Chapter 12
Maka didn't know time could go by so fast, it was already a week since she and Soul had shared their first kiss together. Something her memory didn't let her forget, it replayed the moment over and over again during the past week, Liz and Patti had been excited at the news, gushing and demanding details, not that there many details in the first place. She lay in bed enjoying the warmth of her blanket, and listening to Patti's soft snores as she slept on her bedroom floor, the girls had spent the night having not been able to spend much time together outside of work. They had gone to bed pretty late and were now paying the consequences, Maka looked to her clock and cursed it was already 1:30pm and she needed to get ready for Soul's niece's birthday party at 2:30pm Soul had said he would pick her up at 2. Maka sprung out of bed grabbing the pile of clothes she had set out last night and headed to the bathroom, after a quick shower she dried off and got dressed, now all she needed was her hair and make-up, Maka headed to her room once again, she stopped in the living surprised to see Soul and Liz sitting opposite each other. "Hey Maka, I let him in." Liz ginned at her the emerald eyed woman narrowed her eyes pointing at the elder blond "Behave." She warned she turned to the white haired man "I'm sorry, I slept in late," she shot Liz another look "I'll be out in a minute." Soul shrugged "Take your time." Maka hurried into the bedroom, she gave Liz a warning look conveying the words behave-or-I'll-kill-you. Liz grinned in return her silent just-watch-me followed by a wink, Maka sighed she just hoped she wouldn't embarrass her too badly.
Soul eyed the woman on the opposite couch, she was pretty too much of a girly girl by the looks of it, since she hadn't stopped ogling her nails since they sat down to wait for Maka. He wondered how Maka and she became friends or what Maka had meant by warning her to behave. "Soo…" the blond drawled "Do you always stalk girls or is this new for you?" Soul raised a snowy brow "Stalk?" he asked puzzled the woman named Liz scoffed "You only saw her one day and now all of a sudden you two are going out and stuff, what was it that attracted you to Maka? I mean I know she's cute and all but, she doesn't seem your type." Soul chuckled "And just what do you know about the types of women I date?" Liz met his stare evenly "I don't but I assume you like gorgeous women with expensive clothes maybe tits and ass, Maka doesn't fit in that category." The ivory haired man shrugged "I don't go based off appearances, Maka is genuinely beautiful both inside and out, I like her for who she is not by what she wears of how big her assets are." Liz pursed her lips but conceded to his words, he seemed to be speaking the truth, and though she thought he was extremely handsome, she wasn't going to let pretty boy break her friend's heart, she narrowed her eyes at him "If you dare to break her heart or hurt her in any way…" she glared heatedly at him "I will personally hunt your ass down and break your face, along with every damn bone in your body, am I clear?" Soul never knew fear until he met Liz Thompson, something about her just screamed "I can be crazy, don't make me bring it out!" So he swallowed silently and nonchalantly muttered "Loud and clear." He wasn't sure just how convincing he was but she backed off soon after.
"I'm ready!" Maka chirped behind them, Soul immediately jumped up and appreciated her "You look great." He complimented to which she muttered a thank you and walked over to him, he motioned for her to walk in front and they ambled their way to the door, he stepped out and waited for her as she called back into the door way "Don't break anything! Lock the door if you are gonna leave, I'll see you later." He caught the warm "Ok!" and the smile Liz gave the younger blond, though when he caught the aqua eyes on the other side they instantly turned icy and he was grateful when the door closed. Liz Thompson sure was an enigma all on her own he shuddered. "I hope Liz didn't traumatize you." Maka spoke up as they made their way to the parking lot to his car, he looked down at the petite woman "No, but she's very…. Intimidating." He provided Maka laughed "Yeah, she can be very intimidating when she needs to be, but living on the streets does that to you." She shrugged nonchalantly and Soul reared back "How did you two meet?" he asked, a smile ghosted on her lips as she answered "My freshman year in high school, she and Patti tried to take my lunch money at knife point, they'd been running with one of the gangs in the district, and that day I was tired and angry so I ended up fighting them both, it was a pretty close fight but they respected me after that and we've been friends since then."
Soul couldn't help but feel awed by the woman beside him; he chuckled at the thought of Maka getting down in the middle of the crowded hallway. He'd seen the damage she could do so he could only imagine what Liz and Patti were capable of, then her warning popped up and he shuddered he'd like to keep his face in piece along with the rest of his body. They talked throughout the drive to his brother's house ranging from Maka's years in high school to his own experiences, until they pulled up to the circular driveway of a two story house with a wraparound porch. It was beautiful a sunny yellow with white trimming and rose bushes beside the stairs. Two windows on the lower part and a circle with two square ones on either side, it was like something out of a movie. "Come on, we gotta go around the back." The young woman nodded and followed him around the side of the house to the back and she could hear laughter and the shrill screams of children, they both came around the bend and Maka grinned it was a typical birthday party, a bounce house to one side of the yard, tables lined neatly in the center of the yard, three other tables on the outer sides one filled with rectangle aluminum trays, plates, cutlery and napkins, the second had cups and big orange jugs with the words "Gatorade" in white a blue and white cooler sat on either end, and the third held all the little girl's presents, Maka hadn't even noticed the two huge parcels wrapped in pink paper in Soul's arms until he added them to the mountain of gifts already on the table.
The theme was princess, since everything either had Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or Ariel on it. "Uncle Sooouuullll!" came an excited squeal and Maka managed to catch a small blur of pink tutu as a small bundle of energy collided with Soul's chest, she smiled at the affectionate display between Uncle and Niece, before Soul stood up and grabbed hold of the child's hand he walked towards Maka and stopped "Ivoney, this is Maka, Maka this is my niece Ivoney." He motioned between the two and Maka smiled at the tiny child "Hi, Happy birthday!" Maka said kneeling down to her height, the tiny girl grinned "Hi!" she said shyly and Maka grinned "You're pretty." The little girl said in awe the young woman laughed "Why thank you, you're so cute." She said tapping the younger girl on the nose, she was small only going up to Maka's mid-thigh, her white hair in a bob curling under her chin, and blue eyes twinkling with energy and mirth . The little girl giggled "Are you Uncle Soul's girlfriend?" Maka shook her head "No sweetie, we're just friends." The little girl pouted "Awww that sucks! Cuz then that would make you my Auntie and that would be awesome! Other than Mommy I'm the only girl." And Maka couldn't help but laugh at the child, the little girl was called away by a playmate and she scurried off. "She likes you." Soul said watching the little girl flounce away, her pink tutu moving with her. Maka smiled "I like her too, she's so cute." Soul smirked at least he had no problem with his niece accepting her, now he had to present her to his brother and sister in law as well as his parents.
Maka followed Soul as he introduced her to other family members and friends, she was surprised to see Black Star and Tsubaki there and even sat with them for a while before Soul found his brother and dragged Maka towards him, and there was absolutely no way they could ever deny they were brothers, Wes as he was introduced to her was Soul's mirror image except Wes was a bit taller and more older looking, but they were opposites as well Soul had a slouch to his posture while Wes stood perfectly straight and smiled more than Soul did. And Wes' wife Evelina was friendly and amiable they both instantly took to each other with ease, something Soul was grateful for, now all he needed was for Maka to meet his parents. This happened sooner than he thought when he found them sitting at one of the tables by the shade, "Mom, Dad." Soul called to them and they both turned happiness lighting up their faces, "Soul!" called his mom happily she got up and came to her son giving him a kiss on the cheek and appraising him, his Father came and gave his youngest son a hug. "Mom, Dad I'd like you to meet Maka, Maka these are my parents Valentine and Alphonse." Maka stepped forward hands clasped in front of her she bowed in respect "Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Evans." Mrs. Evans trilled a laugh "Please, darling call me Valentine." She embraced the young woman, who returned the gesture shyly, Mr. Evans also hugged her "You are one beautiful young lady." He complimented and Maka blushed murmuring a thank you. "You have such beautiful eyes; I've never seen a color so green in all my life." Mrs. Evans smiled cupping her face; the young woman smiled "Thank you, my Mother also has the same eye color." Maka studied Soul's parents as they caught up with their son, Mr. Evans was tall, just like his sons, with the same ivory hair and muscular build, Maka noticed his eyes were more of a burgundy than his son's ruby red, dressed in a white dress shirt and black slacks, dress shoes shone on his feet. His wife was of average height, olive toned with twinkling hazel eyes, brunette curls half-ways down her back, dressed in a summer dress of a pretty peach color and same colored high heels, she was gorgeous. Soul's family was made of nothing but pretty people she couldn't help but think, she nodded when Soul excused himself to go speak privately with his Father, something Maka noticed wasn't settling well with him. She sat with his Mother and her amicable nature soon had the jade eyed woman unwinding, losing herself in a conversation that went from Soul's childhood and his many adventures, many of which Maka later filed away to tease him with, and her experiences with cancer. Maka liked her, she wasn't stuck up, Maka admired the woman for her strength after having dealt with such a frightening and no doubt exhausting experience. "Maka," began Mrs. Evans after a while "I can tell my son has a thing for you, and I don't know if you feel the same, but I like you and I hope this isn't the last we see of each other, you seem like a very nice young lady, and stronger than you seem, you're the type of woman I would hope my son settles down with." Maka blinked "Thank you?" she responded though it sounded more like a question and the older woman smiled "Maybe one day we will even share the same last name." Maka blushed and the woman laughed at her reaction, Soul came back a few minutes later and seemed to be struggling with something she didn't question it, but he wasn't the same as before. The party came and went, the presents were opened, the food finished, the cake cut and passed out and before Maka knew it she was on her way back to the apartment, Soul was quiet and thoughtful, Maka didn't interrupt whatever it was that was bothering hoping he would tell her when he was ready, he'd listened to her so she could return the favor.
They made it to the apartment complex and made their way to her apartment she opened the door, and looked back to meet Soul's troubled expression he seemed torn between pain and anger she was about to ask what was wrong when he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers, this was different it wasn't soft or full of caring like last time, but filled with longing, despair and want she reciprocated, lips stumbling against his and she wondered what had caused him to react this way, after a few minutes they broke apart panting, and he leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. "Soul?" she questioned "What's wrong?" Ruby eyes drowned in emerald "Maka, I know this is sudden, but I… I want to know, would…" he took a deep breath "Would you like to be my girlfriend?" Her breath hitched and she bit her lip, looking back up to him she could see some inner turmoil though she didn't know what it was and surfacing in the ruby red of his eyes was doubt, she smiled cupping his face in her small hands "I would love to." She answered she squeaked as he claimed her lips for his own again, his grin nearly splitting his face in two.
