In celebration of having free time, I'm uploading this next Chapter pretty early. It's kind of short, but I personally think it's a good chapter.
Enjoy. c;
General P.O.V
Another week had passed and everything seemed to be going smoothly; Black*Star and Tsubaki were getting along extremely well, Soul and Black*Star had formed some type of weird bromance bond, and Maka and Soul seemed to be getting along better and better.
"Hey, Maka. H-how was your birthday party? I'm so sorry I missed it."
"It's okay, Crona."
"Here, I got you something." He nervously handed her a small pink bag with white tissue paper inside.
"Aww, that's okay Crona, you didn't have to get me anything."
"Really? I-I'm sorry I didn't know you don't have to accept if you don't want it I can take it back I-"
"Crona, it's okay! I'd love to accept your present." Maka took out the wrapping paper on top and pulled out a little wrapped gift. She unwrapped the small present to find a strange black and white looking doll with a strange sword. "It says his name is Ragnarok. I found him in the store and I thought you'd like it. It's says it's supposed to be a charm for protection, but it says only when the person is kind spirited. If not, he'll turn on you, and hurt you. But you don't have a problem with that, right?"
By this time Maka was practically crying because she was so scared; she could feel the dark cloud just hanging over her head.
'That's the creepiest thing I've ever heard! Who gets someone this for a gift. He had good intentions but this is so … CREEPY.'
"Th-thanks, Crona. I love it." She said with forced laughter. But when she saw Crona give a small hint at a smile, she felt better knowing that it made him feel better.
"Hey, Maka!" She turned around to see Soul quickly approaching her. "Ready to go?"
"Yep." It was the end of the school day and Maka and Soul were heading home as usual. They haven't been having any problems lately, although they still have their differences. Maka still hates how much of a slacker Soul is, and Soul hates how much of a nerd Maka is, but they put them aside.
"So, have you started practicing your piano?" said Soul; making small conversation.
"Well, kind of. I mean, I'm reading the book, but it's hard to learn without any help. Papa doesn't know how to play, and I can't find any of my friends that know either."
"Hm." was all he said back to her.
"Do you know anyone? That can play, I mean."
"Me?" He thought for a second. "Not that I can think of, no."
"Hmph, you're so useless sometimes Soul."
"Yeah, Maka I know." He replied lazily. They arrived at their houses and parted ways as they always do.
"See ya." They said, and walked their separate ways.
Maka P.O.V
"Grr, what does this even mean?! How do people even read sheet music?! It's so hard and there're so many things you have to do. That's it, I can't do it! I can't play the piano!"
Papa was standing in the door way, watching me scream at the piano. "You know, Maka. Screaming at it won't make it any easier. You've only been learning for a couple weeks. This is something you're new to. You just have to practice." He said, trying to sound thoughtful.
"Easy for you to say!" I screamed back at him. We sat there in silence before he replied softly.
"Maka, why are you getting so frustrated? This isn't like you; blowing up before you've buckled down and really looked at the materials."
"I don't know! Stop asking me!"
Then my phone buzzed from where it was sitting on the top of the piano. 'Ugh, who is it?!' I snatched the phone off the piano and looked at the screen. Then, I really felt like my head was gonna explode.
'Maka, I took your History book today because I needed it. Come get it.
Btw, there's history homework tonight, so you better come get it now.'
He is so dead. I threw open the garage door and marched out, practically running down the driveway.
"Maka, where are you going?"
"Across the street!"
General P.O.V
"Okay, I think she's on her way over." said Soul, looking up from his phone. He looked at Wes, who was looking out the big window in the living room.
"Oh yeah, she's coming and she looks pissed."
"Crap! Okay, Mom, you know what to do right?"
"I got it, I got it."
*dingdong*
"Crap, she's here! Go go go go go!" Whispered Wes as he and Soul ran towards the backyard.
Then, Soul's mom stepped in and answered the front door.
"Hello, Mrs. Evans." You could tell she was trying to contain her anger, which made Soul's mom want to laugh. "I just got a text from Soul saying that he has my history book, do you mind if I just get it from him?"
"Of course not, Sweetie!" she exclaimed brightly. "I think he's in the backyard."
"Thank you!"
Maka walked around the side of the house to where the opening to the backyard was.
"Soul! Where are you?! You better give me my boo. . ."
Her words trailed off as she looked at the wonderland around her.
In the entry way, there was a banner that read "Happy Birthday Maka!" in big red letters. All around there were red and black decorations; streamers, balloons, confetti, and little white string lights. There was soft music playing in the background, and Maka found it completely hypnotizing. She was snapped out of her daze when she felt a hand on her shoulder that was pushing her forward. It was Soul's mom that led her to a little patio in the backyard, where there was a table. It was set up with a white lace table cloth, and on top there was a candelabra with lit red candles, and next to that, there was a single cupcake. It was vanilla with vanilla frosting on top, and someone used food piping to write an 'M' on top. Everything looked so perfect. It was just like her.
Soul's mom slowly sat her down in her chair, and pointed her towards something she hadn't noticed: a small section of the patio cut off by a black curtain.
"Enjoy," she whispered, as she stepped back from Maka, and suddenly the white string lights went out, except for the ones that were hanging around the frame of the black curtain and the candles; leaving her with just enough light to set the mood.
Suddenly, the curtain dropped, and there they were.
They were dressed perfectly in red and black pin-striped suits, and neither of them looking at Maka. Wes was looking as dashing as ever in his suit, standing there with his violin perfectly in position. But the one Maka really couldn't take her eyes off, was Soul. All Maka could think was, 'This can't be the same goofball I go to school with; the one who doesn't ever do his work or stop talking. And besides, he told me he didn't play the piano. He looks so serious and professional. He looks so ... nice.' She just sat there in total shock, which Soul was trying really hard not to smirk at.
Then, without warning, Soul lifted his hands and began to play, and Wes joined in. Maka instantly recognized the tune as her favorite song, Clair de Lune. When she was little, her Mama would play it to her to make her fall asleep. She listened to it every day, and never got tired of it. She just has some sort of deep connection.
As Soul and Wes played on, she became more and more mesmerized; watching the smooth gliding of Soul's fingers across the ivory keys, and the way he never missed a pause or a beat; watching the hurried yet slight way that Wes moved his bow across the strings, wondering how so much sound could come from such small movement, all of it was so precise. She felt as if she could sit there for an eternity, lost in the music.
Suddenly, Maka's head stopped spinning, when she realized that Soul and Wes had stopped playing. She looked up to Soul, who looked up at her. He looked at her from the side, with those lazy yet menacing eyes that he has, pulling her in even further.
"Happy Birthday, Maka." He said softly.
Maka truly didn't know what to say. She just sat there staring. Thankfully, Soul and Wes weren't as shy, as they got up and handed her a small bag, standing closely on either side of her.
Finally, Maka came back down to earth, when she took the small bag being held in front of her.
"You- You got me something else."
Soul nodded towards the bag, "Just open it."
She looked curiously towards the bag again and reached inside, feeling around until she felt some type of paper. She pulled it out and realized it was a small, note card sized paper. It was done on a computer like an invitation, and it was black, and had white lettering on it.
'Dear Maka, Happy Birthday. Since I know you're having a hard time learning how to play the piano because you're a ditz, I will give you personal piano lessons every week. This is my present to you. Sincerely, Soul.'
Maka looked up at Soul, once again completely wordless, and Soul just winked back at her.
After Soul, Maka, and Wes finished their party, which included cupcake eating, dancing to more music (the radio, this time), and telling really cheesy jokes, Maka decided it was time to go home. Soul walked her to the door. He wanted to walk her home, but she insisted that he didn't need to.
"Hey, thank you Soul, for everything. This was better than anything I could have imagined."
"No problem, Maka. It's just what friends do."
They stood there silently for a few awkward seconds.
"Yeah. Well, goodnight." she said quietly.
"Goodnight. Oh, wait! Before you go." Suddenly he dashed into the house and up the stairs, and then came running back down.
He handed Maka a book.
"What's this?" she asked, sounding intrigued.
"It's your history book, duh. I told you I took it." He looked down at his watch. "Oooh, you might want to get started on that homework, it's already 11:30."
He saw how red Maka's face was getting and quickly shut the door before she could hit him.
"Soul, YOU JERK!"