A/N: I am SO sorry this took so long. I really feel bad that I couldn't get it up sooner. My friends and I have been having a lot of drama lately... and it's been chaotic. Thanks for sticking with me.
Another big thank you to all the reviews! I'm loving them! Thanks for the motivation guys :)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Soul Eater or its characters.
"Maka," a voice called softly, tugging the girl out of her dream and back into reality.
"Hm?" She mumbled, blinking her eyes open. She grudgingly released her grip on Soul's shirt and adjusted to the dim light. The TV was on a blue screen, casting an eerie glow upon the room and revealing Liz still huddled on the couch with Kid. BlackStar was fighting to stay awake, his head nodding. Tsubaki looked as though she was already asleep, but one of her blue eyes slowly blinked open and she rubbed a hand down her face. Patti was standing up and bouncing on the balls of her feet, grinning at her sister.
"The movie's over and our guests have a question," Soul looked down at her lying on his chest.
"What?" Maka glanced around, noticing the clock on the DVD player, "Oh my god. It's 11:20."
"Yeah," Kid came up, Liz clinging to his arm, fearfully casting glances behind her, "so we were all wondering if we could crash at your place for the night and go home in the morning before school."
Maka untangled herself from Soul's grasp and stood up, rubbing her sore back, "Ugh, this is why I didn't want a party until the weekend. I don't feel like dealing with this," she yawned, "So sure, whatever. Make yourself at home," she waved a hand, mumbling.
"All the girls in your room and all the guys in Soul's," Kid suggested like it was already a fact, heading sleepily towards Soul's room, dragging along his weapon.
"Can you please let go of me, Liz," Kid pried her off his arm, pushing her into Maka's room, "There aren't any ghosts here and nothing is going to hurt you."
Liz stood shaking outside of the door, "M-Maka, Tsubaki, can someone c-come here, p-please?" she squeaked out once Kid left her.
Maka walked over and flipped on the hall light along with her room's and the bathroom's, "Okay, fine. Everyone come on, there are extra blankets in the closet."
Liz still wouldn't go in the bedroom until Maka joined her. The guys headed noisily into Soul's room, BlackStar yelling and laughing loudly before Tsubaki silenced him. They could be heard chatting softly through the door.
Tsubaki and Patti joined the girls after grabbing more sheets and pillows.
"Maka?"
"Yes?"
"Is there going to be enough room on your bed?" Liz quickly climbed on and lay down, counting the amount of empty spaces that could fit a body. She felt better with everyone in the small enclosed room together, the overhead light providing a sense of security.
"No, but I get to sleep in my own bed. So then it's one other person, MAYBE two," she shuffled over to her drawer and pulled out some pajama shorts and a t-shirt.
"Can I borrow some clothes, please?" Tsubaki appeared next to her, "Just some sweat pants would be fine. I can wear this shirt." She gestured to her outfit.
"Here," Maka handed her both anyway, "Liz, Patti, are you fine?" Maka turned around, pulling a t-shirt over her head.
"Yup!" Patti cried happily from her nest on the floor, "I'll sleep down here. Goodnight everybody," she snuggled into the sheets with her giraffe. "Oh, and Goodnight Kid!" She yelled through the door.
"Goodnight, Patti," Kid's annoyed voice echoed into the room faintly, "Night, Liz."
"Goodnight everybody!" Liz made herself comfortable on the bed, "Now let's get to sleep."
"Wait, you both brought a change of clothes?" Maka stared at Liz, clad in a silky tank-top with a pair of shorts.
"Yeah, Patti and I brought pajamas. You never know," she shrugged innocently, falling back into the pillow and tugging the covers up to her chin.
Maka groaned before sliding in next to Liz, leaning over to check that the alarm was still on.
Tsubaki turned off the light then squeezed in the empty space beside Maka, managing to fit on the full bed.
"See? Told you we could fit three people," Liz mumbled sleepily.
"Goodnight, Maka," Tsubaki said softly.
But Maka was already out cold. A comfortable silence fell, only the soft breathing of the ones who were asleep echoing in the dark.
Something creaked in the other room.
"T-Tsubaki?" Liz stuttered.
"It was just a movie, Liz," Tsubaki groaned sleepily, "I promise nothing is going to kill you. Now please,
go to sleep."
"Okay..."
Maka sleepily came to, emerging from an exciting dream. She stared at the ceiling in the darkness, checking the sky outside to gauge the time. The grinning moon was still high up in the sky, signaling that it was too early to be waking up. Maka leaned over Liz's sleeping form and looked at the time; 3:42.
She groaned and fell back, trying to sleep, but realized her bladder was calling for relief and that must be what woke her. Maka slipped out of the covers and crawled over the top of the bed, avoiding bumping into her friends. She reached the door and quietly opened it, sneaking out into the hall and closing it behind her.
"Maka?"
She turned to the voice, "Soul? What are you doing up?"
"Bathroom," he shut his door, standing a few feet from her.
"Oh, me too."
"You first," he waved her on, tiredly running a hand through his hair.
Maka nodded, going into the bathroom and shutting the door. A few minutes later she emerged and looked at Soul leaned against the wall.
"You alright?" She stepped towards him.
"Yeah. Just really tired," he stumbled past her and into the bathroom, closing the door gently.
"Okay..." She looked sadly at the closed door then headed back to bed.
The sound of pills shaking in a bottle rattled faintly, then running water. Maka lay listening as this repeated twice, then the door opened and Soul shuffled off to bed, closing his door again.
Maka furrowed her brows, what was that all about? She sighed and clambered back out of bed and into the bathroom.
Soul had sloppily left the cabinet drawer open, revealing multiple pill bottles. She picked one up and read the hand-written label: Pain Reliever. The next: Artificial Soul Protection. Another buried deep in the drawer: Iron supplement. Maka's eyes widened, "What are these?" She whispered, "All this for anemia?"
She silently pushed the drawer closed and went back to bed, stepping over Patti, before snuggling between Liz and Tsubaki.
Maka could no longer fall asleep, her mind whirling with questions and doubts. 6:00 came around with her eyelids drooping and a brain unwilling to let her sleep.
The alarm started beeping obnoxiously and Liz stirred beside her. Tsubaki sat up tiredly, along with Patti.
Liz slammed her hand on the off button and slowly pushed herself up on her elbows, "It's too early."
Tsubaki got out of bed and began changing into her outfit from yesterday. Patti pulled a pink hoodie over her head and sat quietly by the door, clutching her giraffe.
"You look terrible, Maka," Liz stood up and started tugging her sweats on over her pajama shorts.
"Thanks," she grumbled.
"Have trouble sleeping? I didn't kick you all night did I?" Liz grabbed her bag and brushed through her hair.
Maka shook her head as reluctantly got out of bed and changed, "Just thinking."
"You think too much," Liz smiled, "Relax sometimes, okay?"
Maka rolled her eyes and herded them out of her room.
Kid took Liz and Patti and headed out first, brushing through his hair in a fit about its unevenness. Liz suggested he could cut the other side and make it even. Tsubaki dragged BlackStar out, him complaining something about staying and sharing his godliness with these peasants.
Finally Soul and Maka were left alone with an hour or so to get ready for school.
"Soul?" Maka turned hesitantly towards him.
"What is it?"
She led him to the bathroom and opened the drawer she had gone through last night, "Have anything to explain?" She choked, tears welling up in her eyes. Tired from lack of sleep and distrust by her partner took their toll.
"Maka, I-"
"Why are you not telling me something? This isn't for anemia, Soul!" She yelled, trails of salt running down her cheeks, "Who gave these to you?"
Soul stood gaping like a fish, "I- I didn't want you worrying about me-"
"It's a bit too late for that!"
"There isn't anything to worry about though, these are helping," he struggled to explain, leaning heavily on the wall, "Stein, okay? Stein gave them to me, but don't drag him into this."
"What are these for?" Maka held up a pill bottle.
"The pain meds are for my scar, because it's been hurting lately. The iron is for my anemia," Soul ran his hand through his hair, avoiding eye contact with his meister.
"And this?" She held the bottle marked Artificial Soul Protection into his view.
Soul sighed, sitting up on the counter and leaning against the wall, "So no one would notice anything wrong. I don't want anyone worrying about me. I'm going to be fine."
"Why hide it? If you're fine then just explain the situation and no one is going to worry!" She wiped a sleeve across her face, wetting it with tears.
"Because people worry anyways," he looked up at her sadly, "Like you."
"I'm more worried since you felt the need to hide it from me," Maka spoke softly, tears streaming down her face. She stared at the wall, tracing patterns in the tile. "We're partners; it's my job to worry."
"And it's my job to protect you," he hung his head, putting a hand to his temple.
"This isn't protecting me," Maka whispered, "This hurts."
Soul blinked back a tear that threatened to escape, "I'm sorry. That was a stupid decision; hiding it from you. I won't do it again." He slid off the counter and walked up to her, pulling her into his chest and wrapping his arms around her.
Maka hesitated before laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping thin arms around his waist. She sniffed, blinking back tears, "Promise me you'll be okay."
"I promise," he breathed in her hair.
Even with that promise, Maka felt as if he was hiding something; like he was telling her that he'd be okay just so she would stop worrying.
"We should get ready for school," Maka muttered into his shirt, not pulling away.
"Okay," Soul squeezed her gently, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
She nodded, backing away, and brushed past him into the hall, "Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
Maka began cooking a scrambled egg, her mind on the events at hand.
She didn't look up when Soul came in and sat at the table, slouching sleepily in the chair.
"Maka?"
"Hm?"
"Can I stay home? I really don't feel well," he rested his head on his folded arms.
Maka turned off the stove and came over to him, feeling his forehead, "You DO have a bad fever," she frowned, debating if he could afford to skip, "We have exams tomorrow though..."
He didn't look up, shivering slightly, "I can't make it to school. I really feel like shit right now."
"Okay," she bit her lip, "Will you be alright on your own?"
"I don't know," Soul muttered; his voice muffled from his position on the table. He tilted to glance an eye at her, "Can you stay with me?"
Maka started eating her eggs, "I really should go to class..."
He turned back and hid his eyes from view again.
"Here, I'll go half a day. Will that work? I can get all our work and be back by lunch," Maka suggested.
"That'll work," Soul slid out of the chair and shuffled to his room, "I'm going to sleep."
"Okay," she finished her food and washed the plate in the sink, "Rest up and I'll be back around 12 to make you lunch!" She called into the other room.
Before heading out the door with her school books, Maka leaned against Soul's door, "Feel better okay?
I'll be back soon," she hesitated, "Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine. Now go, or you'll be late for class," Soul's weary voice sounded through into the hall faintly.
"Bye," Maka mumbled sadly, heading out the door and locking it behind her.
A/N: Hopefully this is still good. I'm really sorry it took so long to get up, I've been so busy.
I need to go back and watch Soul Eater to get back into the zone for it again.
Review please! I love hearing from you guys!