A/N: I was having trouble writing this chapter at first because I had a very vague idea of what I wanted for it. Then suddenly I just started typing and couldn't stop. It was starting to be a super-long chapter so I tapered off and split it into two. Sorry for this late update, and to make up for it, I'll update tomorrow, if all goes well.


"Sorry, we don't rent to high school students. Go back and live with your parents." Edward Elric had a door slam in his face for the third time that day, after the owner had said the same thing as the other two.

"Bastard," he said through clenched teeth, and turned away to walk home. "Why is it that I can't find a single damn place that I can rent out for a while? I had my own place before, and they just won't fucking listen…" he trailed off with a defeated sigh before shoving his hands—gloved, of course—into his pockets and walking with his shoulders hunched sadly. "'Go back and live with your parents'? I don't have any parents, and I haven't for a long time." He kicked a rock across the street miserably.

"Are you going out again, Edward?" Nell Quick—the girl he'd been staying with—said, peeking up from behind her book.

"Yeah." He pulled on his coat and headed for the door.

"Then would you mind picking up some milk and eggs on your way back? We're all out." Nell slipped him a bill and sent him out the door. Ed wasn't used to the way she said "we're out" and referred to the house as his home as well. It was just too…sudden. He supposed she was doing it to make him feel welcome, but he'd only been there for a day and a half.

Nevertheless, he'd been asked to pick up eggs and milk, so he would. His fingers brushed against the bill in his pocket and he wondered whether he could spend her money like that when he had some of his own. He honestly thought he should be paying her rent or something for allowing him to stay.

Even after she knew what he was, and the Fuhrer's plan to perfect the country. She could get into trouble for harboring him should anyone else find out.

"Damn Fuhrer. I knew there was a reason I detested him." Ed's face soured just thinking about the man; eye patch, mustache, always looking so damn happy when he was making others miserable… the world—or at least Amestris—would be a much better place without the corruption.

Edward clenched his metal hand inside his pocket, balling it into a fist, damning his own stupidity, and the accident, and his scars; not just the physical ones, but the ones etched into his mind. Emotional scares never really heal, and watching your brother die in front of you could definitely be considered emotionally scarring.

How could he ever ask for his brother's forgiveness after what had happened?

-- --

"I'm back," Ed called wearily as he kicked off his shoes in the doorway.

"Any luck?" Nell said, coming from around the corner to greet him. He shook his head sadly and handed her the bag.

"No one wants to rent out to a high school kid. I'm amazed I found my other place." He hung his coat up on the rack. It hadn't rained that day, but it was becoming a habit. "And I have school tomorrow, so I can't look. "I'm afraid I'll have to be an imposition a bit longer," he said apologetically. She smiled.

"It's fine. I've told you before, you're welcome here." She turned back and walked in her graceful gait back to her seat in the living room.

"Thank you." He'd said it too low for her to hear, though she knew he'd said it all the same. She'd picked up her book and gone back to reading, but he could see the smile on her face.

-- --

Ed retired to his room, exhausted and disappointed. He'd only come here Friday, and here it was Sunday and they already acted like friends. There was just something about there that you almost couldn't help but like, even if it was only a minute degree. But as soon as he was away from her, he remembered; she knew his secret.

She knew, and she could tell at any given moment, putting him—and possibly her—in danger. The way the government was run was corrupt and disgusting, people like Ed—people who weren't outwardly perfect—were shipped from the country, and sometimes killed if necessary.

As the blond boy stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling, he thought, as was his mind's usual occupation. Mostly, he looked back on the weekend, specific fragments running through his mind.

"So, Edward—"

"Ed is fine. That's what everyone else calls me."

" Alright, Ed, why were you kicked out of your apartment?" They were doing the dishes. Ed decided to help so he wouldn't just be a burden on his host. She washed, he dried, and while he'd been silent, she decided to start a conversation, possibly in hopes of becoming friends.

"I got kicked out."

"Really? Why?"

"I couldn't pay the rent."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I hadn't paid for a few months so he kicked me out."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine." Nell handed Ed another cup to dry. "You've been more than hospitable, after the way I treated you," his voice dropped sadly, like he was frustrated with himself.

"It's no big deal. I mean, I was the one who looked in your window. It's not entirely your fault." She scrubbed the plates in silence. Just when Ed thought that was the end of the conversation, she said something else. As she rinsed out the sponge and shut off the water, she inspected her hands, wrinkled and pruned from the soak. She didn't look up. "Well," her voice was barely more than a whisper, almost as if she was speaking to herself. "I'm glad you trusted me."

Edward didn't respond; he just put the plates in the drying rack (he didn't know where anything went) and went back to his room. She went back to hers.

That was what he considered to be a moment of…friendship? He rolled onto his side.

"I just don't know anymore, Al." And with that, he slowly fell asleep, thinking of dishes and soap.

-- --

In the morning, Ed woke to the smell of what he assumed to be breakfast. Sniffing the air he recognized bacon—one of his favorites—and eggs; traditional, easy, and quick. He got up and walked to the bathroom to wash his face and comb his hair. As he walked back to the room, still in his clothes from the previous day; what he had worn to bed, he quickly and easily braided his hair back.

His school uniforms were in the top drawer, he discovered, and threw one on, buttoning the front quickly and leaving the outer jacket undone, both untucked. He grabbed his school bag after finding it shoved half under the bed and rushed into the kitchen. Breakfast was waiting for him on a plate, and his "house-mate" sat down, already eating.

She was dressed as well. Her school uniform was different, which was a huge relief. He didn't know what to do if she went to the same school and someone found out about their current "living arrangements". He'd already decided to keep it a secret, and not having her there made it that much easier.

He wasn't looking forward to school. He'd been so busy looking for a new apartment he'd neglected his homework, and now tried to finish it hurriedly as he shoveled food into his mouth with his other hand.

Explain why this is a paradox:

This sentence is a lie.

Ed stared at it blankly. "WHAT?!" English wasn't his strong point, science was. He sighed and looked for an answer that seemed at least semi plausible, not noticing that Nell had taken care of the plates and gone to brush her teeth. She came back a few minutes later to find him still working on the same problem; seemingly the only one he had left.

"Need help?" she asked. He'd been clutching his hair in frustration, causing his eyes to tear up. He nodded desperately. "Let's go, I'll help you on the bus." The two got up and left, locking the house behind them. Something fell from Ed's hand while he was staring at the paper in front of him. "Ed. Ed. Hey, Ed!" He turned and Nell held out one of his gloves to him.

"Thanks."

"No prob." They stared walking quickly; they were already late.

"Where do you go to school? It can't be Gates Hill."

"Mm-mm. I go to Rosemont. It's the other way from the bus stop. When you go left, I take a right." Rosemont; his school's rival in everything but academics. In that field, they had Gates Hill beat. "So, read me the question."

"Right. I'm supposed to explain how this is a paradox."

"What's the sentence?" They arrived at the bus stop a few minutes early and the other students who usually rode that bus hadn't yet gotten there either. They sat on the bench.

"'This sentence is a lie'." Nell giggled and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Ah, the liar paradox. This one was one of my favorites to learn about because everyone else struggled. You could also say 'Is the answer to this question no?' The point being no matter what you say, the answer is wrong. And once you realize it's wrong, it's right."

"Wut…?"

"Okay, think of it this way. 'Is the answer to this question no?'"

"No."

"Then it is?"

"No, it's not. The answer's yes."

"So it's not?"

"Okay, I'm even more confused now…" He held his head. It was too early for this.

"It's a trick. If you answer with 'yes' then it's not, but if you answer with 'no' then it is. You can never be right. Therefore, it's the 'liar paradox'." The bus came to a stop in front of them and they climbed aboard, swiping their bus passes and heading to the free seats in the back.

"But how does that help me with this one? It's not the same sentence."

"Well in that case, 'This sentence is a lie' is a lie; therefore saying it's a lie makes it true. But, if you say it's the truth, then you're lying."

"Got it…" Ed lied. He was sure, though, that if he applied himself to the information he'd already been given, he would get it. Later, though. He was too tired. Nell laughed again as he yawned.

"Not a morning person?"

"Not in the slightest. And it's only worse that I have to go through another class of these." He chuckled despite the terror he felt. He only hoped he wouldn't need to explain any of the others, since the homework was to learn about one…

"I can help you again if you need it."

"You've done enough. I should rely on my own brain, but when that one dies, I'll come crawling back." They shared a quiet laugh. The bus rolled to a stop to pick up another group of kids. Normally, Ed didn't take the bus. Normally he walked, and on the few occasions that he did ride the bus to school, he didn't go looking for anyone in particular that he knew. H rarely even looked up from whatever book or newspaper he was reading. But that day, something tugged at his mind to look up, and boarding the bus was none other than Roy Mustang.

"Shit," he whispered.

"What?" Nell asked, trying to follow his eyes to see what he was looking at. "Him? Is he bad?"

"Um…in a way…"

"Edward Elric!" Roy said in amazement. "What a rarity to see you on the bus! And look! A girl that you haven't rejected yet! Wow, maybe she's the reason you rejected the others?"

"W-what? NO!" Ed's face became impossibly red and he tried to be absorbed into the seat, or fall through the floor to become nothing more than a stain on the road. No such luck.

"You must introduce us." Ed sighed in compliance.

"Mustang, this is Nell Quick, Nell, this is Roy Mustang, but I just call him 'Bastard' most of the time." Ed proceeded to push his fingers into the pressure points between his brows. Roy gave him a headache, it was clear.

Roy—ever the womanizer—took a seat next to Nell and grabbed her hand, holding it gingerly in his. Normally he wouldn't have gone for someone from another school—even though that meant they didn't know his reputation—but he'd been on an unlucky streak lately.

"So, Miss Nell, how'd you like to honor me with a date?" He winked at her and flashed what was known as his "winning smile", which was known to never miss.

"Bastard! Leave her alone!" Ed said before sinking back into his seat, knowing he could never stop Roy and his hormones.

"No." Nell said in reply, and whipped her hand out of Roy's grasp to let it rest on her lap once more. She turned back to Edward. "The stop's almost here." He pulled himself from his reverie and packed his things.

"Let's go." They got off.

This was the part of the road where they split. Edward sighed. So much for his plan of "keeping the relationship with Nell a secret". Ha. Relationship. He'd known her for a few days there was no relationship. But still, that didn't stop him from saying goodbye and waving as she turned to the right and He and Roy headed left. It didn't stop him from watching Roy look over his shoulder to watch her walk away.

Maybe there was more than nothing between them.

His thoughts were interrupted by Roy. "So, what's the deal with her?"

"What? Nothing! I told you!"

"Sure didn't look like nothing."

"Well, what did it look like then?"

"Fliiiiiiirting."

"That's coming from the horniest, most hormonally corrupt womanizing mind in our school."

"Normal people would say that as well. Come on, Ed, you can't fool me. I see your cheeks turning red."

"Because you're a horn-ball, that's why. You're radiating creepy old-man waves and it's freaking me out."

"Ha. I am not." He decided to drop the subject anyway, and walked quietly, pretending to be air-headed, while really formulating a plan. "Oh, by the way, did you do the English homework?"

"Yes, why?"

"I didn't. Let me copy."

"What? Hell no! Do it yourself!" Ed took off running and Roy tried to keep up, laughing all the way. His insides were on fire.

He'd decided that he would discreetly follow Edward home on the bus that afternoon ad find out just what was going on between him and the girl he was with. Oh-ho, Roy thought himself rather sly for it as well. His plan was perfect. No one would even know he was there.

His inner self couldn't wait for the day to be over and done with.


A/N: I didn't notice until after I wrote it that it sounded a little flirty between Ed and Nell. Just keep in mind that Nell is a weird girl. And she just wants a friend. -sniffle- Lol. Anyway, please wait for the next chapter and I hope you won't be disappointed. Despite what it might look like, the plot has progressed.