When they arrived at the train station in Central, Colonel Armstrong was there to greet them just as he had been on their last visit. This left the girls confused. Hadn’t their father said they weren’t going to get a personal escort this time?
“Colonel, not that we’re not happy to see you but what are you doing here?” Nina asked as both she and Amy walked up to him.
Armstrong smiled broadly at them. “Hello ladies! It’s a pleasure to see you again. Fuhrer Mustang wanted to ensure that you were safely delivered to the Academy’s dormitories. I’ve been ordered to escort you there and see that you get properly settled in. Have no worries though, we won’t impede your studies in any way after that.”
Nina and Amy both sighed not liking this very much. Colonel Armstrong stuck out like a sore thumb. The last thing they wanted was to arrive with an escort, it was so embarrassing. At least it was only temporary.
Taking their luggage for them, Armstrong led them out of the station and out to a car that was waiting outside. They couldn’t help but to notice that it was a beautiful day in Central. When Nina looked up she saw something fly by over head. From its size, Nina thought it might be an eagle or a larger hawk. It really did look majestic.
When they arrived at the dorms, Riley and his friends were standing outside. Seeing them Amy beamed and leapt from the car. “Riley! Austin! Peter! Harrison! What are you guys doing here? I thought you were supposed to be staying at the Eastern Academy?”
Riley grinned at her. “I couldn’t very well stay there if you were coming here could I? Someone needs to look out for you and keep you out of trouble.”
Nina couldn’t help but to laugh at the idea of Riley and the rest of the Moron Squad keeping Amy out of trouble.
“And since Riley changed his mind and wanted to come here, well it was arranged so we could transfer here too,” Austin Havoc chimed in. “Besides, Mustang is off his rocker if he thinks he can keep you out of trouble when he’s likely to be the one starting things to begin with, him and that hot headed temper of his.”
Riley punched Austin in the arm annoyed that he’d called him hot headed. “Shut it Havoc…”
Amy just laughed. “It doesn’t matter, I’m just glad to see you guys,” she said pulling the four boys as close together as she could to hug them.
“Aw come on Amy! What if someone sees? You’re risking our reputation!” Breda complained.
“I don’t care,” Amy said but she let them go anyway.
Armstrong had taken their bags from the trunk of the car and was preparing to help the girls with them but Riley went up to him and smiled. “Don’t worry about this Colonel, we’ll handle this.”
Armstrong shook his head. “I’m sorry Riley but I have strict orders from your father not to let the Elric girls out of my sight until they are settled into their rooms.”
“I didn’t say you were dismissed Colonel. My friends and I are going to handle taking Amy and Nina’s things inside, that’s all.”
“But Riley sir…”
Riley narrowed his dark eyes at Armstrong. “Are you arguing with me Colonel Armstrong?”
Armstrong swallowed hard. “No sir, I just…”
“Good,” Riley said as he picked up Amy’s bag and motioned for Austin to come get Nina’s.
Nina didn’t let him get there though. “Thanks but no thanks Riley,” Nina said sounding condescending. “I’m perfectly able to carry my own bag thank you very much.” She went over and picked her own bag up and started to head inside. Riley just glared at her a bit. How could she be Amy’s sister? She always acted so high and mighty and ignored them. How was he supposed to get Austin close enough to Nina for her to notice him if she kept acting that way? What did he see in her anyway?
Amy followed after Nina and the others behind her. Getting inside, Nina and Amy looked at the room assignments that were posted in the entrance hall. Amy was on the second floor while Nina was on the first. Armstrong debated for a moment how best to see to their safety.
“Do ahead and go with Nina, I think my friends and I can take care of Amy from here. There are four of us after all and with all of the MPs running around I don’t think anyone would try anything anyway.”
Armstrong nodded not seeing any harm in that plan. Nina just sighed. Why did she get stuck with the muscle bound baby sitter?
Amy went over and hugged her sister. “I’ll see you later at dinner alright?”
Nina just chuckled and nodded. “Have fun Amy, I’ll see you later.”
Riley and his gang took Amy and headed off to the second floor. They were on that floor too anyway. Nina wasn’t sure that was going to be a good idea in the long run but it wasn’t her problem to worry about.
Armstrong followed Nina down the first floor corridor until they reached her room, 103. When she opened the door, there was another girl already there. Nina recognized her at once; it was Julia Rockbell, Winry and Kevin’s daughter. Nina had met her a few times when she’d gone with Edward to Rush Valley to have his leg tuned up. She had always thought it weird that Julia had Winry’s last name. Her father had told her once that Winry and Kevin had decided to use the Rockbell name because it was well known and had an expert reputation in the automail world but Nina still thought it was silly.
“Hi Nina!” she said getting up from the bed. “Long time no see!”
“Hi Julia, how’ve you been?” she asked as she came in and set her bag down on the empty bed. “I admit I’m surprised to see you here. I didn’t think your parents would send you to an alchemy academy given their professions.”
Julia laughed. “Mom didn’t want me to come actually, she wanted me to focus on engineering and follow after her and dad and make automail but I guess, well, I wanted to do something different. I mean it’s not that I hate automail or anything, I do plan to do it, I just want to explore the possibilities of using alchemy and automail to make better prosthetics for people. That’s why I’m here for the medical alchemy program.”
“Funny, so am I,” Nina laughed.
“That’s not surprising considering what Alphonse does…”
As the girls talked and Nina unpacked, a man arrived. “Um… Excuse me; I’m looking for a Nina Elric. Is this her room?” he asked as he poked his head into the still open door. Armstrong had already left to go check on Amy.
“That’s me,” she said with a smile. “Can I help you?”
“I have the boxes with your things from Resembool,” he said.
“Oh, um… OK… just bring them in and set them in the corner there,” she said pointing. The man nodded and disappeared. A few moments later three man came into the room, their arms filled with her things. They put them down and excused themselves. Nina would deal with those later.
Just then Armstrong appeared in the door once more. “Are you all settled Miss Nina?” he asked.
Nina smiled and nodded. “Yeah Colonel, I should be all set now. Thanks.”
He nodded and then pulled the door closed as he left. Nina was thankful he was finally gone. She pulled Adrienne’s note from her pocket and smiled. “Julia, I’ll be back in a little while OK?” she said as she went out and down the hall to the phone.
Nina stared at the phone for a minute gathering up the nerve to actually dial the number. When she was finally able to dial, the phone rang a few times before a man picked up. Nina debated just hanging up but didn’t. “Um, hello? Can I speak with Adrienne please?” she asked trying to keep her voice from shaking because of her nerves.
“Who may I ask is calling?” the man’s voice asked.
“Nina Elric…”
“Oh Nina, I didn’t expect you to call!” said the man’s voice. It took Nina a second but then she realized who she was talking to.
“Is that you Dr. Rothstein? I’m sorry if I disturbed you…”
“Oh no, you’re didn’t disturb me at all. Hold on a moment and I’ll get Adrienne for you.”
“Thank you,” she said smiling, her voice echoing that smile.
After a few moments Adrienne picked up the phone. “Hi Nina!”
“Hi Adrienne, you said to call when I was in Central again so…”
“Are you at the dorms?”
“Yeah, I am. How’d you know?”
Adrienne laughed. “My dad’s on the selection committee Nina, I knew before you did that you’d been accepted and today was move in day wasn’t it?”
Nina sighed and laughed. She should have known. “Yeah. Did you get accepted too?”
“Yeah but I won’t be living in the dorms like you. My dad won’t allow it but then I live pretty much around the corner anyway. Hey, do you have time tonight?”
“After dinner I should, why?”
Adrienne paused for a moment before answering her. “Well, I was hoping… is it alright if I come see you?”
Nina tried to contain her excitement. “I’d really like that. How about I meet you outside the dorms at seven, is that alright?”
Adrienne’s heart jumped. “That’s perfect,” he said, his voice conveying the smile that was on his face. “It’s a date then.”
A date? He said it was a date. That made Nina’s heart jump too. “Yeah, then I’ll see you at seven then. Bye Adrienne.”
“Bye Nina,” he said softly and they both hung up the phone.
Nina ran back to her room excited. She couldn’t believe it, Adrienne wanted to see her just like she’d wanted to see him.
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