Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater or Absolutely (Story of a Girl)

A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad, has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.

-Anne Roiphe

I looked her over again. The dress really did look good on her, but what really got to me was her smile. I loved it when Maka smiled. Her eyes lit up to the brightest green I had ever seen, and the way they crinkled, it could stop my heart. It felt like winning the lottery every time I saw her smile, and knowing that I caused that smile, made it ten times better. Right now, she was smiling nonstop.

"Was the date that good?" I asked her.

She had been looking off in the distance, lost in her thoughts again. "Hmm?"

"You haven't stopped smiling since we left the restaurant," I explained. "Was it that good?"
Her smile grew. "Yeah, it was, thanks Soul," she said, squeezing my hand. "We should go again sometime."

"Yeah," I said vaguely. It had to be soon. I had to tell her soon. If I didn't I would lose my nerve. "That'd be great." Tell her, idiot. Just come out with it already! I wonder if she could feel my palms sweating.

We reached the apartment building and started up the stairs. I was getting more and more nervous. I thought I was going to puke. We were finally at the door, and I was fumbling with my keys. I hope she didn't notice. I opened the door for her.

As soon as she was inside, she started undoing her hair, throwing off her shoes. I watched her with a weird sort of fascination. Everything she did was beautiful. She threw herself on the couch. "How about a movie, too?" she asked, looking back at me with a smile. I had no choice but to smile back at her.

"Sure," I said, throwing in what I knew was her favorite movie and then sitting next to her. She made herself comfortable. She laid out on the couch, throwing her legs over mine. The movie started, but I couldn't focus on it. Her legs were getting to me. I kept following their smooth length all the way up, but I would always stop myself before she noticed. Why did she have to do this while wearing a dress?

I shook my head, distracting myself with what needed to be done tonight. I knew I had to tell her, soon. I would never forgive myself if she fell asleep during the movie before I told her.

"Hey, Maka," I said. I was just going to throw it out there. Who cared if she returned my feelings? "I want you to know something."

Thankfully, the previews were still going so she didn't get mad at me for interrupting the movie. "What's that?" she asked, tearing her eyes away from the television.

I tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, and call it cheesy or uncool, but I put my hand on her cheek, gently stroking the soft skin with my thumb. Before she could ask what I was doing, I said it. "I love you."

Her eyes widened a bit, but then she shot straight up and grabbed my face to kiss me. It took me by surprise. It was so unlike her, to make the first move, but I kissed her back. As soon as we parted, she whispered back, "I love you, too, Soul."

The rest of the night was spent cuddling through the movie and falling asleep on the couch. It was perfect.