This story has been kicking it in my docs for a couple of months now, but when I saw Eis's art ( eisschirmchen . Tumblr (the dot and com) / post/153097535949/i-apologize-for-not-uploading-stuff-for-awhile ) of Soul and Maka as kids, I just had to return to this drabble, edit it and post it. Go check Eis's drawing out because this would've still been in my docs if it weren't for her art.

Childhood Sweethearts

At first the adults thought it was cute; two toddlers getting along well, playing together and sharing toys with one another. The parents had made cute moans and taken pictures of Soul and Maka together in their diapers. Then Mrs. Evans had the splendid idea of encouraging the toddlers to kiss for a photograph.

Eleven years later, somehow, Soul and Maka had stayed together. Not as friends, but together-together. Eleven years of hand-holding and cheek kisses and introducing the other as their boyfriend and girlfriend. Eleven years of what once stared as a cute gesture from a parent lead to a long-lasting relationship.

Maka bit down on her flushed lower lip, hands fisting the purple frills hanging from her hem. Students out on the dance floor dancing to upbeat music Soul would label as junk. She gazed over her shoulder at the snack table where Soul and Black*Star stood leaning up against the wall with plates full with food.

Their relationship had always been comfortable. Nice. She was enjoying all the hand-holding and cheek kisses. It was all… good. Since she could remember… Soul was always there. He was always there waiting on the street outside of her home, ready to walk to school with her, always taking a seat beside her and entwining his fingers with her. It was cute and all at the beginning, but now almost being adults? Their relationship started by a parent's encouragement for a kiss, now? She wasn't quite so sure. For all these years, why were they still together?

She sighed heavily as she rested her chin on her palm. It was all routine. When joining the other, their hands would automatically clasp and fingers entangle. When leaving, one of them would kiss the other's cheek and walk away. Never had they shared a kiss. Not an ordinary kiss she had seen Black*Star and Tsubaki do. One that was filled with passion and love for one another. Never had they really confessed and become a couple. For as long as she had remembered, they were always a couple.

When strangers and friends asked how long they'd been together, their jaws would hit the floor and eyebrows disappearing underneath their bangs. But was it really valid? It wasn't like they loved each other from day one. Heck, maybe there wasn't any love at all?

Her heart wrenched in her chest at the thought. She can sincerely say she did not love him when they first kissed as toddlers. Not a year later. Not two years later. It wasn't until her twelfth birthday she accepted she loved her dear boyfriend. She still couldn't forget the moment he handed her the blue and white package containing the beautiful keychain which still decorated her keys to this day. His eyes looking the other way and shoulders tensed, he looked too cute with his blush on his cheeks and at that moment, she knew she was in love.

But was he? If he held any feelings toward her wouldn't he have told her already? Was he simply comfortable with the way it was? Satisfied being in an emotionless relationship with her?

Her head slowly lowered until her eyes set on her modest bust. She had flaws. He had pointed it out numerous times for her to get the hint: he wasn't attracted to her. Then why would he persist on continuing their relationship if there was nothing positive about it?

It wasn't true. She knew very well he had a couple of girls thirsting to take her place. Girls that were his type. Mature girls with curves and pretty faces batting their rich eyelashes and leaving love letters in his locker, not to forget all the heart-shaped boxes full with chocolate he would share with Black*Star before he would come to her place and watch a movie, too full with chocolate to even bother eating hers. So why on earth didn't he end it and date one of them if they were his type and made better chocolate than her?

Her hands moved to her temples and gently she massaged her skull. It was all so confusing― he was confusing. Relationships were supposed to be easy― he was supposed to be easy to read. But it all had turned into one large mess.

"Maka?"

She jolted, eyes snapping upward at the familiar voice. "Clay!" Eyes widened at the blond young man in front of her with hands casually in his pockets. "This is a school dance. Are you crashing?"

He nodded his head toward the empty chair beside her that had been long ago vacant by Soul. "Sure." Clay sat down beside her, back slouched and his endless legs extended.

Maka had met Clay countless of times at the library where he had worked part-time. She often ran into him by the fantasy section where they found themselves discussing books and movies based on books.

"I heard the dance could be pretty cool so I asked Akane to get me in." He shrugged his shoulders and grinned toward her. "Here I am. I didn't expect to see you here though."

"Well, I was attending with my friends…" her gaze darted toward the dance floor where she saw Patty and Tsubaki jumped around dancing it out while Kid had grabbed Liz, struggling much to Kid's annoyance as they tried dancing symmetrically together. Black*Star kept on loading chips on his paper plate and shoving the food in his mouth, pieces flying as he spoke with his mouth open. She couldn't help but notice the gang of mature girls who stood at the other end of the snack table, checking Soul out as they whispered into each other's ears.

"Ah, so they ditched you?"

She shook her head, pigtails whipping her cheeks. "No, not at all. They wanted to dance and I wasn't in the mood. That's all to it."

"I see." He retrieved his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. "So what's bothering you?"

She cocked her eyebrow and tilted her head with wonder. "Why would I be bothered?"

"Your expression screams 'I've problems'. So what's up? Lost a book from the library?"

She shook her head. Clay and she were occasionally friends. They didn't talk if they didn't run into each other, bothering him with her relationship problems wouldn't be a smart move. She shouldn't be talking about it with anyone but Soul. He was the person she had to confront, not Clay.

"It's nothing to worry about." Her relationship with Soul couldn't go on like it does. She loved him, but it wouldn't be fair to both of them to continue the relationship. Their relationship was stupid. Just because none of them had the heart to shut it down when it was based on their stupid parents.

It had to end. Tonight―

"Maka." She whipped around on her chair. Soul stood taller than usual having straightened his typically slouched back, hands out of his pockets. "Who's this?"

"Oh!" She gestured toward her friend. "Soul, this is Clay. He's my friend. Clay, Soul."

"I'm her b―"

"Roommate!" Maka quickly pitched in. Soul's eyes fluttered as he stared at her astonished. "We share an apartment. Hard to get hold of good apartments these days especially when you're a high schooler." She nervously laughed, rubbing the back of her head.

"I can only imagine." Clay commented. There was no need for Maka to gaze at Soul, she could feel two burning spots at her neck from Soul's baffled gaze. "Anyway, so are you enjoying the party?" Clay turned toward Soul. She refused to meet his stare which burned to meet her eyes.

"It's alright." He placed his hand on her shoulder. She tried to suppress tensing under his touch, but in her heart, she knew he felt it. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Here it goes.

"Sure. Let's talk outside." She rose from her seat, waved goodbye to Clay, and headed for the exit. Soul was close on her tail, only two steps behind with his hands in check to her relief. He must've sensed her discomfort.

Once outside, the cool air hit her bare arms and the moon shone down upon them. They found the bench right by the endless stairs up Shibusen and took a seat. Thankfully Soul left some space between them. The music from within the school distant and muffled and the silence hung heavily in the air.

"You've been acting weird." Soul broke the silence after a few long moments. "Not just tonight, but the past couple of days too." She couldn't deny it. Her relationship with Soul had always seemed to be effortless. They simply just… worked. Everything seemed to work between them, but… no love. At least not mutual. It couldn't do.

"I know. I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my mind lately." she confessed.

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

"Yes." Her hands nervously fisted her dress, eyes fixated on them to avoid Soul's watchful eyes. "There is something I want to say to you." She inhaled loudly. "I think it's time we end this."

Soul cocked his eyebrow as his eyes searched for hers. "Do you mean…" His voice was fearful and tense. "… ending our relationship?"

Her heart tightened in her chest at the unexpected hurt in his voice. "Throughout our life it has always been us. Are we really just going to go along and not see how life is with other people…?"

"I see…" His hands clasped together, elbows resting on his knees. She dared to take a peek at him and to her dismay, his bangs covered his face. "So who's the guy?"

"What?!" She shot up from her seat and stared at him with wide eyes. Anger fired up and coloured her cheeks red.

"It's that guy, right? Clay, was it?"

"No!" She exclaimed. "Why would I like a different guy?!

"Then why would you want to break up with me?!" He rose from his seat quickly, his bangs whipping away from his face. Her breath was lost at the sight of his teary eyes, years since she last witnessed him crying. "We've been together for soon twelve years! We've been through everything together! Why would you possibly want to throw it all away?!"

She bit her lower lip, trying to numb the pain in her heart. "It's not because of some guy."

"Then I'm the problem?" his voice cracked.

"No!"

"Have you fallen out of love with me?"

"How could I?!" She slapped her hands over her mouth, far too late.

"Then why?" He plopped down on the bench once again, burying his face in his hands. This break-up was going far less smooth than she'd imagined. She'd thought he would accept it and walk away, he was truly hurting. His ordinary façade of boredom was ripped to pieces and exposed the ugly hurt he was enduring. A hurt she'd caused.

"We've been together for almost our entire life. This relationship started because of our parents and it has just gone on and on. We didn't start this."

"But it was us who decided to continue it."

"We didn't decide it."

"Then who did?!" He slapped his hands on his pants. His cheeks smudged with his tears. "I sure as hell decided every day I wanted to be with you."

Her breath hitched. "Don't lie to me!" A tidal wave of tears washed over her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. "You always told me how I wasn't enough and you sure enjoyed to point out how my body wasn't to your liking―"

"That was years ago! You know I stopped when I found you crying in the girl's bathroom 3rd of April three years ago."

She bit her lower lip. It was true. After she'd disappeared from their lunch table in a hurry after a mean comment, he followed her and found her locked in a stall, bawling her eyes out. He'd stayed with her, holding her and apologized over and over again, but it had planted seeds of self-resent in her mind. She looked at herself as a scrawny ugly girl no one would be able to love. Not even her boyfriend.

"But it doesn't change how you look at me!" Her hands tightened by her sides, looking away from him. "You still feel that way… you still think of me that way…"

"I never felt that way. I was immature and I didn't know what to do when you hit puberty. I didn't know how to handle your boobs." His warm hands placed on her shoulders. "Please look at me."

She sniffled and slowly, her eyes locked with his teary red ones. "I'm sorry for calling you those awful things. I never wanted to hurt you." He tugged at her shoulders and she allowed him to pull her into his embrace. "But do you think if I felt that way I would still be here?"

She bit her lower lip and nodded. "Yes…"

"Then I'm happy to tell you I wouldn't. I'm here because I love you." His fingertips comfortingly caressed her spine. "I know it's odd how long we've been together, but it's something I wouldn't want to change. I'm happy being with you."

"But- but all those girls! You ate all their chocolate on a Valentine's Day and you didn't even eat any of my chocolate I made for you. They always leave give you so many love letters."

Soul chuckled, burying his face in her hair. "And you know I apologized. You know ever since that year I gave all the chocolate to Black*Star. I'll repeat myself, I love you, if I wanted someone else I wouldn't be with you."

Her hands quivered against his hips, mouth running dry as if she had wandered a desert for days. Her feelings weren't one-sided. He loved her. She was loved. "Then why…? Why haven't you told me until now when I'm breaking up with you…?"

His eyes fluttered. "I thought you knew. We're in a relationship after all. I would've told you if my feelings changed."

She wanted to cry and laugh and steal candy from a child. Of course Soul would do that. He never was good with emotions. Of course he would take it all that way. "But why wouldn't you want to kiss me or want to touch my boobs like other guys?"

Soul heartily laughed into her ear and squeezed her form against his chest. "You've listened too much to Black*Star's rants."

"But doesn't every guy want it?"

"Not everybody. Kid certainly doesn't want it."

"But don't you want it?"

"Yeah― I mean, only if that's what you want." Suddenly his face heated up against her skull. "I didn't really think you wanted it. I thought maybe you approached these things like Kid and I was okay with it."

It all had been one huge tangle of miscommunication on their part. Or lack of communication. How could both of them be so blind? If only they'd opened up earlier and communicated with each other, they would've never been in this mess.

"… do you want to date me? We could go for some ice-cream."

He snorted and pulled away from her, hands still on her lower back. "I would love to. I'm getting hungry. How about Chinese and movie night?"

"How can you be hungry? You and Black*Star ate half the food on the snack table."

"So you were checking me out." He waggled his eyebrows.

She huffed and half-heartedly slapped his chest. "More like you checked me out. Storming at me like some jealous boyfriend."

"At least I admit it unlike some." He cupped her cheek and wiped away the smudges of her now ruined mascara she had applied for the school dance. "Do you want some Chinese or not?"

A smile spread on her face and she leaned into his touch as his thumb ran over her cheek. "I would love to."