Free Falling

Chapter 4: The Gearhead and the Journey Begins

"Just come on!" Ed yelled at me. I was leaning against the wall of a house. Maes Hughes' house to be exact. I didn't want to go in because I would probably freak out about how cute Elicia was.

"I'm not going in! You dragged me here, you are not dragging me into some random guys house!" I retorted crossing my arms about halfway through. I was not going to let then see my soft side. Ever.

"But Anna, Elicia would love to meet you!" Al tried. I scoffed and turned away.

"Yeah, a child would be thrilled to see a Goth look-a-like." I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I'll wait out here for you. If you want, chain me here. Fine with me." I said placing on foot flat against the wall I was leaning against. Ed growled and clapped his hands, creating a chain around my ankle that connected into the ground.

"There." Ed growled.

"I was kidding." I said glaring knives at him. Man, he took everything too literal. 

"And I'm not kidding. Stay here." He pointed to the ground.

"I can't go anywhere Edward. You chained me too the ground!" I called as he walked away to the front door. Al sighed.

"Sorry Anna. Brother's just stubborn." Al told me. 

"Well then, he's in for his own personal hell because I don't listen to anyone but me." I told him grabbing my bags handle.

"Is that because of your parents?" He asked quietly. I nodded.

"Yeah. They didn't care about me. They just kept me for their own sick pleasure."

"Al! Common!" Ed called. Al sighed and waved goodbye to me and he ran to catch up to Ed. I sat down in the grass, and pulled out my notebook along with my pen.

'To whom ever may be reading,

I've gotten my wish. I'm in a new world.' I wrote in cursive. 

'I hope I never have to return to the hell that was my life before. I like it in this new world.' I stopped for a minute before sketching a transmutation circle next to the small entry. Man, this was boring! And it would be at least half an hour or so until Ed, Al and Winry would come out.

I pulling out my phone and turned it on while turning the side where it would be hidden. I pulled out my flappy bird and tapped the screen. Letting the bird travel between the pipes. I had to be careful. They had no electronical devices like this.

Radio and landlines yeah. Cellphones and televisions? No! Wait, if we're going to Rush Valley... then Hughes was gonna die when we're gone! Noooooooo! Elicia would not have a father!

"What!?" I heard a yell. Oh shit. That was Hughes. I shoved my phone back into my bag and zipped it up. He came barreling towards me with a grin on his face. "Oh! She's so cute!" He cried. I heard a clap and Ed touched the ground sheepishly and the chain vanished.

"I'm what now?" I asked blankly. He than grabbed my arm and pulled me up, pulling into a hug. He spun in circles, squeezing me to his chest.

"You are so cute! You could be Elicia's older sister with Winry!" He cried. I hated Winry. Don't know why, I just do. 

"Can you put me down?" I asked calmly. He squealed. Like a little girl. Oh my god... I loved Hughes but... he was an idiot sometimes. He finally set me down and I took a step away from him.

"I don't know what you're talking about Ed!" He said. "She seems nice enough! What's your name?" He asked grinning.

"Anna." I told him.

"Is that short for something?" He asked smiling brighter.

"How'd you know?" I asked plainly. He chuckled.

"Just a hunch. What's it short for?"

"Brianna." I said with a blank face. No. Fangirling. Is. Aloud. He squealed again. Holy shit... this guy was annoying. "Call me that, you're gonna be in pain." My threat was weak but it got my point across.

"Ah~!" He cooed. "Your threats are so cute~!" He cried. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into his house like a kidnapper.  Oh joy. I'm not going to be overly adored by Elicia. Hughes dragged me to a living room where Al, Winry and Elicia were playing.

"Let me go please." I said as he stopped. He pulled me too my feet and I brushed the wrinkles out of my sweater and placed my hands in the pockets. 

"Look Elicia! I found you another friend!" He cried draping an arm over my shoulder.

"More like kidnapped her a new friend." I muttered under my breath. Al laughed a little.

"Hey Anna!" He called. I waved my hand a little back at him.

"So you're the one Al's been talking about." Winry said with a smile. I nodded.

"Why won't you say anything?" Ed scoffed behind me.

"Do you want to know what I'm thinking?" I asked without looking back. "Because I don't think you do."

"Are you threatening me!?" He yelled. I turned around.

"No. I called you stupid." I said plainly. He growled and ludged at me where I simply stepped to the side.

"Ed!" Winry yelled at him. Hitting him over the head. With a wrench. I suddenly loved her more. 

"I like you already." I said turning to her.

"Winry Rockbell!" She stuck out her hand. I pulled a hand out of my pocket and shook her hand.

"Brianna Brown. Call me Anna." Okay, the fake name I gave was not entirely fake. It was my middle name so technically, it wasn't a lie.

"So why are you with Ed and Al?" She asked picking up Elicia.

"I was told they found me in the forest next to the city. Then, Mustang decided to force me to go with these guys." I explained 

"Awe! Your so adorable!" Hughes gushed over me again.

"I swear, I'm gonna-"

"Ahem!" Winry cut me off and her eyes darted between me and Elicia. I sighed and shut up; rolling my eyes. Hughes smiled triumphantly.

"Yeah, can we just get going?" Ed asked annoyed. 

"Yes!" Winry cried setting Elicia down. I squatted down to Elicia's eye level and smiled a small smile. I went into my bag and handed her a small lollipop. She smiled a took it.

"Thank you!" She said throwing her arms around me. I gasped in surprise but then hugged her back. She let go and smiled brightly at me.

"Stay cute kid." I told her patting her head. I stood up and stalked past the Ed who was shocked beyond belief. I walked out of the house with the others behind me saying their goodbyes. I leant against the wall by the door and waited for them to walk out.

Because when they did, the journey was going to begin. For real.