Okay…probably the last day for updates this week. Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, I have to go to 7pm Mass for nursery, and because I have to actually go to Mass, even though the incense gives me a migraine, I have to go to midnight Mass. Have I mentioned I'm Catholic? Anyway, I would update tomorrow, but like I've said before, my mom has no idea I write… I'm gonna say that this is very early Christmas morning, because TBS airs A Christmas Story for 24 hours starting at 7 Christmas Eve… God, I love that movie!
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Well, it's not really the kind of conversation that just pops up." Winry said.
"Yeah, but you still could've told me. You told me about the other thing, how's this worse?"
"It's not. It's just not the kind of thing I feel like sharing." Winry stood up. "I'm going to bed."
Edward followed Winry into their room.
"Tired?"
"Ed, it's five A.M. I got up at six yesterday morning. Not tired at all, just cheery."
"Oh. Just wondering."
"Ed, you've been watching the damn movie since they first started airing it. But fine. Just don't turn it up too loud." Winry settled under the covers and Edward turned on the T.V. "We'll talk more when I get up."
(*)
"Winry, what…what was the guy's name?"
"My ex or…"
"The other guy."
"D-Dalton. Why?" Even at the mention of his name, Winry felt nauseous. He'd been like her brother. Growing up without siblings, she relied on her parents' friends' kids. They were all boys, and she'd naturally been a tomboy until she started high school. Winry knew sooner or later, Ed would want to know what happened. Exactly. She was glad he hadn't asked when she'd first told him.
"I know that this is the last thing you want to talk about, but I need to know so I can help."
"I don't need help."
"Yes, you do. Winry, you aren't fine. I know how much of a jackass I can be, you've told me enough times. I really do want to help. Believe me, it's the last thing I want to hear, I'd rather wear a dress or drink milk, but this is the kind of thing I need to know."
"Do I have to go into detail?"
"No."
"Dalton was like my brother. He said it was a game. I had no idea what it was. I didn't until a video my class watched in fourth grade. I went home sick that day. I went into the bathroom, vomited, and got sent home. By that time, he and his mom had moved south. I've no idea where he is."
"So you haven't seen him since?"
"God no."
Edward pulled Winry into a tight hug, feeling as though with each sob, he was dying, with every fallen tear, being stabbed.
"I'm going to find him."
Winry pushed Edward away. Hard.
"No!"
"Do you seriously think I'll just stand by after what he did? He could mess up other little girls if he was that bad as a damn kid! Don't try and say he was just 'experimenting'. A ten year old kid knows what sex is! And By what you said, he had every idea of what it was!"
"It's too late to do anything legal, Ed."
"Since when have deadlines stopped me? My e-mail address is forgetdeadlines for a reason! I don't give a fuck that I can't make any legal actions!"
"Ed…no. Just forget it."
"How the hell can you say that? I can never forget what he's done to you! He made you feel screwed up! I can never forgive him for that!"
"You didn't even know him!"
"So? You thought you did! Look where it got you!" Edward erupted. How could she want to forgive that bastard? How could she want Ed to forget it?
Winry stormed out of the small apartment, leaving her coat and purse behind.
(*) (I'm gonna start doing this for breaks, I forget to add them after I upload…)
It was freezing out. Of course, it was the middle of winter. Winry was used to dry winters, but in Central, snow covered the ground. Winry cursed under her breath. She had no money and no phone. She knew she'd have to return sometime, but she needed to stay out to blow off steam. It was only seven, but still dark. Winry jumped when a motorcycle revved behind her.
"Need a ride?"
Winry ignored the man. She didn't recognize him at all, nor did she want to. He was scruffy-looking and just plain creepy.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Winry kept walking. She picked up her pace when the engine stopped.
"Come here!" the man grabbed Winry's arm and threw her against a brick wall.
It's too dark, no one will see…
The man thrust his knee into Winry's stomach, making her fall to the ground. He ripped her shirt off, exposing her to the cold. The man pushed her into the snow, laughing.
Not again…
"Not my girlfriend, you bastard!"
Edward ran forward and tackled the man off of Winry. Both men threw punch after punch. A particularly hard punch cane into contact with Edward's nose. Ed stumbled back and the man ran off. Winry ran to Edward's side. In the moonlight, she saw blood trickle from his nose. He had a busted lip and a swollen eye as well.
"Are you okay? He didn't…hurt you, did he?"
"No, he didn't. I'm fine, thanks to you."
"Good. Can we go back home now? This is my favorite shirt…I don't want it stained."
Edward picked up Winry's shirt, putting it under his arm and giving her his coat. He put his arm tightly around her on the short journey back to their apartment.
"What made you run after me?"
"You forgot your phone."
(*)
I wrote that yesterday. Originally, Ed wasn't going to run after, and the guy would get to Winry, and she'd get pregnant. I think I'll save that for another story.
