Thanks to everyone for reviewing for reviewing! I love you all and your reviews make writing and posting each chapter worth all the effort ^_^ Hope you enjoy this chapter and review more!

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA… sad for me lol

Title: A New College Life

Pairing: Roy x Ed

Summary: Ed leaves his family in Risembol to enter a college in Central City where he learns to become a science major. While in Central City he meets his new friends and starts something new. Unfortunately, with new friends comes new feelings and some things are sometimes best hidden from families.

Info: AU. Ed has real limbs. Everyone in here is in their twenty's for ages. Trisha is still alive in this story and their dad left when they were younger.

Chapter Six

The next week flew by for Ed, he spent most of his time working at the garage with hopes to save up enough money for the books he'd need for class. This left very little time to relax at home or spend any time with his friends; especially Roy, who would show up randomly at his job to have lunch with him. Despite not being completely aware of what being in a relationship was like, he enjoyed Roy's company when his other friends were busy and couldn't hang out. After work, he spent his time speaking with his brother on the phone but he had yet to mention anything about a relationship because, in all honesty, he wasn't quite sure what it was between him and Roy yet. His boss at work had noticed that Roy was coming around at lunchtime and would pick on him, causing a light blush to cover his face whenever he did so. Ed tried his best to stay busy and out of the sight of his boss but there were some times when that just didn't work out in his best interest.

When Friday rolled around, he was excited and exhausted at the same time. It was his day off and he had every intention of staying in bed and sleeping his day away but of course no one was about to let that happen. Not long after his morning alarm clock woke him up, his cell rang.

"Hello," he said, his voice filled with sleep as he pushed himself out of bed.

Hello, brother. Alphonse cheery voice sounded on the other end.

"Are you always this happy in the morning," he asked as he ran his hand through his hair.

Just to bug you. How are you doing?

"Fine, today's my first day off in a while," Ed replied as he made his way out to sit on the couch. "I had planned on staying in bed all day but you and the alarm clock woke me up."

Alphonse laughed. You can't sleep away your day, brother. Don't you have friends or someone to hang out with?

"I don't know if the guys are busy or not," he stated as he leaned his head back onto the back of the couch. "Roy works this morning so I can't even spend time with him yet."

Roy? Who is Roy?

Crap. Ed thought to himself, realizing what he had done. "Um, just a friend, that's all."

If he was just a friend, brother, you wouldn't have singled him out from your other friends.

"You know what Al," Ed stammered, "I just remembered that I have to do something. I'll call you later, love you." He quickly hung up the phone, feeling bad for doing that to his brother but right now he really didn't want to talk to his family about Roy because he wasn't quite sure what to call it yet.

With a loud sigh, he pushed himself up off the couch and placed his phone of the coffee table before moving into the bathroom for a shower. After stripping and stepping in under the hot water, he ran his hands through his hair. The hot water flowing over his body was relaxing and the steam helped clear his head. What am I supposed to tell Al and mom? I don't know what Roy and I are; I don't know how to explain it. We spend time together and not just how I would hang out with Jean or the others. Grumbling, he squeezed shampoo in his hands and began to wash his hair. Maybe I'll introduce them when they come out to visit in a few weeks before school starts. His shower was meant to be relaxing but it seemed like this one was nothing but confusing. His mind was confused about Roy and what to really say to his family.

He stepped out of the shower and quickly dressed when he heard a loud rap against his door. As he dried his hair with a towel, he moved to the living room and opened the front door. He was quite surprised at the people who stood outside his door, greeting him with smiles and waves.

"Good morning, Ed," Jean stated as he moved passed him and into the small apartment.

"Morning, Edo," Maes cheered as he too entered.

Ed looked out into the hallway, slightly expecting the other two to show up.

"Breda and Alex are busy getting stuff ready," Jean said when he saw where Ed was looking. "They'll be there later."

"Ready? Ready for what?" He questioned, slightly worried about what kind of answer that he was going to get.

"Roy's birthday party," Maes answered, taking a seat on the couch. "We've come to collect you to help get things ready and make sure that you get him a gift."

Ed placed the towel he had been using on the kitchen counter and picked up the comb off the end table next to the couch to run through his hair. All the while, he was giving both Jean and Maes skeptical looks.

"Why do I need to help and get him a gift?"

"We've all bought him something," Jean explained, staring at him. "You're his friend so you should get him something."

"Yeah, well," Ed stammered, shaking his head. "I don't know what I'd get for him."

"You could get him a book," Maes suggested. "He likes reading in his free time when he gets it. There's a book down at the bookstore that I've seen him looking at."

Ed thought about it for a moment. A book wouldn't be too bad of a gift seeing how they just started whatever they were doing. He wasn't even sure if Maes knew about what they said to each other the other night nor was he sure if the other guys knew about anything.

"Yea, sure," he replied, smiling a bit. "That sounds fine but I still don't understand why you're here so early."

"Because we didn't want you to run off and see Roy before any of us," Maes teased him as he stood. "Besides, now that you know about the party you can't go and see him. He doesn't know about the party and we don't want you to tell him anything."

Ed sent Maes a glare before sighed and running his hand over his eyes. "Fine, just give me a moment," he sighed before moving to pull his hair back away from his face into the same ponytail he's been wearing it in. He moved into his bedroom, grabbed the jacket that was hung on the back of his computer chair then returned and picked up his phone and shoved it into his back pocket. "Why don't we go get the book first then I'll help you guys with whatever you want."

The trio moved from the apartment to the small bookstore down the street from the college. There were a few people in there but it seemed like most of the people there were people that the Jean and Maes knew from school. Ed was silent as the other two chatted away. He looked at a few books and then found the one that Maes was talking about. Picking it up, he chuckled at the title 'Flame Dragon'. Really, Roy? This is the title of the book you wanted, he thought to himself. Somehow it fits your personality. After a short while he made his way up to the register and paid for the book and a small gift bag to put it in before joining the others by the door. The group spent the afternoon look through a few stores, picking on Ed and trying to come up with some stuff to do that evening.

"So you guys are telling me that all you have planned for a party tonight is alcohol?" Ed questioned, raising an eyebrow at the two. "You do know that I am not old enough yet to drink, right?"

"Not twenty-one yet, eh?" Jean chuckled, shaking head. "Maes and I will buy the alcohol. You can to the movie store and get us something to watch while we drink and eat."

"You guys are crazy," was the reply the younger blonde gave. "Let's at least play a game or something."

"What kind of game can a group of guys play, Ed?" Maes questioned when they stopped in front of the liquor store. "We play for a different team than you, if you know what I mean."

A blush rose to Ed's cheeks before he lightly punched the guy in the shoulder. "Shut up, Maes, you know what I mean. Besides, I have no idea the only birthday party's I've gone to have been for family. Other than Jean I haven't really had any friends besides family."

They laughed, both clapping Ed on the back before waving and entering the store without another word.

Rolling his eyes, Ed headed toward the video store. "Those guys are so annoying," he said to himself as he pulled out his phone and dialed up his home.

After a few rings, he heard his mother answer.

Elric Residence.

"Hey mom," he said, smiling.

Edward, you know your brother told me you hung up on him this morning. She stated, her voice was full of disappointment and happiness.

"I know. I'm sorry. That's kind of why I called."

I'll get him in a moment but tell me how have you been, Ed. I have missed you so much.

"I've missed you, too, mom. It's been busy here," Ed replied as he nodded to the lady at the counter of the video store. "I met all of Jean's friends except for his girlfriend; he won't let me meet her yet."

Oh my, what did you do?

"Nothing, he's just afraid that I will steal her away from him but that'll never happen."

Is everything alright? You sound a bit depressed.

"Yes, everything's fine. Just have a lot on my mind right now with starting school soon and working at the shop." Ed sighed, shaking his head. "Look, you guys should come out to visit soon. It's really pretty here and I think you'd enjoy the shops. I know a great bakery that I can take you guys to."

Edward. He could hear the doubt in her voice as she said his name. I'm sure your brother would love to come out to visit soon.

"Mom…" He paused, taking in a deep breath before he continued. "Tell Al that I am sorry for hanging up on him. I have someone for you guys to meet when you get here. Just let me know when you guys plan on coming out so I can make sure to have the place ready."

Of course, I love you.

"I love you, too." Ed hung up the phone and sighed again. After placing the phone back into his pocket he picked up a few horror movies and then made his way back to the liquor store to wait for the guys. Truth be told, he hadn't yet been to Roy's so he had no idea where the man lived and now he had told his mother that there was someone he wanted them to meet. There was no doubt that his mother would catch on to what type of person that was but it was the fact that they'd be Roy that didn't help his anxiety. Shaking his head he took a seat on the bench by the rode and stared out at the moving traffic.

He'd soon have to tell his mom and brother about Roy and what was he going to say to them. That he was gay and dating Roy. No, he thought to himself. I don't know what I am actually. At least he had a week or so until he figured that they would be out to see him. That was plenty of time to ready his apartment and talk to Roy about everything. He wasn't quite ready to dump this on either his family or Roy but it was going to happen sooner or later, for that he was sure. Alphonse would've found out somehow even if he didn't tell him.

"At least tonight should keep my mind off of everything," he said to no one in particular. "I should just let myself have some fun."

"Come on, Ed!" He heard Jean yell from behind him. "Let's go get you drunk."

Smiling, he stood and followed the guys down the street. Tonight was going to be one to remember. He was just hoping that he could keep himself under check and not let anything get out of hand.

TBC…

AN: Thank you for your reviews! :D Please review again and let me know what you think! I'll update faster knowing that people love this story and hopefully now that the laptop and my tablet are playing nice I will be able to get a chapter up every Saturday at least! R&R and of course tell your friends!