(again, picture belongs to aki-psyche, not me. Doesn't Rossiya look so pure and smol?)

Ivan stared down at the tiny—and I mean tiny—American in front of him, apologizing over and over again. But the American wasn't responding. Was he saying it wrong? Darn, he thought he had finally got it down!

"I-It's fine! Don't worry about it, man!" the blond finally responded, grinning from ear-to-ear. He gasped suddenly, "Crap! My lunch!" With that, he stooped down and began gathering the now even-more-inedible scraps of school food that were heaped in a disgusting pile underneath the tray. "Darn..."

Ivan blinked at him in confusion. Lunch? But this was the library. "You...You was--were--go...go to...eat in here, da?"

The kid gave him a strange look, "Going to. Yeah, I was going to. What of it?"

Ivan's cheeks flushed slightly at the mistake. "That...very strange. Very strange in...indeed. Da. Very strange," he really, really hoped he was speaking all right. He relaxed, seeing the blond grin once again.

"Yeah, I'm weird. I know," he confessed, laughing apologetically. "So, hey, you're that exchange student, right? You're new here."

"Da..."

"Why aren't you in any classes?" he picked up the tray of contaminated food.

"English is...hard," Ivan looked down, feeling silly. This was his first real social interaction since he got here and he was probably just making this blond uncomfortable with how awkward he was being.

"Definitely..." the blond suddenly gasped, staring at something in Ivan's hands. Ivan immediately held it closer uncomfortably. He wanted to make a good impression. Had his book blown it? Was he too much of a nerd?

"You're reading Chime? I love that book!"

Ivan stared at the blond, blushing slightly, "Da...I'm having triple--nyet...trouble under...under...understanding some words. And phases."

"You mean phrases?"

"...Da, those," Ivan looked down sheepishly, closing his eyes in embarrassment.

"Well..." the blond pondered for a moment. "Maybe I could help you! Yeah! I could visit you during study hall and before and after--" He paused. "I could meet you in study hall and help you read it."

Ivan was taken aback. This adorable--Nyet! This blond actually wanted to help him! "Da! I-I...will like that."

The blond nodded, "And we can work on your English, too. Deal?" He held out his hand, which Ivan hesitantly shook, looking him in the eyes.

"Da...a deal."

Just then, the bell rang and the blond bristled. "Yikes! Gotta go, man. Sorry," he turned quickly to leave.

Ivan panicked slightly, "W-Wait! What...What is your name?"

The blond stopped for a moment, "Alfred. Alfred Jones. And you?" He cast the Russian a sideways glance.

Ivan smiled, "Ivan Braginski."

Alfred grinned, "See ya, then, Ivy!" He dashed out of the library and down the hall, leaving Ivan to just stand there and blush.

Ivy?

Yey another part is out yo yo yo! Also, Chime is still, like, one of my favorite books ever, so...yeah, expect more references like that.