OMFG!!!

If I carefully set my laptop on the arm of my coach, I pick up a wandering internet signal. I'm so happy right now...I HAVE 5 FUCKING CHAPTERS WRITTEN UP ON PAPER!!!

Yeah...depressing, I have to type it up off of paper...I hate my handwriting...oh well, here's your next chapter!

Chapter 5 - An Expectation

The library was huge, comperable to that of most college's; not as big, but pretty close. Ed dropped his bookbag off on the back of one of the chairs that adorn the central most part of the library. There were two sets of stairs that bent and went to the second level where, from thesign allong the banister, said that it consisted of refrence books. There was another set of stairs on the second level that was under construction. he smiled, it was nice to see that the school's budget was in capable hands who weren't squandering funds.

He took his chemistry book and began his homework knowing full well that he might have to wait a while, it was best to get his work out of the way before Winry showed up.

Blond hair, blue eyes, popular, the cheerleading team's captain to boot; she was something that, even if he wanted to, he would never be able to obtain. Aside from the 'blond hair' and 'blue eyes' bit. edward was never terribly fussy when it came to girls, he never had a girlfriend before, but he did want someone who was pretty and shared his intrestes.

Coming to the realization that he probably wouldn't find anyone like that till college, he opted out of the girlfriend scene and focused more on his own studies.

Alphonse was another story through. He never dated seriously before high school, but he did go out with his fair share of girls. Ed didn't talk to his brother about his personal life, so he didn't know for sure if he went all the way or not with any of his lady friends. doing his best not to assume the worst, Ed made up his mind that he believed his brother didn't do such things. Though he was prone to being wrong at times. He hoped this wasn't one of those times.

Ed sat back in his chair, any amount of homework he had, completed. satisfied all was well, he tugged a book from his knapsack, flipped to his bookmark and began reading.

Nearly an hour passed and Winry failed to show. Heaving a sigh he placed the bookmark back in his newly attained location amongst the many pages and shut it with a dull thud, then placed the hard cover book back in his bookbag. Edward hating guessing the worst about people, but he was right, Winry didn't show.

Lifting the strap over his shoulder, he carried his things to the door of the library and exited the large white washed room.

It wasn't a romantic kind of love, it was the kind of love he felt toward his little brother, Rick, but Aria still held a special place in his heart. Leo gave a brisk knock on the door, then awaited an answer.

"Coming." He heard from the opposite side of the heavy framed door. With a quick jerk, the swung open reveling a short, red haired girl. "Hey Leo." She smiled, the remenants of tears on her cheeks. "Come in. Don't go in the dining room though, mom just cleaned the carpet." She spoke as she stepped out of the way. "It's still wet." Aria smiled.

"Alright...it's good to see that you're in a better mood. Oh, there was a handout today, so I brought one from my homeroom for you." Leo entered the main hall of Aria's home and removed his shoes before entering the living room. He looked about the room to see unfamiliar furniture. "Uh, didn't your mom just buy a new living room set at the beginning of summer?"

Aria shrugged. "She got all paranoied and thought that it wasn't good enough to impress her new toy, so she threw it away." Leo became confused. "..I'm kidding, it's downstairs."

His expression brightened. "You mean, no more awkward beanbag chairs?" He dropped his bookbag on the coach and relaxed.

"Yup." She smiled. "Now game nights will be a little more comfortable. Not that it matters this weekend." Aria rubbed her hands together. "Camping trip." She sing-songed the words.

Leo nodded. "About that, good news. We got a couple new students today, Edward and Alphonse Hohenheim. Al seems about as bright as a bag of hammers, but Ed's pretty cool. He's gonna come with us this weekend in lieu of my irritating little cousin." He gave her a hopeful expression. "You don't mind, do you?"

She seemed a little worried. "You'll keep me safe, it's alright."

He nodded. "Of course. But I don't think anything bad will happen, he seems pretty level headed. Not like what's his face...speaking of face, let's see."

Begrudgingly she moved her bangs away from the right side of her head, reveling yellow tinted skin on the upper portion of the right side of her forehead. "The bruise is gone, but it still looks pretty groady."

Leo unzipped his bookbag and tugged the note out from in between some books. "Kind of...but your hair looks good like that, you should leave it." Normally her hair was pinned back behind her ears, so it looked nice to him, in her face a little.

She flicked the long strands in her eyes up and allowed the to fall back in place. "I guess." She leaned against the frame of the door and reached for the paper that Leo wos holding out to her. "Oh yeah., where's Russ at?"

Rolling his eyes, he sat back on the new sofa and watched Aria read the paper. "He's getting his hair dyed, green I think. The jerk."

"Jerk?" Aria was confused.

"Not really." Leo ran his fingers through his jet black hair. "I'm just pissed I can't dye mine. It's too dark, it won't bleach right. Though I'll look on the bright side, when Christmas rolls around, you and him standing next to one aother will look nice and festive." He smirked.

"I'm so sure." She laughed.

"Winry, are you sure you're ok?" Al followed along behind her.

She whipped around, the ice pack held neatly on her lip. "Stop asking me that." She snapped. "For the tenth time, I'm fine. Now go, I have something to do."

He held his hands up in defense. "Sure, sorry." Al turned on his heel and walked back down the hallway toward where the rest of his friends were waiting, flustered while he did so.

Allowing the bag of ice to cool her sore lip, she continued up the stairs to the library. She was hoping that Ed hadn't left just yet. Making her way around another corner, she stepped right in front of the on in question. Jerking to a hault, one in which caused her ice pack to slip out of her hand, she sighed in relief.

Quickly catching the ice bag before it fell, he held it up. "And here I thought you forgot about me." He handed her the cold pack. "What happened? ...if you don't mind my asking."

She sighed and placed the pack back on her face. "Clause tried to to a move, while showing off, and smashed me in the mouth with the back of her heel. I nearly blacked out when I hit the ground; but here I am, if you still want to help me out." She smiled.

"No problem, I've got nothing better to do." He turned and headed back to the library, Winry following close behind

"She said earlier that she was getting help with Bio. That's probably where she's going." Clause brushed off Al's inquirey as to Winry's whereabouts. "We're heading out to the mall, you should come with." She tugged at Al's arm.

Giving and sigh and a frustrated folding of his arms, he nodded. "Why not?" he said with feigned enthusiasim.

Really, really sorry for the late update!
The only internet access I have at home tends to not show up and work never offers me enough time.

I know the chapter was a little short, but it's hard for me to gauge how many words I write in my binder without the aid of a 'word count' feature. x-x (No spell check for now either, sorry again. ;P)

Anyway, if you're still out there, thanks for sticking with me and I'll update this fic the second I get chapter 6 off of my friend's laptop.

Love you guys! Later!

-Eve Nightingale