding down the stairs.
Mary laughed and nodded "of course, sweetie" she said, patting his head "go ahead."
Arthur felt his wrist being pulled as he was tugged outside by Alfred. He followed, a small smile forming.
"Ha-ha! Come on Arthur!" Alfred said, standing in the middle of Arthur's lawn. He bore a huge grin on his tan face.
Arthur stood  at the edge of the lawn "Um... Alfred... What do I do?" He asked, hoping he didn't make a fool of himself.
Alfred laughed and waved him over. When the Brit came, he grabbed the ball and ran in the opposite direction, putting some distance between them. He smiled "Now, I'm going to throw this to you, and you have to catch it!" He yelled.
"Simple enough..." Arthur muttered, getting himself as ready as he could.
Alfred readied himself and threw the ball, surprisingly making a perfect spiral. A huge grin spread across his face his face as he watched it. "Yea!" He shouted, pumping his fist in he air.
Arthur's eyes widened, it seemed to be coming so fast, he wasn't going to catch it! He trembled, remembering a similar scene from P.E., when one of the class bullies threw a -real- football at him. He still had a bruise from it... He panicked and tried to cover his face, but didn't make it in time. The ball bit his head, Arthur gasped and wavered, falling on the floor and whimpering in pain before passing out.
Alfred's eyes widened, his grin slipping immediately. He gasped "Arthur!!" He yelled, running over to him. He shook him "Arthur!! Mrs. Kirkland!!!" He screamed.
Arthur's mum ran out of the house, gasping. She went over and picked Arthur up carefully "Oh dear, what happened!" She asked, her voice not angry, but worried and panicked.
Alfred's eyes watered up "Oh, it was all my fault!! I said we should throw my football around and I threw it too hard and Arthur couldn't catch it and it hit him and- is he dead...!!??" He said, his voice cracking from the raised volume. His blue eyes were watery "Oh, Mrs. Kirkland!!!!"
Arthur's mum let out a small sigh of relief. She shook her head "No, no, it's alright Alfred, Arthur's perfectly fine, just got the wind knocked out of him is all... Alfred, try to recognize your strength, Arthur's not that strong... and he's not used to this kind of interaction, he just needs some rest, alright? You're welcome to stay until supper" she said, a soft smile on her face as he ushered Alfred inside the house, bringing Arthur upstairs to his room. She got him an ice pack and gently pressed it to Arthur's head, where a bump was forming.
Alfred felt a huge pang of guilt in his stomach "I'm so sorry" he said, following the other. "Let me help, I can hold it in place, ma'am" he said, his eyes pleading to help.
Mary bit her lip but nodded "Alright dear, just be careful, alright?" She said as Alfred crawled onto Arthur's bed and sat next to him, holding the Ice pack in place.
Alfred waited until Mary had left the room to shake Arthur a bit "Hey... Arthur... Are you okay...?" He said softly, if he was asleep, he didn't want to wake him.
Mary came up with a glass of water and a chewable child's ibuprofen. "When he wakes up, give him this, alright?" She said, putting it on the nightstand.
"Okay..." Alfred said, looking down at the other with worry.
Mary looked at the two for a moment before leaving. "Supper's at 6:30"
Alfred nodded, holding the ice to the others head and looking to the clock '4:37',
Arthur started to move a bit, his eyes slowly opening. He looked up, his heat pounding. "Ow..." He looked over at Alfred, his eyes widening slightly.
Alfred smiled nervously "Hey, Arthur... Listen, I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt you...!" He said, biting his lip. He reached over and grabbed the ibuprofen and held it to the other, getting his water too.
Arthur sat up slightly and nodded "Thank you..." He said, blushing lightly. He ate the ibuprofen and sipped at his water, cringing lightly.
Alfred tilted his head "what's wrong...?" He asked.
Arthur shook his head "Oh, nothing, I just don't really fancy water" he said, scratching the back of his neck.
Alfred grinned "Oh, ha-ha, okay!"
Arthur stared at the American a bit. He studied Alfred's face and a small smile came upon his lips. Little did Arthur know, his knew friend would take him through the most wonderful, and terrible times of his life.