Top Note!: Sorry for the delay everyone! School and all kept me from this. Damn...The ITBS is much more difficult than I expected...oh well! I posted this at least! And sorry if there are some OOC in this chapter! I just don't know anymore!
"So, have you ever been to a festival before?" Erika asked leaning her head on Ed's arm. Ed flinched as she put her head on his shoulder but complied anyway.
"I've only really been to the sheep festival back in Risembool." Ed responded as they turned a corner.
Erika lifted her head up and stared up at the blond. "Serious?" Erika asked.
Ed sighed. "Yes! You've been asking that a lot lately, first about Christmas and now about this," Ed said. Erika shook her head as she looked forward.
"Can't help it. It's just that, well, after mom and dad died, me and Ames still kept our traditional holidays and such. I guess since Ashwell's such a small town, we had so many celebrating holidays we just couldn't help ourselves." Erika said.
Ed raised an eyebrow. "You remember Ashwell and Amy now?" Ed asked.
"Well, I sort of do. I still have the majority of my life missing. All I remember are faces and certain events. Not much really." Erika said. Ed looked down.
"Oh…" Ed said disappointed.
"But I'll get my memory back once we cross the Gate right?" Erika asked.
Edward rubbed the back of his head unsure. "Well, I still think you'll have to give something up. You know, Equivalent Exchange. Something for your memories." Ed said.
"Well, that's just great!" Erika said and sighed. She slumped her shoulders as she looked up at Ed. "Think I can bypass it?" Erika said smirking.
Ed frowned at the girl as he shook his head. "For the last time no! You aren't going to use the Eyes of the Soul. Must you be so hot headed?"
Erika stuck her tongue out at him. "Like you know what'll happen. If I use it maybe I can get your leg back."
Ed thought about that for a moment before he shook his head and glared at the girl. "Stop trying to trick me into letting you use it! You aren't going to!"
Erika unlinked her arm from his as she glared at him. "Who made you the keeper of Eyes of the Soul huh?" Erika asked.
"I'm not; it's just that you need to know your limits." Ed said putting his hands behind his head.
"Come one, come all! Come to the magnificent battle arena! Fight against the champions of the school and see if you can win two seats in the Great Show's Singing Feature!" a woman announced. Erika and Ed shifted their attention to the man to find Katie and Nathan there watching the show.
"Kat! Nate!" Erika called as she jogged up to them. Katie ad Nathan turned to the brunette and smiled.
"Oh, Hey Erika, Willard." Nathan greeted with a wave.
"Willard? Didn't expect you to be here." Kat said as she took a bite of her pretzel.
"Yeah…well, thought I'd come before leave to England again," Ed said rubbing the back oh his head.
"It's too bad you're leaving so soon," Nate said disappointed.
"But at least you got close to a certain person at your stay," Kat drawled out wiggling her eyebrows and jerking her head in Erika's direction.
Ed and Erika's face turned immediately red as they looked away from each other, not daring to make eye contact. "Damn it Kat. How many times do I need to say it? It's not like that…" Erika muttered blushing pink.
"Oh hello you two!" the woman who was announcing earlier said. Her curly strawberry blonde hair just draped below her shoulders and she bore a very nice smile. She wore a red v neck dress shirt with a nice black miniskirt. She waved Ed and Erika over while she winked at them. "Well, how would you two think of entering this contest right here? You'll get two front row tickets to the Great Show Singing Feature!"
Erika shook her head. "Oh, sorry. I'm a performer in it. I can't enter the contest," Erika said.
The woman turned to Ed while jabbing her thumb towards the arena. "Then how about you? You win the tickets and you'll get the full stage experience!" she said cheerfully. "What about it?"
"Uh…I'm not so sure," Ed said. Kat hit him in the back.
"Please! It's just for fun anyway! Go ahead! We'll be rooting for ya!" Kat exclaimed pushing him towards the arena.
"No really!" Ed said unsure whether to join the contest or not. It'd be unfair really, he's a trained fighter in martial arts. If teacher were there, she'd probably be beating every single opponent as if it was nothing.
"So how's my next prey?" a boy asked as he walking in behind the young woman. His black hair was pushed back by his hand while his eyes were a dingy green. His jaw line started to tighten as he caught sight of Erika who just narrowed her eyes at him. He smirked as he leaned next to her making sure to flex his muscles. "Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in…Well, Erika. I didn't expect you to be at this festival."
Erika rolled her eyes in disgust as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm a performer you idiotic jerk," she retorted bitterly.
The boy chuckled as he smiled. "Someone missed me," he said.
"Like I'd ever miss you Jay," Erika hissed.
"Oh! You're using my name are ya?" Jay asked as he looked to the side. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at why Ed and Nate was glaring at him, or why Kat was sticking her tongue out at him, but he brushed it off. "So…who's going up against me?" Jay asked.
"As a matter of fact," Kat said stepping forward. "Our friend Willard was just about ready to get into the arena."
Erika and Ed both stared at her like she was crazy. "Heh?" they both asked in unison.
Jay scoffed as he looked Ed up and down. "Him? Really?" Jay asked. "A shrimp like him is going up against the quarter back of the football team?"
"WHO YOU CALLING SHRIMP?" Ed shouted as he thrashed trying to get to Jay, but Nathan wouldn't allow him.
"Yeah! Who you calling a shrimp!" Erika said. "That's my job!"
Kat laughed as she put and arm around Erika's shoulders. Jay scoffed again. "Feisty shrimp aren't ya?" he asked Ed who was kicking and punching to murder Jay. "I bet you got your anger management from girly over there huh?"
This time it was Erika who growled and kicked to get to Jay. She death glared at Jay as he calmly walked to the middle of the arena winking at her. She growled again. "Nathan…let go of Edward…" Erika said dangerously quiet, never faltering from her murderous expression in her eyes.
Nathan and Katie just stared at her with shock at her tone in voice to not notice she had called him Edward. Nathan just nodded and gulped. "Yes ma'am…" He said timidly as he put Ed down.
As soon as Ed was let down, he charged into the arena, ready to beat Jay to a pulp. Ed realized how angry he was getting and decided to calm down a bit so he started standing calmly with his hands at his sides. Jay brought his hands up in fists that hovered in front of his face. He raised an eyebrow at why Ed was in such a relaxed position, like he didn't care of what he was getting into. Jay waited for the bell, and as it ringed, Jay immediately charged at Ed. This'll show Erika who's the best option for her… Jay thought.
Ed sighed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He closed his eyes as he simply heard the thundering of Jay's shoes hitting the floor. As it came time when Jay was about to punch, Ed had simply jumped over him, making a flip as he did. Jay stopped running, stopping dead in his tracks a he turned around swiftly, staring at Ed in shock.
"How'd you…?" Jay asked stunned.
Ed smirked as he shrugged. "That all you got?" Ed asked mockingly.
Jay growled as he charged forward. He brought up his fist as he tried to punch him in the face again, only for Ed to duck in a second, and simply dodge to the side again. Jay growled again as he turned on heel to face Edward again, who still had a smug look on his face. Jay figured it was best to stop with the full force attacks and go for an actual style of fighting. Jay brought himself in a martial arts stance as he bounced on his feet. Ed simply stood there with his hands still in his pockets, not even moving an inch. Jay snarled as he ran forward, aiming a kick to Ed's stomach, figuring he won't be able to dodge that. Ed simply smirked as he stood there and waited for the perfect time to catch him off guard. As Jay's foot almost hit his abdomen, Ed caught his foot and jerked him to the side. Jay's eyes widened as he braced himself for the harsh ground he was going to hit.
But he was wrong.
Jay flew across the arena into the wall, absorbing the blow in his back. Jay gasped as he fell to the floor with a grunt. He panted to try and get the oxygen to come to his lungs again. In the distance, a small cheering could be heard. Both fighters turned their head to the voices to be met with Kat, Nate, and Erika all cheering against Jay, and the rest of the crowd against Ed. Jay smirked as he stood up and ran over to Ed again, causing the biggest fight that he had seen.
Erika stared at the two boys as they fought each other, seeing hits and kicks flying from them. Erika looked at them, particularly Ed, with determination. She was thinking of the episode of FMA when Ed had entered a contest in which it battled automail. She thought about it some more and figured Winry had put it perfectly. She glared at Jay who was sending her a smug look and he winked. Erika gagged at it. She knew fully well what that expression meant. It meant: After this is done, I'm going to kiss you in front of the entire student body. Erika grimaced at the thought of him actual attempting to kiss her and did something she normally wouldn't.
"Edward! You lose this fight and I'll kick your ass!" Erika shouted. Ed turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
"Erika?" Ed asked but his confusion was short lived as a hard substance hit his cheek, making him fall back a few steps. Ed looked forward to find Jay standing there with his fist in the air and a smug look on his face.
Katie and Nathan both stared at Erika as if she were crazy. Erika didn't notice it much for she was staring at the fight in front of her, with concern for a certain blond. Kat smiled cattishly as she saw what was going on and decided to let go what had just incurred. Nathan isn't that perceptive so he didn't notice what was going on and decided to confront her about it. He put a hand on her shoulder, jerking her from the other reality she was just in. She turned to him blinking her eyes out of confusion and with an innocent look on her face.
"Nate? What is it?" Erika asked.
"Why'd you just call Willard, Edward?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows. Erika's eyes widened as she looked around flustered. Her face turned red out of embarrassment as she glanced in Ed's direction with a baffled look on her face.
Crap. I gave up Ed's identity….how do I cover it up? Erika thought. "Oh, well….Edward is Cirle's middle name…" Erika said mentally patting herself on the back. Ed's alias felt strange on her lips as she said it. She brushed the thought off as Kat patted her on the shoulder.
"Ohhh, I SEE!" Kat said excitedly. "You're moving slow! Instead of starting at first names, you moved on to middle names! How sweet!"
Erika nodded, pushing away the actual intentions of Kat's words. "Yeah, that's it," Erika said shifting her attention back to Ed.
Ed sighed as he rubbed the hit Jay supplied him with. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this…" Ed said as he addressed Jay. "Hey you!"
"What?" Jay hissed.
"Forfeit the fight. You won't win," Ed said simply.
Jay laughed. "Ha! You are scared! Hear that Erika? Your new boy's afraid to fight against me! Still regret breaking up with me?" Jay called over to the brunette.
Erika growled. "I can't believe you're still bitter about the break up! You brought that on yourself ya jerk!" Erika yelled.
Jay scoffed again. "I'll kick this guy's ass. You'll see."
Erika death glared at him as she pointed at Ed. "Edward!" Erika shouted. Ed turned to her blinking his eyes. "I know you can do this with your hands tied behind your back!" Erika said and then smiled, winking at him with a thumbs up. "End it!"
Ed stared at her with surprise. Her words echoed throughout his mind and her smile was more than he had expected. He didn't know why she was acting so out of character all of a sudden, was it her annoyance with Jay? Or was it…something else? Ed smirked. "I don't know what it is, but," Edward said smirking as he ran towards Jay. "It's pretty damn rare for her, so, here I go!"
Ed put up a fist as he charged forward, not exactly going all out on him. No matter how arrogant, he was still just a high school kid who didn't know how to fight. But Ed on the other hand, had been training ever since age nine! Ed reached Jay and punched him in the stomach, making the air be thrown out of his lungs. Jay didn't have time to react, so Ed took the moment to punch him in the face. Ed didn't use full force, so Jay's jaw was still full functioning.
Let's just say his face would have some pain for the next few weeks.
Jay fell down, unconscious from the pain. Ed sighed as he began to pick him up, and he slung him over his shoulder. "I told you, you wouldn't win…" Ed said with a sigh as he reached a bench and rested Jay on it. The woman from before came up again as she looked Jay over. "Don't worry," Ed reassured the woman. "He's only unconscious. No damage except his face will hurt for the next few weeks."
The woman smiled. "Yeah, I know. Didn't think anyone would be able to do but you proved me wrong," the woman said as she handed Ed something. "Here's two tickets for the Great Show kid. You earned it."
Ed smiled as he took the tickets and stood up. "Thanks. Now I get to see a certain person perform in that Great Show," Ed said as he walked towards a certain grinning brunette. Ed smiled in return. Then he mentally face palmed himself.
Damn…did I really fall in love with her? Ed thought.
Erika laughed as she ran towards him, smiling with Kat and Nate behind her. "Hey! You won! I knew you can do it!" Erika called.
Ed smiled. Eh…I never know with this girl…but maybe…it's not such a bad thing.
BN: Once again, sorry for OOC-ness. Didn't mean for that to happen. Well, another reminder! (sorry for saying this so much, but it is important!) Please check the poll on my profile! It determines your reading experience!
Until next chap! =:D