TRIGGER WARNING - Mentions of self harm, suicidal thoughts and abuse. Please read with caution.
the easiest lies we tell are the ones we wish were true.
Maka narrowed her eyes before turning away from him. Not lowering her voice as she muttered: "Fuck off."
Those on the table gasped at her response to Soul, her look of disinterest and, she guesses, disrespect. Even Soul himself seemed like he was a little surprised but, from what Maka could tell, he was better at hiding that. She'd bet people were intimidated by his dark and edgy looking appearance. No way in hell did these guys usually talk to him like that. It was pretty thrilling.
The blonde had expected him to blow up by the way he was looking at her - And by all the other's reactions. There was an expression of disbelief, mixed with anger... But he didn't.
Soul just let out a good-natured laugh before he sat beside Blackstar. He slapped his back before conversation erupted from the table again. Tsubaki and Liz pounced on Maka alarmingly.
"Maka!" Liz gasped in a hushed tone and leant forward as if the boys wouldn't hear them if she did. Maka blinked.
"What?"
"No one speaks to Soul like that!" Tsubaki said in the same hushed tone. Maka frowned.
"That's what you call speaking to someone?" She murmured but sighed as Liz and Tsubaki's eyes didn't waver and stayed intent on the blonde.
"Well, why not?" Maka asked finally.
Liz and Tsubaki shared a look before Liz piped up.
"I don't know." She admitted. "He just doesn't let them, I guess. Last guy who tried to talk back to him ended up in the medical ward and Soul was in isolation for six days."
Liz laughed nervously. Maka laughed incredulously and stabbed a fork into her food.
"If he tried to hit me, I'd kick his ass," She muttered, making Liz and Tsubaki shush her when the boys looked over to them.
"Whose ass is Maka kicking? I want in," Blackstar all but yelled, leaning towards them. Maka couldn't help the twist in her stomach as the boy spoke of her as if she was one of them. She had been here, what? Five minutes?
"No one!" Tsubaki and Liz said in sync, making the guys look to each other.
"Me, Blackstar," Soul laughed and all eyes turned to him. He looked at Maka and tilted his head with a smirk cocky enough to make her stomach clench. "She was talkin' about me."
She narrowed her eyes. "How would you know that?"
"I overheard."
"You eavesdropped." She corrected sharply. She felt those on the table stiffen around her, but Soul only laughed.
"I guess, yeah." He laughed again and Maka clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Well, if I wanted to talk to you I would have. Maybe mind your own business."
"On matters that are about me? Unlikely." he shot back, picking at his food.
Maka didn't really have a response to that. She looked away but his grumbly laugh drew her back.
"That it? I expected more from someone who threw a plastic plate like a ninja star."
"Keep bothering me and I'll find something heavier, and this time I won't miss." She threatened through gritted teeth.
"Scary." He mocked.
Maka laughed dryly – What was the point of even continuing this conversation?
"What an asshole," The blonde muttered, causing Soul's eyebrows rise. She stood up.
"I'm all done, I'm going back to my room," Maka told Tsubaki who was still looking at her in slight shock.
"Uh-yeah, okay. I'll jus-"
"That's quite alright, Tsubaki."
The seven turned to see Miss Marie making her way towards Maka, a slip of paper in her hand.
"Here's your schedule." She told Maka as she handed her the stiff piece of paper.
7:00am: Wake up call.
7:00 – 8:00am: Shower (supervised)
8:00 – 9:00am: Free time.
9:00 – 9:30am: Breakfast.
9:30 – 10:30 am: Arts and Crafts
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: School (Supervised Free Time on weekends)
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Dinner
1:00 – 2:00 pm: Music
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Group Therapy
3:00 – 5:00 pm: School (Supervised Free Time on Weekends)
6:00 – 6:30 pm: Supper.
6:30 – 7:30 pm: Free Time.
7:30 – 8:00: Group Therapy (Optional)
9:00 pm: Back to rooms
10:00 pm: Lights Out
Personal Therapy Session: 3:30 pm
(Sessions will be mixed up and changed every other week)
Maka looked up to eye the woman uncertainly.
"Uh, thanks," Maka said and shrugged her shoulders when the older woman had nothing to say. "Well, I was just heading back to my room, so-"
"Ah, ah, ah," Maka grit her teeth when Marie interrupted and held up a finger as she tried to leave. "Free time is at 3:00. For now, you have music."
Marie grinned as Maka made a face.
"Music?" She asked tentatively and Marie laughed along with Soul who Maka looked back to glare at.
"Yes. We find things like Music and Arts and Crafts gives patients a chance to be creative and imaginative, which we find helps a lot. You'll love it!" she said and clapped her hands in excitement. Maka laughed nervously without any humour.
"Alright, when do we go?" Maka asked just before a bell rang. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. She might as well have just stayed at school.
Marie laughed lightly and watched approvingly as patients started to take their trays back before looking to Tsubaki.
"Do you mind showing Maka the way, Tsubaki?"
"Of course!" Tsubaki said cheerfully while she stood and took both of their trays, despite Maka's complaints. Maka frowned in confusion as she watched the taller girl walk away.
"She's a nice girl, huh?"
Soul was following the blonde's gaze as she watched Tsubaki walk away. Maka wrapped her arms around herself as unease flooded over her and just nodded, uncomfortable.
"Yeah, she's nice," was all she said. Soul chuckled lowly.
"Don't talk much, huh?" he drawled, making her stiffen in annoyance. She turned on him irritably.
"Well, from what I hear neither do you," Maka said hotly. Soul met her gaze, his eyes annoyed.
"Well, that's none of your business." He said. Maka didn't even flinch.
"Then the reason I don't is none of yours," Maka countered in frustration. "Mind your fucking business and maybe I'll mind mine."
Maka had the pleasure of seeing anger swell in his eyes at her tone.
"Jesus Christ, woman. I've known you for five fuckin' minutes and you're - You're so-" he began in exasperation.
"What?" She snapped and stepped into his space, her chest brushing his as his furious crimson eyes burned down into hers. "So, what?"
They were in each other's faces when the nervous laugh of Miss Marie made them drag their angry gazes from each other.
"Okay, you two," she said, and stepped forward to push them away from one and other. "Let's just cool down, shall we? Soul, head over to the music room while Maka waits for Tsubaki."
Some of the patients who had stopped to watch sighed with disappointment as Soul turned roughly to walk away. Maka just muttered under her breath before turning in the opposite direction. She don't think she had ever been more pissed off by anyone she had met in her life.
But it was official. Soul Evans annoyed her just as much as he intrigued her.
