Way up on the fifth floor of a rather odd apartment building, inside the 6th apartment, lived a white haired teen who was normally found lounging around and playing video games. Not today though, he was unfortunately too busy working himself up to even think about getting the high score on Mario Kart. Now this young man's name was none other than Soul Evans, who had his project partner coming over today after school. He was naturally a clean person and he didn't think Maka was one to mention a few bowls in the sink, but still! He just wanted it to look nice for her was all.

Soul wasn't used to having people over, mostly because when he hung out with his friends it's usually at their houses or a park or someplace else. Typically you didn't have to work on school projects at other people's places and he supposed they didn't have to either, but he wanted them to. Soul was too busy tidying to think about just why he didn't mind Maka coming over, instead as his eyes glanced over his posters scattered about the walls he wondered if she liked music. Quickly checking the time, the teen realized he was late and hurried out the door before bursting back into his apartment to get his bag, once more exiting his place.

Luckily he didn't have to walk to school otherwise there would've been no hope of making it even remotely on time. Before this year he hadn't really cared about being to any of his classes on time and had come in with more than a few tardy passes on more than a few occasions. In fact some teachers would be so fed up with his behavior they would send him to the principle, and he would just skip for the rest of the class. School had never been his top priority despite having good grades and he didn't know what changed. Shrugging that thought away, Soul hopped on his bike and rode off to Death Academy. Miraculously there was no traffic for once and as he parked his bike Soul couldn't help but wonder why he was so anxious to get to class on time. He once more ignored the thought as he entered the classroom and took his seat just seconds before the late bell rang.

"Consider yourself lucky Soul," Professor Stein told the teen, "Perhaps it would do you some good to leave earlier next time."

"Yes, sir."

Soul resisted the urge to roll his eyes upon finding out that Stein would be having them dissect another animal for the umpteenth time since the school year began and made a grossed out face to Maka upon discovering the would be getting the pleasure of cutting open a pig. She giggled quietly at him and he felt a smile of his own form on his face in response, hoping he would get the honor of hearing her laugh more often. Suddenly dissecting a pig didn't seem so bad. It was as he was holding the pig for Maka to get a good cut in that he noticed how comfortable she seemed to be around him now, even going so far as to actually reply when Soul talked to her. To be fair it wasn't only him that she was becoming more comfortable around, but he was determined to keep making progress.

The school day passed rather uneventfully after that, Black*Star caused a scene in the cafeteria raging about how he would be the one to get the best grade on his project which caused Maka to speak up unexpectedly and said there was no way that would happen cause her and Soul's project would get the highest grade. Soul chocked on his soda at this and gave her an incredulous look whilst she shrugged in response. Not only did Black*Star not agree with her statement, but neither did Kidd and Patty who rose to the challenge readily.

"You surprised me in the cafeteria today," Soul told her with a hint of amusement in his voice as they walked to his bike, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"When you told B off."

"Well he deserved it, he needs to know there's no way he could get a better grade than me."

"Oh I'm sure he knows now."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" An affronted look was thrown his way and he laughed while putting his hands up in mock defense.

"Nothing."

Suddenly Maka stopped walking and Soul turned his head around to see what the problem was. Upon seeing her surprised look he followed her gaze to his Harley.

"Is that what we're taking to get to your place?" She asked apprehensively, looking it up and down with a nervous look on her face.

"Course," He replied with a smirk on his face, "That is unless you're too chicken."

Her face screwed up with determination, "I am not too chicken."

"It's okay if you are, it'll be our little secret."

She scoffed at the notion, shoved past him as she sat herself on his bike, arms folded, and a scowl ever present on her face. Honestly Soul didn't think that would work but thought it was hilarious that it did as his smirk turned into a smile.

"Well are you coming or not?" She asked him in an annoyed tone.

Shaking his head in amusement and rolling his eyes at her surprisingly childish nature, he placed his helmet on her head before taking a seat in front of her on the bike. As soon as he got situated comfortably in front of her he felt Maka place her hands on his shoulder's lightly.

"You're probably going to have to hold on tighter than that," He chuckled, "And you need to lean into the turns when I do, motorcycles are very balance based."

"Okay."

He felt her grip on his shoulder's become tighter as he started his bike and headed for his apartment. Since Maka was currently using his only helmet, Soul could actually feel the wind flowing through his hair for once and it made him nostalgic. It made him feel free as he sped up and weaved in between traffic, a smile taking over his face. Unfortunately they made it to his building quickly and Soul couldn't tell if his face was red due to the cool air or because Maka had leaned closer into him during the ride.

"So, what'd you think?" He asked upon parking.

"It wasn't that bad," She looked away while handing him back his helmet.

"Not that bad?"

"Yeah..."

"You didn't enjoy yourself even a little bit?" He'd been slowly inching closer to her so as to see her face since she kept it turned away from him.

"...Perhaps."

"Hmm, I'll take 'perhaps' over 'not bad'."

Finally she looked him in the eye as she shot him an incredulous look, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

With a knowing smile, Soul turned away from her and started walking into his building, not bothering to wait for her to catch up. He knew she would so he didn't feel that bad about it, he was more happy that she seemed to enjoy the ride. Though he didn't dwell on the possibility of why it would make him happy, he simply settled for the fact that it did as they waited for the elevator together.

"You know taking the stairs would be faster and better for you." Maka told him.

"Hah, thanks but no thanks. 'M not walking up five flights of stairs anytime soon when we already have to walk up so many just to get into out school building."

"Fair enough."

Despite the silence during the wait for the elevator, riding the elevator, and walking to his place it wasn't awkward. It was actually really nice and it wasn't often he enjoyed just being in someone else's presence without feeling the need to fill the silence. Despite the odd thoughts running in his head he manages to unlock his door and steps aside to let her enter first. He closes it behind them and waits nervously for her verdict as she sizes up the place. Not wanting to stand awkwardly by the door the whole time, he takes a seat on the couch and sets his stuff down on the table, the Pangolin books from yesterday already out on the table.

"Your place is very nice," She tells him as she sits down on the couch next to him and pulling out her notes and various books.

He feels a swell of pride bloom in his chest and sits up a bit straighter. "Thanks."

"Sure thing, now let's get started on our project, I've written down a few things already."

"A few things? Maka, your notebook is almost full and we still have all of these books to go through."

"Yes a few things, which is why we should go over our collective notes so as to decide what will be going in the presentation and what will be going in the essay." An annoyed glare was thrown at him and he decided to back off.

"Alright, but I don't think my notes are gonna be as detailed as yours."

"It's okay, there's bound to be some overlap and the only one who's notes are as... inclusive as mine would probably be Ox Ford's."

"Oh so you're admitting you go overboard with your notes?"

"There's no harm in going overboard!"

"Course not." He chuckled at her and she huffed as her cheeks lit up in embarrassment.

Maka quickly made sure to change the subject back over to what they were supposed to be doing before Soul distracted her, and they made quick work of separating facts. A lot of the more comprehensive stuff would be going into the essay whilst the easy to keep up with and more 'interesting' facts would go into the slide. Somehow they actually managed to get a lot done despite Soul constantly getting off track and changing subjects, and they decided to start working on the power point before they actually noticed how dark it was.

"How'd it get so late so quick?" Soul asked incredulously as he was looking out the window. When Maka didn't reply he looked back over to her to see her looking at her phone, worrying her lip with her teeth, a movement Soul found hard to pull his attention from.

"Huh? What was that?" She said once she finally looked back up at him, her anxiety showing in her eyes.

"I was just saying that it got late pretty quick."

"Yeah, my dad messaged me and says I need to go home."

"Do you need a lift?"

"No, no, it's okay." She denied quickly whilst packing up her stuff.

"It's really no problem, besides it's way too dark and late for you to be walking home by yourself."

"Well..." She seemed at war with herself as she put a pause on gathering up her books.

"Really, I insist, no biggie."

"...Alright, here let me give you some gas money."

"No need, besides that's what friends do for each other, right?"

"Right."

She seemed stuck in a trance for a second as she just looked at him with an unreadable expression and Soul wondered if he said something weird. Maka quickly got over it though and was soon done placing her things back in her book bag. Distressed energy practically radiated off the blond girl in waves that Soul decided they should take the stairs instead of waiting forever for the elevator. They made it down to his bike rather quickly and he once more handed the girl his helmet and reminded her to lean when he did. He input her address into his GPS and they were off.

As they got closer to Maka's house, Soul couldn't help but notice the run down neighborhood she lived in. He soon found his head filled with thoughts about what her home life was like, though you couldn't judge a book by it's cover. Some of the nicest people were poor and the most awful people were those with money. In fact more often than not the worse people are the ones who are rich and Soul had to repress a cringe at the memory of his own parents.

Soon enough they were at Maka's place and the white haired teen took into account the dried up lawn, boarded up windows, beer bottles scattered about the lawn, and cigarette butts everywhere. Suddenly Soul found himself taking back the not judging a book by its cover, but had to stop as he reminded himself that this was where Maka lived, and that she was pretty chill. Though she practically leapt off his bike as soon as he stopped it and threw his helmet to him.

"Thanks for the ride!" She called back at him and waving, "See you tomorrow at school!"

He waved back in response and as he was putting on his helmet he suddenly felt a murderous vibe and quickly turned around to look for the source, but couldn't see anyone. Shrugging it off as paranoia, Soul buckles his helmet on and takes off back towards his building, all the while wondering about how good Maka's home life actually was. She did flinch a lot after all, though he shouldn't read too much into it lest he be way off. Oh god he would feel so bad for jumping to conclusions without a basis just like that. Unbeknownst to Soul was just how close he really was to finding out the truth.