»Part Ten: So-Called 'Food' «

I picked up a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, triangle-cut and covered in plastic wrap. I had one every single day with milk, and I usually got an ice cream afterwards.

"What am I supposed to eat?"

Oops. I guess I had been so hungry for myself that I had forgotten about what Ed was going to have for lunch. I shrugged.

"Just... have what I'm having," I suggested.

"Okay, what's that?" He smiled naively.

"A Peanut-butter and jelly sandwich with--"

"With what?"

"Milk." I muttered. Guess I had forgotten that, too.

"Yech, no thanks." He made a face of disgust.

"Didn't think so," I turned and read the blackboard which displayed the lunch for each day. Usually it was something gross, like what schools normally serve to kids in an attempt to get them sick of school food. I know their plan: freak everyone out of hot lunch so that they all bring it from home, thinking it will save them some money for textbooks or something. They weren't fooling anybody.

Ed's stomach growled, interrupting my subconscious sneer. I shook the evil thoughts from my head and read aloud what was scribbled in chalk, "Macaroni & Cheese w/ Bread."

"Sounds good!" He took a step towards the ladies who were serving it.

"I wouldn't if I were you." I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Why not?"

"School lunches... aren't exactly--"

His stomach interrupted me again. He placed a hand over it, laughing nervously through his teeth.

"Alright," I dismissed. It's not like I hadn't warned him.

"Thanks," I told the woman running the cash register as I payed for mine and Ed's food. Fortunately, she had also fallen for the false explanation that Ed and I had been using throughout the day; I barely had to get into it all.

She smiled and nodded as I started making my way over to where my usual seat was for lunch. I sat with four other people; my friends, Linsey and Sarah, and Sarah's friends, who I normally got along with, Emily and Samille. There was always just enough room for the five of us... wait... where did that leave Ed? I was about to address the problem when someone called out my name.

"Oli!" It was Linsey.

Normally, I would've been happy to see her. We would always talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and other anime, so she knew very well who Ed was. That was why, today, it scared me. Of course she would know who Ed was if I introduced him, but would she believe me? Would she understand? I walked up to her, almost afraid to find out.

"What's up?"

"They're going to sit outside again," she frowned. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Who?"

"Sarah, and Emily and Samille; I heard them say that they were going to sit out on the picnic tables!"

"Um... okay?"

"I don't wanna sit outside," she looked worried, "But I don't want to be alone again, either."

Did I forget to mention that I was out sick Monday? This is partly a true story—except for the part with, y'know, Ed—only I switched some stuff around so that everything could happen like I wanted it to. I really was sick on Monday, but I was sick Tuesday, too. Linsey said this to me on Wednesday; the story is a bit mixed up like that. Just roll with it, okay?

"Who said I was sitting with them?" I asked. If it had been earlier in the year, then sure, I probably would've gone to sit with them; but Linsey and I had become really good friends since then, and I would much rather sit with her than... yeah.

She still looked a bit confused.

"I mean I'm going to stay in here," I laughed, "I don't wanna be with those guys anyway!"

"Okay," she smiled. Then she noticed the strange kid standing behind me, "Who--?" she pointed.

"I'll tell you when you sit down," I said before she could finish, turning around and heading off towards the table again.

"Who was that?" Ed asked almost as soon as he was sure she couldn't hear us.

"Just wait till she comes over and sits down," I said, sitting down myself. As soon as he got confirmation from me nodding my head, Ed sat himself down as well. He was right across from me, the seat where Emily usually ate lunch.

I barely had time to finish my sandwich before Linsey came and seated herself in the regular spot, to my right.

"That was fast," I smirked. Linsey just laughed.

"Okay, now who is this guy?" she questioned openly, showing no sign that she cared if Ed had heard or not.

He hadn't. He was poking a fork at his 'rubber' macaroni, trying to decide whether it was really something he wanted to taste.

"Eat it," I said as if it were a dare.

He looked up at me like he had forgotten I was there.

I nodded, "Go ahead," I repeated.

Ed shrugged and put the fork into his mouth. Linsey and I watched his expression go from blank to horrible as he choked down the clump of macaroni and stuck out his tongue. "They call this food?"

"School food," Linsey and I laughed.

"It's awful!"

"Can't say I didn't warn you," I gloated. "Y'see why I tried to stop you earlier?"

Ed whined as his stomach groaned for food--real food. "Now what am I supposed to eat?"

As if I knew. "I'll make you something when we get home," I offered, even though school wouldn't be out for another hour-and-a-half.

He smacked his head down and reached his arms across the table flimsily, letting out a loud moan that was muffled by the tabletop.

"Oli!" Linsey urged impatiently, "Who is he?"

"Oh, right," I started, breathing out slowly as I spoke, "Linsey, meet--"

We both turned over to look at Ed--well, what was visible of him, anyway—when I noticed that his right hand was in plain view. Unfortunately, Linsey saw it too.

"Ed!" I reacted quickly as possible, "Your--!"

"Hn?" Ed looked up lifelessly, then followed my eyes down to his hand. He panicked and the hand frantically shot past him, hiding behind his back. This swift movement disturbed his braided hair, which Linsey also caught sight of.

"Ed?" She slowly put things together; the metal arm, the hair, not to mention his height and just his appearance in general. Linsey looked at me for an explanation

I flashed a weak smile. There was no need to answer.