I wrote this piece back in early 2017, I hope it's still good!


Causing a Circus at the Shop

Her foot taped to the bass of the dubstep blasting in her ears. The shopping basket slightly swinging by her side as she read the various movie titles resting on the shelf. Pacific Rim was an excellent movie with excellent effects and acting, but she already owned the movie and it was one of her favourites. Titanic, also one of her favourites.

She bit her lower lip as she stepped closed and picked up a random movie. She flipped the movie and read the summary. She didn't want to pick a movie that was too good. A handful of exams were in need of correction and she didn't want to be disturbed too much. It was Saturday and she could use some sort of relaxation. Even though she couldn't enjoy it fully, it was better than nothing.

A tap on her shoulder and she spun around. A large grin of sharp teeth and red eyes met her. Her mouth fell wide open and she ripped her headphones off her head. "Hi."

She never expected she would see Soul ever again after they buried the hatch. She certainly enjoyed watching the show, but she doubted she would make time to visit the circus again.

"I said you must've some poor music taste."

Her eyes narrowed into slits. "I do not!" she hissed. "You can't even know that."

"Your horribly irregular tapping says it all."

"It doesn't!"

"Oh yes it does. And so does that horrible nails on blackboard sound you're listening to."

She pouted and her grip on her basket tightened. "It's called dubstep!" A stranger hushed loudly in her direction. She rolled her eyes. Geez. It wasn't like they were in a library. She spun on her feet and placed the movie back on the shelf.

"So… movie night?" Soul spoke as he stood beside her.

She sighed and grabbed a new movie. "Something along those lines." Her gut told her if he knew, it would be another subject on his list he could make fun off.

"'Something along those lines' eh? What does that even mean?"

"It means what it means."

"But it doesn't mean anything."

"Yes it does," Maka sneered.

"No it doesn't," he grinned.

"Yes it does!"

"No it doesn't."

"You just love to piss me off." Her balls tightened even more. Urgh! He crawled under her skin and made her blood boil. If she knew he would be such a nuisance she would've never apologized. He was easier to deal with when he was ignoring her than he was making fun of her.

He chuckled heartily as his grin only widened. "I'm not doing anything. You've got to calm your tiny tits."

Her mouth fell wide open and she whirled toward him. "You listen, you punk―" the train of insults came to a shrieking halt. He was just trying to get a reaction out of her. He wanted to see her vision go red and start a fight right there in the movie section.

She wouldn't let him win.

She inhaled deeply and walked away. To her dismay, the heavy footsteps of his combat boots banged for every step. She twisted and turned in the aisles in a poor attempt at losing him but he breathed at her neck. Quickly she grabbed her favourite brand of chocolate chip ice cream and threw it down her basket.

"And you're a fatty too," he sung lowly.

Breathe Maka. Breathe. Don't let him get under your skin. "It's late. Don't you've someone waiting for you?"

"You remember Liz, right?"

She remembered. A very kind woman with a big heart. But she was also a tough and strong woman she didn't want to mess with. "Yes."

"She's my roommate."

"I see. So she isn't your girlfriend?" She asked. Slowly retreating back to the movie aisle to pick out a movie fast and get the hell away from him.

"No. Just a friend." She could feel the smugness growing from him. "Why? You interested?"

She snorted. "As if. I don't go for assholes."

"Lucky you. I don't go for nerdy girls."

She rolled her eyes to the back of her head as she once again came to a stop in front of the movie shelf. She snatched a random movie and threw it in her basket.

"Wow!" Soul grabbed her wrist and stopped her in her tracks. "That's a horrible movie."

"Great! The shittier the better." She ripped her hand from his grip.

"You'll throw away all your money." He took the movie from her basket and placed it back on the shelf.

"Hey!" she hissed.

"This one's better." He grabbed one from the shelf and slapped it in her hand.

"The untouchables?" She read the title out loud.

He smirked wide. "It's a good one. It's gotten plenty awards." He tapped the cover of the DVD where all the awards were listed. "It really touches your heart."

"Look." She placed the DVD back on the shelf. "Thanks for the recommendation, but I don't want a good movie."

He cocked his eyebrow questioningly.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's just meant for background noise. I've to correct essays."

"That's sad. On a Saturday, really? Aren't you supposed to be with your boyfriend or go out with your friends?"

"I don't have time for those things." She grabbed a different movie and threw it in her basket. "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to head home."

"Hold on." He held her wrist once again. He picked the movie back from the shelf. "If I buy this for you, you'll have to promise me you'll watch it." She opened her mouth. "And no working while you watch it." She closed her mouth and pouted.

"I can buy it myself, you know."

"But then you spoil the fun by working while watching it." His deep red eyes were suddenly soft and the smirk was gone, leaving behind a smile playing on his lips. She never thought she would see such an expression on his face. It was… nice.

"Fine!" She snatched the movie from his hand and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll watch it!" He cocked his eyebrow. She rolled her eyes with annoyance. "Without doing anything work related."

He grinned wide. "Cool."

She handed the movie over to him and she headed over to the register. She paid for her things and waited for Soul. The movie and a bag of chips. They both exited the supermarket together.

"I hope you're a woman who keeps her promises."

The lights on her car flashed as she pressed the button on her car keys. "Of course I do!"

He fished up his phone from his pocket and held it out toward her. "Mind giving me your number?"

She cocked her eyebrow suspiciously. "This isn't one of your tricks so you can harass me on daily basis?"

He snorted. "As if. Just want to make sure you keep your word."

It couldn't do any harm by giving him her number. He seemed to have a… a softer side? A gentler side? He didn't seem to be all that bad. And if he proved to be a nuisance, she could always block his number. She didn't even have to contact him if she wanted to! He would probably forget.

"Okay." She added her phone number in his contacts. His thumb swiped across his screen and a moment later her phone started ringing. Before she'd time to pick up, the ringing stopped.

"Now you've my number."

She saved his number, she tried to cover her smile, under the nickname Asshole.

"The circus starts another tour tomorrow." He flashed his sharp teeth. "I'll be waiting for your call." He turned on his heels and coolly waved from over his shoulder.

She rolled her eyes at the bastard and slid inside of her car. Man. She hoped she hadn't done a huge mistake by exchanging contact information. There were always opportunities to leave. She could simply let the movie rest on her shelf along with the rest of her movies. Her gaze moved down to the movie resting on the passenger's seat.

But he'd bought the movie for her. There was no harm in giving it a go. Right?