Chapter 8

"Ah crap."

Maka tried to act like she hadn't seen them because she knew they would make a big deal about it and she really didn't want to even try to explain what was going on because it all sounded crazy.

"What? Too hard for you Maka. It's okay you'll get used to it."

Soul smirked and Maka put her hand in his face and growled.

"No you idiot! My friends are over there watching us and they're going to come over here any second now and start asking a billion questions that I have no answers for."

Soul watched Maka and became very confused because no one had ever been embarrassed being seen with him before. Usually his clientele couldn't wait to show him off to friends, exes and anyone who cared to look.

"Hmm interesting."

Maka turned to Soul with a questioning look on her face, but before she could say anything there was someone at the edge of the table clearing their throat.

"Oh Maka hey! We didn't think you'd be out after last night. I honestly thought you would've slept the day away and avoided people at all costs."

Liz smiled at both Maka and Soul, but she kept giving Soul the side eye stare waiting for Maka elaborate on the situation.

Patti was already sitting across from them both smiling her childish smile and waving at Soul who waved back at her with a confused face.

"I'll leave you to your friends Maka, what kind of drink would you like? I'll grab the food on the way back."

Soul gave Maka a genuine smile and moved to stand up to excuse himself.

"Oh uh just some sprite please. I don't think I'm ready for anything else yet. Thank you."

"No problem, I'll be right back ladies."

Soul nodded his head to Liz and Patti before giving Maka another small smile and walking away with the cups.

Liz hastily sat down and started throwing questions at Maka a hundred miles a minute.

"Who is he? What's his name? Why didn't you bring him to the party last night? Are you seeing each other? Have you slept with him? He's gorgeous and that voice oh my god does he sing?"

Maka stared at Liz for a few seconds before blurting out,

"Where's Tzubaki?"

Patti who had been rocking back and forth in the seat across from them quickly said,

"She's still in the line. She's going to order our food for us, but she wanted us to say hi and start questioning you before you tried to sneak out on us."

Maka gave both sisters a glare and sucked in a deep breathe before looking over at Soul who already had their drinks and was waiting on their food.

"Well it's kind of hard to explain it. He's a…f-f-friend. He came over early this morning and decided to try to help me get over this damn hangover."

Maka weakly smiled at the girls who didn't look like they believed a thing she said, but before they could say anything else Soul was already back at the table.

"Ladies, I hope I'm not interrupting your questioning, but I need to get some food into Maka before she decides to bite my head off."

Liz and Patti both smiled as Maka blushed because the girls were giving her looks that said they approved.

Soul sat down and placed Maka's food and drink in front of her so she could start eating and began to devour his own food.

"So Soul, was it? How do you know Maka?"

Liz gave Maka a look that said say nothing because she wanted to try to catch them in a lie, but Soul was a step ahead of her.

"I came over this morning to check on Maka since I saw her come in late last night. She looked a little rough so I thought I'd take her out to get some air and food to nurse her hangover."

Maka could only stare at Soul as that was basically what she had said, but there was no way he could've heard them could he?

"You saw her? Where exactly do you live that you saw her getting home late and why were you out that late to begin with?"

Liz wasn't letting up and Maka tried kicking her leg under the table, but Liz only shrugged her foot away.

"Well I don't usually give my personal info on my whereabouts away to strangers, but since your Maka's friends I don't see the harm."

He smiled at Maka who could only blush under his stare. What happened to bad ass Maka? Why was she turned upside down by this guy…demon?

Soul continued his story unaware of Maka's inner turmoil.

"I live a couple doors down from Maka, and I worked a late shift last night at the bar I'm currently at so I happened to be just getting home when Maka was too. When I saw how plastered she was I made a mental note to check on her in the morning to make sure she was okay. We're not the closest of friends I get that, but she needed someone there for her so I decided to be that someone this morning."

Liz and Patti swooned at Soul's words and Maka could tell he had won them over. Tzubaki finally made it to the table and Liz relayed everything they told her and who Soul was and Tzubaki gave him the tightest hug repeatedly saying,

"Maka needs a friend like you around to keep an eye on her when we can't. Thank you so much!"

Everyone continued eating and talking except Maka who just watched as Soul talked to her friends like he had known them all his life.

Tzubaki caught her staring and smiled a knowing smile at her to which Maka stuck her tongue out.

They all walked out together with promises of getting together later in the day for movies, food and maybe some more drinks.

Soul and Maka watched as the 3 girls got into Tzubaki's car and drove off. Maka waved and waited until they were completely out of sight before turning to Soul.

"So what was that? Like you were way to comfortable around people you don't know at all, and how did you know exactly what story I told them?"

Soul smirked at Maka again like he had so many times that day yet it still made her blush a little, and simply shrugged his shoulders.

"I meet people I don't know all the time, well when I'm summoned that is. I hate being around others in all honesty I prefer to be left to my own devices, but the life of a succubus is a very social one. I have developed people skills and the knack of telling what trait other people most seek.

Take your friend Liz I knew she would want someone who was looking out for you I could sense she was ready to jump me if I said one wrong word. So I played up the charm and made it like you were a damsel in distress and me your shining knight came to rescue you."

Soul gave Maka a big dopey grin because he knew she would hate being compared to a damsel in distress.

"Excuse you sir, I would've been fine on my own. Maybe dying in my own bed, but I would've been fine. I don't need any kind of knight to save me. Thank you very much. You just ease dropped on us didn't you?"

Maka crossed her arms and Soul pulled her in close to him before he even realized what he was doing.

"Busted. Ok you caught me I was also ease dropping on you all, but I am a people pleaser. It's literally my job."

Maka looked up at him with a defiant glare and he realized he really liked that look. He'd never met someone like her before, and he really liked that he could be honest and open about everything with her.

No charm, no pressure just their banter back and forth and he really wished he could keep her.

"Come on Maka let's get you home before you decide to really bite my head off."

Maka chuckled and Soul felt warmth spread across his chest. He put a hand to his chest and looked at the woman who was pulling him along and smiled.

I'm not sure what she's doing to me, but I really like it.