Piper and Darcelle were in Dr. Frankstein's classroom during break time along with some other students. Piper was reading the Helen Keller book that Eve gave her. It looks like she was curious about that woman. Darcelle, sitting on the left side of Piper, groaned and looked rather bored, having the side of her head laying on her right hand with her golden eyes droopy and baggy. Piper hears Darcelle's groan and looked up from the book. She looked concerned for Darcelle, "Is there something wrong Darcy? You don't look so good." Darcy yawned and dropped her head on the desk. Piper put her hand on Darcelle's right shoulder.

"Not really. Last night, my little psychotic brother kept me up all night with nonsense, I was barely able to sleep. Somehow I think he has ADHD." Piper looked bewildered when she heard "brother". Darcelle continued to speak, "He was laughing, screaming, and running around all over my room. I had to listen to loud music to ignore him, but even that didn't help."

"You have a brother?" Piper asked.

"Yeah, four of them, and they were all a pain in my neck. Except for one of them, we agree on most things." Darcelle rubbed her eyes and yawned again. "Then again, when you're the only sister in the house, it's not that easy." Piper wouldn't know what it was like having a brother or a sister since she is the only child in her family. If she were to have a sibling, she would love and care for him/her. Though she could never imagine siblings not getting along with each other or hating each other. So she asked Darcy, "Do you hate them?" Hate is a really strong word, Piper knows that. She would think that hating on a relative or close friend would be...wrong. Darcelle looked at Piper and replied, "No, of course not. I love them to death. Still, sometimes they just want to make me put them in a hospital, but we care about each other and will always protect one another. Since I'm the only sister, they mostly protect me."

Piper looked back at her book. Darcelle looked back at Piper for a moment and wondered something. "Hey, Piper?" Piper looked up from her book and over to Darcelle, "Yes?"

"Are you planning on finding a weapon?" Piper wasn't expecting Darcelle to ask her that, "W-Why do you ask?"

"Well you've only been in school for two weeks, so aren't you gonna ask anyone to partner up with you?" Piper looked down at her hands were locked together and she blushed, "Well...I mean...umm..." she stayed silent for a moment. Darcelle looked demented at her, "What is she getting shy for?"

"Since I'm staying in the DWMA, I guess I should find somebody to partner up with, but I don't know who. I hardly know anybody here." Piper realized that Darcelle doesn't have a meister, "What about you, Darcy?"

Darcelle figured Piper would ask her that. Ever since she got into the academy, she hasn't found anybody to partner up with herself. Mostly because almost every student in the academy already had partners. If she were to choose anyone to be her partner, he/she would have to be somebody that she can trust or someone that she likes. There was Blackstar, but he already has Tsubaki. Plus after seeing that battle he had with Kid, there was no way he would be able to use a scythe. Almost like what he did with Soul. However, there is this one person Darcelle had in mind, "Actually there is one person I'm thinking about asking to be my partner."

Piper looked astonished and smiled at Darcelle, "Oh really, who is it?" Darcelle grinned, looking over Piper mischievously, and chuckled, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Piper was confused, "Hmm?"

Eve was in the library looking for a book to check out. The library at the DWMA had plenty of interesting books for her to read. Some were fiction and some were nonfiction. Her most favorite types of novels are history, romance, and mystery. Right now, Eve is looking for history since it's her first favorite. One book caught her eye. She pulled it out of the book section and read the title "Mariette in Ecstasy."

"Mariette in Ecstasy. Looks interesting" Eve thought as she turned the book around to see the backside. While she was looking a the book, Lord Death's son, Kid walks in the library. He was going to check out a book, but notices Eve and looks at her, "That girl." He starts to observe her elegant appearance. Her face was calm and focused on the book she was looking at. Her hair was shiny and silky. It looked symmetrical too, front side and back. Kid decided to introduce himself. He straightened his jacket and fixed the rest of his clothing to make sure he looked "perfect". He walked over to Eve and stood in front of her expecting her to notice him. She was, however, too focused on the book to notice anything. So, he cleared his throat and she stopped looking at the book to see Kid standing in front of her.

Kid greeted, "Good morning. I'm sure you're aware that I am Death the Kid, the son of Lord Death." He gestured his hand to her, "I just wanted to say that it is a great pleasure to have you here at this academy." Eve placed a smile on her face and shook Kid's hand, "My name is Evelyn Ballard, but if you wish to, refer to me as Eve. And yes, I am glad to be here." After hearing that name, Kid realized that it was symmetrical. There are two E's and a V in between those letters. He kept a straight face, but in his head, he was blushing, feeling more attracted to her than he was before. "Eve. Her name is even symmetrical! " He thought, amazed.

Eve continued to speak, "And let me just say, that was a marvelous battle you had with those two boys. Your fighting skills with your weapons amazed me. I was very impressed. Just between you and me, I say you were the victor." Kid blushed at her compliment and thanked her, "Thank you very much."

Kid noticed the book and read the title. He was a bit astonished that she would read a book like Mariette in Ecstasy. He shouldn't be surprised, she does look like she could be the type of person that enjoys books, "Do you have an interest in historical novels?"

"Why yes." Eve replied as she walked over to the Librarian to check out her book with Kid following, "I have never seen a book like this before. I have read all the books in my library, even the ones on my bookshelves. I wanted to try something new." She gave her book to the librarian."You have a Library at your home?" Kid asked. Eve nodded. Kid remembered Eve saying her name was Eve Ballard.

"Tell me, who are your parents?" Eve turned to look at Kid, "Evangeline and Arthur Ballard." Kid's eyes widened after hearing that name and remembered something else, "You're the daughter of Evangeline Ballard? She one of the richest beings in Death City. And you father, he was known for his martial art skills." Eve took her book from the Librarian when he checked it out, "True, and not only that he and my mother were students at this academy. They were one of the few popular kids amongst all the students. At least that's what I was told."

Eve pictured her mother and father after their graduation from the academy; Arthur holding one of the twins as children on his back while the other held on to his arm and Evangeline holding a little Eve, "After graduation, my father proposed to my mother and the two had fully wedded and three beautiful children. They could've continued with their success in working with Lord Death, but they wanted to continue with their lives in becoming family with all of us. They were always so generous." she smiled.

Eve walked past Kid."Anyways, I must take my leave. I'm wanting to make sure my siblings don't get into any mischief." She walked to the doorway and stopped to look at Kid with a flirty look, "It was a pleasure meeting you, I would love to speak more with you again, Death the Kid." She winked and stepped out the door. Kid couldn't help but be attracted to Eve, especially to how symmetrical she looked. Her name was even symmetrical. "She's perfect. Beautifully symmetrical!"

Piper's POV * 1 hour later *

After using the bathroom, I walk over to the sink to wash my hands. I turned the water on, used the soap dispenser to squirt soap on my hands, and put it in the water. While washing my hands, I thought back to what Darcy said in the classroom, "You've only been in school for two weeks, so aren't you gonna ask anyone to partner up with you."

"Maybe Darcy's right. I'll have to find a partner at some point. Plus I don't want to be the only one who captures souls." I pulled the towels from the towel racket and dried my hands. Suddenly I hear the doorknob twist which startled me. The door opened revealing Maka. She noticed me and smiled pleasantly, "Hey Piper, how are you?"

"Oh um, I'm doing fine," I said blushing with my fingers locked together. She walked up to me keeping a smile on her face, "So, have you found yourself partner yet?" I flinched after hearing that same question Darcy asked me. I wasn't expecting her to ask me that, "No, not yet. It's funny that you mention it. I was just thinking about it. You see, I'm not used to the people around here. To put it frankly, I'm not used people period." Maka gave me a sorry look, but kept a smile on her face confidently, "It's okay, I'm pretty sure there are some people around here that wouldn't mind being your partner. You just have to find the person who you think is right for you. If you have a close friend, you can partner up with them."

"Well," Piper spoke, "One of the main people who are familiar with me is Darcy, but she had already found someone to ask to partner up with." After hearing that, Maka was a little surprised, "Really? Darcy found someone to partner up with?"

"Yeah. Is that a surprise?"

"Well, ever since she arrived at this school, she never bothered to ask anyone to be her meister. Not that she didn't want one. It's just that she wasn't interested in anybody here. Plus, almost everybody in this school has a weapon." Maka explained.

"Oh," I asked her. How come Darcy is all of a sudden wanting a partner now? I thought on another subject for a second and asked Maka a question, "Hey Maka, how did you and Soul become partners."

Maka was replaying the time she met Soul, "Well it happened pretty fast. I heard the piano playing in a room and saw Soul playing it." I didn't know Soul can play the piano. Maka looked down and kept a calm smile on her face, "Something about that song, the way he was playing it. It somehow got to me and I liked it. Just like that, we became partners. We may bicker like a married couple a lot, but I truly care about him and he's a good friend to have. He was always there when I needed him."

"Oh really? It sounds like you two are great friends huh?"

It seemed like she and Soul are rather close. Somehow it made me uncomfortable and uneasy. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I am happy for them. I brushed the thought off and walked past Maka, "Well, I better get going. I'll see you later Maka."

"Oh yeah, you too."

I walked out of the door, ready to get back to class, and noticed a white-haired boy beside me. It was Soul. He noticed me and he widened his eyes at my sight. *Gulp*

No one's POV

After a long pause, Piper jumped when Soul noticed her and she quickly stood up straight with her fingers locked. Now that she looked at him up close, he looked a lot more attractive to her. She looked down, trying not to stare at Soul and blushing hard. Just standing there not saying a word felt awkward. Piper didn't want to make it quieter than it already is, so she tried to break the silence, but Soul already spoke, "Um...hi."

Piper jumped again, "Umm...h-h-hello." she stuttered. Her heart was beating so fast that it almost seemed like it was going to jump out of her chest. Piper doesn't know why, but she thinks she might like him, like-like him. Even though it was kinda obvious from the start. Seeing that she was too nervous to say anything else, Soul spoke again, "So you're the Professor's daughter right?" Piper nodded, still blushing. Soul was a little confounded by how red she was getting.

"Her face looks like a tomato. Is she that nervous when she's around other people?" Soul thought. He looked at her a little longer and she looked down. "For a girl who has stitches, she looks kinda cute. Now that I think about it, wasn't she the girl I saw hiding behind the door at Stein's place?"

"So, what's your name?" Soul asked. Piper looked up at him and said, "Um...m-my name... is Piper."

"Piper huh? Pretty cool name." Soul responded with a smirk. Piper blushed at his compliment and looked down again, "T-Th-Thank you." Soul never saw a girl that was this shy before. He tried to figure out something to talk about, "So uh...were you the girl that was hiding behind the door at your Dad's house?" She squeaked and fiddled with her fingers while they're locked together. "I'm gonna take that as a yes." Soul thought with his eyes furrowed.

"So, did you enjoy the fight?" He asked. Piper looked up and started to blush a little less. Soul felt relieved, she looked like she was about to pass out from embarrassment. "Oh, um y-yeah. I-I...was impressed with y-you and Maka. Actually...I think you were cool." Soul widened his eyes a bit. He wasn't expecting Piper to call him cool. Since he liked being a cool guy, it touched him. Piper continued, "I-I especially liked that you tried to protect Maka."

Soul blushed a little and put his hand on the back of his hand rubbing it while looking away, "Uh umm...thanks." Piper and Soul stood in silence for a minute blushing a little.

"Hey, Piper." Piper and Soul heard someone call Piper's name and turned around to see who it was. It was Darcelle. She walked to them and noticed them together...alone. She gave mischievous look and grinned, "So, what were you guys talking about?"

"I-It's not what you think!" Piper said flustered as she waved her hands around, "W-We were just talking about the remedial lessons that Soul had with Maka and the others." Darcelle laughing at how agitated Piper was getting, "Hey, I'm not assuming anything." Darcelle laughing made Piper blush a lot more than a tomato. Soul noticed Piper's face and panic, "Oh crap! She's turning red again!"

Maka came out of the bathroom and notices Darcelle laugh, "Hey Darcy. What's so funny?" Darcelle calmed down her laughing and answered Maka, "Nothing to worry about ." she wiped a tear from her eye and put her attention on Piper, "Anyways, Piper I want you to meet me outside at the school grounds after the next class at two."

"Huh?" Piper looked at Darcelle confusingly, "Why? Do you want to talk to me about something?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Darcelle said as she walked past the three teens. Piper caught up to Darcelle, "Wait, Darcy," She said as she grabbed Darcelle's hand, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it right here?" Darcelle turned and looked at Piper with a serious look, "Is there something wrong with me talking to you outside?" Piper flinched at Darcelle's serious look and quickly let go of her hand, "Well uh...no, there's nothing wrong with that at all. It's just, well... is it in private?"

"It can be. I'll see ya there." After that last sentence, Darcelle walked away with her hands in her pockets. Piper was left curious and a little uneasy. Maka and Soul were just as curious as Piper was.

"Well, that was odd," Soul said. Maka looked at Piper and could tell she was anxious. "Are you okay, Piper?" she said concerned. Piper turned Maka and answered, "Oh, umm... yeah I'm ok. Anyways, I'm sure it's nothing too serious. After all, Darcy and I already became friends, so I'm pretty sure she's gonna talk about something friendly related. No need to worry about anything." After saying that, Piper chuckled and walked to her father's classroom. Sure she seems positive, on the outside, but on the inside, she's anxious.

"Ok everyone, the class is dismissed." Stein notified the students. Some students left the classroom and some just stayed. Piper couldn't concentrate on the Helen Keller book right in front of her. She was still thinking about what Darcelle wanted to talk to her about. She's been wondering about it ever since class started. She barely paid attention to Stein when he was speaking to the class. "What does Darcy want to talk to me about, and why does she want to talk about it outside?" Piper looked around to see if Darcelle was still in the classroom. Darcelle was nowhere in the classroom, so she probably left early.

Eve stood up from her seat along with the twins. She notices Piper sitting by herself in deep thought with the book in front of her. The twins notice her too. "Hey, what's wrong with Piper over there?" Joshua asked. Joseph wondered the same thing, "Yeah, I noticed that she hasn't been payin' attention in class. It was almost like she was in her own little world or somethin'." Eve grabbed the book she got from the library and held it beside her.

"I'm sure she was just in deep thought about something," She responded to Joseph, "but I must admit, whatever she was thinking about seemed to disturb her. If you ask me, she seems nervous." Eve walked over to Piper with the twins following. Piper just sat there with a straight face and her eyebrows furrowed. She was hardly paying attention to anybody. "Good afternoon, Piper," Eve greeted with a smile on her face. Piper slightly jumped at hearing Eve's voice and turned to notice her and the twins behind her, "Oh, hi Eve. Hi Joseph and Joshua."

"Yo!" The twins said with their hands up.

Eve jumped to the point, "We've noticed that you had something on your mind throughout the entire class period. It looked like it bothered you. Is everything okay?"

"Oh um, it's nothing. It's just that Darcy wanted to talk to me about something after class at the school grounds and I've been thinking about it ever since class started. It looked like it was important, so I've been wondering what she wanted to talk about."

"Well," Eve spoke, "You'll pretty much know once you go the school grounds."

"Besides," said Joseph, "Shouldn't you get goin'? She said after class, right?" After hearing him say that, Piper sprung up from her seat realizing Darcelle was waiting for her, "Oh no, your right! I gotta go." Piper quickly walked down the desk and ran out of the classroom.

Joshua seemed inquisitive about what's going on between Piper and Darcelle. He wanted to know why Darcelle wanted to see Piper himself. Mostly because he was always a nosy boy. "This is way too interesting. We should go and check this out." He went and followed Piper, but Eve grabbed his jacket collar before he was able to, "No, we shouldn't pry into their business."

"Oh come on, Eve." Joseph persuaded getting excited, "We've only been in this school for two weeks and we've only seen one fight. I'm wanting to see some action here. After all this school is all about fighting." Joshua balled his hands into fists with a big smile on his face.

"This has nothing to do with us, Joshua," Eve told impatiently.

"Hold on," Joseph raised his eyebrow, recalling what his brother said, "Why do think that they're gonna fight?"

"It happens all the time." Joshua remarked, "Whenever a person asks another person 'can I talk to you outside' it means that they're asking for a fight." Joseph and Eve gave him a funny look. Joshua was not dumb, then again he wasn't smart either. He mostly isn't smart. He tends to be immature at most points, even when things tend to get serious. "You've read too many mangas, man. Come back to reality. " Joseph said with a dull look. Joshua furrowed his eyebrows, "Oh come on! Man, you guys are no fun at all." He turned around and ran in the direction Piper was going. Eve followed him reached her hand out to grab his wrist, "Where do think you're going?" Joshua turned to look at Eve, "You guys can stay here if you want to, but I'm gonna check this out." After saying that he ran out the door. Eve sighed irritatingly and Joseph put his hand on her shoulder, "You and I both know he won't take no for an answer. All we can do right now is follow him to make sure he doesn't get into any kind of crap."

"I suppose you're right. Let's go." They followed Joshua out the door. Maka overheard Eve and the twins and noticed that Piper isn't in the room and assumed she was already going to the school grounds. Maka isn't the one for being nosy, but she is curious about Piper and Darcelle. "Hey, Soul?"

Soul turned his attention to Maka as he relaxed on his seat with his legs on top of the desk and his hands in his pockets. "I heard one of the twins saying that Piper and Darcy might be fighting. Do you think that's the reason why Darcy wants to see Piper?" Maka seemed a little concerned. Soul shrugged, "Don't know, but if that's true, then it's no surprise. It's Darcy." Maka got up from her seat, "Well yeah, but if she wanted to get into a fight, why would it be with Piper? Maybe we should go and make sure."

"Are you sure about that," Soul asked as he raised his eyebrow.

"I know this is none of our business, but I'm just a little worried. Let's go." Maka ran down the desk. Soul hurried and got up to follow her, "Hey Maka! Wait up!"

*Piper's POV (at the school grounds)*

I hurry and run to the school grounds. I hope I'm not late. I stop at the grounds and see Darcy standing there with her back laying on the balcony. Her head was lowered, it almost looked liked she fell asleep. I walk over and spoke up to her, "Hey Darcy, I'm here." She looks up at me. I decided to jump to the point, "So anyway, you said earlier you wanted to talk to me about something. So what is it?"

"Actually," she spoke, "I just want a favor from you."

"A favor?" I was confused.

" Yep. Piper, I want you to battle against me."

I raised my eyebrows and widened my eyes, "What?"