Early Morning Train
Savina's eyes popped open at the first buzz of her alarm clock. The high-pitched sound lasted no more than a few seconds before Savina slapped the off button, threw on her glasses, and lunged out of bed. She had hardly slept that night, she was so full of anticipation. It was like the night before the first day of school, and you were so worried that you'd look horrible on the first day, that your clothes weren't cute or fashionable, that maybe you'd forgotten something vital, but were still so excited because it was the beginning of a new year, which meant new friends, new teachers, new classes, and the smell of a school purified by the summer break. Savina giggled, strung up on an emotional high, and rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower, singing 'Hey Soul Sister' simply because it was the first song that popped into her head, and the upbeat tempo attracted her like a moth to light.
And then she was frantically wringing out the water from her hair, 'My hair is long, long, looong...' She thought, reaching for a towel, lunging out of the tub, and into her bedroom. She'd accidentally packed her toothbrush and toothpaste too soon. And thus her day was begun, in a flurry of excitement at six in the morning.
Edward leaned against a thick support beam, listening to snippets of conversation as people flowed around him, in an unconcious effort to avoid the hulking frame of his brother. He glanced up at one of the the huge clocks hung at either end of the station. It read 8:15.
Edward grunted, and fidgeted. It certainly wouldn't be his fault if she got lost, or overslept, or missed teh train in some other way. Yet... he felt somewhat responsible for her now. "Damn it." He muttered. Alphonse sighed next to him.
"I'm sure she'll be here soon." He murmured gently.
And, as if to confirm Al's comment, there came a slim figure through the wide doorway, silouetted in bright morning sunlight. As she moved uncertainly forward, glancing covertly this way and that, she came into focus. Her hair was down, rippling softly as she turned her head. She held a soft pink leash in one hand, hooked onto a matching harness. Several people slowed as they passed her to glance at the tiny, fluffy cat that pranced happily alongside her, clearly pleased to be out and admired. One little girl accosted her, and Savina bent down as the she whispered something. Savina smiled, and nodded. The little girl clapped her hands and grinned, bending down to pet the cat. Secret arched up, and jumped into the girl's lap. Savina smiled as the girl screeched delightedly, stroking the ball of fluff Secret had curled up into. after a few minutes, the girl's mother, who had een standing off to the side, pulled her away, and Savina stood, hiking up her backpack. It was only then that she noticed Edward looming over her, hands in pocket, scowl on his face.
"Come on. We have to get your ticket." He turned abruptly, and Savina bent down to snatch up Secret and followed his brisk pace. Alphonse came up beside her. "Edward will pay for your ticket. Then, all we have to do is find our train and board."
"Oh, but I can pay for it, I've got money.." Savina said, slightly embarrassed. Al shook his head.
"It's no use arguing with him, that's just the way he is. You should save your money for when you need it."
Savina was silent for a moment, feeling slightly out of her depth. For whatever reason, she always felt a little awkward when somebody insisted on paying for something for her. Then,
"They WILL let Secret on the train, right?" This question had been plaguing Savina from the moment she'd clipped the harness on her little cat.
"I'm sure they will. I've seen families travelling with small dogs, so as long as you keep her on the leash, I'm sure she'll be fine." Al replied soothingly.
"Okay.." Savina trailed off, still worried. By this time they'd reached the ticketmaster's booth, and Edward had procured another ticket to East City. He handed it uncerimoniously to Savina.
"Here. We got a call from the Colonel last night, he wants to see us as soon as we can get there. Al and I already exchanged our tickets. Our train is number 65, and it's over there." He pointed to the right and slightly behind him, his sharp eyes boring into Savina's. "You're sure you still want to come? It won't be easy, to say the least."
Savina nodded. "Yes." Her tone was determined.
"Alright, but remember I warned you. It's dangerous. Odds are, you're going to be seriously injured at one point or anotehr, and there's no telling what could happen to that." He poined to Secret, who let out a soft 'Mrrahh', and bobbed her head at him. Savina hugged her tighter.
"I'll keep her safe." She said.
"Suit yourself." edward said, and began to make his way toward the train, turning gracefully on one heel. "Come on, let's find a seat." "Right." Al said, and began to follow. Savina trailed behind, suddenly nervous. Not because of Secret, but because she was anxious about what it would be like to travel with Edward and Alphonse. She suddenly felt like a third wheel, an outsider trying desperately to fit into the relationship the brothers shared. Maybe it was a mistake to come.. she thought, dejected. Maybe I should just go home... Without realizing it, her features had become saddened, and she came to a cautios halt behind Alphonse as tehy boarded the plane. When it came her turn, she showed the coach attendant her ticket, a tall, plain-looking man in a smart cadet-blue uniform. He gave a wary glance to the cat, and let her pass. "Open seating." He said to her, just as he'd said to Ed and Al before her. She stepped aboard.
Savina had never been on a train before, but nevertheless, the excitement overcame her rather worried mood. To the left and right stretched wide, wooden seats upholstered in red on either side of the comparment. Each seat had its own large square window, and a gold-painted wooden luggage rack ran the length of either side. She moved to follow Al, who took a seat opposite Edward in one of the empty booths towards the back of the car. "Here, sit next to the window." Al said kindly, scooting over on the seat. Savina smiled and did as he suggested; she wasn't about to pass up a chance at a window seat, no matter what she was travelling in. She placed her pack by her feet, unwilling to let it out of her sight. She had that kind of paranoia.
"Mrroww-wow" Secret cried softly, and, stretching, removed herself from her owner's lap to sit next to Al. Savina watched the people milling around the station, listened to the noise of the trains, and couldn't help but smile.
Edward watched as a slow smile spread softly across Savina's face. Al occupied himself with petting Secret. "Do they have trains in your world?" He asked, suddenly curious. Savina's attention snapped away from the window.
"Uhm, yeah. But not a whole lot like this. Passenger trains. Most of them are cargo trains. We just use cars, buses, and planes to get around."
"Planes?" Edward asked. There were a few cars in the city, and even a couple buses he'd seen, big, double-decker affairs, but he couldn't for the life of him think what a plane was.
"Airplanes. They fly. They've got engines and stuff. I've been on one, once. They go thousands of feet up in the air, past the clouds, and it's like the clouds are another earth, they look like fields and mountains and stuff, it's really cool. It's beautiful to watch the sun set from so high. On one side, looking out the window, it was all light pink and blue, and the other side was all firey orange and red and yellow... it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen." Savina's tone was reverent as she spoke of the clouds, and her hands fluttered wildly, trying to interpret what she meant.
"That does sound beautiful. Maybe you could draw it." Al commented.
"Hmm. I don't know..." Savina said.
"Don't undersell yourself." Edward grunted. Although he still couldn't imagine what an airplane was, the thought of watching a sunset from above the clouds mistified him. "You're a talented artist."
"Thanks." Savina said, squirming. Just then, the train's whistle blew, a screeching, grating sound, and the car began to thrum, rumbling with the motion of the wheels, as the oiled gears began to slowly move, propelling the huge weight of the train forward. A few people standing on the platform waved, threw kisses, and gesticulated. The horn bellowed, once, twice, three times, as the platform slowly rolled past, and the steady rhythm of the engine, Savina heard it as a deep bumm-bum-bum-bumm, sped up, and the station slid from her view, replaced by a blur of buildings as they passed Central City, and the only place she knew in this world. The gray of the city finally gave way to the green of the country. 'You're not in Florida, anymore, babe.' Savina thought to herself, and glanced at Edward, who stared vacantly out the window. Alphonse continued to stroke Secret, who had fallen asleep. All three were silent, the excitement of riding on a train long past them. She was suddenly giddy, heady with elation, for no reason at all. She squirmed again, bounced a little, and grinned. Her emotions soared, she felt lighter than the air she breathed, and felt like she must be glowing like a star, but no one else seemed to notice.
And that was all right, so she kept quiet, preferring to keep this happy feeling to herself, at least for now. She was happy, she was on an adventure, and her road, which had once seemed so bleakand dreary, stretched out before her in the sunshine. Right now, everything was painted golden.