Chapter 2

Tapping her fingers on her arms distractedly, Maka Albarn glared in annoyance at her best friend's apartment door. She had called her five, count them, FIVE times, and the girl never answered. More than likely she was sporting a charming hangover from the night before. Honestly, who goes out partying knowing they have classes the next day? Checking her watch once again and when she got no response she began digging through her bag for the spare key. "I can't believe this... Irresponsible…" She was muttering under her breath. The apartment door flew open in the middle of her personal chastising and standing in front of her, flustered and fully dressed, was her best friend. "Tsubaki, what the hell!" The girl smiled apologetically.

"I'm so sorry! I got in really late last night. I must have slept through my alarm." She said shouldering her bag and pulling the door closed. Maka eyed her carefully. She didn't look any different than usual, her long dark hair pulled into a high ponytail and warm smile in place. Even as she adjusted herself, the taller girl seemed distracted. She was probably still a little off from the break up.

"Are you alright?" Tsubaki stopped digging through her bag, looking at her friend in confusion.

"I'm fine, honestly. You want to stop at Starbucks before class?" she asked. Maka hesitated, but gave a short nod and began to lead the way out of their apartment complex. Tsubaki was a strong girl and but she also never liked burdening others with her issues.

"So, did you guys have fun last night?"

"Oh, yeah it was nice… A live band came to play." Tsubaki answered as she continued digging distractedly through her bag. She let out a relieved sigh as she pulled out her cell phone. "It would have been fun if you had come along too, Maka-chan." The sandy haired girl rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Nah, I was trying to prepare for that Advanced Bio class. The professor said he was going to have a guest speaker come in today and he wanted us to have questions ready you know."

"I know," Tsubaki answered with a defeated sigh. "I got some reading done before I went out last night though." Maka glanced at her friend for a moment and smiled a little.

"I'll share some of my questions with you today." She grinned as her long time friend hugged her in appreciation. "But in return you're going with me to the gym next week. I'm thinking about going to this trail martial arts class they're giving."

"Ok!" They talked of more uplifting things the rest of the walk, mostly because Maka wanted to keep her friend's' mind from wandering. When they reached Starbucks, she allowed Tsubaki to go ahead of her while she looked over the menu. "Are you trying something new this time Maka?" Tsubaki asked, sipping her own Iced Mocha Latte.

"Yeah, Jackie told me try something she usually gets." She answered.

"Grande Caramel Macchiato, double espresso shot." called the server.

"That's me." Maka chimed, moving forward, only to be intercepted by another hand. She turned and glared at the equally annoyed male that was reaching for the drink. He was different from anyone she had ever seen. His eyes were crimson and his hair was white. While he narrowed his eyes at her, there was something about the way he held himself that screamed swagger.

"Mind backing off my drink?" he drawled, snapping the girl out of her mild interest. She frowned, not removing her hand.

"I think you mean my drink. I ordered before you." She defended. The guy arched a brow at her.

"No, I believe you were still gawking at the menu when I walked up. I was behind your friend there." Tsubaki stiffened when attention was turned toward her. There was no way she was going to pull herself into this dispute.

"Listen grandpa," The guy's eyes widened at the statement. "This is MY drink, so I highly suggest you let it go and wait for your own order." Maybe that was pushing the wrong button.

"Listen tiny tits, this is MY drink so I suggest you back off. What the hell would a teenager know about macchiato anyway?" Or maybe that was the wrong button.

"WHAT?" she screeched, catching the attention of several patrons. Without much thought, she swung her book filled bag and smacked the guy across the head with it before snatching the drink and glaring down at him. "I'll have you know I'm 21 years old and my breast size should be of no concern to you, you jack ass!" she yelled and stormed towards the door, having several people swiftly move from her path. "Let's go Tsubaki!"

"Um… ok." She heard the girl shout a quick apology before following her out the building. "Maka-chan, did you really have to react in such a way?"

"Did you hear what that guy said to me? What gives him the right? Just because he sports red contacts and old man white hair he thinks he can talk to anyone just any kind of way?" she ranted. She continued to fume the rest of the way to school.

"Tsubaki! Maka!" The calmed at the sight of their two close friends. Kim placed her hands on her hips with a knowing smirk as they approached. "Miss Nakatsukasa, I'm glad to see you're still alive." She teased. Tsubaki blinked in confusion.

"What're you talking about?"

"We're talking about you vanishing last night!" Jackie answered, crossing her arms. "Who was that guy last night? Wasn't he a member of the band?" Tsubaki's face went red and Maka looked between the three in confusion.

"Did something happen last night?" she asked, wondering why nothing would have been mentioned to her at least.

"N-no! Nothing happened. We just shared a few drinks!" Tsubaki defended swiftly, though her red face wasn't saving her.

"And a few dances." Kim sang.

"Did you go home with him?" Jackie interjected.

"Tsubaki?"

"NO!" Everyone fell silent as the girl swallowed and looked away. "We're going to be late for class. Let's go, ok?" she muttered, lowering her head to hide her bright blush. Maka watched her carefully but chose not to speak.

"Morning ladies!" called a cheerfully voice. Waving in their direction was a smiling not so bald young man with strange round classes and a bored young man wearing a visor, his hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. "My beautiful Kim! I've been waiting up all morning for you!" The pink haired girl rolled her eyes.

"And you forced Harvar into doing the same I see." She muttered, causing his shoulders to drop when his friend shrugged his shoulders in a noncommittal manner.

"Let's just get to class. We want to at least beat the guest speaker there." Harvar had informed, leading the way. It was an interesting friendship he and the sulking young man, Ox had, but it worked. Plus he seemed to steer the conversation away from the inevitable- Tsubaki's break up. Seeing as she had finally tamed her blush, it seemed only appropriate to turn the attention to academics as they entered the classroom where their silver haired professor sat in his seat, waiting patiently.

"It's nice to see everyone arrived here on time." He said, balancing a cigarette between his lips. "This speaker is very special. I actually attended medical school with her so whatever she has to tell you should prove very beneficial." He stood up, stretching some. "Take notes and ask questions. I don't ask people to take off from their busy schedules for my own entertainment." He stated. Silence filled the room as he walked to the door and let in the speaker. She didn't appear that old, her neat dreads pulled back into a pony tail while her blue eyes took in each one of the students.

"Good Morning, my name is Mira Nygus, MD." She informed coolly.

O

0

O

Soul 'Eater' Evans was a self proclaimed cool guy. He wouldn't let himself fall into any situation in which he would be looked at as questionable or an undesirable. Some of that might have stemmed from his own upbringing, but that wasn't here not there. He made a point to only associate himself with certain situations and people for several reasons, even if some of his friendships were unintentional. Every one of them had their own beneficial quality, even his most long lasting and reckless one. "Soul-kun!" he scowled when he walked into his apartment and was met with the excited hug of a busty purple haired woman.

"Blair, what the hell? How did you get in?" He snapped, still in a bad mood from being beat with a loaded book bag at Starbucks.

"That would be my fault." Soul looked around her at the dark haired young man sitting on the couch. "We were waiting outside for ten whole minutes." He answered.

"What're you talking about? Black Star should be here!" He snapped, pushing Blair off of him.

"You know he's a heavy sleeper Soul!" called a voice from the kitchen, before a girl with dark blonde hair walked in, holding a bowl of cereal.

"I'll wake him for you!" called another voice. Soul pinched the bridge of her nose as a cheery short haired blonde shot from the kitchen and towards one of the bedroom doors.

"Kid. Liz. Can one of you stop her please?" He muttered.

"Let her be. It's what he gets for leaving us out in the hall. I haven't had to pick a lock in a while Soul, just so you know. It would have been interesting to explain to your landlord." Liz stated pointedly. Kid shrugged a shoulder, showing there was clearly no room for argument.

Kid, Liz, and Liz's hyperactive sister Patty all lived together. In fact, Kid was loaded. How he came across Liz and Patty and took them into his home was beyond Soul. He assumed it was his own way of rebelling, but then again, Kid also had a huge heart. Whatever happened between him and those sisters led to a strangely tight bond. It wasn't long before they became a big part of the picture. A picture that had once been comprised of only him and Black Star. If there was anything all of them shared, it was a troublesome, pained, and reckless background.

"Black Star!" Patty was heard calling. There was a pained groan that followed and excited squeal. Kid glanced in the direction of the room curiously.

"Oh, I guess he didn't bring that girl home from last night after all."

"Shame. I did get a good look at her but she was cute." Liz murmured distractedly. Soul snorted, remembering the general interest his friend had shown towards the girl the night before. He was thick headed and self absorbed, so even hearing him mention something about a girl had left Soul very curious, especially considering the girls Black Star used to associate himself with.

"Oh, Star-kun is back on the market?" Blair cooed, turning her attention towards the young man's room. Soul rolled his eyes and swiftly grabbed hold of her arm, pulling the voluptuous woman towards the couch.

"Don't you have somewhere you need to be?" he asked, earning a fake pout.

"Nya, Soul-kun! You know my work days don't start until the evening." She whined, sinking into the cushions of the furniture with pursed lips and crossed arms. Soul rolled his eyes at her. How a woman could be so sexy yet he didn't want to touch her was beyond him.

"Black Star!" Patty was heard squealing once again before rustling was heard and her loud giggles echoed through the apartment. Soul rolled his eyes, deciding to stop his friend from doing something he'd regret. He had already almost made the mistake of hooking up with the energetic blonde once before. Patty was a sweet girl, but she was also insane, and not the normal insane all females were characterized to be.

"Star get-" He paused when he entered the room, his friend sitting groggily in the middle of his bed, only in his boxers while Patty jumped up and down. The blue haired young man looked at his friend blankly.

"Did I oversleep or something?" he grumbled.

"Kinda. Course I don't know when you came in last night." Soul answered, leaning in the doorway. Black Star scratched his already messy hair and yawned as he glanced around his messy room. Patty dropped down and hugged him around his neck from behind.

"You scored last night didn't you, Black Star?" she teased, causing him to laugh.

"Wouldn't you like to know." He sent her a grin before standing and doing a few stretches. "So we kicked ass at Death Lites last night, don't you think, Soul?" he chimed, somehow fully awake and digging through his mess of clothes for something to wear.

"More or less. I managed to get us another gig there next weekend. Friday we're going somewhere outside the city."

"Kick ass!" Black Star was sniffing at a orange shirt with black print on it before deeming it clean enough to wear and proceeding to search for some pants. "I've gotta meet up with Sid today. He wants me to do a favor so I won't be at practice."

"No problem. I've got a meeting with Wes today about the company." Soul answered. He saw Black Star pause for a minute.

"So meet up with me and Sid later?"

"You got it." Holding the clothes he decided on her the day, Black Star walked up to his friend, both of them bumping their knuckles together.

"To another day, right?"

"You got it."