Polar Bears (S.01, Ep.3)
- Capsules & Mementos
The young blonde teenage girl was leaning against the arm rest of the leather couch in her living room. She had a notebook in her hand and a pen in the other. She was chewing on the end of the pen, a bad habit she had been trying to stop, and was carefully thinking over the car design on the paper. Her concentration was intense and she could barley hear the doorbell go off or the sound of her mother calling out her name.
"Winry!" The girl finally looked up from her notebook to see her mother with a stern look on her face. She then began towards the door.
"Honestly Winry. It's like you live in your own world sometimes." Her mother mumbled as she reached for the door. When she opened it she was faced with the mail man.
"Hi, I got a letter for a Sara Rockbell?" The man said quickly looking down at the letter for a name.
"Yes that's me." Sara replied as she took the letter from the man. She quickly signed the small screen and said goodbye.
"Watcha got there mom?" Winry asked, a little curious. Sara looked over the letter and frowned a little.
"It's a letter from your school." She said. Winry tensed a little. She couldn't remember doing anything bad. Why would the school be sending her mom a letter?
"You haven't been getting into any trouble have you?" Sara asked cautiously as she sat down on the couch next to her daughter.
"Of course not! You know me better than that mom. I always keep my nose clean." Winry said with pride as she nervously watched her mom open up the letter. Her mom rolled her eyes a bit and gave a slight chuckle.
"Yeah well I also know your friends and the trouble they always seem to find themselves in." Sara pulled out the letter and began to read. Her face slowly turned from a knowing look to one of surprise and slight joy.
"What is it mom?" Winry tried to lean over her mom's shoulder to get a better look. Sara smiled and looked at her daughter.
"It's about the school capsule."
"School capsule? We haven't made one of those?"
"No I made one when I was still in school." Sara moved off the couch and started for the kitchen and Winry quickly followed, leaving her notebook behind.
"You mean when you went to LCA?" Winry took a seat at one of the bar stools by the counter as her mother fumbled through one of the kitchen drawers.
"What was that like 20 years ago?"
"Exactly to this day." Sara continued to smile as she pulled out a few photos. She placed them on the counter for Winry to see. Winry looked down and saw a picture of a time capsule filled with different assortments of junk. Then there was a picture of an entire class next to it. She could see a younger version of her mother smiling and kneeling next to the capsule. Winry smiled as she picked up the photo.
"What does the letter say?" Winry asked as she looked back up at her mom. Sara smiled and looked back at the letter.
"Well it's like I said. It's been 20 years since then and they want us all to come back to dig it up, you know see what we buried, how things have changed."
"That's really cool." Winry whispered as she looked back at the picture. She looked back up at her mom as an idea suddenly popped into her mind.
"You think the school will let us make another one for our class?" Sara was a little taken back by the sudden question.
"I guess that's something you would have to bring up with the headmaster."
Winry sat in one of the chairs in the secretary office and patiently waited for the headmaster to meet with her. She looked over to the counter where there where flowers and a bowl of hard candies. Behind the counter where three different desks. Two where occupied with two young women who where busing themselves with there work. The third one was empty as the lady from the desk had gone to speak with the headmaster for the young blonde girl. The lady finally came back from the back hall.
"The headmaster will see you now." The lady spoke as she gave a slight bow. Everyone at LCA were so refined and polite. Especially the people who worked here, but that was the policy of the school after all. Lilian coast was a fine establishment for the wealthy and people of higher status. It was meant to teach proper behavior and poise. You could almost say it was a school for the royals. However the school rarely had any of those, not saying that they didn't, but it was rare.
Winry picked herself up from the chair and followed the lady down the hall. There were five different doors in the hall. The three to the left were all counseling offices. The first on the right was for the vice principal, the headmaster's second hand man, and the final and second door to the right lead to the headmaster's office.
The lady firmly knocked on the door and waited for a response.
"Come in." The lady opened the door and lead Winry into the office. It was beautiful. Paintings of people from ancient times where strung up on the walls. The couch was a red velvet with gold lining. The plants in the room where of every color from the rainbow, the curtains pure red silk, and the desk was a deep brown sturdy wood, with a shiny lacquer finish. At the desk in a magnificent chair, sat the headmaster himself. He had dark hair that was slicked back and his blue green eyes were a mystery. It was always hard to figure out what he was thinking. Her eyes where then drawn to the beautifully encrested name plate that read Douglas Bradley.
The woman bowed once again and spoke, "Winry Rockbell sir." She then quickly exited and closed the door behind her, leaving Winry and Bradley to speak alone.
"Please Winry, have a seat." Bradley would never use last names when referring to his students. No one knew why, some thought it was a way of connecting with the kids.
Winry gracefully took a seat on the velvet couch, trying to act as refined as possible in front of the headmaster.
"Now then, what can I do for you young lady?" Bradley's expression slowly softened as he spoke to the girl.
"Well sir, I was actually wondering if it would be possible for our school to make another time capsule?" Bradley's interest was immediately quipped.
"Another one?" He asked, but he immediately remembered the letters he had sent out. "Ah yes, you mean like the one the school made 20 years ago?"
"Yes sir."
"A time capsule, huh?" Bradley thought to himself for a moment, mulling it over, and after what seemed like forever, he finally replied.
"Alright then. You can make your time capsule." Winry's face broadened into a smile. "However," He continued with a more stern look on his face. Winry's face also fell slightly at the sudden change in attitude.
"We have no teachers at the moment who can supervise such a project, Winry. Which means I will be leaving you in charge. You will be responsible for finding a capsule, finding a place to bury it. You have to convince the students to take part and overlook the entire operation. Can you do this?"
Winry took a second to absorb all the information Bradley had just given her. Finally she smiled and nodded, "Yes sir."
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you."
"Favorite color?"
"Green."
"Favorite animal?"
"Cat."
"Dream girl?" The young girl looked up at her prince with eyes that sparkled like starlight.
"What did you say this was for again?" Alphonse asked as he took a sip from his drink, a little confused by the questions he was being asked.
"It's for my journalism class?" May began nervously, a little unsure of what she was saying.
"But you're not in journalism." Ling stated simply. Laughing in his head at his little sisters obvious attempt at flirting.
"Shut up!" May barked. The group of friends were sitting at a table in the cafeteria eating their lunch. May had begun asking Alphonse questions she wanted answered for herself, but she didn't want to tip him off that she had a massive crush on him, and instead said it was for an article she was writing for her journalism class.
"What's the article about?" Alphonse asked, oblivious to her true intentions. However the rest of the table rolled their eyes at his ignorance. May began to panic a little at the question, knowing that she didn't really have a good answer.
"Um, well, uhh, you see. Hey look it's Winry!" May quickly pointed out as she saw the blonde rush through the cafeteria to her friends. Everyone turned to look at the blonde girl and May gave a little relived sigh now that the attention was off of her.
"Guys!" Winry started excitedly as she sat down in between Rose and Ed, "Guess what I just did?"
"Don't answer that!" Ed quickly interrupted Ling as he was about to ask what. Ed glared at the blonde. "I don't like the look on her face. It can't be good." Winry had a sweet and girly grin on her face. It was very rare for her to show off such a feminine side, and Ed didn't trust it. Winry's look immediately changed however to a skeptical one, directed at Ed.
"Don't be so paranoid you freak." She started then turned back to the rest of the group and brought back her smile. "I just got the headmaster to agree to us making a time capsule!"
"A time capsule, why?" Alphonse asked.
"Don't you guys find it exciting to bury something now and then dig it back up 15 years from now to reminisce and see how our lives have changed." The group looked at each other for a second and as if reading each others minds all replied with a "No." Winry frowned a little, not appreciating the lack of enthusiasm from her friends.
"Oh come on guys, it would fun. Please?"
" Why do you wanna do this so badly?" Rose asked.
"Look it's just something my mom brought up yesterday. She got a letter in the mail saying it was time to open the time capsule she buried during her senior year. I just thought it would be really cool if we could do the same thing." She looked on with a pleading puppy dog look, trying to make her friends cave.
"I'm in." Ling smiled.
"Yeah, I guess it could be fun." Rose added.
"Really?!" Winry smiled.
"Sure, I guess if it means that much to you." Ed replied with a slight sarcastic undertone, showing that he didn't really have an interest in making one, but would do it just to make her happy.
"Awesome!" Winry clapped her hands together and stood back up. "I'm gonna go talk with our homeroom teacher and get it all squared away, while you guys think about what you wanna put in." She then ran off leaving the others behind.
"What do you put in a time capsule?" May asked the rest of the group, but they all looked at each other and kind off just shrugged, not knowing themselves.
Ling flung open the doors to the mansion and made a B-line to the kitchen. He was hungry and needed some food. May shortly entered the mansion as well and was greeted by her caretaker Miss Ming.
"Welcome home my lady." She bowed politely and then closed the doors.
"Hey Ming. Did you see my brother come through?" May asked, not knowing why she even bothered.
"Yes my lady. I believe he was headed towards the kitchen."
"That sounds about right." May sighed. She headed into the kitchen and found Ling rummaging through the fridge for something to eat.
"It's like it's become a ritual for you to raid the fridge the minute we get home from school." May giggled.
"Hey uo cank gow if uo don ea." Ling mumbled through his teeth as he held a pack of ham in his mouth. He shut the fridge door and placed the food on the counter, and proceeded to make himself a sandwich. Ling began to spread mayo on the bread when he looked up and noticed his sister still looking at him with an amused look.
"You want one?" Ling asked as he pointed the butter knife at her.
"No I'm good." She laughed. "Have you thought about what you're gonna put in Winry's time capsule?" Ling pondered for a second while he continued to make his sandwich.
"I don't know. Maybe a video or and old cell phone, you know, see how technology has changed over the years." He looked up and noticed the skeptical look on his sister's face.
"What? Not good enough?" Ling smirked.
"No it's just... Shouldn't it be something more personal?" Ling looked a little confused. "You know, something that means something to you, something important?"
"I guess so, but I don't really have anything like that." He began as he put away all of the sandwich fixins.
"You can't think of a single thing?" May asked,leaning forward on the counter trying to urge him to think a little harder.
"Well what about you? What are you putting in?" May smiled and leaned back on the stool she was sitting on.
"My transcript of course."
"Your transcript? Whats so special about that?" Ling asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"You have no idea." She thought back on the day her father told her she would be leaving China and going to live with her brother in the U.S.
"May you're going to California."
"Wait what?!" May was sitting at the large dinning room table with her father. They were eating dinner, and May's father, Renshu, was talking about his daughter's education.
"I think it would do you some good to travel to the states and go to school with your brother."
"But Father, I've never left China before, I haven't even left the estate grounds!" May was trying not to freak out from the news too much. She had never left her home. She had been home schooled her whole life, and now her father was asking her to move to another country where she would go to a school with other people in it.
"Exactly my point my dear. You're so sheltered and you have no life experience. You need to learn important life lessons that you cannot learn her within the walls of the estate."
"But Father I don't know if I'm ready for that?"
"It's not like you'll be on your own. Your brother will be there to look after you, as well as Miss Ming."
"Go to the academy with Ling?"
"I know you've missed him terribly since he left. This is a good thing my dear, try to be optimistic. You never know what might happen."
May sat on the stool of her vanity as one of her maids, Sulee, began brushing out her long hair.
"I can tell you're quite nervous, my lady." Sulee began with a gentle smile. May really liked Sulee. She was one of her favorite maids.
"Is it that obvious?" She let a slight chuckle escape her lips, trying to ease the tension she was feeling.
"It sounds like a grand adventure. A wonderful opportunity really."
"What if I don't fit in. I'm not exactly a normal girl." May began, not feeling any better about her situation.
"Well if you ask me?" Sulee started as she placed her hands on May's shoulder and lowered her head to look into the mirror. "Normal is so overrated." May smiled at the young woman.
May stood in the airport with her father. She had a single carry-on with her and she was holding her plane ticket in her other hand.
"Now I put your transcript in the folder with your other documents. Don't loose it. You'll need it to enroll in the school." May's father kept going on and on about everything that she needed to know, but honestly, May had a hard time paying any attention thanks to the nervous knotting feeling in her stomach.
"Father I don't know if I can do this." May started.
"Of course you can my dear. I know it's scary know, but once you land and start going to the academy I'm sure all of your worries will just melt away. This will good for you, I promise." May tried to give him a reassuring smile. Even though she felt nervous about flying to the U.S. On her own, she didn't want her father to feel guilty about it. She trusted her father when he told her that this was for the best. The announcer came on the intercom and announced that the flight for California was now boarding.
"Well, I guess that's me." May smiled nervously.
"I love you my May flower." Renshu whispered as he hugged his only daughter. May wrapped her arms around her dad and held on tight.
"I love you too daddy." May let go and made her way to the terminal to board the flight. The flight was long and exhausting. She landed in Sacramento and then took a train further north until she finally reached the city of Lillian Coast. The city was huge, and she feared she might get lost in the crowd. When she stepped of the train she looked around for Miss Ming, who was supposed to meet her and take her back to the mansion. Finally she noticed the petite woman holding a sign that read May Chang. She hurried over through the bustling crowd until she finally reached her.
"May Chang, my lady, it's an honor to meet you." The woman smiled and bowed politely. "I trust your trip was your trip was good?"
"I guess so." May began.
"Please my lady, let me." Ming started as she took May's suitcase. "Right this way." Ming then continued to lead May to a car. It was a really nice car, black and slick. May hoped to see Ling at the mansion when she got there, but he was apparently at a friends house, and would be home late. So May headed up to her room and began to unpack. It was weird, but none of this seemed real to her. It was like a dream that she felt she would wake up from at any moment. She would be back in her room at the estate in China like none of this had ever happened. She felt like she was stuck in some kind of haze that she just couldn't shake. She ate the dinner that Ming prepared for her then went to sleep. She had had a long trip and was exhausted. Maybe tomorrow she would feel better.
She woke up the next morning and once again Ling was nowhere to be found. He had to be to school early for a make up test and so May ended up walking to the academy by herself, still feeling like everything was frozen around her and that she wasn't really feeling the full effect of what was going on around her. She went to the office and got all of her paper work squared away, and now she was off the her first class. There was barely anyone in the hallway and the further she walked the slower time seemed to go. She was about to round a corner when she was suddenly knocked of her feet. She felt herself fall, but was then stopped midway. She looked up and was amazed at what she saw. It was like time had suddenly fast forward at super speed. She was looking into the most brilliant sun like eyes she had ever seen. She had never seen eyes like that before in her life. It took her a moment to realize that the eyes were connected to a body. A boy with blond hair and kind eyes was holding her in the hallway. When she realized how his arm was wrapped around her waist, and her hands had gripped onto his blaiser as an instinct to keep herself from falling, her entire face went red and hot.
The boy seemed to realize the compromising position they were in and quickly backed off, pulling her back to her feet. He began saying something to her, but she couldn't hear a single word. All she could do was stare at this perfect boy who had just held her in a way that no boy had ever before. Then again she hadn't really met many boys, never leaving the estate and all. Was this what her father meant by sheltered?
"Are you sure you're okay?" The boy asked.
"What?" She blinked a few times and noticed the books he was holding out for her. She blushed even harder when she realized how she had completely zoned out and missed everything he had said to her.
"Oh yes, yes I'm fine." She quickly retrieved her books and held them close to her chest trying to slow down her pounding heart. She felt so embarrassed and tried to run off before she did something really stupid, but she was then stopped as the boy took her hand and gently pulled her back. It felt like her head was going to explode. No one had her held her hand like that before
"I'm sorry, What's your name?" He asked.
"May, May Chang."
"I'm Alphonse, Look I know this may sound a little crazy, but there's just something about you. I'm writing this song for one of my classes and If your not to busy maybe after school I can take you out somewhere. I feel like if I spend a little more time with you the words will just flow right out of me." May couldn't stop the smile from gracing her face. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but all she managed to get was, "Sure."
"Great! I'll meet you outside after school?" Again, so many things swirled in her mind, but her reply was a simple, "Okay."
"See you then." The boy than ran down the hall and all of a sudden it felt like May's whole was light with the brightest colors. She felt a warm glow in her chest and smile she wore was so sincere and radiant. Maybe her father was right. This could be the greatest experience of her life. After all, she had just met a beautiful and handsome prince.
Ling entered his bedroom and threw his bag onto the couch. He then collapsed on his bed and let out a long sigh.
"Something important, huh?" Ling thought about what he owned, and nothing really seemed to pop out. He was about to let it go and take a little nap when it suddenly hit him. He sat up straight and launched himself out of his bed. He went over to his closet and reached up to the back shelf. He pulled out a dusty old baseball cap. It was red with a tiger on it. He new it was a logo for something, but he wasn't sure for what. He leaned up against his closet door and smiled when he remembered the day he got this stupid thing.
"Hey guys, mind if i join you?" Ling asked. It was lunch time and he had carried his tray over to a table with a few guys sitting around it. He just arrived in the U.S. The other day. He had asked his dad if he could study abroad, and today was his first day of 7th grade in the new school.
The group of boys looked up to the new guy with a bored look.
"Sorry pal, but the table is full." One of the boys began. Ling looked on a little confused.
"But there are two empty seats?" He simply pointed out.
"Yeah, no were saving those seats for our friends." They continued. Ling looked a little down.
"Oh okay." He said slowly. As he began to walk away he could hear the boys snickering behind him. He looked around the cafeteria, but every time he tried to take a seat the kid next to it blocked it off or gave an excuse on why he couldn't sit there. Ling ended up sitting outside in a corner under a tree by himself. He tried not to let it get to him. It was just a stupid table after all. But it wasn't just the table. Everywhere he went in the school people would poke fun at him or tease him, and exclude him from anything and every thing they were doing. He ended up an outcast. No one would talk to him in the hall and every where he went he could hear the whispers in the hallway, hearing the word freak, loner, or worse oriental. Suddenly his idea of studying abroad didn't seem so great. He felt like he could just curl up in a ball and disappear, not that anyone would even notice he was gone. A week later he was getting his lunch and was about to head out to his regular spot in the tree corner. The suddenly his entire tray was slammed up in his face, and a whole lot of spaghetti and tomato sauce.
"Watch where you're going ping-pong." The bully laughed with his friends. "You almost got spaghetti all over my new kicks." The boy then got close up to his face.
"Why don't you do us all a favor and go back to China you freak." He whispered in a threatening tone. He then back off and left with his friends, laughing the entire time. Ling couldn't help the tears that began to form in his eyes. He quickly ran off too his corner where he sat, covered in spaghetti, and cried. He hated America. He hated this school. He just wanted to go back home where everything was safe and comforting.
"Why are you crying?" Ling looked up a little startled by the sudden voice. He was looking at a boy about his age. He had long blonde hair that was worn in a braid and he wore a red baseball cap with a tiger logo. Ling wasn't well versed enough with any American sports team to recognize it.
"Who are you?" Ling sniffed.
"You didn't answer my question." The boy stated as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "You're covered in food and you're sitting here crying like a baby. What happened?"
"These guys slammed my lunch tray in my face and said I was a freak." Ling replied, still sniffling a little. Maybe this guy was gonna help him out. He seemed to care enough to ask him what happened to him. Maybe he actually cared.
"So?" The boy asked, looking even more annoyed than he did before.
'Then again, maybe not.' Ling thought as he slouched back down and covered his face.
"So? So it's humiliating!" Ling started.
"Who cares!" The boy began. This kid was starting to make Ling feel even worse. Did the bullies just send him to torment him some more?
"Who are you?" The boy asked. Ling looked back up at him.
"What?"
"Who. Are. You?" The boy asked a little slower as if mocking him.
"Ling Yao." Ling said softly.
"Are you sure?" The boy asked, not seaming very convinced.
"Of course I'm sure. You don't think I know who I am?" Ling was starting to get a little irritated by now. Who was this kid, and why was he asking him stupid questions.
"Do you?" The boy continued, "Because it seems like you're letting other people tell you who you are. If you're so sure about who you are then why are you sitting here in a corner crying?" Ling just looked at the boy a little shocked. Was he trying to help him?
"Why don't you stop being such a baby and stand up for yourself? Is what they think really that important to you?" Ling didn't really know what to say, and he kind of just sat there staring at him. The boy rolled his eyes and grabbed Ling's arm. He pulled him up and began dragging him inside the school.
"Wait! Where are we going?" But the boy wouldn't answer. He just kept pulling Ling along with him through the school. Finally they stopped, and Ling froze up a little when he realized where they were. They were standing right by the bullies who were going through their lockers. The 'leader' turned to look at the two boys and smirked.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here boys. It's Ping-Pong, and look, he brought along his friend Mr. Short stacks." The blonde boy tensed up and glared daggers into the other kid, but he didn't make a move. He turned back to Ling.
"Well Ling. Isn't there something you wanna say to them?" The bully folded his arms and looked at Ling expectantly, hoping to hear his hilarious retort. Ling looked back and forth from each boy, trying to figure out what he wanted to do. What was he supposed to say? He didn't feel like getting pummeled and this kid was like half his size. No...No enough was enough. Ling stepped forward and began to speak.
"You can't pick on me anymore okay?" The bully almost burst into laughter, "I'm done being the victim. You can't hurt me anymore!" Ling finished. The bully couldn't hold it back anymore and burst into full on laughter, but Ling didn't stand down.
"Is that so?" The bully laughed. "Wanna bet?" He threaten. The blonde boy immediate notice the bully clench up his fist and reel back, and before the bully could make a move the boy was on him pinning him to the ground and wrestling around with him. Ling just stood there in shock as he watched the big burly bully take on the short blonde boy. It was almost amusing to watch them. Even though the blonde was smaller than the bully he put up one hell of a fight. Ling was so inspired by This kids chop's that he jumped right in and began fighting as well. The three boys fought and screamed until a teacher finally came and pulled them apart. The teacher was livid, and Ling now had a bruise around his eye, but he didn't care. He never felt more liberated in his life. He soon regretted it though when he was sitting next to the blonde boy waiting to be yelled at by the principal. The bully was in with the principal at the moment and Ling and the other boy were sitting outside his office waiting to go in.
"Aw man, were in so much trouble." Ling started.
"Yeah." The boy said nonchalant. The blonde boy was now bleeding from his nose and had a black eye as well, but he didn't really seem very fazed by it.
"Don't you care?" Ling asked. The boy looked over at Ling.
"You were alright today." He began, ignoring Ling's earlier question. "Considering I found you in a corner sobbing." The boy looked ahead of him. "I'm pretty used to this place." Before Ling could reply a blonde girl with blue eyes came running in. She spotted the boy and ran over to him.
"Oh my god!" She began in a worried tone, but it quickly changed into an angry one as she slapped him on the arm. "What is wrong with you?!"
"Ow!" The boy complained glaring at the girl.
"Can't you go one day with getting into trouble?!"
"Hey, they were talking all kinds of smack on me and my friend here!" The boy yelled back, but the rest of the conversation was mute to Ling as he heard the word friend. Was he really his friend. This kid seemed crazy and maybe even a little unstable, but no one had really taken the time to talk to him like he had. Ling couldn't help but smile.
"I have to go back to class, but you're crazy if you think we are done talking about this!" The girl yelled as she stormed out of the office.
"Who was that?" Ling asked. He then noticed the white handkerchief he was holding to his nose "Your girlfriend?" The boy blushed and turned back to Ling.
"No! Shes just a friend. A really annoying friend." Ling then returned to sitting in silence and staring at his feet. The boy looked over and noticed the black eye and laughed a little. He took of his cap and placed it on Ling's head. Ling looked up at the boy then at the hat then back at the boy.
"There," The boy smiled, "It'll cover that ugly black eye of yours." Before Ling could reply the door to the principals office opened. The bully walked out and glared at the two boys before leaving.
"Next." The principal began as he looked down at the two boys.
"Well." The began as he got up from the chair, "I guess that's me." He turned back to look at Ling. "Wish me luck."
"Wait!" Ling began. The boy turned back to him.
"What?"
"I didn't get your name." Ling said, realizing he didn't even know his friends name. The boy grinned.
"Edward Elric." He then disappear into the principals office. Ling leaned back in his chair and took the hat off his head. He held it in front of him, letting it rest in his lap and smiled.
"Edward Elric." He laughed, "What a weird kid."
As soon as she got home, Rose hurried up to her green room upstairs and started watering all of her plants. Rose was a huge green thumb. She loved flowers because they reminded her of her father, Seth Thomas. When she was a little girl her father and her would always go out during the spring time to the meadow past the city and White Wood Forest to pick wild flowers for the house. It had become a bit of a tradition with them.
Rose's father was a pilot in the air force and would often be gone for long periods of time. So any time Rose had with her father she cherished it deeply. However when she was 10 one of her father's fleets went down in the ocean and was never found. Search parties were sent out and they looked everywhere, but they always came back with nothing. The air force finally came to the conclusion that the fleet was gone for good and sent out soldiers to inform the families of their loved ones passing. Rose's mother was devastated and never completely got over what had happened. She had turned to drugs and alcohol and eventualy ended up in the state prison. She got out after 2 years, but she never came back to the house. She just left and Rose never saw her mother again after that. This is the reason why Rose has been living with her grandmother for the past 6 years.
Her green room is a big comfort to her. It reminds her of a time before her father died. A time before her family was destroyed. Rose let a single tear escape her eyes as she watered her tulips. She quickly brushed it away as she heard her grandmother calling for her. She put her watering can down and hurried downstairs. When she got downstairs she saw her Maria standing over her school bag (which had carelessly been thrown to the floor) with a stern look.
"Rosie, what have I told you about leaving your things on the floor?!" Rose cringed a little. Her grandmother was a very strict woman, but she had a kind and strong heart.
"Sorry Abuela." She quickly retrieved her bag and went to go back upstairs, but her grandmother stopped her.
"Not so fast Rosie!" Rose turned back to Marie, "Come into the kitchen, sit down, tell me about your day." Maria then headed towards the kitchen with Rose in tow. Rose hung her bag on the back of one of the chairs and sat down. Her grandmother pulled out a pitcher of her famous homemade horchata and began pouring it into two separate cups.
"Now tell me about your day." Marie began as she placed one cup in front of Rose and sat down across from her.
"Not much, although in my English class has been a little intense lately. We're not even half way through the semester and Miss Hawkeye is already talking about midterms." Rose then took a long gulp of horchata and sighed as she lowered it back onto the table. "And don't get me started on my gym class. Mrs. Curtis is working us to the bone! I'm still sore from last weeks drill." Rose rolled her shoulders a little to emphasize the pain.
"Come now Rosie," Maria began with a chuckle, "There must be something good happening at school, What about your friends?"
"Well, Winry actually got this idea to make a time capsule, so now we all have to think of something to put in it."
"A time capsule? Oh that sounds exciting! Have you thought about what you'll put in it?"
"Not really, but I'll think of something." However Rose wasn't being completely honest. She knew exactly what she wanted to put in that time capsule. Rose headed up to her room and opened her bedside table. She pulled out a jewelry box that was covered in an array of floral patterns. The latch that kept it shut was a red rose. She smiled as she opened up the box. There wasn't much in it, in fact there was only one set of earrings. Two pink rose earrings. She put the earrings on the table and closed the box. She smiled as she remembered the day she got one of the most precious things to her.
"Daddy, Daddy!" A 9 year old Rose ran across the glade to her father. She lifted up the bouquet of lilacs she had acquired and smiled brightly. "Look at these ones!"
"They're beautiful Rose." Her father smiled back. He was a lean man with black slicked back hair and soft violet eyes, just like his daughters.
"What are they called?!" She asked excitedly.
"Those are lilacs."
"I think they're my new favorite!" Rose's dad chuckles at his daughter.
"You say that about every new flower you find."
"Well that's because they're all my favorite."
"Can't you pick one that you like the best?"
"Of course not!" Rose frowned, "That would be like picking my favorite child, it wouldn't be fair to the other flowers."
"I see." Seth smiled. He looked up at the sky and saw the dark clouds move in closer. "Shall we head back?"
"Do we have to?" Rose looked at her dad with puppy dog eyes, but he was never one to be swayed so easily.
"Sorry sweetheart, beside if we're gone any longer your mother will start to worry."
"Alright." Rose sighed in defeat as they headed back to the car. It had started to rain on their way back and they both ran to the house as soon as they left the car to avoid getting drenched. Miranda, Rose's mother was in the kitchen when the two entered the house. She came into the hall with her apron still on and covered with flour. She was a beautiful young woman with tan skin and brown eyes. Her black hair was short as it only barley reached her shoulders and curled ever so slightly.
"Where have you two been?" She began, clearly not to happy at their late appearance. "I was beginning to worry with the rain coming down like this. Plus you said you would be home an hour ago!" Miranda was just as strict as her mother, Maria.
"Sorry dear, I guess we just lost track of time." Seth apologized.
"Look mom," Rose smiled as she lifted her bouquet of lilacs up to her mother, "I picked these for you." Miranda looked down at the purple flowers and melted a little.
"Oh sweetheart, they're beautiful." She smiled as she took them from her daughter. "I'll go put these in some water while you get out of those wet clothes.
"Are you making my birthday cake right now?!" Rose asked excitedly, just noticing the stains on her mother's apron. Miranda gave her daughter a knowing smirk.
"Yes, but you can't have any until your birthday tomorrow."
"Not even a taste?" The two parents laughed as their daughter put on a pouty face.
"Come on Rose. Let's go upstairs and get you into something dry." Her father then led her upstairs to her room. Rose quickly changed into a dry set of clothes and collapsed on her bed. There was a knock on her door and her father walked in. He smiled as he hid something behind his back.
"Hi sweetie, can I sit down." He asked as he walked up to her bed. She smiled and nodded her head as she sat up herself. Her father sat down next to her and pulled out the wrapped up present he had behind his back.
"Happy birthday." She grinned and quickly took the box from her dad.
"But it's not my birthday till tomorrow." She began, looking back at her dad.
"I know, but since I'm leaving first thing in the morning I wanted to give it to you now, in person." She frowned for a second, remembering that her dad had to leave tomorrow again for the air force, but she quickly brushed it off as she began to unwrap her present. It was a beautiful floral jewelry box that had a red rose for a latch.
"Oh daddy I love it!" She attacked her dad with the biggest bear hug she could give. There was another knock on the door as Miranda stepped into the room.
"Mommy, Mommy look at what daddy gave me?!" Rose exclaimed as her mother sat down on the bed next to her daughter.
"It's beautiful sweetheart." Her mother smiled softly. She then dug around in her pocket and fished out a smaller present.
"I thought since daddy gets to give you your present now, so should I." Rose smiled as she took the present from her mom and began unwrapping it. It was a small black box, and when she opened it there were two perfect little pink rose earrings.
"Wow!" Rose gasped.
"Now you have something to put in your brand new jewelry box." Here mother smiled. Rose smiled at her parents and kept thinking how lucky she was to have them.
"Happy tenth birthday." Her parents said as they both gave her a big hug. Little did she know that that was the last birthday she would spend with her parents.
Linda sighed as she flicked trough the channels on her T.V. She was so bored and couldn't think of anything to do.
"Uggh, there's nothing on!" She complained to herself. She finally turned off the T.V. And left her room. She went across the hall to her dad's study. She peeked through the door and saw her dad at his desk going through some papers. She snuck up behind him and jumped out to lean over his shoulder.
"Hi Daddy!" Van jumped a little at his daughter's sudden arrival
"Linda sweetie, you startled me."
"Watcha doin?" She asked all sweet like.
"Working, I'm sorry sweetie but I can't talk right now. I have a lot of work to do."
"But I'm bored!" Linda whined, trying to get her father to pay attention to her.
"Not now Linda I'm sorry. Why don't you go see what your brothers are up to?" Van said as he tried to focus on the paperwork in front of him. Linda sighed as she left the study. She climbed up the stairs the led to the boy's loft. She opened the glass door and found Alphonse on the floor by the piano with a bunch of folders and sheets of music scattered everywhere around him.
"What are you doing?" Linda asked. Al quickly looked up at his little sister and frowned.
"Why do you care?" He asked. His little sister was never one to take an interest in what he or Ed was doing. Unless it caused them pain or humiliation in any way. She was quiet the trickster and it's earned her the nickname of weasel from her brothers.
"I don't, but I'm bored so..." Al ignored her an kept looking through the mess of sheet music.
"What are you looking for?" She continued, not giving in.
"Sheet music." Al simply said, not taking his eyes of the mess.
"There is sheet music all around you." Linda smiled as she stated the obvious. Al rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I'm looking for a specific one."
"Which one?"
"The first one I wrote."
"Why?" Al dropped the papers he was holding in his hands and looked at her.
"You sure are asking a lot of questions today." He sighed. It was then that Edward came out of his bedroom and saw the two sitting on the floor. His eyes immediately went to the eleven year old girl.
"What are you doing here weasel?" He glared at her. She of course glared back at him.
"Relax, I'm helping." She started as she held up the papers in her hands
"Helping what?" Ed turned to his brother, and the mess on the floor, "What are you doing?" Al still hadn't taken his eyes of the piles of papers.
"He's looking for the first song he wrote." Linda answered. Ed looked back at Linda, who was now rifling through the papers as well. Ed turned back to Al.
"What for?"
"It's to put in Winry's time capsule." Al said, still not looking up.
"Found it!" Linda smiled as she held up the sheet music. Al looked up and quickly leaned over and snatched the papers from her. He scanned them to make sure they were the right ones and smiled when he recognized them.
"You're welcome." Linda pouted as she folded her arms. Alphonse then looked up at Ed.
"What about you?" He asked, "Have you thought about what you're putting in?" Al then began to gather up the rest of his sheet music so that he could put it away, silently reminding himself to organize it when he had the time.
"Not really." Ed replied with a bored kind of tone.
"You should really start thinking about it."
"Why? This whole thing is stupid if you ask me."
"Oh Come on brother. Winry is really excited about it, the least you could do is find one thing." Ed stared off into space pretending to be trying to come up with something.
"Uhhh...Nope, can't think of anything." Alphonse sighed and rolled his eyes at his brother.
"Why the sheet music?" Ed asked. Al looked back up at his brother and smiled.
"You don't remember?" Ed continued to stare at him in confusion. Al chuckled as he flashed back to his last year at grade school.
Alphonse groaned in his chair backstage. It was the end of the year recital and Edward had talked Alphonse into singing a song. Al loved music, and he was very good at it. He could play over 12 different instruments and whenever a song came on the radio he always enjoyed singing along. His parents had always told him that he had a wonderful voice, but he had never sung in front of anyone but his family before and even then he preferred to sing in private, but somehow his brother had convinced him to do a number for the end of the year recital. Alphonse immediately regretted the decision as he began to feel queasy in his stomach. In just one minute he would have to go out on stage in front of the whole school and preform live. Everyone would be staring and judging him. He thought about just getting up and running out the door back to the house, but he'd rather not be remembered as a cowered. Then the moment he was dreading. The principal came out and announced his name.
He slowly rose from his seat. He closed his eyes as he walked on stage. He stopped but felt the principal move him to the center of the stage where the microphone was. He could here the principal's foot steps as he walked off the stage. Al heard the music begin to play and finally opened his eyes. He froze as he saw the entire gymnasium filled with people. People all looking at him. They looked confused and that's when Al realized he wasn't singing as the music played. He could feel his stomach churn. He opened his mouth to sing but instead of words chunks of vomit came out as he began to throw up on stage. Everyone gasped and the principal ran back out on the stage to Al. Al began to feel dizzy as he looked back up at the crowd. Everyone was looking right at him and once again he began to feel the bile rising up in his throat, and once again he began to vomit on the stage. The principal quickly tried to lead Alphonse off the stage, but Al began to feel more and more light headed by the second and soon enough everything went black.
It was now 7:30pm at the Elric household and Alphonse was curled up in his bed in tears. His mother was sitting on the side of the bed trying to console him.
"Oh sweetheart, it wasn't that bad was it?" Trisha began as she stroked his arm back and forth in an effort to make him feel better.
"Not that bad?!" Alphonse cried, "I threw up in front of the whole school twice and then passed out!" He pulled his sheets over his head. "It was the most humiliating moment of my life! I'm never going back out on a stage ever again!" Trisha sighed as her son continued to cry into his pillow. There was a knock on the door as Van came into the room. He was holding a glass of ginger ale. He moved around the bed to stand by his wife.
"I brought you some ginger ale Al. You should really drink something." He said softly as Al peeked his head out from under his blanket. He sniffled as he rose a little to accept the glass his dad had brought him. He took a small sip and coughed a little. He looked down at the glass for a second before bringing it back to his lips where he drank the whole glass. He sighed and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his PJ shirt.
"Wow, looks like you were pretty thirsty huh?" Van chuckled slightly. Alphonse just handed the glass back to his dad and cuddled back into his bed.
"You sure you're not hungry sweetheart." Trisha began as she pulled back a stray hair from Al's face and tucked it back behind his ear. Al shook his head.
"No, I just wanna go to sleep now." He whispered.
"Alright sweetheart, you get some rest." Trisha said as she gave him a peck on the forehead and rose of the bed.
"Goodnight champ, feel better." His dad said as he as well leaned forward to give him a small kiss on his forehead. The two parents then turned off the lights and left the room. Al closed his eyes and tried to forget the whole thing had even happened. It was now 8:45pm, and Al was about to drift off to sleep when he felt someone jump onto his bed. He turned around to see his brother sitting on the other side.
"Brother?"
"How you doin?" Ed asked as he hugged one of Al's pillows.
"How do you think?" Alphonse replied with a touch of scorn in his voice.
"Oh come on, it's not the end of the world, is it?"
"are you kidding me! I've never been more humiliated in my life!" AL cried as he threw his face into his pillow. "I knew it was gonna happen to, I could feel it in my stomach before I even went on the stage." He mumbled trough his pillow
"Then why did you even go out there in the first place?"Al rose from his spot on the bed to glare at his brother.
"Because you told me to!"
"And you listened to me?!" Ed laughed, trying to ease the tension.
"This isn't funny Ed!" Al started as he laid back down, pulling his blanket up to his nose. "The worst part," He began in a whisper, "Is that I love music, but now I'm never going to be able to preform in front of anyone." Ed had never seen his brother so broken hearted. He had no idea what to do. Then it suddenly hit him.
"What if you wrote songs?" Ed said. Al looked up at him a little surprised.
"What?"
"What if you just wrote the songs instead of singing them?" That way no one would be looking at you, but you could still share your talent with other people." Ed just looked at his brother, waiting for a response.
"Writing?" Al thought about it for a second, "Yeah, yeah I guess I could do that."
"Sure you can!" Ed exclaimed. Al gave his brother a big smile, and the next day Alphonse spent the entire day on his piano writing the first song of many to come. He didn't need to be on a stage in front of a crowd. He didn't need the attention, in fact he liked it better this way. His music is his passion and this song marked the beginning of Al's dream to one day become an amazing composer.
Alphonse smiled at the sheet music.
"Oh yeah, The famous debacle of 2010." Ed chuckled. Al stopped smiling and glared at his brother.
"That's not funny. It was humiliating."
"Oh come on Al, it was three years ago. Let it go." Al didn't respond as he finished putting his sheet music away in the piano stool.
"Yeah well at least I have something unlike somebody." Al started, "Winry is not gonna be happy with you."
"Yeah yeah, I'll think of something." Ed grumbled. Linda laughed as she stood up.
"Oh please, like you have anything of value."
"Shut up weasel!" Ed barked.
"Face it Ed, You're not exactly the sentimental type." She then turned on her heels and went downstairs.
"Sometimes I just wanna wring her scrawny little neck!"
"She's not completely wrong you know?" Al smirked. Ed glared at him.
"I'll find something! I swear I will!" And with that Ed stormed back to his room. He rummaged through his room looking for anything that he could use, but nothing seemed good enough. Finally he just collapsed on his bed in defeat. Maybe they were right. He was never really one to hold on to things like Alphonse or Winry or any of his other friends. He turned his head and that's when he notice his school bag. Something hanging from one of the handles. He flew out of his bed and picked up his bag. He placed it on his bed as he sat back down. He unhooked the handle and held the bracelet that had been hanging from the handle in his hand.
"See," He said to himself, "I can be sentimental sometimes."
Edward ran down the court dribbling the ball as he went. It was basketball practice and the team was getting ready for the Play Offs. Ed was a rookie, The first freshmen on the team. It was a surprise to everyone, especially when you consider his height, but Edward had passion and drive, and he practiced more than anyone else. He was definitely one of the best players on the team. He maneuvered through the other team members and he was about to take the shot. He got ready to jump when he suddenly felt an intense amount of pain run up his right leg. He fell to the ground and cried out in pain. His teammates all crowded around him asking if he was okay. Coach Armstrong pushed her way past the boys and knelt down next to him.
"Edward, what happened? Where does it hurt?" She was clam and collected, just like always. No one had a cooler head than Coach Armstrong, Although if anyone got on her bad side they'd better be prepared to face hell.
"My leg!" Ed cried trough gritted teeth.
"Artie, Corey! Take him to the nurses office now!" Two of the other players picked Ed up and carried him to the nurses office. They then quickly headed back to practice.
Edward lay down on one of the beds groaning in pain. The school nurse, Rebecca Catalina, felt around his leg.
"Now tell me what happened?" She asked.
"I don't know. I went to take the shot and then there was this pain in my leg." Ed groaned. Rebecca ran her hand near his ankle and he cried out.
"OW!" She immediately retracted her hand.
"Well I can't say conclusively, but it seams that your achilles tendon has snapped." She stated as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"What's that mean?" He asked.
"Well you definitely won't be walking on that leg anytime soon." She chuckled.
"What?!" Ed exclaimed as he sat up on the bed. "But what about the Play Offs?! It's this weekend!"
"Sorry kid, but there is no way you're playing in that game."
Edward could not have been more miserable. His parents had to take him to the hospital to get surgery and now he was sitting on the couch in the loft with a cast on his leg pouting while watching a basketball game. It was Friday afternoon and right now the Play Offs was just about to start, and here he was sitting alone at home. He was the first freshman to make the team and this was gonna be his staring moment. His first play Off Game and he wasn't even gonna be a part of it. He grabbed one of the couch pillows and screamed right into it.
"What are you doing?!" He turned his head to find Winry standing by the glass door. She had a bag full of things, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. She stormed over to the couch grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
"Hey I was watching that!" Ed barked.
"Why?! It's only gonna make you more depressed." She stated. Ed pouted as he hugged the pillow to his chest.
"What are you doing here anyways?" He mumbled.
"Believe it or not, I'm actually here to cheer you up." She smiled. Ed blushed slightly as she sat herself next to him on the couch. She put the bag on the floor and pulled out a bottle of mountain dew.
"Your favorite," She smiled, "Code Red Mountain Dew, and..." She pulled out a bag of beef jerky, "teriyaki Beef Jerky!"
"Thanks." He said as he put the pillow aside and took the food. Winry frowned.
"Oh come on Ed. I know you're bummed about missing the game, but you gotta try and cheer up."
"I know, it just really really sucks! I mean I've been looking forward to this game ever since the season started!"
"Well I brought some stuff for us to do." She smiled, trying to change the subject. "I brought card games, video games..."
"What's that?" Ed asked, pointing to the brown wooden box in the bag. Winry looked a little surprised to see it.
"Oh whoops, I guess I must have accidentally packed it with the other stuff." She laughed.
"Well what is it?"
"Oh it's nothing, really you wouldn't like it."
"Show me." Ed was stubborn and curious. Which of course was no surprise to Winry. She sighed as she pulled the box out of the bag.
"Alright." She placed it on the coffee table and opened it. Inside was an array of different colored strings. "It's a bracelet kit." She said. Ed just stared at it. Winry went back to her bag.
"Anyways, like I said I have tons of different games that we can..."
"I wanna make bracelets." Ed stated. Winry looked back at him a little surprised.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah, teach me." Ed said looking back at her. This time it was Winry's turn to blush as Ed looked right into her eyes. She quickly looked down at the box.
"Um Okay, well there are a ton of different ways to do it. You just weave the strings together into a pattern." Winry then pulled out a little handbook with all the different kind of patterns in it. The two of them ended up spending the entire night weaving bracelets. Winry making a few good ones and Ed screwing up every single one he tried to make. They laughed and yelled a little, and as the night went on Edward completely forgot about the game as he was having fun with his best friend. Edward wasn't able to make a single good bracelet the entire time she was there.
"It's almost 6:00, I should head home." Winry started.
"Wait you can't leave yet I don't have a good bracelet yet! You have to help me make a good one!" Winry laughed at the piles of ruined bands around Ed. She sat back down on the couch.
"Here," She began as she dug through her pocket. "You can have one of mine." She smiled as she gave it to him. "It's your favorite colors too, see? Red, black and white."
"Really?" Ed asked as he looked back up at her.
"It's all yours." Ed blushed again as he put the bracelet on around his wrist
"Thanks." He smiled at her and she just sat there staring at him. After a minute she noticed that she was staring and quickly looked away.
"Uh well I should be going." She said as she packed up the bracelet kit and stood up with her bag.
"Right." Ed said as he watched her walk towards the glass doors. "Hey Winry?" Winry turned back to Ed who was leaning over the couch smiling at her. "Thanks, for cheering me up." Winry smiled
"Hey, what are friends for?" She then headed down the stairs to go home. Ed turned back around and played with the bracelet on his wrist and smiled. Guess missing the Play Offs wasn't the worst thing in the world after all.
Winry laid on her bed with her legs propped up by a pillow and a notebook in her hand, trying to figure out what to put in the time capsule. Nothing she thought of was good enough though. She wanted it to be something special. There was a knock on her door and she turned to see her mother poking her head into her room.
"Sweetie there's dinner downstairs if you're hungry."
"Not now mom, maybe later." Winry said as she turned back to her blank notebook. Sara opened the door all the way and came in and sat next to her daughter on her bed.
"Homework?" She asked. Winry looked back at her and sighed. She dropped her notebook on her lap and sat up to sit on the edge of the bed.
"No, I'm trying to figure out what to put in the time capsule, but nothing I can come up with is good enough." Sara gave a slight smile.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"What did you put in yours?" Winry asked as she looked back at her mom.
"You know what?" Sara began as she stared off into space, "I can't remember what I put in, but I know it was something special to me."
"Great, thanks for the help." Winry said sarcastically. Sara laughed as she put an arm around her daughter.
"Oh sweetheart it doesn't matter what I put in. You need to find something that's special to you. Something that you can look back on in 20 years and still smile."
"That." Winry began, "Is one of the cheesiest things I have ever heard you say." Winry laughed. Sara moved to face Winry directly on her bed.
"Alright let's think for a minute. What is the most important thing to you?" Winry thought about it for a moment. There were so many things that she loved in her life. Her family her friends her passions and dreams.
"I don't know, there's to much to choose from."
"Alright then, right now at this very moment what are you thinking of? Go!"
"My friends?" Winry quickly replied. She then smiled, "My friends."
"Do you have anything that represents that friendship?" Sara asked gesturing around her room.
"Actually I think I have the perfect thing!" Winry jumped off her bed and went to her desk drawer. She pulled out a photo and came back to the bed.
"This." She smiled, "This is perfect."
Everyone was gathered around the time capsule as it was lowered into the ground. Rose turned to her friends and smiled.
"So," She began, "What did you guys put in?" Nobody saw what anybody put into the capsule. It was all dropped into a bag that was tied up and placed inside.
"Isn't that supposed to be a secret?" May replied.
"I know what Al put in." Ed grinned.
"Hey, I'm actually surprised you found something." Al retorted.
"Hey come on guys!" Ling interrupted with a smile, "Let's not spoil the surprise."
"20 years to find out what you guys put in." Rose whistled. "That's a long time." Winry watched her friends as she remembered the picture she put in the capsule. A picture of all of her friends smiling and laughing at a picnic in the park. The friendship she shared with each and everyone of these guys was more precious the her than anything in the world, and she new that it was something that would last an eternity. Easily 20 years.
"Come on guys!" She called out, and her friends turned back to her, "I'm starved let's go get something to eat!"