Maka and Soul Say Goodbye

"You're moving!?" BlackStar shouted as the group of friends hung out in the cafeteria.

Maka nodded. "On Saturday."

Collectively, they all groaned. Soul didn't say anything. He didn't even look at Maka. He stared toward the window, with his head rested on his hand, and a pensive look on his face.

"You should have told us earlier," Patty complained.

"My mom sprung it up on me," Maka said. "I thought I could talk her out of it..." she glanced at Soul, "...but that didn't work."

Tsubaki asked, "How do you feel?"

Maka shrugged. "I feel really upset. I don't want to leave my friends. I don't want to leave DWMA. But I don't have a choice."

Killik suggested, "Then let's have a goodbye party."

Everyone but Soul nodded and cheered in agreement. Soul remained quiet.

"Yeah, Ox and Harvar and Thunder and Fire and I will plan it all out, and on Friday, let's all meet at Kid's house and chill," Killik suggested.

"Why my house?" Kid asked.

"Biggest one," Killik said.

Kid could agree with that.

Maka shook her head, "I don't want to feel like I'm saying goodbye to everyone. It feels weird."

"Maka, it might be fun," Soul quietly said.

Maka stared at him. Everyone stared at him. BlackStar shouted, "If Soul wants a party, then we've got to have one."

So it was settled. The same crew that went to Kim's birthday party went to Maka's goodbye party. They all hung out at Kid's house, drinking soda, eating snacks, and talking.

"So the school I'm going to is called Wellesly Girls Acadamy, in London," Maka explained.

"LONDON!" BlackStar exclaimed.

"Why are you so loud?" Tsubaki asked. "You were doing so well with volume control."

BlackStar admitted, "Must be because I'm gonna miss her."

Tsubaki sighed. "I think we all are."

BlackStar grabbed Soul around his neck and ruffled his hair. "But no one's gonna miss her more than Soul!" he exclaimed.

Soul complained, "I'm not gonna miss this punk."

Maka seemed hurt. She turned away. BlackStar hit Soul. "You hurt her feelings," he said. "Get your act together. She's moving."

Soul turned away and frowned, with annoyance. "Shut up BlackStar."

"At least be nice," Tsubaki asked.

Soul rolled his eyes.

"Of course he's sad," Kim said. "He's just denying his feelings."

"Yeah, he's hiding his true disappointment," Jackie added.

Soul rolled his eyes. The conversation kept going. BlackStar bragged, "Without you Maka, I'll be top of our class in the school. I'll probably be valedictorian."

Maka laughed. "No way."

"Yes way. I'm going to be the best student at DWMA."

"But you're an idiot."

Liz piped in, "He's really not."

Maka giggled. "Okay, if he ends up being Valedictorian, then I have to see him give his speech."

BlackStar challenged her, "Okay, so I'm going to be Valedictorian, and you're going to come to DWMA for graduation to see my speech."

Maka nodded. "Agreed."

BlackStar smiled. Everyone laughed. Even Soul chuckled.

After hanging out for hours, it was nearly midnight. Just when Maka and Soul were getting ready to go, everyone surprised Maka with a goodbye gift. Jackie presented her with a photo album. "We all pitched in to make this for you," Jackie told her. She nudged Soul with her elbow. "Even this kill joy."

It was full of pictures of her and her friends. Maka flipped through it. She started to sob. She stretched out her arms for a group hug. "I don't want to leave you guys!"

Everyone began to tear up. She hugged everyone. Patty also gave her a new stuffed teddy bear. "Hold onto it like your memories of us. And don't forget to visit and call!"

Maka nodded.

Everyone hugged her again and wished her goodbye.

On the way home, Maka and Soul rode on Soul's motorcycle, through Death City. Maka, holding on tightly to Soul, said, "You know, I'll miss this."

Soul answered, "Yeah, Death City is really pretty at night."

Maka clarified, "No, not Death City. I mean I'll miss the city, but I'll miss this most of all."

"What do you mean?"

"Just holding onto you while we ride your motorcycle. I'll miss this."

Soul blushed. "And I guess I'll miss you to Maka."

Maka leaned against Soul.

...

That next day, Soul finished loading the last bit of stuff in Maka's Mom's car.

"Thanks for the help Soul," the woman thanked.

"No prob."

"And thanks for watching over Maka as well as you have. I really appreciate you."

"Again, no prob."

Maka walked by and said, "I think that's it Mama."

Maka's mom nodded. "I'll wait in the car. You two can say your goodbyes." And she went to the car.

Soul then looked at Maka. Maka looked at him. Maka gave him a hug. Soul hugged her in return.

"Goodbye Soul," she said, allowing tears to well up in her eyes.

"Not so fast," he said. He pulled out, from his pocket, a small silver necklace. On it was a single charm: a soul-shaped pendant. "Got you a goodbye present." He handed it to her. "I heard you liked it."

Maka realized that this was the same pendant he was wearing the night of the dinner with her parents. He'd remembered that she complimented it. Now he was giving it to her. Now she had something really special to remember him by. Maka smiled. "You're the best Soul."She hugged him even tighter.

Soul returned the hug. "I know," he agreed.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything." She let him go.

"You're welcome." He lightly punched her on the shoulder. "Goodbye shortstack."

"Bye cool guy." She stared at him. Then she quickly kissed him on the cheek. Soul blushed. Maka waved goodbye to him as she got into the car. Then she and her mom drove off.

Soul meandered back into his apartment and sat on the sofa and heaved a big sigh. He felt like he should cry, but he couldn't… Oh well, BlackStar said that grief affects people in different ways. Soul didn't feel sad… he felt… empty.

She was gone. Maybe he'd never even see her again. Maybe he'd just let his soulmate slip through his hands. Maybe he should have fought harder for her love. Been more assertive. Been more romantic. But that wasn't his style. Besides, Maka still probably wouldn't have loved him anyway.

"Maka…" Soul muttered. Why'd he have to go and fall in love with someone as lame as Maka anyway? Such an idiot. He sighed.

Blair sat beside him, changed into human form and asked, "You okay naughty boy?" She stroked his hair.

"Nope," he said. "But I'll be fine. I gotta look for a new roommate."

"Isn't Blair your roommate?" she poked his nose.

Soul pushed her away and chuckled a little. "Go away you witch cat."

THE END

...

A/N

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this fanfiction!

I really loved it. It was fun writing it.

I wanted to write a sequel to this in which Soul and Maka meet again during graduation, and then they both go to FU. I also wanted to do a prequel, focusing on Maka's mom and Spirit's relationship.

But let's be real. I'm not going to do that. LOL. Maybe after this semester of college is done, I'll have enough free time for something like that. Shout out to my sister who told me to publish this story! Love her!

:-)