Chapter 7

Looking Up

Maka wakes up more energetic than usual.

The sun shines vibrantly through the curtains and even though Resonance has a hectic day in front of them, she is at peace.

So much so that she sings in the shower. Usually, she doesn't for fear that she will wake up Patty, who is a demon when her sleep is interrupted, but she has a tune in her head that begs to be released into the world of steam and possibility.

She pauses and reaches out to her phone that is playing music softly in the corner of the stall from the safety of its Ziploc bag and starts to record her shower session. Most of her best song ideas come from the inspiration of the hot drizzle.

She continues and when the melody has made its way out of her system and dries herself off. She goes to get dressed, but notices that she left her things in her room instead of bringing them into the bathroom.

Tightening the towel securely around her, she opens the door and shuffles to her dresser, humming to herself.

"Hey Maka-"

Maka whirls around, wide-eyed at Soul, whose face turns a shade of red lighter than his eyes. "Shit, I'm sorry Maka-"

"Makaaaa…"

"Wait, Maka, put down the thesaurus-"

"CHOP!"

Using her foot, she shoves Soul's limp body outside her door and forces it shut, locking it for good measure. "Idiot." she whispers to herself. "Who does he think he is, barging in without warning?"

~What Just Happened?~

Soul rubs his sore head as the rest of the group continues to set up instruments for rehearsal.

Kid claps twice. "Listen up! Tour starts in three weeks, and we need to put our best foot forward for our supporters. It is a thirteen song set-list, combining a six of our new songs and seven of our old ones. Here is the list:

Rock Bottom (Hailee & DNCE)

Vicious Love (NFG& Hayley Williams)-NEW

Broken Pieces (5SOS)

Money (5SOS)

Chocolate (1975)-NEW

In Bloom (Neck Deep)

19 Seventy Sumthin' (Neck Deep)

Idle Worship (Paramore) -NEW

Heavy Lies (Neck Deep)

Hard Times (Paramore) -NEW

Heart Out (1975)-NEW

Jet Black Heart (5SOS)

Fallen (DITP & Hayley Williams)-NEW

"Any questions?" Kid finishes.

Maka raises her hand. "What do you want me to do for the old ones?"

"With the old set up, we had Tsubaki doing both vocals, rhythmic guitar and synths. However, it got to be a bit much for her and since you can do those as well, we can have you trade off when you need to. We will also need acoustic guitar for a couple of songs, so you could play that as well. The newer stuff, you can predominantly be synths, because on the songs you sing with Soul, you won't need to be playing anything."

"You want me to work the stage?"

"Yes."

"Solid."

"Okay, let's go ahead and start with 'Rock Bottom"," Kid says, handing both Soul and Maka microphones. Soul takes his with a wink at Maka before heading over to his place on their pretend stage.

Maka lets out a laugh, before going to her place. Taking a deep breath, she listens to the opening percussion.

"What are we fighting for? Seems like we do this just for fun. In this, this stupid war, we play harder with our plastic guns."

Turning to Soul, she walks towards him and runs a hand down his shirt, earning a surprised look from him."Breath deep, bottle it up. So deep until it's all we got. Don't speak, just use your touch. Don't speak, before we say too much."

Imitating frustration, she balls the fabric in her fist, being careful not to accidentally hurt him.

"You hate me now, and I feel the same way." Maka strokes his cheek, looking into his eyes.

"You love me now, and I feel the same way. Scream, and we shout, then make up the same

day. The same day."

She pushes away from him, starting to walk away from him. "Oh, we're on the right side of rock bottom. And I hope that we keep falling. We're on the good side of bad karma, 'cause we keep on coming back for more."

She looks at him over her shoulder and register that something has changed in his eyes. He

looks at her in a way he has never looked at her before, with a new kind of spark in his eyes.

"We're on the right side of rock bottom. And to you, I just keep crawling. You're the best kind of bad song then, 'cause we keep on coming back for more."

Soul stalks towards Maka, and at once, this song has turned into a dance. "You get under my skin, more than anyone's ever been. But, when we lay in bed, you hold me harder 'til I forget."

He stops behind Maka and takes a piece of her hair between his fingertips.

They look at each other's eyes, then step away from each other. Together, they sing, "That you hate me now, and I feel the same way. You love me now, and I feel the same way. Scream and we shout, make up the same day, the same day."

Backs to each other, they belt, "Oh, we're on the right side of rock bottom. And I hope that we

keep falling. We're on the good side of bad karma, 'cause we keep on coming back for more."

They face each other once more, electricity bouncing between what seems like their individual souls.

"We're on the right side of rock bottom, and to you, I just keep crawling. You're the best kind of bad song then, 'cause we keep on coming back for more. 'Cause we keep on coming back for more."

Maka bounces on her feet, before singing solo, "'Cause we keep on coming back for more. Oh. What are we fighting for?"

Soul reaches out a hand. "Seems like we do it just for fun."

She takes it. "In this, this stupid war…"

Soul pulls them together, forehead to forehead, and in unison, they sing quietly, "We play harder with our plastic guns."

Explosively, they sing, "Oh, we're on the right side of rock bottom, and I hope that we keep falling. We're on the good side of bad karma, 'cause we keep on coming back for more. We're on the right side of rock bottom, and to you I just keep crawling. You're the best kind of bad song then, 'cause we keep on coming back for more."

They look at each other, each with a smile on their face and a gleam in their eye. "We keep on coming back for more. We keep on coming back for more. We keep on coming back for more."

They finish with, "We keep on coming back for more."

When the music stops, the relax their positions, both panting from the intensity of their vocal dance.

Kid begins to clap slowly, then faster, and then soon the entire group is cheering. "That was beautiful." Kid says, and Tsubaki gives them both a smile. "Yes, indeed. Well done."

Liz whistles. "Soul, I haven't seen you put on a show that genuine in several years. It's like you used to do."

Soul looks long and hard at Maka. "I guess I just found some new inspiration."

Maka swallows hard and turns to the group. "I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."

Almost running, she busts into the bathroom and looks at herself in the mirror. Turning on the faucet, she splashes icy cold water on her face, letting it drip from her face onto her shirt. What has gotten into me? She thinks to herself. This isn't you. You are more rational than this. You know it is only going to lead you to heartbreak. Just like it always does.

But, Maka can't help but think back to what just happened moments before. She felt the connection as if it was physical lightning, and she knows, judging by Soul's response, that it was reciprocated. Maybe this time, it could be different. Maybe this time, she wouldn't be used and taken advantage of. Maybe this time, it could be real—

Don't be silly. Use your brain. Romances between band members never end well. Historically, bands break up over them. I refuse to be the reason this band breaks up.

With that, Maka decides that she will not reciprocate or initiate a relationship with Soul Eater Evans. Yes, she will do what she can to put on a show, as she always has, but friendship has to be the only relationship they can have, for the good of the band.

~What Just Happened?~

Soul watches Maka walk out of the rehearsal room towards the restrooms, and Kid walks up to him. "So, you're into her."

Soul scratches the back of his head. "It's not that easy—"

"You're right, it's not. Band romances never end well." Kid says, and Soul sighs in agreement.

"She is quite remarkable. I can't fault you for that. And honestly, I don't think if, anything does

happen between you two, it will severely impact the band. Both of you care too much about it for it to become damaged."

Soul shakes his head. "Kid, I don't get it. Out of all the women, why does it have to be her? I don't want to screw any of this up because I misjudged my emotions."

Kid puts both his hands on Soul's shoulders. "Listen, Soul. I'm in the same boat with Liz, as everyone in their right mind can see. Liz and I have talked about it, and we agree that the band comes first. This is a business, and we have to keep our personal lives and emotions out of it."

Soul crosses his arms. "But the entirety of our business is music, art that reflects emotion. If I can't be genuine about my emotions in my art, then what the hell am I even doing?"

"No one said you couldn't put your emotions into your art. In fact, your best work comes out of them, as we all witnessed here a few minutes ago. Just remember, if you decide to pursue her, that the band is also involved in your relationship. If you're willing to put up with that, then I say go for it."

Soul clasps hands with Kid. "You're right. You know what's insane though? It's like she inspires me to push myself. Bring my best writing, my best performance, my best self. I feel like I did when we first formed the band, a group of nobody kids with dreams bigger than they could comprehend."

Kid smiles at him. "You've found your muse. Let it inspire you for as long as it can."

They stop talking once they see Maka walk in, a cool expression on her face and water droplets on her shirt. "Alright, what's next?"