Riza woke up in the back of a van in the middle of the beach. Her head swam from the alcohol she had ingested the night before and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to massage function back into her brain. She sat up, trying to remember what had happened the night before. She had been watching the fireworks, she and Roy had been making out, had anything else happened? She didn't think so; she distinctly remembered getting chilled from the costal breeze and Roy had given her his jacket and she had no memories from there. He must have moved me to the van, she realized.

She got out of the van and looked around. The sun was barely up, but most of the soldiers had vacated the beach already. The band was nowhere in sight, and ash lay strewn over much of the beach where the bon fire had burned to the ground. She could smell the smoke as the remaining logs still smoldered in the pit. Riza closed the door and stared to walk back to the hotels. It could only be two miles away at most.

The sun rose as she walked along the beach, warming her, reminding her of Roy's effect on her, warming her from the core and at any contact. She smiled, and over the dunes, she saw her condo. Leaving the path, she walked over the sand, letting her feet fall in up to her ankles as she walked clumsily over the shifting grains. It tickled in a way, and she felt so amazingly happy. She and Roy could spend the rest of the day together in town or on the beach together. There had been an offered hang gliding class she was interested in; they could try that together.

As she got closer to the condo, she says a familiar figure leaving. Guiltily. Rebecca saw her and tried to walk past her, but Riza stopped her. "Good morning, Becca! Quite a party, wasn't it?" She thought it strange that Rebecca was in her condo, but she would see what it why before accusing.

Rebecca turned sharply, like she had just noticed Riza for the first time. "Oh, Riza! I didn't see you there! Well, yes, it was fantastic! Didn't you like it?"

Why were you avoiding me after I saw you in my condo? Riza remembered back, it had been so...energetic. Different from Amestrian music, food, drink, but fun. Of course, the fireworks were amazing too."

Rebecca looked confused, and then her face snapped back into realization. "I forgot there would be fireworks! Now I feel stupid for not staying longer!" Rebecca looked down trodden, and Riza wondered how she could have forgotten about the fireworks.

"They were really amazing, especially when you consider it's the same basic principal as shooting a gun. So, where did you head off to in such a hurry?" You went to hook up, didn't you?

Rebecca somehow looked both smirky and sheepish at the same time. Now that she thought of it, Rebecca was very unkempt, sand sticking to her in odd places, hair completely mussed. Composing herself, she replied, "Well, at any rate, he's very good in bed." With that she slunk off, no doubt to go sleep somewhere. Riza wondered briefly if she should follow to make sure she didn't just go to sleep on the sand or in the wrong condo. She decided against it; Rebecca had been in weirder situations and had come out just fine.

Riza turned and went inside; the warm air of the condo was a little uncomfortable, but in a cozy way. Riza went over to the wash stand to clean up. As she poured water on her face, she smelled something she had not noticed before; there was the distinct smell of sweat in the condo, and something acidic. If she didn't know better, she...'he's very good in bed.' Had Rebecca really-? In her bed? With some random person who she-? No wonder she had tried to sneak past her while exiting the condo.

Then it hit her; she hadn't said who the other soldier was, and seemed guilty about the hook up. Could it have been with-no! It couldn't have been! But now that she thought of it, Roy had left her in the night and had left her in a car instead of waking her and bringing her home. "Roy?" she called. There was no answer. So he vacated as well. Riza was skeptical. All the pieces fit together. She had noticed almost everyone at the party before she fell asleep, and Roy had been missing when she woke up in a car. Rebecca had acted guilty after exiting her condo and had not said who she was with.

She brushed and pinned her hair then went in search of a certain altogether too snide General.

She found him fifteen minutes later she found him playing table tennis with Major Armstrong, and losing; agility was an Armstrong trait, after all. She approached him, steeling herself. "General Mustang, I'd like a word with you, sir." He looked up, and lost the point.

He caught the ball as it fell off the table and sighed, "Riza, certainly. Can it wait just five minutes? We're almost done with this game."

"It's important, sir, and you need to hear this." Riza stood firmly, making the older officer grit his teeth.

"Alright, Riza. If you'll excuse me, Major." He followed Riza into an adjoining room and asked in a low voice. "What's going on? Why couldn't it wait?"

"I could ask you the same thing, sir." she retorted. "I just don't understand. What happened, sir?"

Roy looked so confused, she almost bought it. Almost. He shook his head and looked her in the eye. "Riza, what are you talking about?"

Riza felt her steel breaking down a little, but pushed on. "I saw Lt. Catalina earlier today, sir. Ring a bell?"

If anything, Roy looked even more confused. "You're friends with Rebecca, you see her all the time, why should that make a-" He was interrupted by her slap to his face. He looked at her stunned.

Glaring at him, nearly in tears, Riza hissed, "Just admit it, already; I already know." Then her barrier did break. For the first time in a long time, she felt the burring at the backs of her eyes. Soldiers don't cry, Riza, she told herself sternly. "Just say it!"

Roy reached out his arm to her, trying to either comfort her or calm her, but she would have none of it. She pushed away his hand forcefully and turned. "Honestly, I'm through. And when we get back to Central, I'm asking for a transfer. This is ridiculous."

She turned and left. She loved him, and she had though he had loved her. How could he do this to her? How could Rebecca do this to her? Why her? Why did Roy have cheat on her with her best friend? They had known each other forever. Their families were like one; she had grown up with them. Was that why he had gone behind her back? Because he was afraid it would be like lying with his sister? It didn't feel like that when they kissed. She began to cry, the hot sun blurring her sight. She loved him still; she wouldn't cry if she didn't love him.

Riza felt the burning sand on the bottoms of her feet. Shells cut her, and the air felt far too hot and hazy. She walked not to the condo; that was where he might look for her. She couldn't face Roy just then. She instead walked straight into the ocean. She wasn't wearing her suit; her skirt would be heavy once it was wet. Riza didn't care. For once, she didn't care.

She had joined the military to keep Roy Mustang safe; from Ishval, from assassins, from himself, and she had assumed they loved each other. She must have been mistaken. Had she really not meant more to him than just a body guard? They had known each other forever; they had grown up together. He had sex with her best friend and then lied to her about it. They traded stories all the time. He had sex with her best friend and then lied to her about it. He asked her specifically to work with him. He dumped all the work onto her. She watched his back. He had sex with her best friend and then lied to her about it.

She was chest deep in the cold water. There was a shout behind her; she didn't care. She kept walking. At some point, she stopped walking and started swimming. It was more difficult than swimming with a suit and the drag would wear her out quickly. She needed to get away, far away. The shout came again, from farther away. STAY AWAY FROM ME! She didn't want anyone to see her like this, and she couldn't face anyone. She didn't look back at the shore, but she could no longer see birds. At some point she would have to turn back. The shout did not come again. The cold water turned her more or less numb as she swam further out. At some point she stopped thinking and her strength failed a little; she didn't swim often, and her clothing was weighing her down.

Farther and farther out her swam. She felt sleepy. How strange; she had only woken up two hours ago. Why would she want to fall asleep? A little longer, and sleep felt undeniably good, and she allowed herself to relax.

Um...wow...I don't think she's the suicidal type...why did I write this in? Things you don't get about yourself a year later. Read and Enjoy!