Prologue
Last Summer in California
"Kayden! Wait a sec'. I just need one more try to get this!" Maka yelled at her current partner that tried to go to the beach showers. Maka and Kayden had been practicing at the sand courts for a few hours after Maka and her partner, won it big at a tournament yesterday. Kayden knew she had been bothered with a point they lost when she wasn't able to hit a ball that was set from behind her. She hit it out, and she had been spending the last 30 minutes trying to get the skill mastered with consistency.
"Fine. One more ball , May-May. Then we can shower off and head back to your mom's place." Maka scowled at him for the use of his horrible nickname for her. He knew she hated it, but he just loved seeing her flustered. She took her spot, he smacked the ball, she ran to the attack line, and he threw her a high ball that came in front of her, and she jumped up with those long legs, and crushed it straight into the sand on the other side of the net. With a content sigh from each, they walked arm in arm into the shower.
Maka had always felt more comfortable around Kayden than when she was with Soul. Kayden never made fun of chest size or her supposed ankle obesity. But over the summer, she'd gotten hot. She started using tanning lotion, putting her hair in a new style (a ponytail with the front section singled off into a braid that was tied together in the back.), running and conditioning her body, and she'd grown. Everywhere. She was kind of excited to see the reaction of her peers to this new look.
"So, you're going back to the DWMA in 2 weeks right?" Kayden asked as her washed sand of his lean, tan body. Maka could've sworn that she heard a regretful undertone to the question, but answered it nonetheless.
"Yeah, but all of the Spartoi members are going in 3 days before hand. But Lord Death said I can come back to school a few days late to have enough time to win regionals!" Maka answered with a wistful excitement. All of the elite members of the Academy had to go and help set up things for orientation.
"Obviously. How come you've never invited your friends to tournaments?" Kayden questioned.
"They don't even know about this. They know I'm with my mom, yes, but they have no idea that she spends her summers in Santa Monica, or that I even play volleyball. Indoor or beach. They think I'm a flat chested bookworm that doesn't do sports. Note, that they base this anti-sports theory on my pitiful ability to play basketball." She admitted as she wrung the excess water out of her hair, which had become noticeably lighter from sun exposure.
Kayden went wide-eyed. How could she keep this from her friends? She was kinda famous in the volleyball world, and with her partner Xara, they were one of the most feared duos out there. And a flat chested bookworm? She wears sports bras all the time, and she was most certainly not flat chested in her bikini when they played. She was beautiful, perfect, and absolutely flawless in his eyes.
"Yeah, but basketball is stupid. Volleyball is where it's at." He said. Kayden started awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck and looked away from the sight of a wet and sandy Maka Albarn. He may or may not have a crush on her, and Maka was still trying to sort out her feelings for her weapon and Kayden.
Maka and Kayden had met about two years ago. But they'd both been playing for about 6 years. One morning they met at the same court, and they just sorta became friends. The two would meet back at that court every day. With each meeting they would practice and make each other's skill stronger. They would travel to the same tournaments, practice together, hang out, and Kayden also stayed in Kami's beach house with Maka every summer.
With a towel wrapped around her waist and a flimsy tank top on, Maka had a great idea. Maka had been thinking of ways to tell her friends about her summers, but if she flat out told them, they probably laugh at her and say she was lying. Sure, the four Junior National championship gold medals she'd won would help, but she still wanted Kayden with her.
"Hey, Kayden!"
"How about you come back with me to the DWMA?"
A/N So yeah, this is what I've been working on for a little bit. I know this is a little bit AU, and there's an OC. But wait till you see Mr. Eater's reaction to this guy. And I wanted to make a new character because if any of the other characters did this with Maka it would be weird and OOC. I'll try to update soon, but I've got volleyball to do just like Ms. Albarn. And my volleyball experience actually sprouted this idea. Leave a review or PM me. Constructive criticism, praise, and flames are all very much welcome.
Christina 3