Edward and Alphonse exchanged nervous looks with each other, and then Edward scooted back in the chair and lifted his leg up onto the table. He rolled back his pant leg and revealed his automail leg. Right about where his shin should be, there was a huge piece missing. "If you can't tell, my arm came off… again." He sighed. "Yeah, I noticed. I'm the one who has to fix it." Winry replied, bluntly. I quietly giggled, then stopped. Since when do I giggle! I asked myself, honestly worried, because I never giggle. Alphonse was chuckling while Winry and Edward argued about his automail. I'm just surprised that she hasn't thrown a wrench at him yet… unless she already has.
"So Emily, what were you doing out in the rain last night?" I looked up to see Winry looking at me, expecting an answer. "I… uh…" I stuttered, looking back down at my plate. I really needed a cover story. When I replied, I didn't look back up, "I… ran away from home." I said, hoping they would buy it. "Oh…" Winry gasped, looking a little sad. An awkward silence filled the room, as I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat. After what seemed like hours, Winry suddenly perked up and looked at the three of us with a sly smile on her face. "Anyway, I was wondering… how tall are you, Emily?" She asked, turning to me. "Uh…I'm 5'5"… why?" I replied, awkwardly. "No reason…" She said as she shot Edward an "In your face!" look. "Just one more inch, huh?" she whispered smugly. "I'M NOT SHORT!" Edward raged after he got what she was implying.
After a few more minutes of eating and conversation, Winry and Edward left to go fix Edward's automail, so it was just Alphonse and I, now. I got up from the table and made my way over to one of the couches, and a minute later, Alphonse followed, sitting on the other couch. The silence looming over us was unbearable, so I struck up a conversation.
"Hey… Alphonse?" I asked. "Yes, Emily?" "Your brother… does he dislike me for any reason?" I asked, because I really did want to know. "I… don't think so…" He replied, sounding surprised. I bet I caught him off guard. "Big brother doesn't usually dislike people without a good reason…" I lowered my head in thought, what could I have done? Did I accidently look at him funny, or something? "Why do you ask?" He said, sounding worried. "No reason." I replied, shaking my head, in thought.
I wonder… it's been almost twenty four hours since I left Uncle Mark's house. I wonder what he's doing right now… Is he out searching for me? Is he simply waiting for me to return? Has he called my parents and told them that I was nowhere to be found? How the heck did I get here, anyway! I thought this world was fictional! Well apparently, I was wrong, because here I am, sitting next to Alphonse Elric, while Winry Rockbell was upstairs working on Edward Elric's automail! More importantly, how am I going to get back home? Or, if I never did, how would my parents take it? How would my friends take it? How would I take it? Wait… What if I traveled with the Elric brothers? Maybe I would find a way home!
I smiled as a newfound hope was born, and turned to Alphonse, ready to ask away. "Hey, Emily?" Looks like my question would have to wait... "What's up, Alphonse?" "Did something happen? Why do you have a bandage on your face?" He asked. I had almost forgotten about my cut… I gently touched it, and faced him. "I was walking… the road was really slick… the thunder scared me and I fell… I think I fell on a rock…" I answered truthfully. "You think? Why don't you know?" He asked, curiosity edged in his voice. I shrugged, "Well I passed out almost immediately after… so I don't know… I guess that's when Winry found me." Alphonse looked down, and then he looked back up and asked, "Does it still hurt?" Alphonse was so nice! It really is hard to believe he was my age, because most of the fourteen year olds back home, were self centered jerks, but Alphonse is the exact opposite! "It stings a little" I shrugged, " but I'm okay." I smiled. "Can I go with you guys?" I suddenly blurted, without thinking. Crap, I really wanted to word it better than that… "Huh? You mean you want to travel with brother and I?" He asked sounding alarmed. "Yeah!" "How would you get on the train? We only have two tickets…" "I could hide in your armor!" CRAP. My hands flew to my mouth as if they could take the words back. I really wanted to punch myself in the jaw, for letting that slip. Why did I have to be so stupid? "How… how did you…" I couldn't tell whether he was sad or confused, but either way I felt really guilty. "I'm so sorry Alphonse… I overheard Winry and her grandmother talking about it last night… I just… I'm sorry!" I apologized. I was really starting to hate having to lie over and over again to keep my identity a secret. The ten seconds that passed felt more like ten hours, until finally he sighed, "It's alright… but Emily, it's not exactly comfy in here, seeing as my entire body is made of steel and all…" "I don't care! I want to see the world… maybe find myself a new home…" I trailed off.
We sat in silence for a bit, I guess he was making up his mind. Finally he got up and said, "I'm going to go ask Winry, after all, you are her guest…" He walked across the living room, but stopped in the doorway. Then, without looking at me, he said, "Emily, I would like it if you came… You're really nice." After saying this, he walked carefully upstairs.
Aww, He would like it if I came... I smiled to myself. Heh… he thinks I'm nice… I shook my head. If only he saw me at school… I should probably change my attitude… after all; I'm not in America anymore, or rather "Earth". I'm in Amestris! Which I guess is just a different version of the earth I'm used to… I wonder… When, or If, I get back home… will I be a different person? Heh… If I was any nicer to Ashley, She'd be like, "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH EMILY!"
Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of metal clacking down the stairs; Alphonse was back. I looked at him with hopeful eyes as he said, "I asked Winry… she said it was your decision." I smiled really wide, which is weird, considering how I usually act. "What did Edward say?" It felt weird to say his name… "Uh… I didn't ask him…" Alphonse responded, "I figured that since I'm sneaking you on the train anyway… it'll be too late for him to say no…" He mumbled. Alphonse was trying to help me! I'll go get my stuff ready! Wake me up before your brother wakes up alright?" "Sure…" I rushed out of the room, then I ran back and leaned through the door frame, "Thank you so much, Al!" "Emily, you called me Al instead of Alphonse…?" I chuckled, "Well yeah! I mean, you're really helping me out by doing this! Plus, we are friends, aren't we?" I cheered. "Haha, yeah!" He laughed. I quickly spun around, but I ran into something. My forehead slammed against something hard, and I fell to the ground. "Ouch…" I mumbled, rubbing my head. I opened my eyes to see a hand stretched out in front of me, and I soon realized, it belonged to Edward, and believe it or not, he still wouldn't look at me. I still didn't know why. I got up without his offered help, and said "Sorry." as I rushed past him.
I opened the door to the room I was staying in and quickly shut it behind me. "What's his problem?" I mumbled to myself. I turned around to see that the outfit I was wearing when I woke up in Amestris, was laying on the bed, folded into a neat pile. Right at to the foot of the bed, on the ground, were my shoes. I laughed under my breath, because they were actually clean… which they hadn't been in a while… Winry must've worked hard to get all that mud off… I'd have to thank her.
I picked up my coat and sat on the bed. This is the coat I always left at Uncle Mark's. I stared at it, foolishly hoping that if I looked long enough, it would take me home. Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes, so I wiped them away and took a few deep breaths. I picked up the other clothes, and noticed a folded up piece of paper under them. I opened it up, but before I could look at it, I tossed it on the floor and told myself I'd look at it later.
I leaned forward, pulled my knees up to my chest, and let my mind roam. What is everyone back home doing? Were they worried about me, or did they even care? Before I knew it, it had gotten dark outside, so I leaned over to look at the clock. It was 11:15 at night, so I got off the bed and went to the door. I opened it, leaning out and examining the dark hallways and rooms. I heard a few distant snores so I closed the door and picked up my drawing off the floor. Sitting on the bed, I examined it. It was something I had drawn for a friend at school. I had meant to give it to her, but it slipped my mind... If there's no possible way to leave this world, I might never see my friends again… which means this drawing would only remind me of that. I felt a lump in the back of my throat. It's okay to cry now, right?
I didn't give myself enough time to decide, because I was suddenly watching my tears splash onto the paper, ruining my drawing. I turned off the lights and cried myself to sleep, because I knew I wouldn't have time to cry tomorrow.
(A/N) AHH FINALLY DONE! I started typing this chapter at 3:45… It's 8:53! –cries- When I finished I twisted around, like they do in the movies (I'm stupid) My back actually popped! It sounded so gross! DX eeewwwwwwww! Haha, While I was typing this, my hand kept spazzing out and I would accidently press the backspace key. FML lol jk I keed, guys. Ah, so yeah… I might try to post Sunday… or Monday… DEFINTLY NOT SATURDAY. Huh-uh. That's my break day. :) KAY well stay tuned, I guess! XD