Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.

Spring Break
by. Poisoned Scarlett

"YEAAAAH! Shake it this way, baby, let me see those weapons of mass masturbation!" A man with electric blue hair styled in the outrageous shape of a star cackled into his megaphone, spraying a particularly busty brunette with sparkling sky blue eyes with a water gun. Beside him stood another man, more lean but no less handsome – he was more handsome, in Maka's eyes. His hair had been bleached white and his tan told Maka that he spent a lot of time in the sun. His black swim shorts fit him well and, Maka would add, the fact that he had lost his shirt somewhere added to his allure. He wore black sunglasses, grinning as he recorded the auburn-haired beauty with his camera. One hand in the pocket of his swim shorts, slightly slouched, and he was the epitome of cool and collected.

"HYAHAHA! Show me those tits, Arisa!" The guy screamed into the megaphone, aiming his water gun at her tits.

She winced when the woman tossed her head back in giddy giggles and flashed the roaring crowd shamelessly. Maka Albarn stood within the roiling crowd of sexually frustrated college students feeling more misplaced than ever before. She tried to blend in with their raucous yells and suggestive movements but stopped when she felt plain uncomfortable with the stares she received; like she was some slab of raw meat for a hungry pack of wolves. Her eyes sought her friend, standing on the roof of a nearby boat and chugging down a bottle with the experience Maka could only dream of. Her honey blonde hair was loose down her back, her black bikini barely restraining the massive jugs all the men around her roared to let loose.

Maka was disappointed when Liz grinned teasingly and cupped both her breasts, teasing her nipples and shaking them in the faces of lust-driven men tauntingly. This wasn't what Maka usually did for fun but Spring Break was being hosted in her town this year and Liz had eagerly wanted to attend. Truth be told, Spring Break was more of an orgy for all the sexually deprived than an honest-to-god break from all the studying. It was a chance to marvel all the beautiful bodies and sexy moves that women – and men – had been dying to show for only too long. It was that one time of the year where everything exploded; both sexually and party-wise.

Call her a prude or old-fashioned but Maka didn't think that sleeping with strangers – while completely hammered – was the right way to go about it. She thought a nice cruise down the coast was better; coupled with a good novel, a fresh jug of Margaritas, and enough sun to bathe in for hours. But perhaps her ideal vacationing trip sounded more dull than exciting? Liz had certainly pressed her lips together and made a noise of disapproval in the back of her throat when Maka told her.

"Oh, my God! This is so awesome!" A nearby girl squealed in delight. Her glittering caramel eyes met Maka's and while her smile was as bright as the sun, Maka's was more of an uneasy grimace. The crowd swelled and writhed with the pounding music and soon Maka was met with a pair of women grinding against each other; a couple indulging in each other, oblivious to the lewd stares they received: the mans hand shoved in the woman's bikini bottoms plainly while she kissed his neck.

The blue-haired prick with the water gun, identified as DJ Black Star, was now openly exchanging saliva with the auburn-haired bombshell.

The white-haired model with the sunglasses was leaning against one of the rails on the yacht, still filming but managing to look bored as he did.

Liz was pressed up against some hunk that was starting to tan nicely under the bright sun; making his stark black hair, stripped curiously with three white lines running horizontally, all the more noticeable.

And Maka just took another drink of her beverage. She was dressed for the part: clad in a coral pink string bikini that tied around her neck, matched with equally thin bottoms she'd tied a wrap around in an effort to keep her last shreds of modesty, Liz had made certain she was ready for Spring Break. Her hair was pulled up in a high pony tail, bangs of ash blond falling lightly down her emerald eyes. But despite her confident outfit, she felt less than so.

She didn't like feeling so exposed. It went against everything her mother taught her. Easy girls like the ones her father chased after, her mother had sneered, were the bane of a true woman. Perhaps a little harsh but Maka certainly wasn't very proud when she saw all of these gorgeous women, clad in skimpier bikinis than her, dancing to wild beats with their hair loose and water dripping down each contour of themselves; exploiting themselves to all these sex-hungry men. It was almost embarrassing how easily they gave themselves away.

She took another drink.

Liz wasn't on the roof of the yacht anymore. Maka didn't want to know where that man had taken her.

DJ Black Star was chugging down more alcohol, roaring something into the mic. There was already a slur to his words and it was only four in the evening.

The silver-haired model with the sunglasses was smirking now, for some reason. Maka brought her drink up to her mouth but paused when she noticed the camera aimed at her. She creased a brow when he didn't move it away. She couldn't tell if he was looking at her with the sunglasses. That's when a girl bumped into her, dumping some of her beer on Maka's chest. When she looked, she saw the girl had lost her top somewhere. So the model hadn't been looking at her, Maka bristled, hating the repugnant stink of beer she now reeked of.

"Excuse me," Maka ground out. "I said, excuse me!" She shoved the plastered girl away and continued to push her way through the crowd. This was ridiculous! What the hell was she doing there, with all these morons? She didn't even like this type of beer! Maka tossed the cup in a nearby trash bin and stalked to where Liz had left her convertible. This was her Spring Break, too, and she sure as hell wasn't spending it standing around in the middle of a sex-fest, hoping she'd get away with being invisible long enough not to get humped by someone….

She dug around through the trunk, hauling out an old gym bag. She had everything she needed to have fun in there! Maka checked one of the smaller pockets and grinned. Bingo. She also had the keys to her fathers boat and it was all hers for the next week! Although her papa didn't know that yet and neither did her law-abiding mother, for the matter.

Maka hurried back to the ramp that led to where the crowd was centered, searching the grounds for a familiar head of sandy blond. Liz was gone, definitely, but she'd be extremely angry if Maka left without telling her. After all, Liz was older than her by three years: her mama was counting on Liz to keep her safe and the last thing Maka needed was to have Liz rush back to Kami, her mother, when she couldn't find her and meekly confess everything that had gone down. Her mama was quite protective of her and would lock her up in her room for the rest of forever if she found out where she was right now. Maka withheld another sigh, shading her eyes with her hand.

A wolf whistle made her look right and Maka rolled her eyes and went back to searching for her friend. Another stupid man looking for some fun. Typical.

"Liz!" Maka suddenly shouted, waving a hand at the woman who was clinging to the same guy she'd been laughing with on the roof. "Liz! Over here!"

The guy noticed her waving and tapped Liz on the shoulder. The woman's eyes gleamed when they landed on Maka and she quickly made her way to her, her breath reeking of alcohol. The sweat coating her body made Maka think just what her friend had really been up to when she embraced her happily.

"Makaaaa!" Liz laughed and gestured for the man to step closer. "Kid! Kid, this is my best friend, Maka! Come say hi, don't be shy! She doesn't bite! Much!"

"Liz!" Maka hissed. But when Kid approached, Maka shifted her expression to one of friendliness and offered a hand. "Hello, Maka Albarn, nice to meet you."

"Kid, pleasure to meet your acquaintance," he greeted politely. He seemed much more serious now that she got a good look at him. From far away, she'd thought him to be another typical douche bag who was in it for the fuck. But now that he was so close, Maka saw that he was in the same boat as her: forced into this cesspool of alcohol and sex and unable to do anything about it. Luckily, he'd gotten something out of it, unlike her…

"Now that we got the intro's outta' the way, let's go party!" Liz screamed, earning a few hoots in return.

"Um, about that—!"

"Ah, ah! No buts, Maka!" Liz warned, shaking her head. Their cheeks pressed together when she hugged her and Liz promised: "I'm gonna' find you a nice, sexy, man to tire you out! You're gonna' learn a whole new meaning to the phrase working out!"

Instantly, Maka paled. Her mama would know if she did something bad because how could she not know? She was a mom. She'd know instantly. And although Maka could care less if her papa found out – being as he had no better track record – her mama was a completely different story. There would be hell to pay and Maka was already breaking the rules by being here. So she did the only thing she could think of: lie.

"My mama's looking for me!"

Liz instantly sobered. She knew her mother too well. "Oh, shit. Where is she? Is she here here?"

"I-I saw her by the parking lot when I went to get my things! She probably knows I'm here!" Maka lied.

"Fuck! Fuck, fuck!" Liz cursed. Kid looked between the two uneasily.

"It's okay, Liz! Just, um, do you drink?" She asked Kid, who looked startled at being addressed but shook his head.

"I do occasionally but I'm not currently intoxicated."

Maka was surprised by the amount of class in his voice. Certainly not a usual Spring Breaker, definitely brought along against his will.

"Do you mind driving Liz back home later?" Maka asked, hesitantly. "I can understand if it's too much to ask for—!"

"Oh! That's a great idea! You can take my car back to your house before your mom even knows what happened!" Satisfied with how things worked out, Liz turned to Kid and smiled pleasantly. Kid looked at her for a moment before chuckling out something that sounded like a yes. "Ugh, your mom is such a fun-killer, Maka! And the party hasn't even started!" Liz steamed.

"Sorry, Liz. It was great while it lasted, though. I got that tan I wanted!" Maka smiled weakly and after a few more words, watched them walk back to the yacht. Apparently, it belonged to Kid. Liz had sure hit jackpot, she would be bragging all year about this. Glad she was off of Liz's radar for the evening, Maka trotted back to the boardwalk that would lead her down a series of walkways to the boats. Sure, she would be alone on the boat, but it was better than spending it drunk and flashing your goodies at a random camera! Internet fame had never sounded all that fun, anyway.

"Hey, Maka!" someone called out to her excitedly. "Maka! I didn't know you were here!"

"Oh, Tsugumi," Maka smiled at the younger girl, who ran up to her with a huge smile.

"What are you doing all the way over here? The party is that way!" the younger girl beamed at her role model.

Maka frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Aren't you still in high school?"

"I'm a senior!" She defended, feebly.

"Go home, Tsugumi, you shouldn't be in a place like this until you're twenty one!" Maka grabbed her shoulder and nudged her towards town. "Go have some ice-cream or go to the beach. It's a hot day today."

"Or she can come with us and have some real fun!" Anya, Tsugumi's friend, snobbily cut in. Maka twitched at the sound of her haughty voice. "Just because you can't doesn't mean she can't, either!"

"I'm just giving her some sound advice," Maka bit back. "It's up to her whether she takes it or not. I already warned you, Tsugumi," Maka looked at the girl, who looked reluctant to go to the party now. "But if you're going anyway then just be careful. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you," Maka smiled at her and excused herself, shaking her head when Anya loudly announced they would have the best time of their lives.

Or the worst time, Maka thought as she shook out the keys from her bag. She stopped dead when she saw the silver-haired model from before leaning against her father's boat. It was purely coincidental – he looked more lost in his own thoughts, his shoulder leaning against the lightly rocking boat as he stared at the sea. His camera was hanging off his neck, both hands in his pockets this time. Maka definitely didn't take him as the loner type: he looked right at home in the midst of the festivities –snarky smirk, killer bod, designer sunglasses and all.

She swallowed the sudden dryness in her mouth. "H…hey! Hey! You, with the white hair!" She called and he finally turned, raising an irritated brow. "Do you mind finding another boat to lean on?"

His brow further raised at her bossiness. "This one's fine."

"Except I don't think you'd like it very much when I pull forward and you get chewed up by the propellers," she flatly said.

He gave her a candid stare before he scoffed and moved away, watching her kneel down to untie the boat. She shook out her keys, finding the right one and gripped the ladder on the side. She made her way up the boat swiftly, swinging a leg over the top and landing inside with a satisfying thump. When she peered over the side, she found him leant against another boat; back to gazing at the sea with that same detached interest. Strange, to walk away from a party when they'd be only too-happy to have him join in on the fun.

"Hey, what're you looking at?" Maka finally asked, leaning over the handrail. She rested her chin on her arm when he looked up. "I don't see anything but water."

He smiled, faintly. "Then you aren't looking hard enough."

She frowned and looked out to sea again. "I still don't see anything—oh, um…" She faltered, watching a boat cruise by with a man fucking a woman on the roof. There were others at the helm doing nothing less innocent. "Aren't you supposed to have your camera out for that?"

His brows furrowed and when he looked, he cracked up with laughter. The sudden spark of emotion caught her off-guard. He had a really nice smile and laugh. If he smiled more often, he'd probably be more approachable. "Not that, you idiot, over there!"

"Where?" Maka squinted.

"Over there!"

"I still don't see anything!"

"Guess only I can see it."

"You set me up for that!" She accused. He shot her a toothy grin. She looked back to where the spring break party was being held by the pier. She could barely hear the music over the tides but she could clearly see the clusters of people walking to the party, all ready to meet new people and get shit-faced in the process. "Why aren't you over there with your friends? You're friend with that Kid guy, right?"

"Kid? You know him?" He asked, shading his eyes with his hand to look up at her.

"Yeah, I left my friend in his care," Maka said and he snickered.

"He'll take it seriously. Trust me, he'll kill all her fun by the end of the night."

"That's good," Maka smiled cheekily when he arched a brow "She needs someone to keep her from doing something she'll regret. I thought I could but she's too much for me to handle on my own."

"Is that why you left or because that chick dumped a can of beer all over you?" He asked with open amusement and Maka was startled. So he had been watching her through the camera after all! That brightened her mood considerably.

"Not really. I just don't like… being there," she grimaced. "I don't like big parties like that. A lot can go wrong and there's a lot of police officers right now…"

"Here I thought you were just tired of random guys hitting on you," he smirked and Maka pinked.

"For your information, no one did!"

He choked back laughter. "Then that's just sad."

"I – you – shut up!" Maka sputtered, fuming when he laughed harder. After a moment of two, she grumbled: "Are you just going to stand there until nightfall?"

"Maybe," he smirked. "What's it to you?"

"Because you can climb aboard with me and do the exact same thing, only with a better view!" She offered with childlike naiveté. Perhaps it was the fact that, despite the bikini that fit her slim body like a sleeve, there was a glint of something so purely innocent that made him take the risk of agreeing. Normally, he'd reject such invitations. Because either the girl wanted to get laid or something equally extreme. It wasn't his style to go fucking everything with legs and a vagina, unlike Black Star, who'd probably be shoving a list of women who'd signed his fuck-book in his face later on tonight – or tomorrow, or the next day, or whenever he saw him again.

"Yeah, sure. By the way, the names Soul."

"Maka."

"Cool," he said. "Sounds foreign."

"It's Japanese. My moms Japanese," Maka elaborated and watched Soul perk up.

"Sweet! Does that mean you know how to make sushi?"

"Don't tell me you actually like sushi?" Maka balked. Soul climbed aboard swiftly, taking in the surroundings as he said:

"Yeah, I like raw fish."

"Ew!"

"You don't? Weirdo. You live right next to the beach, how could you not like fish?"

"How could you like eating anything raw?" Maka shuddered. "I like miso soup, though! And ramen!"

"The instant kind?"

"No, you idiot!" Maka laughed and his smile grew a bit. She had a very sweet, very kind, laugh. "The real kind!"

"Because there was never any other type..."

"There isn't," Maka giggled.

And the next few hours were spent surprisingly sober and clean.

She had pulled up a chaise, fixed the umbrella to shade her, and pulled out a thick novel from her bag. That was before she went down into the cabin to the kitchen to fix herself up a virgin Margarita. He, on the other hand, got a can of beer from the mini-fridge and leaned his arms against the railing, gazing off at the ocean again. It had gone on like that for a while – Maka flipping through another page in her book, Soul watching the sun fall lower and lower on the skyline – before Soul decided he'd gotten enough of a tan and walked back to her. He pulled up another chaise beside her and sat back, stifling a yawn.

"So, was this all you planned on doing?"

Maka looked up after finishing another sentence. "Yeah. Liz wanted me to go spend my Spring Break with the others but since that didn't work out, I went back to my original plan. Which is this!" She chirped. "I'm actually having more fun here than out there!"

He smirked a bit. "You're so boring. You actually find this fun?"

Defensively, she said: "Yes! So what?"

"Nothing… you just didn't strike me as the type," he shrugged.

"I didn't?"

"Nah, not with that," he flicked his eyes back to her, the mile-long legs with the barest hints of a tan. Her curves were more subtle, more for discovering by running your hands up her slim waist to her perky breasts. Not normally what he went for, all things considered, but this girl worked it quite well.

Maka groaned and drew her legs up, hiding her nose in the book. "That's what I was hoping to avoid!" She lowered her book a bit, hoping he wouldn't catch her blush. "I don't usually dress like this…"

He stretched and said, loftily: "Yeah, now that I think about it, you look like a nerd. I mean, who has fun reading? That's so uncool and boring—!"

"MAKA CHOP!"

Soul was lucky he was so far away from the edge of the boat.

The next day, she was sitting on the edge of the boardwalk sometime during midday. She had a small piece of rope in her hands that she was trying to knot in the way her mama taught her before she allowed her to get the keys to her papa's boat. Her mama said it'd do her well to know how to properly knot things, especially if she was going to consider owning a boat when she was older.

Maka knew how to tie various knots already, having observed enough from her times spent with her papa aboard his boat, but this new knot was particularly challenging. She just couldn't seem to get it right. She ignored the Spring Breakers that were – unsurprisingly – continuing their beer-fest and scoping out any willing participants to join their orgy. Maka had wisely steered clear from that side of town, taking a longer road that would lead her to the dock. She wasn't surprised when she didn't find her father on the boat, where he promised he'd be. Lately, her papa went out earlier and lied to her mama about where he really went. He also got back much later than usual.

Maka had a sick feeling he was having the time of his life with the frenzied college students down by the pier.

Maka hoped her mama didn't find out.

She didn't want to hear another fight break out between them because of it.

"What're you doing?"

Maka jumped and turned, finding Soul wandering to her with his hands shoved deeply in his pocket. Once more, there was a camera hung around his neck. Today he wore navy blue trunks matched with an unbuttoned black shirt. He wore nothing underneath that. She did her best not to stare. She thought she did a good job, at least until the wind blew and his shirt flapped open.

"T-tying knots!" Maka awkwardly smiled, holding up the piece of rope while her eyes darted to the boardwalk.

"…You're kidding, right?"

"No, why would I?" She glared when he laughed. "I'm not tying knots in the conventional sense. I'm tying specific knots. It may come in handy when I own a boat and my mama showed me one…but I can't get it right." She tried once more, aware of his approaching figure until he stood inches from her; watching her from overhead. She sighed in frustration when it didn't come out as tight as it was supposed to. "Damn it."

"Wait, do it again."

She looked up, sliding her gaze past the lean, smooth, skin of his stomach, his sculpted chest, until she reached his lazy burgundy eyes. "Do you know how?" She did as she was told, however, hoping to get it this time.

"Not really. My brother did this a lot, though. Said it was relaxing or something."

"Tying knots?" Maka giggled.

"I know. Crazy, isn't it?" Soul grinned, kneeling next to her. "I'm the only sane one in the family."

"That's hard to believe," Maka mumbled, and laughed when he cut her a dry look. "It's just a little weird when you distance yourself from everyone. The party is back there but you're always here," Maka elaborated. "Being a loner on purpose is weird!"

"You missed a loop."

"Huh?"

"There," Soul pointed to the loose knot, reaching over. "You missed a loop, that's why it falls apart. Do it again…..and stop, right there. Pull the string through there." Soul watched her follow his instructions and he rose his eyes to her face. She looked like such a child, with big green eyes that sparkled under sunlight and alabaster skin so smooth he wondered if it would ruin if he touched it. His fingers twitched on his knees. He wanted to touch her cheek, just to see if it was as soft as he believed it to be; if it would ruin under the softest of touches. He wondered if he could get away with it if he tried before he shot the idea down. Of course he couldn't. But why the contemplation in the first place? Being such a sappy romantic was definitely not cool, he chided himself.

"You were right!" She exclaimed suddenly, and those green eyes became hard to look away from. They were a translucent green, absorbing the light around them like crystals. "I did it! Look, I did it! Thanks a lot, Soul! I didn't even know I was missing a loop! My mama would've made fun of me for not seeing it earlier!" She laughed and he found himself smiling back.

He thought about Black Star's offer to hang out by the pier with some hot girls in twenty minutes. He had been on his way there when he spotted Maka sitting lonesome by her father's boat.

"Now I can take the boat out for a ride!" Maka cheered.

"What, your mom said you had to get the knot right before you could?" Soul jeered.

She puffed her cheeks out, pinking a little. His smile twitched into a wicked grin. "N-no…"

He coughed out "loser" but he was sure he didn't fool her for her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hey, you willing to give me a ride to the other side of the beach? I wanna' pick up some seashells for my bro," Soul smoothly asked although he knew he wouldn't do it once he was there. His brother hated the sea and all its accessories with a passion. Bad experience when he was a boy, Wes Evans told him every time he asked. But Soul knew it was because he was afraid of big bodies of water – more specifically, he was afraid of drowning. Because their cousins were bastards and they liked messing with them in the worst ways.

"Sure!" Maka beamed. He grinned.

He decided he could always hang out with Black Star later.

The sun was beating down on them as the boat drifted upon the sea currents idly. It was a hot day today, with the sky a plain sheet of deep blue; as if reflecting the blue of the ocean. He would swear all of the clouds had been swallowed up by some supernatural force: there wasn't a prick of anything in the sky. He wasn't used to such sights. He was used to a sky smudged with pollution and airplanes and helicopters and big, fluffy, white clouds of heat.

He liked it here.

But maybe it wasn't because of the chill atmosphere – although that was part of the reason – but because of a certain someone who was perking his interests to an uncool degree.

"You've never tanned?"

"Nope."

"Seriously? You've lived here for half your life and you've never gone out to tan?"

"No, but Liz does it a lot," Maka shifted uncomfortably, her legs hanging off the side of the boat. She leaned forward and rested her arms and chin on the metal rails, watching Soul lean back on his palms beside her. "It's not that I've never tanned, it's that if I try…I burn, not tan," she sighed.

"Ever heard of sunblock? It's the creation of the century."

"For your information, I have!" Maka shot him a look. "It doesn't work! I have to get the highest SPF and then I don't even tan!" Maka sighed, kicking out a foot. "That's why I never tried again. After that horrible sunburn, I don't even want to think about it."

"No wonder you're so white. You can't handle tanning."

She gave him a look. "Not all of us can tan like you, Soul."

"Only cool people can tan," he drawled, grinning a grin that made Maka want to smack him clear off the boat.

"Thanks for admitting I'm not part of the idiot brigade."

"You're just jealous."

"Of what?" Maka snorted. "Your obvious failure to be a productive member of society?"

"No. The fact that you can't chill with cool kids like me."

"Then what am I doing right now?" Maka challenged.

"We're having a discussion."

"So this is not hanging out?"

His lip twitched. "Nope."

"You sure?" Maka stifled giggles in her arm.

"Positive!" Soul grinned back. "We're having a civilized discussion in which you realize just how much cool you're lacking in your life and you adopt my ideals and become a better person."

"And stupid like you, right?"

"Yeah - wait a second, shut up!"

Maka would have spat out her drink if she had been drinking something. Instead, she laughed hard enough to bring tears to her eyes and Soul joined her eventually, their laughter echoing down the gently lapping waters of the bright, blue, sea.

She was back again two days later, standing there among the mass of frenzied college students. This time she wore a simple halter top over her bikini and she tied a wrap securely on her hips to keep her modesty. There was nothing in her hands today because she needed to return home sober and hopefully not smelling like something illegal. Because she knew there was a small cluster of people behind her passing a joint. The smell was enough to make her stomach roll.

But it was the evening, she expected this, however there were more people than she expected there to be. It was also hotter than she thought it'd be but that was in part because Liz had convinced her to dance a bit. She had fun there, with a sober Liz and Patty, her sister, and even a couple of other girls who looked relatively fine. But then the men had squeezed their way into their circle and Maka had faltered when an arrogant blonde with crystal blue eyes and a small smirk sidled up beside her. That was just an accident waiting to happen, she'd firmly told herself, and pulled back before things could get any worse.

Men could be so shameless.

"Hey!"

Maka stole a look beside her but saw no one. She stepped away from an incoming pairs tracks, able to catch a whiff of beer while she was at it.

"Yo! Maka! Over here!"

Maka turned this time, searching for the source, and surprisingly found Soul. She felt a twinge of jealousy when she saw a girl standing next to him, clad in a scant green bikini. Her pink hair was cut to a short bob and she tossed her a look of annoyance for distracting him from her. Soul waved her over and when she shook her head and turned back, she was a little surprised when he walked right next her a few minutes later.

"What the hell? Why're you standing over here all alone? Where's Liz?" Soul frowned, holding two cups. He handed her one silently and she reluctantly took it.

"Is this alcohol?" Maka asked, tentatively. She took a small sniff and cringed.

"Yeah, it's a vodka tonic."

"I can't," Maka shook her head.

"C'mon, Maka, don't be uncool. It's fucking Spring Break. You can't spend it reading the entire time!" Soul sighed, exasperated.

"No, I mean, I can't because my mom wants me back sober! If she smells this on me, I'm screwed!" Maka scowled, punching his shoulder for his jab at her hobby. She looked at her cup with some longing. "I could use a cup or two right now…"

He contemplated this for a second. "When do you have to get back?"

"By nine."

"Sweet," he smirked. He bumped cups with her. "Drink up. You got five hours. We'll get another two and then hit the beach. That way, you'll get your fix and when you get back, you'll smell like sea water and the effects should've worn off by then."

Maka blinked, more than impressed by his plan. She took a drink, however, and he grinned in victory. "I get the feeling you've done this before…"

"Only too many times, Maka. Let the me teach you the tricks of the trade," He smirked wickedly and grabbed her elbow to lead her towards the makeshift bar by the sides. "Is Liz with you?"

"No, I can't find her. I lost her somewhere by the stage!" Maka shouted over the noise of laughter and music. When Maka looked back, she found the pink haired girl chatting up some other guy. "Are you sure it's okay to leave your friends like this?"

Soul glanced behind him, to the pink haired girl and the others who milled around and turned back, not looking at all concerned. "Yeah. It's cool."

She didn't quite want to understand the relief that relaxed her shoulders as he led her to the shoreline.

She told him this would happen. But did he ever listen to her? No. It'd do him some good to listen to her every once in a while though! Given, he usually did, but only to unimportant things, not the things that actually mattered. Honestly, what was she doing here? She should be at home, snuggled under her bedsheets. Instead, cold sea air made her shiver and she was here caring for an idiot whose much too cool for his own good…

"Fuck my life…" Soul groaned pitifully, arm strewn over his eyes. The sun was much too bright. The cool weather felt too cold on his feverish skin. He expected this fully but he forgot just how painful it was to sail through it. At least Maka was kind enough to watch over him during this time – lord knew that Black Star wouldn't give two fucks and Kid would dump him on his bed so he could sleep it off.

Like usual.

Soul thought it was nice to have someone caring for you – even if she was still pissed at you for pulling such a stupid stunt in the first place.

"I told you not to drink those shots of tequila and scotch!" Maka snapped, sitting on her thigh beside his head. "You promised you'd stop after I left! Obviously you didn't!"

"You're so loud…" He rose a hand to his mouth, swallowing down the urge to vomit. They sat – or more like Soul laid and Maka sat – on the boardwalk early that morning. Maka had immediately come to his aid when Liz texted her saying Soul had drank past his limit and ended up passed out behind the couch. Maka had had the honor of dragging his hung over ass out of Kid's yacht by the ankle until he woke up and walked (more like dragged himself) the rest of the way.

"What were you doing drinking so much anyway?"

"Black Star said I couldn't outdrink him," Soul mumbled, eyes shut. His head hurt. His mouth felt as dry as cotton. His stomach felt empty and sick. This was one bad hang over. He shouldn't have mixed drinks like his friend did. "Turns out I can't." He swore lightly under his breath and rolled on his side, pinching the bridge of his nose. At least he was out of the yacht.

He didn't think he could stand the rocking motion in this state.

But the salty, fishy, smell of the sea was making things worse for his upset stomach.

"You're a dumbass for even thinking a drinking contest was okay without anyone spotting you!" She sighed, aggravated. He didn't have it in him to snap back a witty reply like usual. Maka softened her frown. Then he felt fingers thread through his hair forgivingly and the action was so soothing he actually leaned toward her touch. Her palm was blessedly cool when it pressed against his scratchy cheek, his damp forehead, and brushed away stray silver hairs over his eyes. "Do you think you can stand?"

"No…"

"Do you want me to bring you some water?"

"You got any Gatorade?" Soul asked weakly, and when she stood up with a happy yes, he was disappointed her touch was taken way with it. Again, he thought it was nice to have someone watch over you while you tried to stave off puking your guts out.

And he was not at all disappointed when she brought back a bottle of Gatorade and he took a drink and subsequently emptied his stomach into the ocean.

Because afterwards, boy, did he feel great.

She liked it here, with him, every day for the remainder of Spring Break. She liked their banter, their arguments, the way their differences somehow brought them closer together and the way their similarities only knotted their friendship tighter than the knots her mother taught her. She liked how he was so easy to talk to. She liked how simple he could make a situation, a discussion, an ideal, anything, without losing the weight of it. She liked how completely easy it could be to put her trust in him although there was a part of her, the part that desperately clung to her self-preservation, that refused to cross that line she was toeing already.

They're both faced with that line but neither could seem to muster up the courage to cross it.

She could feel it, practically see it – with the way she tried to quiet her loud laughter at something he said and the way he hid his grins behind his hands, or rubbed the back of his neck, or turned away when she caught him staring. They were dancing around the subject of their attraction and Maka didn't know how much longer she could keep this up before she tripped. Because, certainly, a friendship was not possible with this man – not when her heart sounded so alive in her chest around him, and not when she couldn't seem to get enough of being around him.

"Lemonade with an extra slice of lemon, right?" Soul called from the kitchen.

"Put two in it this time!"

"At this rate, you're gonna' burn a hole through your stomach," Soul commented as he climbed up the steps, bringing her the glass she asked for with two slices thrown in. "I'm not cleaning it up."

"If you think this is going to bring me down, you obviously don't know me!" Maka confidently stated and took a drink. A pleasant shudder ran down her body and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her tongue licked the sour liquid from her lips, teeth grinding together. The sensation was eagerly welcomed. She liked the sour taste of lemon and he had made sure to make it as sour as possible. When her eyes opened, he was turned away from her, gazing out at the ocean again.

"You really like that, huh?"

"What? Lemonade?"

"Yeah. Sour stuff."

"Not everything. I don't like those sour patch kid candies," Maka offered. Soul rose a brow at her. "I think it's just lemon. I really like it. It's sour but the after-taste is what I really look forward to," she touched the hinge of her jaw. "The only downside is my taste buds are out of control afterwards."

"I bet," he lopsidedly smiled. "Hey, can I have some?"

"Of – this?" Maka hastily corrected. If he caught her stumble, he didn't let it show. "Here."

He only managed a small sip before he flinched away, shaking his head of the intensely sour taste. "Fuck, that's bad!" He rubbed his aching mouth, definitely not trying that again. "How can you take a whole drink like it's nothing?"

"I don't know. I've always liked lemon," Maka repeated, shrugging. She took a drink, aware of his stare. Another shudder rushed down her arms, raising goose bumps. It felt nice. "I mean, how can you like sushi?"

Soul shrugged. "It tastes good."

"It's gross. It tastes weird, it feels weird, it even smells weird…"

"Yeah, well, you're weird."

"Says the guy with white hair."

"And the girl who looks twelve—NO!" Soul shouted in alarm when she whipped out a novel. "You said you'd stop if I didn't drink today!"

"I lied!" She smirked and laughed when he took five steps away from her with his arms braced to cover sensitive areas on his anatomy. "I'm just kidding, Soul. Jeez, Mr. Cool Guy is afraid of a book?"

"Your books," Soul corrected. "I didn't even know you can hurt someone with them until I met you!"

"You learn something new everyday!"

Soul dropped his arms and shook his head, affectionately saying: "You're such a nerd..."

And Maka realized something important in that moment.

When she looked up from her glass, his eyes were on her, and the calm gaze reflected told her that this was something he had already contemplated. She wondered just how sharp he really was despite his uncanny skill of coming off as any other degenerate.

It's as if he read her mind: his eyes twinkled and a grin lifted his lips.

"Wanna' go for a swim?" He nodded to the side of the boat. "Anchor her down and let's go."

"There's sharks in these waters!" Maka warned, halfheartedly.

"Sharks can't go against someone as cool as me," Soul threw over his shoulder, already sliding off his shirt. Her eyes ran down his strong back appreciatively. Her hand tightened around her glass. "And you know as well as I do that's a bunch of bullshit the cops came up with to keep everyone outta' the water."

"With good reason – it's easier to control them on dry land than inside the water!"

He finally turned to her, stripped down to his black swim shorts. She kept her eyes steady on the spot between his eyes. She needed to stay focused.

"You really gotta' let loose, Maka," Soul drawled, sounding too much like Liz yet much more convincing. "You can't let books and school consume all your time. You'll regret it when you're older."

"And you would know because…?"

He was quiet for a moment. But when he did speak, there was a forced quality to his words, "my dad," and he didn't elaborate because at that moment he swung a leg over to the ladder and slid down, a splash following.

Then she remembered something important.

"SOUL, WAIT! I FORGOT TO TIE DOWN THE BOAT!"

Maka didn't ask him to wash the dishes this time.

It was the least she could do for nearly leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere.

A/N: Because I have yet to see some spring break stories on this site, maybe this will prompt some authors to try? Then again, it may just be me overlooking things again lol

Scarlett.