A new story that will hopefully get me back in the groove! I was watching the episode of SE where Crona runs away and Maka goes after him, and it made me kinda mad. Maka drops everything for Crona. So I wanted to write a story about it. I hope you like it!

The jazz music played softly through the apartment. The lights were off and the curtains were drawn. A lone figure was spread out on the couch, arms behind his head and eyes closed.

Soul had been sitting in this position for a while, waiting on Maka to get home. She said she was going to go shopping with Crona after school. It was almost nine.

Maka had been spending a lot of time with Crona lately. It wasn't that he never saw her; they went to school and trained together still, and she was always at home at night and in the mornings. But Soul missed her being around in the down time. If they didn't have anything to do they would watch TV together or Maka would force him to play a board game if nothing good was on. He had fending for himself for dinner the last week or so.

He opened his eyes when he heard the door open.

"Hey Soul, I'm home!" the cheery voice of his meister was heard along with the ruffling of bags.

He got up to help her and was very surprised to see the amount of bags she had. Maka didn't like to shop that much.

"Hehe, most of this is Crona's, until they let him have bigger closet space I'll keep his stuff here." She explained seeing the look on his face.

"Oh, cool." He started to pick up some of the bags and carry them.. well..

"Where you keepin' at?"

"My room, of course."

Soul watched as she walked to room with a uncomfortable feeling. Why was he feeling this way about Crona? Maka was trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible around them all so he could have more freedom in the academy.

So why was he jealous? And what exactly of?

He brought the bags into her room when she asked, "Lord Death and Sid agreed with me that Crona needs to get out more, would it be OK if he stayed here for a few days?"

"This is a two bedroom place, Maka. Where's he gonna sleep? Probably be better if he went to Kid's."

"We can bring in another bed it's no big deal. Or even sleep in your bed and you take the couch. But personally I'd rather him be in the same room as me so he's more at ease, so either an extra bed in here or he can sleep with me." Soul's eyes bugged out.

"Sleep.. Sleep with you?"

"Yeah, what? It'd be the same if Liz, Patty, or Tsubaki stayed over." Maka just didn't get it.

"Yeah.. but he's a dude.. It'd be like you sharing a bed with Black-Star." Maka tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

"I've slept in the same bed as Black-Star when we were kids, whats the difference?" she started to put her clothes in the closet, thus ending the conversation. She and Soul had talked many times about how close she is to Crona, he was her friend, "And besides, its the same as if I slept with you in your bed."

Soul put his head down, staring at his sock clad feet. Of course that's what she'd say. He's known how she has felt all along, he just didn't understand why it hurt so much.

"Yeah, well whatever, he can stay for a few days." Maka turned to him with a big smile on her face, "Thanks, Soul!"

"Yeah, no prob." His famous bored expression had returned to his face, "I made stew for dinner if you want some. "

"Oh, that's OK. Me and Crona ate out at that new Italian place." Soul couldn't help the twinge of disappointment he felt. Maka always loved his stew, he made it so maybe they could have a decent conversation when she got home.

"Oh, OK. It'll be in the fridge if you want any."

"OK!" When Soul reached her doorway he turned to look at her. She was humming to herself and looking around her room. Thinking of what to do when Crona was there.

Coming from a family that treated you like you were never going to be anything but second best, Maka was everything he was looking for. She treated him like he was special. He wasn't jealous of how she was treating Crona. The kid deserved it after all he had been through. But he couldn't help but feel left out. He knew he had nothing to fear about Maka wanting another partner. But.. as her best friend.. he didn't know for sure.

"Well this is it!" Maka opened the door to the apartment as she led Crona in. She stayed up almost all night getting it ready.

"Oh.. wow.. this is.. nice.. Maka.." Crona smiled a little as he looked around.

"Well it's not the Gallows or anything. But it's home." Maka stood in the living room smiling at Crona.

"So.. um.. am I sleeping.. on the.. couch..?" Crona put his bag near the door so he could close.

"No silly! We decided that you could sleep with me in my room. I have a queen sized mattress, kinda like a sleep over! Or we could get the extra bed from Kid. It's up to you!" Crona perked up a bit at that.

"I've never had a.. sleep over before.."

"Then it's settled then!" Maka took both of his bags and walked to her room, "That room is the bathroom and over there is Soul's room."

"Where is Soul..?"

"Hm? Probably in his room reading a magazine or something and not studying like I told him too." Maka led Crona to the kitchen, "So what would you like to eat? I'll make anything you want."

"Oh.. I don't mind.. whatever you want.."

"Oh forget about him!" Ragnarok has made his appearance, "What about me? I'm here too ya know!"

"How could I forget, what would you like?" Maka had to fight her hardest to remain civil.

"How about some yummy fish! That idiot Black-Star is always talking about it!"

"Oh, i really don't like fish, but if that's what you want then that's fine!"

"Oh.. don't bother yourself.. if you don't like it.. you don't have to make it.." Crona was trying to be the good person Marie was always telling him he was.

"It's no trouble, Soul likes fish too. I'll make me a grilled cheese!"

"Thanks pigtails!" Maka was glad she was washing her hands or else Ragnarok would get his first Maka-Chop.

Unbeknownst to Maka, Soul was not home. Black-Star had drug him and Kid out to go buy shoes for Tsubaki. Apparently something happened to hers and he has to replace them. He won't say why. So Soul and Kid are sitting at the cafe across the street waiting on Black-Star to pick out ladies shoes.

"You seem a bit down lately, is something troubling you?" Soul glanced up from his coffee to look at Kid.

"Nah, everything's cool." He gave Kid his lopsided smile in hopes of avoiding the confrontation.

"You can't lie to me, Soul. For a while now you've been sullen. Both Liz and Tsubaki have noticed as well."

Soul didn't want to admit what was bothering him, but his friends just had to be good at observation.

"Is it about Crona?"

Soul jerked up at that, no one knew anything except that Maka was spending more time with him.

"No, what's up with Crona?"

"I'm Lord Death's son, Soul. I know he is staying with you and Maka for a few days. And that Maka has been spending more and more time with him outside the academy." Liz had cornered him into asking, but Kid was quite curious himself.

"Oh. It's nothing. Really. Just stupid stuff."

"If you need anything, please let me know." Kid knew from experience that Soul would talk when ready, he couldn't be forced.

"YYAAHHHHOOOOOOO! The great Black-Star is finished shopping! I never want to look at girls' shoes again," Black-Star put his purchase down and layed his head down on the table.

"Then don't go into Liz's closet. That's all you'll find."

"What did you do, Star?" Soul leaned forward onto the table and was desperately hoping to get a good laugh out of this, he needed it. Black-Star jumped up and put his hands on his hips.

"I was showing Tsubaki my awesome pancake flipping skills! The batter was so amazed at my skills it couldn't even wait to leave to pan, so it spilled all over the house! AHAHAH!"

"What a gentleman.."

"Geez, Star. No wonder she's mad at you.."

Soul walked into his apartment a half hour later to the smell of fish. Which was odd since Maka hates fish. Maybe Blair was home.

"I'm home, Maka."

"Great! Dinner's almost ready!"

"Hi Soul.."

"What's up sharp tooth!"

"Crona. Ragnarok.. You cooking fish, Maka?" He walked past them to the chef wearing the pink apron with a giraffe Patty had gotten for her.

"Yep! Ragnarok asked for it so I'm making it. And It's the kind you like so we'll have plenty! Go wash up!" Maka never turned around to look at him.

"OK.." Soul made a beeline for his room. Once the door was shut and locked he threw himself on the bed.

"I don't think Maka has ever made fish for me just because I asked.. she hates the smell. Normally she makes it as an apology or somethin'.."

'She's my partner, my meister, my best friend.. She's helped me with the scars that my family left.. more than she'll ever know.. But why all of a sudden do I feel like i'm losing her? Just because of Crona? It can't be.."

Soul didn't want to admit, even to himself. He wasn't jealous over Maka's friendship with Crona or even how much time she was spending with him.

He was jealous because he fell in love with his meister, and he can't do a thing about it.

So what do you think? Should I continue? Review and let me know!