Song used is Slide by Goo Goo Dolls. Because I think this song is very fitting to our favorite couple's first car ride together. 3
Lyrics are in bold italic.
Chapter 7 - Slide
Ring.
Edward snored and turned over to his side.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The cellphone continued to vibrate and ring its incoming call. It was already sliding towards the end of the bedside drawer when Edward finally groaned in his bed and glared at the device. It stopped from ringing again and glowed with twenty-six missed calls from god knows who.
It was nine in a Saturday morning for fuck's sake. If it was from work, he'd still going to be pissed off since he specifically took a day off today.
Before he was tempted to smash it, he buried his face in a pillow and attempted to go back to slumber. He was doing pretty great at it for five minutes when the incessant ringtone of his goddamn phone brought him back to the world again.
Edward growled venomously from under the pillow then reached for his smartphone. Sliding the answer button with his thumb, he took a deep breath before putting it to his ear.
"Who is this?" He grumbled with a husky voice. Damn, he was just so tired and he didn't exactly get enough sleep from last night.
Or more like earlier this morning. Sleeping at three in the morning then suddenly waking up at nine just didn't float Edward's boat.
"Good morning. I've been calling you for ages." He heard a familiar, irritated female voice from the other end of the line. He wouldn't even wonder how the hell she got his number. Probably from the client form.
"I could have answered your calls if you haven't kept me awake until two in the fucking morning." He gritted between his teeth while rubbing a hand over his face. Letting an overzealous mechanic 'take a peek' on your automail while it is still attached to you, as Edward have just recently learned, was a very bad idea, free or not free.
I bet she would have continued poking around the damn automail even if I was already dead asleep on her workbench.
"Oh don't be such a baby." He frowned at Winry's condescending remark.
"I'm not a machine junkie like you. I need sleep." Edward waited for her to throw back an angry retort when Winry surprised him with a tired sigh.
"I know and I'm sorry. I was just got caught up in the moment, I guess. Your automail's design means a lot to me." Her admission and apology got him a little taken a back that he pushed himself into a half-sitting position.
The conversation was suddenly filled with a heavy pause that Edward almost cleared his throat over the phone.
"Anyway, how's your leg?" Winry started again. Fully sitting up on his bed, Edward pushed the covers off his left leg and stared at the wooden contraption attached on his limb in place of his usual metal automail.
"Honestly, it feels better than it looks." He replied as he swung his legs over the side of his bed to take a better look of his temporary limb.
"No unbalanced feeling, I hope?" He sighed upon hearing that question for the umpteenth time this day.
"Did you really just wake me up to check on my leg? It's perfectly fine, to answer your question. Again." Winry frowned at his cranky answer. She was just checking up on him, jeez.
"I was just going to ask if you have any plans for Silver Week." Edward halted from his morning ministrations as he pondered on her question.
"Silver week…that's next week, right?" He trailed off.
"Yes. I was thinking we could use that to go to Riseembool and have your leg built and installed by grandma and me. Three-day train ride then three to four days to have your leg built and installed." Winry suggested rather enthusiastically.
Edward brooded over the idea as he threw a wrinkled shirt over his head. Al hasn't called him yet if he'll be coming over, and he could skip work for that week as well since his leg obviously comes first…
"How much will this cost again?" He felt a little low for asking again. But hey, he's a high school student who chose to not depend much on his bastard of a father so he has to know if he has to work over-overtime to pay for this new leg.
"You know what? It's going to be free."
"Oh come on. Don't do that." His pride pleaded. He already owed her so much and the idea left a bitter taste in his mouth since he wasn't exactly friends with her.
"I'm not doing this out of sympathy. You wore the Light model prototype so you're the most compatible client we could try the complete model on." She added with a wicked tone.
Edward chuckled. "Now that sounds a lot better."
"So it's settled then?"
"The transportation's on me. We leave next Saturday."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The bell above the door rang like a dong when Edward entered the practice room.
"I told her to remove that useless noisy shit." He murmured to himself and regretted it almost immediately when he felt a murderous aura behind him.
"And I told you to respect my preferences, apprentice." Izumi Curtis reminded sternly while cracking her knuckles.
Edward quickly turned and put a huge space between him and his teacher.
"Hey there, Master." He greeted with a sheepish grin.
If he hadn't blocked his side in that span of a second, the woman's kick would've sent him against the wall with a big bruise on his rib and a concussion.
"What're you doing here on a Sunday morning?" She asked and threw a right hook towards Ed's face to which he dodged with a backward step.
He answered with a left hook of his own before saying,"I was just going to tell you that I won't be going to work this Silver Week."
"Oh, it's that so?" She slowed her movements for a brief second that it made Edward think that she gave him an opening. He took the advantage and went for an attack straight to her face.
His fist was inches away from Izumi's face before a kick under his legs sent his back to the ground. Before he could attempt to regain footing, Edward felt his master's foot against his throat.
"You seemed pissed, Teacher." He remarked with a smirk. God, she was going to break his temporary leg, wasn't she?
"Mind telling me why you're disappearing for a week?" She asked with seriousness and worriment behind her stern cold eyes.
Ever since Izumi found out about his busted automail, she had been more worried sick about the boy than she could admit.
"Is it about your automail?" She added with a threatening squeeze against his Adam's apple.
"Actually, I'm going to Riseembool with my mechanic to have it fixed." He wheezed out.
Izumi raised a brow. "Mechanic?" She asked further without removing her threatening heel.
"Yeah, she's a classmate of mine actually. History class." Izumi's eyes widened. It was the first time Edward talked about school with her. And knowing her Elric student has always been an antisocial child, it was good to hear that he was finally making friends.
"Well then, take your time with it." With that, she lifted her foot off him and gave a hand to help him up. Edward gave her a silent, thankful look before taking her hand to pull himself back on his feet.
"I don't want someone with a busted leg teaching self-defense." Izumi added with a warning tone before leaving him alone in the mirrored, practice room.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"You're really ditching me?" Kellie complained with her signature pouty face to which Winry just groaned at.
"It's your fault for taking a 5:30 class. I have an appointment with Mr. Jenkins on Wednesdays, remember?" The blonde girl reasoned out as they walked down the hallway. Students were already dispersing from the area and the teachers chatting away with their fellow faculty members.
The 5:30 bell rang as if to beckon Kellie to her last class. The brunette groaned at the ceiling. "Really? Already?" They were barely half the semester and here she goes already complaining about her schedule. Typical drama queen Kellie.
She reached her locker and was already spinning her combination while Kellie continued to whine and plead.
"Please, Winny."
"Calling me Winny won't win you over Mr. Jenkins. And I can't ditch work to wait for you!"
"You're such a killjoy!" Kellie complained with crossed arms over her chest.
"And what's so fun about waiting for you for an hour with nothing to do?" Winry barricaded her best friend with another logical retort once again.
"We can go to karaoke with some guys after school." Kellie recommended with a snarky smirk on her face. Winry wanted to wipe it off her face so badly.
"How many times do I have to tell you to not tease me about that? It's not freaking funny." She vexed and pulled her locker open violently.
"But you do have such a beautiful voice, Ms. Paramore." Kellie urged more with a giggle.
"Fuck off." Winry begrudged with a deathly glare.
"Hey Paramore girl."
"I AM NOT-" She cut her angry shout when she saw Edward standing in front of them.
"Ed. Hey." Just when did she start calling him by a nickname?
She saw him pass a glance to Kellie before saying, "About this Saturday...we could use my car. We can get to Riseembool in two days or less if we drive."
Kellie stood speechless by her side as Winry tried to process his words. "Alright, sounds good. Should I go to your apartment or…"
"I'll just pick you up. Where do you live by the way?" He followed up with a scratch on the back of his neck.
"The blue and lavender apartment with an Amestrian flag just a block from Pete's autoshop. You'll never miss it." Winry answered to which Edward nodded quickly.
"Alright. I'll pick you up at 5:30 a.m." With that, he began to turn on his way.
"Ok. I'll see you."
"See you." Edward nodded one last time before making his way to the school's exit.
Kellie, who was unnaturally silent the whole time, and was shamelessly gawking at them, grabbed Winry's arm and squeezed it in excitement.
"What was that? What was that?" She was literally jumping up and down.
"He's a client of mine since last week. I forgot to tell you."
"Alright…then why are you the two of you taking a trip to Riseembool? Hm?" Kellie pressed with a knowing smile stretching her lips.
"His automail is a special model that only my grandmother could recreate. Could you please not tell anyone, and by anyone I mean anyone, about this? My client is a very private person." Well, it was the truth. Edward would go berserk if this reached campus ears.
"Oh don't you worry about that. The secret is safe with me." Kellie promised with a zip of her mouth.
"But I'm surprised with one thing though…" Kellie said thoughtfully as she gazed over the space where Edward was standing a few minutes ago.
"About what? Him having automail?" Winry supplied as she closed her locker and secured the lock.
"Well, a little about that. And that he's seriously handsome up close. I never knew." With only an old, wrinkled up shirt and denim pants, Edward actually looked hot in Kellie's meticulous eyes. Her grease monkey and tomboy friend has got it.
"I'm proud of you, Winry." With that, Kellie gave her back a pat. The said girl's cheeks reddened.
"Just go to your class already!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Typing Edward's name on the search bar, Winry tapped the only name on the filtered list then proceeded to type on the message box. It was a good thing she found his number on the client application form. He just didn't have any initiative to give his contact number to his mechanic, did he?
Honestly, he's hopeless.
"I'm already at the front lawn. All set and ready." Her message said and it took only a few seconds before the read receipt was shown below her message and the typing animation from Edward.
"Be there in a minute." Was Edward's brief reply. Truthfully enough, she saw a red sedan pulling over in front of their gate while she was carrying her luggage outside. It was barely five-thirty in the morning and the sun was already shining brightly. For autumn weather, it was actually quite humid today that Winry decided to wear a cardigan and denim shorts with her brown trench coat set aside just in case the winds take a chilly turn.
The window slid down and revealed Edward in Ray-Ban glasses and open-buttoned plaid shirt. She saw him glance at her yellow luggage duffle bag then at her red toolbox. He turned his gaze on the windshield then stepped on the lever to open the car trunk. Winry watched it hiss open and rolled her eyes.
"Luggage on the back." He said coldly and sat still on the driver's seat.
Oh of course. Winry thought to herself and carried her heavy duffel bag towards the back compartment.
"Put it beside my bag, not on top of it." Edward reminded her and Winry rolled her eyes once again and grumbled under her breath as she moved his bag to make room for hers.
Very charming indeed.
Once she got to the passenger's seat with her phone and trench coat, she set the seatbelt over her and took a minute to glance over the classic manual gearshift, the dirty dashboard, floorboards and beat up MP3 player.
"Nice car." She said as sarcastically as she could. Well it would be a decent car if he'd clean it more often.
"Even if it's a beaten up, old car, you are not allowed to take it apart. Do I make myself clear?" Edward said seriously with a pointed look at her. Winry's expression turned into that of disbelief.
"I don't take a machine apart if it is not in need of fixing." The blonde girl berated back.
"Good. Now, do you know how to drive?" He suddenly asked as he turned to second gear and slowly started on the road.
"I'm a mechanic. Of course I know how to drive." It was like asking if a chef knew what his food tastes like.
Edward sped up by a kilometer or two per second that the sudden jolt startled Winry in her seat. "Good. We'll be taking turns every three hours."
"Alright." She missed driving on manual, so she was actually looking forward to that. It was always more fun than the boring and easy automatic gears she tried before. Plus, it's deviously a lot faster than automatic. They could definitely get to Riseembool in less than two days.
"And I advise you to start loving this nice car since we will be sleeping here for two days." He added for good measure and she could swear she saw the littlest hint of smirk when she looked at him with dismay.
This is going to be a long drive.
Could you whisper in my ear
The things you wanna feel
I'd give you anythin'
To feel it comin'
The first forty-five minutes was composed of long transitions of heavy awkward silences to nonsensical arguments over Winry's feet on the seat and Edward's senseless way of keeping the seats clean but leaving floorboards like a dumpster.
But the biggest argument was when Winry tried to turn the MP3 player on. He slapped her hand away so hard that she punched him on the shoulder. In the end, Edward won since he owed the fucking player and the car.
His taste in music must suck despite his talent in playing the guitar because who the hell would be so stingy with their music.
Only Edward fucking Elric.
Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults
Their constant bickering ironically bridged the comfortable atmosphere as Winry tried to familiarize herself with the road signs. Edward gestured for the glove compartment and from there she took a small map of the interchange from Central going to Fernin then a long freeway road that passes to one of Riseembool's grassy roads.
She felt a tinge of excitement to see her grandmother again after more than a month of being away from her. She had never been away from home for this long.
I wanna wake up where you are
The empty road flashed before Edward's sunglasses as Winry watched the trees' shadows played shapes on the window glass.
Her phone beeped and a message from Kellie flashed. She almost dropped the phone from attempting to remove the message preview.
"How's your trip with the Elric hottie? 3" Oh you have no idea.
"Peachy. -_-"
I won't say anything at all
She took a left to towards EastWay road, as Edward instructed her in monotone. She accidentally forgot to step on the clutch whilst transferring to third gear that the car jolted violently. The owner of the car glared viciously at her and was ready to shoo her off the driver's seat when she redeemed herself with a swift first-second-third gear execution then smoothly driving the car on the road once again.
Her triumphant look threw him off that he decided to avert his glare on the passing wasteland with a hand on his chin and his elbow resting loosely on the car door.
So why don't you slide
Winry was smiling widely as she shifted to fourth gear and sped the mileometer up a mile.
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide
Three hours, four potato chips and three Coca Colas passed in a blur for Winry and it was Edward's turn again.
"Good save." He suddenly remarked that Winry gave him a weirded look. "For a girl." He added then stepped on the gas.
Then she let out a little snort she couldn't contain anymore. After hours of driving, that was actually the first closest to good thing he ever said to her.
"Thanks. And nice car. I really mean that this time." She admitted with a laugh.
Don't you love the life you killed?
The priest is on the phone
And for the first time they've known each other, he laughed with her.
"You just love the wicked manual gearshift, don't you, machine junkie?" He pointed out with smiling eyes twinkling over his brown shades.
"I have to admit, I do love it." The mechanic agreed shamelessly with a nod.
Your father hit the wall
Your ma disowned you
With the clock ticking towards four in the afternoon and the fuel meter getting close to empty, Edward decided to stop by the gas station to refill.
Don't supposed I'll ever know
What it means to be a man
Since they didn't bring much food with them, Winry decided to buy their snacks and dinner for later by the small convenient store while Ed worked on the gas tank.
It's somethin' I can't change
I'll live around it
With a small and poorly stocked convenient store, Winry bought everything they would need for the next few hours in less than ten minutes. They didn't even have a decent rice meal she could preheat so she just compensated that with bread and some jam.
As she exited the store with thoughts of getting to a real convenient store on their next stop, Winry subconsciously halted in her steps when she saw Edward filling his car with a gas noose.
In a black muscle shirt, his arm muscles shiny with sweat.
I wanna wake up where you are
She swore to all the gods that he was wearing a plaid shirt over that sinful muscle shirt before she left the car.
Because she surely wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything if he was sitting with her inside his clammy sedan wearing only that.
I won't say anything at all
Wordlessly standing by the exit of the customer-less convenient store, the Rockbell girl went on with her gawking for the next five minutes as Edward's arm flexed and rippled while removing the noose and putting the cap back on the car.
"Hey." He called over from the back of the car. Winry refocused her gaze and concentrated on keeping it on his face.
It was also all sweaty and shiny against the bright sun. Oh God, Kellie was right.
"Do you need help with that?" He asked sourly as he eyed the three small plastic bags on her hands.
"No. I'm fine." She answered back, feeling sweat breaking on her forehead.
"Then get on the car and start driving. It's freaking hot out here." A few incoherent curses escaped his lips before he disappeared inside the passenger's side.
So why don't you slide
Ooh, slide
Winry was ever so thankful that Edward put on his red plaid shirt again despite the fact that the AC was still working on the humid air inside the car.
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Edward munched on the sorry excuse of a croissant and cheesebread that Winry bought from the convenience store.
Winry reached for her cola and gulped three times while driving her last hour before Edward's turn.
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Since it was already getting pretty dark and it was Edward who knew a good and safe place to park and sleep, Edward took the wheel even before Winry's turn ended.
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
It was already past midnight and Edward was still wide awake, laying still on the driver's-seat-turned-bed. For the fourth time, he threw a glance over his blond companion's sleeping form, which just in time turned to her side to face him.
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
He was presented with a perfect view of her cleavage and a perfect angle for her face to shine against the moonlight.
Her trench coat slid off her bare shoulders to expose more smooth skin for the moonlight to reflect on.
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
It was more than enough for Edward to look away and rub his face with both hands. How was this great of an idea? And to think that it came from him?
If they have chosen the train, they could sleep peacefully in separate cabins.
Well, she's sleeping so peacefully now. This stupid girl...
With that final lingering thought, he threw the door open and slammed it shut.
Winry jolted away from her light sleep from the slam of a door. She looked to her left and saw an empty driver seat. Searching for her missing travel buddy for a moment, she turned her head around and saw Edward finding a comfortable position at the cramped backseat, since her seat was pulled all the way back to create a make-shift bed. His seat was pulled back to its original position to make room for him sit on the remaining space on the back instead.
He had an arm over his eyes so he couldn't see her slightly smiling at him.
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
They only had about three hours' worth of sleep but the sun already started to rise so it was best to continue on with their journey once again.
Two blond heads with crumpled bed hair poked their heads over the dashboard as Edward started the ignition.
The engine refused to start after five more tries. They looked at each other for a long moment.
"You didn't water it at the station." Winry realized out loud.
"Shit." He condemned under his breath and swiftly threw the door open and hopped out of the car.
Winry stayed on her seat and watched the car owner fetch a 350g bottle of water and a toolbox. Just as she said, smoke emerged from inside car hood.
After waiting for a frustrated Edward to fix the overheating problem, which he did after quite some time, he gestured for her to try the ignition.
It gave hope for a few seconds before it died down once again.
"Fuck this car!" Edward cursed and removed his plaid shirt again since fixing whatever the problem is would surely need a lot of sweat from him under this humid autumn weather.
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
He already had his head under the hood again when he felt bare skin brush against his arm.
Edward flinched away from the touch and was bewildered to see Winry pushing him away from the machinery with the side of her hip.
"What the hell are you doing?" He asked in annoyance at the girl who suddenly had tools in her hands and tinkering away with his car.
"Instead of asking me rhetorical questions, why don't you fetch me a cold drink and an umbrella?"
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
He stared at her with dazed eyes, watching how her greasy hands accidentally tainting her arms and face. Her expression was set on determination and unwavering concentration that there would be no excuse for any disturbance anymore.
She is a mechanic. He suddenly remembered and realized at the same time.
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
He went around the car and got what she asked for. Winry smirked to herself and shook her head. Boys and their broken toys that they wouldn't let her fix. At least he condoned her this time.
I wanna wake up where you are
Edward held an umbrella over her back and after a whole twenty minutes, he held the chilled coke to her lips. She took four whole gulps before diving back to work.
He took a sip from it as well. Holding an umbrella under the illogical blazing sun in a autumn season was hard work too.
I won't say anything
He stopped from fanning her with cardboard scrap he found at the trunk of her car when she gestured a hand for a smaller wrench from her red toolbox.
Edward obediently handed over the requested tool then went back to fanning her and himself like a slave.
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah, slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(yeah slide)
The mechanic had Edward go over the driver's seat and start the engine. She said it with such conviction and assurance that he believed she already fixed the problem in one try.
With a twist of his wrist, he met his eyes with Winry's blue ones across the windshield, both hoping for the engine to come back to life.
After a few more seconds, the car roared with life and the headlights went on.
Winry jumped in victory and Edward laughed with relieved mirth.
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah slide)
After cleaning the mess of tools and coca colas they made outside, both teens simultaneously went inside their respective seats in the car and let out a tired and happy sigh.
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(Oh, oh slide)
"I agree with Pete." Edward said out of the blue that Winry gave him a confused look.
"With what?" She asked with a smile. It had been a long time since she tinkered with a car again that it left her in a giddy mood.
He shifted the gear then steered towards the road before answering, "That you're the best mechanic around."
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew
(Yeah slide)
She blushed then turned her head from him to hide the embarrassment.
"Just around Central." She modestly added after a pause.
Edward glanced at her with a wide smile stretched across his face.
"I wouldn't say that until I found someone who is actually better than you."
The mechanic blushed even further. Alright, he knows how to appreciate people other than himself. He may not be as bad as she thinks he is.
Why don't you slide into my room
Just slide into my room
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away
Their long drive together continued on.