No I don't like you, I just thought you were cool enough to kick it; got a beach house I could sell you in Idaho…And since you think I don't love you-I just thought you were cute-that's why I kissed you…got a fighter jet I don't get to fly it, so I'm lying down…I've been thinking bout you…do you think about me too?

…

I was alone…finally….but I had no idea whether I was happy or sad about it. Blair left me about an hour ago, and since I watched the lock turn from the other side, I hadn't moved from my spot on the hard wood floors of the living room.

I was trying to read, but I couldn't quiet my mind long enough to focus on the words that my eyes had been glued to. I sighed, finally giving up, and closed my book, setting it down next to me before stretching out like a cat, and turning over onto my stomach.

My cell phone hadn't rung once all day, which was a huge surprise because normally I had to keep it on silent just to get some peace-that reminded me. I checked my phone again-nope, it wasn't on silent. No one-literally no one had called.

I sighed, and put my phone back down…I wasn't sure how to feel about being completely alone. On one hand, I liked it, because I wasn't allowed a single moment to myself since I came home from the hospital. But on the other, it was kind of sad…It was reminding me of the years that I spent living in Spirit's apartment…Even though this was a completely different environment, I couldn't help but to feel as if I were in the same predicament as before.

Hot tears welled up in my eyes and I was barely able to keep them from spilling over. I was beginning to feel like the walls were closing in on me, so I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. In fact I was focusing so hard on clearing my mind that I actually put myself to sleep.

…..

Hours after I had my mini anxiety attack, I woke up lying on the couch. I was beyond confused, because I just knew that I was on the floor, and I was home alone…unless Blair or someone had come to check up on me and carried me to the couch.

"Whatever…" I mumbled as I flopped back onto the cushions and grabbed the remote from where it had fallen onto the floor the night before.

I think I was flipping through channels mindlessly for about five minutes before I realized that someone was using the shower. I dropped the remote and jumped off the couch, before running to the kitchen and grabbing a dull butcher's knife out of the cutlery drawer, then beginning to quietly make my way to the bathroom door.

By the time I reached the door, the shower cut off, and whoever was in the bathroom was rifling through the cabinets. I inhaled deeply, and clutched the knife harder, preparing myself for when the door opened.

I didn't have to wait long; seconds later the door swung open, steam poured out I screamed and swung the knife (accidentally dropping it afterwards) , and a naked Soul shouted and crouched down, before tackling me.

"EEKK! S-Soul?! OH GOD YOU'RE WET!"

"Maka?!"

"OH GOD YOU'RE NAKED!"

"SHIT!"

"GET OFF OF ME! MAKA CHOP!" I shouted as I chopped him in the head with my hand, before pushing him off of me, and scrambling to my room before slamming the door and locking it.

I could hear him still groaning in pain and rolling around on the hall floor as I leaned against my door, and tried to calm my racing heart.

"Why are you naked!?" I shouted as I banged my fists against my head trying to block out the images of Soul sitting on top of me wet, and naked.

"I just took a shower! Why did you attack me?!"

"Cause you're naked dammit! Why don't you have a towel on!?" I could not for the life of me get the images out of my head or stop the blush that was taking over my entire body.

"I was going to get one; there are no more in the bathroom! I thought you were still sleeping!" He groaned again.

"Next time don't swing the door open before checking that no one's in the hall you idiot!" I sighed and banged my head against the door. "What are you doing home anyway…?" I asked quietly.

I bit my lip when he didn't answer, thinking maybe I shouldn't have asked…and when I heard him get up and walk away, I thought sadly that I had been correct.

I sighed and pulled my knees up to my chest so I could lay my forehead on them.

"Maka? Can you come out here please? Better yet, grab your shoes, and a jacket, we're going out." Soul's voice floated through my door, startling me into motion.

"K-kay…" I jumped up and dashed to my closet to get my beat up converses and pulled them on before grabbing the green utility jacket Soul bought me, pulling that on too before running over to look in my mirror. I ran my fingers through my hair, noting how much it had grown when it fell to my lower back, and then I stepped back and glanced at my outfit. I had on a simple fitted, black t-shirt, light blue skinny jeans, with an old braided black, leather belt, and on my feet, my black high-tops.

I nodded at my reflection, before turning and running over to the door, unlocking it, then running out.

…

I had no idea where Soul was taking me.

When we left the apartment, rather than going to get Soul's bike, we headed out on foot, and began walking to wherever it was that Soul had in mind.

Neither of us had said a word since before we left, and I was starting to get the feeling that it would stay that was until we got to where we were going.

We'd been walking for about a half an hour before Soul finally led me out of the afternoon sidewalk traffic, and pulled me to the doors of a run-down looking diner.

"Soul?" I asked quietly as he gently pulled me to the door.

"Don't worry, it's not so bad on the inside." He responded to my unasked question as he held the door open for me.

When I stepped inside of the diner, I was greeted by the smell of warm apples and cinnamon, happy looking faces, lots of laughter, and softly playing country music.

"Soul! Come on in! Oh, you brought a friend I see!" A smiling old woman with long silver hair tied up into a bun, pulled Soul in for a hug, and I was surprised to see him smiling just as big as he hugged the sweet-looking woman back.

"My you've grown since the last time I laid eyes on you!" The woman laughed as she stepped back to look at him.

"Last time I saw you was over the summer Granny." Soul smiled.

"Seems like it's been longer hun! But let's not be rude dear, who's your cute little friend? Is she your girlfriend?" She asked, elbowing him in the side as she came to stand next to him.

I couldn't stop the blush that rushed across my face if I wanted to. When I looked up at Soul who was sputtering at the woman, I was surprised to see that he had a blush on his face too.

"Granny! This is Maka, and Maka this is Granny." Soul sighed as he introduced us.

"Nice to meet you darling how old are you, and how do you two know each other?"

I froze, and Soul picked up the slack with out me even needing to ask "She was having some trouble at home so I took her in, and she's been living with me ever since…She's fifteen…"

Granny's smile seemed to morph into a more secretive looking thing, as she stepped away from Soul and came forward to wrap me up in her arms.

I hadn't realized how long it had been since I'd hugged someone, and I had to stop the tears that suddenly decided to well up in my eyes from falling. I pulled away and looked down at the floor.

"She's a beautiful girl Soul, you take good care of her, you hear me?" Granny squeezed my arm as she turned to look at Soul.

Soul blushed again. "Yes ma'am.."

"Good…now you two go have a seat and I'll send Maia over to take your orders in a bit." Granny ordered as she made shooing motions at us.

Soul looked at me and shrugged, before motioning for me to go ahead.

He let me pick our spot, so I decided on a booth in the back, away from all the commotion going on up front.

"So, how do you like Granny?" Soul smirked.

I blushed again and started fiddling with my hair. "I think that she's a very sweet woman…I didn't know that you had relatives-uhm!" I stuttered suddenly, feeling like a jerk for saying that.

Soul laughed and shook his head. "It's fine Maka…yes I have a family…I just chose to live away from them…Granny is actually not really my grandmother…I met her when I was fifteen…I had just moved out on my own. I came here to get something to eat late one night, and one of the waitresses suggested that I meet granny…I guess just by looking she figured out what was going on with me, because I didn't tell her anything about me…but anyway, she called Granny to come in to work, nearly at midnight, just to meet me…and she came…"

I watched Soul's face take on a far away look, and couldn't help but to feel a bit out of place…I didn't know what to say.

"Anyway…" He said suddenly; the far away look, long gone. "So…you wanted to know why I came home…" He asked, running a hand through his long hair.

I nodded shyly.

"Hey sugar, how you doing? I haven't seen you around here in a while!" A syrupy-sweet voice cut in, destroying Soul's train of thought. It was a girl about Soul's age. She was short and skinny with curves in all the right places, she had long, fiery red hair pulled up high on her head in a ponytail, and dark green eyes. She was gorgeous, and she made me feel extremely self-conscious.

"Hey Maia…I've been really busy lately." Soul offered the girl a half-smile.

"Busy? Too busy to come see little old me? Nonsense!" She giggled as she sat the menu's on the table in front of Soul.

"Yeah actually…I've been working and taking care of Maka, so between-"

"Who's Maka-your new dog?" Maia would have honestly seemed as if she had no idea who 'Maka' was, if she hadn't sliced and diced me with her eyes while Soul was still speaking.

Soul frowned slightly, completely missing Maia glaring at me. "No, this is Maka…she lives with me." Soul nodded at me.

Maia pretended to be surprised and turned to me with a fake smile on her face and her hand outstretched for me to shake.

Against my better judgment, I took it, and wasn't surprised when she tried to break my hand.

"It's nice to meet you hun…if you ever need anything you just let me know."

I winced and nodded.

"Alright! Well I'll be back to take your order in a bit!" Maia giggled as she waved at Soul before flouncing away.

Soul shook his head, before turning back to me. "What was I saying?"

"You were getting ready to tell me why you came home…You normally don't come home until I'm already asleep….I haven't seen you in a while…" I grabbed a piece of my hair, and started nervously twisting and twirling it around my fingers.

"Yeah…" Soul sighed and ran a hand through his own hair, tugging at it a bit before letting his hand drop to the table.

"I came home for you…it was brought to my attention that I haven't been taking proper care of you…and after having some sense knocked into me, I'm embarrassed to think that I let things get so bad…I thought I was helping you, and I thought that you would be okay with everyone being with you during the day…"

There was a sigh slipping through my lips before I could stop it; I could feel anger exploding in my stomach-anger I had no idea was even in me.

"I hate-" My voice cracked as tears welled up in my eyes. I cleared my throat and tried to start again. "I hated…being alone in that damn apartment." Soul's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. "I hate when all your friend's…hover over me when they come over, and I hate when they constantly call my phone when nobody has time to come baby-sit me…I hate when you stay away all day then sneak in after I'm asleep….You saved me…twice…once from my father, and then from myself…Don't abandon me now Soul, I've…I've grown to li-" I stuttered and my eyes tore from his for a moment before darting back to meet again. "to like you…" I finished softly, letting my eyes finally fall to the table.

Soul sat in silence for a moment; I was starting to think that he wouldn't respond at all, when he finally cleared his throat.

I looked up just as his mouth was opening.

"Soulllll~ I'm back to take your order!" Maia squealed as she came flouncing up to our table.

My face fell as I looked back down at the table.

"Actually Maia…we're gonna go. We'll have to do this another time." Soul cut into Maia's excited chatter calmly as he stood from the seat, before turning to me, blocking Maia's glaring face from my vision, and stretched his hand towards me.

I took it slowly before standing from the booth. As soon as I was upright I tried to pull my hand from his, but to my surprise, he didn't let go.

We went and found Granny to say goodbye before we left the dinner. She hugged us separately, and when it was time for her to hug me, she leaned in and whispered quietly in my ear "He's a good boy…don't you worry child." Before she let me go she smiled her secret smile at me, then said goodbye.

I wondered what in the world she had meant by that as we left.

...

A.N: Alright ten reviews to see what happens next.