Soul's POV

I awoke to Maka kissing me. We've been dating for seven months, and she's been waking me up this way for a while. I knew she would eventually fall for me. Who wouldn't? I'm the coolest guy any girl could wish for, even flat-chested Maka. I did wonder if we worked together sometimes, though. Some days it was as if we could read each other's thoughts, but others it was like she didn't care enough to ask my opinion on things.

"Get up, Soul! I don't want to be late." Oh yeah. Today was Patty's birthday, and she wanted to go to the zoo with Tsubaki, Liz, and Maka. I was supposed to drop off Maka at Kid's mansion. I was just going to hang out with Kid at the Manor. Thinking of it made me a bit anxious, though I don't know why.

With a sigh, I took a shower and got dressed. It was only 6:30. How was she going to be late? The zoo opened at 9:00. Sometimes Maka didn't make any sense at all.

Maka saw my irritated glance towards the clock. "Liz wanted to take Pattie to a café or something so they wouldn't get hungry at the zoo."

I tried not to seem annoyed. It was Patty's birthday, and I didn't want to ruin it with my grumpy mood. Uncool.

We held hands as we walked down the street to Kid's mansion where Liz and Patty were waiting outside. Maka ran to them to hug Pattie and wish her a happy birthday. Before I could get a chance to do the same, Maka kissed me goodbye and they ran off to Black*Star and Tsubaki's house.

I yawned. What I wouldn't give for a nap right now. I started walking back home when I heard a voice behind me. "Hey, Soul." It was Kid. He's been my best friend for as long as I could remember, and in my sleepy state I forgot he even lived here, otherwise I would've walked up to the door and moved his welcome mat a few inches to the left or something.

"Hey," I replied.

"With Liz and Pattie gone, I'll have nothing to do today. Would you like to come over and do.. something?" A light pink hue covered his cheeks, and at first I was confused. He can't get sunburn can he? Is he getting heat stroke? Wait.. Is he.. Blushing?

I felt an unfamiliar warmth spread across my own face. Was I blushing too? Uncool. Cool guys don't blush. And what was I blushing about? I've hung out with Kid plenty of times. So why did I feel nervous butterflies in my stomach?

"Sure," I said, trying to stay cool. We went inside, and I laid on his bed, almost falling asleep I was still so tired. He was next to me, staring at the symmetrical ceiling. I was sleeping, still tired from waking up so early. He was tense, his body stiff. It had been a couple weeks since I'd seen Kid.. Did something.. Change?

"Soul?" He whispered.

"Hmm?" I was half asleep, desperately trying to wake up fully so I could listen to what Kid was going to say.

I heard him shifting on the bed, and his hand brushed mine, spreading warmth through my upper arm. I tried to ignore the pleasant feeling. "I've missed you.. Ever since you and Maka started dating, you've been distant.. I've had a lot of time to think, and.. Soul.." Where was he going with this? Where did I want him to go with this?

Kid sat up, face in his hands. He looked extremely nervous and uncomfortable. I sat up too, moving to comfort him, but he inched away.

"Kid? What's wrong?" I said in a low tone.

"Soul, I..." He started. He folded his arms over his stomach, as if he was sick. Looking closer, he did seem kind of pale. "I love you." He mumbled.

For a moment I just sat there, stunned. Was he joking? No, he looked nervous. Kid never looks nervous, unless he can't remember if he folded down the toilet paper. Had I even heard him right, or did I just hear what I wanted to? He did mumble. Wait, I wanted him to say it? My brain was a mess of doubts and confusion.

"Kid... Did you just say you loved me?

Kid's face went even redder. "Y-Yes?" It came out like a question.

"For how long?"

Kid looked confused, but obediently answered the question. "I knew for sure when you started dating Maka, but probably longer."

"Seven Months?! So that's why you've been avoiding me."

Kid nodded, and the room became awkwardly silent again.

"Listen, Kid, I can't say your feelings aren't shared, but I'm with Maka now. It would be totally uncool for us to do anything while I'm still with her."

Kid lifted his head, startled. "You share my feelings?"

"Yes, but nothing can happen. Not yet, anyway." I looked at a wall on the far side of the room.

Kid nodded sadly. "I understand."

I stood, feeling guilty for just leaving it at that. I didn't want go, really, but I was afraid of what would happened if I stayed. "I should go." I looked at Kid, but he wouldn't meet my eyes.

Kid didn't say anything, and I left.

Maka's POV

Standing outside Kid's door, I clenched my fists. Liz had had to chase after Pattie at the zoo, and said I should probably go, because it would take a few hours to catch her. I had gone looking for Soul, to tell him we could head home, and he could go back to bed. But as I walked up to the door, I heard low voices, as if they were talking about something bad. Worried that one of them was in some kind of trouble, I pressed my ear to the door. Their voices were muffled, but I could clearly make out something Soul said.

"Kid... Did you just say you loved me?"

"Y-Yes."

How dare he? Soul was mine. Not Kid's.

"Listen, Kid, I can't say your feelings aren't shared..." This was all I heard of what Soul said next, before my eyes widened and I stumbled back from the door. I tripped down the hallway, and leaned against a wall, processing what I'd just heard.

Eyes watering, I ran back to the apartment, and collapsed on my bed, sobbing.

Once my tears had dried, I began to think clearly. More clearly than I ever had before. It was so simple. The only way Soul would ever be mine was if Kid was no longer part of the picture.

Oh yes.A smile worthy of Medusa spread across my face, and I jumped off the bed and left the apartment.

Soul would be mine, and Kid would pay.