A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I've been busy… This one is for Wind Omega! I decided to post it sooner so I wouldn't forget. Hot off the presses, I just wrote this one yesterday. Please enjoy! Sorry the title's so long:sweatdrop:

37. Scieszka x Al – There Are Other Things I Love Besides Books

"Thanks for carrying my books for me," said Scieszka brightly to Al as he walked her home.

"No problem," said Al, stopping at Scieszka's door and opening up his chest plate. Dozens of books were stacked up inside.

"I really hope this isn't embarrassing or degrading for you," Scieszka apologized worriedly, her large, dramatic hazel eyes widening. "I mean, using you like some kind of suitcase or something… because I'm really sorry if it is! And also, um… thanks for paying for all of those new encyclopedia volumes and mystery novels…" Scieszka scratched at her mousy brown hair nervously.

"No, really, it's no problem." Al closed his chest plate and put a metal hand on the small of Scieszka's back. "I know how much you like books, Scieszka. Don't worry about it."

Al had taken her into town to the large bookstore while Ed had been off doing something for the military. "You'll be okay on your own, Al?" he had asked before leaving, and Al had nodded, knowing exactly what to do in lieu of Ed's absence; for a long time – ever since they had met, actually – Al had been wanting to go out with Scieszka, the cute girl who used to work at the Central Library.

At the bookstore, Scieszka, overexcited as expected, had bounded around from shelf to shelf, gasping and gazing at the hundreds of neatly-bound tomes of nonfiction and novels, encyclopedias and comic books. She had had a hard time containing herself.

Finally, Scieszka had decided on about three dozen different books to buy, and Al had generously paid the entire expense. Like Ed, he had a costly habit of buying whatever his lady friend desired.

Scieszka blushed at Al's kindness and gave him her biggest, cutest smile. The dimples in her cheeks stood out attractively, and the face of Al's armor seemed to grin as well. She's such a great girl…

"Thanks again, Al," Scieszka said, taking a stack of books from Al's chest plate and continuing to smile lovingly. "I had a great time with you tonight."

"Me too, Scieszka," said Al. "I, um… was also hoping we would be able to do this again soon… I… I know a good bookstore in my own hometown, Rizembul…"

Scieszka's smile mellowed slightly as she looked into Al's kind eyes and replied, "Al, there are other things I love besides books. Why don't we just go out for a walk in the park? You know, so I can spend time with you. Because I really like you, Al. Really, I do!"

Al exclaimed excitedly and gave Scieszka a hug. "I'm so glad!" he said. "I like you too, Scieszka!"

"Then it's a date?"

"Sure is!"

Reviewer Responses!

writerauthorguy: Sorry! I never really thought too much of the murder's details, so I never wrote another drabble on it. T.T I wouldn't know where to begin, first of all… heh heh. The last drabble was kind of just a "what the hell" kinda drabble… Sorry about that! Thanks for the review!

K. A. Maples: Well, I'm glad you liked it! Watching Law & Order and Clint Eastwood movies will make me do odd drabbles such as the last one… O.o Thanks for the review!

Blackrose Kitsune: "Ed is dead?" Yes. "Roy killed him?" Yes. "What has the world come to?" I have no idea. But I'd like to think it has become an avocado. Heh heh. Thanks for the review:)

Valen aka Backstreet: Heh. :hits Roy: Bad Taisa! Bad Taisa! Lol, that's fun… I thought the finger and toes twist would be like added psychopathic goryness. Blame "Taking Lives" – that movie's freakeh. O.O But I like it. n.n Thanks for the review!

MetalWing Alchemist: Well THANK YOU for witholding the spoilers! I've heard way more than I should (never on purpose! T.T) about FMA and I don't need to hear any more… I hate spoilers. They spoil everything:cries: Anyway… actually now, I read on adultswim's website that new episodes of FMA are airing on Sept. 8 at 11:30 eastern time… Bah, stupid website; it likes to randomly change the schedule and confuse me! T.T But no, I haven't seen the adultswim clip! I don't have the right media program for it or something… :cries some more: But regarding my actual drabble, yeah, I have thing for murder fics… They're just so interesting! You know, everybody already thinks I'm sadistic (and I kinda am, to be honest v.v), but reading murder mystery novels is totally okay with them. Go figure. :rolls eyes: Thanks for the review!

Miss DarkRose: I didn't really have a good reason for Roy to kill Ed (because I support Roy x Ed too much ha ha), so I just picked "because Ed was annoying". Because if I were Roy, I would feel annoyed with Ed not giving me the proper respect (I have an even bigger ego than Roy does XP), and that might lead to some unpleasant circumstances for Mr. FullMetal… hee hee. Thanks for the review!

--crazykitsune17--