Hello beautiful people! I just realized in my last chapter I forgot to mention the songs!
-Monsters by All Time Low (ft Blackbear)
-Middle Finger by Quinn XCII and Phoebe Ryan
Trigger warning: This chapter contains mature content (self harm) If you're struggling with self harm or suicidal thoughts, please visit my profile page for resources and a crisis help line. Feel free to reach out in a PM if you feel the need3
Now, please enjoy this next chapter :)
~Soul POV~
We had just finished up practicing the last song in the set list when I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
"Shit Maka it's getting late, we should get some food in you before I have to drop you off at the diner," I said looking up to see the smile on Maka's face vanish at the reminder of work.
"Right, work, and I still need to get changed before my shift."
"Then we better get going now," I said. I turned to the rest of the band. "I'll see you guys at home later tonight."
"Okay just text the group chat if you need anything," said Tsubaki. "Hey, we should add Maka to the group chat, now that she's our roommate!" I looked at Maka, who suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Um I kind of...don't have a cell phone," she said. How is that even possible? Then I remembered her living conditions. Her father definitely did not seem like the type to pay his bills let alone buy his daughter a cellphone. It's no wonder she carried that ipod like a lifeline.
"I'll pick one up for you while you're at work. The whole band has the friends and family plan. Now that you're living with us we want to make sure we can contact you in case of emergencies ya know? Anyways we gotta get out of here like now, see you guys at home." I walked out of the studio with Maka right behind me.
"Are you sure about this cell phone thing? You've already spent a lot of money on me today. I feel kind of guilty," she said, not making eye contact with me. I turned my body to face hers and stopped walking. I gently moved my hand to her cheek and brought her face to meet my eyes.
"You have nothing to feel guilty about, this is royalty money, aka the money we receive from fans like you who listen to our music, so in a way, you're paying for it yourself," I cracked a smile and she lightened.
"I guess I'm not used to this feeling of being spoiled, I'm out of my element."
"Well get used to it twinkle toes because you have yet to go shopping with Liz."
"Oh god, I can't go clothes shopping with Liz what if she sees," She didn't have to finish that sentence.
"Don't worry, we will figure it out when the time comes, anyways those cuts should be healing soon, and they will fade with time," I said reaching for her hand. She took it.
"Right, healing…" she said trailing off. I decided this was as good a time as ever to tell her the truth.
"Hey, Um Maka…"
"Yes?" She said. Her eyes met mine but it was my turn to look away in embarrassment.
"I had to get permission from Marie to let you live in the band house, so I had to talk to her a little about your...situation," I said rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm sorry if I was out of line but-"
"Soul," she said, cutting me off. "You have given me more in the past few days than anyone else in the past 8 years. You have nothing to apologize for, I can't thank you enough."
"Well don't thank me just yet…" We began walking again. "Marie is a licensed therapist, and one of the conditions of you living with us is attending at least one session with her per week. I know it's a lot to ask but-"
"I'll do it."
"Really?" I asked, almost in disbelief. We were outside now just a couple of feet away from my bike.
"Yeah I'll give it a shot, I'm more likely to die on this bike than from attending a few sessions so yeah, I'll do it." I smiled and turned to sweep her into a hug. In my excitement, I lifted her body off the ground and spun her around. She was laughing as I set her down gently onto the seat of the bike. "What was that for?" She said with a grin.
"Just because I felt like it, Cmon let's drive." I hopped on and before I even put the keys in the ignition I could feel Maka bury her face into my back as she wrapped her arms tightly around me. Man, I thought, I could get used to this.
~Maka's POV~
We pulled up to the bands' house, I mean, our house? Anyways, we pulled up and I hopped off as quickly as I could. If I didn't hurry I would most definitely be late to work.
"Let's make this speedy Red," I said to Soul.
"Yes mam'" He replied with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. He can be such a goof. Soul unlocked the door and I rushed up to his bedroom where I ripped off my hoodie as fast as possible. Mistake, the friction between the sweatshirt and my raw skin was brutal.
"Shit!" I exhaled loudly in pain. I'm going to be bleeding through my whole shift now, great. Soul suddenly burst through the door without warning.
"Maka are you okay I heard a-"
"Don't you knock!?" I screamed, scrambling to cover my exposed body. Conveniently, I had already forgotten about my open wounds and I now had blood all over my stomach and chest. "Fuck it's everywhere what do I-" Soul grabbed my hand and walked with me into the bathroom. I was super self conscious but I couldn't just go put on a new shirt, there was blood on my bra for death sakes. Soul grabbed a washcloth and handed it to me.
"Wipe yourself off and change while I find some gauze and tape from the first aid kit," He said in an assertive tone. I took the washcloth in my hand.
"Thanks."
"Be right back" He disappeared. I quickly wiped down my body and patted my arms down a bit. I quickly changed out of my regular clothes and into my work pants and a tank top, making sure to change my bra as well. I waited for Soul to come back with the gauze before putting on my long sleeves shirt. I wasn't about to risk getting blood on my work uniform. Soul knocked from the other side of the door.
"Come in," I said.
~Soul's POV~
I opened the door to my own room to see Maka sitting on the bed, her back to me. Her tank top relieved scars that went all the way up her arms and onto her shoulders. They almost appeared as railroad tracks, so evenly spaced and aligned. It was unsettling. I approached her with gauze. I positioned myself in front of her and kneeled down, taking her wrist in my hand softly. We didn't speak as I wrapped her wrist, there was nothing that needed to be said. I finished quickly and took both her hands in mine.
"All fixed up, are you ready for work?" She shook her head and brought my hand to her mouth. She pressed a kiss to my knuckles for a moment and shut her eyes. I didn't say a word. I was afraid that any movement at all would shatter her like glass. She was so bruised and battered but her spirit was unbroken. She rubbed her thumbs against my knuckles as she pulled away.
"I just ne- needed a moment. Now I'm ready," She said. She suddenly had this new sense of calmness I hadn't seen in her before. She stood up from the bed and wrapped her arms around my neck. She stood on her tippy-toe whisper in my ear. "Thank you for your help," she said in a hushed voice. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed the small of her back.
"No problem," I said. "Let's get you to work." We pulled away from each other and she slipped on her work shirt before we walked downstairs. I grabbed an uncrustable PB&J from the fridge and tossed it at Maka. "Food, eat it now or on your break later."
"Wow what a satisfying dinner," she said teasingly.
"Ha Ha very funny twinkle toes I'll have food for you tonight when you get off your shift don't worry," I said.
"Oooooo What are we having?" she asked.
"You'll see later," I said as we walked out of the house. The drive to the diner seemed to be shorter than last time. By the time we arrived, I wasn't ready to see her go, so I decided maybe I'd grab a quick bite while I was here myself. We both dismounted the bike and Maka turned to me in confusion.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Oh just to grab a bite at this diner my friend works at," I said sarcastically. She laughed.
"Oh really? Who is this friend of yours? Anyone I should know about?" she said playing along.
"Oh just this girl, we only met recently but she seems really cool so far...I think I might even li-" I cut myself off. Was I really just about to admit to Maka that I like her? And as a sarcastic joke?
"You might even what? She asked.
"I might even...lo-load all her favorite songs onto the new phone I'm getting her!" I said quickly, good save. Her face lit up.
"You really mean it!" she asked excitedly
"I mean, I was thinking about it…" I said. She smiled and punched my arm.
"Goof," she whispered under her breath. We walked in and she disappeared behind the counter to grab an apron right away. I took my seat at the counter and pulled out my phone. If I called the phone store now to set up a new iPhone they would probably have it ready for pickup by the time I got done eating. I dialed the number and I was connected right away to a sales representative at the store who was very helpful in getting everything set up in record time.
"Alright Sir I have you all set for an iPhone XR activation and full-coverage plan, the only thing left to decide is what color you would like?" the voice from the phone asked. Just then, a grill cheese sandwich was set out in front of me, piled high with french fries and a pickle. I looked up to see Maka smiling as she poured a can of Pepsi into a glass with ice and set it out in front of me.
"Hey Maka, what is your favorite color?" I asked.
"That's easy," she said, reaching into her apron pocket with a smirk. She pulled out a straw and tossed it on the counter next to me. "It's red." I smiled and winked at her as she walked away.
"I'll take it in red," I said across the phone. After agreeing to pick it up in 30 mins I hung up and devoured my grill cheese and fries. The lunch date we had earlier seemed like years ago. I slurped up the last of my Pepsi and looked for Maka to pay. She was busy taking an order for a smaller booth with two girls who looked about her age. Maka was visibly uncomfortable and I could see her knees beginning to shake. I threw some cash on the counter and closer to them to hear the conversation.
"That stunt you pulled at the Soul Beat concert," one girl with dark curly hair said. "Was a total fluke."
"Total fluke," echoed the other girl, not even looking up from her phone. Her bleach blonde highlights made me want to gag.
"We just don't want you to be under the wrong impression here Maka," said the dark-haired girl. "You're nothing special, you're a charity case at best they probably just had you sing with them as a publicity stunt." My hands balled into fists at the sound of her words. "I mean, really Maka, what would the Soul Eater ever want to do with someone like you?" I couldn't hold myself back a second longer. I walked right up behind Maka and wrapped my arms around her tightly. I saw the girl's jaw drop as she recognized me, meanwhile her friend wasn't even looking up from the damn phone. I whispered softly in Maka's ear.
"Just play along with me," I said only loud enough for her to hear. I kissed her cheek. "Hey babe I was just about to head out but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye first," I spun her to face me, keeping a firm grip around her waist just to show those nasty bitches. "Sorry I hope I didn't interrupt you ordering or-" I was cut off by the girl with the dark hair who shoved her outstretched hand in my face.
"I'm Heather! This is Brooklyn, we are friends of Maka's! Maka and I go way back don't we girl?" She said. I could feel Maka's body tensing with anger at those words. I just pulled her closer.
"Oh really? Then it's nice to meet you, I'm Sou-"
"Oh, we know who you are!" She gushed. "We were just at your concert a few days ago you were awesome!" This chick was way too eager, totally uncool
"Wow thanks but I can't take all the credit, Maka made that show a smashing success by joining us," I looked at Maka with a look of reassurance. "She is amazing."
"Totally amazing," said the blonde girl. I nodded.
"Anyways I gotta go," I looked to Maka again. "I'll be back tonight to pick you up, then straight home, into PJs and American Horror Story, sound good?" I asked her as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. If she was still in shock by my presence she didn't show it. She wrapped her arms around my neck and interlaced her fingers.
"Only if we get shitty take out from that one place you like," She said with a smile batting her eyelashes ever so slightly.
"Deal, I have to go now, have a great night at work," I then turned to Maka and gave her a quick peck on the lips. I then leaned down and whispered in her ear again. "You're a natural at lovey-dovey shit, we should do this more often." I watched as a smile crept upon her face.
"See you later Red," she said, kissing my cheek as she walked away. I was about to walk away. I backtraced two steps. And turned back to the table. "Um, Heather was it? Just for your information, I don't kiss my charity cases. So I'd really appreciate it if you would stop trying to convince Maka she is one because I'm trying to keep her around, understand?" She nodded her head vigorously. I walked out of the diner, trying to figure out what I had just done to our friendship. Truth be told I didn't want to be just friends, I wanted to be her person. From that point on, I was determined to make our act in the diner become our reality.
So that's chapter 11 for you! Leave me a review if you want me to post more chapters soon (I'm more likely to update if I know someone is actually reading it and looking forward to my work) As always feel free to send a PM and/or drop a favorite or follow. Thanks for reading!
-Em