Colorful city lights danced like candle flames across the rippled surface of the lake. Car horns sounded through the distance and the hushed whistle of the wind moved the crimson and gold leaves that floated above the darkening water. Street lamps illuminated the deserted park while civilians stayed within the comfort of their homes, or worked in their nighttime shifts.

The echoes of a song blew through the current of the wind as a young, teenage girl strode along the path that enclosed the peaceful, isolated scenery.

Only her words pierced through the nighttime breeze, for nobody was there to witness her singing along with the raindrops that began to fall in rhythmic motion. Her sandy-colored hair swayed with every stride she took while her forest green eyes hid the tears she tried desperately to fight back; her attire that of an average sixteen year-old was of faded blue jeans and her old school-girl top. Concealing her feet were two bulky boots with large white buckles.

Shivering, the girl took note of the overcast that was quickly enclosing the crimson-streaked sunset in the sky. Dark, ominous clouds roared out the claps of thunder and she decided to end her wandering.

After stepping inside the apartment building, almost completely drenched in rainwater, the girl took off to her complex and entered her temporary home. She pried off her soggy jacket and shivered after closing the wooden door, spotting her roommate, Soul, whom was lying comfortably on the couch with his feet propped up on an armrest and his fingers laced together over his abdomen. The television had been turned on and weather radar had been airing.

"Hey Maka, glad you came back in, the storm nearing Death City is only seeming to get worse...," the boy muttered in a husky tone.

Sighing, Maka kicked off her boots and replied in a sarcastic tone, "wow, never noticed." She wiped the wet strands of hair that clung to her face and headed into the bathroom where she striped herself of her clothes and started a hot bath to calm her senses.

After easing herself into the tub, she grit her teeth as she remembered her father and why she was upset in the first place. No matter where he was or what he had been doing, he always found some woman to flirt with and or, bring home every single night. Only on the weekends did Maka ever stay in Soul's apartment, but this particular night, Spirit, her father, had gone overboard, dragging two girls into the house and staggering after them with a liquor bottle sloshing in his hand.

No wonder her mother divorced Spirit; he was a cheating prick that only thought about himself and none about the others that cared about him.

It had been almost a year since she had seen her mother… for she had left the country to travel to Europe and explore what all there was in the world. Maka couldn't blame her; it'd be a hell of a lot better than staying with her drunk of a husband that brought in hooker after hooker. The thought of him was disgusting to Maka to the point she couldn't even call the man her father. He was too much of a disgrace and it only brought back bad memories of drunken abuse of when she was younger.

Remembering this, Maka hummed to herself so she could hide her childish tears; after all, she tried not to let weakness in the mind bring her down, for she had been beaten up so many times physically in training at the academy. Crying wasn't helpful and having someone look out for her was out of the subject.

Brining her cheek to her knees, she curled into the fetal position and listened to the rain pour on the roof above. Strange, how it rained so much in Nevada, but Maka didn't complain- rain was her favorite weather- not because it was a depressing color in the clouds that blew across the horizon, it was the clap of thunder and the light flashing in the sky, the suddenness to it all. Some things just… happen.

After about an hours soak, she unplugged the drain from the porcelain tub and stood for about a minute until all the lukewarm water had spiraled down the bottomless hole. Turning on the showerhead, took another 10 minutes before stepping out of the bathroom wearing a small white tank top and some red and black striped shorts.

Peeking into the den, she caught sight of Soul, sprawled out on the cushions with his mouth partly open and his messy white hair curtaining his closed eyes. One arm lay limp on the floor while the other cradled his head like a pillow; his cheek was squished up against the palm of his hand and light snoring came from the albino teen.

Smirking, Maka tiptoed to her room where she opened the blinds to her window and looked out over Death City. Company buildings were still lit up while expensive cars drove through the highways; such a shame how people are so selfish and self –conscious of how they seem to the public surroundings- but Maka couldn't argue about that. She too, was very conscious about the everyday people around her- being the class nerd wasn't exactly the easiest and having a drunk as a father be Lord Death's death scythe was pretty confusing. Not to mention what insecure feelings she had about the guys she met up daily, everything added up to what all stress Maka felt every single day.

Yes, Maka smiled and had fun with Tsubaki, Death the Kid and his weapons, Liz and Patty, not to mention Black Star and Soul, her very own roommate and weapon…

Through the years she's been a Meister, its difficult more than ever to conceal her hidden, forbidden emotions towards some…

But why ruin her life, as she already knows that it could get worse by the reveal of a single secret? She'd prefer to keep her life as relatively stable as it was…

"It's okay for you to hate me for all the things I've done… I've made a few mistakes, but I'm not the only one…"

Maka whispered out these lyrics for she had listened to this song on one of Soul's playlists on his Ipod that she secretly stole for a day. It's not like he listened to music excessively, and it's not necessarily like he would care if he found out Maka had an interest in his music… so what harm was there?

"you pull me under… I pull you under…" Maka's voice grew a little louder as the rain pounded harder and harder against the window, accompanying some eerie wind that scratched against the old window.

Crawling into her bed covers, she turned off her table lamp and resorted to listening to the song in her thoughts, thinking of why her father's intentions were always about sex and why he could never even think of showing some respect toward her and her mother.

Before she fell unconscious, she let her mind flood to thoughts of a familiar, masculine, white-haired boy that only slept outside her very door…

Author's Note

I may or may not update this draft; it was a little sketchy at first and I still don't know where to go from this; if you guys give me some reviews pretty quick, I might just give what you want…

Please, I'd really like your insight on this story; and for those of you who have read a few of my previous stories and think my writing has changed, I'm truly sorry, but it's been forever since I've gotten back in my writing. I'll get back in the flow if it soon.

Comment please; message my profile please! It doesn't matter if you're not a member of fanfiction! Even if you won't read this again and you think it's total crap, PLEASE tell me why! I want to get better at my writing!

Thanks guys!