BandGeek99: Ember's glad you read and enjoyed! This band probably seems so real because it's strongly based on Ember's marching band from freshman year in high school... Goodness, that was a long time ago... But the point remains. Percussionists are underappreciated, but Ember couldn't really see that for Roy. She felt he needed something requiring finger dexterity as opposed to skilled wrist maneuvers and epic timekeeping skills. Glad the humor thrown in there was appreciated!

Bursting-Bubbles: Ember loves her Spanish classes and an exhausted Ember certainly equals a Spanglish-speaking Ember. Just ask Rags to Riches about that one time in chemistry class...

AnimeAddic5: This soon enough? And glad you enjoyed.

Now, onto serious business. Even more serious than review responses. And that's pretty damn serious. Ember probably won't be seen here often during the month of November. The reason? She has decided to write an original work in honor of November being National Novel Writer's Month, frequently and lovingly abbreviated as NaNoWriMo. She will be posting that on the mutantpenguins livejournal, which can be found either by the link on our profile or at www. mutant-penguins. livejournal. com (without the spaces, obviously). So follow along, and be sure to comment, but don't expect frequent updates on this end of things!

Chapter 7: Settling

Schedules always got more hectic with the start of the actual school year, Roy remembered. Luckily for his first day he had his easy classes and electives, so it wouldn't be too bad. He shouldn't get swamped with loads of homework.

However, when he reached band class he noticed that Ed didn't have it nearly as easy. This was only their third class and already Ed was swamped with books and papers and looking frazzled. His hair, which Roy noted was in a ponytail again, was threatening to yank itself loose of his hair tie and looked as if he had run his fingers through it several times without remembering he'd pulled it back. His face was a little paler than normal and his eyes were wide, giving him a generally stressed appearance.

It was definitely a change to see the normally easygoing Ed caught up in such an obviously hectic day. With a hint of concern he asked, "What did you get yourself into?! Two classes and you're already buried under that stack of books and papers."

Ed moved the stack to one side so he could glare at Roy properly as Roy internally chuckled at the necessity of moving the stack. "Calculus and chemistry, why?"

"Because that stack of work's taller than you are?"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE COULDN'T DO HIS HOMEWORK IF HE TRIED BECAUSE HE CAN'T EVEN SEE OVER A PENCIL, MUCH LESS USE ONE?!" Ed positively howled as Roy laughed.

"Well, I would hope you can see over a pencil," Roy pointed out, still chuckling. "How did you ever learn to play an instrument otherwise?"

Startled out of an impending rant, Ed replied, "Amazing mind control and telepathy skills. How else did you think I could get a body taller than a flea to move for me?"

"Well, I always thought you'd employed a puppeteer and this body was attached to countless strings. However," Roy said, passing a hand over Ed's head, "I should've felt any strings that were there, so I guess I was wrong."

"Bastard," Ed said without malice, his eyes twinkling with grudging amusement.

Really, it still amazed Roy how far they had come in a little under a month. At this point last year Ed would have meant the rant wholeheartedly along with the derogatory names and Roy would have been laughing at Ed instead of with him.

At this point last year they probably would have already had one of their infamous screaming matches and been reprimanded by some passing teacher. Really, that was one thing Roy wasn't going to miss.

It was strange, realizing that not too long ago this would have been unthinkable. Having settled easily into whatever the hell their relationship was now, it seemed like they'd been like this forever. It was difficult to remember the times when they might have just killed themselves rather than be caught having anything remotely close to a civil conversation.

This was definitely far better, though, Roy decided as he made plans to steal one of Ed's books just because he could.

After band class had unofficially ended Ed made a mistake, not that he knew it.

Ed walked to the nearest water fountain, leaving his things in the band room. When he came back a mere thirty seconds later he noticed that his stack of books looked suspiciously shorter.

Sitting down, he began to look through the stack to see what was missing.

Calculus book, check.

Calculus homework, check. And that included the whole stack of papers. Ed knew; he'd checked to make sure every last one was there.

Chemistry homework and notes, check.

Chemistry book…

The chemistry book was conspicuously absent. Looking around, he noted that Roy was across the room looking far too innocent for Ed's liking.

This just wouldn't do. Ed needed that book for his homework. If Roy thought he could take it then he'd better think again. And so as Ed walked past Roy he "accidentally" hit him with his trumpet case.

"Ow! What was that for?!" the other teen demanded irately.

"Hey, Roy, can you help me out? My chemistry book's gone missing," he said, looking pointedly at Roy.

Ed officially decided that Roy was an excellent liar, because there was no guilt or even glee in his expression. He only showed a hint of concern. "Really? Where'd you put it last?"

"It was in my pile of books. I left for thirty seconds and when I came back the rest of the pile was there but that one book was gone. Sounds kind of suspicious, don't you think?" he asked with another pointed glance at Roy.

"You think I took it?!" Roy gathered. "I'm wounded! You honestly think I would take one of your books and viciously prevent you from doing a very important homework assignment that your evil teacher assigned on the very first day of school even though you only just met him or her and you have so many better things to do, like watching paint dry or counting the hairs on that mane of hair of yours by plucking them all from your head one by one or perhaps looking for a three-legged cat or watching grass grow or finding a two-leaf clover without picking any leaves off the clover or counting all the grains of sand on a beach or maybe even doing my homework for me?!"

"While I appreciate your creativity, that run-on sentence from hell was a dead giveaway. I know you have my book, or if you don't you know where it is."

"I'm appalled! Have you so little faith in me?!"

"Absolutely," Ed replied as people began to catch onto what was happening and started to snigger in the background.

"How deeply must you stab that knife into my heart before you're satisfied?" Roy asked dramatically as Ed vaguely wondered if he took theater too.

"Deep enough to make sure that when I twist it around in there it feels awful," Ed smirked.

"I hope you know just how deeply you've hurt me, accusing me of stealing your book," Roy declared as he flamboyantly made his exit.

Even as he glared at Roy's retreating back, Ed couldn't help but laugh a little. Really, Roy could be such a drama queen when he wanted to.

He wasn't particularly worried about his book. He'd get it back. He knew it.

Roy was walking in the general direction of his car after practice when he got the sudden suspicion that someone was following him. He figured it was just his imagination, though, since he couldn't see anyone out of the ordinary behind him when he turned suddenly just to check, and kept walking.

Just before he left the grassy area in front of the school, though, he was knocked to the ground and someone sat on his legs.

"What on earth--?" Roy managed, attempting to turn his head far enough to see who was currently on top of him. Just before he could succeed, though, the person spoke, giving away his identity.

"I believe you have something of mine," said Ed's voice. "I want it back."

Well, that wasn't strange at all, Roy thought, immediately pardoning his overuse of sarcasm. In all honesty he'd never expected Ed would be able to so much as sneak up on him, much less tackle him to the ground.

Well, that didn't sound wrong in the least.

What was with the sudden outpouring of sarcasm? Roy couldn't quite understand it. But that really wasn't the point. Far more important was trying to find a way to get his blond friend off of him, somewhere other than sprawled on top of him before this got more awkward than it needed to be. Yes, personal space was really a must in any friendship, not that Ed seemed to understand that.

Oh, wait. Ed had said something. "And just what do you think I have that you want?" he demanded, trying to ignore how awkward this whole situation really was.

Ed ignored him except to hum quietly to himself. Soon Roy noticed that Ed seemed to be going through his backpack for something.

So he really had found it, then. Damn. It was a real pity that Ed hadn't taken longer to work out exactly where that book was.

Roy could practically hear the smirk in Ed's voice as he said, "Somehow I don't think you're taking that class. It seems a little advanced for someone like you."

Roy nearly growled at him. "Are you calling me stupid?"

Ed laughed. "No, I'm merely remembering something you said about disliking chemistry. If you hated it so much you wouldn't take it again in a more advanced form, unless you're absolutely insane… wait, never mind. This must be your textbook after all."

Roy scowled at a blade of grass a mere inch from his nose. "Just take it back and get off me before someone passes by and wonders exactly what you're trying to accomplish."

Was it just his imagination, or had Ed temporarily tensed up? He certainly got off of Roy quick enough. The blush on his cheeks also strongly hinted at Ed's embarrassment. Apparently he had caught Roy's meaning, thankfully.

Not entirely sure why Ed was acting so obviously embarrassed, Roy just shrugged it off and stood up, feeling rather thankful that he'd been wearing shorts and therefore had avoided grass stains on his knees. "Come on, it's time to go home."

"Yeah, shut up," Ed muttered, still a little pink in the face. Really, when Roy got home he would have to wonder why Ed seemed so settled in one moment and so uncomfortable the next. But that could wait until he was safely home and away from short blonds who would kill him if they found out what he was thinking.

END CH. 7

And you thought Ember'd leave you without another glimpse of Roy/Ed UST? Bwahaha. Think again.