Heeeeey!

So…..chapter niiiine! Woot woot!

Ok im done being a stoner. I skipped a month into the story, !

Chapter Nine: A Bouquet

Within a month, Thalia had decided the only thing more annoying than trying to figure out if your crush likes you or not is knowing your crush likes you and not being able to make any effort to be with him.

Though Thalia couldn't really call Greed her "crush". Her feelings would have to be secret in order for it to be a crush. But no, they were both fully aware of how the other felt and chose not to do anything about it. It was almost like they had been together before but broke up and still had lingering feelings.

Of course they tried to escape everything to escape these feelings. Thalia looked for things to hate about Greed and he went through a load off women to get his mind off her. Nothing worked. In fact, the two feared they would only fall deep into despair, due to something else they were falling deep into.

###

"Where's Thalia?"

Everyone looked at Greed, the asker of the question. They were all aware of the idiots' problems.

"Probably still sleeping," Martel said, heading for bed.

"But she's usually awake by now," Greed stated.

"Oh relax you just miss her," Loa replied.

"I do not!" greed yelled. "Aw hell I'm just gonna check on her!"

He stomped up the stairs and Dorchet rolled his eyes. They were all so sick of the drama that had consumed the Devil's Nest in the last month.

"Thalia, are you okay or not!" Greed yelled, stepping into her room.

She was awake. She was staring out the window of her room, her back to him.

"…I'm alright," she said, not turning around. "It's just…"

Greed frowned. "Whenever you say 'it's just' it's never alright."

"Thalia chuckled. "I guess you're right. ..Today is, er, today was my twenty-third birthday."

She shifted on her mattress to face him, and Greed's eyes widened when he saw she had been crying.

"And," she continued, wiping the tears, "I slept through it."

"Oh." Greed scratched the back of his head. "Sorry."

Thalia shrugged. "It's not your fault. If you hadn't saved me I would be spending my birthday on an exam table. Last year I was in Ishbal, so I didn't really celebrate. But before, my parents would give me a bouquet of flowers. They own a flower shop, so I had something different every year. It was always fun to see what I would get…"

Greed watched her look down with a sad smile.

…She's doing it again… He thought with annoyance. That thing where she makes me feel bad without meaning to. Damn it…

He sighed and gritted his teeth.

"Don't go anywhere," he ordered, stomping out of the room. He went downstairs and outside and began searching the perimeter of the building angrily. He grumbled quietly, something about Thalia having to be doing making him insane on purpose.

He spotted a bunch of leafy, daisy-looking plants poking out of a crack between the hideout and the pavement. Greed yanked them out of the ground and trudged back up to Thalia's room.

Her eyes widened when she saw him. "Sir, what-?"

"Happy birthday!" he yelled, shoving the flowers in front of her. "You've probably had whatever these are before but…here."

He averted his eyes, blushing. Thalia blinked and delicately took the flowers out of his hands.

Then she started to laugh.

"Oh c'mon I'm trying to make you feel better!" Greed stated, appalled that she thought this was so funny.

"You did," she giggled. "I've just never had a bouquet of weeds before."

Greed's eyes widened as Thalia's laughter continued. His face reddened further and he frowned.

"Give me a break, I'm not a florist!" he told her.

"Thank you, Greed," Thalia said when she calmed down. "You made my day-I mean, my night."

"Sure, whatever," he replied. He sat down next to her as she admired the weeds.

The awkwardness that usually followed them around was back.

"…We're not making any progress, are we?" Thalia said.

"Nope," greed replied.

"Do we even….want to make progress at this point?"

Greed sighed. He didn't want to make any progress, that was for sure. Frankly, he didn't think he could. Nothing could take his mind off Thalia.

But Greed was greed. The reason why he couldn't be with her, along with many others, was all in his name. Not to mention that he wasn't human, so that just screwed things up even further.

So progress had to be made.

"I already told you why," Greed stated. "It's only been a month, we'll get through it."

Thalia frowned. "Right. But…can I ask you something?"

"Of course. It is your birthday."

"Would it be greedier to want everything in the world, or to devote yourself to one single thing, being completely selfish with it and not letting anyone else have it."

Greed's eyes widened. He considered the question for a long time.

"…I have to go," he said finally, getting up.

"Bye, Thanks for the flowers," Thalia replied as he walked to the door.

"Bye." Greed shut the door behind him and thought a moment.

He sighed. If any progress had been made at all, it was long gone now.

~Chapter Nine-Fin~

I'd love to hear your opinion on Thalia's question! Review with your answer.

Also, I want to put together a playlist for this story. If you know any songs that would go with the storyline, I'd really appreciate it if you told me. Thanks!