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The Gift
21
Argument
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December 22nd - Friday
Ed paced the room with his arms folded. The colonel had said he'd be back by 5:00. Ed looked at the clock and watched it become 8:13.
Late.
He was late, and Ed had no way to get a hold of him. He'd tried calling the office, but there had been no answer and that had been around 5:30…
Ed had planned to talk to Roy about the things that had been bothering him tonight during dinner... He'd wanted to do it yesterday, but the colonel had gone to work and hadn't come home until who knew when...
Ed had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for him.
Suddenly the door opened, and Roy rushed inside, quickly closing the door behind him. "This storm is really getting bad," the man said as he shook himself and pulled off his coat.
"Where have you been?" Ed demanded angrily.
The colonel sighed and said, "I'm sorry, I got held up."
"You couldn't have called me or something?"
"I'm sorry...I had to meet with someone," Roy said vaguely, then looked at the table. "That looks really good. Did you already eat?"
Ed folded his arms. "Who."
The man's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Who?"
"Yeah, who? Who where you meeting with?"
Roy looked away from the teen's sharp gaze and rubbed his forehead. "Just someone. It isn't important."
"Was it Lisa?" Ed growled.
The colonel lifted his head and stared at Ed blankly for a moment. "Who?" The blond didn't say anything and suddenly Roy's eyes widened a little as if something had dawned on him. "Ed..." the man began, but Ed cut him off.
"Is she your side girl?"
"What? No!" Roy cried defensively. "How could you even ask me that!"
"What am I supposed to think when you have her number in your wallet?" Ed yelled, holding his hands out in a pleading gesture.
"My wall…what are you doing going through my wallet?" the man asked a little angrily.
"I wasn't 'going through'your wallet, it just happened to fall out when I was cleaning up after you!"
Roy looked down and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, she is not my side girl."
"Then who is she?" Ed asked and folded his arms.
The colonel looked up and shook his head. "That's really none of your business, Ed."
"Oh? It's none of my business why you've been out with her all the time?" he accused.
"I have not been out with her all the time! I haven't 'been out' with her at all!"
"Yeah, sure..." Ed muttered and glanced away. "Then why are you gone all the time? Why don't you have any time to spend with me?"
"Ed..." Roy murmured and the teen looked over to see a sad expression on the man's face. "I'm sorry...I've just been..."
"Working on a project," Ed finished for him. "Yeah, that's what you've been saying." The teen walked to the door, and grabbed his coat off the coat hook. "I'm going home..."
"What?" Roy said in surprise.
Ed looked back and glared furiously at the older man. "You're right. It isn't any of my business what you do," he growled then continued, "It isn't as if we're family or anything."
"Ed..." the colonel said in a hurt pleading tone, but the teen ignored him. Opening the door, Ed let himself outside into the growing storm.
Next postdates are: 23rd, 24th, and 25th
I know this is short, but I really couldn't think of anything else I wanted to add for this day. Anyway, I hope you liked it despite the shortness.
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