" Ed" She cocked her head to the side. "You didn't honestly forget my secret while I was gone did you? I'll give you a hint… nothing scares me, especially not you." Her temper had finally blown.

" No Gaia, I didn't, but move." He made a move to go past her and again, she stepped into his path. Getting in his face.

" Ed, talk to me!" Gaia yelled. Ed just looked at her; his eyes alight with anger, adrenaline surging through him. " Why are you being like this Ed? You never used to be so serious."

They stared at each other for a few seconds more, then, Gaia saw it.

There was a hardness to his eyes that never used to be there. " What's happened since I left? What's been going on?" She asked cautiously.

Immediately, his eyes turned blank, putting up a wall. Now on alert, Gaia looked him in the eye again, hoping to break him down like she used to. Instead of breaking down and telling her what was going on, he stared back with a tense, very aware look in his eyes.

Surprised, Gaia opened her mouth to speak again and demand for him to tell her what had happened, but Ed interrupted her. " Gaia, I don't have time for this. I need to go, get out of my way."

Her anger was flaring again as soon as he said that, so controlling. Like she was going to listen to him, ha! What's wrong with him? She asked herself.

Ed, again, made a move to leave, and again, Gaia blocked him. Shocking Gaia, Ed pushed her out of his way.

Being shocked Gaia stumbled for a short moment and went to Ed. Shoving him back into the alleyway.

"What the hell Ed!" she exploded right in his face.

"Gaia get the hell off my case! This doesn't concern you!"

" Like hell it doesn't, you used to tell me everything Ed, why are you so secretive?"

" Oh, like you care, don't pretend to care Gaia! You left and haven't talked to me in more than two years, now you're back and expect me to follow you around like I used to?" Gaia looked down.

" No, Ed, I never ordered you around to follow me. If you don't want me in your life anymore then just say it and I'll go back.

Ed sighed and turned his head to the side. " Gaia, I don't want you out of my life. It's just, things have changed that you don't know about."

Concerned, Gaia asked, " Then tell me Ed. Let me back in." Ed turned towards her again. "I can't Gaia, I just…I can't. I'll, uh, I'll call you later Gaia."

"But you don't have my number."

" I'll just look up Sam ok?" With that, he left and Gaia watched him go. But with so many suspicions it ate at her, so she followed him.

She made sure to keep a safe distance so he wouldn't see her and just followed him. He turned a corner and Gaia counted to thirty before going around the corner, Ed was going into an unmarked building, spiking Gaia's curiosity.

Gaia turned back. I need to disguise myself before I go in there. Damnit! She thought. That'll take up more time! Ugh!

Gaia turned onto Sam's street, heading back to the apartment. Knocking on the door, Sam opened it, a smile appearing on his face. " Gaia, you don't have to knock."

Gaia laughed. " Thanks Sam."

She walked in and plopped down on the couch.

" So, how did your talk with Ed go?" He asked like it was nothing to him, but she could hear the curiosity in his voice.

Smiling at that, she told him about it, leaving out the part where she followed him and her plan to figure out what he was doing.

When she got to the part about him shoving her, he interrupted her. " Wait, wait, wait…he shoved you away?"

" Ya, but don't worry… I got it under control."

"Good…are you ok Gaia?" She was shaking from the left over anger and adrenaline she had had.

" Yeah" she said. "Yeah." She repeated whispering.

Not knowing what else to do, Sam got up to go make coffee and Gaia leaned back into the comfort of the couch. I can't believe Ed right now. He's so different, he never used to be that way, she thought.

Thank you for reading this you guys! Much appreciation to you…and to my beta! Thank you!

~Fena~