Chapter 32: Through the Phone

"I just don't know what to do."

 

I twirl the phone cord in my fingers and glance over at the clock. 9:00 PM. Shouldn't Brother be in bed by now? I was about to be, until he called me up and started to vent abotu how Koda isn't eating anything.

 

I wouldn't either.

 

I lean back in my chair. "Brother, if she doesn't eat anything by Friday, I'd take her to the hospital. She could get really sick, or possibly even--" I begin, but Brother cuts me off by screaming "DONT SAY IT."

 

"Why not?"

 

He says nothing.

 

I sigh. "Okay, well, tell her I said take care. I need to go. It's late, I'm tired, and--" I begin, but Brother cuts me off again. "Alphonse, please don't go. I need someone to talk to. Koda's not...not giving me what I need right now."

 

I ruffle my bangs in irritation. "Brother, you two have been married for all of...what? A few days?" I ask. He's quiet, but soon he slowly responds. "Six."

 

"Right. You've been married for about roughly a week and you're already having problems? C'mon..." I say as I look out my window. Brother begins to talk, but I zone out. Ayumi's outside, trimming the edges of the hedge. I grin. Out there, the way that she was, she looked almost like someone's wife.

 

"Alphonse, you there?"

 

I snap back into reality. "Oh yeah. I'm here. Sorry it's just..." I zone out briefly before coming back. "...nevermind. Anyhow, just...yeah, just take her to the hospital if she's not eating," I order. Brother gives a loud sigh, then I heard muffled sounds. "Alphonse look, I doubt that she's gonna wanna be within ten feet of that hospital. There's got to be another way...c'mon, Bro, help a guy out here. Its for Koda."

 

Those last words ring in my ears.

 

It's for Koda.

 

"For Koda, huh?" I mumble, in a soft but monotone voice. Brother lets out a sound of approval, and I clentch the phone hard. I could feel my anger uncoil inside of me like a snake until everything inside me exploded. "You wanna talk about what should be for Koda?" I growl.

 

You can feel the uneasiness crawl through the reciever. "Al...? What are you....?" he begins, and I cover my mouth to stop the words from coming out.

 

I should be the one wearing that ring!! I'm the one who took care of her while you were off on your cross-dimensional vacation!! I'm the one who wiped away her tears while she sat at the window waiting for you to come home!! ME!! Not you!! ME!!!

 

I swallow my pride and rub my forehead. "Uh...gum. Give her some gum. It'll help her build a chewing tolerence, and at some point she'll eat. Give her gum," I stutter, caging everything I really want to say to him as if the words themselves were wild animals.

 

He coughs. "Hmm...I guess I could give that a try. Thanks Alphonse. I owe you one."

 

You owe so many "ones" that you can't count them all.

 

"No problem. Now really I need to go."

"W-Wait Al!"

"What?!" I snap, not meaning to. I cover my mouth again.

 

There's a small, almost un-audiable sigh. "If you ever want to talk about anything, you can always talk to me. You know that, don't you? I'm here fo--"

 

I hang up the phone before he can even finish his sentence.

 

If you only knew, Brother.

If you only knew.

 

I lean against the chair and close my eyes.

I try to focus on other things.

Like Ayumi's car payments.

 

I jolt up. Oh yeah! Ayumi's car payments!

 

I grab my jacket. I should pay Kaen a visit, talk to him in person, and maybe afterwords talk to his sister.

 

But then I stop and look at the time again.

 

9:30 PM.

 

I slowly but surely slink my jacket off and place it where it was moments earlier. It was a bit late for a surprise visit. It'd probably be best to pop by tomorrow.

 

I peek out the window again.

Ayumi is gone.

Reviews

[Rae]

Al, just let it go. Koda married Edward. Besides, you have the beautiful and sweet Ayumi to love now. ^^

[State of Grace]

Why didn't I know this was up >.< If I were Al, I would have hung up a LONG time ago!

[MadeCheaply]

Still envious that Koda married Edward eh. But keeps staring at Ayumi like she's some sort of jewel, or hunk of meat. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm................XD YAY YOU UPDATED!

[Keevan]

Ayumi trimming hedges at 9 at night. :P