Unexpected

Chapter 10

I made my way downstairs, I look towards the living room to see mostly everyone gathered there either talking, reading, or watching TV.
The only two I don't see are Germany and Russia. Russia should be down in a second, however I don't know about Germany.
    As if on cue, Germany came into the living room wearing a navy blue buttoned shirt and black pants. Wait... I got him those.
    That's when I realized everyone was wearing something different; America is wearing a black shirt with the NASA symbol on it along with cargo shorts, Phil is wearing a blue sweatshirt that half of the sun on it and some palm trees along with jean pants, North is wearing a grey tight shirt that says "Fight me if you dare!" in big black letters and wore jean shorts, South wore something similar to his brother but instead his shirt was white with a emoji with sunglasses with letters in a speech bubbly saying "Cool Dude" and wore light blue shorts, Poland wore a beige sweater with his sleeves rolled up slightly past the elbow along with jean shorts, France wore a red and white striped shirt with a jean jacket over it also wearing black pants, Britain didn't change too much but he did change out of his suit and into another fancy attire... in a way, Third Reich wore a black turtle neck sweater and black jeans he also still wore his hat, Soviet Union didn't change much either he wore khaki pants and a brown sweater along with his usual ushanka. Honestly I never thought Soviet would change into the clothes I gave him simply because he didn't seem to like me... at all. But guess not.
"Why are you just standing there for? Like the view?" Third Reich said, looking up at me with a smirk.
I blushed in embarrassment, I was about to saying something till a voice behind me said, "She doesn't exactly have much to look at from up here."
I turn around to see Russia wearing a tight white sweater with his sleeves rolled up past his elbow, he wore jeans along with it and his usual Ushanka. I blush some more as his muscles was clearly shown through the shirt, to be honest I bet America's and most of the guys are too but... it's a bit hard to tell.
Reich grumbled something under his breath, glaring up straight at Russia. Soviet seemed to hear him giving him a glare in response.
    I let out a sigh and smiled, walking down the stairs into the living room with Russia following right behind.
    "Alright since everyone is here, I have something to share." I spoke out, Russia standing behind me. I felt something slither up my leg, looking down to see Echo making her way up to my neck. I look back out to the group, giving them a strained smile.
    "My mother is coming to visit... tomorrow." I said my smile faltering.
    "Why do we need to know this information?" Britain asked, raising a brow.
    "Because... I need you guys to hide when she gets here and stay hidden." I said, my smile fading into a frown.
    "Why can't she just see us like how she saw Benjamin? I doubt she would go around telling people we exist in this mansion." France asked in his normal cheerful voice.
    I was about to answer till Soviet butt in saying, "Because we're different and freaks. She wants to hide us so it doesn't ruin her reputation with her mother."
     I look over at him, simply raising an eyebrow. "Father!" Russia growled, taking a step towards him. I held a hand up to stop him, giving him a small smile saying it was ok.
   "No." I begin, looking back over at the group. "One I don't consider you guys as freaks but friends, two I don't really have a good reputation with my mother, and to answer your question France it's because the fewer people know the better." I answered, showing France a small smile. He smiled cheerfully in return.
    "Also, she's very judgmental, I'm used to her criticism but you guys... she would eat you up alive in an instant. Talking about your posture, clothing, looks, and so on. Also she might kick you out if she sees you saying you guys will-" I raised two fingers, "Cause a scandal." I finished, using my fingers as quotation marks.
     North stood up saying, "We understand, just tell us what to do."
    I smiled at him, "All you guys have to do is avoid this area. Every time she comes over she sits down here and asks or really tells me to fix tea or coffee either one. You can wonder around the house just stay quiet and stay away from here."
"Roger that." America said, saluting to me.
My seriousness faded, I thought for a moment trying to think of an idea on what to do. "Pool day!" I shouted excitedly, running up the stairs to change into my swimsuit.
I opened the bottom left drawer of my black dresser, grabbing a black bottom piece which had teal strings crisscrossed by the hip, then grabbed a top with a similar design that narrowed up to my neck. It was simple yet cute... plus I really am uncomfortable at the moment.
I don't know what they will think if I wear a bikini... plus I already feel exposed showing my stomach. I used to not really care... till my mom came along. But that's not important right now, all that matters is going down and having fun.
I allowed Echo to slither back into her enclosure and changed into the swimwear, then walked out of my room, looking down focusing on my arms to make sure they are covering up my stomach. In the process, I run into someone. "Oh, I'm..." I trail off, the person I ran into turning around.
    I look up to see Phil, I couldn't help but observe. He was wearing black gym shorts, because I haven't bought swim trunks for them yet, and his muscular tones chest. He was easily slightly under America and Russia on the list. He smiled, "It's ok..." Then he seem to trial off, a small blush forming on his cheeks.
    His expression turned from surprised to confusion as he noticed my arms wrapped around my stomach. "Why are you covering your stomach?" He asked.
    "Um... I don't really like ... um." I tried think of an excuse.
    "C'mon relax, you need to finish the look, your arms are in the way." He said with a smile. "We won't judge, if that is what your worried about."
    I relaxed, letting my arms drop to the side. Phil smiles, "There we go, perfection!"
    I smiled at him sheepishly, a blush dusting my cheeks. All of a sudden Phil grabbed my arm, yanking it towards him. "Phil! What are you doing!?" I questioned in surprise.
    "Who did this?" Phil growled. I never heard this tone from him, he sounded serious and dark.
    I look at his eyes to see only seriousness and anger. I look at my arm to see the bruises Ryder had caused just yesterday. I mentally slapped myself, 'Idiot!'
    I pushed down my alarm, putting on my best smile saying, "Oh that? I ran into a wall at work yesterday. That's all."
    Phil looked at the bruises then back up to me. "They look like fingerprints to me." He said firmly, not letting go.
    "Benjamin thought the same when he saw them. He was reacting the same way, I assure you it was just the wall... or whatever I hit. Maybe it was the picture frame on the wall?" I said with a shrug, giving him a reassuring smile.
    Phil looked at me a little longer before sighing, letting go of my arm. "Alright, I'll believe you. But if anyone is bother you, let me know. I will personally have a word with them." Phil said in a warning tone.
    I smiled softly, a real smile, "I will."
    His expression softened, "Lets go the others are already there."
    I was about to follow him till I thought of something. "Go ahead I'll meet you down there, I have to get something real quick."
    He nodded, walking down the hallway. I turned into my room, grabbing a swim shirt out of my closest with the same sort of design. I look over to see the bruises covered.
    "Good enough."
Philippines POV
    I walked down the stairs, I couldn't shake the feeling in my gut that something was wrong. Those bruises... maybe they could be caused by a run in with a wall but... still. They look a lot like finger prints.
    I walked downstairs, past the living room, past the gym, and kept going down the hallway. I then made a right into another hallway, constantly thinking about what I just saw. How can those bruises not be finger prints!?
    I stopped before two double doors, I walk through one closing it behind me. The pool itself was huge, having a slide, diving board, hot tub connected to it, and a sort of waterfall where people can sit inside of or jump off from the top. The floors were a light blue tile and strangely the entire room didn't smell like chlorine either. The lighting was as if it was outside as a whole wall and part of the roof was a window.
Everyone was in the water already, playing and slashing each other. Except for Soviet, Britain, Reich, and North who just sat on the side lines and watched.
I walked down the stares, I shivered as the cold water touched by skin. I flinch as the water rose up to my hips, then chest as I walked deeper into the water.
Instead of joining the other I swam towards the waterfall, pulling myself up on the small ledge just next to the waterfall.
I still couldn't get the image out of my head, those bruises... something deep down in my gut told me something wasn't right.
"Hey Phil! Come join us!" South called out as he stopped splashing France to look over at Phil.
"No thanks, not at the moment." I said, giving him a small smile. South gave me a confused look, then went back to playing with France.
America stopped tackling Russia, saying something to him and swimming over to me. "You alright?" America asked, pulling himself up to sit beside him.
"Nothing, I'm fine." I answered, putting out a cheerful tone and a forced smile.
America looked at me unamused, "You are a terrible liar Phil. What's wrong? Are you homesick again?"
I shook my head, true I do get homesick from time to time, but it's been a week now since an episode. "No, no." I look over at America to see he had a determined look. He wasn't giving up.
I sighed, "Promise you won't tell the others what I'm about to tell you. Who knows what those three might do with this information." I gestured towards North, Soviet, and Reich; the three who sees her as threat. North seemed to be warming up to her, Reich is hiding it well e he still doesn't trust her and Soviet... is Soviet."
"So this is about (Y/N)?" America asked, I nodded in response. "Alright, I promise."
"She had these bruises on her arm, they looked like finger marks to me but she insists that she bumped into a wall." I say quickly. I watched as America's expression turned from calm to pure anger.
"What!?" He growled, a little too loud as Russia and France froze. Even Reich heard him, turning his head away from the conversation to look at the two.
Phil took a finger to his mouth to quiet down America before he could go into rage mode. America seemed to calm down, or really lowered his voice. "Please tell me you didn't believe her!?" America whispered yelled, doing his best from not screaming it out.
"I almost did, but I couldn't help think back to them... the bruises." Phil said.
"Hey guys! Sorry it took so long! I had to feed Echo real quick!" (Y/N) said with a smile, walking into the pool quickly. I noticed she was wearing a swim shirt this time instead of what she had on before.
"Yeah they are definitely finger prints." I claimed. "She wasn't covering them before."
"Now all we have to do is find out who did it." America growled.
"Agreed." I said, my eyes narrowing.