You step Forward I step Back- Meeting
Recap on the last chapter of You step forward I step back!
Maka finally built up the courage to talk to Soul over the phone after a long
nerve wrecking conversation, they made plans to meet up which surprised Maka a bit. She didn't expect to
meet him so soon.
It was icy cold outside, that time of the year already? Maka thought watching the snow flakes flicker from above and land softy on the ground. Even though it wasn't snowing yesterday did it have to snow today out of all days? When she thinks about it a little more...could it be a sign? That's funny how could something like snow be a sign?
It's not like she's crazy or anything like that because that was the way she thought before, when her mother died. It was snowing and ever since that day she would think that its her mother trying to send her a message of some sort. Almost like she was trying to tell her something. A gust of wind blew causing Maka to nuzzle farther into her sweater.
Looking up into the bright white sky she smiled brightly, before taking her leave towards the bookstore on seventh avenue. She could of left much earlier, but Liz thought she had to look the part before she could meet up with Soul. She was wearing a peach colored dress that looked absolutely astonishing it was very ruffly on the bottom. Having a beautiful pattern of red of butterflies all over it.
However since it was really cold outside she wore a nice heavy weighted jacket over it. A cute skinny strapped belt wrapped around her waist, along with her warm flower patterned scarf that was tightly wrapped around her neck. A small vibration was sent through her right pocket making her stop in her place while she checked her phone.
A small sigh slipped from her lips making her breath visible to the cold winter air. What could Liz possibly want right now? She didn't even leave ten minutes ago. She thought to herself as she decided to walk and talk at the same time.
"MAKA!" Her voice boomed through the phone causing Maka's ear to shake.
"Yes...Liz is there something wrong?" She sighed.
"No, nothing's wrong I was just wondering if you got there alright? It's major bear outside." She told her.
"I know Liz, and no I didn't get there yet but I will be there in a little." She sighed.
"Great. Good luck and call me if anything happens." She said.
"Right." With that she hung up her cell.
She didn't understand what got Liz so worried about her. Soul sounded like a very nice man over the phone, not only that he was not rude to her at all when they talked. Maka can remember very well how every other phone call went when she talked to her previous instructors. They were rude, very unkind to her nasty and mean.
Some would even go beyond that and just come out and say the most meanest things without even thinking first.'Why did you even bother calling if you don't even have so much as just a little of dance experience?' The voice of one of her previous instructors echoed in her head. A rush of wind again caused her to sink farther into her scarf as she made her was across the street, hands in her pockets considering they were just as frozen as herself.
The bookstore was now in sight and she could feel the butterflies forming in her belly. It was worst than yesterday's and she wasn't going to deny that she wasn't nervous to meet him, because she was very much nervous. She only hoped that she looked presentable for him, its not like she should worry at all thought Liz practically dressed her herself.
A nerve hitting Maka, she checked her watch and it read exactly seven. She wasn't late and she sure wasn't that earlier. She was right on time and she found no sight of him yet. She knew what he looked like from all of the pictures she seen in the newspaper so it shouldn't be hard to find him. The guy was considered a world famous pianist player.
"You must be looking for me...Maka right?" She stood paralyzed in her place and red rushed up her cheeks immediately. She wanted to turn around, but for some reason her legs were stopping her from doing just that. What was she so scared of? It's not like he was hear to insult her right? He wanted to help her. Courage building up rather quickly she slowly nodded her head and turned around to meet his face.
Once she managed to turn all the way around her face went brighter than before, she only hoped that he didn't notice it. She was staring right at him and for some reason she felt that she couldn't really turn away if she wanted to because of his eyes. His red glowing eyes, his pure white snowy hair and his smile. She could see it wasn't much of a smile, maybe more of a smirk but it didn't really matter much to her. It was nice.
"Sorry..." She mumbled under her breath finding the strength to look away from him. A faint chuckled was heard from him and Maka couldn't help to lift her head back up and raise a brow. She didn't get what was so funny."What are you apologizing for? You didn't even do anything wrong." He laughed placing a hand on her head, causing her cheeks to turn red again.
"I know...its just that...well..." She was having trouble finding the words to speak with him with, for some reason it was harder to talk to him that she thought it would be. He lifted his hand off of her head and shoving it into his pocket giving her yet another one of his smirks."If you don't mind, why don't we go inside? I think this place has a cafe in it." She suggested pointing towards the bookstore behind him. Maka followed his finger and looked at the store a moment nodding her head.
Following his lead they both entered the bookstore and out of the cold weather. Soul looked around for any empty tables, successfully finding an empty two people table he motioned Maka to follow him. They sat down and got situated, Maka took this as the perfect time to take off her coat and stuff while Soul glanced over the menu a bit.
Soul glanced up only to find her removing her winter clothing and showed off what he guessed was a dress."Nice dress, but I wouldn't really say its fit for the weather outside." He smirked, turning his attention back towards the menu. Maka nodded her head, and grabbed a menu as well and started searching for a hot drink to ease her coldness."Thanks." She said to him, he only nodded his head in response. She had to say he was a lot nice than she thought he would of been. She can only show a sign of relief.
A man with a white button down shirt and a vest on came over towards them. A very happy look on his face as he approached the two with a notepad and a pen in both hands."Hello and what can I do for the lovely couple this fine evening?" Soul and Maka both looked at each other for a moment before turning back towards the waiter with surprised expressions."You got it all wrong sir, were just friends that's all..." Maka spoke up looking at Soul making sure it was alright that she called him her friend. He gave her a smirk and she took that as a sign of approval.
"Anyways, can I have one small black coffee?" Soul questioned looking down at the menu. The waiter nodded his head, before turning towards Maka waiting for her to order."I would like some green tea please?" Another nod from the waiter and he was off, but before he made it back to the kitchen her turned back towards Maka and Soul. They noticed he was looking at them and couldn't help to look at him in a funny way. He soon walked back over, but this time his eyes were on Soul.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Soul asked a little weird about the way this guy was looking at him. He didn't response he only looked over Soul and would occasionally look at Maka. She was just as confused as Soul was right now."Your Soul Evans, the famous pianist am I right?" He whispered to Soul. Maka was a little shocked, she knew Soul was famous and all, but she didn't understand why he was just noticing that now. Soul nodded his head before whispering back."Listen buddy, I don't really want a crowd today. I'm a bit busy." He said gesturing right to Maka.
"I understand. I'll make sure that you get your drinks right away, and don't worry about anything Mr. Evans free of charge." He smiled making his way into the back room."What was that all about?" Maka suddenly asked, she didn't want to sound like she was really nosy or anything like that, but she had to admit she was very curious."I wouldn't worry about it, it happens every once in a while. They just help me hide from fan girls and stupid stuff like that." He shrugged glancing over the menu for no reason.
"So...about you lessons. We can start by verifying that weekdays work for you correct?" He asked her, Maka glanced up to find he wasn't looking at the menu anymore all eyes were now on her."Yes...Monday through Friday works, although you don't have to see me everyday. I'm sure you have other clients you have to work for."She said in a shy way. There goes the butterflies again, and now her cheeks were getting red. Soul nodded his head, he started to lean back into his chair a bit keeping his gaze on her."You right about that, how about Monday's and Wednesday's work for you?" He questioned her.
"Yes that sounds alright." She nodded her head, just in time for her drink to be placed right in front of her. She began taking the ingredients necessary for her tea, while Soul drank his bitter black coffee. She didn't see why he would drink coffee when it had no sugar in it at all."Next thing is the things your going to need. You want dancing clothes...and you have to bring your own water." He explained to her."That's all?" She said a little shocked that was all she had to bring, because if that was the case it was really small list.
"That's all, its just dancing Maka." He smirked. Carefully sipping a bit if her tea she nodded her head in agreement. Silence filled the room for a minute she was starting to feel why they were meeting up. It seemed that he didn't really have much to say to her at all. Fiddling with the side of her cup she cleared her throat."Is that all I need to know..are we...uh...good to go?" She questioned a little embarrassed.
"Where not finished yet. Tell me..." He said locking his gaze with a very pink Maka."I want to learn about who I'm working with so this would be the perfect time to get to know each other right?" He offered. Maka was silent for a few seconds, it would make since to know about each other then it would make it easier right?"I supposed your right about that." She agreed.
"Perfect so for starters what is the reason you want to learn to dance?" He asked her out of curiously. A small sigh slipped from her mouth, if they were going to do this she mind as well tell him everything.
Kidd sat comfortably in his very symmetrical chair while Patty rested on the floor next to the him. Meanwhile Liz was still pacing back in forth. Kidd has always known how much Liz cared for Maka's well-being, but this would be the first time he's seen her this nervous. She was probably thinking about how the meeting was going with Maka and Soul.
Kidd only watched in silence as she continued to pace, biting her nails and making squeaks every once in a while. he didn't know what he should say to her not knowing if he was to say the wrong thing it could set her over the edge. She finally came to a stop landing her sight right on Kidd who didn't say a word. She let out a small huff, holding her head of the headache that was forming.
"Kidd, what am I doing, I know I shouldn't worry...but I'm worried!" She screamed making Patty stir a little. Kidd looked at Patty to make sure she stayed asleep, considering him and her had a fight about giraffes being symmetrical or not and he had to say she could put up a good fight. In other words he needed her to stay asleep hopefully for the rest of the night."Liz calm down your over thinking this whole situation. You know Maka just as well of any of us here, she is a strong girl and I'm sure she can handle this." He assured her. Liz gave Kidd a skeptical look, but eventually nodded her head in agreement.
He was totally right she was over thinking it way to much. Maka was old enough to take care of problems like this herself and she didn't need any one to help her. Liz just can't help to think that isn't true at all though, she can't help to think that Maka will always need someone there for her no matter what the situation is and the thing is, Liz wants to be that one. But, she will soon have to learn that she won't be able to help her forever.
"Your right Kidd, but I just can't bring myself to believe that." She sighed at how stubborn she was getting about the whole thing. He only smiled. He knew there was nothing he was going to say, was going to change the way Liz felt about anything so he only nodded his head softly, picking up the newspaper that lied beside him and started to read.
Liz soon joined him and sat on the couch that was next to his chair and turned on the television, she had to get this whole thing out of her mind or else it was going to drive more crazy then what she already was. The best thing would be is to wait until the meeting is over and then talk to Maka and ask her how everything went, maybe that would ease her stress about it a bit.
"I see...so the reason you want to learn to dance is for your mother's sake?" Her received a small nod from Maka. Sometimes he would hear sad stories like this come from any girl that he meets, but he couldn't help to feel sucked in to this story. He had a hard time analyzing whether she was like the other girls he's met and that she is lying.
The only thing that had really convinced him so far that she was not lying was the water works. She was still streaming tears, and Soul could see she must of been holding them back the whole time they have been talking about her mother's recent passing. It stayed quit for about five minutes so far and the time now ready ten on the dot.
They have been talking for a good four hours straight, he can't help to be a bit surprised at this. This would be the first time he's ever hung out with a client this long. He knows he has other priorities to get back to, but he couldn't just leave her here to cry her full eyes out. Soul let out a small sigh, stealing a napkin from a table behind him, considering there was none on their table. He handed it out for her to take.
Maka looked up watery red eyes, she smiled at him and quickly wiped her tears away. Taking the napkin away from Soul she muttered a low 'thanks'. He nodded his head, taking out money to pay the guy and stood up from his seat. Maka only gave him a questioning look as she wiped away the remaining tears."Thank you for accepting me..." She trailed.
"Don't worry about it, and I'm sorry for bringing up a such a depressing subject." He apologized, after all it was his fault he was the one that asked her why she wanted to learn to dance in the first place. Searching inside his pocket Soul brought out a little card and grabbing a pen from the receipt he had to received from the waiter and scribbled something in the back of it. He handed it to Maka. She looked up at him blankly.
"Turn it over." He ordered. She did as she was told and it read his number on the back."Thanks." She said shoving the card into her coat pocket."Call me sometime and we can arrange a time for Monday. I would like to chat more, but I have other things to do." He waved as he made his way towards the front door. She nodded her head once more watching him walk away and leave right out the front door. Soon following his lead Maka got up from her seat and put her coat on as well. He wasn't the only one that had places to be.
The only thing she could think about at the moment was her mother and how happy she was that he had accepted her. She was going to start dancing Monday and finally fulfill her promise to her mother, saying goodbye to the one who waited on her she made her way towards the front door, and outside where it was now snowing.
"Every time I tell the story of your death...the weather gets like this." She smiled to herself and made her way towards Liz and Kidd's house. She knew that Liz was waiting to hear everything. She sure had a lot to tell.
Maka: I'm so happy.
Soul: You should be, your about to learn from the master!
Maka: ...Your so full of yourself.
Soulkitten: Till next time kittens!