'I can't do this,' he thought bitterly.

The boy took three large steps backwards.

'I can't.' He thought again.

The boy willed the tears forming in his eyes to recede back to his head and not fall down his cheeks. One stubborn tear however decided not to obey its masters wishes and fall gently, beginning its journey down his face.

The boy harshly rubbed the tear away with the sleeve of his brown wool coat. He ground his teeth together and balled his hands into fists.

"Where is that boy?" A sickly sweet voice chimed through the hallways of the large manor. The boy's head shot up in surprise before he quickly (not so gracefully) stumbled out of the house, careful not to bump into any maids on the way.

He began to run the second black dress shoes hit the pavement, not even bothering to call his only friend. With wind whipping through his hair, the tears began to fall. They flew out behind him before he had even known they'd fallen, not showing the slightest sign of stopping.

The scared boy didn't know where he was, was going, or when he was going to stop. All he knew was that it felt so good to run.

So very good to be free.

The rushing sound of wind passing by him pounded in his ears as he sprinted farther and farther from his home. He felt the collar of his white dress shirt fly uselessly around his throat, and he raised one hand to rip it forcefully away. When had it become so tight?

After what seemed like an eternity of running, the boy slowed to a stop. He rested his hands on his knees and took several breaths, hoping to calm his rising heartbeat. When his breathing returned to normal, he took the chance to see where he was.

A park.

One of the places he had never been. Same to the zoo, an amusement park, or his grandparents house.

He looked around in wonder, moving his head left, right, left, right.

When he was sure it was safe, he walked forward, taking off his brown coat in the process.

He continued on throughout the park the same way, looking at the trees and bushes, the kids playing and the parents chatting. A few of the parents looked at him strangely, a few showing pity, and a couple actually approached him and asked if he was lost. He would just shake his head and continue on his (not so merry) way.

As he looked around and searched for things he didn't even know he was searching for, the child realized the path had come to an end. He was in the middle of a grove of trees that let a few rays of golden sunshine through, making patterns on the dirt that reminded him of when he and the nanny had tried to put together a jigsaw puzzle.

The area seemed shut off the everyone else, so he liked it. He liked being alone. All people ever did was hurt one another.

The child stepped forward and sat on the plain bench sitting under where the sun shined through the most. Forgetting his posture (just this once or his mother would have his head) he slouched in on the bench and rolled his head backwards. He placed the brown coat on the seat next to him and let out a long sigh.

The boy closed his eyes and listened to the serene sounds around him. His head began to feel fuzzy with drowsiness and he felt himself begin to nod off...

"Hello?"

The boys eyes fluttered open in shock before his head shot up. There stood a girl with sandy blond hair pulled in pigtails. Her light blue overalls-dress had one strap undone, (it seemed as though it had snapped), leaving the sleeve of her white shirt blowing gently. She had a look of pure innocence on her face.

The boy sat up straighter and shifted uncomfortably. "Hello," He mumbled quietly.

The girls olive green eyes brightened at his voice before she took a few hesitant steps forward. "Are you here with your mama?" She asked sweetly, but not in the scary sweet voice him mother used. He concluded he enjoyed this girls voice much more than his mothers.

"No, I'm not." He said a bit louder than before. This caused the girl to take several more steps towards the bench.

"How about your papa? I'm here with mine, but he went to get some ice cream with the pretty blond lady."

"No, I'm not here with Father either." The boy said. His father was never home, always in the office doing something work related. He believed it had been, say, three months since he had last seen him?

The very last comment was what made the girl hop up on the bench, while the boy nervously moved his coat into his arms. She crossed her ankles before clasping her hands on her lap. She slouched backwards while the boy continued to sit upright.

She tilted her head to the side. "Why are you sitting so straight? You'll become like a stick and will never be able to bend down."

He spared her another glance before focusing his eyes on his folded hands. "It's good manners to sit upright in the presence of anyone, especially a lady." He said politely. He heard a faint 'Oh,' behind him.

After a minute of silence, the girl suddenly sat straighter. "Then I will too. Mama's always talking about manners and such."

After a pause, the boy spoke. "Your mama seems very nice." He said with a small, forced smile. He hoped the girl wasn't too smart and didn't pick up on that.

No such luck.

She frowned and before he knew what was happening, she used one hand to pinch his face and turn it towards her. His eyes bulged and he sputtered as pink danced onto his face.

The girl squinted at him, the corners of her lips turned down still. "Yes... She is nice. But you don't seem to mean it. What about your mama?"

The boy shifted again in his seat before his shoulders slouched slightly. He sighed. "She, doesn't like any funny business, that's for sure."

"And your papa?"

"I haven't seen him in a few months."

The girl gasped before she clutched his arm. He turned to her in surprise and confusion, before he saw the tears beginning to form in her eyes. "That is... Horrible! How could a man leave h-his child... I can't imagine my papa ever doing that... How... W-Why?"

The boy stared in blatant shock. This girl was crying, for him. No one had ever cried for him. He usually cried for himself. He didn't need others doing it for him!

The sobbing girl closed her eyes tight before more tears began to spill down her cheeks and land on their laps, since she was so close to him.

Ever so carefully, the confused boy lifted his hand up to his pocket, and took out the cream colored handkerchief he kept. He nudged the girl, and when she looked up, he handed it to her. "For you." He murmured. She smiled widely through her tears before taking the hankie and dabbing her tears.

After she was basically done, the girl (still smiling) looked back up at him. "I think I'm done." She let out a small giggle while the boy let a tiny smile fly across his face.

"Angel? Maaaka?" A voice sounded though the trees. The girl whirled around, only to look back at the boy. "That's my papa now. I have to go." She smiled apologetically before handing him back the hankie.

She looked at his in confusion after the boy pushed it back to her. "I said, for you."

She smiled wider than before, then jumped off the bench. She then suddenly shoved her hand in his face. "I'm Maka, by the way."

The boy took her hand and shook it lightly.

"Soul. Soul Evans."

____________________________________

Soul lifted his head off the pillow. Another Maka Dream (as he now dubbed them)?

He heard Maka bustling around in the kitchen, and as he was going to go see what was going on, a loud yell sounded through the apartment.

"SOOOOOOUUULLL!!!"

Soul sat frozen on the bed as Black Star flew (almost literally) into the room. Soul closed his eyes tight, bracing for impact, when Black Star began to shake him. "SOUL! OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT MY GODLY FACE!"

When Soul opened his eyes, he half expected Black Star to kiss him. Instead he just pulled him into a bone crushing (man) hug. Soul noted Tsubaki and Maka standing in the doorway with faces of 'What the heck?'

As Black Star let go of Soul, he (very manly of course) wiped the tears forming in his eyes. "I LOVE YOU MAN! I THOUGHT YOU WERE LIKE (sniff) DEAD!" Then he (very very manly-like) burst out crying and fell on the floor. Tsubaki so very kindly helped him up when he started to bang his head on the wall.

"Now that we are all here~..." Tsubaki started as she fluttered over to the bed and sat on the end, near Soul's feet. She looked at Black Star and Soul while smiling widely, before she said, "Tell us about yourselves."

The two boys shared a look and mentally argued. It went something like this;

Soul: You talk first!

Black Star: No! You!

Soul: But you'd be better!

Black Star: Why me?

Soul: Because you obviously have a thing for Tsubaki. Duh.

Black Star: I DO NOT!

Soul: Look who's being defensive...

Black Star: WELL... YOU LIKE MAKA THEN!

Soul: Tiny tits? Yeah right.

Black Star: Grrr... Fine... Wait a minute...

Soul: What now?

Black Star: We're text messaging... with our minds!

Soul: WE ARE SO COOL!


Black Star: I BET THE JONAS BROTHERS CAN'T DO THIS!

Soul: THEY'RE DUMB ANYWAY ... The girls look really uncomfortable.

Black Star: Yeah, they must think we're weird.

Soul: .................... Please leave a message after the beep.

Black Star: YOU HUNG UP ON ME!

:END:

Black Star angrily turned from Soul, who was now facing Maka who had taken a seat next to him on the bed. He carefully studied her facial features as she studied his. She ran her eyes over his blood red eyes and moved down to see faint bags under them. She studied his nose and how it fit his face, unlike a few boys she knew. Then, her eyes slowly traveled downward to his lips. They looked like they did when she had seen him sleeping a bit ago. She wondered what they tasted like...

Maka's train of thought made a screeching sound as it stopped in it's tracks. 'Woah... What?' What was that?

'I just met him...' She thought, not realizing as she got a dazed look in her eyes and Soul stare at her in confusion as Black Star ranted on about when he attacked a zombie teacher, which Soul did not remember happening.

But wait... Girls got crushes on guys, right? Relief spread lightly on Maka's face, a small satisfied smile gracing her lips. That just made Soul tilt his head to the side, which she actually found very attractive.

"And that is the Great Black Star's story!" Black Star concluded proudly. Tsubaki clapped lightly, but enthusiastically, while Soul and Maka clapped once or twice, not having heard any of it. The black haired girl turned to Soul, away from Black Star who was now standing on the desk, and asked, "What about you Soul? What do you like?"

The boy in question shifted a bit in his seat so he could cross his arms, while Tsubaki noted that he was slightly inclined in Maka's direction. "Well~," He drawled out, "I like to sleep, eat, breathe, be alive, and not die." Maka rolled her eyes.

"No, things other than being deceased."

"Fine, I like extra cheese on my pizza," He began to count off on his fingers, "I like my coffee black with sugar," Maka made a face of disgust, "I like to doggy ear any books I read," Maka huffed, Tsubaki smiled wider, and Black Star thought about himself as a dog, "And finally, I hate it when people make assumption about people when they do not know them at all." He finished, then leaned back in his pillow, signaling he was finished.

Maka was about to say something when a loud growl came from Black Star's direction. They all turned to see the blue haired boy rub his belly. Soul faintly noticed Maka's breath feathering the nape of his neck.

"My tummy wants food." Black Star said in a small baby voice.

Tsubaki stole a quick glance at Soul and Maka before she hopped up. "C'mon Black Star. I'll make you a snack." 'Or a three course meal,' she thought. The two left the room, leaving Soul and Maka alone on the bed.

Soul peeled the blanket off of his body and pushed it down to the end of the bed where it became a large pile of black fleece. "I'm hot," he said lightly before leaning more into his pillow.

'Yes,' Maka thought with a small smirk she tried to hide, 'you are.'

"Maka?" Said girl's head shot back to Soul, her face a dark pink. The silver haired boy quirked an eyebrow.

"Are you blushing?" He asked, while squirming in his seat so his face was level with hers.

She shook her head furiously before letting out a loud 'Humph,'. She turned her face away from him so he wouldn't see her blush, now a few shades darker than before.

What Maka didn't see was Soul's large smirk.

___One Week Later______________________________________

It was now pretty much official. Soul had moved into Maka's apartment, and Black Star with Tsubaki.

It wasn't really as Maka stated, "Hey Soul, would you and your extreme sexiness care to move into my small apartment that shouldn't fit what you deserve?" While holding a large turkey and wearing short shorts. No. That did not happen. Soul just liked to pretend it did.

What really happened was Maka didn't want Soul (and his extreme coolness) to live on the streets, but she just covered with it with the excuse that he had been mugged, and he could have mental issues. But Soul was now perfectly fine, save for a small scab oh his forehead, which his long silver bangs covered quite nicely.

Soul's dreams about Maka were more frequent as he stayed there. They were usually in his favorite places, places he liked but didn't remember why he liked them (like the park for instance), or places he had never been. And Maka was in all of them.

They were always children in the dreams, no older than twelve. He and Maka always ended up finding each other, and they would just, talk. About life, their parents, their friends, normal things. They would interact as if they had known each other for years, not a week.

If all those things Maka had said were true, he knew everything about her. About her lying, cheating father, who had seemed to have grown more and more 'distant' (as she put it) over the years, but more 'clingy' (again, Maka) to her.

About her mother who was now traveling the world, and Maka felt as if she was lost in her mothers world.

How she loved school, and how right now it was a holiday. There were only a few days left of it anyway. Then she'd go back for six hours, five days a week, and he'd be all alone and bored.

"Soul!" He heard shouted in the living room, then a door slamming. Footsteps ran hurriedly to his (now his, yes) door, and soon it slammed open to reveal a flushed face Maka, smiling like an idiot and holding at least five pages of papers, crinkled from the running she had probably been doing.

He lazily rolled his head to the side to look at her more, up from the book he had been reading. He was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. "Yeah, whadda' ya want?"

She practically skipped over to him and plopped down, then turing on her side and putting her face right up next to his. "Guess what?" She said, that smile still plastered on her face.

Soul sighed, amused, before he imitated her large smile and moving his face so their noses were touching. "You got like, the cutest shoes, right?" He said in a bubbly voice.

She blushed dark red at their close proximity and sucked in a short breath. Soul's face melted from the mocking smile to a smirk that made her become more embarrassed, and he let out an entertained snort before reluctantly pulling back a bit from her face.

She sat frozen for a few moments, before shaking her head and smiling faintly again. "Well, I was wondering..."

She looked back at Soul, to see him looking at her with raised eyebrows, and he gave her a 'Yeah~?' look, and when she didn't continue, he sighed. "Just spit it out, Maka!"

"Fine." She sighed again, before handing him the papers she had been holding. "IsignedyouuptostartschoolonMondayandallyouhavetodoissignthesepapers." She sucked in a deep breath.

Soul paused. Then, he said, "All I heard was 'School', 'Monday', and 'Sign'."

Maka explained it all again, slower this time, and blushing a light pink throughout her speech (which Soul found to be very cute), and when she finished, she peeked up at his from under her bangs (which again, Soul found adorable, but he would never say that out loud).

After a pause which Maka thought was Soul thinking, (but he was really marveling in her cuteness) (he had never used the word 'cute' so many times before, he noted) he moved his hand from his chin.

"What school?"

"Shisuben Academy."

"Academy?"

"Yes."

"Does it cost money?"

"Yes-"

"Well then," Soul cut Maka off, (not realizing he had cut her off), "No offense, but how can you send someone to a school when they have no money, and also, how do you pay for yourself? It's not like you have a job."

Maka's face reddened a bit in anger, which the sensible part of Souls mind noted, before she began with, "Well, you didn't let me finish. And, if you say 'no offense', it means you intend on offending the other person." She gave him a look, (which he again, found cute)(there goes that word again)

Maka continued, "I don't need to pay to go there, because my father-"

"The one you hate." Soul interjected.

"Yes, the one I strongly dislike, works there, so he pulled a few strings and got me in. And I talked to Shinigami, the principal, and he said he could get you in too after I explained it, free of charge." She smiled and betted her eyelashes (CUTE!) at him.

After a minute of thinking, (or rather just to torture Maka), he finally smirked, igniting a spark of hope in her. "So, Monday, right?"

_____________

"Soul!" Maka called from the kitchen. It was the first day of being back after vacation, and she didn't want to be late. "C'mon!"

Soul tiredly came from his room, wearing a yellow jacket, and a headband that wrapped around his head. When he caught her eyeing it, he just said, "It's special." before grabbing a piece of toast.

The two ate in silence, Soul focused on his eggs while Maka was fixated with Soul. He seemed so different from the other kids. Like there was a deeper meaning to everything in his world, he just didn't care to explain it.

'Maybe he could explain those dreams then,' She thought to herself. Lately she had been having dreams about Soul where them two would talk, usually as little kids. Everywhere was somewhere different.

'Maybe it means something...' Maka thought as she and Soul finished, before both loading up the dishwasher (and bumping heads by accident)

Maka smiled as Soul held the door open for her. She did a mock curtsey and continued out the door, Soul smirking as he closed it behind them both.

The pair stepped out into the warm spring air, and Soul tugged on Maka's arm. Her smile widened, and the two started the walk to school.

'Maybe...'

________

Maka's stomach flipped. Her face reddened in anger. Her fist clenched and unclenched behind her back. And her teeth were grinding so tight she might need to see a dentist.

Why?

Because of those dumb girls.

How they batted their eyelashes, smiled their perfect smiles, stuck their perfectly plastic noses in his face so he'd have to notice them, and, worst of all...

Pretended to drop their things so they could bend over and show off their perfect legs, butt, and breasts.

'Those demons.' Maka thought bitterly as another one went to introduce herself.

And it was all for him.

Soul.

Who she assumed was loving every minute of it.

'Demons.'

Maka's face twisted even more as the leader of the pack, the platinum blond, blue eyed goddess, (known as Shelly), flipped her long hair over her shoulder. She giggled and flipped her hair again.

Maka watched as she flirted and giggled. How she would brush against his shoulder and then flip her head back. How she had her friends approach to tell about how great she was.

It was disgusting.

But Maka also was watching Soul. How he would give her a forced smile whenever she laughed at something he said. How he would slip from her whenever she tried to touch him. How he looked at her and her friends in utter distaste.

It was beautiful.

After swallowing whatever had been in her mouth, (she assumed it was her gum, but she was too angry to remember) she tugged out her pigtails and finger comber her hair, and giving herself a quick once over in a nearby window. Then she marched over to Soul and the pack of blonds.

"Soul." She said over Shelly's loud giggles. All the eyes landed on her, and she quickly swallowed the last bit of spit in her mouth. "We're gonna be late, and you have to see Shinigami." she said calmly, glad she could conceal her anger this once.

Shelly snorted before turning to her. "Geez, we're just trying to get aquatinted with the new kid. I bet you two haven't even met yet-" 'Ah, so Soul didn't tell her, maybe out of embarrassment?' "- So anyways, Soul, nerd girl, nerd girl, Soul." She said, gesturing them to each the two, while her friends laughed about her not-so-witty name.

She smiled. "Ah, yes nice to meet you, Soul. Oh, and it's your turn to wash the dishes tonight, by the way." She said the last part mockingly at the shocked face of Shelly. She then turned around and started walking towards the front doors.

Shelly sputtered, "W-What did she mean?"

Soul smirked at her. "Did I forget to mention? I live with nerd girl over there," he pointed at Maka, "By the way."

And with that, he left.

________

After seeing Shinigami (who Maka had watched Soul's expression, he looked utterly confused), they made there way to their first class. What Soul didn't know was that Maka had made it so she and Soul had almost every class together.

The two made their way over to Tsubaki, and Maka tried really hard to ignore the stares from other students.

"YAHOO!" They heard, and saw Black Star run into the room wearing a black muscles shirt and white jeans with buttons all along the side, holding...

A handful of girls panties.

"Oh, God..." Soul murmured before leaning back in his chair.

"THE GREAT BLACK STAR IS HERE!!!" He yelled, before several girls ran in yelling, and one yelled, "HOW DID YOU TAKE MY PANTIES WHILE I WAS WEARING THEM?!"

Black Star was going to yell something, before there was a blur of gray, and then a loud thud. Soul and Black Star got interested but while all the other students glanced up, then continued what they had been doing.

Soul leaned over to Maka, and whispered in her ear, "Who's that?" Maka giggled. "That's Dr. Stein. He's our Science teacher."

Soul nodded, turned his head back to the front at the pale haired man, and tilted his head so it basically laid on Maka's shoulder. She blushed.

The man, Stein, had stitches on his face and round glasses. He looked actually to be in his thirties of forties, despite the gray hair. He wore a white, worn out lab coat and had a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

"All right kids," He started, "It's a new semester-"

"Dr. Stein," a bald kid (actually, he had spikes of hair on the side of his head) with strange glasses interrupted, which made Stein look relatively mad. "It's actually not a new semester." He said matter-of-factly.

The teacher smiled, "Well, it's my class, so in here, it is. Ah! I forgot! I see we have three new students!" 'Three?' Maka thought. He continued with, "Please welcome Soul, Black Star, and Death The Kid. May you three stand?"

Soul, Black Star, and another boy stood. Maka looked him over. He was wearing a button up black shirt, (buttons undone) with a white shirt underneath. He had black hair with three white stripes on one side, and amber, or golden, she couldn't really tell, eyes.

He was sitting next to the Thompson sisters, two of Maka's close friends. When they saw her looking, the two blonds gave a quick smile and pointed at Soul. Liz, the oldest, smirked and nodded slowly. Patti, the younger of the two, just giggled into her hand. Maka gritted her teeth and spun around.

Stein smiled knowingly at Maka and Soul, (which gave them the chills) before he turned back to the whole class. "Now, I want everyone to get partners for the rest of the semester- Shut up Ox, it's my class- so pick someone you like."

Maka glanced at Tsubaki, who was now talking with Liz and Patti, and the three smiled at her and pointed at Soul. 'Him!' they mouthed. Maka turned to see Soul playing with his headband. She spun around and blushed. They nodded enthusiastically before giving her a thumbs up.

Maka turned back to face Soul, and as she was about to speak, but Soul said instead, "Well, it seems your friends there want me to be your partner, so..." Maka stared in amazement, and Soul turned to her with a smirk, "What do we do first, partner?"

_______

"That's weird."

Liz stated that point-blank before taking a sip of her tea. Patti bit into a fish stick and Tsubaki sat quietly white munching on a cookie. They were sitting at a table at lunchtime, and Soul, Black Star, and Kid (as the Thompson sisters referred to him) were seeing Shinigami. Maka nodded blankly while staring into her cup of coffee, while thinking about the bitter sweetness of black coffee.

"I think you think he's hot."

Maka's head shot up. Liz was smirking. "What?" She asked.

Maka stared at her. "I-I do not think he's hot!" Maka scoffed while turning away with a smile. "I don't. That's stupid." She said again. "Stupid..." she mumbled, smile fading. After a minute of silence.

"Maka, you think he's hot."

"Fine! I do!" She threw her hands up.

Liz smiled to herself and took the matchbox (which she got from God knows where) from Patti's hands.

________

Maka was walking from the cafeteria to her next class, which she did have with Soul again. But what she saw when she got killed her.

Just kidding. Our dear protagonist is not deceased.

But it did shock her.

She walked into the room to see Soul sitting in a seat, and Shelly next to him. She was running her fingers on his shoulders and he was looking at her, while, smiling.

Maka felt her stomach clench and she bit her lip. Although Shelly didn't have her posse, she was still just as bad. Maka let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and walked over to Soul. He looked up and she saw his smile widen.

That's when she realized that Soul wasn't really smiling at her, he was forcing it. She saw how his jaw relaxed when he had been saved, and she smiled back.

Shelly grimaced and rolled her eyes. 'That little nerd. I'm way prettier than her. She's flat, too. I'm way way cooler. What makes her so special?'

"Soul! Maka! Over here!" The three teenagers looked Tsubaki and Liz, Tsubaki with one hand waving in the air. Shelly's frown deepened and Soul and Maka's brightened. The two jumped up and rushed away from the blond demon, leaving her sitting all alone, since everyone else already had seats.

Shelly let out a sigh before waiting for class to start.

_________________________________________________________

AN/: Wow, this took forever. I started it right after the last time I updated. And, I've decided to put down the total word count of each chapter. And thank you all for reviewing!

TOTAL WORD COUNT: 5,420 words for this chapter.