I know it took me a while to update this, I've been busy adulting.

Not nearly as long as the last, but long enough that I don't feel bad about it lol

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I am uploading a LOT of stories this month, so be on the lookout for them! ;)


Chapter Four: Cream and Sugar

She hasn't gotten a note for almost a week now, but she doesn't stress over it, or she tries not to. Fuck. He had mentioned in his last letter that he has a lot on his plate and will be getting really busy soon. Maka also has to plan out tomorrow night perfectly, as Blake is coming over to their apartment - Tsubaki is over the moon - and she needs an excuse to leave them alone for a short while. But no matter how much she attempts to convince herself into believing that she shouldn't care that Soul hasn't left anything for her for the past nine days, her mind always seems to be swept away to be occupied with thoughts of the charming man. He's an utter dreamboat and she needs to make sure to get his fucking cell phone number. She disappoints herself every time she forgets to ask him, but he hasn't either and she's not sure if he does it purposefully or if he's just so overly infatuated with her, like she is with him, to remember to ask. She hopes it's the latter, but doesn't hold her breath … or she tries not to.

Maka stands suddenly with a huff, making her coworker stiffen in surprise. She needs to distract herself, she has to stop obsessing over him. He's really cute, though, and such a gentleman. Fuuuuuuck. Maka lets out a defeated sigh, sitting back down as she sets her face in her hands.

"Everything alright?" Liz asks, concern lacing her voice.

"Wonderful. I'm fantastic." And she should be. The apartment is the cleanest it has ever been and Tsubaki pays her half of the rent early every time, not to mention that they have basically become best friends. Maka's grades are all A's at the moment, she's been making good tips at work, and she's setting her friend up with her 'true love' tomorrow night. She shouldn't have anything to complain about. The only thing missing in her daily life is Soul. Fuck, and she just realizes that she doesn't even know his fucking last name. Shit. The hell has she been doing the past two months? That's another thing she needs to remember to ask for next time they coincidentally meet.

"Are you sure? You've been sighing a lot … not to mention the unexpected jumping up and down from your seat." They're on break in the back room and Maka is getting claustrophobic. She's never felt this way before, not even toward Kidd, and it's just hitting her. The door squeaks and they both turn to find the source standing awkwardly in the doorway. Maka glares menacingly and Liz gives the form a pitiful look. She fucking hates Hiro.

"Uh …"

"Shut up."

"Yes, ma'am."

"What did I just say?"

He opens his mouth only to close it and look down dolefully. He has yet to apologize about the whole deleting Soul's number from her phone ordeal, though she hasn't exactly given him a chance to, as one can see. He is obviously head over heels in love with Maka - more like slightly obsessed - so his jealousy more or less took control, though Maka doesn't acknowledge that as an acceptable excuse. Liz sits uncomfortably in the thick atmosphere before clearing her throat.

"Our break is almost over, so we should probably get back to work." Maka nods in agreement and grabs her things, making sure to keep a firm hold on her phone, and throws away her trash. Hiro moves out of the way quickly before she can shove him aside with her hateful stare, clutching his meal to his chest. She doesn't want to be mean, it's not like he deserves to be treated like this after two months, but she can't get past it. If she hadn't met Soul again, Hiro would have very well ruined her first real love.

She almost chokes on the thought, Liz crashing into her as a result of her abrupt halt. Does she…? No. No, of course, she doesn't. She would know if she did. Wouldn't she? She had imagined it to always kind of be like when Tsu met Blake - love at first sight - but, even though she had only become acquainted with him recently and they hadn't even gone on a real date, she can't see herself with anyone else. It has never been that way before. When she had been dating Kidd, she had still checked out other guys when no one was looking; and as much as she had cared for him, she could see them breaking up and ending up with other people. Not with Soul. She is just realizing that ever since she met him, guys that she had previously found attractive, have slowly become incomparable to him, on any level. When did this happen? How could she just now become aware of this huge milestone in her own fucking life? Her mind goes numb as her heart begins to race and she thinks that she might need something to throw up in.

"Maka?" Liz is still rubbing her nose slightly from the impact as concern for her friend starts creeping in. "Why did you stop? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just … yeah. I'm good." Maka walks away swiftly to the bathroom, hiding her face slightly. She is bright red. She can't believe it, no, she won't. There's no way. Fucking no.

Justin watches her leave the 'employee's only' section as he leans back against the bar. They aren't busy, so he's basically just trying to find something to pass the time, and a very red-faced Maka Albarn attempting to hurriedly beeline for the bathroom is quite entertaining. Maka has always been a stoic female, he's seen her red only a handful of times and they were all incidents including him. He'll admit that he likes to purposefully make body contact just to see it. He finds her flushed skin oddly satisfying. She's gone too soon, though, and he's strangely at odds about it. He usually wouldn't care to ask, but …

"What's with her?" He gestures toward the door that Maka enters and locks as his eyes meet a confused Liz. She shrugs and huffs without returning his gaze. "Why is she all blushy?" he presses. He really should just let it go. He's never been one to pry, but he's found that Maka seems to peak his interest lately. This question earns him the azure in his coworker's eyes, brows set in a look that could only mean 'none of your damn, motherfucking business, bitch'. She doesn't answer, though, and it almost frustrates him as she turns and fucking walks away without so much as a word. He takes in a slow, deep breath and lets it slide off his back, his attention returning to the ladies room. She's right, it's none of his business and he really shouldn't dig into something just to sate his boredom… so why does he want to know so bad?


She's scared fucking shitless at the moment. How the hell could she not have known something so important? She's confused and conflicted because, on one hand, Soul is brilliant. She sees his smile in her dreams and craves his fingers in her hair, she wants his mouth on hers and his eyes … good God, does she want his full and undivided attention at all times. When they meet by chance it's like, the first time she met him at Res everytime because her breath catches in her throat for a moment and she gets these sweet tingles all over her body; the room gets really hot and she needs something to drink because her mouth is always exceedingly dry. Even now, as she's walking home from work, she gets all bubbly and fuzzy and shit just thinking about him. It's sickening and annoying, but she's smiling despite it all. On the other hand, … there were her parents. They had lied to her, to her face without even batting an eye, and she had trusted them with her life, with her diary, with her secrets, with her everything. Her smile slowly became full of melancholy and wistfulness. She shouldn't compare him to them. Ugh, she needs something to distract her.

Maka enters her apartment building, basically in tears, but not really. They stay in her eyes, not daring to fall, and the receptionist looks up as she walks in.

"Late shift again, Miss Albarn?" she asks sweetly. Maka shouldn't hate her just because she's prettier than she is, the lady is actually always extremely nice and remembers her name. Maka only smiles and nods her way as she strides for the elevator. She hears a sort of sad sigh come from the older receptionist as she turns the corner, pressing on the up button. She feels a bit bad, as she doesn't think that she's ever witnessed anyone ever talk to her. The doors soon ding open and Maka hesitates. She steps back and turns, making her way back to the desk. The gorgeous woman sitting on the other side notices her immediately and looks up, hiding the sorrow in her eyes with a well-practiced smile plastered nicely across her face.

"May I help you with something, Miss Albarn?"

"How was your day?" Maka asks as she crosses her arms and leans on the tall desk. The shock in her expression tells Maka that she doesn't get asked that question nearly enough. She blinks a few times before looking around as if Maka couldn't possibly be talking to her.

"Me, ma'am?" Her voice expresses her astonishment as she actually points to herself. Maka smiles and nods, telling her that, yes indeed, she is talking to her and is interested in her well being. "How was my day?" The woman looks down at her desk as she seems to ask herself the question, almost too confused to muster up a proper answer, before meeting Maka's awaiting gaze. She smiles and Maka thinks this is the first genuine smile she's seen on her. It takes her aback because she somehow manages to be even more beautiful than usual. It's a minor frustration. "Well, um, I … had a wonderful day."

"Don't lie," Maka snorts, letting her chin rest on her arms. "I really want to know." This seems to make the woman smile even wider.

"I, uh, … in that case, I've honestly had a rather rough day today …" she grimaces, her eyes shining with the beginning of tears as she meagerly nibbles at her bottom lip.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maka isn't sure exactly why she had decided to talk to her. She had passed her every day, several times, and not once had she spoken to her since she moved in two years ago. It might have been to distract herself from her previous thoughts, or it could be the slight connection she had felt from her gaze, the small fire that had slowly diminished as Maka had chosen to pass the poor woman by. She feels like a dick all of a sudden for always glaring at her for no good reason and never even taking the initiative to learn her name.

She seems hesitant as she fiddles her fingers in her lap. She sighs and falls, hitting her head very ungracefully and abruptly onto the desk. She groans before shifting in a way that her chin is on her desk while she allows her shoulders to sag and her arms to droop down to the floor. She looks completely defeated.

"I might not make my rent this month …" she decides to spill. "I was living with my fiance, but … I found out that he was cheating on me, so I moved in here, but …"

"It's pretty pricey," Maka finishes for her, earning herself a nod. "How much are you needing?" Maka asks in a way that seems innocently curious, so the receptionist doesn't think twice before answering.

"Only about eighty-five, but that would leave me with nothing for food," she sighs, rolling her head to lay on its side. Maka hums. It's really not that much, but not having enough for food will be tough.

"I'm really sorry to hear that. I wish I could help out." The woman bolts upright at that, her features contorted in a cross between horror and amazement.

"Oh, no! I hope you didn't think that I was asking you for money!"

Maka laughs. "No, of course not. I just understand your situation a bit. I had a roommate who just up and ditched me a few months ago, taking half of my belongings along with him without even the slightest notice. I luckily found a much better roommate, but anyway, I just wish that I could help you out in some way." She looks up at Maka with an overly kind and thankful look as she holds the tears from falling.

"Thank you. That means more than you know." A semi-awkward silence passes by as an understanding and slight kinship manifests between them.

"I'm so sorry, I don't even know your name," Maka finally states, reaching her hand out to shake hers, and once again she is left with eyes wide and surprise. She smiles again, though, and takes the offered appendage, seemingly delighted that someone cared enough to ask for her name. It's actually a really sad realization on Maka's part and she kind of feels better about herself for taking the time to talk to this beautiful, well-meaning woman.

"My name is Blair Neko."

"Well, it's a pleasure to actually meet you, Miss Neko."

"Oh, please, just Blair is fine."

"Then you can call me Maka from now on." Blair seems to want to argue with that but submits after Maka throws a small fit, stating that she won't answer to 'Miss Albarn' any longer. "Well, then," Maka quickly checks the time to find that it's nearing 11 p.m. and she still has homework. "I hate to leave you down here by yourself, but I have some assignments I have to send in by tomorrow morning."

"Of course! I wouldn't want to keep you from your studies." They both nod their goodbyes respectfully before Maka turns to walk away, tired though oddly refreshed. Just as she reaches the corridor, Blair calls out to her, grabbing her attention as she peers back around the corner.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." Blair seems to be overwhelmed with a contentedness that Maka has never seen on the woman's face before. It's actually rather rewarding.

Maka smiles back as she waves. "No problem."


Soul had thought that Blake had been acting weird the past few days, but this? This is just ridiculous. He calls Soul into the living room, distracting him from his homework, and sits him down on the couch. It seems to be pretty serious at the start, throwing Soul off and putting him on edge as he watches his friend stride back and forth, mumbling incoherently. Now, he's pretty sure it isn't serious, because he remembers having witnessed something similar to this when they were in high school and Blake had been asked to a dance by a girl and … wait … a girl?!

"Who is she?" Blake turns with wide eyes, staring at Soul completely horrified.

"Dude, … how do you fucking do that? Are you seriously psychic? Tell me the truth."

"Not psychic, just observant and I know you very well, now who is she? Did she ask you out, did you ask her?"

"What? No. Neither."

"... then, like, what?"

"I met her through a mutual acquaintance and - and it just felt … right. Like, I looked at her and I became instantaneously infatuated. I was overcome with complete awe, it was like I was floating or some shit and I just …"

"Woah, … you're in deep. When did this go down?"

"Yesterday? Before work."

"You're kidding me, that fast?"

"I literally just said instantaneously, didn't I? What do you think that word means, huh?"Blake reaches forward and flicks Soul on his forehead, earning his own hand and smack.

"Well, I just mean that I've never seen you like this. You reacted similarly when that girl asked you to turnabout in high school, but it was more in shock than joy. This time is completely different."

"She's completely different. She has this smile that's like, and her eyes are brilliant, and I just …" Soul gives Blake a very pointed look, smiling more in merriment for his friend than anything. "There are no words."

"That's a first."

"Shut up, you wouldn't understand." Soul leans back into the couch, bringing his water bottle to his lips and taking a sip, the thought of a radiant Maka sitting as she reads, being showered in sunlight, popping into his head. She's radiant and if he closes his eyes and blocks out everything else around him, she's there behind his eyelids, smiling and glowing like the fucking sun because that's her.

"I think I have a pretty good idea." Look at these two fools falling fast and willingly, readily jumping when told. "Anyway, why did you call me out here? Was there something else?"

"Oh! Yeah, well, I'm supposed to go over to their apartment to study for this project, but I don't want to go alone. They said I could bring someone for dinner, so … could you come?"

"This isn't like a double date or anything, right?"

"No, absolutely not … okay, maybe a little? But, the other girl isn't expecting anything, so don't worry."

"She better not be."

"Why, not like you actually have a girlfriend or anything."

"Do you want me to go to this thing?"

"Yes! I apologize, please don't leave me alone on this important night." He smacks Blake roughly because of course, he'll go with him, that's what best friends are for. He thinks back to Maka, feeling a little guilty to be going to meet some other girl, but really, he's not going for her or himself, he's going to support his lovesick, frantic friend. He really wishes he had her number right about now, he wants to see her face.


Hope you all enjoyed that! I hope to see feedback!

Don't forget to check out the contest details on my user page! I hope you all participate!

Much Love~!

K.T.