R&B
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Lunch with the girls ended up being cancelled, due to an unexpected romp between Alex and Garfiel. Nobody blamed them though, especially Winry. If anyone understood the importance of spontaneous sex, it was she. It reminded her of how long it had been since she'd experienced a good night in the sack. So, when the girls decided to change their plans and go out for a couple of drinks, Winry put her best game face on. She wanted to see if there was more than just a free drink or two that she could score that night.
Winry gave herself a good once-over before strutting out into the living room and modeling her night look. Whistles from Becky and Paninya echoed through the small living space, and a knowing little smirk came from Lan Fan as she did a quick twirl to show off her tight, pleather leggings, black peplum top with a low cut mesh front, and black pumps.
"Winry, dear!" Garfiel proclaimed. "You look like a pantheress preparing for the prowl."
"I was going for 'goddess', but I guess 'pantheress' works just fine," she joked. "So, everyone ready?"
"I have to run back to the apartment really quick," Lan Fan stated, standing to reveal her own black ensemble of tight fabric that fit her toned body in all the right places. "Ling borrowed my card for pizza; the guys are having a hockey night."
The guys… That meant Ed would be there, too.
Winry bit the inside of lip as she smiled; telling herself it wasn't a big deal. "Alright! Let's go!"
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Lan Fan had an inkling something was up with Winry before they even reached her apartment. The first clue was when Paninya text everyone that morning for a girl's day. From past experiences, she knew that Paninya only rallied the girls when something happened with Win, but the subject wasn't to be pressed. Lan Fan wondered if she would end up talking about it that night, or if she just needed to blow off some steam via dancing, or something else.
The second clue was Winry stiffening as they went to her door. Lan Fan could sense her go rigid as she opened it and entered the living room to see Alex, Ed, Ling and Jean lounging on the couch, drinking, and screaming at the television.
"Lan Fan!" Ed shouted, as he removed a bottle from his mouth. "I was wondering why you weren't here."
"Sorry to disappoint," she smiled, as she reached over the table and grabbed her credit card from Ling's hand, "but the baby sitter is going out dancing tonight."
His eyebrows rose as he scanned the group, and Lan Fan noticed his eyes widen when they landed on Winry.
"Yo, Beck!" Jean shouted. "You still got that pepper spray on your keys, right?"
Lan could sense Rebecca rolling her eyes before she let out an annoyed snort.
"No, Jean. I decided to swap it out with a glow stick. Thought it'd be more appropriate."
"Alright," he shrugged, no longer dazed by his wife's sarcasm, and blew her a kiss. "Just be safe."
She blew him a raspberry and winked, and the group started heading out.
"Have fun," Ed shouted behind them, and something told Lan Fan that he wasn't directing that towards everyone in the group.
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Garfiel was practically jumping out of their skin once they left the apartment. They and Alex both locked eyes when they noticed little Edward's jaw practically dropped to the floor over their Winry. Perhaps there was hope for their love-matching game to work? Ah! They had nearly forgotten all about their little ploy with the chaos of work and Alex's constant fretting over his latest commission.
They spent most of their night texting Alex about the whole ordeal, of course in between dancing with their favorite ladies and free drinks.
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(12:09): Has he said anything about miss winry 2nite?
(12:11): No- he and ling are quite intoxicated. They've been singing r&b together for the past hour. Jean's playing DJ- it's quite the sight.
(12:12): Phooey.
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"Garfiel!" Winry squealed, grinning from ear to ear as an overly tanned and overly hair-gelled dolt followed close behind her. "Dance with me, darling!"
With an unnatural swiftness, Garfiel tossed their phone into the top of their blouse and ran out to the floor with their blonde beauty, glaring dangerously at the tool that dared try and follow them.
"Thank you," she shouted over the music, as they made their to the rest of the girls. "He saw me at the bar and wouldn't leave me alone!"
"No problem, dear!" they shouted back.
"Ugh!" she cried out with a laugh, as they started to dance. "Why is finding a guy decent enough to sleep with so hard?!"
"Good men are hard to find, doll!" Garfiel replied, then smirked as they leaned in close to her ear and said, "I don't why you're even out here looking, though, when Mr. Elric was staring at you the way he was!"
Winry quickly pulled away from him, staring blankly as though they had just said the most obscene and horrific thing imaginable. "He what?!"
Garfiel deadpanned, but quickly grinned as they continued. "Honey, if you were water, he would've drank you up in one swig."
Winry was in shock. She opened her mouth to say more, but Becky quickly cut her short with a loud groan and a hand on her shoulder.
"My assistant just called me from Urgent Care," she started, with a deep pout. "She has strep and can't open the store tomorrow, so guess who got called in?!"
"It's alright, dearie," Garfiel smiled, and patted the brunette softly on the shoulder. "Winry and I were just talking about how we're ready to head home."
Both Garfiel and Becky looked to the blonde, who quickly snapped back to reality and nodded.
"Lets get the others and scoot!" Becky said, and Garfiel grinned widely as they left the nightclub, and ran through light rain to Rebecca's car.
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It was nearly one o'clock in the morning when the crew finally got back to the apartment, and Winry's nerves had been shot ever since Garfiel said what they did about Ed.
She was too embarrassed to even make eye contact with him when they walked in, which honestly was so immature the more she thought about it. Was he looking at her like he was interested? If he was, then what the hell?! Why'd he blow her off earlier?! She took a deep breath and shook her head. This was ridiculous.
They all walked together in worn out unison, with Becky complaining about having to wake up in five and a half hours, Paninya whining about sweaty people, and Garfiel rubbing their "tired tush". Winry decided she needed to hit the hay and just think about this entire mess tomorrow after school, or maybe at lunch, or possibly just during class… Gosh, she felt like a teenager all over again.
They got to the entrance of the building, and Winry was getting ready to bid everyone goodnight, until Alex burst out of Ling and Lan Fan's apartment and raced to the door.
"You guys need to hurry up and see this," he boomed. "I thought it'd stop being funny after the fourth time, but it just keeps getting better."
"What happened?" Lan Fan said, dread lacing her voice.
"Nothing," Alex laughed, "but Ed and Ling are bonding in the most beautiful way possible."
"Oh god," Lan Fan groaned, and ran through the open door.
The rest of the group quickly followed suit, and Winry let out a small sigh as she did the same. When she entered Lanny's apartment, however, she was met with a completely shocking scene.
Jean was next to the large speaker system with his jersey tied around his waist, and a visor worn upside down and to the side of his head as he bobbed his head dramatically to what sounded like R&B music from nearly three decades ago. Ling was practically naked, wearing nothing but his boxers, and was belting the lyrics at the top of his lungs, while Ed, who was hanging upside down on the couch with his shirt rolling up high enough to expose a surprising set of abs, and his pants pulled far enough from his waist to flaunt his greatly defined hipbones, was acting as Ling's drunken hype man.
"Jean!" Becky squeaked, earning a shocked response from all three of the men. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"BEEECCKKYYY!" he shouted, grinning from ear to ear, his voice rising to inconceivable octaves. "Wassup, baby?!"
Her jaw dropped and she hid her face in her hands right as a song Winry could only guess was called, "My Body" started playing through the speakers, and the inebriated men started hooting loudly.
"Oh my gosh," Alex whispered. "This is the song they kept playing over and over."
Winry felt her face go blood red as Ling started belting once more, and Ed bounced his head along to the beat with closed eyes.
"....gotta call you up and let you know just what I'm feelin', baaabbbyyyy," Ling sang loudly. "BOYS, LETS GET IT!"
In unison, Ling, Jean, and Ed threw their hands in the air and shouted, "911-0024!"
"Okay, that's it!" Becky shouted. "Come on, Jean! We're going home!"
"Awwwwww, but Beeeckkkyyy!" Jean whined, but Rebecca was having none of it.
She stormed over to his seat and turned the music off, resulting in Ling squealing, Ed shouting "WHAT THE HELL?", and Jean whimpering like a dog.
"I thought you got rid of that stupid hat after college," she growled, and ripped the hat off Jean's head.
"What are you doooinnngg?" Ed gasped, his eyes wide and blood shot. "That's a DJ Havoc staple, maaaan."
Becky rolled her eyes and helped Jean stand. "Come, before you start throwing up and making this even more fun."
"You got it, babe," he smiled, and pecked her cheek as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and together they stumbled to their apartment.
Alex and Garfiel practically giggled themselves to death as their bid farewell and slipped away from the chaos, along with Paninya, who gave Win and quick smile before heading to bed.
"Let's turn on the boob tube!" Ling said enthusiastically, and turned the channel to Nickelodeon. The opening to the show Big Time Rush began, and Ed almost effortlessly tumbled into a normal sitting position and gaped at the TV.
"What is this?" he said, with wide eyes.
"BTR," Ling explained. "One of the greatest shows in existence."
Ed gaped at the TV longer, watching what looked like teenage boys pointing at the screen as they smiled and danced. "I love it."
Lan Fan rubbed her temples as she made her way towards her bedroom, and said. "Whenever you're ready for bed Ling, please come in quietly. I have a raging headache."
"Got it, babe!" he beamed, and watched her walk by as though she were a goddess.
Lan Fan smiled at him and shook her head before disappearing behind the wall, and Winry suddenly felt intensely awkward.
"Eh, well, I think I'm going to head to bed, too," Winry muttered and turned towards the exit.
"What? No!" Ed exclaimed, albeit quietly so he didn't disturb Lan Fan, and threw a beer to Winry. "Join us!"
He then scooted closer to Ling in order to make room for her to sit, gesturing to the spot with a rather sloppy pointing of his fingers. She smiled and twisted the bottle in her hands, but shook her head.
"Unfortunately, I have class in the morning," she said, with a shrug of her shoulders and a scrunched nose. "Maybe next time?"
She sat the beer down on the coffee table and waited for his response. Ed sat quietly for a moment, but eventually smiled a crooked, tight-lipped smile, and nodded his head.
"Night, you guys," Winry yawned, and, with a small grin of her own hidden behind her mane of blonde hair, she left the apartment.
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Ed watched her walk out and let out a small sigh. She was ridiculously attractive; he had no problem admitting it to himself now. Not to mention she was smart, funny, focused… The only issue left now was he was pretty damn convinced she wanted nothing to do with him. He grabbed another bottle of beer and sank back into the couch.
"Strike two for me!" he announced, as he popped the top off, and turned his attention back to the piece of entertainment wonder that was Big Time Rush.
"Is he riding an ostrich?" Ed asked aloud.
Ling grabbed another beer as well, and continued to stare at the screen as he removed the top. "Yes."
Ed took a swig of his drink and sat it down on the table.
"This show is a fucking masterpiece."
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Author's Note: Obviously, this chapter was based on true events. Ed's got a new obsession. Get prepared to see that in the future.