Tales of Love, Jealousy and Confusion

Chapter 3 - Confusion and Confrontation

Lily was at the sink, washing dishes when Dee crossed the kitchen with a laundry basket filled with clothes. Her fiery red hair was up today, a bandana tied in her hair to keep it from getting in her eyes, but yet, some stray peices still found thier way there. The phantom of the opera CD was playing softly on her CD player as she washed, rinsed then dried the dishes, then put them away, dancing all the time. "Say you love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summertime, say you need me with you, now and always, promise me that all you say is true - thats all I ask of you. . ." she sang, her light, crystaline voice filling the air around her. She felt so light! It was only a week until the school's masquerade ball! A week until she met him. . .

Dragana smiled. Lily, she could see, was crazy about meeting this guy. Tossing some clothes into the washer, she put the basket down. "Mmm. . .I wonder who he is, really? Its almost just as exciting for me as it is for Lily. . .no, I take that back. No doubt its more exciting for her than for me. Still, its catching, this excitement." she said thoughtfully. Raoul on the CD had just sang his second verse, so Dragana joined Lily's delicate voice with her own deeper, sultry voice. "All I want is freedom, a world with no more night, and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me. . ."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edward was also listening to the same song on his cd player, coincedintally. He hummed the first verse while he vaccumed, the vaccum not completely drowning out the song. "No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you - my words will warm and calm you. "Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you, beside you, to guard and to guide you." he sang, deep and true. It was a good thing that Alphonse was outside, else he would have never let him live it down. He looked out the window, seeing Lily at hers, still washing dishes. How similar they were - he had lost his mother with an illness and her mother gave her life to bring back her sister. Her father and stepmother had been killed in a car accident while his own had ran off on the other side of the gate. 'He's dead now, nore than likely.' he thought and shook his head. "I never really noticed how alike Lily and I are." he said, somewhat surprised.

She was happy, that he could tell. 'Probably excited about the ball. I wonder who she's going with? Better be nice to her, or I'll have to kill him.' he thought to himself. He shrugged, and decided he was glad he had asked her to save him a dance. 'God! That was embarrasing!' he thought to himself. "She probably thinks I'm an idiot that can't make up his own mind!" he said when Alphonse came in with a basket full of dried clothes. "Hanging clothes out on the line makes them smell better, doesn't it brother?" he asked when he noticed his brother was in his own world. Looking out the window, he could see why. "Oh, its Lil-y" he said in a sing-song voice. Ed looked at Alphonse. "Oh, knock it off will you?" he said grumpily. Alphonse grinned. "So, no leads on the mystery girl? Or are you eyeing someone else now?" he said with a wink and left as a shoe came very close to his head. Finishing up, he got online for a little while.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily finished up the dishes and jumped on the computer, squealing when she saw his name online.

Serenity425: has logged on.

FM Alchemist: has logged on.

Serenity425: Hi!

FM Alchemist: Hello

Serenity425: So, what are you up to?

FM Alchemist: Just finished vaccuming - boring chores. You?

Serenity425: Just got done washing dishes. Sounds interesting, lol.

FM Alchemist: Yeah really. More like so interesting it will put you to sleep.

Serenity425: Do I hear sarcasm?

FM Alchemist: No, of course not. smirks

Serenity425: Maybe I was mistaken then? laughs

FM Alchemist: Must have been.

Serenity425: Lol, your so silly. So, excited about the ball?

FM Alchemist: Yes, are you?

Serenity425: Definately, and a little nervous.

FM Alchemist: Really? Me too.

Serenity425: Why are you nervous?

FM Alchemist: Uh, just am. You?

Serenity425: Well, I guess its because I'm a little small.

FM Alchemist: You mean, your short?

Serenity425: blushes Yes.

Ed rubbed his chin. Odd that the girl would think that just because she was short (X:( ) that he wouldn't like her. If she knew that he was short too, would it push her away? Maybe she wanted a tall guy to make her feel. . .better? But if he wanted to be honest, and he did, then he would have to tell her his own insecurities. . .

FM Alchemist: Don't worry about that - everyone can't be tall, you know? I can understand since I'm. . .well, I'm the same way.

Serenity425: You are?

Lily felt a blush rising up on her cheeks. He didn't care if she was short? Oh! He was too! Well then, that would be perfect!

FM Alchemist: Yeah. Surprising?

Serenity425: No, not really. I think its cute!

FM Alchemist: Oh god, your starting to sound like my neighbor.

Serenity425: Am I? Sorry. She and I must be a lot alike.

FM Alchemist: Yeah, you are.

Serenity425: Ah.

FM Alchemist: Oh, so you can recognize me, I will bring a red rose with a black ribbon with a pearl in the center, just like the phantom of the opera.

Serenity425: Sounds wonderful.

FM Alchemist: Yeah. My mask is black, by the way.

Serenity425: Mine is white with rose buds at two corners. They're such a pretty pink.

FM Alchemist: That will go good with your costume.

Serenity425: Yes, my sister said it looked really pretty. She's wearing a green princess costume.

FM Alchemist: Really?

Serenity425: Yeah.

FM Alchemist: Thats neat.

The sound of the washing machine died in the background. Whenever they dried thier clothes outside, they threw them in the dryer to get the wrinkles out. "Dang! Why do I have to go now!" he exclaimed, frustrated.

Serenity425: With her black hair and green eyes, it will look really pretty on her.

FM Alchemist: Probably. I got to go finish the clothes. I'll talk to you later.

Serenity425: Aww, okay. Well, I'll talk to you later then.

FM Alchemist: Bye.

Serenity425: has signed off.

FM Alchemist: has signed off.

"Aww, I wished he could have stayed longer." said Lily with a sigh. Turning off the computer, she decided that she would take a shower and go for a walk, maybe get the ice cream that she didn't get the chance to get yesterday. "If I go for ice cream, I'll walk the extra ten minutes to the other stand. After all, I don't want to be slapped again for no reason!" she said outloud, and undoing the bright red bandana from her red hair. Letting it fall, she teased it with her hands, making it look more fluffy and picking out a pair of cut off jean shorts and a pretty white tank top with spagetti straps. It had a cute picture of a butterfly on it with glitter that sparkled when she moved.

A few minutes later, she got out of the shower feeling clean and refreshed. Clapping her hands and placing them on her hair, the hair sprung up in an elegant braided bun. Adding a pretty clip with a butterfly similar to the one on her shirt, though it was rustic colored and didn't have glitter on it, she put on a pair of socks and tennis shoes. "Mmm. . .I wonder what Dee's up to?" she wondered as she went outside. She found Dee planting some flowers and herbs. Lily smiled. "Hey, Dee, I'm going to go walking. I might go to Florence's Ice Cream Parlor on the way. Need anything?" she asked. Dee shook her head. "No, I don't think so, unless you want to grab something to drink." she answered back. Lily nodded. "Okay."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ed had just taken a shower himself. Climbing out, he threw his usual clothes on, which happened to be a black tank top and a pair of black pants, made of leather. Putting his hair in the usual braid, he went outside and saw Dee outside planting flowers. "Hey." he said and Dee smiled at him. "Oh, hi Ed." she said, dusting off her hands and wiping the sweat from her brow. "What are you doing?" she asked curiously. "Oh, thinking of going on a walk. It is a really nice day out and I don't plan on wasting it inside cleaning." he said and Dee laughed. "You and Lily are just alike. She's also gone on a walk. I think she said something about going to go get some ice cream at Florence's. I don't think that she wanted to go to the other after Tanya slapped her yesterday." she said, sadness in her voice. Ed's fists tightened.

"I'm going to have to knock some sense into her head it looks like." he growled. "She will definantely regret what she did." he said in a dark voice and Dee looked curiously at him. "You like Lily, don't you?" she asked casually, as though one might ask which color you liked best. "What? Yeah, she's cool, though she can get on your nerves at times with her perfectness. Why? What do you mean?" he asked. "Ah ha! I told Al that you had a crush on her, just as Lily - "

"WHAT! I didn't say that!" he said quickly, completely surprised by what she said. "I said I LIKED her, not in that way though! And. . ." he said, thinking seriously about it for a minute. "And what do you mean, just as Lily what!" he asked, but she wouldn't say anything else. "Oh, its nothing, just wondering you see. Well, I just need to water these now, and I'll be done." she said, and smirked when her back faced Ed. Going for the waterhose, she came back and watered her plants good. "Well, I'm going to take me a shower then go out to get something for dinner tonight. Bye for now Ed." she said, taking off her now dirty gloves and went inside. Once inside, she laughed. "He definantely likes her!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edward was frustrated. Dee had tricked him into saying that he liked Lily in that way. "What the hell should it matter anyways? I mean, really. Lily has a date, and well, so do I." he said, picturing Lily's date to be a tall, dark and handsome guy, probably like Professor Mustang. Maybe the Professor had a son? He sighed. "So what if I do like her? Its nothing, I mean, she's already got a date for heaven's sake, and she's probably going to fall head over heels with him too. I'll never get a chance, so it doesn't really matter." he said and wasn't really watching where he was going like he should have. Bam! He smacked right into the girl he had been pondering over. "Lily!" he said, rubbing his head where thiers had connected. "Sorry about that." he said, almost surprised by his own speed. He was able to catch her before she fell, but now, she was in his arms. Always, she looked beautiful, and now, she looked even alluring. What the hell was he supposed to do with her now? And why, why WHY, did he want to suddenly kiss her very pretty strawberry lips?

Lily had been thinking of Ed when the incident happened.

Flashback:

"Oh give up already Lils, you know you like him. I have to admit, he is a cutie, though I have Alponse." said Dee, bugging her about it. "But he HATES me Dee! Don't you see that?" she asked. Dee shook her head. "He asked you to save him a dance Lil. He likes you! He wouldn't have asked you that, in front of all the people there, if he didn't like you!" she said and Lily frowned. "Maybe. . .but I have a date already. I've already bought the costumes and all." she said and Dee nodded. "Well, give him the dance he wants at the end - your guy can't grudge you that. See what happens."

End Flashback

She hadn't been looking where she was going, much like Ed when suddenly, she was thrown into the air for a second time in two days when they bumped heads. The force temporarily knocked her off her feet, but she was very surprised about being caught before she could hit the ground. She was being held by someone who had a lot of lean muscles, tight underneath the skin. Black was the first color she saw. Her green eyes widened when she realized that Edward wore black! She looked up and saw Ed's golden eyes looking into her own green orbs. "Hi." he said softly. "Hey." she said, breathless. "You know, you should drop by more often." he said with a teasing voice. She blushed and he let her down. "Your sister said that you were going to get some ice cream at Florence's." he said casually. She smiled. "Yes, I am. Want to come join me?" she invited, blushing somewhat.

"Sure." he said, surprised she, of all people, would invite him. "Ed?" she asked hesitatingly, biting down on her lip as though afraid to ask what she wanted to, what she needed to find out the answer to. "Yeah Lily?" he asked. He noticed she was nervous. He hoped she wasn't about to ask him if he liked her - he still didn't know the answer to that question yet. "Do you still hate me?" she asked, cocking her head towards him with an almost childish look in her eyes. "I never hated you Lil, I just. . . well, we never really got along, did we? But I never hated you." he said and she smiled. "Alright." she said brightly as they arrived at the ice cream shop. "Your favorite flavor is chocolate, right?' she asked. Ed's golden eyes widened slightly. "Yeah, how'd you know?" he asked and she beamed. "Remember, me, you, Dee and Al used to get ice cream at least once a week. Can you guess mine?" she asked. He grinned. "Yours is easy. You like strawberry cheesecake." he said and grinned.

"Yeah! How'd you know?" she asked. "I noticed it when we got ice creams too." he said and opened the door for her. Flattered, she went inside. Getting thier ice creams, Lily and Ed sat down and began to talk. "You said that you hated me when we were younger." she said. Ed shrugged. "Yeah, but that's when we were younger. I was just mad because you messed up the circle I was doing." he said. "Yeah, I think I remember that. You were always a great alchemist." Lily said, smiling. "Not to brag, but I am. And your not too shabby either with alchemy." he replied. Lily grinned. "Why, Edward, is that a compliment?" she teased and she could see that his cheeks lit up. "Well, yeah. Not much of one though, considering that you knew you were a great alchemist." he said, shrugging and trying to get the blush to go away. Her eyes widened a little. 'He just complimented me again!' she thought to herself. 'He's so dreamy with his beautiful golden eyes and blonde hair. Black is definantely the color for him! Who would have thought that Edward had such muscles! Any girl he goes out with would be flattered.' she thought and scooped up the last bit of whipped cream, strawberry ice cream and strawberry peices into her spoon, making certain to wipe her mouth afterwards. "That was yummy." she said. Ed had finished his about the same time. "Yeah, it was." he said and couldn't stop smiling.

She wished now that she hadn't have suggested that she and the boy meet at the masquerade - but, well, she did have one dance with Edward. 'A dance - in his arms.' she thought, getting tingly all over, but hiding it as best she could. Edward was thinking along those same lines, and wished that he could have asked her out before she had gotten her date. "So, Lily, still going to save me a dance?" he asked. Lily smiled. "Of course." she said and tossed her cup and spoon away while Ed done the same to his own. Outside, the wind blew slightly, making the warm day perfect. Flowers grew alongside of the road where they walked and still chatted until they reached the halfway point when someone very familiar came stomping up to Lily and Edward. It was Tanya. . .