This is my first fanfic so you know be prepared. Hope you enjoy. Trust me the story will get better. Leave your comments below (PLEASE). Also, heads up, Eruka is OOC.
The class was chattering before the bell. The "popular" crowd takes up a chunk of the center of the room. Black Star is making a fuss over, what else?, himself. Tsubaki is trying to calm him down from her seat. She looks like a model everyday, though it's unintentional on her part. Kidd sat at the very center of the room looking calm and relaxed. Liz and Patty were arguing on either side of him. Their words reached each corner of the room, though everyone knew it was just them being sisters. Soul sat in front of Kidd and behind Star. He was leaning back in his chair, half paying attention to Black Star's rant and half sitting in relaxed coolness. His girlfriend, Eruka Frog, was draped over him. He didn't seem too interested in her, even with the advances. She had an odd obsession with frogs, because of her last name, but everyone got used to it. Off to the side sits an ashy blond haired girl. She is secluded by herself, beside the window. She draws in her sketchbook silently, unnoticed. Her name is Maka.
Mrs. Marie walks into the room and the students quite down a bit. Maka continued drawing, but no one cared.
"All right everyone. We're starting a project today. You will be paired up and then you will be studying something about our culture. Once you have a topic, you will write an essay outline, and do a presentation on how this aspect of culture effects you personally."
As she had started talking, Maka started taking notes. Kidd seemed to be committing everything to memory. Star didn't seem to care. "Alright then," continues the home economics teacher, "Black Star will be with Tsubaki. Kidd with Patty. Liz with Eruka. Ox and Harvar. Kilik with the Pots. Jackie and Kim. Last we have Soul with Maka."
The class that was a chatter with excitement, stopped like statues. Maka looked up from her note books. Soul didn't skip a beat. With out a breath he asked, "What?! Can't I be with someone else? Like Kidd's group or something?"
Maka raised her hand but before she was called on she began, "Sorry, ma'am but I agree. I can do the project on my own."
"You two are working together, no switching. That is final."
"Why?" says Soul. He looks ill at ease, something that never happens to him.
Mrs. Marie raises an eyebrow, "Because you have the worst grade in the class and Maka has the best. You need this grade to keep from failing the quarter."
Surprised, Ox raises a hand. When Mrs. Marie calls on him, he says, "Maka has the best grade? Are you sure?"
Mrs. Marie checks her notes, then says, "Yes, she got an extra credit point you did not. Any more questions?"
The class was still in shock. The coolest guy in school was paired with the local out cast. All except Ox who was stuck in momentary shock over the news on his grades. Maka had stopped paying attention and had gone back to drawing in her note book.
"All right then. You will be moving seats to be next to your partner for the unit."
There was a low grumble as the students shuffled around and chairs were moved. Soul leaned forward in his chair. Moving his white bangs out of his eyes, he checks out her art work. What he sees is amazing. She's got each of the students in a stylized cartoon, manga. She hasn't started the comic book drawing yet but the beginning of the character sketches were amazing.
"That's crazy good," he said without realizing.
She looked up. Her eyes were suspicious, no trust. Then again, she'd been bullied for most of the past year so it's a normal reaction. When she estimated that it was a complement, she looked back to her work and muttered, "whatever." If you looked her cheeks started to grow as crimson as his eyes.
The classes continued and after first period Maka's torment increased. When Soul and Maka were in class together the students murmured but when she was alone the bullies were ready to play.
After class Soul made his way back into his crowd, while Maka blended into the hallway rush. "What a catch Soul," Black Star begins the torment. "No really, she's a keeper," he says laughing.
"She's sooo annoying," whined Eruka. "Promise you wont spend all your time with her," she pouts.
Soul puts his arm around her lazily. Kidd snorts at her acting, then says, "Don't relax just yet. That Maka chick seems to work pretty hard. She won't let you get away with your usual crap."
"You might actually have to put some effort into a project," Kilik put in.
Sue looks troubled and says, "Maka's not that bad. She's just... she just doesn't know how to fit in very well."
Star laughs at his almost girlfriend, "Sue, you can find the good in everyone."
"Yeah, but you don't need to," says Eruka.
A few paces ahead, blurred by the crowd, Maka walks at the fringe of the hallways. She hears their harmful words, her face blank. She absently thumbs an old scar that moves up from her wrist to her elbow. Black ink moves in and around her scar, making a beautiful design just under the skin.
