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Chapter One - The Model and the Photographer
Click. Snap! The camera flashed and saved a picture of the posing model. His name was Soul Eater Evans, known for his cool, apathetic attitude and arrogant personality. Maka didn't know him that well, nor was she interested. Their relationship was just photographer-model; they never talked or made contact with each other. She was more than sure that he didn't even now her name.
"Hey there, Maka-chan~!" Maka glanced around and saw Blair, her former roommate and close friend. "Blair? What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise. "To see you, of course~!" she replied in a casual tone. Maka sighed and dusted her camera. "Just admit it, you're here to see that model I'm working with today. He's over there, but I don't think you'll be allowed to get close to him." She pointed to the direction where Soul was standing, unbuttoning his shirt and picking out a different one. "Oh my god, he's even more hotter than imagined~!" Blair squealed and jumped up in excitement. "Suck it, Blair. I don't think he's interested in girls," Maka warned. "What?!?!"
He turned around in surprise and glared at Blair. Soul wasn't the kind of person who fan girls' presence, especially giddy and provocative ones. He could kick her out at any time with just a snap of his finger. "Jeez, he's a fiery one…" Blair whispered. "I don't think I'll go for him, he's pretty scary. I'll see you at the bar at 9, ok?" "What?" Maka glanced at her in confusion, she was pretty sure that she didn't say anything about meeting up at a bar. "Oh, come on, Maka! You hardly go anymore!" Blair whined childishly. "That's 'cause all you do is hook up with guys there and leave me sitting at a table with a glass of soda!" Maka protested. "But there were guys who wanted to buy you drinks and dance with you!" "Yeah, perverts!"
"I guess I'll see you there, then~!" Blair grinned and began to walk away. As she reached the front door, she decided to make it clear to Maka. "Because if I don't see you.." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bundle of keys. "I don't think you'll be able to get a good night's sleep~!" She then smirked and left the studio.
"What the-?! My apartment keys!! Blair!" Maka ran over to the door, determined to chase after her, but was stopped by the rest of the camera crew. "Maka, the shots aren't finished yet, where do you think you're going?"
She sighed and shook her head. "Damn it, not again…"
Loud, bass music rumbled through the bar, a common place to hook up with people. "Maka-chan~! Over here!" Blair waved her hand and jumped onto a table, although Maka already noticed her in the crowd since she was the only one who was provocatively dressed. She walked over to her and extended her hand. "Blair, my keys, please," she demanded in a serious tone. "Aw, Maka, you're no fun! I'll give them to you once I'm done flirting with the guys here," she purred. Maka rolled her eyes and walked over to the counter. "One glass of coke, please."
She sipped her glass of coke, leaned on her elbow and tried to relax. She was determined to get her keys back as soon as possible and head back home to finish reading her book, but it didn't seem like that was going to happen anytime soon.
"This seat taken?"
Maka turned around to see a tall young guy with striking white hair. He was wearing a pair of shades, even though the bar was already dark inside.
"No, go ahead."
She was sure that he heard his voice somewhere. Then it clicked. He was the model that she'd worked with earlier.
"You're Soul Eater Evans, aren't you?"
He instantly turned around in surprise and backed away. "I, uh.."
"Don't worry, I'm not a crazy fan or anything," she assured him with a slight smile. "I'm your photographer, Maka Albarn, nice to meet you. She extended her hand for him to shake. He sighed in relief and politely shook her hand.
"Whew, for a moment, you had me thinking that you were going to scream and set the girls on me..!" He sounded friendlier than she'd expected, he wasn't at all like the moody, stoic guy he was at the studio. "Oh, I recognize you now," he figured out whilst staring at her. "You were with that annoying girl, weren't you?" "Damn, he's straightforward.." Maka thought with a frown. "Um, yeah, she's my friend. She's over there." She pointed over to Blair, who was pole dancing on stage with a couple of rowdy guys. "She's barely dressed!" Soul exclaimed in surprise and disbelief. "Oh, believe me, that's the most she's worn this entire week!" Maka claimed with a laugh. He laughed and snapped his fingers for the bartender to come over. "One glass of coke with a hint of vodka and…" He glanced at Maka and gestured to her to order. "Oh, no, I'm fine, thanks," she quickly declined.
"C'mon, it's on me," he urged.
"No, seriously, I'm fine," she protested as politely as possible.
He glanced at her almost-empty glass of coke. "And a glass of coke, please." The bartender nodded and walked away to get the drinks.
She glanced at him and observed his actions. He didn't seem arrogant and apathetic at all; he seemed like a normal guy.
"Well, you weren't as I expected.." she mumbled.
"What?" He turned to look at her in surprise.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that was rude," she apologized. She'd accidentally let her mouth slip and was now regretting it. "Damn it.." she thought.
"Don't worry about it, tell me what you meant," he urged. He didn't sound the least irritated or angry, which helped her calm down a little. "Well, your first impression on me at the studio was like, um.. Well, you seemed like a stoic guy and all.." she tried to explain. "Oh…" He paused for a moment and grinned. "Well, that's what my manager wants me to be like. Most people say that I give off the impression of a 'cool guy' so they want me to act like that, but it's just an act." He paused again for a few minutes and continued. "Although I do seem pretty concealed and indifferent at times.." Maka smiled and nodded. It was like she'd met a whole new person, a person who was so interesting that she wanted to get to know him more. "So, what about you?" "Huh?" She frowned in surprise and confusion. "What are you like?" he asked her casually, yet curiously. "Me?" The question was so unexpected that she couldn't come up with anything to say. "Well… I'm just a normal photographer, nothing special. Although, I do enjoy books," she added. "A bookworm, huh?" She instantly glared at him which caused him to jerk in surprise. "And I have a pretty bad temper," she included with a tense, striking stare. Soul cleared his throat nervously and glanced away. "Uh, sorry 'bout that.." he apologized timidly. "Don't mind it, just don't do that again, otherwise I can't assure that you'll be unhurt," she warned with a grin.
Time had passed and people were beginning to leave. Blair had already returned the keys to Maka, but both of them were still staying at the bar. Soul was still there, too. Although it had occurred many times to Maka that she'd wanted to head home as quickly as possible and read her book, she was still staying at the bar, and for an unclear reason that she didn't understand. She found herself having a casual conversation with Soul and realized that she was having a pretty good time. She glanced at her watch and gasped in disbelief. It was already past midnight and she remembered that she had to do an important photo shoot the next day. "I gotta head home, I have a photo shoot tomorrow.." she explained and got up. "Oh hey, I'll give you a ride," he offered and stood up. "Nah, it's ok, I live in an apartment just down the street," she declined. Their manners and words had eased and they were now talking like close friends. "C'mon, I insist. It's really late and dark too, who knows what'll happen," he insisted. "Besides, I'm heading back too, it's boring without someone like you. Don't get me wrong, it's just that you're really fun to talk with and you seem so easygoing, unlike most girls here." She smiled and suddenly felt really relieved and glad to hear that, which confused her. She was sure that she wasn't at all interested in him.
"Um, ok, if you say so."
As they got out of the bar and took a fresh breath of the open air, Soul took off his shades and stretched. "Damn, I hate having to hide myself every time I go out for a drink," he muttered in frustration. "I guess being a model has it's bad points too.." Maka thought to herself as she observed him.
"Cool motorcycle!" Maka curiously observed the vehicle and studied its engine. "Awesome…" she mumbled. Soul laughed and grinned. "I'm glad you like it..! You're the first girl I met who's interested in stuff like this." He took out his keys and turned on the engine. She jerked in surprise as she heard the engine go off and make loud sounds. "Scared?" he asked her teasingly. "Of course not."
"Are we reaching it yet?" "It's just around the corner," Maka pointed out. "Y'know, I didn't think that you'd ride a motorcycle," she implied. He laughed and grinned, showing his bare white teeth. "Well, I enjoy the windy breeze," he explained casually. "Is that it?" She held onto his shoulders and pulled herself up to look at his direction. "Yup, that's my apartment."
He braked abruptly, causing her to jerk forward and land chest-first onto his back. She instantly backed away and blushed. "I-I'm sorry!" she apologized in embarrassment. He turned around to look back at her and grin. "Don't mind it," he assured. "It wasn't a turn-on anyway," he teased jokingly. There was a short pause as Maka didn't reply, causing Soul to feel a bit confused. "Maka…?" "Maka chop!!" She hit him on the head, hard. "Ow!!!" He jerked forward and clutched his head in pain. "That hurt!!" "Of course it did," she plainly said. "Besides, I warned you that if you said anything like that, I couldn't guarantee that you'd be left unhurt." "Ugh.. Yeah, I got it.." He managed to put on a smile as she got off the motorcycle and glanced at him. "So, you heading home or maybe, you'd like to come in..?" she offered. He shook his head and shrugged. "I gotta head back, I have a photo shoot tomorrow," he explained. "Oh, I see.. Anyway, thanks for the ride and the drink! Who knows, we might see each other in the studio again sometime..!" As she headed to the gate and punched in a code, she heard Soul's voice calling her. "Wait! Maka! Can I have your number?" he yelled out. "Huh? Yeah, sure!" She took out her phone, ran over to him, and gave him her phone number. "Ok, I'll give you a ring," he said and dialled her. Her mobile vibrated and she declined the call. "Got your number. I'll see you sometime, maybe at the studio or the bar." She put away her mobile and smiled. "Bye, Soul~! It was nice getting to know you!" She then walked back to the gate and opened it.
"Wait, Maka!" "Hm?" She turned around and looked at Soul, who'd called her. "Who do you have a photo shoot with tomorrow?" he asked her curiously.
"Death the Kid."
