Chapter 3

She stared into her reflection as she wrapped a piece of hair around her iron. It was finally the night of the dance. Kid had been slightly confused when they went over the details for the dance, but he'd agreed on the time when he would pick her up and matching their outfits like most people do. The confusion had been gone as soon as everything was planned and set for the dance.

She released the hair strand and it bounced delightfully. She repeated the process with a new hair strand. But she couldn't help getting Soul out of her mind. He was attending the dance with someone. She bet it had to be one of the girls she saw glaring at them by the parking lot. They were the ones glaring at her because she arrived with Soul on his bike, but it was she who should be jealous because one of them was going to go to the dance with him. Had he made plans with his girl what they were going to wear? Would he dance with her and perhaps, plant a kiss on her lips at the end of the night?

She shook her head madly, shaking off the hurt that could break out later that night. If she came face-to-face with Soul kissing another girl, she knew her heart would break. She didn't own him. He was his own person and they weren't an item. He could be with whoever he wanted. But… why couldn't he chose her.

A fake smile spread on her face as she placed the curler on her desk, pulling out the plug. Green orbs perfectly framed with long black lashes and golden eyeshadow. Lips flushed a cute bubble gum pink. She tugged a curl behind her ear, the long sleeves of her red dress caressed her wrists. She might've been biased when she discovered the red dress in the store when Kid and her and come to agree on black and white attires, but the voice of Soul had whispered into her ear. Besides, she did look good in the dress.

The doorbell rung throughout her apartment. She stood up and strolled over toward the front door. Her hand grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. The door swung open and on the other side stood Kid in a fine suit.

"Look at you." She stepped aside as he entered her apartment. "You're looking beautiful." He leaned closer to her, eyes narrowed as critically checked out her face. A smile blossomed. "And perfectly symmetrical."

"Thank you." She entwined her hands in front of her. "You don't look bad yourself." Fine black and white suit. Not a wrinkle at the wrong place or a spot of dirt. Perfectly symmetrical to his liking. It was just what she expected from him.

"I see you couldn't find a black and white dress."

"Oh! Yeah. Sorry. I thought red would look good on me."

Kid chuckled heartily. "Let me guess, the dress called for you in the shopping window?"

She nodded.

"Figured so. Liz has a tendency to fall in love with every piece of clothing in the shopping window."

Oh yeah. She always seemed to wear something new, and being good friends with the headmaster's son whom was more than happy to spend his money on his friends' happiness was definitely a perk she seemed to enjoy using. One late night study session for an upcoming test, he'd brought sweets and drinks for everybody, and it wasn't just any sweets. Expensive handmade chocolates from Belgium. Half the time he looks absolutely neutral, but he was a good guy. He cared about his friends.

"You know, I didn't expect you to ask me out to the dance."

She snapped out of her thoughts and stared at Kid. "Huh? Why?"

"We're not that close friends and you're not crushing on me."

He was right. They weren't that close, but she was happy he didn't get the wrong idea by the whole ask thing and the heart on her letter. She still had no clue what she was thinking when she drew that heart on the letter.

"It's true."

"Let's have fun this night." He pulled up a box from his pocket and opened it, revealing cheap paper hearts the class council had made to sell at a cheap price everybody could afford. And bring in some extra cash for the dance. "It's time for you to wear your heart on your sleeves, right?"

A smile blossomed on her lips as she held out her a―

The bell rung.

Her eyebrow cocked as she stared at the front door. She wasn't expecting anybody. Her father was most likely at the bar enjoying female company. Who could it be?

"You can take a seat. I'll make this quick." He nodded understandingly and she strolled over to the front door. Her hands grasped the doorknob and twisted it. The door shrieked loudly as it swung open.

Mouth hit the ground. Eyes widened. Muscles stiffened. On the other side of the door stood the one she really wanted to attend the dance with. Hair combed and styled completely unlike him. Dressed in a fine suit with fancy wrinkles on the right places. He looked more like Wes than himself. Realization hit her like a bolt. Wes was behind his handsome looks.

Her heart hammered roughly in her chest, threatening to break through her ribcage. He was here. He stood right in front of her. What she's spent time fantasying over had come true.

Sort of.

Red appeared in her eyes and automatically she moved the object aside. She was faced with a giant bouquet of blood red roses. Roses that reminded her far too much about his intriguing eyes. "H-happy Valentine's D-Day."

Her gaze snapped to his face and red was dusted on his cheeks as his eyes avoided her. Her palms turned sweaty as she stared at him. "A-are these for m-me?"

"Who else would they be for?" He snapped as his shoulders pulled up to his ears nervously.

Her eyes fluttered as she tilted her head toward the side. They were for her? Wouldn't he give them to the girl who went to the dance with? Did he go all this way to give her a pity bouquet thinking she was lying about having a date? Her fists tightened at the thought. Did he really think she was all talk? She could talk the talk and she could walk the walk and she was damned going to walk with her head held high beside Kid.

She grabbed the flowers and his eyes finally met hers. His head tilted questioningly as she glared at him. "Why are you here?" She spat as if she was a viper.

It was his turn to cock his eyebrow at her. "You're joking with me?"

"I'm joking?" Her grip on the bouquet tightened. "Oh, yeah, let's make fun of the underdeveloped girl on Valentine's Day. Let's make a fool out of her. Why don't you try to be more original and throw punch at me!"

"What― no, you've got it all wrong." His hand dived into his pocket and retrieved a black box. He flicked the lid open and revealed two deep crimson hearts staring at her.

Her mouth hung wide open. The jewellery created a giant question mark in her mind. He was taking this joke further than she'd imagined. How much money had he even spent on the piece of jewellery? The rubies certainly didn't look like they were made of plastic.

She bewilderedly opened and closed her mouth like a fish gasping for water. "Soul… W―"

"Is everything okay?"

She whipped around and saw Kid right behind her. Soul choked on his saliva and stared with wide eyes at them both. The colour from his face drained. He was completely transfixed as if he'd turned to stone at the view of her date. Eyes wide and for some reason, she found hurt in his eyes.

Her heart wrenched in her chest because she could understand that hurt, but not why he was hurting so.

"Soul…?" Cautiously she stepped toward him, reaching out for him as if he would run away. "Are you okay…?"

Slowly his eyes locked with hers, before he broke out laughing. "You fell for it!" Laughter drier than an overbaked loaf of bread, he stiffly slapped his knee. "It was all a joke. I can't believe you fell for it!"

She cocked her eyebrow as he slowly backed away from her. "Soul―"

"Just wait till Black*Star hears about this!" He bolted away from her apartment.

"Soul!" She called his name. "Wait!" She quickly followed him down the hallway. She cursed herself for choosing high heels. His feet rapidly hit the steps as he descended the staircase. "Soul!" She bit her lower lip as she reached the ground floor, crashing through the door only to catch Soul closing the door to a luxurious black limo. She ran toward it to the sound of the wheels shrieking loudly and the limo drove away from her.

…

The upbeat music blasted in the decorated gym where paper lamps of every shade of red hung from the ceiling and red velvet hugged the walls. Hems of dresses various lengths caressed ankles and thighs as they jumped to the beat the DJ produced. Students lounged around by their table with red cups in their hands, laughing with their friends or playing drinking games. Loud hollers from the table near hers erupted and a guy took up one of the cups formed into a triangle and stated to devour the containment. Liquid that she could only guess wasn't punch.

Everybody seemed to have the time of their lives wearing their hearts on their sleeves, but Maka couldn't find it in her to enjoy the party. She searched for her friend. From the dancefloor to the table with punch and snacks, even in the corner where people made out (which to her relief) she didn't find him.

He'd mysteriously disappeared.

The image of him standing outside her door, flowers in hand and deep pools of red softly looking into her eyes. A smile played on his lips that made her feel utterly special. Special as if she was the one who―

"Do you want to dance?" Kid snapped her out from the vivid image that took place merely three hours ago.

She looked at her date from across the table. "Huh?"

"I know you're worried about him, but there's no use sitting around and waiting." He stood up from his chair and smiles kindly toward her. A smile so inviting and friendly. So like Kid.

"Why not." He offered her his hand and she grabbed it, his much larger and bonier. His was quite cold compared to Soul's. Kid's fingers were skinny while Soul's soft and strong from his piano playing. The few moments she'd touched his hand was far better than holding Kid's. Soul's always reminded her of… safety. Home and warm blankets and cuddly movie nights on the couch.

Kid led her to the dancefloor and respectfully placed his free hand on the middle of her back. Her hand rested on his shoulder as he started to guide her in a slow dance to the racing beat of the pop music. His eyes sought for hers but all she did was scanning the crowd. Her breath hitched when white appeared in the corner of the eyes. She snapped her head and her heart sunk in her chest. The bright light from the moving spotlights in the ceiling hit a guy's unruly hair.

It wasn't Soul. Damn it. She shouldn't be on her toes like this. If he was supposed to arrive, wouldn't he already be here? But… what if he and his date decided to bail on the dance and― and stay at home? Her heart twisted with hurt and she snapped her eyes to her heels. As much as she didn't want that to be a reality, it could be. He just went to her apartment to prank her and give his date the flowers and jewellery to seduce her into b―

"You know," Kid started, grabbing her attention, "I was surprised when you asked me to be your date for the dance." She fluttered her eyes with confusion. "I saw you hanging around Soul quite often. I was sure you two were dating."

"D-dating?!"

He nodded. "Yeah. You two always look at each other and you're always in each other's private spheres. You two look so in love with each other. So it surprised me when you went up to me and asked me to the dance."

Were they really? Were they really that close to each other? She knew she could wear her heart on her sleeves and lovingly touch his arm or flutter her eyes like some girl getting dust in her eyes. But had he… had he really seen it from Soul too? Oh how she would want that to be true.

"You really thought so?" The tiny bird named Hope seated on its stick deep within her stretched out its wings and took off. Hope grew and so did the smile on her face.

"Definitely."

If Kid's hunch was correct… she needed to confront this. She needed to talk to him about the prank. Now when she thought about it… the prank seemed so much not like him and Black*Star. Black*Star hadn't been hiding around the corner to jump forward and laugh at her. After the pranks they always liked to rejoice in her shame and laugh at her, but he'd hightailed away from there quicker than lightning.

Something wasn't right…

"Do you think you can drive me home?"

A smile spread on his face and their dance ceased to exist. "I'll grab my jacket and then we leave."

…

He wouldn't leave her mind. The stunt he'd pulled was imprinted on her mind twenty-four seven. Soul didn't show up at the dance. He didn't pick her up for their study session. She texted and called him but he wouldn't answer. The weekend came to an end and he didn't arrive at school. When the biology test came, he didn't attend. She tried to contact Black*Star and see if he knew if Soul was okay, but he'd also disappeared. It was like the two had dropped from the face of the earth.

She couldn't help but feel like he was avoiding her.

She was sure as hell going to confront him because the silence was driving her crazy. The night nibbled at the back of her mind telling her it was something more than just a joke.

"Maka?"

She spun on her feet faster than lightning and saw the familiar face of Wes Evan. "Wes! I was just on my way to your place."

"I can see that considering you're standing in our driveway."

Her eyes fluttered and her cheeks flared up when she realized she was standing in their driveway while Wes had just exited his home. She should've simply gone up to the door instead of contemplating her words. But what would she say when she came face to face with Soul?

"Um, well…" she fiddled with her hands nervously. "Soul hasn't been showing up at school and―" her words died when Wes blatantly ignored her, fishing up a piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolded it and monotony started to read what stood on it. "Soul has unfortunately come down with a serious stomach poisoning. He's really tired and don't wish to have any visitors over. Make it sound convincing so Maka won't catch onto the story. She's smart so memorize it― ops, I think I wasn't supposed to read that part."

She cocked her eyebrow and tilted her head to the side, completely puzzled. So he'd made up a story to avoid him? Her stomach twisted as if a knife had been stabbed and turned in her gut. It hurt a lot more than she'd thought it would. This was the confirmation she'd sought. He was avoiding her!

"Wes, I don't want to be rude or disrespect the bond between you and Soul, but I need to see him."

He crinkled the note into a ball and shoved it down in his pocket. "I knew you would say so." He opened the front door and retrieved a grey suitcase before he locked the front door. His keys rattled and the suitcase's wheels creaked as he headed toward her. "I'll give you a ride back home."

"Huh? But I have to see him!" She exclaimed and balled her hands. "I can't leave now. He hasn't been answering any of my calls."

"He's not here. I'll explain everything on our way there."

"Oh." The silver car on the driveway beeped loudly and the lights flashed. Wes politely opened the passenger door for her to slide in and shut it after her. The interior smelled fresh and new leather. The leather seat was smooth against her exposed legs and fingertips. Wes placed the suitcase in the backseat before he got in the driver's seat. The engine rumbled alive and he backed out of the driveway.

"So… mind telling me what happened the night of the dance?"

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't really have a clue what happened. Kid arrived and we were going to go to the dance and Soul arrived with flowers and he insulted me and whipped out expensive jewellery before he said it was all a joke and he hightailed away from there." Her eyes fluttered closed as she rested her head against the glass window. It was such a messy night and she hadn't any clue of what went through Soul's mind. She couldn't even start comprehend why he'd showed up before the dance at her doorstep simply to run away. He'd been complicated before to read, but now, he was blank pages she couldn't even start analysing.

"I see… and I assume this Kid man was your date?"

"Yeah." Her eyes fluttered open just in time to witness realization hit him hard.

"Now I finally understand…"

"Understand what?"

Wes shifted gear and he made a turn. "When he returned home, he locked himself inside of his room, refusing to talk to me. The next thing I know, Black*Star picks him up the next day and he leaves with a large suitcase."

"What?!" Her mouth opened and closed rapidly. "He left?!"

He nodded. "Exactly. He's hiding in Bora Bora."

"Bora Bora?"

"Yes. He's bad when it comes to deleting his history. He's got really bad taste in porn."

Her mouth stiffened and she squeezed her eyes shut. "I did not need to know that." Or maybe she did. What was he into?

"He's always a habit of running away when he's dealt with situations he can't deal with so I'm not surprised. His plane tickets back to Death City are scheduled next Sunday but with weekend coming up…" a smile grew on Wes's face as he pulled up in front of Maka's apartment complex. "I thought I would travel over there and try to untangle this mess."

"You are?" She clashed her hands together and leaned closer to him. "Can you please bring a letter with you and give it to him? I really do need to talk to him."

A smile grew on his face as he killed the engine. "How about I bring something better than a letter?"

She cocked her eyebrow.

"How about I pay for you plane ticket― Shhh! don't worry about it. My family got more money than they need. I would be very happy to open my wallet for a plane ticket for you. I'm very sure Soul would be very happy to see you."

"But―"

"You're an honour student and I think you deserve a break. Taking three days off school to hang out with your friends in Bora Bora will do you good."

She bit her lower lip. Wes was far too kind and far too generous. She should've seen this coming. "Wes. It's far too much. I can't accept."

"Yes you can. It would make my brother happy to see you."

He'd avoided her for days. He didn't answer her calls or texts and he was completely beyond her reach. Wes was offering her a solution to her problem. He was wealthy and she was sure one extra ticket and a hotel room would do nothing to reduce the thickness of his wallet. With his help, she could come face-to-face with Soul and untangle this whole mess.

She sighed with defeat. "Okay. Fine. So when will we leave?"

A smirk grew on his face. "As soon as you're finished packing." He gestured toward the backseat where his suitcase rested on the seat. His hand dived inside of his coat and pulled out a piece of paper. Plane tickets. "I'm already prepared."

…

His sunglasses rested comfortably against the bridge of his nose, arms crossed behind his head. Children ran round on the beach playing tag or splashing water on each other in the sea. A female jogger in short shorts jogged along the waterline. The sky blue sea shone as if it was liquid mirrors floating around on the surface.

"Bruh!" Sand was kicked high when Black*Star landed on the sand beside his sunbed. "They're selling water guns by the light house. We should have an epic water fight. It will be like David and the Goliath!"

Soul snorted and pushed his sunglasses up to massage the bridge of his nose. "You don't even know what the story David and the Goliath is about."

"Yes I do! A god knows everything! I'm just as strong and big as Goliath!"

"Dude, David beat Goliath with a stone and a sling."

"No way! You're lying!"

He sighed and shook his head, letting his sunglasses ride back down on the bridge of his nose. He knew more about David and Goliath than he was interested in knowing. With Maka being addicted to books she whipped out way too many nerdy facts about nerdy stuff.

His eyes squeezed shut as pain blossomed in his chest and spread throughout his body. Maka. As much as he wanted to forget about the night and how he'd utterly humiliated himself, he simply couldn't forget her. Her amazing green eyes. Her red dress. Her face radiant like the sun. A view he thought he would never experience because he'd balls the size of almonds. The view he'd dreamed of since he started falling for her came crashing down when Kid appeared behind her.

His jaw tightened and he wanted to slap himself silly because how the fuck hadn't he seen it coming?! His sticker was on KID'S locker, not his. She never wanted to go with him to the dance. It was Kid all along she wanted to go with. The one person that fit her dorky nerdy smarty personality was Kid; the headmaster's son with a brain and stupid eloquent speeches and utterly stupidly how perfect he fit Maka. He couldn't compete with him. He was an asshole with an attitude problem. He got himself in trouble and found himself in detention every other week. He barely passed his exams. He couldn't live up to his parents' expectations and he certainly didn't deserve the name of Evans.

He was a good for nothing loser who didn't deserve t―

"Is this sunbed taken?"

He stiffened.

No way.

This couldn't be.

He dared to crack his eye open and through the dark shades of his sunglasses, stood Maka. In her cute pink chequered bikini top and matching skirt. Arm propped confidently on her hip with a beach bag in her other. Toned abs at display and legs that could go on for miles―

Oh fuck.

He spluttered as he quickly scrambled up, sitting on the edge with his arms awkwardly crossed. "M-Maka?!"

"Surprise!" She practically outshined the sun with her smile.

His cheeks heated at her cute giggling. "H-How did you find me?! W-Why the fuck are you here?!" He immediately squeezed his eyes shut and suppressed the urge to slap his forehead. "N-not that I'm not glad to see you."

Her nose wrinkles so cutely like every time he teased her. She leaned forward and her eyes gazed critically at him. "Really? Then how come you haven't been answering any of my messages?"

Shit.

"Um… You know… Ehhh…" His throat ran dry as he tried to come up with a lie that was believable and that wouldn't hurt her feelings. "Didn't want to rack up a large phone bill…?"

"You're such a liar!"

"U-uh?"

"You've been avoiding me like I'm the plague!"

Her face neared his as her eyebrows narrowed and created the adorable wrinkle between them. He repelled away from her face and supported himself on his elbows, choking on his own spit. "I-I haven't…?"

"When you read my messages, you might want to make the messages unread."

Shit. He knew he'd forgotten something!

"… I'm sorry."

She sighed heavily and her beach bag heavily hit the sand, creating a sand cloud around it. Books. She had to have brought a wide diversity of books in her beach bag to be that heavy. So like her.

"Why?" Her voice was low and full of wonder. If he hadn't known her for years he would've missed the hurt in her voice. She plopped down on his sunbed beside him. "What have I done so wrong you felt compelled to hide away in Bora Bora from me?"

He closed his eyes at her sad tune she sang. As much as he'd denied she would question his absence and miss him, he knew deep down she would wonder where he'd suddenly run off to. Especially how they last saw each other. His runaway attempt had failed. He was forced to deal with this mess now.

No more lies. Even if it meant his heart would break.

"It's stupid." He took off his sunglasses and threw them on her beach bag, not caring if they broke. Nervously he ran his hand through his hair. "I was stupid for not understanding the situation." Her head ripped away from her feet and her powerful emerald eyes locked with his. His throat ran dry as he felt himself shrink under her gaze. "I'd put my sticker on Kid's locker so I wouldn't return to a locker full with love letters. I should've known you'd put your letter in the wrong locker."

"Oh…" Her face dawned with realization. She must've been analysing the whole even too just like he had. She placed her hand beside him on the sunbed, but made sure not to touch him. "So, you did think the invitation was meant for you?"

His jaw tightened and stiffly he nodded at her. "I did."

"I see…" To his baffle, a smile grew on her lips. "So… you did want to go to the dance with me?"

His cheeks heated up and his heart tumbled in his chest just like when he willingly threw himself of the cliff of love and accepted his fate. He was whipped and he would forever crawl after her like some lost puppy. He gulped before he nodded. "I did."

Her smile grew and she exposed her magnificently perfectly white teeth. "Even though I am a nerd, you still wanted to go with me?"

He rolled his eyes and he knew she enjoyed toying with him. "Yes."

"You prepared a limo for us to arrive in?"

He massaged the back of his neck. "Yes." He forced the word out of his mouth.

"You wanted to dance with me?"

"Yes."

"You wanted to kiss me?"

"Yes― WAIT! HOLD ON!" He threw his hands up as she broke out laughing. His face turned a perfect red which rivalled the sun. "Um! How did you even get here?!"

"Look at your clumsy attempt at changing the subject." She playfully poked his nose. Was she moving closer to him? "Look behind you."

He threw a glance behind him. In a couple of sunbed away laid his brother sprawled out with a wide grin on his face and a camera directed toward them! "That son of a b―" He cut himself off when a small warm palm cupped his cheek, steering him away from his brother and back to connect with Maka's green eyes. Her thumb caressed his cheekbone and he was sure her face was closer than before.

"If I knew you wanted to be my date, I would've asked you and not Kid." His jaw fell right open. "I thought if I asked you, you would make fun of me and humiliate me with Black*Star."

His stomach twisted with disgust and he felt utterly sick to the core. "Why would I? That would be uncool on so many levels."

"I don't know! I just felt that way. I was scared."

His eyes fluttered closed and he leaned into her palm. They were both scared of being rejected. Frightened to open up their hearts only to be hurt in the end. Slowly his eyes opened to a sweet smile playing on her lips and emerald eyes sparkling.

"I guess we both were dumb and scared." He whispered.

Her eyes sparkled with joy she barely could contain. "Both?"

He placed his hand above hers and beamed at her. "I was going to ask you to the dance, but I was scared shitless and when I found your note in my locker, I didn't think clearly and I was relieved you had gotten before me."

She let out a soft laughter. "Maybe the letter was always meant to end up in your locker."

"I like to believe it."

They shared a fulfilling silence as they basked in the comfort of their bared hearts and mutual feelings. His thumb caressed the back of her hand, running over her strong knuckles and small fingers. She took the initiative and closed her eyes, leaning toward him. He met her flushed pink lips and he was sure he was in heaven. A heaven that entirely consisted of Maka's laughter, smile and lips.

"YOU NASTY FUCKER!"

His eyes snapped open to see blue approaching. Maka's nails dug into his cheek and encouraged his lips to stay on hers. Her free hand planted right in Black*Star's forehead as their mouths moved against each other's, his a little bit stiffer at Black*Star's vows to kill him for breaking the bro code being screamed out loud.

"Relax." Soul recognized the voice as his brother's. "It's only kissing."

Maka broke the kiss and rolled her eyes at her childhood friend as he swung his arms around, growling loudly as his eyes threw daggers at him. "Black*Star, you gave us your blessing to date, remember?" Maka grinned wide toward him.

"It was a joke!" Black*Star bared his teeth threateningly at Soul "I'll fuck you up! No one screws with Maka's future and gets away with it."

Wes stepped in front of Soul with his arms crossed, still camcorder in his hand. "I would rather not lose my brother, thank you very much. besides―" a huge grin spread on his face "― I've just ordered SoMa shirts for us all!"

"Soma…? That sounds like some kind of soap." Black*Star stated.

"SoMa. Soul and Maka. SoMa's their shipname. They be waiting for us as soon as we get back home." Soul's eyebrow twitched and he massaged the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Only his brother would spend his precious time and creativity on doing something like that.

"You created a ship for them?!" Black*Star burst out and stomped his foot on the sand. "No one will stray my sister from her studies and this ship will have to die!"

"Geez," Maka entwined her fingers with his free hand. "Let's get away from here before they notice we're gone."

Even though Soul knew he would get his ass handed to him the moment Maka and Wes weren't around, he had no regrets. He smirked wide toward her and nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Thank you everybody who read this to the end! I'd no plans for these updates to be so far apart, but you know how school can get in your way. I hope you enjoyed this little story about the trainwreck a miscommunication can create.