Chapter Two

I shuddered, gripping on tightly to the straps of my backpack. Forcefully digging my nails into the fabric as I walked up the steps towards the DWMA. Wanting to curl into a ball and experience the stabbing pain of death as the tall building came into view.

Two weeks since he died. Soul - my best friend - died.

My ipod sat restlessly in my hoody pocket. Bumping around with each of my hesitant steps, like it too wanted to hide away from everyone and everything. But unlike myself - it could.

My earphones drowned out every existing sound around me. The only thing I were able to hear being the amazing sound of Vic Fuentes' voice, and the reckless thoughts inside my mind.

One day Maka. Get through one day. Tell dad how much you hated it. And you'll never have to come back again.

And just as I thought I safely made it to the top of the steps, the blue haired boy who I so badly despised barged past me, causing me to drop the collection of books that were softly resting within my arms.

"Whoops!" He exclaimed turning round to flash me that smirk of his. "Didn't see ya there... outcast."

I breathed deeply, crouching down to the scattered books in front of me, watching as every student walked past, not bothering to offer the slightest bit of help.

All, except one.

A figure crouched down beside me, pushing my books together in a pile to pick them back up again.

I turned my head to face them. Astonished as to why someone would be helping me, no one ever helped me. No one ever felt the need to help someone like me.

The golden eyed boy smiled cheerfully at me. "Morning!"

His smile caused my heart to flutter. And it scared me. I hadn't felt anything like that since - Soul died.

I snatched my books away from him. Hurrying to place my bag straps higher on my shoulders and dart off through the big double doors before me, not daring to stare back at where or how I left him.

~o~0~o~

I placed both my feet up on the toilet seat and wrapped my arms round my shins. Burying my face in my knees as I listened to my music, wishing that break would be over soon.

My break was how it used to be before I met Soul. Hiding myself away in the girls toilets until the bell went, the only place I could really be alone - in a cubical.

But yet again, I had my music to keep me company. I had my music to express my emotions through my silence. I had my music to tell I wasn't alone.

The bathroom door was pushed open. I locked the cubical.

"You've seen the new boy right?" It was Liz's voice. "One word, H.O.T!"

Patty laughed. "And that creepy girls' back too."

Liz sounded curious. "Who? Maka?"

"Yeah."

"She was off for two weeks right?" The sound of her make up bag popping open. "Because her friend died or something?"

Best friend. He was my best and only - friend.

Patty's popped open too. "Yeah, Soul Evans?"

"Oh!" Liz exclaimed stepping to face her sister. "That other creepy kid!"

He wasn't creepy.

"I wonder how he died?" Patty turned on the taps.

Liz did the same. "Well, they say everything happens for a reason. It was obviously karma."

"WHAT!"

My feet slammed themselves against the cubical door, the echo of the slam shaking the entire row of cubicles one after the other by far giving away my presence to those bitches.

"You're wrong!" I couldn't help but scream. "If karma existed then why the hell is he dead and not you two!"

~o~0~o~

My hands were shaking. They were bleeding and shaking. I held them both by my sides, placing my palms strongly against my thighs to prevent them from shaking uncontrollably.

My cheeks were bruised and my lower lip was split, pain being the only thing that existed to me in that moment. It controlled over every inch of my body.

I could still feel the wire of my earphones being wrapped tightly around my throat. The suffocating feeling of not being able to grasp my breath as both the twins stared down on me with their hateful eyes and evil smirks.

I'm leaving. I'm leaving and I'm never coming back.

Without hesitating, I opened the door to outside the building feeling the strong wind bite at my cheeks as I walked towards the top of the stairs.

My legs felt heavy with every step I took down the staircase, I wanted to feel my body crumble to the ground and dissolve beneath the suffocating sky.

I could feel my eyes dwelling up with tears as every inch of my body pulsated with pain. I felt as if I were to stop walking I would tumble to the bottom of the stairs - and remain motionless forever.

The doors slammed open from behind me.

Go away. Don't touch me. Leave me be.

Footsteps sounded as if they were working their way after me. Following along behind to the top of the stairs where I had only been seconds before.

So I sped up my pace, trying to place my weakened feet carefully on each step in front of me.

"Where are you going?"

My hand was grabbed, and tears dripped down my cheeks.

"Don't touch me!"

I pulled my hand away from them with so much force that I could feel myself misplace my footing on the steps, and then feel the rush of the wind brush against my back as I fell from the stairs.

They grabbed me once more. "Maka!"

Their golden eyes met mine, and their strong arms held me for the third time since I had first met them.

"Kid...?" I used his strength to pull myself back up on the steps.

"Where are you going?" He stepped back from me.

I placed my bag higher on my shoulders. "I'm going home."

He began to follow me as I worked my way back down the stairs. "What, why?"

"Because I hate this place!" My nails subconsciously dug themselves into my bag straps. "I hate everyone in it!"

And as I turned to face him, the confusion across his face vanished and was replaced by an expression that screamed out to me more than shock.

I coldly stepped towards him. "Yeah. Look at my face."

His golden eyes saddened greatly as he watched my tears lace themselves in and out of every wound that were purposely placed upon my cheeks.

"Look at what the monsters in that school, did to my fucking face!"

He just continued to stare. Stare at every bloody cut that were bound against my skin. Stare at every kick, punch and slap that had stained itself against me.

"This is yours."

He reached his hand out towards me, a neatly folded leaflet resting between his thumb and his index finger. All sharp pointed corners of the paper seeming to be facing directly at my weakened presence.

"You dropped it this morning." He pressed it closer to me. "...Here."

Slowly I took it. Unfolding it carefully in my hands as the elegant picture of a dancer came into view. A woman performing - without a doubt - the most beautiful pirouette I had ever seen in my life.

The words at the bottom of the leaflet read: Ballet try-outs. 5th September only.

And I could feel every butterfly that had once been covered in dust burst to life within my stomach. But it was just for a second, because once again - my body felt tired.

"So you like ballet?" He tried to meet his eyes with mine.

I gritted my teeth and crumbled the paper within my hand. "No."

And I threw it back at where I had left him standing.

~o~0~o~

The walk home was long and painful. I could hardly feel my legs as I dragged them along behind me. The sound of my shoes scraping against the concrete piercing at my ears.

Cars were racing past beside me, seeming to grow closer with every second that escaped itself from my moment.

My house remained standing on the other side of the road. Side by side with Soul's. The same two houses that I had spent the whole of my childhood inside. And now every single one of my memories felt as if they were on the verge of extinction.

I remained motionless, staring up at the big tall house before me on the other side of the road. The house that held years worth of memories, tears and laughter. Every emotion now packed up in boxes and moved as far away from me as possible.

It pulled me closer. Uncontrollably dragging me closer to the house as if Soul were inside, waiting for me to find him sobbing in his room.

My hand clutched itself around the key inside my pocket. The sharp edges of the metal scratching at my palm, wanting to shed my blood all over its silver.

I stepped forward. Stepping out into the deserted road. Walking carefully like the ground could shatter beneath my feet.

With every time I gripped on tighter to the key, I took another step closer towards the house I so badly longed to be inside of. I wanted to sit there - in Soul's room, while gripping onto every memory we ever shared.

I took another step forward, hesitating while I realised he no longer lived there. While I realised everything that was once inside that room, no longer existed - as well as him.

Screeching tyres pierced my eardrums.

The car was two feet away from me - but I couldn't care.

I'm coming Soul.

And they screeched once more.

The car door slammed and feet pattered against the floor. "Are you okay?"

My eyes were open, but I couldn't see anything.

"Did I hit you?" A little old lady stood in front of me, trying to grasp my gaze.

But my eyes were blurred and my throat was locked. So all I couldn't do was try to catch my breath, and stand there motionless.

But as the suffocating seconds went past, my legs gave in - and I had fallen to the floor in tears.

So close.