The next morning Rachelle was up bright and early. She seemed to have no side effects from the previous night of drinking, whereas Clarissa scuffled to the kitchen that afternoon with a sore stomach.

"I had the weirdest dream last night," Rachelle recalled as Clarissa sat down at the kitchen table with the sisters. "There was this hot blond guy, but he smokes. When he lit up a cigarette I accidentally spat out my drink all over it. He was like "Thanks for spitting on my lamp" and then his cigarette turned into a lamp. Isn't that weird?"

Clarissa took a sip of her ginger ale and wondered if she should tell Rachelle that those events actually happened last night. Except for the cigar-turning-into-a-lamp thing. The brand of Havoc's cigarettes was called LAMP, though.

"So what are we going to do today?" Rachelle asked. "Saturdays are perfect for going shopping, in my opinion."

Rachelle and Felicia began chatting about where they should go shopping when Clarissa received a text. It was from Al.

How are you today?

Clarissa couldn't help but smile to herself. Al was such a sweetheart. She texted back that she was fine.

That's good to hear!

"Are you texting your boyfriend?" Felicia teased.

"What?" Clarissa asked and dropped her phone.

"Oh, look, she's blushing, how sweet," Rachelle said.

"I am not!" Clarissa flustered. "And I don't have a boyfriend." Clarissa realized how childish she sounded.

There was another text from Al.

Hey, want to come over to my apartment?

"See, look!" Felicia declared. "He's inviting you over! That means he likes you."

"Does not," Clarissa said. "We're just friends."

"Are you suuuuuure?" Felicia said in a sing-song voice.

Clarissa looked down at her phone. Al seems like a nice enough guy. I guess I wouldn't mind going out with him. She replied back to his text: Sure, what's your address?

Half an hour later the three girls left the apartment together. Al had texted her that Rachelle and Felicia could go over, too, but they decided they'd rather go shopping.

"Besides, you and Alphonse need some alone time," Felicia said and winked.

As they walked out the front of the apartment, Clarissa noticed the man from last night, Havoc, seemed to be pacing back and forth in front of their residence. He looked surprised once he noticed them.

"Hi, Rachelle," he said and grinned. "I was just going to buzz the apartment. I wanted tot talk to you."

Rachelle stared blankly at him. Then she said rather bluntly, "Who are you?"

Clarissa and Felicia stared at her.

"Havoc came over last night, don't you remember?" Felicia asked. "You two were making out the whole night."

"What?" Rachelle said, looking scandalized. "No, no I don't remember anything like that!"

Havoc scratched the back of his head. "It's true," he said rather awkwardly.

Clarissa could tell that he was hurt, even though he tried to hide it. He looked nervous and lit up a cigarette; he let out a puff of smoke and closed his eyes.

Suddenly Rachelle rushed toward Havoc and smacked the cigar right out of his hand.

"I don't know who you are, but you shouldn't smoke. It's bad for you."

Havoc looked stunned as Rachelle walked away. Clarissa and Felicia followed after her.

"You could have been nicer to the guy," Felicia said. "You two seemed friendly enough last night..."

Then she turned to Clarissa and whispered, "Rachelle had a bad smoking experience in freshman year. Some 'friends' pressured her into smoking, and they made her smoke so much she threw up. She hasn't touched a cigarette since."

"Rachelle, wait!" Havoc hurried after them. Clarissa noticed that he seemed to be favouring his right leg. He stood in front of Rachelle and swept a hand through his hair. "I realize you don't remember me, but I thought we really had something special last night. Last night you said that I –" he blushed here. "Never mind what you said, that doesn't matter. Please, let me make it up to you. My name is Jean Havoc."

He extended his arm out to her. Clarissa and Felicia held their breath while they waited to see what she would do.

Rachelle reached out and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Rachelle Morty."

Havoc smiled and then kissed her hand. "Do you have plans today, Rachelle Morty?"

"We were going to go shopping..."

"But, you can come with!" Felicia chimed in.

"I'd like that," Havoc said, twining his fingers through Rachelle's.

Clarissa said bye to the group when she had to turn a different direction to Al's apartment.

"Have fun~" Felicia sang as she left. Clarissa rolled her eyes.

She passed a large fountain and began to feel nervous as she approached the address she'd scrawled on a piece of paper. She shook her head trying to get away from the feeling. What reason do I have for being nervous? The memory of Al seeing her throwing up the previous night definitely contributed to the feeling. Then something from the back of her mind inched forward. The kiss on the forehead...

She felt her cheeks grow warm. "That was nothing. We'd both been drinking."

You were practically sober by then, and he barely drank last night, her brain reminded her.

She walked up some steps and knocked on the front door of Al's apartment. A moment later and Ed greeted her at the door.

"Come on in," he said, grinning.

"Okay..." Clarissa said, receiving a strange vibe from him.

"Where's Rachelle and Felicia?" he asked, peering behind her.

"They went shopping."

"Oh, damn. I was hoping they would come over."

Clarissa walked inside and closed the door behind her. "Where's Al?"

"In the shower. He should be out soon."

The apartment was clean and tidy, much to Clarissa's surprise. She hadn't expected it to be so clean with boys living there.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" Ed asked as he opened the refrigerator.

"A drink would be nice. Juice is fine."

He placed a glass in front of her. "So...did Felicia...say anything about me, today?"

"Hmm?" she said as she took a sip, puzzled.

"Nothing, never mind."

The door to the bathroom opened. It was a good thing Clarissa had swallowed her drink, because she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't have spat it out. Al had come out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair and skin still damp. A single drop of water fell from his hair to his shoulder, then ran down the length of his smooth chest.

"Ah, Clarissa!" he said, his face instantly red. He clutched at his towel. "What are you doing here?"

"Y-you texted me to invite me over. Half an hour ago," she said, wondering if she should cover her eyes. She couldn't seem to look away.

Al blinked. "My phone's been missing since this morning."

They both turned to Ed who was now holding Al's phone.

"Ed?" Al said incredulously. "You texted her? You're so gonna get it!"

Clarissa glanced at the phone in Ed's hand. "Why is my phone number under the name Cutie Lips?"

There was a moment of silence, and then Clarissa jumped to her feet. "Well, I think I should be going now."

"Wait, Clarissa!" Al said. "Just let me get dressed, please wait."

He ran to what Clarissa presumed was his bedroom. She sat back down at the table and sighed. Why am I still here? Ed's had his phone all this time, so Al hadn't wondered how I was feeling at all. I'm so stupid. She wondered how she was going to tell all this to Felicia. Felicia...

Clarissa slammed her hands on the table and glared at Ed. "You only asked me over so I would bring Felicia, didn't you?"

She didn't wait for a reply but ran from the apartment, her eyes stinging. She felt like such a fool for falling for all this. Al hadn't been worried about her at all.

You weren't even sick, really her mind pointed out. Still, it would have been nice.

She walked down the steps outside and sighed, attempting to regain her composure. She began walking.

"Clarissa, wait up!"

She recognized Al's voice but didn't slow down. But, she wasn't in the mood for running, so Al quickly caught up. He was now wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home."

"I'm sorry about what Ed did. If it makes you feel any better I'm gonna beat him up later."

"Tch!"

"What, you don't think I can?" he teased. Clarissa tried to ignore him. Maybe that would make him go away. After she didn't say anything, he asked, "Are you mad at me?"

"Yeah."

"If anyone has the right to be upset it should be me; you saw me in nothing but a towel!"

Clarissa snorted, then quickly covered her mouth.

"It was that funny, was it?"

Clarissa slowed to a stop, and Al stopped too. "I really thought you were worried how I was feeling, this morning. I really thought you wanted to see me."

"I did. I was," he said softly. "I didn't text you this morning because I wanted you to get your rest. But I did want to know how you were feeling."

Clarissa's heart throbbed and she now had the urge to run. And so she did.

"Wait! I'm telling the truth!" Al said. He ran after her, and she didn't get very far. He grabbed her arm tightly and Clarissa lost her footing. The next thing she knew they'd both fallen into the fountain and she was drenched.

"Ah! Just when I got dry, too."

Clarissa laughed and wiped the wet hair from her eyes.. "Sorry about that."

"No, I think it was my fault..."

Al stood and held out his hand for her. She put her hand in his and he helped her out of the fountain.

"I guess I really should go home now," she laughed.

"Don't be silly, my apartment is closer. We have some clothes you can change into."

"Alright," she said and they began walking back.

"I really am going to beat up Ed. Want to watch?"

"Sure." Clarissa smirked imagining Ed being beaten to a pulp.

"And he really did changed your name in my phone. It wasn't me."

"I figured."

They both seemed to realize at the same moment that they were still holding hands. Al quickly let her go.

"Sorry," he said, flustered. "Your hand just felt so nice."

Clarissa stared at him.

He waved his hands in front of him. "I didn't mean to sound like a creep! It's just...I wasn't able to feel anything for a long, long time. It was nice holding your hand..."

He sighed as if he didn't expect her to understand. She grabbed his hand and smiled.

"You're a sweetheart, Al."

He scratched his cheek and reddened.

"Looks like you two have made up," Ed grinned when they walked in the door.

"There wouldn't have been any need to make up if it weren't for you," Al said.

"You two are soaking wet."

"We fell in the fountain."

Ed laughed and clutched at his sides.

A thought occurred to Clarissa. "I'm not sure if I'll fit into either of your clothes."

"Why not?" Al asked.

"Well...I'm a bit taller than most girls..."

"Then you definitely won't fit into Ed's clothes."

"Hey!" Ed squawked.

Al smiled. Then he turned to Clarissa. "Come on, I'll find you a pair of dry clothes."

Clarissa glanced around Al's room. It was tidy except for textbooks sprawled around. He rummaged through his dresser and she picked up a textbook next to his bed about rocket science. "For late night reading?"

He laughed and passed her some clothes. Then she saw the picture on his desk.

"Kittens?" she asked and watched his face turn beet red.

"I-I like cats."

"That's an understatement," Ed added from the kitchen. "Al tries to bring home every stray cat he finds."

"Do you mind?" he shouted at Ed. Then he sighed and turned to Clarissa. "I'll go change in the bathroom."

Clarissa smiled to herself while changing. So Al likes holding hands and cats. Cute.

She looked at herself in Al's mirror. "It's a good thing I didn't put on any makeup or else I'd look horrible after falling in the fountain."

She sighed and tugged at Al's shirt, hoping she wouldn't stretch it with her large chest. She brushed her hair with her hands and then noticed something in the mirror. She turned around and looked at what seemed to be the head from a suit of armor sitting on a shelf.

Interesting...

She inhaled and could smell Al's scent from his clean clothes and smiled. The feeling of wearing his clothes must be what it would be like to have him wrapped around her, she thought. Then the memory of seeing him in naught but a towel invaded her thoughts and she blushed. She could already tell that that's what was going to be on her mind as she tried to sleep that night.

She shook her head and left the bedroom. Clearly she'd taken longer to get changed because Al was already sitting with Ed at the kitchen table. She couldn't identify the expression on Al's face as she came out wearing his clothes. Frightened, she looked down to make sure she wasn't exposing anything. When she looked back at Al he blinked and the expression was gone. She ran her fingers through her hair nervously and sat down at the table. She glanced at Ed and then held out her hand.

"What?" he asked.

"Gimme your cell phone."

"I don't have one."

"Dang," she said. "I was going to put Felicia's number in it." She thought for a moment and couldn't believe what she was about to say. "If you want to see Felicia, just come over any time, instead of getting me to come here and hoping she tags along."

"Really? Okay," he grinned.

Clarissa stayed for another hour while they played card games and talked. She laughed in Ed's face when he was stuck with the Old Maid card.

"I guess I should be going now, I still have homework to finish."

"I'll walk you home," Al offered.

"You don't have to-"

"I'm coming too!" Ed declared.

"Why?"

"You said I could come over any time, remember?" he said and winked. Clarissa felt like slitting her wrists for giving that offer.

"Fine."

Clarissa's clothes were still wet, so Al told her she could wear his clothes home.

Al locked up his apartment and then they left in the direction of Clarissa and Felicia's residence.

"Don't mind me, you two."

"Huh?" Clarissa and Al both said.

"I saw you two holding hands earlier," he said, grinning and nudging Al.

Clarissa turned away, her face hot. She couldn't see Al's expression.

"That's right, I forgot to beat you up earlier," Al said. "I'll wait until there aren't any girls around so you don't feel embarrassed.

Ed let out a bark of laughter. "Yeah, right! You should be treating your older brother with a little bit of respect."

Clarissa was entertained by them bickering for the walk home.

"I don't even know if Rachelle and Felicia are back home, yet. But you both can come in anyway."

"Hey, did Havoc catch up with you guys earlier today?" Ed asked.

"Yeah, he went out shopping with Rachelle and Felicia," Clarissa said as they walked up the stairs to her apartment. She took off her shoes and walked into the kitchen.

The sight laid before her was shocking. Felicia was sitting at the kitchen table crying her eyes out, surrounded by tissues.

"Felicia, what's the matter?" Clarissa asked, hurrying over to her.

"Clarissa? I thought you were going to text me before you came home," she sniffed.

"I forgot to. Why are you crying?"

"I dunno, it's just stupid," she sobbed. "I felt like a third wheel with Rachelle and Havoc so I came home saying I had some stuff to do. When I got home I felt sad because you were out hanging with Alphonse and Rachelle was with Havoc. I guess I felt lonely."

"Well, about me hanging out with Al today..." she tried explaining, then changed her mind. "Never mind about that. Ed, get in here!"

Ed hurried into the room. "What's wrong, it sounded like someone was crying." He took one look at Felicia then ran over to her and folded her against his chest. "What's wrong, Felicia?"

"I-I-I-"

"She felt lonely," Clarissa explained.

Ed placed his hands on either side of her face, and after brushing away stray hairs he looked into her eyes. "How can you feel lonely when I'm here?"

Clarissa watched her face flush and her eyes well up with tears again. Ed cradled her and smoothed the top of her hair, whispering soothing words to her. She thought she heard him explaining how he'd tricked Clarissa but had wanted to see her at Al's apartment.

"Is she going to be okay?" Al asked when he came into the room.

"Oh, yeah," Clarissa said, crossing her arms. "Felicia is the moodiest person I've ever met. In a few minutes she'll be jumping up and down like her usual self."

"Hey, look, Rachelle and Havoc are back!" Felicia said, dragging Ed to the window with her. "I think they're gonna kiss."

"You shouldn't be spying on your sister like that!" Clarissa said. "And besides, didn't you see them making out last night?"

Clarissa and Al moved over to the window to watch. Havoc was holding Rachelle's hands in his, then gave her a sweet peck on the lips and left.

"That was cute," Clarissa said.

"Uh-oh," Felicia said, sounding worried.

"Who's that?" Ed asked, and Clarissa and Al looked to where he was pointing. A man who looked to be in his twenties, with messy black hair and a heavy dose of eyeliner, strolled over to Rachelle. Rachelle froze in her tracks upon seeing him.

"That's her stalker, Adam," Felicia said. "I can't believe he found her."

Through the open window they could hear Rachelle demanding what he was doing there.

"No-no-nobody a-kno-kno-knows me or can find time to be m-mine, mine."

Rachelle stared at the man with wide eyes.

"Let me entertain ya 'til you scream."

"Is he dangerous?" Al asked.

"Not really," Felicia said.

They watched as the stalker pulled out a knife.

"I stand corrected..." Felicia said.

"Jean!" they heard Rachelle scream as she took steps away from the stalker.

"Imma hurt you real good. I sometimes tend to lose my temper. You know me better than I know myself."

"I don't know you at all," Rachelle screamed at him.

"This guy sounds like a creep," Clarissa said, "but oddly poetic."

"Come on, I want your naked love. I wanna see you strut, strut, strut, come on walk for me."

"Someone call security!" Clarissa said.

"Jean!" Rachelle cried out again.

Clarissa ran out of the apartment and noticed a crowd had gathered around Rachelle and the stalker. Some people ran away screaming.

"Holy asswaffles!" a bystander exclaimed.

"I'm flabbergasted!" another said.

"There's no way to ring the alarm," Adam the stalker said. "It's not the first time, it's not the worst crime. This is how I live, this is what I give, and you're the one I want to know." The stalker noticed Carissa and said, "Baby better watch your step, you're gonna see things you might not wanna see."

Clarissa gulped and then noticed Havoc run through the crowd. "Rachelle!"

"Hey, slow it down, whataya want from me?" the stalker asked.

Havoc ran up to the stalker and used his shoulder to knock him away. He used enough force that the stalker fell to the ground and dropped his knife. There was a collective gasp through the crowd.

"Are you okay?" Havoc asked, rubbing Rachelle's arms. Clarissa could see that she was crying.

Suddenly the stalker was on his feet again and charged at the couple. Havoc pushed Rachelle aside at the last second, and the stalker grabbed him by the waist and tackled him to the ground.

"Oh, no," Al said as he and Ed came outside.

"His legs..." Ed said.

Two men in security uniforms hauled the stalker off Havoc, but Clarissa noticed that Havoc did not rise. Rachelle ran over and knelt beside him.

"If I had you, that would be the only thing I'd ever need," the stalker said before he was pushed into the security car.

"Is he going to be alright?" Clarissa asked, worried. Havoc had still not risen from the ground.

They walked over closer so they could hear them speaking. One of the security men dispatched for an ambulance.

"Jean, what hurts?" Rachelle asked, holding onto his hand.

He moaned. "I think it's my heart. I was so scared you were going to be hurt."

"I'm fine, Jean. But what about you?" She squeezed his hand.

"There's something I need to tell you, Rachelle. I was too scared to at first. Two years ago I-"

But they were interrupted as Rachelle was pushed back by security and paramedics.

"Jean, I'm right behind you!" Rachelle said when he was brought into the ambulance.

Felicia caught up with them. Clarissa assumed that Ed had told her to stay inside.

"Can you take me to the hospital?" Rachelle asked them. She looked on the verge of tears again. "I don't know how to get there."

"Yeah, we'll take you," Clarissa offered. "We'll have to take the train there."

Ten minutes later they arrived at the hospital. It had been an awkward ride over.

"What was Jean trying to tell me earlier? About something that happened two years ago?"

Ed had shook his head. "I think he wants to tell you himself."

At the East City Hospital Rachelle ran up to the receptionist desk at the emergency room.

"May I see Jean Havoc, please?" she asked the nurse. "He was just brought here in an ambulance."

"Yes, he's stable. You may all visit him. This way, please."

They all followed the nurse down a hallway and into a hospital room.

"Jean!" Rachelle said and ran to the hospital bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be alright," he said, then winced as he tried to adjust himself in the bed. "There's something important I need to tell you. About two years ago I was working under the Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang, as his second-lieutenant. I was working in Central at the time, and I was wounded while on duty."

The next part seemed hard for him to say. "I was paralyzed from the waist down from damage to my spinal cord. After two years of physiotherapy I'm able to walk again, but I have relapses without warning sometimes. And I don't work for the State Military anymore because of incidents like this; just being knocked to the ground can cause a relapse."

He turned away from Rachelle and took a deep breath. "So I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore. I can't guarantee that I can protect you the way someone else could. It was silly of me to think a girl as beautiful as you would want to be with me, anyway. I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you."

Rachelle inhaled. "Don't be silly!"

Jean blinked.

"I wasn't completely honest with you, either. Maybe...if I'd told you I had a stalker...this wouldn't have happened. I don't care if you have spinal cord problems, Jean! You're the first guy to like me for me. Not just for my looks, or what kind of job I have. But for the deeper me. I mean, you promised to quit smoking for me. That's a big thing! I'm not the kind of person to leave you just because you can't walk sometimes. So, you'll have to try harder than that to get rid of me."

Jean stared at her in disbelief. Then he closed his eyes and smiled, tears forming at the edge of his eyes. "I never thought in a million years you'd still want to be with me."

She climbed onto the bed and laid next to Havoc, her arms wrapped around his chest. "I love you, Jean."

"Love you, too."

Clarissa, Felicia, Ed, and Al left the room to give the two lovebirds some privacy. After the doctors informed everyone that Havoc should only need to stay in the hospital for a few days and that there was no extensive damage to his spinal cord, they said their goodbyes and went home.

Note: Can you guess who the stalker is based off of? ;)