Chapter 11

Maka followed Soul to only he knew where not really paying attention to their destination. She had so much on her mind, so many questions and very little answers, how was it that she never noticed Alex cheating? How had she not caught the signs? She felt stupid, betrayed, embarrassed and more than a little angry, was she really that naive? Probably, she wasn't the luckiest girl when it came to guys, which was the reason she ended up dating assholes like Alex. She remembered all the promises he'd made, the assurances that she had changed his 'player' ways, how he would tell her that he loved her and that she was the only girl for him. She snorted, which caused Soul to look at her his eyebrow quirked though he made no comment, Maka crossed her arms over her chest, looking up at the starlit sky, only to be reminded of the nights she had spent staring at them in Alex's arms, she scowled dropping her head once more to the sidewalk. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Her mind chided and she couldn't help to agree, she was stupid, more than she thought she'd been. "We're here." came Soul's voice broke throughher thoughts.

She looked up to see they had meandered to the small playground behind the apartment building. It wasn't much just a big square with sand, a slide, a swing set, a merry-go-round and a jungle gym. She looked up at the white haired male raising a perfectly arched eyebrow "Really?" she asked amused, Soul shrugged a shoulder chuckling at her tone. Maka shook her head smiling, she made her way to the swings ploping down and used her legs to swing back and forth. She remembered of the times when she and Black Star would go to the park and he would push her on the swings, she had liked how high she could go almost as if she could fly. Or how they would compete against one another to see who could swing the highest. Even now feeling the air play in her hair, watching as the sky got close and then far once more, she loved it. "Having fun there?" Soul asked watching her as she swung in the air like a child. "Come swing with me!" she called to him, he waited until she went back before scurrying to the other side and sitting on the other swing, before long they were both laughing at their antics before they stopped. Maka beamed "I remember one time when I was 10 and Black Star was 11," she laughed at the memory "We were swinging really high and Star being the 'God' he was decided he would jump off the swing, he jumped but didn't exactly do it the right way or something, he ended up face planting in the sand, to this day he claims he meant to do it." She shook her head but the smile never faded, Soul chuckled at the story.

"Hey, in about a week my niece will turn 5, my brother is throwing a birthday party for her, would you like to come with me?" Soul asked looking at her, Maka smiled "Sure, I didn't know you had a niece." she commented the male nodded pulling out his wallet and handing her a small picture, Maka took it careful not to smudge it, in the light provided by the lampost she could make out a baby girl with white hair and blue eyes, her pink dress had a picture of a heart on it. She had no teeth but still smiled her eyes crinkling a bit, she awed "She's so cute, what's her name?" Maka handed the picture back "Ivoney." Soul responded tucking away the picture and his wallet "She's a lot bigger now, that was when she was like 6 or 7 months old." he smiled "She's also a chatterbox, won't stop asking questions, it's pretty funny she's a curious little girl." Maka laughed lightly "I'm sure we were the same at that age." Soul laughed with her "Yeah probably." She sighed "I'm an only child, I don't have the joy of having nieces or nephews." Soul looked over at her "Really? There is only my brother and I, when he got married Mother was ecstatic, she wanted a daughter but she got ovarian cancer and couldn't have anymore kids." Maka glanced at him "I'm sorry, you must have been pretty upset." The white haired man nodded "We all were, but we stood by her." Maka smiled "That's great, your family must be very united." she commented.

"Yeah, we are what about yours?" he asked, Maka paused for a second before answering "My Mom and Dad divorced when I was 13, my Dad wouldn't stop cheating so my Mom divorced his ass and went traveling, she left me with him I got a job at a restaurant when I was 16 and saved up until I was 18, moved out and now here I am 3 years later." she shrugged a shoulder "I haven't seen or heard from my Dad since, he doesn't really try to find me. And I could care less about him anyway." Maka looked away hoping he didn't see the anger burning in her eyes. She hadn't been very truthful with him, she'd left out the major part of why she actually moved out of her Father's house. "Hey, can I ask you a question? If it's too personal you don't have to answer." Soul asked after a few minutes. Maka nodded "I heard that girl at the club say something about your Dad, I can't exactly remember but I was wondering what she meant." She tensed, not sure whether to respond or make up a lie, but she didn't feel like she should Soul made her feel comfortable she took a breath "My Dad... he" she turned away not wanting to see his expression when she told him "He used to rape, first once in a while, then frequently, that's why I moved out. I couldn't stand to be around him, I felt sick and disgusted at him and at myself. It's why I've never actually been with anyone." She didn't notice when he moved so she was surprised when he cupped her face and turned her to face him. She didn't know why but she didn't like to see him so upset, her hand moved on its own accord her thumb gently massaging the frown away. Soul closed his eyes relishing in the sensation of feeling her so close, he could feel her warm breath on his face, and without second thinking his lips touched hers soft and warm.

Maka didn't know why she didn't pull away, it just felt so right. She wrapped her arms around his neck, turning her head slightly to the side and reciprocated his actions. Nothing had felt as right as being here, with Soul, she had never felt this way. They broke apart, slightly out of breath Maka buried her face in the crook of his neck, while Soul held her in his arms though not by much since she was still on the swing, he kissed the side of her head, the silky feel of her ash blond hair tickled his nose and the smell of strawberries filled his nostrils, no matter how uncool it sounded, he could stay like this forever. He smiled into her hair, forever sounded nice, it sounded perfect, he couldn't really understand what it was about her that caught his attention, but she was different, she was Maka, Maka Albarn the girl next door. They stayed that way for a long time, neither said a word, neither spoke nor moved, it was just too damn perfect for them.

AN: Another chapter! I hope it was as good as you expected :) Until next time :)