Theme 018: Rejection
I Told You So
It was summer and it was hot. The sun was high and the air was thick. Beads of sweat, fat like drops of rain, slid their way down Ed's neck and into his shirt as he waited for an answer. In the front lawn of the Rockbell house, he was propped up awkwardly on one knee, blushing the rosy hue of a tomato. The wind blew gently, a small, steamy breath, rustling his hair and stirring the grass around his ankles.
Hands on her hips, the someone his question was intended for was looking down at him, as if carefully considering her answer. Edward couldn't remember being so nervous in his whole life. She opened her small mouth and, to his horror, began to shake her head. Golden eyes, big as saucers, stared up at her expectantly as she started to speak.
"No. Sorry, Ed." She stated simply "I could never marry a guy that's shorter than me." She ended with an exasperated little harrumph. As if she'd answered this question far too many times already. And that was that. Turning on her heel, Winry skipped away happily; off to continue whatever she had been doing before Ed's fumbled proposal had interfered.
Ed could hear the laughter coming from the porch almost immediately. "Shut up, Al!" he called, hoping up from the grass and hurrying towards the house and the smaller boy waiting there. Alphonse was sitting on the front steps watching the scene between his brother and their best friend.
"I told you she'd say no to you, Brother." Al sniggered.
"She turned you down too, you know." Ed huffed, increasingly annoyed with the whole mess. The only response from his little brother was more laughter. Edward grumbled. Scrunching up his face he took a seat next to Al, grateful for the shade the porch provided. "Whatever." He mumbled crossing his arms and deciding to sulk. He'd show Al one of these days. And Winry too. He'd grow up taller than both of them soon! The thought brought a wily smirk to his face. When that happened, he would ask her again and she would surely say yes. Yeah, that'll show 'em.