"You know, you could act like you enjoy being here." Samantha's manager stated.
"Merf." Sam responded, not bothering to look up from where she rested her head in her arms. Carrie, the manager, sat down in front of the small, blond-haired, green-eyed girl and sighed.
"Not what you were expecting when you signed up; is it?"
Sam mumbled incoherently.
"Well what do you expect? It's a bookstore. Nothing really exciting is going to happen here."
"I
know… It's not just the bookstore though. I've been living in
Resembool for four years now, and absolutely nothing eventful has
happened."
"Well, there was that day when the Fullmetal and
his brother came home."
"That? That was absolutely nothing. 'Yay Edward's home! Hi Edward, hi Alphonse!' You know, no one even bothered to congratulate them about getting their bodies back? Except maybe Winry and Pinacco."
Carrie blinked. "You didn't either." Carrie had light brown hair, blue eyes, and she was about average height.
"They don't know me," Sam said, "It wouldn't mean anything coming from a total stranger." She sighed.
"Well, I guess…"
The door at the front of the shop opened, and Carrie patted Sam on the head. "Here comes a customer, work for your pay!" She whispered before scurrying into the back room.
Sam stood at the register. The guy who came in was tall with long light brown hair kept back in a ponytail. He had green eyes and his face looked remarkably young for someone who was eighteen. She blinked as she remembered his name. Alphonse Elric. He was wearing a black shirt and pants, with a large red overcoat. Samantha remembered vaguely that his brother used to wear something like that.
He walked over to the first shelf, examining it carefully. Sam knew that particular shelf by heart.
"Interested in fantasy books?" She asked, resting her head in her hand and leaning over the counter.
He smiled, "Not really, but my brother and I have been through this part of town a lot and we never noticed this bookstore before. I thought I'd check it out."
"I'm not surprised you never noticed us. We're not much," She waved her hand vaguely around the small store.
"It's
sort of like a home," Alphonse said, admiring the simple
decorations and altogether warm feel of the place.
The door
opened again and another boy came in. This one also had long hair,
but his was blond. He looked like someone who had seen a lot in his
life, someone old in spirit but young in body. Sam knew better than
to gauge his maturity by his looks though. She had seen him throw a
pretty good hissy fit when someone mentioned his height. Sam didn't
think Edward was that short in the first place, but she realized she
was comparing his height with hers.
Edward's golden eyes locked on Alphonse immediately. "There you are." Edward was wearing a white shirt with tan pants and a brown overcoat.
Alphonse had picked up a book and was flipping through it. He looked up at his barely taller brother. "I'm sorry brother, but you were taking too long."
Edward sighed. "Still, it's a pain in the ass to track you down."
"It's Resembool. It shouldn't be that hard to find me." He then added under his breath so quietly that Sam had to strain to hear it, "But then again you couldn't keep track of me when I was a seven foot tall suit of armor."
"It's your fault for wandering off so much." Edward retorted. Alphonse shrugged.
"They sell Alchemy books here."
"Quit changing the subject!"
Alphonse looked up at Sam. "Are you new here? I've never seen you in town before."
Edward mumbled something about Alphonse changing the subject again.
"I've lived here about four years." She stated.
"Are your parents from here?"
"No, my mom and dad live in Central."
It was Edward's turn to look at her. "Aren't you a little young to be living on your own?"
Samantha inwardly sighed. "I'm eighteen." Her statement seemed to stun him.
"But…but… you're so… small."
"Brother!" Alphonse scolded.
"I know I'm short. I'm only 5'1'½." She laughed.
"Are you sure about that half?" Edward teased.
"Brother! We don't even know her name! Don't bully people you don't know!"
Sam laughed again. "I'm used to it, my family loves to pick on people. My names Sam by the way."
"As in Samantha?" Edward asked. She nodded. "Well, I'm Edward Elric, and this is my little brother, Alphonse." He motioned to Alphonse; who smiled and gave a polite bow.
"It's nice to meet you," Samantha said. Edward and Alphonse responded at the same time,
"Likewise."
Edward
put his hand on his brother's shoulder and said, "We'd better
get going. That girl you like that lives down by Winry's won't
wait forever."
Sam had never seen one boy turn so red.
"Brother…It-it's not like that! I-…I just-"
Edward laughed and ushered Al out the door, "We'll see ya later Samantha!" He called over his shoulder.
She waved goodbye.