A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I really enjoyed reading them

I will most likely be updating on the weekends or on Wednesdays (like today) when I don't have so much homework to do. :P

Disclaimer: No, no, NO!

CHAPTER TWO: SOMETHING STRANGE

Things have been going weird lately.

More specifically, Ed and Al are acting strange.

I know what Al's "problem" is but I still can't seem to place my finger on what's up with Ed.

Does it have to do with that girl Lyra? I'll keep an eye on her...

-Winry Rockbell, on a piece of scratch paper

"Oh, hi Lyra." A slim girl sat down next to Edward, setting down a crumpled up bag on the surface in front of her.

"Hello Edward." She smiled at him a bit before looking over at Winry who shot her a cold look from the other side of the table.

"Hello... Lyra..." she managed to choke out before picking at her food, leaning on the table with one elbow. It had been a week and she was getting tired of this. Lyra was cutting into their... their... friendship time, and truthfully it was starting to annoy her.

Edward just looked between the two. The tension was there even as Ed gave another awkward smile to help lighten the mood.

"Hey."

A voice from behind beckoned to them and as soon as Ed saw Winry staring up in confusion he was curious enough to turn around and stare at the person behind him.

No need.

Instead said person seated themselves on the other side of Edward, followed by a bundle of other girls who chatted excitedly until the first girl gave off a, "Shhh!" commanding silence from the others.

"How ya' doing?"

He finally caught a glimpse of the girl Winry was now glaring at. Her pink bangs were being brushed out of her face oh-so-carefully as she smiled at him. Beside her an almost countless number of girls giggled happily, that is until the "leader" glared mercilessly at them.

"Rose?" One of the most popular girls in school. Almost every girl tried to suck up to her since her daddy was "rich" and she got whatever she asked for.

Anyways, that's what everyone thought. Especially since she started teasing Winry in grade school. Edward had never liked her too much, although she never did this before...

But who knew? Maybe there was some force compelling her to do these things and she was actually a REALLY nice person.

Right?

Maybe? Come on! At least a maybe.

Never mind.

Lyra hesitantly scooted over, inviting the others to sit down. So now Ed was squeezed between piles of girls while his best friend was left by herself on the other side of the table.

Winry was slowly deciding to move somewhere else, until two others sat on either side of her.

"Sorry it took us so long," whispered a girl on one side. "Nelly had to get a checkup on her leg everyday this week since she twisted it on Monday."

"Paninya?" The girl beside her nodded and smiled. Her dark hair was pulled up in a slick ponytail and her tan hand was curled into a graceful resting place for her hand.

"Yeah, I'm so clumsy I tripped and fell. This guy bumped into me and then I had to run all the way to class and that's when... BAM!" Came the voice of a girl, her dark curls bouncing around her shoulders.

While all this was going on Rose was trying to chat with Edward as the other girls behind her listened intently.

"Glad you're here, thought I was gonna die."

xoxox

"Oh, do you like my cross? It's white-gold, daddy said it was really expensive though!" Rose tugged hopefully at Ed's sleeve. Who knew she was so into religion (or maybe just over-priced jewelry...) But what he was more concerned about was where Winry was. She was his best friend! He couldn't just ignore her, after thinking it over he actually had and felt guilty about it too.

After all, they were childhood buddies! She'd been there practically all his life for god's sake!

"Don't you like it?" Rose asked again, tugging harder at his sleeve.

"Erm, yeah. I gotta get to class. See you later?" He smiled awkwardly before walking off, Lyra at his side.

"That was interesting." Lyra spoke up suddenly.

She'd have to make note of this.

As Winry wandered down the hall, she glanced behind as Edward walked off and out of sight.

It seemed like her world was twisting.

xoxox

A/N: TRYING TO GET 10 REVIEWS BEFORE I UPDATE! Setting goals for myself Once I get 10 reviews I shall update (look of determination)