Maka thought it was all her fault, but not only was that ridiculous, it was impossible, and she knew it. The rain had come out of nowhere; no one could have predicted it.

A few days ago, Maka had instructed us (Soul, Blair, and me) not to disturb her for the next twenty-four hours so she could work on the essay due in class next week. She kept her door closed, stepping out only to use the bathroom or get something to eat or drink.

Later that evening, her door creaked open again, but only her voice traveled out. "Chrona? Could you come here please?"

I was already there before she could even finish asking. Maka let me through and closed the door behind me. I always loved being in her room. It was amazing to know that I was standing in the same place where she slept, changed, studied, dreamed, and did her homework. I liked the colors of the walls and furniture because they were bright and fun, just like her.

Maka was already dressed in her striped pajamas, her long fluffy hair hanging past her shoulders. Why was everything about her so beautiful? It almost made it impossible for me not to smile around her. I used to not like smiling that much because it usually made me self-conscious. But Maka told me my smiles were cute, so I stopped minding and tried to show them whenever I could.

"Two things, Chrona." Maka sat at her desk, turning her chair to face me as I sat myself down on her bed. She picked up a stack of papers with a bunch of messy scrawls and arrows and scratched-out markings on it.

I was a little shocked; her work was usually neat and tidy.

"This is just brainstorming," she explained, reading the look on my face. "I've started the rough draft, and I want to read some of it to you. Is that okay?"

I nodded and answered yes eagerly because I loved doing favors for her. And the sound of her voice was something I could listen to all day.

She read a few paragraphs and I did my best to tell her what I thought of them. I knew I wasn't much help, but it didn't matter. The important thing was that I was here to listen. Once we got that out of the way, Maka explained the second reason for calling me. She wanted me to run down to the store to get her a few notebooks. She still had plenty of paper to use, but she ran out of notebooks and needed more.

"How many do you need?"

"Just three for now. Sure you don't mind?" she asked, handing me some money.

"I don't mind."

"Thanks. Don't forget to wear a jacket, alright? It's cold."

I should've taken a heavier jacket. Barely two minutes after I went outside, the air cut through my clothes as if they weren't even there. I walked with my arms around me, rubbing now and then but the gesture only offered a little bit of warmth. Soon I could see my breath streaming from my mouth like little clouds.

Though the city was lit, it still seemed kind of dark to me for some reason. Then I glanced up and realized how the sky looked. A deep navy blue ocean spanned above me, so blue it was practically black. The moon was nowhere to be found. Either that, or it wasn't high enough yet or I just couldn't see it from where I was.

No wind blew, but I shivered suddenly. It felt like the temperature was dropping by the second. I feared that my lips would start turning blue, my teeth freezing into ice cubes. Still, I pressed on, trying to ignore the cold. The sooner I made it to the store, the sooner I could go back. Along the way, I pictured things that were warm to help the time move faster. I thought about the steaming bowl of popcorn we had a few nights ago when we all watched a movie together, the heat of the soft buttery piece as it melted in my mouth. I thought about Maka's hugs, the way her hands always seemed warm whenever she rubbed my back or touched my face.

I reached the store and was glad to find that the notebooks there were available in all sorts of colors. I picked out three that were in Maka's favorite color and paid for them. I didn't ask for a bag because they were light and easy to carry.

I left the store hugging them to my chest. The night wasn't just cold now; it was freezing. I clamped my mouth shut to stop my teeth from chattering. There was nothing I could do about my shoulders shuddering, though, so I focused on moving my legs forward. The quicker I got home, the better.

That was when I felt something wet hit the top of my head. I didn't have time to even wonder what it was because it was immediately followed by another, and another. What started as a light drizzle turned into unmistakable rain in a matter of seconds.

I kept moving, but the apartment was still so far away. If the rain kept falling at this rate, Maka's notebooks were going to get wet. They would be useless if that happened, ruined.

A gust of wind snuck up behind me, slicing through my skin. It howled in my ears, threatening to snatch the notebooks from my grasp, but I wouldn't let it. My hair was flapping, my bangs whipping at my eyes, but I refused to blink. I kept moving.

Out of nowhere, a bright flash illuminated everything in sight, startling me so much that I nearly dropped the notebooks. I braced myself for what was coming next and there it was—the rolling boom of thunder.

The rain wasn't just falling anymore. It was beginning to pour.

I panicked.

Maka's notebooks were going to get soaked if I didn't do something. Hugging them tightly wasn't enough. My hands started to move before I even told them what to do. I couldn't think about anything except keeping these notebooks dry and safe. At the moment, nothing else mattered and nothing else existed. It was just me, the notebooks, and the storm.

I slowed down just a little, but kept moving. If I rushed, I might drop them. One hand held them close to my body while the other hand grabbed hold of the zipper on my jacket. I pulled down and as fast as I could—there was no time for mistakes—I wrapped up all three notebooks in the folds of the cloth. I fitted them snugly, folding and wrapping, and finished by rolling the sleeves around the whole thing and tying them into a tight knot.

The rain poured on, coming down in sheets. It felt like I was trapped in an ice-cold shower, and I was too blind to find the handle to shut it off. But just the same, I kept my eyes open, blinking out water all the while. I kept my head down low, trying to somehow protect my jacket from the rain, only looking up occasionally to make sure I didn't bump into anything or stray in the wrong direction. I leaned forward, bending over my jacket and holding it close as tightly as I could.

The wind died down, so I took the chance to walk faster. My feet kicked up puddles of water; the streets were covered in them. Two more flashes of light dazzled me, nearly making me dizzy. Thunder roared again, louder than last time, and I broke into a run. I feared the water would start to seep through the jacket if I didn't hurry.

My hair was soaked. It clung stubbornly to my head, sticking. The water was already seeping into my shoes, drenching my feet. The rain pounded on my back, trying to reach the notebooks, but I wouldn't let it. Nothing was going to stop me from—

Something hard and slippery got in the way of my foot, and I stumbled. I wanted to keep going, but I could feel my balance weakening. I hated that I couldn't stop myself from tripping. Unable to do anything about it, I fell. Gritting my teeth, I twisted my body at the last moment so that I'd land on my side.

My shoulder seethed with pain as I hit the ground. Icy water pierced my skin, but I still hugged the bundle close to me. Rain struck my face, slithering into my nose, my mouth, my ear. I was probably bruised, but I didn't have any time to waste. Forcing myself back up, my legs carried me off again, the running now shifting into an all-out sprint.

My body ached and my hands were beginning to feel numb, but I didn't care. The knot was still tight and secure, so that meant I still had a chance. The cold air jabbed my lungs as I breathed it in, but my speed brought some warmth; it allowed me to fight back.

The storm seemed to be getting heavier, but at last I could see the apartment building just ahead. I slowed down, nearly slipping and falling again.

The first thing I did when I walked in the door was set the jacket on the kitchen table and then made my way toward the bathroom, thankful that no one was using it. I knew I was trailing water all over the floor, but I was sure nobody would mind. I wanted to get out of these wet clothes as soon as possible, but Maka's voice stopped me just before I reached inside the bathroom. I turned, standing in the doorway, shivering.

"There you are—What happened to your jacket?" Her eyes widened at how drenched I was, at the puddle under my shoes.

"It's in the kitchen—I used it to keep your notebooks dry… But they might still be wet anyway—I'm sorry… I should've asked for a bag, I should've brought an umbrella…"

"It's alright, Chrona," she said, frowning. "Just don't do that again, okay? Don't take your jacket off when it's raining, even if it's for my sake."

She turned away, telling me to wait while she got my pajamas for me. She handed them to me, telling me to meet her in the kitchen after I was finished.

The notebooks and the jacket had been removed from the table, the floor now dried. Maka was waiting for me at the table, a mug of fresh hot chocolate in her hands. There was another steaming mug across from her, and I realized it was meant for me.

I sat down and thanked her. She smiled at me. I picked up the mug and held it to my lips, but didn't take a sip. I really wanted to ask if the notebooks had gotten wet, but was sort of afraid of what the answer would be. So I said nothing.

The two of us drank our hot chocolate together, listening to the raging storm outside.

-xoxo-

I woke up the next morning sneezing. I felt like I could barely walk. I couldn't remember the last time I'd gotten sick. Maka blamed herself for sending me out in the first place, but we both knew it wasn't her fault.

At first I thought it wouldn't be so bad, because Maka was happy to take care of me. She did things like make me soup and tuck me in at night and bring me a box of tissue. But she could never stay long because I didn't want her to catch my cold. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days.

I made a full recovery, but Maka wanted me to rest for one more day. She put me to bed even though it was morning. It wasn't fair. Everyone was going on a picnic today, and now I couldn't go too because Maka wouldn't let me.

"I want to go with you guys… I'm feeling better…"

"I know," she said, fluffing my pillow. "But it's just for today, just in case."

She sounded a bit worried, so I didn't complain. I kept quiet and watched as she stood over me, adjusting the covers for me. She moved slowly, carefully, smoothing out all the creases. Then her hands met my face and I instantly forgot how to blink. She stared back at me, the warmth of her hands causing all the tense muscles in my body to relax. But only briefly, because she leaned down, eyes drifting shut as her face inched closer to mine.

Her fingers felt light on my skin, as if she thought I was something fragile that could break without warning. But my arms were made of lead at the moment. I couldn't move as she brushed my bangs aside, holding them in place so she could lower her lips to my forehead. I stopped breathing, fingernails digging into my palms.

My heartbeat thumped in my ears. I wasn't used to this sort of thing yet, and I felt bad because of it. I should feel easy around her, but it always made me nervous whenever she got this close. It was different from a hug or a smile. My head began to sink into the pillow from some invisible pressure.

Maka held her lips there, pigtails dangling. She didn't press, though. She stayed very still, as though trying to capture the moment and make it last. Or to make me more comfortable.

The air was heavy, pushing me deeper into the mattress. I couldn't see anything but the patch of flesh that was Maka's neck. So close.

Her fingers stayed in place when she spoke. Her voice was a murmur. "Stay here, alright?"

I wished I could see her face. Swallowing, I answered, "I will," and loosened my hands. Her pigtails grazed my cheeks as her head pulled back. The air was light again, the pressure disappearing.

She released my bangs, but was still bent over me, still holding me. She fixed me with a steady gaze, eyes hard, brow furrowed. "If Blair does anything weird, let me know, okay?"

Blair wasn't going to the picnic either because her job was to stay behind as my caretaker. It was also her job to stop me in case I tried to sneak out, but now I had promised Maka I'd rest for the day, so that was what I'd do. I wasn't too worried about Blair bothering me, though. If that happened, Maka would know just how to deal with her later on.

After giving her a nod, I felt her hands slide away. As soon as they left my face, I missed them. But as always, the warmth lingered.

When Maka left my side, she kept the door open a little. I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep for a while, but it was no use because I wasn't tired at all. Instead I thought about how much fun everyone would soon be having at the picnic. They weren't going too far, and I wondered if I'd be able to hear them if I opened up the window. Though tempting, I stayed right where I was. Instead, I decided to pass the time by imagining myself with them.

I must've drifted off, because the next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes to the sound of purring. A ball of purple fur rested at my side.

I sat upright and hurriedly rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Blair rolled onto her back, stretching her legs as far as they could reach. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't wearing a hat, so at first I didn't recognize her. She was pressed against me, tail sliding across my knee, toes spread wide apart. Still purring, she blinked up at me and relaxed her feet.

"Oh good, you're up," she said, waving a front paw in midair. "It's been so boring. Let's go play outside!"

I flinched when she began to rub her head against my leg. Though I wasn't drowsy, I had trouble finding my voice. I opened my mouth but had to struggle to get the words out. "I p-promised Maka I'd s-stay here. And y-you're supposed to keep me here, remember?"

Blair's smile didn't waver at all. Her eyes lit up, turning bright like the pink colorings on her cheeks. She rolled onto her stomach, no longer touching me. "You know," she said, "I think the real reason Maka wants you to stay inside is because of what today is."

"Sunday?"

"No, silly. It's the first day of April." Seeing the confused look on my face, she went on, "You know… April Fool's Day."

My eyebrows pinched together as I tried to figure out what she was talking about. That phrase sounded a little familiar; I might've heard it once, but I couldn't remember. Giving up, I asked, "What's that?"

Blair tilted her head to one side, perking her ears. "Well… It's sort of like a holiday, but not really. It's like… Remember that day a few weeks ago, when Maka told you to wear something green?"

I nodded. "Saint Patrick's Day. Anyone who doesn't wear green on that day might get pinched." At first I hadn't thought Maka was serious when she explained it to me. But all throughout the day I saw many people dressed in green, and I saw many of them—mostly kids—pinch the ones that weren't. It was all very strange to me, but Maka had gone out of her way to get me a cute little pin shaped like a shamrock, so I just went along with it. I didn't try to pinch anyone, though. I didn't see the point.

"April Fool's Day is kinda like that, only there's no way to protect yourself. Nobody's safe. It's a day where people go around pulling pranks on each other and yelling, 'April Fools!' If you ask me, that's the real reason why Maka wouldn't let you go with them."

An entire day devoted to mischief and trickery? I wasn't too surprised by that actually, but could Blair be right? Did Maka make me stay behind so nobody could play tricks on me? But our friends wouldn't do that.

…Well, I supposed Black*Star might. Or maybe Patty.

"She really does worry about you a lot, huh?"

I looked away, feeling my cheeks grow hot. Whatever her reasons, Maka was only thinking about me. I wondered if I'd do the same thing if I were in her shoes.

Blair placed a paw on my thigh and said, "Fine, if you don't want to play outside, then let's play right here."

I shifted away from her touch, staring at the window's closed, dusty blinds. Using my thumb, I swept a few specks off the sill and asked what we were supposed to do. She hummed, swishing her tail lazily, and asked if I had any toys. I didn't have much of anything in the first place, but I moved toward the edge of the bed anyway, reaching for the dresser's top drawer.

I searched through it, hoping to find some string or something. I'd never really played with a cat before, but I figured they'd be easy to entertain. There wasn't any string, but I found a hand-held mirror instead. After taking it out, I turned it over in my hands, watching as the glass caught the light that the blinds couldn't block.

Blair made a quick trilling sound. I held the mirror steady and saw that she was looking not at my hands, but at a spot of light on the covers. Her tail had gone still. She stared at the small bright spot with wide, unmoving eyes. I tilted the mirror and the spot moved with it, as did Blair's head. Every time I moved the light, she followed it.

Her legs brought her into a crouching position. I held the mirror still. She focused on the spot between us, waiting for the right moment to strike. As soon as she pounced, I turned the mirror and the spot dashed out of the way just in time.

But she didn't stop there. Completely unfazed, her paws slammed down on the light only for it to slip away again. She scampered across the bed, swiping at it. The bright little patch slid back and forth, side to side, around and around in tiny circles. Blair's tail swung wildly in her attempts to catch the light.

I rotated the mirror and dragged the spot over to the floor. Leaping off the mattress and landing with ease, the cat chased her target like her life depended on it. She was never too far behind. She never slowed down or hesitated. Even when I hid the light underneath the dresser, Blair quickly knelt down low and stretched out her front leg. At first I was afraid she'd scratch up the floor, but I didn't hear any ripping sounds, so I knew she was keeping her claws retracted.

Slowly, the bright patch moved into plain sight. It crawled along the floor until it hit a wall. Blair followed. The light started to climb up the wall until it reached a point that was well above the cat's head. But that didn't stop her. All she had to do was stand on two legs. Her paws tried to keep up with the spot as it began to move horizontally. She ended up falling to all four feet and had to go directly below the patch to reach it easily. I held it still for her.

She stood up again and pressed her paws against it. As soon as she did, I moved it up some more. The spot now rested kind of close to the ceiling. I kept it there.

"Hey!" Blair turned her head to glare at me.

"You can still get it," I told her.

She blinked her eyes questioningly before gazing up at the light, wondering what she could do. She tried stretching herself as much as possible, but it didn't help at all.

Stumped, she sat back down. Her ears lay flat on her head. Then, almost instantly, they perked up again. She stared up at the bright spot with renewed determination. Her feet moved as if to get closer to the wall, even though the two of them were already practically touching. She was fidgeting in place, readying herself.

Then she froze—and jumped.

As expected from a cat, the jump was high enough to reach the light. She brushed over it for only a split second before gravity pulled her down. Once she landed, she launched herself up the wall again. Her jump was a bit short this time, so she had to stretch out her paw in order to touch the light. She fell again and then up she went.

She repeated these actions without pause. Each time she slid down the wall, there'd be a soft scraping noise. She hopped and bounced over and over, again and again, the cycle never ending.

I felt one of the corners of my mouth twitch. Watching Blair made me feel very strange. I'd never seen her behave this way before. My head was light and fuzzy and my throat tingled. My eyes couldn't stay opened. My hands were unable to hold the mirror still anymore. It was hard to breathe. Before I knew it, I started making these funny sounds that wouldn't stop. It took me a moment to realize I was laughing.

On the one hand, it was a good thing because I hardly ever laughed and it made me smile and feel happy. On the other, sometimes I didn't like it because I couldn't breathe or control myself and it made my sides ache.

The mirror fell out of my hands, so I knew the light had gone away. Blair called out excitedly.

"Maka! Maka, quick! Look! Oh, shoot—She's not here. Where's a camera when you need one?"

I tried to say, "Don't!" but it was impossible. The image of a purple cat springing up a wall like a hyperactive pogo stick clung to my mind and refused to leave me alone.

Thankfully, Blair didn't bother looking for a camera and began to sing instead. "I made Chrona laugh~ I made Chrona laugh~ But no one's around to see it…"

I calmed down soon enough and my face felt flushed. It surprised me how exhausting laughter could be. Leaning over, I put the hand-held mirror back into the top drawer because I figured we were done playing. I thought she'd go away now, but I was dead wrong.

Blair leaped onto the bed and trotted right up to me, climbing into my lap. I flinched. She lay down, rolling herself into a ball, making herself comfortable. She looked up and met my eyes.

"Pet me!"

Reluctantly, I complied. I lowered my hand to her head, reminding myself that she wasn't going to bite. I worried that her claws would extend by accident. I worried that she'd get cat hair all over my clothes.

I scratched between her ears, then settled for stroking along her back. She closed her eyes and purred. I frowned, a little annoyed. She was probably expecting me to let her fall asleep here on my lap without any complaint.

…Well, I didn't want to be rude or anything. Maybe this was just her way of being friendly. She buried her head beneath her paws, tucking it away so that most of her face was hidden. Her fur was soft and warm. Her purring grew louder.

I kept petting, hoping that if she fell asleep, it wouldn't be for too long. I didn't want my legs to fall asleep, too.

Blair became quiet after a while and my hand moved slower. My eyelids were heavy and my vision was blurry. I could feel myself nodding off. My eyes drifted shut. My head drooped down low, chin sinking to my chest that steadily rose and fell as I breathed.

A door slammed open nearby, rattling the walls, and the sound of rampaging feet shook the floor. I jumped, looking up so fast my neck cricked and Blair woke up yowling. Another door slammed—closer this time—and my heart skipped a beat. The window jolted and then all was still and quiet.

I stared, my hands clenched into fists. Carefully, I moved my legs and stood up, inching my way toward the door. I heard a voice talking rapidly, loud and anxious. The sound of the front door closing. More footsteps. The voice growing almost desperate.

Loosening my fingers, I walked out of the room. I followed the noises and found myself heading to where the bathroom was. Its door was closed. Patty stood in front of it, talking to it in that distraught tone of voice. She was pleading with it, apologizing to it over and over again. She kept begging for its forgiveness.

Beside her, Soul also faced the door, looking concerned. The two of them were blocking it completely, so the only thing I could do was stand there and ask, "What's going on…?"

Despite her babbling, Patty somehow heard me and turned around. "Chrona!" She stepped right up to me and seized my shoulders, shaking them. "Chrona, I'm sorry! I really am! You have to believe me! If I had known something like that would happen, then I wouldn't have done it in the first place! Pranks are supposed to be funny, y'know? Funny as in 'ha-ha' funny. And it's April Fool's Day, y'know?"

She stopped shaking me and her eyes got shiny. "I didn't mean to hurt her, honest! It was just a practical joke, I swear!" Patty's hands slipped away from my shoulders as she closed her eyes and threw back her head.

"I DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE THAT STICKY!"

At those words, my jaw dropped open. I really wanted to ask just what the hell she was talking about, but I couldn't. I was speechless.

Suddenly, Soul gave the bathroom door a strong bump with his fist. "Maka, quit acting stupid and come out of there," he growled.

There was silence. Patty's feet wouldn't stay still. She watched the door, shifting her weight between them while fussing with her hands. Soul raised his fist to knock again, but there was no need.

"Soul."

"What?"

"You and Patty go back to the picnic. I'll catch up later."

"Maka, I'm sorry!" Patty shouted as if she were addressing a deaf person. "I didn't mean it! Please forgive me!"

The bathroom door didn't answer. Patty tried to reach out and touch it, but Soul told her it was probably best to leave her alone for now.

"Let's let Chrona handle this."

If I hadn't been so worried at the moment, I probably would've blushed. But if Soul thought that I should be the one to help Maka, then I couldn't let him down. He walked past me and Patty followed, mumbling about how she really hoped that Maka wasn't too mad. I heard Soul say that she was just being overly dramatic, but he kept his voice low, as if afraid she'd Maka-Chop him later for his comments.

I stared at the door and clutched my arm, wondering what Patty had done to her.

It wasn't until well after the front door had closed that Maka spoke.

"Chrona…?"

I moved forward, automatically placing my hand around the doorknob. I turned it, but it wouldn't give. The door was locked.

I let go and touched the space above the knob instead. I turned my head and rested it against the door so I could be as close to her as I could. "I'm here," I said.

"Could you do me a favor?" She sounded uncertain and a bit breathless.

"Of course." I really wanted to know about what happened first, but it could wait. I loved doing favors for Maka. I'd do anything she wanted. I would help her in any way I could, no matter how small.

"Will you please get Blair?"

I blinked. Why would she want to see Blair? I didn't understand, but I wasted no time in doing what she asked.

The cat was peeking out from the room I left her in, a worried look in her eyes.

"Maka wants to see you."

"Is she okay?"

I paused, biting my lip and staring at the floor. "…I don't know." But I should. Maka was very important to me, but I still didn't know how to read her sometimes. Obviously, something bad happened to her, but I didn't know just how serious it was.

A thick cloud of pink smoke engulfed Blair as she transformed back into a human and headed toward the bathroom to help Maka.

I heard the door open and close. It didn't take long for me to decide what I was going to do. I had to find out what was wrong.

I turned around and walked back. My hand reached for the doorknob again, slowly and quietly. I held on tightly and turned carefully without making a sound, but it was still locked. My mind buzzed with questions, so I sat down next to the door and tried to clear them away so I could listen to what was going on.

Their voices sounded muffled, though, so I had to strain my ears to hear them.

"Please tell me your magic can fix this."

"Well, um… I'm not sure." There was a moment of silence before Blair went on hastily. "Oh, but—I'll give it a try!"

She chanted a spell, and I saw a bright pink flash light up the crack under the door. Maka and Blair suddenly screamed in mortal terror, making me jump and accidentally bang my head against the wall.

"Put it back! Put it back!" Maka cried.

Blair chanted again and another flash went off, as if the two of them were taking pictures. "There. Sorry about that, Maka."

A pause followed, and I knew that wasn't a good sign. It made me tense up. I waited.

Then Maka sniffled.

"Oh no, don't cry! We can still fix it—We'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way, that's all."

A shadow covered some of the crack under the door. Inside, a drawer slid open and I could hear things being rummaged through. Water began to run from the sink.

I hugged my knees as items clattered about while they were picked up or set down, the water shutting off or turning up full blast, drawers and cabinets opening and closing. It sounded like Blair was doing something to Maka's hair and as she worked, neither of them spoke. The minutes dragged on.

I closed my eyes. I wanted to be in there, too, but the fact that the door was locked told me that Maka wanted to keep me out. I wasn't allowed to help. Not right now, anyway. She'd have to come out eventually.

"I made Chrona laugh today," Blair said, making my eyes open.

"Yeah, sure." Maka sounded breathless again and I could just imagine the fake smile on her face.

"No, I'm serious! And it was a real laugh too, not just a little one. You really missed out."

I expected Maka to ask her how she did it, but there was no reply. She only sniffed and gave a sigh that was soft and shuddery. My head buried itself deeply beneath my arms, my forehead pressing into my knees.

Then Maka spoke so quietly I almost missed it. "I bet I can make Chrona laugh too, the second I step out of here."

I wondered what she meant by that. Did she think I was going to laugh at her when I saw her? But if Blair was fixing the problem, why did she still sound so sad?

I wanted to know, but I was just going to have to wait to find out. I would not move from this spot until I talked with Maka face to face.

I really wanted to talk with her, so it felt like hours had passed before the door finally opened. I looked up and saw Blair, who was carrying a plastic bag full of trash. She greeted me with a smile as she walked past me, so that was a good sign. She had helped Maka out just fine.

I turned my head toward the door only to watch it close again. I stood up and faced it, gripping one arm tightly.

"Maka?" I tried.

Silence. I took in my breath, held it, and let it out again. I thought about things I should say to try to persuade her to stop hiding.

Suddenly the door flew open, slamming against the wall, and I nearly leaped out of my skin.

"Go ahead. Laugh."

I trembled, trying to get my heart to calm down as quickly as possible. I collected myself together and focused on the person in front of me.

…There was nothing wrong with her. She looked like regular Maka to me. The only thing different about her was that her hair wasn't in pigtails anymore.

I looked closer. Her arms lay stiffly at her sides, hands rolled into fists. Her head was slightly lowered, eyes scrunched up tight. Dried up tear streaks stained her face. It made me want to step close to her and hug her, but then I noticed something.

At first, I just assumed the lack of pigtails meant her hair was down. And it was, but then I realized… a lot of it was missing.

The bangs were still there. It was all definitely her real hair. It had the same color and texture, but the style was different. The ends were spiky. And it looked like it was still wet, so it wasn't as fluffy and silky as usual.

Maka's hair was short. Just as short as mine. Maybe even shorter.

Then I remembered Patty talking about something being too sticky. I thought I had it all figured out now. The joke Patty had played on Maka ended up going too far when the sticky stuff got everywhere in her hair. It was probably trick bubblegum or something. Maka was so upset she raced home and locked herself in the bathroom. In the end, Blair had to cut her hair to get all the gum out.

Maka's face started to turn pink and her fists began to quiver.

I went to her and wrapped my arms around her, pressing one side of my face to hers. She didn't protest but she didn't return the gesture either. Her breathing was ragged. I held her as close as I could. Her arms fell steady.

"You're… okay with this?" She sounded almost incredulous.

"Of course," I answered.

"But… I look so different now."

"You're still Maka, no matter what," I told her. My hands found their way toward her shoulders. They held onto them lightly as I pulled my head back.

Liquid green eyes stared up at me, wide and round. Her mouth was frowning a little, but she looked more contemplative than sad.

I really wanted her to believe me. I wanted her to understand that I really didn't mind that her hair was short now. So I moved my hands again. This time they gently cupped her face, fingers sliding into her hair. She didn't move.

The strands weren't long anymore, but I still liked them. I liked the way they felt on my fingers. Damp and feathery, like a bird caught in the rain.

"P-Pretty." My face grew warm as I gave Maka a tiny smile. I stroked her hair, but her facial expression didn't change.

"Would I still be pretty if I was bald?"

My hands stopped in their tracks. I blinked at her, completely taken aback.

"Blair was supposed to use magic to fix my hair. All she had to do was clear the gum out. But she messed up and got rid of all the gum and my hair." Her eyes wavered, face turning deathly pale. "I was so scared… For a second I thought I was going to be stuck like that forever. She undid the spell, but what if she couldn't? What would've happened then? Chrona… What would you think of me?"

Her eyes were glossy now and she shivered. I closed my eyes and leaned forward so that our foreheads touched. Her soft, delicate bangs met my own. Every breath she took shuddered, but they all felt warm.

"You'll always be pretty to me, Maka. No matter what." My hands turned rigid because this next part was a little hard to say, but the darkness helped me concentrate. I needed to just feel her right now, without seeing her. "And b-besides… I… I like you m-more for who you are than w-what you look like…"

I swallowed, hoping I had said the right thing. She'd always told me that the best way to choose my words was by being as honest as possible. It made things easier.

As her breathing relaxed, my hands loosened. I lowered my arms at the same moment Maka finally lifted hers. I hugged her waist, expecting her to do the same to me, but they rose past it, her hands sliding up my back and toward my head. She moved her forehead away from mine, brushing my bangs aside so she could rest her lips there.

Then she pressed.

Something inside my chest swelled, making me feel lighter than air. My knees felt weak and wobbly.

She pulled back slowly. I opened my eyes. Her smile lit up her face and I was glad that I managed to help her after all.

The two of us stood there holding each other comfortably until we heard Blair clearing her throat impatiently. She asked if it would be alright for us to go with Maka to the picnic.

I let go of Maka and she agreed to Blair's request, but then she nervously began patting her hair. She wanted to tell Patty she wasn't mad at her, but this was a change that would take some getting used to. I told her not to worry about it too much.

"I'm sure it'll grow back before you know it."

She took my hand and squeezed it. Our fingers wove together as we left home and went to join the others. Blair seemed the most excited to be outside.

The sun made Maka's hair dry in no time. In this light, it was easy to notice how… healthy her new hairstyle looked. I liked the way it gleamed. I liked how perfectly it settled on her head, outlining her face. If I could get used to it this quickly, then surely Maka could too.