"Maka!"

That clear word resounded in my head instantly clearing away the clouds, refocusing my attention, and dragging me back to the present. I shoved Soul away, forgetting about my necklace, and looked to see where my name had come from. Liz stood in the doorway of the side door we must have come through. She stood still, staring at me and Soul, mouth agape. She opened and closed it a few times like a fish before saying,

"It's Tsubaki. I think we need to help her."

And with that she awkwardly stepped back inside. Tsubaki. The party. Soul. Oh my god! I looked back to him to find him leaning against the corner post and he was laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked still a little numb from the shock.

"You," He answered. "You're so easy to figure out."

"What?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows.

"You're one of those easy-to-read virgin types," he said leaning towards me. "I can give you just a little attention. Just say a few nice words at the right time. Touch you in just the right way."

He moved even closer and I leaned away from him for the second time.

"And you're putty in my hand."

I was mad. I just knew that the Under 40 in my blood had to have been burned away by my seething fury. Just who did he think he was?

"And you can't really blame me," He said moving away again. "Because you pulled me to you, not the other way around."

He was right. I knew he was right. But he was wrong somewhere wasn't he? There had to be some flaw in his logic? There always is, but I couldn't find it. Anger was still fueling me, so I hopped off the railing, eager to get as far from him as possible. However, I crumpled to the floor, still a little woozy from the concoctions I had ingested. I didn't care, I'd crawl if I had to.

"Need help?" he asked putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't you dare even try touching me right now!" I fumed slapping his hand away.

"That's not what you were saying a minute ago."

I let out this horrid sounding internal screaming noise, and I could guess that that only fueled Soul on. I forced myself back to a standing position and wobbly made it to the open door. Just as I was about to go in, Soul just had to say one last thing.

"Don't act like you didn't like it."

A word was dancing on the tip of my tongue. A word that Liz used when she was mad. A word that I never thought I'd say to anyone; jerk or not. Now however, I let it rip itself from my tongue in the highest volume I could manage with my alcohol-soaked vocal chords.

"Fuck You Soul!"

The voices inside hushed, clearly effected by my vocabulary, but that didn't matter at all. All that mattered was if Soul was, and by the way he was standing with that expressionless face, it was clear he hadn't been. I slammed the door behind me. I grabbed the closest person to me, some boy with his hair in a ponytail, and tugged him down to my eye level.

"Where's Tsubaki?"

I was practically hissing.

"Uh, she might be in the kitchen," the guy offered hurriedly.

I shoved him back letting him bump into his friends. I began stomping my way past all the stares I was receiving and started looking for Tsubaki. It didn't take long.

"She's dying," Patty was saying to the blue-haired guy. He was sitting at the bottom of the stairs with an unconscious Tsubaki in his arms.

"No, she's not," he said soothingly.

Someone grabbed my arm and I turned ready with something vicious to say.

"Woah, Maka. It's just me. Put your guns down," Liz said holding up both her hands.

"Tsubaki's sort of drunk so we need to get her home, but Black Star won't let go of her."

"Black Star?" I asked.

"Yah, him," she said motioning to the blue-haired guy curled up with my best friend on the stairs. I sighed.

"Ok."

I went over to him.

"Maka, she's not waking up," Patty whined.

I looked down at Tsubaki. For being a little drunk too, Black Star was cradling her rather gently. She had a deep flush on her skin and she was obviously breathing.

"Patty, Tsubaki's fine. She's just asleep," I said kneeling in front of them.

"Asleep?"

"Yah, and we need to get her home, ok?"

"Ok."

"I'm coming with you," Black Star added.

I looked to Liz.

"I've got it," she nodded.

"Ok, let's go," I said.

I stood and he did too, still holding her carefully. He was wearing a sleeveless black shirt showing off a star tattoo on his right shoulder, and cargo shorts the same color of Tsubaki's dress. I rolled my eyes as I led my party of four out the door of the house and down the street. Leave it to Tsubaki to get drunk with the one guy who was named after her precious stars. I went to get in the driver's seat but Liz stopped me.

"Uh, Maka? You're a little tipsy. I better drive."

I wanted to argue but didn't have the energy to. I knew a DUI would only cause me trouble. I moved to the back with Black Star and Tsubaki. She sat next to him but he held her head and shoulders. Patty was in the front seat and turned around to face me.

"So, what do we do?" she asked.

"We're bringing her to my house," I said.

"Yah," Liz agreed. "Her dick of a brother would murder her if she came home like that."

She pulled out and started driving. I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. My anger had been spent and all that was left was this dull ache from somewhere inside me.

"Look at them Maka," Patty said softly from in front of me.

I looked to my left at Tsubaki and Black Star. He had wrapped his arm around her and she was now sleeping on his shoulder. It looked like he had fallen asleep too, nestled in her hair. They were holding each other's hands on her lap. I looked down at my hands, remembered what they had done today, and clenched them into fists. The rest of the ride remained silent. I pushed everything that had happened with Soul to the back of my mind, letting the road passing by us hypnotize me into a state of mental limbo. We get to my house quickly and all the lights are off. For once, I didn't mind my dad not waiting up for me.

"Ok, Patty. Here. Go open the door for us," I said handing her my house keys.

"Ok," she chirped.

She got out and scurried to the front door. I moved to unbuckle when Liz said,

"So, are you ever going to tell me what happened between you and Soul?"

I froze for a moment, then met her eyes.

"You saw?"

"And heard. I've never heard you drop the F-bomb before in my life."

I unbuckled my seatbelt and slowly let it retract.

"Yah, I'll tell you. Just not tonight."

Liz nodded in understanding.

"Just tell me this. Did he hurt you?"

Yes. He had to have in order for me to feel so bruised inside. But, I didn't feel like telling Liz that right now.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

I got out of the car away from Liz's questions and went around to the other side. Apparently, Black Star had been awake because he came out on his own with Tsubaki. I led him up the sidewalk and into the house, asking Patty to show Black Star to my room. I went back out and leaned into the passenger window.

"So, what are you going to do with her car?" I asked.

"Well, I'll take Black Star back to the party and then see what Patty wants to do. You can pick up her car at my place or call me and I'll bring it over tomorrow," Liz said.

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least someone was still a little sane around here.

"Ok, thanks so much. You have no idea how much I owe you."

"Oh, I have a little bit of an idea," she said grinning.

I grinned back.

"Ok, well then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok, bye Maka," she called as I turned away.

Just as I reached my doorway Black Star and Patty appeared in front of me. Patty ran around us yelling,

"See ya Maka!"

I waved and turned back to Black Star.

"Thanks for taking care of Tsubaki, Black Star."

He rubbed the back of his head.

"Yah, no problem."

"Even though it was sort of your fault she got drunk in the first place," I said a little of my excess bitterness making its way out.

"Well, not totally, but yah. Sorry," he said shoving his hands into his pockets.

I walked past him and was about to close the door when he stopped me by saying,

"Maka?"

I turned around and faced him.

"Yah?"

He looked at the floor for a moment then back at me and said,

"I'm sorry for whatever Soul did to you."

So he had heard that little exchange.

I know he can act like an ass, but, really, he doesn't mean it. He's not that bad of a guy."

I sighed, "Yah," and closed the door.

I locked it and went upstairs to my room. Tsubaki was on my bed against the wall under the blankets. I wondered what she was dreaming of. I hoped for her sake that it was better than my humiliation earlier. I didn't ever have to deal with Soul again, and that was still too soon for me.

Soul's POV

"Soul!"

I turned around away from the beer pong game I was watching.

"What? And where the hell have you been?" I asked Black Star.

"That's not important. What is important is your date. What did you do?"

I shrugged. Maka's little outburst had made its way around the world and back. Everyone at the party who had been bugging the shit out of me; asking who I came with, why, were now avoiding me and sending me wary glances. Back to the way I was used to.

"What does it matter?"

Black Star looked confused.

"But, I thought you said that she was…"

"Yah, and it sort of didn't work out," I interrupted. "And seriously where have you been? You were with that Tsubaki girl weren't you?"

Black Star didn't seem surprised that I knew about it but asked me anyway.

"How'd you know?"

"She seemed like your type," I said shrugging again.

"Well, ain't no use in denying. She got a little drunk though. Real low tolerance."

"You would get her drunk."

Reminded me of Maka. That must have been why her other friend came out to get her. Maka. That girl was definitely different than the rest of the loose and free-spirited girls who've followed me all year. She had never shown me any special attention and I guess I sort of liked that.

"I didn't get her drunk," Black Star said crossing his arms.

"Sure," I said grabbing someone's abandoned cup. "Not like you'll see her ever again when you leave tomorrow."

"Well, a man can dream," Black Star said brushing away my comment.

I downed the cups contents. I don't know what it was. I didn't care. All that mattered was me needing the alcohol in my system before I got home. Needing that numbing and memory loss inducing liquid to flow in my veins and pump through my heart before I had to climb up that godforsaken hill. Needing to not feel anything. Black star looked back to me with a neutral expression and asked,

"So?"

"So what?"

"What'd you do to Maka?"

"Nothing she didn't ask for," I said taking another half-empty cup and walking back outside to where Maka and I had gone.

"What do you mean by that?" Black Star asked following me.

"Well, what'd you expect with her dressed the way she was?" I asked lighting another cigarette from my shirt pocket.

"Oh my god Soul! Did you take advantage of her?!" Black Star panicked.

I just laughed.

"Holy shit Soul! That's still illegal right?!"

I exhaled, the smoke curling in the air in front of me.

"Yah. You've been gone a while but not that long."

I looked at his fearful face and decided to let him go.

"No, I didn't take advantage of her. Just seduced her a little and she got all pissy about it."

"Yah, she did look pretty upset. You suck dude," Black Star noted.

The cigarette stopped halfway to my lips.

"You saw her?"

"Yah. I went with her when she took Tsubaki back with her to her house," he answered.

I took a drag.

"So, you went to Maka's house?"

"Yah."

I turned to look at him, my grin widening.

"You're really whipped by that Tsubaki girl aren't you, to go to such lengths?" I said.

His jaw dropped.

"Am not! I am my own man! Hell, I am God!"

I shrugged and held my hands out, my cigarette clenched between my teeth.

"Well, God doesn't get his 'girl of the night' drunk. Did you guilt her into doing it by saying you didn't want to drink alone?"

"I didn't drink anything!" he insisted.

I nodded solemnly taking my cigarette out of my mouth.

"Right. I forgot. You're a jackass without needing to get plastered."

"Oh fuck you Soul," Black Star said rolling his eyes and going back inside.

I remembered the last time someone had told me that. I remembered the look she had given me as she said it. Her green eyes on fire, a forest fire. I could tell that she hated me in that moment. It was a look I remembered well. She had given me a lot of looks in the twenty minutes she had been with me. Annoyed, shocked, confused, woozy, smitten.

That last one wasn't entirely my fault. True, I had initiated it. Had gotten close enough to smell her hair, to touch her soft skin, to hear her panicked breathing, to see just how much of an effect I could have on her. However, she was the one who let me taste her. It really wasn't much of a kiss though, so it really shouldn't have mattered much.

I took another drag, holding it in longer than most, then slowly letting it out. So, Black Star knows where Maka lives huh? I smiled to myself. Well, maybe I should pay her a visit. After all, she might still want her necklace back.

Maka's POV

"He what?!"

Tsubaki looked at me with wide eyes. I motioned for her to lower her voice. I was sure my dad was still sleeping and the last thing I needed was for him to find two slightly hungover teenage girls in his house.

"Sorry," she whispered falling back onto the bed, her raven hair splayed across the pillow. "Like he actually said that? To your face?"

I nodded drawing my knees up and leaning against the wall.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you Maka."

"Not as sorry as I am," I mumbled.

"Well, look, at least you'll never have to see him again. He's gone. Out of your life. Forever"

I nodded again.

"I just wished that I didn't feel the way I do."

Tsubaki touched my hand.

"You know it's not your fault right? Soul was just being a jerk."

"No! It is my fault!" I yelled momentarily forgetting about my volume. "I let him bully me into going. I let myself get pushed into drinking. I let him touch me. I pulled him to me. It's all because of me, and I can't get over the shame of it."

I paused thinking I was freaking Tsubaki out, but she stayed attentive despite the monster headache she must be feeling. I had the perfect friend.

"I wanted it Tsubaki. I wanted it and I'm not sure I can blame my drinking for it. He was right. I can't blame him."

"It was probably you on some level yes, but what girl wouldn't react that way if a guy was acting like he was?"

"I guess."

Tsubaki was right. My dad was the perfect example of that. He was a scumbag, always chasing after skirts, can barely hold down his job and never wants a real relationship, yet, woman after woman walk through his door just for his attention.

"What'd you do after that?" Tsubaki asked mentioning the rest of my story.

"I screamed 'fuck you Soul' and walked away."

Her eyes grew huge again. Then she smiled and raised a hand for a high-five. I gave it to her as she laughed,

"Atta girl Maka. If there's one time you had to curse at someone I'm glad it was then."

"Thanks," I said smiling.

She placed one hand over her eyes.

"Ugh, my brother is going to kill me."

"Don't worry about it. Took care of it. Called him last night and told him you were sleeping over. Also, Liz has your car so we can pick it up from her later."

"Maka, I don't deserve you guys."

"We can use my dad's car to get it," I said.

She looked towards my bedroom door.

"Seriously though, why isn't your dad up and about making noise? I understand us, but shouldn't your dad be up at one in the afternoon?"

She was right.

"I'll be back," I told her.

I gingerly left my room. After a quick search I drew the conclusion that my dad wasn't home. I huffed in exasperation. I wondered if he had checked to make sure I had gotten home safely. Then I laughed. I went back upstairs and relayed the news to Tsubaki.

"Well, can I borrow something to wear? I might as well go get my car."

"Yah, of course. I'll come with you," I said.

We went downstairs to see what we could raid from the fridge. Tsubaki's phone buzzed with a text message.

"Hey. Liz says that her hangover remedy is: advil, pepto bismol, and coke."

"Sounds like a good idea to me. Headache, stomachache, and blood sugar levels. I've got the coke here. Want some?"

"Yah, good plan."

I took out some glassed from the cabinets and said,

"Hey can you check and make sure the car is still here. It would be just my luck that he took it."

"Yah, no problem."

She moved to the living room window and peeked through the curtains.

"Yah, it's here. Since when have you guys had a motorcycle?"

I looked up from the soda I was pouring.

"What? We don't have a motorcycle."

"But, there's a motorcycle parked in the driveway," she insisted.

"Probably someone who just parked…," I started but was interrupted by a knock at the front door.

After exchanging glances, Tsubaki casually peeked through the curtains in the opposite direction.

"Is anyone…" "Don't open the door!" Tsubaki interrupted shrinking back from the window as if the curtains had bitten her.

"Does he have a weapon!?" I freaked.

"No. You just wouldn't want to see him."

"Well, that's just rude," I said moving towards the door.

"No, Maka, really. It's no one," she amended.

I grabbed the door handle.

"Maka, you really shouldn't," she begged.

"Why?" I asked and opened the door.

"Because it's…"

"Soul," I breathed.

"Hey."

That word was dancing on my tongue again.