Soul put his hand up to his chest.

Why am I feeling pain all of a sudden?

"Soul. Soul! Snap out of it, man!" BlackStar shouted, getting his friend's attention.

"What? What is it BlackStar?"

"Nothing. C'mon lets head to class."

Halfway through class

Soul was staring at the board lazily, trying to focus. Then he heard slight laughter. He turned to his right and saw Kid making Maka laugh. He clenched his fists.

Crap. The pain's coming back.

"Professor Stein, can I go out for a moment?" Soul asked, trying to hold in the disgust in his voice.

"Why?"

"I'm not feeling well."

"Let him go," Kid interrupted. Everyone looked at him. "If he's not feeling well then he should go, right?"

"Why is it any of your concern?" Soul demanded.

"You're my friend."

"Like Maka?" Soul shouted. The class's attention turned to him.

Did I just say that out loud? What the hell?!

"Whatever. I'm leaving." The frustrated teenager mumbled and stormed out of the room. The second he left, Liz started talking to Kid from across the room, making it clear that everyone could hear.

"So Kid. You're friends with that nerd?"

Maka's mood sunk and she looked down.

"Yes, I'm friends with Maka." Kid answered. He grabbed Maka's hand and showed it to the class. Everyone gasped and started whispering.

"Kid! Are you going out with Maka?!" Liz yelled.

"Yes. Isn't it obvious?"

"Hey girl! Put your ugly face up and look at me now!" Liz screamed. Maka lifted her face up quickly and met Liz's eyes. She shivered.

Her glare is so cold. I knew something like this would happen.

Maka gulped.

"What is it, Liz?"

"I bet you tricked Kid into dating you, huh? That's just sick!" She accused.

"No, no! That's not true!" Maka defended.

"Stop your dirty lies and just admit it!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Yeah right! Bit-"

"Alright that's enough class, calm down." Stein ordered. Maka sighed and wondered: Why didn't Kid defend me?

She looked up at Kid and gave him a questioning look. He pretended like he didn't notice and continued looking forward. He also had thoughts of his own.

Is this what Liz is trying to do?

BlackStar glanced at the two and tried to figure out what was going on.

What the hell is happening here?

After Class

Maka said goodbye to Kid and walked off to her locker. She grabbed her backpack and closed her locker. Then she turned around; only to find a large group of girls right in front her.

Oh no.

"Yo girl! Who do you think you are? Dating Kid!?"

"Yeah!"

"Tell us!"

"She's so gonna get it."

Maka didn't know what to do. She was trapped.

"Um, I uh, I don't know! I didn't do anything! He asked me out!" She blurted out.

"And you agreed?"

"Who said you could?"

"She pisses me off!"

"Let's get her!"

All the girls came up to Maka and surrounded her. Maka was shivering and crying. Suddenly someone kicked her back, causing her to fall forward.

"Ah! Please, wait -!" Maka pleaded.

"Wait for what?" A girl questioned. Another girl grabbed one of Maka's pigtails and pulled it. She released it and let another person step forward. That person grabbed Maka's chin and put it up. She slapped her face and let her head go. Maka's head banged on the ground. Girls continued to hurt her.

Why…why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?

Soul was roaming in the halls, minding his own business. As he looked up, he saw a bunch of girls cheering and surrounding something.

What's going on?

He rushed to them and pushed through everyone. When he got to the center, his eyes widened. There Maka lay, all bruised up, tears coming out of her eyes. At that moment, Soul's anger busted out of him. He ran to Maka and picked her up. He looked at all the other girls with rage in his blood-colored eyes.

"What are you all doing? Do you see what you've done?!"

Everyone gasped.

"What's it matter to you? We were setting her straight!"

"Is this the way to solve it?! You damn girls have no life if you spend it bullying people!"

They laughed, "Like you?"

"Shut the hell up and get out of my way!" Soul yelled at everyone and roughly pushed them all while holding Maka. As he ran to his house to help her—since it's after school hours—he only thought about her. Worry was written all over his face and he wouldn't stop running. He'd do anything to cure the girl in his arms right now.

Don't worry Maka. I'll do everything I can to help you!