Seven: 'Girlfriend'
"The name's Edward Mason. My family and I just moved in to this town last week. We opened a bakery. I hope we can be good friends."
That was the speech that Roy and Riza both prepared for Edward. Though he planned to make a more… impressionable introduction, the gaze the two older people told him he would be grounded for the rest of the mission and had his clothes torched every other week until he got out of the military if he actually did that. So he decided to behave, for once.
Apparently it was more than enough to impress. Some of the teenagers in class looked excited to have a new classmate. Some boys scowled at him unhappily, which puzzled Edward. Some girls blushed and swooned, which puzzled him even more. The rest, a very small portion of the class, looked indifferent.
"Where are you from?" a girl asked from somewhere at the back of the class.
"East City," Edward answered, easily recounting the cover story he, together with Roy and Riza, had spun together.
"Why do you move here?" a boy shouted from a corner.
"My parents wanted a change of pace," Edward replied. He, Roy and Riza had agreed to create a cover story about his grandparents from Roy's side having died and made them move in order to try to deal with the pain, but he saved that bit for later.
"What's East City like?"
"Alright, alright, that's enough for now," the homeroom teacher, Mr. Locke, cut the string of questions quickly. "You can all have a chat with Edward during lunch and breaks. Right now, we will start our lesson of the day." He turned to Edward. "Alright, Edward. You can sit in that empty seat right there, next to Vera."
Edward's gaze followed the teacher's pointed finger, landing on a desk located second row from the back, next to the desk of a girl with pigtails. Edward's eyes lit up in recognition at once, remembering that she was the girl who had waved to him from inside a classroom when he was looking around the school a few days before. He made his way to the designated desk, ignoring the stares the other students were giving him.
Soon, the students stopped staring at him as the teacher began the lesson. Edward glanced at the dark haired, pigtailed girl. "Hello. You were the one who waved to me a few days ago, right?"
She blushed a bit and nodded. "I didn't think you were a transfer student, though. We don't get transfer students a lot."
Edward grinned. "Well, I guess I'm a special case then." He offered his hand. "Let's make it official. Edward Mason. Nice to meet you."
She smiled and took his hand, shaking it a bit. "Vera Todd. Nice to meet you too."
"Alright, Class," Mr. Locke's voice drew Edward's attention away. "Let's start with a bit of reading, shall we? Aaron, can you read me a bit of Schakespeer's Fear No More, please?"
Suddenly, it struck Edward that even though he knew he would be able to pass math and chemistry with flying colors, he knew nothing about virtually all other subjects.
Edward nearly cried out of joy when the bell indicating that all students were allowed to go home sounded. He didn't remember school being so boring. And suffocating. He almost wondered if he was in prison.
Like the previous breaks, all the students in his class crowded around him. They began talking to him simultaneously, to the point that he couldn't tell who was saying what. They had all introduced themselves, but he had difficulty remembering all names and faces given the amount they were introduced to him.
"What sports do you like to play?" a boy – Edward thought his name was Matt – asked excitedly.
"Um, I'm not exactly a sports person," Edward answered, suddenly dreading PE class that he saw in his schedule. Just how exactly he could join the class without exposing his automail?
"Oh, you're more of a nerd then?" he remarked, eyes looking a little degrading for some reason. "Like Stanley," he pointed to a think boy wearing a pair of glasses.
Edward frowned at that, but before he could respond to it another boy – was his name Ethan? – threw him a question, "I just remembered, I saw you in the school grounds a few days ago with Ms. Willard! Was that black haired man your dad?"
Man, it was weird having to call Roy that. "Yeah."
"You don't look like him much."
"I take after my grandfather. From my mom's side," Edward added, almost an afterthought. He began walking out of the classroom, and the large crowd followed.
"I think I saw your family's bakery when I walked around the town with my mom yesterday," a girl commented. If Edward wasn't mistaken, her name was Sherry. "I saw your mom. She has blond hair done up with a clip, right?"
"That sounds like her, alright."
"Can I ask what your favorite color is?" another girl, Molly, asked Edward excitedly. He remembered her because of the way she quickly sided up to Vera and hugged her, claiming to be her closest friend, when she heard that Edward had recognized the shy girl from his previous visit despite Vera's obvious discomfort.
"I think red's pretty cool," Edward answered easily.
"Do you have pets, Edward?" yet another girl asked.
"No," Edward's mind wandered to Black Hayate, who was left in Fuery's care for the time being. None of the victims of their case had a pet, and Roy had wanted to try to match with the perpetrator's tastes, and for that reason had asked to have Black Hayate left behind.
"Your hair is so long! Don't your parents want you to have it cut? My brother wanted to grow his hair and my parents told him to keep it short."
"They don't really mind, actually," Edward responded.
"What's your favorite food?" another girl threw the question. She batted her eyelashes with a small smile playing on her lips.
Edward squirmed uneasily, finally realizing that somehow, the boys around him had been pushed back by the girls that were now surrounding him. "Um, why do you ask?"
"No reason," the girl smiled, twirling her wavy hair in her finger. "Just curious."
"What about cakes? Do you like cakes?" Molly asked him with a gleam in her eyes. "Just so you know, I'm pretty good at baking myself. Not as good as your mom, I'm sure, but enough to make a cake on my own. I can bake you one, sometime."
"Um, thanks."
"What do you do in your spare time?" another girl – Edward was pretty sure her name was Cara, Vera was very close to her and latched to her almost at all times – asked curiously, though her enthusiasm wasn't as high as the other girls'.
Alchemy research, Edward's mind supplied. "I read a lot," he decided to make it a bit subtle.
"Really? That's totally like Vera!" Cara pulled Vera closer and pushed her to stand near Edward. The pigtailed girl stared wide eyed at her friend, seemingly panicked. "She reads all the time. Her tastes for books is great too, I've always come to her to ask for recommendations."
"Oh? You like books?" Edward asked the girl. "What kind?"
She blushed. "W-well… I mostly enjoy novels. Science fiction, usually. Fiction that has alchemy in it is really interesting."
Edward's lips quirked into a smile. "Maybe you should recommend some for me, some time. I think we have the same book preferences." Because if Edward had time to read fiction, he would most likely read science fiction. Even if he'd end up not reading them, at least he can give Alphonse a few pointers – he read fiction, sometimes.
"Sure, I'd be glad to – " her words was cut short when Molly suddenly pushed in and leaned to Edward, taking Vera's place and took his hand into hers.
"Aw, so you love books?" she cooed. "That's really cute! I like brainy boys like you!"
"My cousin loves science fiction too, you know," another girl in the crowd – Rosie, Edward believed – remarked. "I can introduce you to him, he can give you a lot of recommendations too!"
Molly glared at the girl before she spoke again, "That's very nice of you, April. By the way, Edward, since you're new to town what do you think about me showing you around?"
"That's nice, but no thanks," Edward pulled his hand away from Molly's.
"Oh, come on," April rolled her eyes. "We all know a few places to hang out. Nothing as fancy as the ones in East City, of course, but they're decent."
Edward couldn't help but wonder at that. Where do kids his age usually hang out anyway? For him a long stay in the library was more than just a little stimulating. Maybe what these kids equated with hanging out, he equated with studying. "Um…"
"Just so you know, there's a nice café around here," Rosie noted. "They allow you to borrow books they have on display! But they don't allow you to bring it out of the café, though."
"Well, uh, that sounds nice?" Edward muttered, and the girls then started suggesting other places they could go. Edward wasn't really paying attention. His eyes roamed the boys at the back, trying to get help because I have no idea what is happening, seriously, I won't ask if I don't need to, but most of the guys seemed to be either trying to ignore him or were glaring at him as if they were ready to make a lamb chop out of him. He did, however, caught Ethan's eyes, who was staring at him in sympathy at his clear discomfort. Ethan quickly walked ahead, through the throng of females surrounding Edward, and stood next to him.
"You seem rather confused," he observed quietly.
"Yeah, I have no idea what's happening here," Edward whispered, almost in panic.
"Dude, they're trying to flirt with you," Ethan looked at him as if he were an alien being. "Can't you tell?"
Edward's wide eyes and open mouth was more than enough of an answer for Ethan. He patted the oblivious boy's back and muttered solemnly, "Good luck, but I can't get you out, these girls are tenacious."
"Oh, by the way, Edward, do you think you can come with us sometime to that café?" Rosie asked excitedly.
"Or maybe to the secondhand books sale, sometimes you can find some rare gems in there, not to mention the price is cheap," another girl offered. Edward couldn't remember her name.
"I'm always up to making some cake if you want!"
"Oooh, we can chat and eat cakes and drink tea, of course!"
"Maybe we can go together if there is some kind of festival or something."
The barrage of requests overwhelmed Edward. He opened and closed his mouth without having the chance of actually saying anything as a response to the girls. Finally, after what seemed to be so long, Edward couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "I already have a girlfriend!"
All of a sudden it became so quiet, one could hear a pin drop. All of a sudden, Edward realized of what he had said and felt his face burning. He looked around, suddenly feeling guilty that many of the girls wore crushed looks in their face. Rosie, for instance, seemed so disappointed, almost like a kicked puppy. Some were more comical than other though; Molly had her mouth open wide, April was clutching her chest dramatically. Although they weren't asking questions, Vera herself looked shocked, while Cara didn't seem to be affected although her mouth formed an 'o'. She seemed to be more amused than anything, and would probably take some snack and eat them while watching the events unfolding if she could. Next to her, Sherry was grinning wildly, most likely taking the same stance as Cara in the matter. In the background, the boys were also staring, partly in disbelief, and Ethan slapped a hand to his mouth to stop himself from laughing. It was obvious he didn't believe in what Edward had just said.
"…Ed?"
Edward jumped and turned, surprised to see Roy standing behind him. He had reached the school gate before he realized it. "You're here? Why are you here?"
"Riza wants me to buy some herbs, and I thought to pick you up to help me with the shopping," Roy looked around and commented awkwardly, "I see you've made quite a few friends…"
"Are you Edward's father, sir?" Molly suddenly asked before Edward could respond.
"Yes?"
"Is it true?"
Roy's brow lifted up while Edward's face burned redder. "Is what true?"
"That Edward has a girlfriend?"
Roy turned to Edward, who looked away immediately. "So you finally admitted it," Roy smirked. "Took you long enough."
"Shut it."
"Wait, so does he have a girlfriend or not?" April asked, looking genuinely confused.
"He never outright admits it, but, Ladies," Roy grabbed Edward's shoulders, turned him around and steered him away from behind, "if you're looking for a boyfriend, sorry, this one's no longer available." He grinned to Edward. "He's been taken for a long time."
"Wait, you were serious?!" Ethan blurted in surprise.
Edward resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. From the heat, he suspected he was at least as red a tomato by then.
"If that's all, we'll be taking our leave now," Roy gave a little wave and steered Edward away.
"See you tomorrow!" Cara yelled, elbowing Vera a little. She flushed a bit and waved to Edward.
"Yeah, see you," Edward answered dazedly, waving back before turning to face the road ahead. Soon Roy was no longer steering him and they walked calmly, side by side, silence hanging around them comfortably. It didn't last long.
As soon as they took a turn and was out of sight from school, Roy broke the silence. "So, a girlfriend? Is it that mechanic of yours?"
Edward could feel his face heating up again. "Shut up."
"Winry Rockbell, right? Riza has a good impression on her, you know. They met in Resembool, when I offered you the job."
"Stop. Just stop."
"It would be better if you have a picture, really. You can show it to your friends the next time they ask you. Tell them that you have a thing for strong blondes… and that it runs in the family."
"Ro – Dad! Stop!"
Roy's grin was stretched from ear to ear, looking almost like a banana. "Oh man. I can't wait to tell Riza this."
"You're not going to let me live this down, are you?"
"Absolutely not."
Edward's exaggerated groan sent Roy laughing.
A/N: decided to be generous and posted this early. And it's long! I planned to have this uploaded tomorrow actually, but hey, everyone likes an early update! (Right?)
First and foremost, my deepest apologies to William Shakespeare for mutilating your name in such way. Since this universe is different from ours I thought I should make your name a bit different.
This one is Alheli's request, who wants to see Ed trying to shake off flirting girls by lying that he has a girlfriend and Roy or Riza overhearing it. I changed it a little but it's pretty much the same. Mind you, this is the first time I try writing people flirting, so I'll have to apologize if it feels weird. And because Google was my only guide and I don't know if this is really how people flirt. Bless Google, though, it's like everyone's bro who's always ready to help.
*whisper* I never flirt. I can't even tell when someone is flirting. I feel as if no one has ever flirted with me, but I'm not sure because like I said, I can't tell if someone is flirting. Ed, I feel you so much.
Anyway, I hope you like it. Next chapter seems to be even longer than this, though I can't say for sure because I'm still editing. Please leave a review and share your ideas! See you next time!