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The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee flinched when America told them to go to Hell and just looked after the nation in stunned silence. Everything had happened so fast. He didn't understand how a polite reminder to be considerate of the group's morale had sent Alfred so far out of control. Andrew liked to think America honestly cared about the Union's opinions and thoughts, but from the way the nation just acted it sounded like he wanted them all to just be quiet, docile little pawns. When had the states ever behaved like that? Did their feelings really mean that little to him? Tennessee wasn't sure if he'd ever felt more like a cheap piece of property before in his life.

"Our baby sister's been kidnapped and... you're leaving us...?" he asked softly although America didn't seem to hear and by now it was evident he quite frankly didn't care about the family. They really were just his minions to him, weren't they? Andrew felt as if the world had just tilted on its axis. America had just abandoned them when they needed his leadership and reassurance the most. Now what?

Stifling all urges to react to the emotional betrayal of America walking out on them in the middle of a national disaster, Andrew turned his attention back to North Carolina and Michigan. His expression struggled to remain neutral and calm, but he couldn't let himself get upset now. "H-He'll be back," he tried to assure them. "America prob'ly didn't mean it... We'll go rescue Leilani and everything will be fine again. We just gotta work together, right? Like always... We're the United States, after all."

But it no longer felt quite right to say they were the United States of America.

Grade 9
The Volunteer

Is that what this is about? Because Alfred felt like he wasn't needed? That was just so stupid. Luz Maria grabbed him by the shirt collar and pushed him onto a tree "This is not about you! This is about your sibling! Your state! And all you care about is what the others think?! Since when did you care about such irrelevant stuff?!" Man, did she really want to punch this idiot in the vitals, so he wouldn't bring any stupid babies into the world "What kind of hero abandons his mission before he even heads out?! You're not going anywhere until we get that girl back home. Is that understood?! Forget about what they say or think, just focus on the mission!"

Spanish >> English

{Out Of Mexico City:}

~Slovakia~
Zlata Augustine Litchinsk
After a moment of sitting in silence, trying to forget home and ignore the scene in front of her Zlata felt panic close around her heart. I can't just sit here, she thought with a sigh, as she pushed herself up onto her feet and walked to the first person she saw; an angry looking man, who was at least a head taller than her, he had blonde hair which had a odd cowlick, blue eyes and had a leather jacket on as well as some glasses which seemed to glint in his anger;

"Sir! ..do.. y-you 'appen to know vhere the 'orms are?!" the smaller country stammered and suddenly saw the anger in the taller one's face, "Ah..." perhaps she had picked the wrong person- no she would not be a coward! Zlata tried to stand confidently, though her small structure said everything but confidence at that moment in time, despite her best efforts.

Arthur Kirkland
Student Vice President
Member of the Disciplinary Committee
Junior
((Out of Green Tea and Pepsi: )

"I know, but still...." Alfred didn't have to growl at her, she was speaking calmly. Maybe it was okay to leave him for a moment, as long as he wasn't going to get drunk. Perhaps she should go with him, to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.

Spanish >> English

{Out Of Mexico City:}

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee stiffened when he saw the tears in Charlotte's eyes. It was one thing for America to take things out on him, but making his sister cry was a sin Andrew couldn't forgive even his nation for. The boy quietly grit his teeth and glanced back at Alfred only to see him apparently flirting with some random, lost woman who appeared out of nowhere. North Carolina, his Charlotte, was nearly in tears and Alfred was suddenly acting all sweet and flirty to a stranger! He didn't care about them after all... Tennessee's eyes narrowed as a shadow overcame his features.

He wouldn't forget this. Andrew said nothing about it, but the nation's insults heaped upon the injuries of Leilani's kidnapping were burned into the state's heart.

However, what mattered most at the moment was North Carolina and Andrew returned his attention back to looking after his big sister. Hesitantly he reached out and took the older girl's hand, blushing awkwardly as he looked anywhere but directly at his sister. It was so embarrassing to hold hands with her like this and it made him feel like a little kid again.

"It'll be ok... So long as we're together everything'll be fine, won't it?" he said more than asked. "With or without America I'm gonna get Leilani back even if I have to fight that guy alone. An' with or without America we'll still be brother and sister so... everything'll be ok. You... You don't need a hero anyway so long as I'm here." Tennessee's grip on Charlotte's hand tightened a bit as his cheeks flushed and he stubbornly scowled off to the side.

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee was taken off guard by the question and almost physically recoiled as his cheeks turned positively scarlet. Being called someone's hero like that was so embarrassing! He fumbled with a response before simply blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "N-Not heroin'!" he objected awkwardly, "Just brotherin' is all!"

When he calmed a little and realized she was teasing him he relaxed again although a faint blush lingered on his cheeks. At least she really did seem to be ok, but he kept holding Charlotte's hand. Tennessee was shy to liken himself to a real hero, but he was a volunteer and a volunteer's first duty was to protect what was important to them . There were few things in the world more important to Tennessee than North Carolina so looking after her felt like second nature. Especially with how she once cared for and raised him.

Grade 9
The Volunteer