WELL, HI.

I'm so sorry, I know it's been a year but let's not dwell on how evil I am and enjoy a new chapter! I'm increasing the lengths of my chapters, so you have that to look forward to so don't hate me!

It was a review on Archive of Our Own that made me write this chapter. I read it today and was so happy I just had to deliver straight away. That's what your words mean to me, so please review!

Anyways, enjoy!

Maka swore her chest had never felt so tight. As she watched Soul walk away from her with Sid at his side, she had to smother a shriek of exasperation. It was so much harder to look at him now – knowing that soon he was going to leave. Soul wouldn't be here. He wouldn't walk past and just drag her to the piano room without a word. He wouldn't yell at her when she was being unreasonable. He would just be gone.

It was then that she realised that she didn't even know when he was going to leave. A small ball of dread starting to form in her stomach so quickly she actually winced in pain.

"Ow," she muttered and wrapped her arms around her middle, finally tearing her eyes away from the hallway Soul had disappeared down.

Maka turned on her heels swiftly and made her way towards the library – she definitely needed to calm down. The last thing that Soul needed right now was her having a breakdown at his expense. All that would do is make him feel guilty about something he couldn't even control.

She checked nearest clock to check the time. 11:30 am. That gave her half an hour before dinner. Maka's lips turned down at the thought of food. She didn't eat that morning either but with the emotional roller coaster that she had been on – from her mother and Soul – the thought of food only made her feel nauseated.

As Maka turned the corner to enter the library, she found her usual seat taken by Tsubaki. The long-haired girl had her legs curled up beneath her on the small couch and her nose buried in a generously paged book. Maka was about to sigh in annoyance before her eyes landed on the title of the book.

"Oh," Maka said aloud accidentally. Tsubaki looked up and Maka smiled apologetically. "Sorry – I'm just surprised someone else likes that book. I love it."

Tsubaki's expression went from shocked to delighted as Maka spoke. Maka felt confused for a moment but was distracted by the sound of the raven-haired girl's quiet voice.

"Really? I've liked this book ever since I was a little girl. I've read it whenever I felt down ever since I got here."

"You read the same book more than once?"

"You don't?"

"No – I do. I've just never met anyone else who did. My dad used to always say it was something that narrow-minded people did."

Tsubaki's eyes clouded with so much sadness that Maka knew for sure it was about more than a mean comment from a parent. Guess everyone knew about what happened with her Dad. Just as her mood began to plummet at the thought, Tsubaki started talking once again.

"I can't even name all the ways I disagree with that. I catch on to something new I never noticed every time I read a book. It's too much to take in in just one reading!"

"Right? I don't know how people can just read it once."

"Exactly!" Tsubaki laughed and Maka actually smiled. It was quiet for a moment before Maka decided to try something really new.

"So… You said you read it when you're down?" She began, Tsubaki looked startled before nodding slowly. "Everything okay?"

"Well, actually…" Tsubaki closed the book and placed it softly at her side before leaning towards Maka. "Don't tell anyone, but it's actually Blackstar."

Maka's brows shot up. She found herself leaning forwards in interest as Tsubaki went on.

"I haven't even told Liz this but… Blackstar and I…" Tsubaki's face was slowly turning bright red and if Maka wasn't so stunned she would have laughed.

"Wait, wait, wait – " Maka chanted and Tsubaki dropped her head and groaned into her hands. "Blackstar and you? You and him?"

"Yes…" Tsubaki lifted her face from her hands and looked miserably at Maka. "I've liked him from the moment I met him. He is just so different from anyone I have ever known. He's so... confident and sure of himself and he treats me so kindly. He even protects me. I love it and a while down the line he told me he likes me too and – "

"And what?" Maka gasped and Tsubaki groaned again.

"Nothing, nothing!" Tsubaki squealed. Maka turned her head at her in disbelief before the raven-haired girl huffed in embarrassment. "Well, something – "

"Well, what?"

"Well, we just made out a little!"

"A little?"

"Well…"

"What?"

"Makaaaa," Tsubaki groaned and both girls nearly collapsed with laughter. Maka had to actually wipe a tear from the corner of her eye before she could speak again.

"Well, back to the point," she managed once she found her voice. "Why are you down? It's about Blackstar, that much I know."

Tsubaki's shoulders dropped and she nodded.

"We had a fight, which really doesn't happen between us. I'm sure you can tell that he's close to going home. He's come really far and I'm so proud of him."

Maka nodded before pressing lightly. "But?"

"But he says he wants to 'pretend' to be bad again. You know, with all the God stuff. So that he doesn't have to leave."

"Wait, time out," Maka held a palm up with a frown. "Why would he do that?"

Tsubaki shrugged before smiling sadly at Maka. It was then that Maka released a small sigh of understanding.

"Oh."

"Yep."

"That's a lot."

"You're telling me," Tsubaki pulled her legs up to wrap her arms around them and rest her chin on her knees. She stared at the carpet before continuing. "It's not like I want him to leave. I care about him so much. Way more than I should. But he can't throw away his future and his health just because of me. That's not right."

Maka nodded slowly. Tsubaki was completely right. It was hard not to compare both of their situations, but the more Maka did the more she realised that they were very different. Blackstar was leaving because he was ready. Soul didn't have any say in the matter and he certainly wasn't ready. Maka shook the thought away and focused on Tsubaki.

"I get it," Maka said quietly. "So, you told him this? That's why you fought?"

Tsubaki huffed and nodded. "Yep. He kinda struggles with his anger too and wanted to be alone. It's been a while now though, so I can expect him at any moment."

"And then what?" Maka asked carefully. Tsubaki just shrugged.

"He'll see sense. He's not as stupid as everyone thinks, he's actually one of the smartest people I know. He just leads heavily with his emotions, which then leads to things like – "

"This." Maka quipped. They both laughed softly.

"Yeah." Tsubaki nodded before lifting her head to look after Maka, her eyes twinkling with humour. "But I have a feeling that I'm not the only one here who has to deal with boy trouble."

"I am very sure I don't know what you're talking about." Maka tried to respond seriously but couldn't helping but laugh when Tsubaki did. There was this weird, light feeling in her chest as she did. Is this what normal friends did?

"You wanna talk about it?" Tsubaki smiled. Maka opened her mouth to tell her no but stopped. This entire institution's solution to everything was to talk, so why not try it when she feels semi-relaxed?

"Actually, yeah," Maka breathed. "Soul and I have kinda been best friends since my first few days here. We fight all the time so…" Maka shrugged.

"And is that all you've ever been?" Tsubaki asked softly. "Best friends? It's never gotten…"

Tsubaki trailed off and Maka felt her cheeks flush as the heated kisses in the piano room sprung to the forefront of her mind.

"Oh, something definitely happened!" Tsubaki teased and Maka shot her a look.

"Fine!" Maka brushed her hair from her face and raised her chin. "We – We've kissed. A few times."

"Kissed?"

"Fine, made out." Maka hissed but Tsubaki just laughed.

"And what? You guys never thought about discussing that?"

Maka opened her mouth to reply but ended up shrugging. Soul and her had discussed it, to a point. But it's a topic they had never revisited for some reason. Things had gotten so crazy that she figured he'd just forgotten.

But she thought about it a lot. She even found herself wanting to do it again and explore it further – and she had no doubt that Soul felt the same way, with the way his eyes sometimes lingered on her lips when their conversations faltered.

But just when she thought he would lean in and capture her lips deliciously in his own, he would lean back, gruffly clear his throat and excuse himself. And they wouldn't talk about it.

Maka tells Tsubaki all of this, and the girl listened with intent and caring eyes. Maka found it more therapeutic than some of her therapy sessions. Marie helped her a lot and so did Stein, but there was certainly something about talking to someone who was experiencing a similar thing. And who wasn't listening to you just because they got paid for it.

It was so normal. Two girls just sitting down and talking about how fucking annoying boys were. Maka found a new fondness for Tsubaki and suddenly felt she was certainly someone she could approach if need be.

But of course, their fun was abruptly cut short.

"Tsu?"

The two looked up to find Blackstar stood sheepishly in the doorway. Maka found it hard to concentrate on Tsubaki's reaction as her eyes found Soul's, who was stood at Blackstar's side.

"Comin' to lunch?" Soul asked Maka in a low voice. Maka held his gaze for a moment before standing and following him from the library.

Once she got her food, she sat on a table with their usual group but found herself growing more and more nauseous at the sight of food.

"You not hungry?" Soul asked quietly. Maka had to fight a wince at the sound of his voice. Ever since he told her he had to leave he was treating her like glass, which was only making her feel more broken. But being broken didn't make it any easier. All it did was make her angrier and inevitably sharper.

"No," Maka muttered and pushed away her tray. He was making her stomach hurt again – it was like she was being stabbed in her side every time he spoke.

"Did you eat this morning?" he asked, and she felt like closing her eyes and counting to ten.

"No." she said again through grit teeth.

"Well, Maka you need to – "

Maka didn't want to hear anymore. She stood and quickly made her way towards her room. Her heart soared when she realised, she was going to make it, she was removing herself away from a toxic situation.

"Maka."

She groaned.

"Oh my god."

Maka whipped around just before reaching her room to find Stein, as always on his chair, and looking at her with bored eyes. "Can't I have one minute alone?"

"It's one pm." He said, ignoring her bark and pushing a bag of pills into her hands and a bottle of water. "Today, please."

Maka winced. Even water made her feel sick, but she knew that Stein wouldn't leave her alone if she said that. She took all the pills together and washed them down before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Happy?"

"You did great. Want a prize?"

"Some peace and quiet would be nice," she grumbled as she turned on her heels to enter her room. She stumbled when a dull ache attacked her side. "Ouch..!"

She gripped her door frame and tried to gather her wits when she heard Stein behind her.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"You're still here?" She turned to glare at him. Instead of his normal indifferent gaze she found him looking quite concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing – Just an upset stomach."

"You sure?"

"Yes, now can I please have some peace? I feel sick so I just want to lay down a while."

Stein watched her for a long moment before nodding slowly and wheeling away.

"I'll tell Marie you're excused. Update me on how you feel tomorrow." He yelled and Maka shut the door before he was even finished.

Maka took the entire day off – she even skipped group – and went to bed nice and early. For once, she slept the whole night, regardless of the nagging pain in her side. She knew she'd feel better in the morning, once she had processed everything good and awful that had happened today.

The next day, Maka didn't wake up feeling better.

Maka felt much worse.

The pain had grown horribly, no matter how she stood or sat, nothing made it feel better. And it was relentless, it didn't flare up or calm down it just… remained. She didn't think she had a fever, but she did feel hot and sick, but that could just be because she slept with all the covers. Surely that's all it was.

Of course, Stein came banging on her door at seven in the morning, and she didn't even have the energy to try and hide how hideous she felt.

"Here's your – Wow."

"Oh, thank you."

"No better?"

Maka shook her head but knew not to grip her side – if she could pass this up as just a bug, he would leave her alone. She was sure that's all it was anyway, but everyone here liked to make a drama of everything, and Stein was no exception.

"What are your symptoms. Abdomen pain?"

Maka controlled her expression and shook her head no. "Just feel sick. My stomach hurts a little, but I think it's just the nausea."

Stein nodded. "I included some anti-nausea pills for you today, just in case. I'll let Marie know how you're doing."

"Thanks Stein."

"Don't mention it."

Stein left and Maka had flopped down on her bed for a total of ten seconds before someone came bursting into the room.

"Maka."

"Knock much?" Maka snapped as she sat up, her side protesting as she did. Soul rolled his eyes at her and grasped her upper arm to help her stand.

"Ugh – Soul, what are you – "

"We need to talk."

"I'm in my pyjamas!"

"Then we'll talk here!" he snapped at her and turned around to shut her door. When he turned to face her again it seemed he finally took in her appearance. "Wait, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Maka waved away his concerns and folded her arms over her chest and shrugged. "What's up?"

"I just – You're not talking to me."

"What?"

"Ever since I told you I was leaving."

"Oh, you mean that whole day?" Maka scoffed. Soul narrowed his eyes.

"Well, a few days is all I've really got so, I dunno. Seemed like a biggie."

Maka's eyes softened and she dropped her arms to her sides. "What?"

Soul's sighed and closed his eyes. He shrugged and looked at her. "Spoke to my folks. Well, Sid did. They're gonna be picking me up within the next few days."

"What – I don't – So soon?"

"Yah," Soul breathed and made his way over to her carefully. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I just – " The pain in her chest at the news was almost too much. It was like she couldn't breathe. But suddenly, her side rivalled the pain. "Ow!"

Maka felt her form curl up, she bent over and was somewhat aware of Soul's hands lightly on her back.

"...Maka! What's happeni…"

Maka could barely hear him over the sound of blood rushing in her ears. "My side it – Ouch. Ow, okay, Soul, get – "

Abruptly, it felt like something had literally popped excruciatingly in her stomach. Maka suddenly felt very hot as heat rushed all over her body and Maka heard herself yelp before she dropped to the floor.

She didn't pass out right away, but she knew it was only a matter of time. She thought back to when she tried to kill herself – Maka felt so sure and happy. Content. This was different. It certainly felt like she was dying but she didn't feel happy. She was frightened and it hurt.

Maka could hear footsteps come and go on the floor, it was then she realised her cheek was pressed against it. She heard the panicked voice of Tsubaki and then Blackstar. She would have sighed with relief when she heard Stein, but she couldn't find any breath in her lungs to do it.

Maka felt firm hands pulling her up. She clung desperately to the sound of Soul's voice before she fell unconscious. All she knew it when did was that she was ninety percent sure she was going to die, and she wasn't happy about it. No, she was very, very

Scared.