"Hey, can I ask you something?" the cashier asked as he bagged the wreath.
Maka pretended not to notice the way his fluffy white hair was flying all over the place, or the way his dark red eyes were looking at her instead of just being glazed over like all the other times, and nodded as she handed over the money.
"Why do you need so many stinking wreaths? Seriously, you've been coming here for about a week and a half!" he demanded passionately, though the smirk on the tan boy's face was joking.
Maka burned brighter than the Christmas lights all around the nursery. "They looked like donuts and I needed a baker's dozen?" she suggested squeakily, embarrassed at being so thoroughly caught.
"A little prickly though, wouldn't you think? Where would you even hang them all anyway?" the guy grumbled.
"Shut up! There's a severe lack of decorations!" Maka shouted at him. "We needed something pine needle-y and I already have a tree!"
"Lack of decorations, huh?" he repeated dubiously. "Because this town isn't already overflowing with too much Christmas stuff."
"You can't have too much Christmas!" protested Maka.
The cashier squinted at her before leaning over the counter so his face was almost touching hers, looming far too close for normal, though not for her comfort. "So you're one of them," he growled, settling behind the counter again, voice dripping with disgust.
"One of whom?" Maka demanded furiously.
"One of those weirdos who goes completely overboard with the over-commercialized holiday."
"Excuse me?" she growled, figurative hackles raised.
"Christmas is over-commercialized and doesn't really mean anything anymore," the boy shrugged brazenly. 'It's just an excuse for a bunch of people to throw parties and spend a lot of money on stupid stuff." He then trailed off thoughtfully, "Though that does mean I have a pretty good job…"
"Clearly, you're a Scrooge! All you care about is the money!"
"Of course I am, I don't even celebrate Christmas," the boy answered cheekily, grinning smugly as if he had won. "It's not like it means anything anymore."
Maka faltered, "Really?" she asked quietly, shock evident in her voice. "Do you really think Christmas doesn't mean anything?"
"Nope, but I tripped you up, didn't I?" he smirked, laughing at her instant return to angry and irritated.
"Then you are a Scrooge!"
"Obviously; I regularly swim in my big rooms of gold and treasure," the boy drawled.
Maka paused and looked at him, her head tilted to the side in confusion, "That's so stupid I can't even figure out how to retort," she answered.
The cashier shrugged and handed her bag across the counter. "Thank you for coming." The phrase was drawled and clearly not his own, but a business expression, minted for him and passed out worthlessly.
Maka accepted the bag and started walking towards the door, sighing quietly. She'd never be able to come back, now that he'd noticed her.
"Yo! Nerd!" she heard him shout. Surprised, Maka whirled around to see him grinning at her. "My name's Soul and I get off at three! Wanna hang out?"
She must have blushed for he chuckled and smirked. "Fine, you annoying jerk!" Maka called back sullenly, pouting in embarrassment, all the while hiding her glee. "I'm Maka!"
"That way you don't have to keep buying all these stupid pine tree donuts!" the boy laughed.
Maka turned redder than a Santa hat and shouted, "I hate you!" before stomping around and storming out of the store.
"Sure ya do!" she heard called after her tauntingly and had to fight the urge to run back in there and kiss him.