Well, here's your next chapter. Sorry it took so long. Too much homework this past week. But I have a four day weekend this week! I've decided to dedicate this weekend to two things: finding scholarships to pay for over-priced college (let me know if you know any good ones), and working overtime on this story. Still not getting the reviews I want, but I actually love this story myself so I'm basically typing for myself and my few fans. And I'm completely happy with that! Well, anyway, here you go!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. Still own Kayt. Still don't care if you use her.

88888888888

'Why?' Ed thought. He had stopped running a short distance from Kayt's house, but hadn't worked up the courage to knock on the door. He could only stare at the white house. The kitchen curtains were open slightly, and he could occasionally see Kayt's mother walk by. Once, she glanced out and saw Ed. Her brow furrowed, and she pulled the curtains shut. Ed didn't move.

'Mom's never met Kayt so maybe she just didn't know…but Al has. Why didn't he defend me? Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong? Maybe it's the same thing that Dad was mad at…that must be why he left…they're all mad at me. Except Kayt. Kayt's not mad, right? She could never be mad at me. She's not that kind of person. Is she? I don't know her that well…but I feel like I've known her forever. She's my friend. She has to be real!'

"Ed?" a voice asked from the door. Edward was too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice. "…Ed? …Ed!" Ed's head snapped up. He glanced over at Kayt. "Why don't you come inside? You're getting wet."

Ed glanced up. It had indeed started raining. He hadn't noticed, and he was quickly being drenched. He didn't make a move to accept her offer. Instead, he kept his golden eyes glued to the sky, only slightly aware of the rain running down his face.

"Is something wrong?" Kayt asked not leaving the dryness of the doorway.

"Are you mad at me?" Ed asked quietly.

"Mad at you? Why would I be mad at you? I thought you were mad at me…"

"Huh?" Ed asked, his gaze shifting from the sky to Kayt.

"Earlier, when Winry woke up, I panicked. I should have stayed and took my share of the blame, but I ran. You should be mad at me."

"I'm not…"

"Why would you think I was mad at you?" When Ed didn't answer right away, Kayt ran over and grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's go inside. You're going to get sick."

Kayt pulled him toward the door, expecting him to resist, but he allowed himself to be dragged inside. Ignoring the disapproving glance from her mother, she dragged Ed upstairs to her room. She made herself comfortable on the bed while Ed took a seat on the rug.

"So," Kayt began after a moment, "why did you think I was mad at you?"

"Everyone else is," Ed said quietly. He kept his gaze down.

"Whaddya mean? Sure Winry's mad, she should be, she deserved it, but who else?"

"Everyone. Winry and her parents are mad at me for cutting her hair. Al's mad at me, and I don't know why. He didn't even defend me. Mom…I don't know what she thinks. She probably blames me for Dad leaving…I'm not sure what I did, but I must have done something."

"How can you be so sure it's your fault if you can't remember doing anything wrong. Come on, Ed, the world doesn't revolve around you."

"The day before he left, that was our day. It was always just the two of us doing whatever we wanted on that day. But…he said he didn't have time. There was something urgent he had to do. He wouldn't tell me what. He was gone all day, and he didn't come back until the next morning. He was yelling at Mom when I got up. He had just finished saying something about me, I heard my name, and then he walked out the door. The fight was about me, that's all I know for sure. I don't know what I did."

By the end of the story, Ed was fighting off tears. Kayt tried to comfort him, but he hit her hand away.

"How do you know he's not coming back?" Kayt asked to break the silence.

"I just know."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"He's not coming back!"

Both realized they had shifted into a standing, maybe even fighting, position. Ed lowered his fists and dropped his gaze. Kayt sat back down on the bed.

"What's going on up there?" Kayt's mother shouted from below.

"Nothing!" Kayt shouted back.

"I should probably go…" Ed said. As if it were answering him, lightening flashed across the sky followed shortly by a loud roll of thunder.

"You can't go out in that!" Kayt said frantically grabbing Ed's arm as though she thought he would try to run. "Stay here until it passes."

"That could be all night."

"So? Stay the night. It's not a problem."

"It's a school night."

"We'll get you up. Don't worry about it."

"Fine, I guess, I'll stay."

"Don't make it sound like a prison sentence!" Kayt laughed, playfully punching Ed's arm. Ed smiled a little. "Come on, let's go let Mom know that you're staying awhile."

"I don't think she likes me much," Ed said as he trailed behind Kayt.

"Nonsense!"

They made their way into the kitchen where Kayt's mother was baking. She glanced over her shoulder and scowled at Ed who was still in his soggy clothes.

"Hey, Mom," Kayt said. "Is it all right if Ed stays until the storm passes?"

Kayt's mother glanced outside. "Could be awhile."

"We can't make him go out in that!" Kayt pleaded.

"Just give me an umbrella, and I'll be fine," Ed said from the door of the kitchen. Again, with its excellent timing, the lightening flashed across the sky.

"Right," Kayt answered skeptically. "So…he can stay, right?"

"I suppose so," Kayt's mother answered in a monotone voice, turning back to her cooking.

"Thank you!" Kayt said as she grabbed Ed's hand and pulled him into the living room. A pure black dog, a breed that Ed couldn't identify, walked up to them wagging its tail. "This is Edward," Kayt said picking the dog up.

"That'll get confusing," Ed said petting the dog behind the ears.

"No, it won't. This is Edward, and you're Ed."

They sat on the wooden floor and played with Edward for awhile until Ed became silent, and the pattering rain and booming thunder were the only noises to be heard.

"Are you still moping?" Kayt asked.

"I'm gonna be in so much trouble…"

"I'll take my share. It was my idea. Soon as the storm stops, we'll go-"

"No!" Ed shouted without letting her finish. Realizing what he'd done, he quickly tried to fix his mistake. "I mean, you don't have to. I did it so…It doesn't matter. Don't worry about it!"

"Hm?" Kayt tilted her head. Ed was acting awfully nervous.

"Don't worry about it," Ed repeated.

Ed studied her reaction. She didn't seem like she suspected anything odd. She just seemed confused.

'Yeah,' Ed thought, 'she has to be real. There's no way she isn't! How else would I be in this house? How would that woman be able to talk to her too? But then…why did Mom say that? Maybe I should talk to Kayt…'

"Ed," Kayt said gently. "You're spacing out again."

"Sorry…"

"Is there something you want to talk about?"

"…No."

88888

The storm had finally passed around midnight, but because Ed was already asleep, he had stayed the whole night. Kayt's mother woke him up as early as she could get away with and sent him off to school.

"Brother!" Al called, running up the path trying to catch up with Ed. "Wait up!" Ed didn't look back but did slow down a little until Al finally caught up. "Brother, we were worried about you. Where have you been all night? It was storming."

"I was at Kay- …I mean, the Callister's," Ed said flashing what he hoped was a convincing smile. Al didn't look convinced.

"You were gonna say Kayt's, weren't you?"

"No! I swear I was at the Callister's!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Really!"

"Me and Mom went around to a bunch of the neighbors, including the Callister's, to find you." Ed was struck silent. "We even went to the empty house that you claim Kayt lives in, but the door was locked so we couldn't get in. Did you lock it?" Ed didn't answer. "Brother…what's wrong with you? The neighbors said it was probably cause Daddy's gone. Is that it?"

"You told the neighbors?" Ed asked ignoring the question.

"Mom did. She wanted to know if any of them knew anything. She's worried about you." Ed fell silent again. "I'm worried too…"

"There's nothing to worry about. But…why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell Mom that Kayt is real?"

"…I'm the one who told her that Kayt is your imaginary friend."

"What? Why?" At this point, to say that Ed was shocked was a huge understatement.

Al looked at his older brother trying to find some sort of proof that Ed was playing some kind of a joke. Maybe just something to attract attention like the neighbors had said…but all Al saw was confusion. Edward really didn't know.

"Can we talk about it later?" Al asked as the school came within sight. "At home?"

"Yeah, I guess so…"

Al could already see some of the older boys pointing at Ed and whispering to each other. It always amazed Alphonse how quickly and thoroughly word could spread in a small country town.

8888888888

There you go. Hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter will probably come very quickly because I've been looking forward to writing the next one since I started this story. I've finished the outline for this story and so far it looks like it's going to be: prologue, 18 chapters, three alternate endings (you can read just one or all three, I don't really care), and an epilogue. Epilogue's gonna be the hardest because it has to fit all three very different endings. I think I know what I'm gonna do though.

Lastly, time to thank all the people that have actually taken the time to review! Thank you to: Bar-Ohki, Re-L Proxy, disagd1, The Plaid Hatter, possessed by the anime, Tiffany, Skidder, and Tia Ordona 23. And finally, at this point so far, the best reviewer (based on how many reviews and what is in them) award goes to Empress Kiritsubo! Thank you all!

Equivalent Exchange: I write, you review.