A First Date? I Don't Love You...Not Anymore

A Chapter by Emunah June.

"You're it!" Winry had said. Being kids, these were the two most exciting words in the world. Being the one that was it, I looked over at Alphonse, who was the youngest in the group. "I'm gonna get you Alphonse!" I said, and he began to laughed as he ran away. When I tapped his shoulder, I said "You're it!" and he sighed. "She got you, Al! She got you!" Ed chanted, obviously encouraging Al to come and chase him. When Al took the bait, Ed took a step back and Al flew on top of Winry, who was just as surprised as I was when I saw what happened. "Al!" Winry said, face as red as a tomato. Al looked down at her and gave an embarrased laugh. "You're....it?" he said. Then she pushed him off and tackled Ed. "You're it! You're it! You're it!" Wniry said, poking Ed's forehead on every "You're". "Aww, Winry...." Ed had said, an then we had all laughed. When the game was over, Winry had said "It's Ed's turn to pick a game now!", but then Ed and Al's mother was calling them from a distance. "We have to go. But I'll pick next time!" Ed said as he and Al ran home.

He never got a chance to.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"That was certainly refreshing," Al said when we walked in to the house. Grandma already had dinner set out. Today's meal was fried flounder with carrots and a tall glass of milk. Al froze where he stood. "Oh no," I heard him breathe as Ed sat down at his seat. He stared at the food, obviously appeased, but then his whole demeaner changed when he spotted the glass of milk. "Granny, I don't know if you remember, but I hate milk. I don't want this," he'd said when Grandma came over to the table. "Well Edward, I can see why you're so cranky then. Drink your milk," she had said. I expected Ed to go no further, but I guess I don't know him that well. "I am not drinking that! Give it to someone else!" he screamed. Grandma took the glass. "Well, Edward, you're going to drink your milk one way or another," she had said. Then, I saw her wrist flick, and I watched as the milk poured onto the top of Ed's head. When his mouth opened in surprise, the milk was already trailing down his coat and was pooling in the indents on his braid. "What......the....._____" Ed had said to himself. I saw Winry trying to hold in her laughs, but I was unable to do that. Neither was Al. Both of us laughed, and then I saw Ed crack his neck. "You think that's so funny Koda? Huh? Well, THIS is funny to me!!" he exclaimed as karma took it's toll and Ed poured my milk on my head. I gasped, but then I started laughing. Ed laughed too. Al and Winry joined in. As we all laughed, Al took Winry's milk and poured it on her. "Ah!" she gasped before continuing to laugh. When everyone (except for Al) was covered in milk, we actually started eating, catching the case of the giggles every now and then. Afterwards, Grandma made us clean all the milk that collected under the chairs. "Who would've thought that milk could be useful, eh Koda?" Ed had asked when we were both on our knees scrubbing the floor. I nodded, still giggling. Then, I stopped my rag and stared at Ed. "Um...hey Ed...how much longer are you going to be in town?" I asked quietly. "Uh....3 more days. Why?" he asked. I swallowed. "Well....I feel like we aren't as good as friends as we were when we were kids, so I thought maybe I could take you shopping tomorrow, like I did with Al," I offered. I wondered if my face was red, because Ed smiled. "Tomorrow? I don't see why not. Sounds like a plan," he said. I nodded, then continued to clean up my mess.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Shopping?" Winry had said right before bed. I nodded. "Yeah. Y'know? To get him a gift for the road. So that way he won't forget his friends. It's sorta a motivation thing," I said as I buttoned up my pajama shirt. Winry smirked. "You're taking Ed shopping? Shouldn't it be the other way around?" she asked, holding in a laugh. "I know, it sounds like it should, huh? But I want to be nice. After all, it's been....oh gosh.....8 years since we've last talked, so why be a jerk about it?" I asked. Winry smiled. "Are you sure it's only that?"

I froze.

"Whaddya mean, Winry?" I asked, blushing. "Well....after all.....didn't you have a crush on Ed when we were little?" she asked, laughing. I coughed. "That was when we were kids, it's different now! Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you. He's totally got the hots for you!" I exclaimed.

It's true. A few months before the accident, I had confessed to Winry that I liked Ed. But I don't anymore. And like I said......yeah, he's totally got it in for Winry.

"But when I asked if you still liked him...." she began. I panicked. "Oh, you mean yesterday? I thought you meant if I was still naseous! That's why I said yes!" I said. Winry smiled. "Yeah sure. Look at you. You like him even more now! Admit it!" Winry cried. I shook my head. "No! No! No!" I kept repeating. Winry laughed. "Relax, I'm just joking around with you. Anyway, you have a big day tomorrow, so I'll let you catch some sleep. Goodnight," Winry said, and I nodded. My face must have been red, because when I went to the bathroom to wash my face, I looked as if I had been crying. "Oh...." I said, my voice being "bubble-ized" by the water that hit my face.

As I lay in bed, I thought about what Winry had said.

Are you sure it's only that?

I was! I really was! I didn't like Ed anymore. Well, not like not like him as in friendship like, but like....like-like-like him. I don't....not anymore.

prev chapter