OMY!!!! SHE LIVES!!! Well, yes, I do live...I did mention that in my profile when I updated it on Tuesday...I was going to type something on my LJ about what I did today(Thursday) at the University but it can wait...I think that my return to is more important.

Pardon if the chapter seems a little bland...I had to rewrite a whole part of it and I'm a little sleepy...I had a long day. Even so, I hope you guys enjoy it...and the next one should be up within the next two weeks...

And I again apologize for my long absence but I was busy with my first year of college, my job and trying to deal with my family, whom wasn't being too supportive of me wanting to change my major...well, those who know anyway.

Thanks for your reviews people, I really appreciate them, they were the biggest factor of my return, I felt so bad leaving all of you hanging...I hope you'll continue with Steel and Ice until the end.

NOW READ!!! I hope you enjoy...XD

Chapter Seventeen
For Real
Amber

A few days had passed since then, Ed's arm healed well and we weren't getting along; which I happen to find normal anyway...but lately...fighting with Ed doesn't feel the same anymore...ah, it's probably just in my head anyways.

I was walking out of the bathroom where I had changed from my pjs to a suitable outfit for our departure of Santorini later in the day. Last night there was a big farewell party thrown for me and Ed ran around with all of the kids; smiling all the while. I could tell that he liked them from the start and they respected him very much. He gave piggy back rides, just as Al did, told them about Resembool and then played hide and seek with them. Thinking of the vertically challenged, he just sat on his bed, lost in thought…a little too lost in them…

"Everything okay, shortie?" I asked, getting his attention. He twitched at the insult, but other than that, said nothing. "Anger management...nice..."

"Don't do that," he snapped while looking at me in the eyes. "If you're in love with someone...they should know...right?" he said after a while, thinking carefully about his words. I knew what he was getting at now...I figured it out last night.

"This is about Louis, isn't it?" I asked, sighing as I sat down next to him.

"How did you-?"

"I figured it out last night...he's been acting weird around me lately," I started. "He was the one that kissed me the other night too...right?" I asked, receiving a nod from Ed. I smiled sadly before continuing. "Funny how he realizes how he feels after I got over him..."

"Does it bother you?"

"I guess certain things in life just work out that way..." I said softly. "I know I'll find the right person someday..."

"Yeah," Ed agreed, placing a hand on my shoulder. I half smiled at him before saying something.

"Now this is for real..."

"What is?"

"Nevermind," I said, not wanting to start a fight. I thought back on the day that Casey had been killed and remembered his lousy acting but, it seems that he does care now...

"Now get off my bed, I need to make it..." he said while pushing me off the bed, causing me to fall on the ground.

"Hey!" I cried. All right, maybe he has gotten better at acting...

"Sorry," I heard him say as he held out his hand to me. "Let me help..."

"Thanks," I said while taking his hand. He then proceeded to pull me up with so much strength that we ended up on the bed, myself on top of him. "I like the landing..." I said with a smirk as I pushed away a stray bang. He blushed slightly and rolled us over so I was beneath him this time.

"Who's on top now?" he said with a smirk of his own.

"Now you've done it..." I said while switching positions again. He reached out for a pillow and hit me over the head with it. "So that's how it's going to be..." I said while grabbing a hold of his pillow and hitting him back.

"Hey!" he cried as he tried to take it back. I started to laugh after a while and soon I heard his join mine. We kept switching positions as we fought for the pillow.

"Gimme that!" I started between laughs.

"No way!" he said as suddenly, we found ourselves on the floor. We stopped laughing and fighting, looking into each other's eyes. "So...what are you going to do?"

"Well, for starters, if you get off me I can get up..."

"Oh right..." Ed said as he got off me and sat down beside me. "But what I meant was, what are you going to do about Louis?"

"Just live with it I guess," I started. "It's out of my hands now...then again, it never was..."

"What do you mean?" Ed asked.

"Well, he always had the chance to have me but he never grasped it..." I said, scratching my head. "It's hard to explain..."

"I'd guess so..." Ed said while looking up at the ceiling. "I'd better finish up with my stuff..."

"Yeah, we're leaving soon...shortie..." I said with a smirk, I felt like teasing him a little. He twitched, a habit he seemed to be forming as of late so he doesn't yell at me.

"Don't tempt me…" he mumbled, trying to keep it together. I sighed, deciding that I was better off leaving him alone before I dug my own grave and ended up on the other side of yet another argument. Dealing with him was such a hassle sometimes…it was like dealing with a preteen at times.

"Right…" I said, shaking my head and getting up. "Pack up or we're leaving without you," I added, getting hit at the back of my head with a pillow. Oh well, at least it wasn't a brick…

Edward

Amber could be so irritating at times…I just can't believe she's so spoiled…she always gets what she wants, I'm sure of it! Now, if there was some way I could just get this partnership over Al and I can get back to work on finding a way of making the stone.

"Did you and Amber fight again?" Al asked as he came into the room.

"No! Whatever gave you that idea?" I asked.

"She just seemed a little mad…" Al said simply as I finished tossing things into my bag.

"She's always mad…that spoiled alchemist…" I said, Al shaking his helmet.

"You two would get along fine if your egos weren't in the way…"

"I do not have an ego!" I yelled in my defense.

"Yeah you do," Amber said from the window, grinning evilly. "Are you quite done?"

"Well, at least I'm not as spoiled as you…" I said, picking up my bag and walking out the door. "Thanks for letting us stay here!" I yelled at Kira with a small grin before catching up to Al and Amber…when did she get ahead of me?

"I run like the wind…" she teased.

"Lies, you're too fat for that…" I said, earning a double smack…well a slap and a smack.

"Careful…I have contacts in high places…" Amber said, making me snarl.

"Shaddup…" I said, storming off ahead with my bags.

"I'm going to miss them..." Amber started after a while of silence.

"Then why don't you stay here?" I muttered, clearly still annoyed at her.

"Because I can't..." Amber said softly. "I have other things I need to do..."

"Oh..." I said, becoming a little curious.

"So Amber, why is it that the Col. wants us to go back to Central?" Al asked after a while.

"It's my birthday soon," she replied softly. "Later this week to be precise..."

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"I'd forgotten it again for the most part..."

"How could you forget something like that?" I asked.

"Well, I'm entitled to forget things so just shut up and leave it at that, all right?" Amber snapped.

"What if I don't want to?" I snapped back.

"Stop it!" cried out Al's voice as I was hit on the head. This time however, he hit Amber as well. "You two need to get along for the mission's sake! It's not healthy for two people to be arguing constantly since they met!!" he started. "I don't like it when you two fight! I'm sick of it!! You will get along, even if it means me hitting a girl, which I am completely against to!" Amber and I just glared at each other before she took a step ahead of us. "Amber," he started, more gentle this time. "Could we celebrate your birthday with you?" he asked. I turned to him in shock, mouth agape. I can't believe he wants to be there for her!

"Of course," Amber replied without bothering to turn around.

"How could you want me, someone who obviously doesn't like you," I started, the last part muttered under my breath. "Be with you on your birthday?"

"Well..." Amber started. "You're my partner, what else is there?"

"I don't know..." I started, trying to think of something else.

"Me either..." she replied, looking back at us. "So...do you want to walk downhill or jump?"

"I could die!" I cried.

"Don't be a baby!" Amber cried as she jumped down the hill we'd climbed to get to Santorini. I peeked down to see Amber land on her feet, unharmed. "You coming down or what?" she asked.

"I prefer walking down," I said while starting to walk downhill. Al and I walked silently the entire way, not wanting to fight with each other. Once we reached the bottom we saw Amber leaning against the rocky wall, eating an apple.

"Took you long enough," she said while tossing me one. "I cleaned it already..." she said while finishing up her apple. "Let's go, otherwise, we'll be late and miss the train."

"All right," I said while looking from the apple to Amber. In the end, I risked it and took a bite, following her all the way back to the train station. We quickly loaded our belongings and got in, anxious to get back to Central. As soon as the train began to move; Amber, Al and I decided to play cards. "Ha! I win again!" I said after a while, showing Al and Amber (who had stopped playing after I beat her ass a fifth time...), my winning hand.

"How do you do that?" Al asked.

"He's got cards in his sleeve..." Amber said while taking in a deep breath and releasing it.

"I do not!" I said while pointing straight ahead, at her. She then lifted her right hand up and slipped it inside my sleeve, pulling out my hidden cards.

"Then what are these doing in there?" she asked, showing me the cards.

"Oh shut up smart ass!" I cried.

"Why thank you Edward for admiring my intelligence and my rear...they are quite nice, or so I've been told," Amber said with a smirk. "Now, to avoid another argument, I'm going to walk around."

"See ya," Al said as Amber got up and started to walk away. "See?" Al said as she left. "She's willing to try..."

"I'm not," I muttered, feeling inside that what I'd just said was a lie.

"It wouldn't kill you to try brother..." Al started.

"Just stop it!" I cried as I turned to look out the window. There was no way I'd win this argument...

Ah, my wonderful dot dot dot endings...I love those...XD

Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed that and two weeks from now...look for chapter 18!

I think I might upload it before though...I think I have time...classes are ending soon...