Chapter One: How it Started
Soul walked through the dim-lit hallway, passing everyone's stares and mockery. He looked over to Maka, who was waiting for him by a water fountain. They walked to the lunch room together and searched for an empty table hastily. It's so hard to get a good table these days…Soul thought. Just then, he spotted one, and dragged Maka over to it. They sat down together and waited for nothing to happen. Life seemed so boringly repetitive ever since the accident had happened. The "accident" being Soul's secret getting out. He was all alone now, despite Maka, who he was currently angry at. He dipped his head and stared at his lap. He studied the random creases and folds in his jeans like they were the most interesting thing on the planet.
Maka looked the other way, and tried to remember how it all happened… It wasn't normal for a girl like her to ever cut herself or go to therapy. She just wasn't that type of girl! She looked deep into her mind…and tried to recall how it all started…
It was a bright and sunny Monday. The kind that made you think that the day was going to be great.
But looks can be deceiving…
Maka grabbed her backpack and smiled at herself in the mirror. Soul grabbed his backpack, and smiled at Maka. They then walked out the door, and then to school. On the way to DWMA, Maka caught the eye of Heather, the worst bitch in the school. She kept her tilted, and walked faster, as did Soul. They walked faster and faster until they were running. Heather caught up, though. She stood in front of them with one knee tilted, and her arms folded across her chest.
Heather was the kind of girl everyone wanted to avoid. Her neatly braided strawberry blonde hair was always kept perfect. Her clothes consistently spelt out the names of various brands. Across her ass was the word "PINK". And no matter how hard you tried, you could NEVER escape her glare. It followed you everywhere. Like a piece of toilet paper stuck to your shoe, she ever-so embarrassing and cruel to everyone she met. Yet she wasn't totally shunned by society yet!
Heather smirked that smirk that people get when they're about to do something they regret.
"So I see you two are still together," she remarked, stared at their folded hands. Maka looked down, and tried her best to avoid eye contact. She was NOT going to get into ANOTHER fight. Especially not today.
"Not talking? Okay. I'll do the talking. You just listen. And Soul?" Soul looked into her devilish emerald eyes. "Run along. You could use the exercise." Soul took one last glance at Maka, then turned and darted towards the academy.
"Maka," she stated harshly, "I want you to know…I know Soul's big secret." Maka looked surprised. She cocked her head a little and opened her mouth to talk.
"I want you to do some things for me," Heather cut off, "or Soul's secret is out." Maka looked down again, and stared at her boots. There was a scratch on the right boot from the last fight she had with an awkward kishin.
"So?" Heather tested, "You gonna do it?" Maka sighed. Did she really have a choice? She thought for five seconds. No, she really didn't. She had to do this to protect Soul's huge secret. It was too much of a big deal to just ignore Heather.
"Fine," Maka said quietly, "I'll do it. What is it?"
"Actually, there are a couple of things I need you to do."
"Well?"
"I'll tell you in a note. Give me your locker combination."
"What?! No!"
"Soul's secret is…"
"Okay! Fine! My combination is 34-26-12."
"Perfect…"
Heather pivoted on her right foot, and swung around to meet the gaze of Sid.
"What the hell are you two doing? Class has started!" he spit. Maka looked to Heather to take the lead. Heather whispered something to Sid, and his eyes widened. Then he turned and walked back to the school without another word…
Maka took her place next to Soul in her next class. Since they were miester and weapon, they had all the same classes. While Stein yapped on endlessly about something he dissected yesterday in the bathroom, Soul took out a sheet of paper and began to scribble something on it. He then folded the piece of paper into a tiny square. He threw in at Maka and pretended to reach for her pen in the process. It hit Maka's book entitled The Bitch's Guide to Eating Sushi and dropped onto her assignment book. Soul kicked the seat of Maka's swivel chair to get her attention.
"Hm?" she looked over to Soul. He pointed to the note lying on her desk. She slowly peeled the tape off the crease and open the paper while trying not to make that obnoxious crinkling sound. Inside the note, Soul had written: What did that bastard Heather want? Maka looked around cautiously, then began to reply.
She wanted to borrow my science notes.
Really? I don't think so…
Well she did. Okay?
Great. Now tell me what she REALLY wanted.
…I can't.
Why not?! We're PARTNERS, Maka. You can tell me anything.
Yeah. Anything but this.
Grrr.
You can "Gr" all you want. But I can't tell you or Heather's going to kick my ass! You KNOW that her weapon is a Blood Cannon! Now I've got to go. We're gonna get-
"Passing notes, I see?" Stein gestured for her to give her note. Maka stuffed it in Soul's mouth.
"Mmmphh!" Soul screamed, trying not to choke on the inky ball of paper. Stein shook his head and told everyone to get outta there as soon as the bell rang.
Maka stared at her feet and worried all the way to her locker. She did the combination, and when she opened it, a small note with a pink heart on the front fell into her hands. She steadily unfolded it and read the whole thing, top to bottom, four or five times.
Hey, Maka!
It's Heather here, and I just wanted to tell you the first thing you're going to do for me! Ok. Let's get started. First of all, I want you to go home with Soul, and tell him that I like him. BUT IF YOU TELL ANYONE ELSE, I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB! Also, I want you to tell him that you hate him. That's all for now! Byyye!
Maka scowled. That was it? Soul hated Heather, and he'd probably just take it as a joke if she said she hated him. How dumb could Heather be? She's gotta have more than just THIS planned. This is NOTHING!
Just as Maka was slipping the note into her pocket, Soul came up to her.
"Are you ready to go to our next class?" Soul asked.
"Yup!" Maka answered. And just to be sure he would take the hating him thing as a joke, she kissed him gently on the cheek.