Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater; I do, however, own the plot.

Chapter Ten: This Stupid Trip (Part One)

Nobody ever started packing until the last night with these things and they all knew it; did this make them decide to break the tradition and start preparing gradually? Of course not! You're only a teenager in high school once, after all! "Do you think I'll need all my make-up? I mean, sure, it's only for a week but a week is a long time," Liz tutted lightly, tapping her chin with her finger. They had Maka and Tsubaki on a speaker conference call while she and Patty were getting things put together. She suddenly gasped. "And what about that day we're planning on spending at the beach? There are bound to be a whole ton of hot guys just waiting to be snatched up!"

"Sis is still boy crazy on vacation!" Patty giggled as she stuffed her giraffe print slippers into her own suitcase. A suitcase, Liz always found interestingly enough, that was printed with tiger stripes.

"Well, at least we're going to the beach on the first day. Since Mr. Evans and I live under the same roof now I saw the itinerary. Tomorrow we'll spend the day in the hotel relaxing and getting settled in. The day after that we're going to go down to Huntington Beach, the day after that we're going to Disney, and the third day will be spent at Universal Studios. The fourth day we'll be going to The Sunset Strip and doing shopping most of the day, followed by a dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Day six we're going to go tour around a college campus music hall and later that night we'll be going to see a huge symphony performance. On the last day we'll be spending the whole day at Disneyland again and then, around six o'clock, we'll have dinner and start the drive home. And to top off the whole beach trip, Liz is the only one among us with someone she isn't actively interested in," Maka commented airily, turning the page of her book. She was currently lounging on the bed on her stomach, the book Mockingjay placed before her. She had the phone on speaker in one hand and held it closer to her mouth when she spoke to assure she would be heard.

"Wait, you like someone, Maka?" Tsubaki chimed in suddenly, sounding excited suddenly. There was a chorus of eager squeals from the other two women and suddenly Maka's eye started twitching. Ah, she had made a terrible miscalculation there. She cursed Katniss Everdeen for having such enthralling adventures that distracted her from censoring her words!

"Who is it? Who is it?" Liz and Patty demanded in unison. Maka winced and held the phone away from herself a bit. She sent a glare to the now chuckling other presence in the room with her.

"Look, I meant to say that for once there isn't someone Liz is interested in; not that I myself have a crush on anyone," She said patiently. She placed her bookmark into the book and quietly shut it. She didn't want to dig herself deeper into the hole because she decided she wanted to try and read while on the phone with her girlfriends.

"Oh, no, that is such bull! You are so trying to lie and sucking at it, Maka Albarn!" Liz cackled, sounding almost drunk with delight. It was rare that the younger blonde would ever have a crush. Normally she was too busy studying or trying to one-up Soul Evans to focus on the opposite sex; top that off with her terrible opinion of men and she wasn't necessarily dying for company. So imagine their delight at the fact Maka really was a teenage girl underneath it all!

"Maka can't lie! Maka can't lie!" Patty sang eagerly in the background.

Tsubaki giggled but joined in as a voice of reason among the impending chaos. "Now, we shouldn't pressure her. I'm sure Maka will tell us in person tomorrow morning when we board the bus to head to California," She said brightly. She was answered by two merry agreements and a low groan from the other.

"Gee, thanks," She said flatly, smacking her forehead lightly. She then picked up a pillow from by her feet and threw it at her companion. Her companion whom, might she add, had started full out laughing as it was made clear she'd be getting a rude interrogation session the following morning.

"Ah, what the Hell? I'm at the boss!" The other yelped loudly in a familiar baritone. They turned their attention back to screen and started cursing as they frantically threw their arms this way and that, trying to regain the edge in battle.

"Wait just a minute! Is that Soul?" Liz gasped suddenly. Maka blushed immediately simply because she could envision the gleam that would undoubtedly be in those large cerulean orbs.

"Sorry, I'm going through a tunnel! See you guys in the morning!" She said while scrambling into sitting up.

"Maka Albarn, don't you dare-!" And then, with a click, Liz was silenced from protesting. Jade orbs shifted from the phone to the back of the male she was currently mad at.

"I thought I told you I would only hang out in here with you if you were quiet during my phone call?" She asked with a huff, crossing her arms over her chest. He clicked a button on his WiiMote and turned to look at her.

She would have been angrier if he wasn't flashing his most charming smile. It was a rare thing that he would smile in this way, that made him have this peculiar boyish charm. He would just smile without showing his teeth – a "Monkey face" smile, as her Mama always called it – but it was just so cute. She couldn't help but feel a little ting of pink come to her cheeks at the sight of it. "It's not my fault girl talk is so funny," He said simply before turning back to the screen.

Soul had been obsessed with Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword ever since he's gotten his hands on it. A new routine had arrived for their relationship. Since their parents had been spending most of the nights going out with friends or just doing things together, once the coast was clear Maka would head into his room. She would lounge on his bed, reading one of her books or studying, while he played his new little addiction. "What do you guys talk about, then?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We talk about sports," He said with a small grunt, thrusting his arm in a slashing motion, "and shit like that. Sometimes we talk about girls but typically it's just to rate them on sex appeal and general charm." Her eye started to twitch at this little confession. "Oh, and don't even think about trying to Maka-Chop me right now. The bosses in this game are ridiculously hard and if I lose because of you I will break up with you."

Ah, yes, down to the whole sordid affair. Shortly after their little revelation that they did in fact like each other that way (and getting over the trauma of seeing their parents snogging in the living room) they started to discuss how to handle it. Their family would never accept it; after all, from the looks of it they were going to be step-siblings soon enough. Their friends would never be okay with it; things between Black*Star and Tsubaki were at a standstill since he refused to apologize and she, for once, was standing her ground. Not only that, but Liz and Patty still had some misgivings about the Evans boy in question and Black*Star the same toward Maka. It was all topped off with if they did start dating the rumor mill would just take off and they'd never be able to feel respected by their classmates again.

Thus, only one solution seemed logical for the pair; start dating in secret.

It was a good plan, too, in their opinions. With how little time their parents were home they would never get suspicious. They couldn't be outwardly affectionate at school but that worked as well since they didn't want to be "that couple" anyway. They could take jabs at one another in the group without it being viewed as flirtatious by their friends since that was just their way with one another. Meanwhile, at home, they could do some of the things that couples their age did. They would watch movies, play games, eat dinner together, make out on Soul's bedroom floor; and all while still seeming to just be well-adjusted kids.

As things stood, they were simply enjoying their time together as they could. Plus without their friends knowing they didn't need to worry too much about being swamped with questions about their status. She let out a small noise of disagreement but resumed her reading. She decided to let it go since he had, as she asked, finished packing right when they got home from shopping for their toiletries for the trip. It was relatively silent (aside from the occasional swear from Soul) until finally he whooped and pumped his fist in the air. "Fuck yeah! Take that, you flaming eyeball!" He cheered happily.

She glanced up and smiled, watching the cut scene play out with him. "Congrats," She said simply, looking back down at her book again. She had about two chapters left and she'd been hoping to finish it before tomorrow. She would never be able to finish on the bus ride up since they'd all be too preoccupied talking and watching the movies. She heard Soul humming lightly as he saved up and turned his attention back to her.

"Hey," He said lightly, causing her to look up at him. He grinned before pulling her right off the bed and sweeping her into his lap. "Wanna watch a movie?" He asked.

"What did you have in mind?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow. He shrugged, using his remote to shift to his DVD player.

"Whatever one you want," He said calmly. He pointed toward the small collection he had on a shelf beside the television. "I picked last time so it's your turn."

She slipped out of his grasp and headed over, looking through. She picked out one case and blinked a few times, smirking at him cheekily. "I didn't peg you as a fan of the movie Uptown Girls." She teased while waving said disc in the air. He blushed frantically and went to snatch it away from her. She leaned back and held it out of his reach.

"That isn't mine! Tsubaki must have left it here or something!" He protested quickly. She merely laughed and crawled away, pressing the button and placing the disc in the DVD player. She then returned to him, settling in and nuzzling into his shoulder, as the trailers started up. He was pouting but he didn't make any more vocal protests to the decision of the film, or where exactly it came from.

…

"Okay," Liz drawled slowly, her eye starting to twitch, "it was cute when they were doing it during I Just Can't Wait to be King. It was kinda funny when they did it through Be Prepared. But, I swear to God, doing it during Hakuna Matata is taking it a step too far!" She whirled around in her seat and sent a glare to the gaggle of laughing guys in the back of the bus.

By "it", she was referring to five members of the tuba section playing little plastic kazoos along with every song that had been sung thus far in the movie.

Everybody was already running on empty, what with having to get up at six in the morning to show up at the school to get everything packed up on the bus. After getting all three busses loaded with instruments, tuners and every student's baggage, they had all been gathered up in the auditorium to be read the rules and guidelines. It was eight o'clock when they were moved to the large room, and almost nine thirty before the headmaster was down giving his speech about why the rules were arranged in the first place (Kid had nearly wept with joy when he realized that his father's speech had been exactly 88 minutes in length). It was then that William Evans had taken center stage to introduce the cast of characters that would be playing the role of "chaperones" for the little trip.

Aside from the obvious of himself, the band instructor and the choir teacher, there was the added threat of Wesley Evans (whom had signed up as soon as Kami had revealed she'd be unable to attend). That alone had made Soul look as f he was ready to fall to his knees and weep like a child whose candy had just been snatched away. It had taken all Maka's self-control not to laugh until she saw the other four chaperones participating.

She should have seen it coming; after all, she had heard that Spellcasters had decided to postpone their world-wide tour yet again. It wasn't until she saw Blair on stage, all a twitter and gushing how excited she was that she really understood what that meant. It appeared that again her childhood defenders were playing the role of her guardians (perhaps at the request of her overprotective father, which she wouldn't doubt) against her wishes. She sank lower into her seat and groaned. Soul, whom was sitting behind her, leaned over. "Can they really keep delaying their tour just to stalk you?" He whispered softly.

"Apparently they can," She had whimpered lightly. That was how they ended up sitting on the bus with Wes and Blair. The two were sitting in the seats right in front of Soul and Kid, whom were seated across the small aisle from Maka and Tsubaki. Liz and Patty were seated in front of Maka and Tsubaki while Free and Eruka were behind Soul and Kid. It was only a four hour drive to get to Disneyland from their home but there was a touch of traffic, and the movies were meant to be a distraction of sorts.

The tuba section had apparently decided this wasn't interesting enough.

"If you don't stop playing that damn kazoo, Dougie Smithson, I will come back there and shove that thing down your throat! I know you're the one leading the show!" Liz snarled, jumping up in her seat. She had her knees on the cushion, her hand clenched on the headrest of the while the other shook her fist in the air. Tsubaki, whom had taken the window seat behind the other young woman, whimpered lowly.

"Liz, please, calm down," She said meekly, holding up her hands. Patty was laughing eagerly, watching and praying her sister would spring into action. Maka had her elbow on the armrest that led to the aisle, holding up her head, in a posture more suited for the albino across the aisle from her. He was smirking, glancing up at her from his PSP.

"Why don't you come back here and force me to stop, Thompson?" The tuba player goaded loudly, snorting like a pig with his laughter. Liz probably would have gone into attack mode, too, if not for the singer of their group holding her in place. Jade orbs flickered between them to their would-be chaperones.

Blair and Wes were clearly too busy flirting with one another. What made her think that? Well, it may have just been her intuition… Or the fact her older step-brother had one arm over her shoulder, tilting the indigo haired woman's head up by the chin with his other… Or the fact Blair's hands were on the young man's thigh while her chest was pressed up against his ribcage… but she could just tell they were more interested in one another. Eruka was looking through a magazine, smiling and humming to herself as she looked at all the different things that California had to offer. She was also probably checking which ones the school trip would include in them. And, lastly, was Free, who was searching the internet on his Android. Well, she may as well step in and get things handled as safely as possible.

"Free?" She asked in a soft, sweet coo. Kid, Soul, her girlfriends and said male all turned to look at her. She had fixed her posture, setting her folded hands in her lap, and plastered on an adorable little pout that had a strange mix of nervousness to it.

"What is it, Maka-Chan?" He asked, tone suddenly alert and concerned. Eruka glanced over casually before rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She was used to seeing her naïve boyfriend get manipulated by everyone, herself included, because of his somewhat valiant nature.

"Um... Would you… If it isn't a bother," She trailed lightly, glancing back at the cackling and tooting kazoo players in the back. He followed her gaze and blinked before turning back to her.

"Oh, sure thing," He said casually while pushing himself up from his seat. He walked over to the back and all eyes followed him. Well, except for Maka, Eruka, Blair and Wesley. He calmly took one of the kazoos, snapped it in half with the greatest of ease, and then dropping it into Dougie Smithson's lap. He repeated this with the other four kazoos. "So, how about we all have a nice and relaxing rest of the drive, okay?" He asked calmly.

All four boys, pale as sheets, could only stutter out gibberish and nod their heads. He smiled, nodded at them, and then headed back to the front. Liz and Patty were both howling in delight, Tsubaki looked absolutely shocked, Kid was smirking a bit and Soul was snickering. "Thank you, Free-Kun!" Maka said happily, sitting up to give him a peck on the cheek.

He responded with a warm smile and giving her head a little pat. "Aw, anything for you," He said happily. He then returned to his seat, turning his attention to what his girlfriend was peering over and starting up a quiet conversation with her.

The rest of the drive was nice and peaceful, silent thanks being sent to the ashy haired girl whom had gotten the kazoo incident handled.

The busses pulled into their hotel and everyone got settled in. Luckily enough, they had been allowed to pick their own rooms though there were a few restrictions. The one that had dampened Maka, Liz and Patty's moods was that they had to be partnered up with six girls from their designated group, or, rather, their fine arts program. Because of this, three freshmen that weren't even members of their sections from the lower orchestra class had been placed in their rooms. On the plus side, the three freshmen were friends and had no problem trying to squeeze all three of them onto one of the two king-sized beds they were given in their room. Therefore, by default, Liz and Patty partnered up with the other king-sized and Maka had volunteered to take the pull-out bed within the couch.

Needless to say, Maka was grateful to know she wouldn't have to share a bed with a stranger.

Soul was in a similar predicament, though he was better off than she was. His room consisted of he, Kid, Kilik, and Wesley (their room being on the smaller side since there were less boys that needed to be placed last minute than anticipated). Today was for the kids to get settled in and explore the hotel and partake in things like the pool or the game lounge allowed for the guests. The only rule was that everyone be back in their rooms for the rest of the night by ten o'clock that evening. Given that it was currently only about two in the afternoon, most kids were thinking of lunch. Maka, Liz, and Patty were heading to meet up with Soul and Kid to head to the small restaurant offered here in the hotel when they spotted an interesting scene.

Black*Star, whom was a member of no fine arts program, was being questioned by Will Evans and the band instructor. Soul was leaning against the wall next to his hotel room, a few feet away from the trio, with Kid next to him. Tsubaki inched a little closer to Maka, feeling uncomfortable when viridian orbs shifted from adults to her.

"What the Hell is he doing here?" Liz asked flatly, nodding her head toward the bluenette.

"He hid in the baggage compartment on the third bus," Soul explained simply. He shrugged as he pushed off the wall. "He must have snuck in their while we were all in the auditorium getting briefed on what was expected of us."

"Damn," Maka mumbled lightly in awe. She had to give Black*Star a little credit; never had she seen someone do something so simultaneously stupid yet also clever at the same time. As long as one could handle being jostled about and hit with heavy bags than they could probably be fine for a few hours in the underneath portion of the busses they had taken, actually. "So, what exactly are they going to do with him now?" She asked, watching as Will led the teenage stowaway off with him.

It was Kid who chimed in at this point. "They aren't sure since nothing like this has ever happened before," He commented evenly. No one in their group argued that point with him, what with his father being the big boss and all. "They're going to call my father and see how he wants the situation handled rather than take a wild guess."

"But why did he do it?" Tsubaki piped in suddenly, azure eyes alive with concern and interest. Soul glanced at her before chuckling lightly and shaking his head.

"Why else? To try and win you back, of course," He said as if it was obvious. She blushed while the three blonde women looked at him skeptically. "Black*Star's loud, rude, and usually pretty self-centered but even he can understand when he's made a mistake. And what with him considering himself a God, he feels that he needs to make his apologetic gesture a grand one."

"Anyway," Kid cut in suddenly, clearing his throat. He held up a small deck of playing cards, a grin on his face. "Why don't we get lunch and then play cards in the lounge?" He suggested in hopes of alleviating the tension, if only a bit.

Maka had noticed it, just the same as she was sure as the others. Ever since his little chats with Liz started, Kid was beginning to become a little less stuffy. It was strange, seeing such a prim and proper young man begin to act like most other boys his age. It was also refreshing and helped them to feel more comfortable with him. "Sure, but no matter what game it is, I'm going to kick your ass," Liz beamed merrily.

"That's what you think," He hummed before heading off.

"Oh, it is on!" The blonde laughed, chasing after him. Patty was close behind, and Maka grinned at Soul. It was nice for things to be like this.

Maybe the trip would still be fun, even with Black*Star's startling arrival on the scene.

…

"Hey, I'm going to go get us some ice," Soul said calmly at about eight o'clock. Maka glanced up at him from their perches at a large coffee table. Kid was seated in a lounge chair at one end while Liz and Patty were settled into the small loveseat to his right. Maka and Tsubaki were on the love seat to his left, and Soul had been seated in the chair across from Kid. He picked up their empty container of ice and nodded his head toward their empty glasses on the coasters. "I figure we'll need a little more ice if we're going to stay here until last call."

"I'll go with you," Maka said simply, standing up and brushing off her skirt. Liz glanced up from her cards but then ignored it. They had been told not to be caught wondering around without at least one other student with you. Besides that, she didn't want to lose yet another hand to Death the friggin' Kid. Who would have thought he would be a champion at poker?

"Cool," Soul said with a small smirk, turning and heading toward the door. She followed after him quickly but quietly. The ice machine was down the hall, in a tiny room with two vending machines. Once the two were inside and the door was shut, Maka found her back to the door and a grinning Soul leaning very closely into her personal space. "Our friends are awesome and everything, but, damn, I've wanted to get you alone for a while."

"We can't be gone long," She commented lightly, thought she didn't protest when one of his fingers curled around the ends of one of her pigtails. He chuckled before lightly brushing his lips against hers, receiving her responding eagerly. She hummed and one of her arms wrapped around his neck. Soul pulled away for a second to set the empty bin over by the machine, just a centimeter or so away from the little trigger that would send the ice tumbling out.

He then returned to her, arms slipping around her waist to pull her closer. She giggled lightly, her arms snaking completely around his neck and kissing him again. One of her hands tangled in his hair while she relaxed completely into his embrace. The pair always enjoyed the moments they could be like this, since it occurred a lot less than they would have preferred.

Why couldn't they just get to be normal teenagers in love?

End

Notes:

Poll is still up because I would like to try and weasel a few more votes out of those of you who haven't yet. :D

I was originally going to make this one big, long ass chapter but I decided against it. I figured that breaking it up would make it easier to read, as well as keep me from cutting anything out for fear of overloading the chapter.

I have, in fact, seen the movie Uptown Girls. It made me cry. :(

Confession time: some of the events in this chapter are from my actual life. My freshmen year I went to Disneyland (though our trip was for only three days, so we didn't get to do nearly as much as the crew will in this story) and some very… interesting things happened. If you want a full explanation on what was true, what the circumstances were and all that jazz just send me a note.

Next Chapter:

The group gets to hit the beach and tons of insanity follows! Liz proves that she is a better detective than anyone ever gave her credit for, while Blair comes up short in that respect. Black*Star proves that he is not a man or a mouse; as well as that he has a secret fear no one was expecting. More heart-pounding realizations and insane shenanigans strike our cast!