Rating: T

Pairing: Edwin/Edward Elric x Winry Rockbell

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Word Count: 2279

Title: Pop Quiz

Description: Part 1 of 3 of this Edwin Thing

Modern School AU where Edward is jealous when Winry talks about other boys, but she's completely oblivious.

A/N: I hope you guys like this one!

Winry

My phone vibrates in my pocket on the way to lunch. As soon as I see the message, I roll my eyes and start typing my response. I shouldn't be surprised Ryan is flirting with me via stupid jokes about shop class. His reply comes through, and I bite my lip, trying not to blush.

"Hey, did you finish the chem homework from Friday?"

"Hmm?" I look over at Ed who is walking next to me. "What?"

He looks down at my phone, and I see a muscle twitch in his jaw.

"Are you okay?" I frown at him.

"Yeah," he grunts, looking away. "I just…I asked if you finished the homework in Mustang's class."

"Oh." I nod. "No, I got started on balancing the equations, but then I got distracted and didn't finish."

"I can help you with it, if you want." He shrugs. "If you're not too busy with Ryan."

"Since when have I ever sat with Ryan during lunch? He has second lunch anyway–"

"Oh, well good," he cuts me off, rolling his shoulders.

We sit down, and I spread out my homework, eating my lunch out of the brown bag in my lap. Ed is really good at science, especially chemistry, so he makes it easy to understand the parts that confused me. I'm working the last equation when my phone vibrates again. I stop and reach for my phone when Ed's fist on the table catches my eye. I look up at him to see him glaring at my homework.

"Edward, what–"

"Is that him again?"

"Is it who?" I ask carefully.

"You know who," he growls. "That little bitch, Ryan."

"Seriously?" I raise my eyebrows. "What's going on with you?" I reach over and put my hand on his arm, forcing him to look at me. "Why do you hate Ryan all of the sudden?"

"I don't hate him," he bites out, pulling away and looking to the side. "I just…think he's kind of a douche."

"He's not a douche! He's nice! He's my partner in shop class, and if it weren't for him, I'd be stuck with that roach, Kimblee."

"Well, of course you would think he's nice," he grumbles, and I feel my face getting red.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," he snaps. "I'm just saying maybe if you spent less time flirting with him, you'd have time to finish your own damn chemistry homework."

Ouch. I feel hurt and anger flood my system, as I stand and start gathering my things.

"Fine, Ed," I mutter. "If that's how you feel, I'll go do my homework in the library."

"Winry–"

I blink away the stupid tears threatening to fall as I sling my bag over my shoulder.

"I don't understand what's going on with you," I tell him, my voice wavering. "Ryan is a perfectly nice person, and whatever your problem is with him, you don't have to take it out on me."

"Winry, wait. I didn't mean–"

He stands up, looking apologetic, but I ignore him, walking out of the cafeteria and down the hall.

Edward

Fuck.

"What was that about, brother?" Al appears at my side just as the door closes to the lunch room. "Winry looked pretty upset."

"Just me," I mumble. "Saying something stupid. Making her cry."

"What was it this time?"

I throw myself back into my chair and shove my fingers through my bangs.

"She… That stupid asshat Ryan has been texting her again."

He raises his eyebrows at me and crosses his arms.

"Don't look at me like that," I snap at him.

"Someone is jealous." He smirks and sits down in Winry's abandoned chair.

"Hardly," I scoff. "I just…don't want her to get hurt. I'm protecting her."

"Right," he says slowly. "The same way you were protecting her when you punched Ling in the courtyard after he said she was pretty."

"He had it coming."

He stays quiet for a second, and I poke around at the food on my plate.

"You made her cry again," he says quietly.

Fuck. I know.

"Yeah," I mutter.

"What are you gonna do?"

"Apologize, I guess," I sigh. "Like I always do."

"You'd think at some point she'd stop being friends with you. Considering how often this happens."

"Yeah."

"On the other hand, you could just tell her you like her, like a normal person, and maybe then you wouldn't blow up in a jealous rage constantly."

"What?" I sputter. "I'm not jealous! And why would I tell her I like her? I don't—That's not—I haven't ever–"

"Better watch out, brother. All that lying will set your pants on fire."

"I'm not lying!" I jump up, ignoring the people staring at us now. "She's just…a friend. I don't like her like that. She's like family. Like a sister–"

"I hope not," he cuts me off. "Normal guys don't fantasize about their sisters–"

"Shut up, Al!" I kick his chair leg. "It's not like that," I hiss.

"You're forgetting, brother," he whispers as he stands, leaning in, "we share a wall. And you talk in your sleep."

I feel my face heat, and my fists clench with the urge to punch him.

"Hey. Don't get mad at me just because you're in denial." He turns and grabs his bag off the floor. "You have a crush on Winry, Ed. It's about time you owned up to it. Before you blow your shot."

He turns and walks away, and I stand there seething. What the hell is he talking about? A crush on Winry, my ass. I don't think about her like that. And I can't control what I think about in my sleep. It's not my fault if I dream that we, um… Or, if I wake up and I'm…

I shake my head, trying to think of something else. Fortunately, the bell rings to signal the end of lunch period. Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I drop my tray off at the collection on my way out. Next, I have history, which is boring as fuck, but at least I can count on getting a good nap in. No offense to Mr. Falman.

Winry

Study hall is boring. Especially since I finished the last two chemistry equations on my own in the library. They may not be totally correct, but I had the ones Ed helped me with—before he blew up at me—for reference. So, I don't even have that to occupy me.

God, it's even worse in here when Paninya actually has work she needs to finish. Otherwise, we can usually pass notes across the table when Mr. Havoc isn't looking, and today is definitely a day I need her advice. Not that she has a lot of experience with guys switching from hot to cold on her the way Ed has been with me today.

What is with him anyway? I mean, he knows Ryan is my friend, so why is he all of the sudden upset about it? Ryan has been my partner in shop class since the beginning of the year. It's not like it's new. And sure, he flirts with me, but it's meaningless fun. I'm not interested in Ryan. I've even told him that to his face. Maybe I would be if it were under different circumstances, but I've pretty much accepted that as long as Ed's around, there really isn't room for another guy in my life. Not romantically, anyway.

It would be nice, though, if Ed would return my feelings. I haven't said anything to him because…well, if he doesn't feel the same way about me…

It's not like I'm pining for him or anything. I don't expect him to fall in love with me, I guess, but…we've known each other forever, and the idea of him with another girl makes me feel…jittery.

I reach down and pull the red zip up hoodie out of my bag and pull it on, tugging my hair out of the collar. Instantly, I feel calmer. He gave me the jacket one day when I forgot mine, and the temperature dropped ten degrees before lunch. I haven't given it back because…I don't want to. The idea of another girl wearing his jacket makes me feel sick.

A piece of paper slides across the table, and I look up to see Paninya giving me big eyes. I snatch her note and unfold it, glancing over at Mr. Havoc to make sure he's not looking.

Are you okay? You're wearing the hothead's jacket again. And I'm sweating, so I doubt it's because you're chilly.

I sigh and grab my pen to scribble my reply.

He was acting weird today. Went off on me about Ryan, though idk why. I needed to feel better.

She frowns at me, and I shrug.

What about Ryan upset him?

He wouldn't say, exactly. Just called him a douche and a little bitch. He snapped at me when I tried to ask him.

He sounds jealous to me.

Haha. Why would Ed be jealous of Ryan?

Oh, idk. Because he likes you?

He has a funny way of showing it.

If that's even true. I mean, does he like me as more than a friend? Because it's Edward. He might just be picking at Ryan because he called him short once or something. His irrational dislike of him may have nothing to do with me after all.

If I see him, I'll tell him flowers are the more traditional romantic gesture.

I roll my eyes at her and shake my head, quickly hiding our written exchange when Mr. Havoc turns our way. Unfortunately, we don't get the chance to pick up our conversation again before the bell rings, so as I walk into chemistry, I'm still feeling confused about the whole Ed-snapping-at-me situation.

Naturally, he's standing at my lab station when I come in. Scratching the back of his head, looking sheepishly contrite, which is actually a pretty common expression for him. My heart squeezes, and I sigh. Even though I'm still hurt, it's hard to be mad when he so clearly regrets what he said. He's Edward. It's not like I can just stop talking to him forever.

With that in mind, I pull the sleeves of the hoodie down over my palms and make my way to my seat.

Edward

Shit. What am I supposed to say? She's got that look on her face that kills me. Plus, her bottom lip looks puffy like she's been nibbling on it.

Fuck, I want to nibble on it.

What the hell? No, I don't! She's Winry for fuck's sake. God, what has gotten into me.

"Hi." She skirts around me and sits down on her stool.

"Winry, I can explain," I say softly, trying to buy time. "It wasn't–"

"I'm still mad at you," she interrupts.

"I know."

"I'm not interested in Ryan, you know," she volunteers randomly.

"What? I never thought—Why would you even suggest–"

"Paninya said you sounded jealous." She shrugs. "I figured it wasn't that, but just in case, I thought I'd tell you."

"Oh." I blink, ignoring the intense feeling of relief flooding my chest. "Well, that wasn't it at all."

God, if Al were here right now…

"He asked me to prom," she murmurs, and I ignore the way my muscles tense. "I told him I already had a date."

My jaw drops, and I blink at her.

"You do?"

I mean, prom is only two weeks away, so I shouldn't sound so surprised, but she hasn't mentioned anyone to me. Hell, if her date is some fuckwad, I'm going to scare the shit out of him before he tries anything with her.

"Well…" She glances up at me before looking down, running her fingers over the grooves in the top of lap table. "I might. It depends."

"On what?"

"On you."

"Me?" I blink. "Y-you want to go to prom with me?"

"Well, I thought we could go as, um, friends," she says softly, looking down. "Unless you have plans…"

Oh God. Is it hot in here? I can't breathe.

"Right. Um, as friends. That's, uh, fine," I stammer. "I mean, I can do that."

"Okay." She looks up at me with a smile, and my heart trips over itself.

Dammit. What is happening?

She reaches up to push her bangs out of her eyes—damn those eyes are blue—and then I spot the red sleeve, and I freeze. She's wearing my hoodie. I forgot she had it. Why is she wearing it now? It's not even cold.

Oh crap. Seeing her wrapped in my clothes is making me hard. Seriously, what the hell? It's not like I haven't seen her in my jacket before.

She looks up at me, and I feel my cheeks going pink. Shit. I can't let her catch me with a hard-on right now. I quickly slide onto the stool beside her, hoping no one is looking at me.

Luckily, the bell rings before Winry can say anything else. I take a slow breath as Mr. Mustang saunters up to the front of the class. At least chemistry is something I understand, so hopefully there won't be any more surprises. Like Winry asking me to prom.

Fucking shit. I'm taking Winry to prom. I steal a look at her and feel my face get red. Or redder. Fuck, Al is never going to let me live this down.

"Good afternoon, class," Mustang pipes up with that annoying grin of his. "Pop quiz."

Well, fuck. So much for no surprises.