Hi people! The story's getting kind of interesting, don't you think? This chapter is changing a little, but I think the next is even more... interesting.
Now I made you curious, didn't I? Well, just see what happens.

"If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?" – Chuck Palahniuk

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, its plot or any of its characters. I only own a space on this website where I can let my fantasy flow freely.

Chapter thirty-seven: Simply a Look Can Break Your Heart

"Patricia?"

What was it now? Why couldn't she just sleep for a second without the world falling apart?

"Patricia? What are we having for dinner?"

Patricia opened her eyes and flinched slightly at the sudden light. Scieszka stood leaning over her, almost scaring her since Scieszka's nose was half an inch from touching Patricia's.

"Uwah!" Patricia screamed and blinked a few times. "What is it, Scieszka?"

"I was just wondering," Scieszka said, "if we're gonna have dinner soon."

"And you couldn't wait with dinner 'til I woke up all by myself?" Patricia said a little irritated.

"Erm… well, no. Al's getting worried 'bout Ed, and…"

"Edward hasn't come home yet?" Patricia asked.

"No. I think he ran off after you told him to… well, run off."

Patricia sighed. "Does Alphonse know where he is, or did he just run off without any indications?"

"Well, since you… yeah, he hasn't come back," Alphonse said. "I know some places he could be, but I don't know…"

"You want some help to look for him?" Patricia asked. "I could help, you know."

"Yeah, but you've got crutches still!" Alphonse said.

"Aw, c'mon! Don't underestimate this crutch-girl! I think I'll be able to help."

"…Okay. I have a list of different motels we use to stay at when we're here in Central. And also a list of some of the names he uses sometimes, too."

"That seems like a great way to start. Scieszka, could you cook dinner?" Patricia said.

"Me?! I-I can't cook!"

"You can make something, right? Just do something. Doesn't matter what, okay?" Patricia said. "Alphonse, it's best if you start to take the motels on the west and south sides, and I'll take the ones on the north and east sides."

"Sounds great." Alphonse nodded, tore the list in two pieces and gave one of the pieces to Patricia. "Good luck."

"Yeah, you too. I'll just put on a jacket, and I'll start the search."

When Patricia left the apartment, Scieszka just stood in the kitchen staring emptily in front of her, clearly confused.

-----

When Patricia had come down the stairs she glanced at the piece of paper which the different names Edward used. Edmund Patrick. Emmet Burton. Dylan Everson. Martin Edwards.

No doubt that he'd named himself.

After that short glance, she sighed and begun to walk north, only to realize in two short seconds that she'd chosen the sides with ascent all the way.

'That's real smart, Trish. I think I'll go and kill myself right away', she thought. Whatever. She'd probably make it anyways. And the closest motel was just a few blocks away from the apartment.

She sighed again over her stupidity and started walking again.

-----

The only thing Patricia would never ever do again was to tell Edward to go away. He was nearly impossible to find, and who knows if he used one of the names on the list? What if he had checked in under yet another name?

She sighed again. She'd gone to three of the four motels on her half of the list, and was more exhausted than she ever thought she'd be.

'But only one more, and then I'll go home,' she thought to herself as she walked into the last motel.

"Hello," she greeted the man behind the counter.

"Hello, miss. How can I help you?" he answered mechanically.

"I'm just wondering if you have a guest named Edward Elric, Edmund Patrick, Emmet Burton, Dylan Everson or Martin Edwards," Patricia said with a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Well… we actually have one Edward Elric here, but…" the man let the sentence hang unfinished in the air.

"But what?" Patricia asked.

"You're not by any chance Patricia Taylor, are you?" he said.

"No, I'm Meredith Cannon," Patricia said, using the fake name she'd been given by Colonel Mustang.

"Oh, then it's alright! He's in number thirty-three."

Patricia thanked the man and turned to the corridor to which he'd waved a hand.

"Is number thirty-three on a different floor?" Patricia asked, wishing from the bottom of her heart that she wouldn't have to walk more stairs today.

"Yes, the third floor, why?" the man said.

"No reason," Patricia said, suddenly weighed down with tiredness. She swallowed a blob and walked up the stairs.

Well in front of room number thirty-three she started to bang loudly on the door, hoping that Edward would open quickly.

"What is it?" Patricia heard from inside the room.

"Room service!" Patricia cried out in between knocks.

"Finally!" Edward said as he opened the door widely enough for Patricia to slip in.

"What are you doing here?!" Edward yelled at her.

"Well, since you didn't come back for dinner like I told you, I had to come and get you," Patricia said simply.

"I said that I didn't want to come back for dinner!" Edward shouted.

"I know, and right now I'm in a very bad mood since you have dragged me though half of the city just because your brother is worried, so you better make it home, and make it fast," Patricia said very angrily, eyes looking anywhere but at him.

"It's your entire fault in the first place! If you hadn't invited Mr. Smarty-Pants nothing if this would've happened!"

"Alex's nice! And it's not your house, not even your apartment! Sure, you pay half of the rent, but in reality it's Scieszka's apartment," Patricia yelled, ticked off by the fact that he'd insulted one of her friends.

"Whatever! If he hadn't been there--"

"You're acting like a jealous boyfriend!" At these words, Edward got quiet. "If you could just stop being so… if you could just control your temper!" Patricia yelled at him.

"Let's go home," Edward said, much to Patricia's surprise and annoyance.

"You can't want to stay one second and then just--"

"Of course I can! And besides, wasn't this what you came for?"

Patricia stared at him. What in the world had made him change his mind?

"Don't just stand there, come now. I need to check out."

She blinked a couple of times, truly stunned that he'd given up so quickly, but followed him when he went out of the room and began the road home.

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Song of the day: Miss Murder - AFI