Oh, my goodness! Thank you all so, so, so much for the great reviews I got for the last chapter. You guys are the best. It really made me feel good reading all those. (Hugs everyone) : )

Disclaimer: I wish!

Chapter 7, Working

"Brother! Get up!" Alphonse grabbed the pillow that his brother was sleeping on and repeatedly wacked him over the head with it or, at least, wherehis headwould be. Al couldn't tell because Ed had the covers over him.

"Come on, Al! Just give me one more hour to enjoy this dream." Ed groaned.

"Nope! Come on, you love-sick puppy." He managed to pull Ed out of the bed and literally dragged him into the dining room. He pushed him into a chair and placed some food in front of him.

"Why couldn't you let me sleep a little more?" Ed complained, but started to eat the food. Al flicked his ear with his finger.

"Ow!"

"It's almost 1pm! You'll sleep the day away." Al scolded.

"What's wrong with that?"

"Everything! Now hurry up and eat and go get ready." He smiled sweetly at his brother. "You're going job hunting." Ed nearly choked on his breakfast/lunch.

"What! For what? I don't need a job!" Al sat down.

"Yes, you do. You're not free-loading off of me."

"Come on! You can let your sweet brother free-load a little longer, right?" He gave his younger brother the puppy dog eyes, but Al looked away with his eyes closed.

"I'm not falling for that."

"Seriously, I don't need a job. I've got a bit saved up from my last job." Ed said matter-of-factly.

"So? What will you do when that money runs out?" Ed froze. "No free-loaders!"

"Alright, alright! You just want me out of the house." Ed pretended to cry and Al slapped the back of his head before running off to his room.

-----

"Now all you have to do is watch this boring video. It's about 15 minutes long." Winry turned on the tv and set everything up.

"I'll be back in a few." She left Ed in the office alone. He slunk down a bit in the chair. He was extremely grateful that he didn't have to look far for a job. Winry was quitting her's at the restaurant and someone had to take her place so...here he was.

"I think I'll catch a short nap." Ed yawned and closed his eyes. After a couple minutes, someone opened the door and peeked in.

"Ed?" He didn't budge at his name being called. "Hey, Ed?" The person walked all the way into the room and clapped loudly right in Ed's face.

"Huh? What?" He jumped up and rubbed his eyes.

"Are you crazy? You want to get fired on your first day?" Al stood in front of him with his arms folded.

"Sorry! This tape is really boring and it's not like I'll remember all this stuff, anyway." He said defensively.

"Whatever. I came to tell you that Roy just walked in." Ed straightened up quickly.

"I didn't know he had to work today." Al smiled at Ed's sudden happy attitude.

"Yeah and he doesn't know you work here now either. Why not surprise him and tell him how you feel?" Ed's smile faded.

"Areyou crazy? I can't do that! I-no! I can't!" Al put a hand on Edward's shoulder.

"Brother, it's not like he hasn't noticed something's up. He told me that you've been acting different around him."

"He did?" Ed nervously pulled on his ponytail. "What else did he say?"

"Why does it matter, Ed? You told me how you felt about him over a week ago, why haven't you said anything to him yet?"

"Because! I-I'm scared." Al sighed at his hopeless brother. "Besides, he's not into guys. You're the one who told me that!"

"You said he told you that he loved you, right?"

"As a friend, Al! He doesn't want me like that." Ed looked at his taller, but younger, brother. Al looked like he was in deep thought.

"What are you thinking?" Ed asked him. Al shook his head.

"Sorry, brother. I can't think of anything. Hey, maybe Winry can help." He walked toward the door, but Ed stopped him.

"No way! It's bad enough you already know my secret. Don't go telling your girlfriend!" Ed demanded.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Al yelled.

"Whatever you say, Al." Edward said sarcastically. "Just don't tell her, please!" He was holding Alphonse by the wrist tightly as Winry walked in.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Nothing. Brother just has a little problem." Al opened his mouth to continue, but Ed quickly covered it with his hand.

"What?" Winry looked back and forth between both brothers.

"My problem is that, uh...I have really bad people skills, so I'm kinda scared to be a waiter. That's all!" He grinned a nice, cheesy smile at her.

"Oh, well that's not a big problem.Jean could help you better than I could with that one." She stopped the tape. "Come on you two." Al swatted Ed's hand away.

"You're such a chicken." He teased Ed.

"Oh, yeah? Look who's talking?"

"Shut up."

-----

"Okay. That's three teas. One lemon, the other two black cherry flavored, right?" Ed repeated to the lady.

"No! Geez, are you new? That's one lemon, one black cherry, and one with both, but with a little more lemon than cherry in it? Did you finally get that, sweetheart?" She spoke as if he was the stupidest person she ever met.

"Got it." He smiled and walked off to make the drinks, grumbbling the whole time.

"That stupid bitch. Like she needs that many drinks. Who the hell drinks that much tea in one sitting, anyway?" He muttered to himself.

From just this one day, Ed had a newfound respect for anyone working in this type of business. He was ready to shoot someone already, he had no idea how everyone else dealt with this job. Some people were such assholes! He turned with all the drinks on a tray to head back to the lady, when he almost bumped into someone.

"Whoa! Be careful." Ed looked up at the person. "How's it going, Ed? You look like you want to murder me." Havoc joked, looking at Ed's pissed off face.

"Is it break time, yet?" Ed groaned, making the other blond smile.

"We just came off a break ten minutes ago. Sorry, Eddy." He ruffled his hair. "You got a lot longer to go before the next break." Ed hunched over, defeated.

"You'll be alright. You're doing really good for your first day. Just a few more hours, then you can go home." Ed nodded, then walked over to give the evil woman her tea.

"Took long enough." She said, shaking her head at the person sitting across from her in the booth. She just didn't know how badly he wanted to wack her in the face with the tray. He walked back over to the bar and glanced around.

Havoc was chatting up a group of women at a large table, while Winry seated more people. Al was a cook, so he didn't have to deal with the people straight on. 'Lucky him.' Other waiters and waitresses walked around busily taking orders, then he spotted him.

Roy was sitting at one of the boothes, but he wasn't alone. Ed could see someone sitting across from him, but all he saw of them was the back of their blond head. The person soon got up and Ed could now see it was a woman. A beautiful, blonde woman. Edward felt a twinge of something, but it soon disappeared as he looked at Roy.

He had his chin in his hand that was propped up by the elbow, looking out the window wearily. Maybe Roy wasn't so interested in what the woman had to say. That made him smile a bit. Ed then blew off the nervous feeling he felt and walked up to the man.

"Having a rough night, too?" He asked the dark-haired man. Roy was a little startled at the voice, then he noticed who it was.

"You could say that." He watched Ed sit down. "How are you liking your first day so far? I saw you out there busting your tail." Ed sighed and put his head back against the seat.

"I'm ready to quit already. I'm sore, tired, and aggravated." Roy chuckled.

"It's a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it. You shouldn't have started until next week, though."

"Yeah, since it was so busy today, the supervisor had me help out. A little 'hands-on experience' is what he called it. Damn bastard." Ed muttered, making the older man laugh again.

"I'm serious. I can't stand this job. Damn kids kept pointing and staring at my hand. That's why I'm wearing this." He raised up his automail hand that was covered with a white glove. "I never did like these limbs." He spoke quietly.

"Don't worry about those kids." Roy took his hand like he had did many nights ago. "They make you...you." Ed smiled.

"And I think they're beautiful." Ed's eyes met Roy's and he knew that he was blushing brightly now.

"Um, Roy, I uh..." Ed's eyes dropped to the table. "I...nevermind. I should get back to work." Ed stood, but Roy still held on to his hand, causing the younger of the two to turn back to face him.

"Tell me, Ed."

"There's nothing to tell." The blond faked smiled but Roy frowned at him.

"Yes, there is. It's the reason why you've been acting strangely toward me, isn't it?" A shock look crossed the younger man's face.

"Hey, waiter." The 'evil woman' snapped. "I need another tea!"

"I have to go." Edward shook free of Roy's grip. He could have cared less about the woman's drink as he mindlessly got it for her. His heart was racing too fast in his chest to even be bothered by her attitude.

"Why won't you just tell me, Edward?" Roy sighed sadly.

Whew, I'm tired! Glad that's done, though. Thanks for reading. Peace!