Chapter Nine—Blast From The Past
A.N: Alrighty, all. Now you get to know a little bit more about Edward's history! I've decided that I don't like the last chapter, so I might edit it. I'll let you know if it does get changed (a high possibility).
Thank you so much for the reviews, chibi-dears! Don't ask, you're chibi-dears now. Either that or pockymonsters… I should actually write the story now, yes? Yes.
Dashes and italicized words mean flashbacks are occurring. In flashbacks, it is in third person.
((Edward's POV))
That incident was easily patched over and ignored. It made dad realize that he might have just a tiny drinking problem. Not that he did anything for it, oh of course not. But I did get permission to leave the house whenever he did start to drink again. I spent that time walking with Envy around the neighborhoods. We'd become good friends, doing nothing but walking and talking for hours until the sun was well below the horizon. I enjoyed spending time with him and did my best to ignore the… less-than-welcome feelings that were spinning in the pit of my stomach. I had developed a huge crush on the other male, just simply thinking about him made the blood come to my cheeks and stain it a dark red. On occasion I would find myself compelled once again to kiss him and to feel his hair between my fingers. If the moment were right, meaning that we were completely alone and secluded, I would give into that compulsion. Each time was just as sweet and addicting as the first. I knew that I should stop, that is was wrong and it was a sin. So every Wednesday when we had school mass, I prayed God for his forgiveness for my thoughts and my actions. I had no clue if He heard me or not, although I tried. Why me? Why did I have to have to deal with these emotions? Not to mention again.
I sighed, my eyes closing just as there was the sound of something being hit from the TV screen. It had been three months since the incident with Lust and my dad, making it February. Envy was over at my house again and we had dug up my old gaming system and were currently playing some odd game that we both had no idea how to play.
"Hey, you okay, Ed? You seem a bit distracted…" Envy spoke with his eyes still glued to the TV, but a small smile just for me was on his lips. I loved that smile. It was the kind you'd use when you had a secret you shared with only one other person and they understood. I managed to laugh, shaking my brooding thoughts away.
"Just wondering how on earth you're winning when all you're doing is pressing buttons."
He laughed outright and winked at me quickly. "It's a secret I will never tell!"
I rolled my eyes and threw the controller to the ground, giving up. I sank back into the couch, watching Envy as he beat away at the game, a look of utter concentration on his face. He was biting his lower lip as he jerked the controller hard one way, as if moving it would make the game character move as well. We didn't have that advanced a game system. Somewhere in the house a door opened and closed and I heard footsteps nearing the living room. I scooted away from Envy quickly, putting distance between us before someone saw how close we were. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him frown and I could feel a similar expression on my face. Then I heard my dad's voice behind me.
"Hey, Ed, look who showed up."
I turned around on reflex, curiosity automatically overcoming any thought. Never before had my dad sounded so… pleasant. As all things with my not thinking, I instantly began to regret it. The curse came to my lips, the first one I'd ever said.
"Shit."
Valentine's day. His favorite holiday, like, ever. Nervous butterflies flickered around inside his stomach as he shifted nervously in his chair. The school day had just begun and he was ready to finally do it. Roy and him had been friends for forever, and it was time for him to tell him the truth. He bit his lip and tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. In he walked and Edward's stomach did happy little flips at the sight of him.
Short black hair, dark blue eyes and a confident smirk on his face. He wore a dark button-up shirt and faded jeans, casual attire that suited him well. His smirk grew into a small grin when he saw Edward sitting in the back of the room. He took smooth strides towards him, each movement not missed by Edward's eyes. The blonde felt a small blush creep onto his cheeks and he glanced away before he did something stupid. No, that was for later.
"Hey, Ed. How's it going?" Roy asked, sliding into the seat besides him.
"Pretty good. Happy Valentine's Day, Roy."
The dark-haired male chuckled and shook his head. "Happy Valentine's Day, dude."
* * * * * * *
Lunch time, and time for Edward to admit his feelings. It was hard to try and find the correct words to say. He was silent for most of the lunch, mind running through different ways to begin. None of it seemed right. He played idly with his food, eyes looking at the fake-wood design on the cafeteria tables. 'I'll just get right out and say it,' he thought with a faint sigh. If anything, it couldn't be that bad. Roy probably felt that way about him. They shared beds whenever they slept over and Roy didn't seem to have a problem with it. He glanced up to find the other male staring at him with a curious expression on his face.
"Everything okay?" Roy asked with a kind smile.
"Roy, I have something to tell you," he said quickly before he had a chance to back down or second-guess himself. It was Valentine's Day, and one way or another their relationship would change now. Hopefully for the better.
Roy raised an eyebrow and leaned forwards with his head in his hands. He gave a small nod, waiting patiently for him to go on.
"I-I like you Roy."
"I like you too, Ed. You're my best friend."
Ed sighed. Roy didn't seem to understand what he was trying to say. He cleared his throat of his heart that was beating so loud he could hear it thrum in his ears. He had to say this clearly so there was no misunderstanding.
"No, Roy. Not like that. I like you. As in, I want to date you."
The look on Roy's face was like a deer in the headlights and his mouth fell open slightly. Ed felt his spirits fall and his nerve crack. He made a mistake and he knew it immediately. But he doubted there was any way to turn back the clock now.
"Y-you mean that you're gay?"
The accusatory tone to his voice made me speechless and all Ed could do was give him a small, shocked nod.
"Well then. I had no idea my best friend was a freak."
His expression turned narrow and cruel, not at all like the Roy he knew. He'd always seemed so understanding and accepting, how could this have happened? Was he really that dense that he didn't even notice my own friend's close-mindedness? He tried to stammer out half-formed replies but he cut him off with a loud, harsh-sounding laugh.
"Man, oh, man, that is priceless! And let me guess, you want me to say that I love you. Oh, Edward. You're so beautiful. Lert's make gay babies together," his nose curled up in disdain as Ed could only sit there, feeling as if he was unable to move. The eyes' of the entire cafeteria were on them now and he could feel them burning into him. Whispers had started up and try as he might, he couldn't block it out.
"Man, did you hear that?"
"Edward's gay? Holy shit, man. That's hilarious."
"How disgusting. Poor Roy, stuck with that guy…"
"Did Roy just say gay babies? What the—"
"Freak. Fairy. Creep. What does he think he's doing here?"
All those people calling him all those names. And it was all Roy's fault. Edward felt shocked, hurt, and another strange emotion that Roy had never evoked before in him. Anger, pure and unrestricted. It was Roy's fault that these people knew his most highly kept secret, his fault they were staring at him with mixed looks of hate and disgust. And he wanted Roy to pay.
Teeth bared and uttering a pained cry he launched himself across the table, barreling into Roy and sending them both onto the cold linoleum floor. He began to swing his fists blindly and screamed nonsense at Roy with each punch that managed to connect. It wasn't many, but Ed didn't care. How dare Roy betray him this way. He was hurt like he'd never been before, heartbreak and rejection making hot, salty tears spill down his face. He felt hands behind him, grabbing his arms and yanking him off of his best friend. His best friend, that treated him like crap. He stood shakily, the administrator yelling white noise in his ear. He was trembling throughout his entire body, breath coming in quick and heavy pants. Roy was still on the ground, glaring up at him with unmistakable loathing.
He felt nothing as they dragged him away to the office, nothing as his dad picked him up from school. The car was silent until they returned home. Right before Edward left the car, his dad finally spoke.
"You have no idea how disappointed I am with you, Edward."
This entire chapter I was telling myself "don't write it, no don't do it!". I kind of am killing myself slowly writing this. But I can't stop. I promised I'd finish this story. The end will be happy, I promise!
Please tell me what you think, chibi-dears!
