Distance relationships sucked.
That's what Maka has been thinking since she saw her boyfriend's plane take off half a year ago for his international program in England. A program that was supposed to give him the extra credit he needed to graduate his course a year earlier than expected and for him to have some decent break since they started university. A program that should've lasted no longer than 4 months…
Maka breathed a deep sigh as she entered the dark apartment, relaxing as the cool air touched her skin. Most of the time she was used to the lack of her boyfriend in there, but there were days when she was hyper aware of the difference in the atmosphere, the fragrance of the food he was cooking absent, no soft music playing the background because "no Maka, I'd rather die than let you touch my playlists" followed by him kissing the pout off her lips.
Her music taste wasn't the best but his cooking at times wasn't either so they were even.
Plane tickets were hard to find for a reasonable price and date and both Maka and Soul found themselves in a situation where neither of them could go to the other and spend some quality time because university assignments were breathing in their necks (Soul could be lazy for most things but for music he was a rival workaholic to Maka).
Maka sneezed a few times and went to the bathroom to blow her nose. Then she washed her face and winced at her face, pale and with intense eye bags.
Earlier on that day she had an exam (6th out of 7 total) and she planned to wake up at 5am to revise. She was woken up, though, an hour earlier because her nose was running and she couldn't stop it. She tried to be as inconspicuous as possible during the exam, sneezing as quietly as possible and using her mask as a handkerchief (not her proudest moments but she'd be damned if she had to retake her exam because the examiners threw her away). It was a miracle she lasted and passed it,with a high grade on top of that. But she felt really tired, so next thing Maka did was go and lie down.
Maka tried calling Soul but her call was directly sent to voice mail, which didn't surprise her. Three out of seven days a week she managed to call her boyfriend on the first try, one reason being the time difference and the other being that his phone was most probably thrown somewhere out of his sight while he worked. She understood, she really did, for she was the same while studying but it didn't mean it wasn't hard sometimes. They still talked as regularly as possible but the distance was taking its toll on her.
Since they've met they clicked immediately, developing a strong friendship and becoming inseparable. Being apart for more than a week had never happened, their friends teased them saying they'd die if they weren't together all the times. That aspect didn't change much after they started dating.
They both saw the opportunity the new course had, Soul was looking for chances to make a name for himself and time was pressing them a bit because soon he'd graduate and he didn't want to be lying around while Maka was fighting through her last year and a half of university. So, with a lot of tears (from Maka mostly, Soul only looked at her and claimed his tears were sweat) and clinging, Maka watched as he boarded the plane and took off.
The months that came were a bit tough on them, especially with the plane delays. But in the end they saw the good opportunity for Maka to study for her finals (7 exams people!) and for Soul to find a new sound for himself. She felt like dreaming when Soul told her he had booked a ticked to America on the day of her last exam. They even started planning a vacation, a small trip starting with going to the beach for four days and regrouping with their friends for a week at a mountain cottage owned by Kidd. It was less than five days till then.
After realizing she wouldn't contact Soul for the moment, Maka called Tsubaki. Her friend had been sick the past week and she wanted to check on her and see if she was okay. It was a bad summer virus that caused constant headaches, vomiting and low blood pressure. Blackstar, her childhood best friend, was worried beyond belief when he had to drive her to the nearby hospital for some infusions since she got badly dehydrated.
The call connected almost immediately.
''Oh, hey Maka''
''Hey Tsubaki, how are you?" asked Maka as she lay on the bed and hugged Soul's pillow, which strangely still smelled like him.
''I'm a bit better now, I can finally keep down food that's not just plain bread and crackers''
''I'm glad, you really got it bad this time"
''Oh, don't remind me, this is a first time I had to come to a hospital and I think I'll be good not to visit soon again'' Maka heard Tsuabki sigh on the phone. ''They said I can go home tomorrow so that's a relief. How did your exam go?''
Maka shivered a bit and took the thin blanket thrown on the bed to cover herself. ''It was good, I guess. It was some wild luck that I got. But that's not my biggest concern at the moment''
''Why, what happened?"' mumbled Tsubaki and shushing at someone right after that. It was probably Angela, Blackstar's adoptive sister.
''I think I'm getting sick too, Tsubaki. My nose is running and I keep sneezing'' and just to make a point, Maka felt a familiar tingling in her nostrils and sneezed two times.
''That doesn't sound really good. When is your next exam?''
''Um, in four days, without counting today'' answered Maka and she readjusted the temperature on the AC. Damn, why did she put it on so cold, she was shaking really bad.
''Hopefully you'll manage. The good side is it's almost over and Soul will be home soon. I know for a fact that Star is missing him''
Maka laughed, she'd better enjoy her time with him before they go to the mountain for she wouldn't see a glimpse of him when the boys grab him.
''Yeah, can't wait. I also can't wait for him to cook me something, maybe he'd have picked something from the English culture.'' They both laughed at that.
Soon they had to end the call because Tsubaki had to eat, which reminded Maka she had nothing cooked at her place. The idea of moving off the bed made her groan, she felt so tired even her muscles were in physical pain.
When she got up she couldn't stop shaking and that was weird. She touched her body and it felt really warm, if not hot, but her arms were covered in goosebumps.
''No way…'' she murmured and went to her bathroom to take the thermometer.
Maka went back to her bed but before that she put on her sweats instead of her sleeping shorts. Bad sign, it was summer and she felt cold enough to wear sweats…
She put the thermometer and waited patiently, trying to eat an apple she had grabbed from the bowl in the kitchen, but giving up on the second bite.
Yup. Appetite – none.
Nose – stuffy.
Maka heard the beeping sound and took the thermometer. She groaned when she saw 38.1°C.
She was sick.
Perfect…
The fever didn't go down. After it cemented itself on 39° C and it refused to budge, even after Maka took some medicine, and used some remedies her dad had used on her when she was very little. It got so bad at one point that when Maka went to the toilet she almost fell on the floor from shivering. In the end she got too sleepy and decided to try and sleep off the fever. She had completely forgotten about her night call with Soul and paid no mind that he hadn't called her at all during that day except for the "good morning, good luck today, I love you" which was very unusual.
It was close to 5am when you could hear the sound from jiggling keys.
The door opened to reveal Soul, who tried to be as quiet as possible because he didn't want to wake up and scare his girlfriend. He knew she had a rough exam the previous day and wanted to give her the chance to rest as much as possible.
His intentions were good but he couldn't fulfill his plan as he heard sounds of gagging and throwing up. Soul unceremoniously dumped his back near the door and hurried towards the bedroom where he saw his girlfriend hunched over a bowl.
"Jesus, Maka" he murmured.
Maka suddenly lifted her head and gaped at him. Her eyes looked too vivid for his liking, her forehead a bit sweaty, most probably from the exertion and maybe something else.
''Sou-'' she couldn't finish her sentence as new spasms racked her slim frame. Soul cursed under his breath and ran towards the bathroom and wetted a towel with cold water. When he returned to the bedroom, Maka was breathing heavily. Carefully Soul took the bowl and gently cleaned her face. He noticed how his girlfriend searched the comfort of the cold towel so he touched her forehead and hissed at the temperature it radiated.
''Soul, am I hallucinating or are you really back?'' whispered Maka, her voice a bit rough with all of the vomiting.
''Shhh, lie down on the bed, we'll talk more in the morning.'' Soul murmured and gently pushed her to lie down much to his girlfriend's obvious displeasure.
''I can't, my fever is-''
''I'm here, don't worry'' his hand caressed her face. ''Sleep Maka.''
Maka was out in under 5 minutes.
Soul sighed. To be completely honest, he kind of expected some sort of a disaster to happen. Maka was a workaholic and when it came to school work she had to be nothing but perfect. He understood her, he really did, but he didn't agree to all if this.
When her exams were a week away they both had a very long talk. This was going to be her most exhausting and longest exam season ever. Seven exams with the most of a week as time between some and four days for others. They both knew she wouldn't last long if she didn't try to ratio her capacity because exhaustion would take a big toll on her. That was one of the reasons why he wanted to surprise her by coming back earlier than planned, to keep her steady but it wasn't on time still.
Maka tried, he saw it but you can't erase old habits in the span of a month. The stress and overwork would have an effect of some sorts and it looks like her body was either giving up on her just from pure exhaustion or her immune system was unprepared to handle a new threat.
Well, at least he was with her now and she wouldn't go through it alone.
Maka woke up with a headache and feeling her stomach churning.
She turned around and saw the bowl she had stolen from the kitchen in a rush replaced with the bin, there were some other meds for her fever on the nightstand. As she listened more closely she heard a familiar deep voice talking with someone in the kitchen and felt how heart danced.
''Soul'' she called for him quietly, her voice still rough from sleeping and throwing up whatever she had left in her stomach. Maka heard steps and soon in front of her stood her boyfriend in all of his albino glory. She couldn't help smiling at him. ''Hey''
He gave her his trademark grin ''Hey. I leave for a few months and you become a mess. Totally uncool''
She laughed and winced. Damn, that headache was splitting her head open. ''Shut up. I didn't intend for this to happen''
Soul caressed her head gently. ''I know baby, sorry. Want some water? How is your stomach?''
Maka nodded and took a few sips until she grimaced and waved towards the bin. Soul quietly took it and gave it just in time as Maka emptied her already empty stomach into it while her boyfriend rubbed her back. After he made sure she was done with it, he touched her forehead and winced. After Maka fell asleep he spent two hours fighting her fever and then managed to grab some three hours of sleep for himself. While she slept he had enough time to call Stein and to write down all that he'd need to buy from the pharmacy. Before he went out, though, Soul wanted to make sure Maka was awake and knew what was happening around her.
''Well, I won't ask how you're feeling because I can see that clearly you're not okay.''
Maka cleaned her mouth with a clean towel she didn't realize she held.
''My head really hurts Soul, I can barely open my eyes, the light is too much.'' With that being said he hurried to shut the curtains. ''Thanks'' she murmured and blew him a kiss. ''I want to kiss you for real but not sure if this is the wisest decision right now…''
''We waited months, a few more days won't kill us. And whatever, I'm already exposed to your germs'' Soul smirked at her. ''Also for you miss, you obviously need a break''
Maka whined, some of her usual fire returning to her eyes. ''I can't rest right now Soul. My last exam is in four days!'' she took off her covers and was ready to get up when a new wave of nausea hit her and she had to sit down.
''Look, it's still not even 10am, also with that fever and headache you're just fit for studying. Your biggest concern could be that you have to study but mine is that your fever barely budged last night. When was the last time you ate, because the bin has no food in it after you threw up.''
Maka mumbled something.
''Come again?''
''Yesterday lunch.''
Soul sighed. He had a lot of work to do.
''Okay, hear me out please. I'll go and buy you some meds and food that won't irritate your stomach. I can't find anything useful here, have you even eaten properly this past month and something?''
The silence that followed told him everything.
First help your sick girlfriend to get better, later have a serious talk about important stuff.
The next hours were not pleasant.
Maka stayed in a limbo between sleep and being awake, trying to move as little as possible in order to keep her stomach from churning. Her mouth was very dry, her tongue paper-like. The headache had actually worsened in comparison to the fever, which was slightly better than the night before. She still had the chills, though. Maka she wouldn't have to go to the hospital like Tsubaki did.
She wanted to study and to get this thing with exams over with, but the part of her mind that still could think clearly realized the chance for her to succeed is farfetched, not with the fever and headache. And yes, he was happy Soul came back four days early, but she didn't want for them to spend their first days together after being distanced for half a year with him cleaning her vomits. Maka had too many mixed emotions for the whole situation and just thinking about it made it worse. She groaned and pulled the blanked over her head.
When Soul came back he had to forcefully pull his girlfriend from her blanket cocoon to at least change the sheets of the bed because there was an accident before he left the apartment and the stain near her pillow was very vomit-provocative. After that he tried to feed Maka some biscuits as she hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours. When everything was done he wrapped the blanket around her like a burrito and helped her lie down again.
''Soul, can you grab my laptop...'' she mumbled, barely focusing on her boyfriend's silhouette.
''Maka, don't tell me you plan to study now'' the boy grumbled.
Maka didn't answer but her silence was enough of an answer.
''What do you plan to do, huh? With your headache and fever and just having the urge to vomit with the slightest of jostling? It'll do more damage than help. Neither your studying will be studying, nor would you get some rest'' Soul said as he saw the conflict in the girl's eyes. She was stubborn but sometimes logic was more powerful and she hated it when she was proven wrong.
Soul sat next to her. ''Try to rest, have some sleep. Let's both sleep. You need to rest as much as possible and I can always use some extra hours as well. Let's both be lazy together.''
The gears in Maka's brain were turning but it was obvious that she couldn't do much, not now at least.
She sighed and nodded. Just because she agreed didn't mean she liked the situation. Soul smiled softly at her and pulled her to lie down and cuddle as both of them fell asleep.
The short nap really did wonders for Maka about her headache. Her fever had gone away and there were no chills that racked her body anymore. But she still felt like her limbs weighed a ton.
The following days weren't that better. True, Maka felt how she was getting better, she didn't feel as sick to her stomach as she did in the beginning but her appetite was gone and she barely ate anything because her stomach was churning. Soul was constantly around her, helping as much as possible, feeding her (if it wasn't for him she probably wouldn't have eaten) and distracting her when the girl's thoughts got too much. And the latter was happening more and more often.
Two days before her exam she sat in front of her computer just staring. She sat there and looked because Maka had realized that maybe this time things wouldn't work out. It wasn't the first time the girl got sick before an exam but now it was different. Before she had more time on her hands, enough time to get better and to catch up; also back then she didn't have to go through too many exams and to try and archive so much information. This time it was different.
Maka was alone when it happened and it hit her. It was stupid, she knew it, but she always strived to be perfect or at least, as perfect as possible. She always managed to pull through, not just in the academic aspect but in general. And now the thought of failing scared her. She couldn't fail. She had so much to do later, she had internship, she wanted to enjoy her time with Soul to the fullest. In the past semester Maka was doing too much and Soul had warned her to ratio, but it was hard and in the end she knew she had failed in it.
And that's how Soul found her, curling in on herself and crying silently.
''Maka, hey, hey, hey. Baby, what happened?'' he gently asked, the voice he used kept only for her, his low timber easing some of her nerves.
Maka turned on the other side, too embarrassed of being caught crying for this. True, in the years they've known each other it was clear that Maka was the more emotional out of both of them, crying when things got too much. It was good to some extent, because Soul could always read her and knew what she needed when the situation came to it. He lay down next to her and hugged her small frame, scowling because he felt that she'd lost weight around the stress of exams and now by being sick.
''I can't do it Soul. I just can't…'' she whispered and sniffled. Soul was rubbing her back as she racked her body with sobs. Soul was too familiar with this, when stress and pressure got too much. Unfortunately, in the last month and something it happened a lot and he could only use calming words through FaceTime.
''Yes Maka, you can.''
''No, no, you don't get it!'' Maka protested weakly, still too out of shape to give real reaction to the situation. ''Yes, I've studied this and I know some basics but it won't be enough. I literally read words and I can't understand them! It hasn't happened before, at least not to this extent. I just see the words, I can't read through them, I can't comprehend them!''
Soul just silently rubbed her back, giving her space to let it all out.
''I'm not going''
Soul was so shocked he stopped his ministrations. ''Wait, what did you just say?"
''I'm not going Soul. It's pointless…''
Soul was shocked and then got a bit irritated. That wasn't like his girlfriend at all. His girl was fierce, never gave up even when the odds were against her. She always stood before every problem with determination, ready to give her all and with a smile she accepted the results, even if she failed.
''Don't be ridiculous! You've been through so much, you're going to be swayed by one exam and a summer virus. Maka, seriously, you should get a grip!'' he said, turning her around so that he could look into her eyes.
''Oh, I should get a grip? You're the same, if not worse sometimes!'' true, she had a point. When he had ideas but couldn't get them on the piano, couldn't create the planned melody, the sound was off and he didn't know how to clear it, Soul could become insufferable. Their ugliest fights had happened in those times but in the end they always talked through the problems and tried to be better for the other person.
''Yes, I'm like that, I won't deny it'' he said, looking her straight in the eyes. ''But you're not, Maka. When I'm in the pit and have no idea what I'm doing, when I don't know anything, can't create anything, can't remember anything, you're the person who tells me that it's not the end. You're the one who always reminds me there will always be a second chance, a new try. So what if you fail now, it won't be your last chance. Its's better to try and fail than to never try''
''Yeah, but…''
''I know you're worried you won't be able to rest after that if you fail, but I don't think you'll have that much of a problem. We'll go on our trips, you'll have to cover 4-5 hours a day on your internship during mornings, I'll be here. I'm almost done with graduation. I just need to add little touch ups on my last project but that's to be done in a month or something.''
Maka watched him, intently. Soul sighed, caressing her head and pulled her closer.
''Now is more important to get better. Your health is more important than a grade, you hear me? We've talked about it before as well.'' Soul felt Maka nod. He kissed her hair.
Soul waited patiently in the café on campus. He could see masses of students bustling around on their way to or from exam.
Soul fidgets with his fingers. Maka had went in there an hour ago, very nervous but she had a fire in her. He was sure that things would go well but even if they did, she seemed better today. She had eaten in the morning, not much, but it was better than the days before.
Soul's phone rang. Just before answering he lowered the volume after seeing the caller ID.
''Hey Soul!'' was shouted into his ear. Yep, even the lowest wasn't low enough for BlackStar's booming voice.
''Hey Star, what's up man?'' asked Soul, feeling happy for the distraction, the waiting was killing him.
''Your God is calling to check on you and especially on Maka! Tsubaki said she was sick but I didn't try and call because my head still remembers the chop she gave me when I interrupted her studying once.''
Soul winced, clearly remembering that day. ''Yeah, it was really bad, thankfully not as bad as Tsubaki though. I'm waiting for her right now, she's in there for her last exam and finally it's time for a break.''
''Hmm, oh wait, what Tsu?'' murmured BlackStar, his tone softening in a way that was just for his girlfriend. BlackStar was loud most of the time but he could be gentle when needed. The only people who had seen that side of him were Maka, Tsubaki and Angela. ''Tsubaki reminded me another reason why we called. We talked to Kidd and he said almost everything is ready in the cottage. Only for the alcohol we all had to bring whatever we wanted to drink, we'll take care of food and the rooms were ready too.''
''Okay, I'll talk to Maka about it. She has a whole list with that we'd need for there. We'll probably come there in the evening, we'll try to catch as much sun on the beach as possible.''
''Good, good. Give that bookworm some sun, she's as white as a ghost. I gotta hang up, we are going to pick Angela up from daycare.''
''Alright, later Star''
When the call ended Soul started thinking about something they could take with them on the trips. Kidd was good enough to offer them to wash their clothes because they didn't want to bring that many with them on both trips. Maka had agreed only on the condition if they used their own detergent. Kidd was well-off and generous but Maka also had principles.
The food would be bought by the rest of them because the cottage was a few miles away from the nearest town and they didn't want to go every day, so they'd buy a lot. The alcohol was a personal choice which left Soul and Maka to bring theirs. In the end they'd split the money.
Just as Soul finished going through their list with things they'd need for the ypcoming days, he saw Maka skipping up to him. He smiled and got up, hugging her when she got close enough and finally kissing her. He had given her a good luck peck in the morning, but now it was their first real kiss in months.
''Well, what happened miss I'mm-gonna-fail? You passed it, right?''
Maka smiled brightly "Nope, I failed!''
Soul's jaw hit the floor which made her laugh even more. ''No way, you're shitting me right now! I wanna see!'' Maka kept laughing and showed him. Even with the proof in front of his eyes it was impossible. His girlfriend failed. And she was happy. That was a first.
''Well, uh, how do you feel, tho?'' he asked worriedly. It wasn't every day that Maka failed something related with academics.
''Well'' she started and she enveloped his neck with her hands. ''I feel awful as if it was unfair. I'm still riding the adrenaline and I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry my eyes out later. But!'' she said when Soul opened his mouth ''I feel free. It's finally over! Also because Tsubaki was sick, she has to retake two exams as well, so we'll study together with her.''
Soul felt himself relax. Well, it was a better response than he expected, at least for now. ''I talked with Star just now.'' Maka made a sound, urging him to continue. ''Kidd said they'd buy everything; the alcohol is on us because we all have our taste.''
''Oh, alright then. And money?''
''We'll see when we go there. Now...'' Soul said as he intertwined their fingers together. ''Let's go and get ready. Tomorrow we have a lot to do and that goes for the next week and something.''
Maka smiled.
''Also, Star told me I need to desperately keep the bookworm under the sun-''
''As if he has any right to talk!'' Maka yelled and chopped Soul's head with a book he didn't see her bring out.
''MAKA, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT THING?!"