Hey. This one came up pretty fast for me, eh? Aren't you proud? XD Anyway. My beta still doesn't have Internet access, so this is unbetaed. If you see any mistakes, be sure to let me know. As always, my Reviews section is at the bottom. Thank you for reading, and please Review!

HEY! NEXT CHAPTER! KISSING! O.o As I said, this chapter is mostly dialogue and filler, but a necessary transition. It will be worth it, I promise!

Also, I have started a new RoyxEd story. This one will be a bit darker, but I hope it's still good. It is a vampire fic. NOT LIKE TWILIGHT! (Though I don't dislike Twilight, even if the Cullens are really just pixie/fairie things without wings.) Check it out!

~0x0~

I walked into the house on Thursday, holding my stomach, and wishing that I could just clap my hands and the bruising would go away.

Slowly, quietly, I crept, hoping to not be noticed.

"What's wrong, brat?"

Goddamnit. Why couldn't anything go my way for once?

I turned toward the kitchen, seeing Teacher with a frying pan in one hand and a spatula in the other.

'Best to not piss her off. I don't want two beatings in one day. Who walks about wielding a frying pan like a sword anyhow?'

"Nothing, Teacher. "

She just raised an eyebrow. Obviously, she wasn't falling for my tough act.

"You got beat up again, didn't you?" Worry colored her tone.

I sighed. Did I really look that bad?

She just looked on, obviously waiting for me to explain.

"I just…" I paused, not wanting to give the real reason for my current state, but not wanting to lie. The woman had an uncanny sense for knowing when someone was lying.

"I let my guard down and some as-" I caught myself, quickly stopping the cuss word from coming forth. "-jerk took advantage of that. I would have beat him into next week, but you know someone would have found us and blamed me. I can't afford to get suspended."

Teacher stood still for a long moment, then tossed her frying pan into the air, caught it with her other hand and flipped it backwards-without any hesitation or having to look, I might add-directly onto the front stove burner.

"That sucks. Go wash up for dinner and get your brother. It'll be ready soon."

I simply blinked once, then hauled ass to get upstairs.

I'd take a hundred beatings before I took on a frying pan wielding housewife.

~0x0~

We sat at the dinner table, which was in our kitchen. Of course, I'd love to be able to cite a normal reason for the table's placement, like 'Oh, there was a mess in the dining room,' or 'The kitchen is brighter than the dining room,' but no. We have to eat in the kitchen because Teacher had the dining room converted to a martial arts studio.

Today we were having some sort of stir-fry. As usual, we mostly stuffed our faces, pausing only to talk about inane shit that happened that day or asking someone to pass the salt.

While I was eating, I tried to organize my thoughts. I didn't think that my next topic was that big of a deal, but I knew it would raise a few eyebrows.

I put my fork down and awkwardly started talking. I wasn't really used to asking permission for stuff after all. There was never any need.

"So, um…I was thinking…there are no plans for this weekend, right?"

Everyone looked at me like they weren't exactly sure who I was. Then Sig rolled his eyes.

"Just spit it out, boy. You've been in this household long enough to know beating around the bush won't gain you anything." He said.

I took a deep breath.

'Why am I acting like such a pussy? I am allowed to hang out with friends just like everyone else. Just never had the time or the right people to do it with before.'

I looked at Teacher.

"I have a friend-"

"Wait. You? Friends?" she interrupted.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Anyway. My friend and I want to go catch a movie on Saturday."

Again, there came a pregnant pause, as if they were wondering when the aliens had put in my body double.

Then everyone spoke at once.

"About time you got a social life, kid."

"Brother, what movie are you going to see?"

"Who is this mysterious friend of yours, Ed?"

Choosing to focus on the last question, I answered with one of my own:

"Why does it matter?"

"Because you have never claimed anyone to be your 'friend' before. Whoever it is deserves a medal." Teacher drawled.

I shook my head and leveled her with an unamused gaze.

"This isn't that big of a deal."

"Oh come on, Brother. We are just happy for you. Tell me who it is, so I can give them a big hug."

"If you start handing out bodily contact to that self-worshipping bastard, I swear, I'll kill you both." I snapped.

Al raised an amused eyebrow. "So, you are going with Roy, huh?"

"Roy! When did you two get on a first name basis? If that miserable little scum bag has been hitting on you…"

"Brother!" Al flushed. "I already told you, he wasn't flirting with me! He asked me to call him Roy because 'Mr. Mustang' makes him feel old!"

"Ha! He finally realized he acts like a perverted old man, eh?"

"Ed, that is so rude!" You should be more respectful to your upperclassmen."

"Al, that's like asking me to not step on dirt because it is older than me."

"No it isn't, it's-"

"Shut up, both of you!" Teacher boomed.

Immediately, we both fell silent, Al looking bashful, me looking a step and a half below pissed.

"Edward," she continued. "You are 16 now. If you want to go out with the guy you have always said is a womanizing bastard, be my guest. Tell him that you will be stopping someplace to eat, so I don't have to cook for you. Also, be sure to get a ride, 'cause I'm not driving you there." And then she went back to eating as if we had never had the conversation.

~0x0~

The next day found me feeling very weird.

I didn't see hide nor hair of Mustang all day. To make it worse, Al kept grinning and winking at me, like we were sharing some sort of secret, and Noa wouldn't stop telling me how stupid I was.

That night I used the telephone book for the first time in my life and looked up the Student Council President's number.

It was only when it started ringing that I realized that I had zero phone skills.

"Hello, Mustang residence." Chirped a cheery female voice.

I scrambled for words. For some reason, I hadn't expected anyone but The Bastard to answer.

"Hello?" she asked, obviously wondering why that person on the other end of the line was taking so long.

"Uh, yes. Is, um," I struggled to get out his first name because I had never used it before. The word felt awkward on my lips. "Roy home?"

"Yes. May I ask who's calling?"

"Oh, I'm…one of his friends from school."

"Oh, okay! Hold on just a moment, dear."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see it and listened as her somewhat distant voice called out into her home.

A couple seconds of silence and a weird shuffling sound later, I heard a familiar voice.

"Havoc, I'm telling you I don't know who she is-"

I cut him off. "I don't spew my sperm in school libraries, thank you very much."

"…Ed…ward?" I couldn't tell for sure over the phone, but he sounded stunned.

"Yeah."

"How…how did you get this number?"

"Uh, the phone book. We never set up any solid plans for tomorrow, remember?"

"Oh…yes…ah, sorry. I have just been really busy with work lately. But, I do have this Saturday off, so no problem. When do you want to meet?"

"Uh…yeah…the thing about that is…I can't drive, and Teacher won't waste effort on frivolities, so…I don't have a ride."

"Oh, um. Well, I could drive you, if you'd like?"

"Really? That'd be cool, I guess…"

"Okay…and what time would you like to go?"

"Well, Teacher also said that if I was going out, she wouldn't cook for me, so we should probably go around dinner time…I get pretty pissy when I'm hungry."

"…This teacher of yours is a brave woman, huh?"

"You have no idea." I deadpanned.

"Okay. I'd hate to let you starve to death. Give me your address?"

I gave it to him, after a moment of hesitation.

"Alright, I'll pick you up around 6:00? What do you want to see?"

"I have no idea what is out right now, so we can figure it out when we get there."

"Okay." He chuckled. "See you then."

"Yeah, okay. Bye."

I hung up, feeling oddly warm. I couldn't quite identify the emotion within me, but it felt like a cross between butterflies, nausea, and an oddly high-strung happiness.

I wasn't entirely sure if I liked it or not.

~0x0~

Edward Says: TAKE FIVE FUCKING SECONDS OUT OF YOUR DAY TO GIVE THIS POOR AUTHOR A REVIEW, DAMMIT! OTHERWISE YOU WILL GET A HALF-TON OF AUTOMAIL UPSIDE YOUR UNGRATEFUL HEAD!

~0x0~

To My Reviewers:

Rukeya- Ze plot thickens moar. XD

Conrii- Foamy is a talking Squirrel. I am glad I made you laugh.

shadowX101- Tizzy is a good word, isn't it? Lol.

DrawerDiary- Here is the next one! I am soooo happy you decided to read! I love getting new readers!

Shane- I am glad you liked it!

Wicked Winter- You are probably right. I wouldn't want to take a book to the face either.

Rei Kiele- OMG~! I LOVE long reviews! *hugs* I am glad you liked it so much!

Thank you for Reading and please review!