I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
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Chapter 4
I found myself alone at times. Even at times when there were people all around. This usually happened during briefings and in the lunch hall. When I wasn't alone, then I was in my brother's, ahem – Roy's, ahem – the Colonel's office. Most of the time I was in there, I had no clue why. It was either from running into another person, usually one that could A) cause pain to me alchemically or, B) hurt me in some other way, involving a gun or this job, mostly. If you would call it a job. Walking around carrying paperwork for my older brother, who rarely does it, at least during office hours, isn't exactly what I would like to call a nine to five. Some days it was an eight to three, seven to six, ten to twelve (guess which twelve I'm referring to), or whenever Roy decided he wanted to drag his sometimes sorry ass out of here after finally realizing that he had something to do.
Another reason I found myself in the colonel's office was because of my attempt (insert smug, annoying 'ahem' from Roy here), many attempts at becoming a state certified alchemist. For whatever reason, he is so against it. Seriously, I could write like, six pages front AND back in my journal on how crappy/angry/blah it makes me feel. That would be if I kept a journal... Why was he so opposed to me doing something that he does everyday? For such a highly regarded state alchemist, he sure sits on his ass a lot. That's a job I could actually get used to. The pay is good, and there are benefits. What could be so bad about a job like that? He doesn't even let me hold his pocketwatch, thinking I would get attached or some other crap like that. It's not a BABY, and I didn't give birth to it so how am I going to get attached to it. Namaste... See? I could go off on a limb on this subject alone. I just don't understand why my own brother doesn't want me to do something with my life. It can't be that bad working with me, can it?
Whenever I wasn't alone, I was actually with Alphonse. His high octave of a voice for a boy of fifteen going on sixteen was strangely calming. Especially when I thought of my certification and all of the crap surrounding it. He sometimes tells me stories about he and his brother. Their crazy adventures all around the state. To Lior, the east, south and even the west. I'd love to travel like that, and all the people they've probably met? Wow, that would be so great. I envied this boy I didn't even know. Just a day in his shoes seems like it would be the greatest day in my past, present and future. In the history of, forever. My pushy side almost begged him to take me with them on their next adventure, but my humility and the nagging sound of Roy in my ear allowed me to refrain myself. But, how I yearned to do it.
His brother, of course, is a state alchemist. And get this, he got his certification at twelve. Four years ago, and that would make him sixteen now. As if I weren't already in deep, deep envy of this kid. I'm seventeen, and I've failed three times. And on testing probation for a month. First time you fail, you can take it in a week, then two, and then a month. My month's up in a couple of days, but I'm going to wait a little longer, to make sure I am absolutely ready. Al says maybe he can get his brother to help me, but he's a little stubborn. And sometimes anti-social, "especially with girls as pretty as you" he told me on a day I looked like crap. A pony would shoot itself in the hoof if its tail looked like that. For someone in a suit of aluminum armor, his heart must be made of gold. I wonder what he looks like on the inside of that armor, but I don't know him well enough to pry into his business, so I just drop it.
Drop it like they dropped me.
I really do need his help.
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[KairosXXX3]