...You know guys...I'm in a really bad mood today (bad as in bummed)...but, here I am updating. (sigh)

I don't know...I guess I didn't get a good sleep last night...and I'm having problem with an addiction now. Eh...not very good. That might have something to do with it. I never thought that finding out I have a dependancy on something would bum me out so badly.

I'd say I'm trying to kick it...but...I don't want to at the same time. It's difficult. Shouldn't have done it in the first place...ehhhh.....sorry people. I just needed to vent.

Hope you like this chapter.

Episode 27 - You and I

Ed leaned up against Winry's headboard as he sat on her bed, with her right next to him, resting on his shoulder.

"Now...we can't tell anyone." She said with regret.

"What?" He said, rather confused.

"Don't get the wrong idea." She sat forward and turned around to face Edward. "If my parents find out I'm not dating a 'jock'-" She made quotation marks in the air with her fingers. "-then they'll forbid you from coming over."

Ed smiled. "They wouldn't do that. They're bluffing."

She nodded. "Well, with how paranoid they are about how others look at them, they would, in a heart beat." She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. "So we have to keep this a secret...just for now. I'll figure something out with the parents. Promise." Finding someone she could connect with was difficult, so he didn't want Ed to be forcefully pushed away from her. "And when I mean we can't tell anyone, I mean anyone. Not until I have my folks convinced. Ok?" She fussed with his red shirt collar, the back was rolled up.

"...that's going to be tough...I mean, it kind of makes me feel like I'm liying to my friends. Leo did ask me if there was anything going on with us, and at the time, I told him there wasn't. But now...if this is how things are going to be...I don't know if I can lie to them. They've been really good to me."

Winry nodded. "I know...but like I said, it'll only be for a little while. Think of it as keeping a surprise a secret, rather than just witholding the truth."

He thought about it for a second. "I suppose there's no harm in that then. Alright."

"Great, I knew you'd understand." She kissed him again. "Besides, don't you think it would be best if Al didn't know? I know he had something for me."

Ed nodded. "True...but recently, I think he may have someone else in mind. I mean, you did keep ignoring him."

"Yeah." She agreed. "That's what I was going for. But who's he after now?"

"I think her name's Riza. The other girl with long hair on your team."

Winry couldnt help but laugh. "Riza? No. She's really picky with who she dates, and I can tell you right now, he isn't her type."

"Riza. Hey." Having had an easy time tracking her down, Al apporached her with a smile. He knew full well that she stayed after school to use the weight room; Riza was a base with her team, so strong arms and shoulders were a must.

"Oh, hey. What brings you here?" She said, letting go of the overhead bar attached to a series of weights. Sliding her arm across her forehead, wiping the sweat that was worked up off her skin.

"Nothing too much...I was just wondering what you were doing after school. I had nothing else to do, so I figured...smoothies at Orange Jullius?" He intentionally beat around the bush.

"I'm broke."

"I'm not...come on." He egged her on. "Lots of protine in em'."

Being hesitant, she agreed. "Fine. But no funny stuff."

Al raised his hands in defence. "No tricks."

She was a sophmore at their school, and second in command when it came to the cheerleading team. "So, how long have you been into cheerleading?" Al did his best to make small talk, even though, deep down, he really didn't care too much about her answer. It was cheerleading afterall, and he was mostly concerned about the skirts and how short they were.

"Well." She began. "I was in gymnastics for years as a kid, and then when juinor high came, it was right there. It's fun to throw people up in the air, and the outfits are super cute." She smiled. "Oh yeah, thanks for the drink. I was really hungry. This is like a meal in a cup." She sipped it with a sweet smiled on her face.

Al fawned over her. "They really are." He blushed a bit.

"So um...I should have asked this before we came here...is this a 'friend' outing? Or something more?" She said with uncertainty.

"Well...I guess it could just be friendly. No harm in that." He smiled. 'Friends for now' was what he kept telling himself.

"Ok...I just didn't want to make you feel bad or anything, cause, I'm kind of seeing someone at the moment...I'm sorry." She just blurted it all out.

Al was discouraged, but still glad she told him rather than stringing him along. "It's ok. Like I said, friendly." He smiled. It was a shame his plan failed, but he did get to spend some time with a pretty girl. Getting face time with cheerleaders was a good way to boost popularity, so he didn't consider the trip a waste of time.

"I'm glad you're not mad. Normally boys would be cross, but I'm glad you're different."

"You're not obligated to do anything you don't want to do, so I can't get mad." He was starting to sound more like Ed as the days went by. "Besides, there's no harm in spending time with other guys. He's not the jelous type? Is he?" Al then became a little worried, remembering briefly the story Ed told him about Roy. "What school does he go to?"

"Riverview College, first year, taking--political science. It's kind of nice having the security of someone older." She thought while sipping on her drink. "Aside from all that...since I can see you're really nice, how about I help you out with getting a nice girlfriend, I mean, it's the least I could do for turning you down. Is there anyone on the team you're interested in?" She probed as she poked with her straw.

"Well...I did kind of think Winry was pretty nice."

Riza shook her head. "Except her. She's not allowed to date."

"Also, I told everyone on the team, that I'm not allowed to date, just so boys would leave me alone." Winry cuddled up against Edward's chest. "Surprisingly enough, it doesn't stop all of them."

"That so? I suppose if you have everything worked out, there's no sence in me changing it on you." He wrapped his arms around Winry and held her snug.

"It's all one big plan, and soon, it shall all come together."

"You know, Clause really has a thing for you. Why not her?" Riza asked, stirring the bottom of her drink with the straw.

Al averted his gaze. "Listen, after what happened between us, she's lucky I'm even talking to her." He folded his arms.

"That's true. Even I thought that was pretty harsh. Hmm..." She thought hard.

"I know it's kind of shallow, but if it help, I like blonds." He pointed to himself. "My love for fair hair is built right into the genes."

She laughed. "Alright then. How about I talk to the other girls on the team, and see if there's any potentials."

"Awesome." Al paused. "Wait...why are you being so nice?"

She held up the drink. "Because you're being nice too." Riza beamed.

After talking it over a little more, Riza made a call to meet up with her friend Maria when Al went home. He walked alongside her right to the corridoor of the back entrance, he mentioned that going to the bus stop was easier that way. "So...uh...I hate to go back to this...but." He scratched at the back of his head. "If you weren't involved with anyone...do you think I might have a chance."

Riza smiled ruthfully. "Sorry Al, but it really wouldn't work." She gave him a pat on the shoulder. "But I'm sure you'll find someone to match you...huh?" She looked out the window.

He followed suit. "Oh, there's your friend. I guess I'll talk to you later." Al held the door open, allowing the taller, dark hair girl into the mall.

"Thank you." Maria smiled at Al.

He nodded at her. "See you in school Riza."

Maria leaned down and kissed Riza briefly on the lips. The blond girl smiled. "Sure. Talk to you tomorrow. Oh, and keep this hush-hush, some of the girls on the team don't know." That being said, Maria and Riza waved, linked hands with eachother and walked off.

"No prob." Al said as he gingerly turned around and left the mall. He nodded to himself. "That makes a whole lot of sence. She likes pie." He laughed at his own folley. Riza was right, they wouldn't work, for obvious reasons; but the help sure was welcomed.

Stealthly, Riza pulled Al aside during lunch the next day. "I did some talking to the girls." She said, rahter serious considering the topic.

"And, did any of them say anything?" Al was hopeful, despite her tone.

She pinched the skin on her nose between her eyes. "Well...not a whole lot. I mean, I only asked the ones who were single and blond, and none of them really said much of anything. But that's only four people. However, Nancy from the rugby team said she thought you were cute. So I think she might be a potential."

"Nancy?" Al thought for a moment. He spent a lot of time with the school sports teams since the weather made everything move indoors, and he didn't recall knowing a girl named 'Nancy'. "Which one's she?" He asked, still trying to think about it.

"Ok, she doesn't have blond hair, it's dark brown-red and she's really tall." Riza held her hand above her head to show how tall this girl she was talking about actually was.

He thought hard and then it hit him. "You mean that butch girl who looks like she could eat me for lunch?" Al quivered. Nancy was big, not terribly overweight, but she was a big woman, Irish in decent, so she was no one to cross as far as Alphonse was concerned.

"What?" Riza slung her hands behind her head. "I think she's cute."

Alphonse face-palmed. "I like girly-girls."

"Oooh...then there's Clara on the volleyball team...but I don't know...she's kind of skinny." She huffed.

Brightening up some, Al crossed his fingers. This time, he knew exactally who she was talking about. "And she said...?"

"She said she would 'bone' you. I'm not sure what that meant, so I figured I bring it up." Riza pumped her fists together.

"YES!" Al raised his fists in the air.

"I guess she's pretty...but..." She averted her gaze.

"But? But what? She's hot." Al became quite excited. "Should I confront her?"

"Suppose so. But-"

Al cut her off. "Thank you." That being said, he gave her a quick hug and took off to find Clara on the stage.

"...oh well." Riza shrugged and walked off.

May I say, RizaXMaria - OTP :P

But there you go, the twins are following the same path now...or are they?