Dancing in the Rain

Chapter Nine

She really wanted to tell Edward! She honestly did! All Monday, all Tuesday, and all Wednesday. But... she didn't know how to word it. She had straightened it out in her head at least eighteen times, and yet nothing came out of her mouth when she tried to speak.

It was then on Friday afternoon, as Edward was walking her to the bus stop, (which seemed to be a habit they had picked up) she finally decided to spit it out. He couldn't be that mad right? After all, they were just friends.

"Edward."' Winry said as she gazed over at him.

He gave a "hm?" in reply.

She placed her hands behind her back, and added a small skip to her step. It was time to use her amazing acting skills. "My mom introduced me to this really nice guy on the weekend." She said.

He frowned, but didn't look at her. "And I care why...?" he asked.

"Well, he asked me out, and I said yes," she said rather slowly. "Is that all right?"

He frowned, but didn't reply right away. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he spoke. "It's your life," he said with a shrug. "I can't stop you from dating who you want."

Winry breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad he didn't flip out on her, but in a way, she was slightly disappointed at the same time.

"But..." he continued. "Because I'm your friend... I think that, I'll need to meet him."

Winry smiled slightly, and nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The two stopped at the bus stop, and started talking about the new shop project they had to do. They got one hundred percent on the last one, and were looking forwards to the new one. A black car pulled up next to the bus stop, and the door opened, revealing a grinning Envy. "Hey hot stuff." he said with a small smile, his eyes momentarily turning to Edward before turning back to her. "Why don't I give you a ride?"

Winry looked up at Edward, who's unblinking glare was directed at Envy. "Um... Edward..." she said forcing a smile. "This is Envy. The guy who's taking me out on Saturday."

"Hey," Envy said as he parked the car and got out, standing in front of Winry. "Name's Envy, and you are...?"

"Edward," the blonde replied stiffly.

"Edward. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand, but Edward didn't shake it. The bus pulled up and Edward put a hand on Winry's shoulder, guiding her towards it.

"Uh, I guess I'll se you Saturday Envy!" Winry said as she prepared to board the bus.

"I can drive you home!" the dark haired boy offered.

"It's all right!" Winry called back, before quickly getting on the bus. Edward and Winry moved to the back of the bus and took their seats. Edward glared out the back window, watching Envy get in his car and drive off. "Edward..." Winry said slowly. "Since when is this your bus?" she asked. Edward had walked her to the bus every day, but not once had he actually got on it with her.

Edward's eyes narrowed as he watched the black car head down a street. "I don't like that guy." he said softly, as he watched the car turn a corner and disappear.

---

Saturday had come all too quickly, and didn't seem to want to go away. The night seemed to linger on forever, each minute an hour. Each hour a day. It was an eternity of boredom. Envy was nice, and he was being respectful, but ever since Edward had said that he didn't like Envy, she just... didn't feel comfterble around him anymore. It was as though without Edward's approval, she couldn't enjoy herself. No matter how hard she tried Edward's words kept lingering in the back of her mind.

"I don't like that guy."

Winry shook her head and focused on what he was saying. "-the weak point. Wouldn't you say?"

Winry blinked, trying to remember what he was talking about. "I'm sorry," she admitted. "I really wasn't listening."

Envy sighed. "Are you having fun?" he asked.

She nodded. "I am really! I'm just... not focusing tonight..." she trailed off, and let her eyes fall to the table as she inspected the intricate designs in the wood.

"Would you look ast that," Envy said as he gazed down at his watch. "It's ten thirty. I promised your dad I'd get you back by eleven." He stood, setting some money down for the drinks they had. "Common. It's getting late. You're probably tired."

She nodded, and got to her feet, following him as they headed towards the door. As they got into his black car, she turned her attention out the window, letting her mind wander. "I've been thinking," Envy mused as he started the engine, and letting it give out a large roar that echoed through the streets. "Since I get out of school a half an hour before you do. Why don't I pick you up every day?" he asked as they silently started to drive down the street.

Winry turned her gaze over to him, and shook her head. "I can't, I-"

"Let's do this then," he said, interrupting her. "I'll pick you up on Monday from school, and if you don't like it, then I won't pick you up anymore." He then smirked. "Besides, this way you can show off your sexy new boyfriend to all your friends."

Winry held back the temptation to shudder.

"I... guess that's fair." she mumbled, figuring one day wouldn't kill her.

"Great!" Envy chirped.

The car pulled up in front of Winry's house, and Envy smiled. "This was a great date." He said. There was a certain look in his eyes that almost scared Winry. She turned and grasped the lock, opening it and stepping out before he could try anything.

"Yes it was. Thank you!" Winry said before turning and heading back towards her house.

As soon as Winry was gone, his smile faded. He put the car in reverse, pulled out of the driveway and headed down the street. As soon as he turned a corner, he pulled to the side of the road and pulled out his cell phone. He quickly dialed a number, before placing the phone to his ear. After a few rings, someone answered.

"Hello?" came a groggy voice at the other end.

"Yeah Gluttony. It's me." He replied.

"Envy!" the voice perked up. "How did things go?"

"Not good," Envy replied, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel. "She's not falling for my charms."

The man on the other end snorted. "I'm surprised anyone would fall for your charms."

"Shut up." Envy snapped. "Listen. She's got one of those overprotective 'boy-friends', you know the kind."

"Do I ever." The voice replied. "What are you gonna do about it?"

Envy hesitated a moment. "One of two things, my good friend. I'm either going to get him on my side," Envy paused. "Or I'll have to take him out of the picture."

---

Winry fell to her bed with a sigh. She hated this. Envy was perfect. Hell. He was too perfect. He was funny and smart. He was kind and protective at the same time. He was respectful and always generous. He was the perfect man. He was the man Winry used to dream about when she was younger. Maybe that was the problem. Perfection wasn't what she wanted anymore. Maybe she wanted that man in shining armor to rescue her a few months ago, but now that she had met Edward, things were different.

She frowned. Why did everything go back to Edward? No matter what the situation was, it always led back to him. What did she want now?

You want Edward. A voice in her head chimed. At that thought, she bolted upright, staring at her reflection in the mirror that lay at the end of her bed. Did she just...? She shook her head. Why would she want to go out with Edward? He was... he was...

Imperfection.

She frowned. It was true. Edward was probably the most imperfect boyfriend ever. He was sarcastic, rude, and an all around jerk when he wanted to be. But.. she turned her thoughts and tried to think of a date with Edward. She merely melted at the thought. She could see it. They would go out for a dinner all for themselves, and then, they would go dancing. She would be in a beautiful blue gown and he would be in an amazing black suit. And they would dance. They would dance for hours on end, simply loving being in each others arms.

Winry buried herself under her pillow as she truly realized what she was thinking. "You. Do. Not. Love. Edward. Elric." She told herself as she beat herself over the head with her fists.

But, the more she thought about it, the more she started to expand on her imperfect date with Edward Elric. At the end of the night, they would be standing on the porch, and it would be snowing lightly, and he would lean in, and they would share their very first kiss. It would be the perfect imperfect date. If that made any sense at all.

She released herself from pillow and walked over to her mirrored reflection. She gazed at herself, and found she was blushing. She was blushing at the thought of kissing Edward Elric! What was going on with her?

You love Edward Elric.

She couldn't accept those words. She wouldn't.

You love Edward Elric.

Once again, despite her inner self's attempt to reveal the truth to her, she wouldn't accept it.

YOU LOVE EDWARD ELRIC.

Winry gazed at herself wide-eyed in the mirror, before finally, the words really sunk in. "I love Edward Elric..." she breathed, before she was overcome with glee. "I love Edward Elric!" she cried, before sinking into her bed and giggling uncontrollably at the realization.

At that exact moment, the entire world was silent. It was a perfect example of her imperfect existence, and her imperfect love with Edward Elric.

A/N: Yup. We're drawing closer to the end of the story. (sigh) There is actually two more chapters after this one. (Dodges stuff being hurled at her) No need to worry! I have another Ed/Win fic that will be up the second this one if finished! I'm up to chapter six on it already! Perhaps I'll write another AU fic. I've been thinking about it. But for this next one, it's going to fit in with the story line. (is hit in the face with a piano)

Donate to the "Help Windwhisprer pay for the hospital bills caused by bones being crushed by a piano foundation" and Review please! All it takes is one review and her bills will be slightly less horrible. (Slightly).