A/N Okay, just going to skip ahead to the morning of the ball. And sorry this is kind of short.
IT'S WINTER BREAK! WOOHOO! That means more updates! Oh yea, Happy Hanukah to those who celebrate it! Hope you guys are getting good presents!
-Gabi
Chapter Four
Mornings, Laughter, and Random Gibberish
I stare at the soggy grains intensely and poke at my cereal once more, ignoring the frantic people around me. Blackstar was running around screaming, per usual, with my dad who was running around yelling, also per usual.
I hear footsteps approaching and look up to see Tsubaki, Liz, and Patty walking towards me with sleepy eyes. Tsubaki heads straight to the kitchen to heat water for her tea and the other two slump down in chairs next to me.
"Hey, Maka," Liz says to me, trying to rub the sleep away from her eyes in the process. Patty just sits, lays her head down and falls back to sleep.
"Hey, Liz," I say back. I poke at my cereal once more.
We sit in silence for a few minutes that seem like forever.
"Here Liz," Tsubaki comes in and hands Liz a cup of tea.
"Thanks," she says in turn.
The three of us all stare at each other with these odd looks on our faces and then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha—what is—Hahaha—wrong with—Hahaha—us?" Liz says practically hacking up a lung laughing and choking on her tea.
Tsubaki giggles and sets her cup of tea down.
"I don't—Hahaha—know," Tsubaki says, covering her to muffle some of her laughter.
For some reason the three of us cannot stop laughing. And when one of us tries to stop and put on a straight face, we just crack up even more.
"We—Hahaha—are so—Hahaha—weird!" I sort-of yell.
All throughout our incessant laughter I notice Patty doesn't seem to budge one muscle.
As our laughter finally dies off I sigh and look at Liz.
"Liz tonight is the ball," I say and look at the clock on the wall. 8:45, that means exactly eight hours and fifteen minutes before the ball starts.
"And?"
"Do you think you could help me get ready for it later?" I say looking a little ashamed to admit I needed help once in my life.
"Well that's my job isn't it?" She says, winking at me.
Suddenly Patty jumps from her seat, panting and looking around frantically.
"Where's the troll?"
We all stare wide eyed.
"I know it's here somewhere! The elf Buddy and Mr. Narwhal just told me before they left to find Buddy's dad!" She then runs off screaming gibberish around the rest of the castle.
I close my open mouth.
"That was… interesting."
"Yeah, Patty has odd dreams."
…Later… Approximately an hour before the ball
Soul's POV
"Mom, I said I don't want to wear this suit," I say to my mother while holding the black suit she wants me to wear.
"But it would look so good on you! And you need to look good for all of the young ladies, who knows, your wife could be there!" My mom smiles and has this faraway look as she says this. I just groan.
"Mom, I'm wearing the suit I want to wear," I say handing the one in my hand back to her. "I'm old enough to pick out my own clothes.
She sighs, knowing that when I make up my mind, there's no changing it.
"Fine, just be ready within the quarter of the hour, we need to make sure we get to Lord Death's on time. Unlike last year," She gives me a stern look, blatantly reminding me of last year's incident right before the ball, therefore causing us to be late. Extremely, non-fashionably, late.
A shiver runs down my back as I think about what could happen if I cause my family that embarrassment again.
I sigh like the many times before today and decide to change into my preferred suit.
After putting it on I look in the mirror to see how it looks. The black and gray pinstripes contrast with the blood red shirt and black tie perfectly.
I run my hands through my unruly hair quickly and loosen my tie a little. Then I take one more quick look in the mirror, throw on my shoes and head out my bedroom door and to the carriage.
My thoughts subconsciously drift to the girl in the store.
Maka's POV
I sit in a chair in front of the mirror, watching Liz intently as she is does my hair. Instead of having my normal pig-tails, she is putting my hair up into an elegant bun with a few graceful curls hanging out of it.
I grab at the dark green fabric of my dress, grasping the soft fibers gently, and bite my lip.
I am nervous to say the least.
I mean, the last time I went to a ball was when I was about 10! That's far too long ago to be comfortable going to another one, a very important one at that.
"All done," Liz says.
I look at Liz's masterpiece, lightly tracing one of the ash-blonde curls that frame my face.
"Thank you," I say, smiling. "You did an unbelievable job. I-I can't thank you enough."
"It's no problem. I'd do it anytime," She grins and walks to the door. "See you at the carriage in a bit, okay?"
"Mhm," I nod and she walks off.
I actually look pretty, I think to myself.
I smile a little wider and see my big green eyes light up.
I look pretty for once.
I bite my lip again, knowing if I do it enough times; it will make my lips look like they have more color.
I get up; walk out of my room and almost to the front door, running into Blackstar in the process. A Blackstar who was in… a pink suit.
"Blackstar what in the name of Dead Wizard God are you wearing?"
He just grins his stupid smile he always has plastered to his face.
"It's a suit," he sarcastically. "I'd think you of all people would know what that was. I thought you were smart."
I roll my eyes at his sarcasm.
"Why is it pink? Another tip from your friend, I presume?"
"Yup!" He says and starts to walk off. I grab his arm and pull him back. I need to ask him something.
"Blackstar," I say.
"What?"
"Yesterday, how did you get into my house? The doors were locked and no one was home."
His face abruptly drops and he doesn't look me in the eye. He fidgets a bit, figuring out what he should say in his head. Before actually saying something that he would most likely regret. He then looks me in the eye again, grinning ear to ear, and says;
"You really should lock your windows!" And he takes off running.
I just stand there shocked for a minute and then shake my head thinking;
Only Blackstar would think of that… Only Blackstar.
Taking in one more deep breath, I walk out the door, and into the carriage, finally ready to go.
