"Are you going to do anything besides stare at me like that?"

Soul was in the chair in front of my desk sitting in it backwards, his arms resting on the back. He had come over again, true to his word two days later, which pleased my father. I'd decided in that time to put everything that happened between us in the past and leave it there. It was obvious that Soul intended to stay. Holding in this anger and resentment was only hurting me. Now he was watching me read on my bed.

"Not really. I'm satisfied where I am."

"OK, whatever," I said looking back down at my novel.

However, I couldn't concentrate because Soul was burning holes in my head with his gaze. I looked up at him again.

"Ok, seriously do something else."

"And what would you suggest I do?" he asked tilting his head with an expressionless gaze.

"I don't know. Just something else," I said.

Soul got up and lazily stretched his arms above his head, making a small moaning sound. The action caused his black t-shirt to ride up his waist a little exposing a thin strip of pale skin. I only looked up for a second but that's all it took for Soul to catch me in the action.

"Like what you see?"

I glared at him and went back to my book. He threw his jacket on the edge of my bed and walked over to my window. After a couple of minutes of silence I took a chance and looked over at him again. Soul was leaning out my window, it actually looked like he was about to fall out.

"Soul?"

No answer.

"Soul?" I tried again.

I got a "hmm?" in response.

"What are you doing?"

"Something else."

I shrugged and went back to reading but I couldn't concentrate on the words. What was it about Soul that made me so darn curious? I got up and moved beside him. He was smoking again and the smoke was curling out of his lips, through his hair, and along with the wind. I really wasn't all that new to cigarettes. My dad had smoked a few times, and the rare occasion that his friend/rival Stein showed up at the house he always had a cigarette clenched between his teeth. I could faintly smell the nicotine Soul was inhaling. I had often wondered if they tasted like they smelled. If so, I didn't understand what was so addictive about it. Now that I had him here, I figured I could ask.

"Are they really that great?"

Soul looked to his left and above and made eye contact with me.

"Are what great?" he asked.

"Those."

I pointed to the nearly burnt out stub in his right hand.

"You haven't tried them?" he asked.

When I gave him a tilted look he rolled his eyes.

"Right, right. Forgot you're a square." He brought it to his mouth again. "Yah, I think they're pretty great, to answer your question," he said smoke escaping between his teeth.

I leaned against the wall.

"What do they taste like?"

He glanced back up at me again before returning his attention back to the outside world.

"Why?"

"What? I can't ask a simple question?"

"It depends on why you want to know the answer."

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine don't tell me. I don't care."

He flicked his fingers and the remaining ashes fluttered down to the earth.

"Actually, now that I think about it you're not a square. You totally downed an Under 40."

I grimaced remembering that night. I supposed I was over it, but at the same time I wasn't. I was just waiting for the fall semester to start so I could leave for college and forget these past few weeks ever happened.

"I'm sorry."

I blinked and looked at Soul who was now on his knees sitting back on the floor. His hands that were gripping the windowsill were empty.

"What?"

He looked up at me and his expression was one that I had never seen on him before.

"That wasn't cool."

"Uh, yah, trying to leave it buried in the past thank you very much," I said crossing my arms.

He swallowed and looked outside again.

"That's not what I meant."

"Huh?"

"Ugh," he whispered.

Soul let go of the sill and sat underneath it instead, his long legs stretched out in front of him. His hands briskly raked through his hair. That mysterious expression was gone replaced by his usual casual demeanor once again.

"Just know I'm sorry ok?"

"Ok?" I said still a little weirded out by what had just happened.

I thought about what he had said. He said he wasn't sorry about bringing up my few seconds of alcoholism, but there was nothing else to really apologize for except…except for…for…holy crap! The idea itself was so shocking I slid down the wall mimicking Soul's position. Soul Evans didn't apologize for things like that. He wouldn't. Not unless he had something to gain. But what would he gain from this? If he thought I would forgive him and let him trample all over me again he had another thing coming. But I wanted to test this theory.

"Ok Soul," I said a bit more firmly.

He looked at me. I searched his eyes trying to find something, anything, and I knew he was doing the same to me.

"Cool," he answered his expression completely unreadable.

It may or may not have been a genuine apology but it was a start.

"I don't know why you look so unhappy."

I didn't look at him as I buckled myself in. I was going to kill both Soul and Liz and maybe even Patty too just because I was mad. Soul and I were now in my dad's car on our way to the theatre. I really hadn't wanted to bring Soul along, but Liz had already bought his ticket and my guilt just had to step in. I had been in my kitchen loading the dishwasher while Soul tried to escape the claws of my father who I think was trying to give him tips on how to seduce me. My phone buzzed on the counter beside me showing a picture of Liz making some weird gangster sign that I hope didn't get me arrested. My hands were wet so I answered it and put it on speaker.

"Hey Liz. What's up?"

Liz and Patty had returned from their vacation ahead of schedule.

"Hey Makaaaa!" Liz's slightly static voice crooned. "So, the rest of us want to know if you're free for a movie in like 45 minutes. We got these coupons that'll save us an ass-load on snacks if we buy a lot of tickets."

"Oh yah. Sure," I said emptying a cup of water and placing it in the rack.

"I was thinking about that new romance one with the two cowboys and the city girl," Liz said excitedly.

"Yah, ok. Sounds like a…," I was abruptly cut off when my dad and Soul brought their argument into the kitchen.

"I said no," Soul said.

"Not even once?" my dad was asking with a whiney voice.

"Why do you want a 'yes' so badly?" Soul asked clearly annoyed.

"Cuz I'm worried that she'll never be open to it," my dad said looking at me semi-fondly over the island.

"What about me?" I asked forgetting Liz on the other line who was asking what was going on.

"Why haven't you kissed him yet?" my dad said practically throwing himself over the table.

I stared at him with my mouth open, but as I got a closer look I could tell that he was drunk. I pursed my lips together and stepped between the two males.

"Dad, calm down. Go hang out in your room for a while."

"You're not answering me Maka, answer your father," he said holding onto my shoulders and shaking me a bit.

"Dad," I growled.

Suddenly an arm went around me pulling me backwards. Soul pushed me behind him as he said,

"Don't hurt her like that."

I grabbed Soul's sleeve.

"Soul, it's fine, he wasn't hurting me."

"Oh, no, daddy would never hurt you Maka, you know that right?"

"Yes, dad I know. But you made Soul mad," I said affectionately running my hand up and down Soul's upper arm.

"You're right. I'll let you cool your boyfriend down," he said noticing the movement.

Then he sort of waddled away to whichever room he decided to pass out in. I sighed dropping my hand and leaning my forehead on Soul's shoulder.

"Ugh, I don't know why he does this? The times I want his attention, he doesn't give it to me. Then when he does it's about something like this."

I saw the shadow of Soul's hand for a moment before I felt it on my head. He patted my hair lightly, almost tentatively.

"Well, it's better to have no attention than the wrong kind."

I lifted my head thus removing his hand to look at him. His eyes were dark, almost fogged, and those shadowed rubies were pinning me to the spot.

"You sure he didn't hurt you?"

"Yah," I answered.

After another few seconds I realized we had shared a moment of sorts. I had quite literally told him one of the few thoughts that had never turned into words before. I felt the beginnings of a blush coming so I turned around and went back to the counter where I had neglected Liz.

"Liz, you still there?"

"Yah. I'm still here. What in the hell just happened?"

"Nothing. Just my dad and Soul arguing."

"Wait what?! Soul? As in super cutie who pissed you off at the party? You're together now? Why is this news to me?!"

I dropped my head into my hands. I had forgotten that Liz still wasn't totally up to date about my situation with Soul.

"No Liz. That's not…"

"Patty, go get another ticket Soul's coming too. We're so getting the free food!" I hear her call to her sister.

"No wait Liz that's not it. You don't have to do that."

"Why? He doesn't want to come? I guess that's understandable since it's a romance movie."

"I'll come," Soul said suddenly behind me.

"Oh, hi Soul!"

"Hi Liz," he answered picking up the phone.

"Soul stop it," I huffed.

He put the phone back down but before I could get it he took both of my hands pulling me close to him, my hands behind his waist.

"So, we'll see you both at the theatre soon kay?" Liz said.

"No wait, Liz…," I started but was interrupted by Soul again.

"We'll be there."

"Great. And you better behave Soul. You still kind of piss me off."

Could've fooled me, I thought indignantly. Soul chuckled and said,

"I promise to try."

"Great, bye guys."

"Liz," I tried again but the phone clicked.

I glared up at Soul.

"Did you have to do that?"

"You're the one who left it on speaker."

My chest was basically smushed against his and this close proximity wasn't helping me stay mad.

"Whatever. I'm going to get ready. You can wait down here."

I could feel his heartbeat which showed me he could most likely feel mine. I struggled against him a little until Soul willingly let me go. The second I closed the door to my room my hands went straight to where Soul's had previously been. Soul had held my wrists lightly. It had actually been an almost non-existent grip. And my struggle hadn't been a struggle at all. It was almost like I played the part of some airhead girlfriend who was in her boyfriend's clutches and really doesn't want to be let go but acts like it anyway. I was pitiful. I shut my eyes against the next thought; what part had Soul played? And the fact that I got all this from my wrists not hurting was stupid. I gave up. I threw on some nicer jeans and slipped into my Converse fail safes. I met Soul downstairs and we went out to the car and that's where we were arguing now.

"You don't know? Maybe because you invited yourself."

"I didn't. Liz did."

I pulled out and drove down the road.

"Besides, this can be like a second date for us."

I almost passed a stop sign.

"This is not a second date. This isn't even a first."

"Sure it is. I took you out to the fair."

"That didn't count," I said mumbling.

After a few minutes of silence Soul asked,

"So what counts?"

"What?"

"What counts as a date with you?"

I swallowed.

"Well, I guess the guy actually has to ask me to go out with him, then the rest would be pretty much up to him."

"Hmm," Soul said and I could tell he was staring at me.

"Don't even think about it," I said.

"Oh, but the thought's already here," he said pointing to his head and winking.

I glanced at the face he was making and couldn't help but chuckle.

"So, she laughs," he said leaning back into his seat looking awfully pleased with himself.

I simply grinned and looked back to the road. We make it to the theatre with plenty of time to spare. I texted Liz and told her we were there then turned off the car. I went to open the door but Soul stopped me.

"Wait."

"What?"

He got out of the car and ran around to my side and opened the door.

"Cool guys open their girl's door for them."

I cracked a small smile.

"Cute, but I'm not your girl."

"Ooh," he sighed clutching his heart. "That was cold."

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead. When we got to the doors of the building Soul reached around me and opened one of them.

"You called me cute," he whispered as I blew past him.

I frowned but couldn't stop the fierce blush I felt blooming on my cheeks. I hated when he did that. We saw Liz, Patty, and Tsubaki right away. Mostly because Liz yelled across the lobby the second we stepped through the doorway.

"Hey guys! Over here!"

I shyly waved trying not to die of embarrassment as every eye in the lobby first turned to Liz then landed on me. Tsubaki smiled at me and shrugged. I went towards them but Soul grabbed my hand and stopped me. Before I could make a scene about it I saw the intense way he was staring at…something. I tried to follow his gaze but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I tugged at his hand which brought him back from wherever it was he had gone.

"Soul? You ok?"

"Uh, yah," he answered but he didn't let go of my hand.

He actually intertwined our fingers strengthening our bond. Oh sweet baby Jesus. This was another scene straight from a romance novel. And what's worse is that this time we're not just in close quarters but we're going to be in the dark. Why was it that whenever I went out in public with this guy he somehow made it look like we were together? I didn't have time to reflect on the matter because Liz was suddenly in front of me and smiling.

"So, Tsubaki told me you guys weren't together but from what I'm seeing you might as well be."

When did I get here across the lobby? I guess Soul must've led me while I had been busy panicking.

"I mean look at you, holding hands all cute and shit. Why can't I have a boyfriend?"

"Uh, yah," I said half-listening half-having a heart attack.

I was very aware of the way Soul's fingers were curled around mine and now so was everyone else. I wasn't going to lie, the feeling wasn't exactly unpleasant, but it was so not helping me prove that we weren't together. Thankfully no one else seemed to notice my cardiac failure because they were busy with Soul.

"You like her right?" Liz questioned. "At least a little?"

"Sure," Soul answered unenthusiastically.

I knew for a fact that Soul didn't like me, at least not in the way she was asking. I was just someone he liked to be with for whatever reason. We were on a trial-run for friendship if I could call what we had that. While my mind was being blown around by the goings-on I noticed two guys that looked slightly familiar. The second that one of them turned around I grew still. I remembered those contact-covered eyes. It was the guy who had tried sexually harassing me at the fair. The blonde turned around and sealed my theory.

"Uh, you guys, why don't we go ahead and find our seats, you know, before they're all taken?" I said interrupting.

"Oh yah," Patty said dragging Liz down the hall. "I wanna sit in the very front."

"No way. The front hurts my eyes," Liz complained.

"Guys wait up," Tsubaki called chasing after them yet managing not to drop of single popcorn kernel from the bags they had ditched her with.

I was about to follow when the two guys followed in her footsteps. Not only was life not being fair but it was also ridiculously unfair. What were two guys going into a romance cowboy movie without girlfriends for anyway? I panicked again.

"Soul," I said, "they're here."

Soul's intense gaze was back and was trained on the door they had slipped through.

"I know," he said taking a step in their direction.

"But," I said staying stubbornly in place.

"Look," he said coming back closer to me. "You've got me with you, so nothing's going to happen to you."

He said it lightly and with a grin but his hand tightened and his eyes were determined.

"Ok?" he said.

He rubbed his thumb on top of mine and in that little gesture I felt the full force of his promise and I believed it.

"Ok."

"I can't believe none of you liked it!" Liz was exclaiming as we exited the theatre.

"Well, the girl ended up happy and both guys ended up miserable," Tsubaki pointed out.

"It's their fault for not devoting themselves," Liz justified.

"They moved across the country, how is that not devotion?" Soul asked.

"Patty, you're my sister. Please tell me you liked it," Liz begged.

"It sucked balls," was Patty's monotone response.

I watched them bicker about the movie with a smile. The movie had gone on without much trouble. The guys had been in the row in front of us. The one with the eye contact, who Soul told me was named Free, nudged the blonde one, who I now know as Giriko, when he saw me out of the corner of his eye. When they both turned around neither one of them noticed Soul right beside me. That itself was weird since Soul was almost impossible to miss.

"So, we meet again," Free said.

"And you're still cute too," Giriko chuckled.

He reached a hand back and almost touched my leg when suddenly Soul's hand was around his wrist. Giriko looked up at him with a bored expression that made me think that maybe he had seen Soul after all.

"Touch her and I break it."

He said it so coldly I felt chills across my skin. Apparently so did Giriko because he pulled his hand out of Soul's grip.

"Geez Soul, you don't gotta be like that," Free mumbled. "You used to be cool."

When they both turned back around Soul put his hands behind his head and looked at me with a grin.

"If you ask me that was the coolest thing I've done all day."

I chuckled.

"Thanks Soul," I said putting my hand on his knee which I took off immediately the second he looked at it.

I had never praised the dark before but I honored it now that it hid the mortified face I was making at my own forwardness. I soon forgot about it. During the movie, whenever a particularly cheesy line was said or a cliché was performed with fake intensity, Soul and I would look at each other with over exaggerated faces which we felt were appropriate for the lameness before us. We tried to keep our whispered giggles quiet but that didn't stop Tsubaki on my left and Liz on Soul's right from pinching us. It had been ok being with Soul. He showed me that he too could laugh. Of course, he had before, but this time it wasn't at my expense.

"What are you smiling about?"

I blinked.

"Huh?"

Soul had his head tilted at me which threw his bangs into his eyes partially obscuring them.

"Nothing," I said waving him away.

"Anyway," Liz continued, "the only thing more romantic than the movie was you two."

"What?" I asked when she pointed at me and Soul.

"Yah," Patty agreed," when he beat up those guys for you that was totally cool!"

Soul put his arm around my shoulders.

"See, I told ya."

I rolled my eyes and shrugged his arm off. He hadn't beaten anybody up. He had just threatened them a little. Two totally different things.

"You guys saw that?"

"Uh, hon, we were right beside you," Tsubaki pointed out.

Duh.

"Yah, we even saw your cutesy thank you," Liz said pushing her head between the two of them.

I suddenly felt really self-conscious that they had seen my slip up.

"You were looking into his eyes when you remembered you were supposed to detest this boy and looked away."

I swallowed and started fishing in my bag for my keys. I needed to leave.

"Then Soul saw you remember and remembered too but couldn't stop himself from touching where the memory of your hand was fading."

I stopped my digging to slowly look at Soul. Was this true? Well, so what if it was? It meant nothing. To either of us. Soul didn't meet my gaze, instead he stared at Liz without expression.

"You waxed poetic about me scratching my knee. Weird."

"But," Liz started before she was cut off.

"Really. Weird."

They stared at each other unwavering. You could feel the tension strung between them. Something in Soul reached something in Liz and she soon backed down. That was strange because Liz was one of the most stubborn people I knew. To exit the odd atmosphere that had been created I said,

"Well, this was fun guys, we should do this again soon."

I backed away pulling Soul with me who had somehow gotten his arm around my shoulders again without my notice. I didn't particularly care at this moment. The warm weight wasn't altogether unpleasant but it was the least of my worries.

"Yah. Ok. Bye Maka."

Liz may have said this to me but she was staring at Soul again, this time with a smirk and this almost creepy mischievous look in her eyes.

"You too Soul."

He nodded in acknowledgement but said nothing.

"Bye Makaaaa!" Patty squeeled.

Tsubaki calmly waved. I waved back.

"What was that?" I asked when we were out of earshot.

"Nothing."

"Fine. Play stupid. I don't care."

So much for him proving he was normal. The boy who got in my passenger seat was the silent heartthrob everyone had known him as. Quiet, cool, expressionless. This was his original normal. So why couldn't I tear my eyes away from something I thought I had gotten used to a long time ago?