Chapter Two

It was long before I realized that I was asleep. I woke up, my blue eyes widened and wondering where I was since my mind had dozed off so much that my surroundings seemed so unfamiliar to me. This was caused from my lack of sleep I have gotten over the past few days. My house was located above Scotland and below Iceland's; I got my share of the midnight sun and not being able to see the sun during winter, which always confused my body.

I was lying on the couch, still in question who had placed me there. I poked my head out and spotted Denmark chugging down a beer from a mug while smirking as the rest of the Nordic men were having a conversation. I stand up and walk over, turning a bit red from embarrassment.

"Look who's up and at it!" Denmark exclaimed, slamming his alcoholic beverage down onto the wooden table and beaming. I just ignore him. He could be so annoying sometimes! Over the past few years I have learned how to keep my mouth shut around him, no matter how impossible it may seem. I pull out a chair and sit down, grumbling.

Take it from me - there was nothing worse than being a country. Sure, I could meet other countries and learn about other cultures. That would be amazing - if my name was, for example, Italy. That guy was always surrounded by other countries!

My blue orbs focus out the window. The night canvas was tinted with a small aqua color splash through the night sky. The sky was not full of stars like in movies - the city's lights were bright enough to conceal these wonders of nature. I puffed my cheek, since from my island I could see the stars pretty clearly in the countryside. I rest my face in my white gloved hands and let out a sigh as my thoughts explore the wonders of the outside world. Why was I not out there, exploring the vast lands of the world instead of dying internally within the walls of this room?

I stand up, pushing the chair out from behind me and press my gloved hands onto the table. My eyes were narrowed at Mathias, who was mainly to blame in this situation. I let out a small 'um' noise to capture the Nordics' attention, with no success. "I'm going to leave now. This was really pointless," I mutter, leaving my spot and pushing the chair in. I hear my knee-length white boots click against the floor as I leave in frustration.

I open the door, a cold gust swerved through the door, nearly knocking me off my feet. I push myself against the wind and scan my surroundings as I close the wooden door behind me. The clouds emptied their contents onto Denmark's homeland, the snowflakes feeling like small shards of glass against my soft, delicate skin. I trot down the icy walkway and through the roads, not having a clue where I was going. The piercing shards of delicate snowflakes contacted my cheeks and forehead enough that my skin grew numb from it.

With no luck of finding any way back to getting home, I lean against a brick wall, crossing my arms and letting out a sigh muffled by my scarf. I look in both directions; I knew that either way I would not be getting home soon. I slide down so that my knees are touching my chest, warming me up. "That was a bad idea..." I tell myself, exhaling.

"'Ello?"

I look up from my misery to meet eyes with a pair of violet ones that seemed familiar to me. My vision zoomed out and I realized that Iceland was towering over me, his hair and brown jacket dotted with snowflakes. For some odd reason I felt severely uncomfortable in this position, with him above me like this. No point in moving now though, since shifting now would have made this situation even more awkward. "H-hi..." I say, feeling my cheeks turn red for some odd reason. Why was I blushing?

"Are ye' lost?" he asked.

I was about to say 'no', but then I realized that if I would say that, I would sound extremely stupid. Why would I lie to him? He could help me get back home! And if I would just lie, I would most likely freeze my butt out here. With a bit of shame, I nodded. "I don't know where my house is..." I bite my lip, which was shielded under my red, blue, and white striped scarf, thank goodness. I could always hide my humiliated face behind that scarf.

He looked away, lowering his eyes, and held out his white gloved hand. I reach out and touch it with my gloved hand, feeling an electric feeling travel through my body. Suddenly, my legs turned into jelly and I felt myself using the brick wall to assist me to get up. Why was I acting so strange around this country? As soon as I regained balance on my feet, he began walking off - I followed him.

"Look, I don't know where 'ye live, but 'ye can just stay at my place for tonight..." Iceland said. Since I was only facing his back, I could not read his expressions. That is, if he would ever show expression. "Tomorrow I'll just bring 'ye back at Denmark's house, then he can sort things out."

"O-okay..." I mutter, keeping my head low and stepping in his footprints. We took a few turns, my head still low, and I felt the surroundings evolve into a suburban area, my head still low and my white boots just stepping into Iceland's footprints. I found it amusing how my feet were almost as big as his, leaving no trace of my existence.

What I didn't realize was that the Icelandic teenager had halted and I was still walking at his rate. He had already unlocked the door and I slammed into him, letting out a small squeak, and knocking us both over. I fall on his back, collapsing into the ground. He was like a pillow so I did not suffer as much impact as he did. I quickly step up, letting out another childish squeak that I would probably never get out of my system, apologizing. "I-I'm so sorry!" I swallow, watching him get up and turning around, still emotionless.

"It's fine."

There was so much meaning and emotion in that response, it was unbearable. I just keep my mouth shut and follow him inside. There was a small hallway with gray walls and dark carpet; on the far right was a door which led to the kitchen and living room and straight ahead were a set of carpeted stairs that led up to, what I was assuming, Iceland's bedroom.

"Hey, punks!" a voice screeches.

I look around to see where the voice came from. I felt a small wind coming from above my head and two waddled feet touch down on my head. I jump a bit, then stay immobile, my eyes moving frantically around and my chest heaving. There was a bird on my head! The bird - which I recognize as a puffin - looks over and its beady black eyes and large orange beak were really close to my face. There was never a variety of seabirds on my island - just a few seabirds and such, so I did not have much knowledge of them.

"Emil, is this your girlfriend?!" the puffin squawks. "She's cute, I'd say! What country is she?"

I look over to Iceland, smiling sheepishly. His cheeks were brushed a light pink and his violet eyes were widened. "Sh-she's not m'girlfriend!" he puffed, narrowing his eyes.

"'Ello there," I smile, standing upright and feeling a bit more comfortable with having this bird on my head. "I'm Faroe Islands, but you can call me Laila." I look a bit closer and notice a red bow perched on the puffin's chest, which made it distinct from the others. The puffin jumped from my head and landed on my arm, squawking again. "Do you have a name?"

"Mr. Puffin, that's me!" the puffin chirped. He sprung off my arm and flew around the room a little bit, then soared over to the living room. I smile as I found Iceland's pet very amusing. Iceland did not share mutual feelings about his pet. Maybe we would want to trade ours, considering that I hate my sheeps that constantly roam around my home...

Iceland walked down the hallway. Having nothing else to do, I follow him. This time I make sure to look up instead of having my mind in my own world. I have been so clumsy ever since I was small...it was one of the many things that I wanted to change about myself.

It was late at night, though it did not look any different than before. It was snowing even harsher. The Icelandic boy loaded wood into a fire as my mind dazed off, the blaze of fire reflecting in my vacant blue eyes. My body was trembling and I slowly scoot closer to the everlasting blaze, feeling the intense heat penetrating through my thick clothes. I lick my lips and feel my legs, which were closer to the fire heat up extremely fast. I turn around and face my back to the fire, balancing out the heat. I look down, avoiding eye contact, and feel my heated cheeks intense in color and warmth as I move my chapped lips. "Th-thank you..." I quiver. "I don't know where I'd be without y'help." He did not respond, so I closed my eyes. "Pardon me...I'm not very good with names...what was yours again?" I finally gather the bravery to look up at him.

He was standing by a window, gazing out of it. I saw the snowflakes reflect in his violet eyes. He let out a small sigh, fogging the window a little bit, then turns to me. "It's Emil...but I really hate that name. Just call me Iceland." His eyebrows lowered and he gazed away.

"Emil..." I say to myself. I keep my knees close to my chest and I feel my eyes grow heavy. Maybe drowsing off was another one of my many bad habits. I could hear the snowflakes hitting the window. I close my eyes for a longer time and fall asleep.

Author Note: Thank you so much for all the follows! It means so much to me!