By far the longest chapter I've ever done. Just the length of it makes me exhausted thinking about how long it took me to type it up. Though I'm pretty proud of it and I enjoyed the time I spent on it.
Now go on with exuberance and enjoy the next chapter of...
Wonderful Nightmare
Chapter 10: Her Answer
The birds chirping could be heard from the terrace window, the morning rush still hadn't hit the streets as it was a little too early for it. Most people would be asleep, but the occupant of apartment 707 sat up in her bed, dazed and slightly angry.
"Dammit, it's still five o'clock." Maka rubbed the back of her head aggressively, not caring for appearances right at the moment. Apparently, she had gone to sleep at eleven, woken up at five, and not been able to go back to sleep since. "Damn dream about Soul cuddling a purple cat." She got up from her sitting position and walked over to her closet, grabbing the clothes she had prepped the evening before for her morning meeting with the Shibusen executives about her upcoming album. She shrugged as she pulled her shirt bottom off, making her hair an even bigger bird's nest. She glared at the pile of dirty clothes in the wooden laundry basket, "Guess I should do it soon huh? It's been a few days." She threw her pajama shirt into the basket and proceeded to the shower.
Maka clipped her hair up as she changed into her underwear. She turned towards the clock to check the time while slipping on her mid-thigh high black skirt, "Five-twenty." She growled at the fact that she wanted to spend an extra long time in the shower yet she subconsciously didn't because it wastes the hot water. She grabbed her white long sleeve dress shirt off its hanger and slipped it on. Not bothering with the thin black ribbon, which went where the tie usually would, being perfectly straight; it hung at a loose angle. She grabbed the long sleeve, burgundy button-up sweater with a Shibusen emblem on it off the other hanger and put it over her dress shirt before slipping on her knee high black socks. She let her hair down and combed her bangs to be straight.
Maka glanced at the clock again, "Five-forty. Might as well get there," Maka paused, "An hour and twenty minutes early." She grunted as she dragged her feet over to the door, bringing along with herself her green duffle bag. "Well, no harm in being prepared right?" She slipped on her shoes and opened the door, slipping out and locking it behind herself. As she walked down the walkway, she glanced at apartment 708. She wanted to give the door a good kick but didn't want it's occupant to come storming out and see her.
I'll kick the real one for losing sleep later.
She suppressed her anger with this thought and continued towards the elevator. She pressed the button and waited as the elevator had stopped on the eighth floor before continuing down. Maka zipped open her bag and shuffled for her phone when the doors opened. She glanced up from her situation to discover an even more dire situation going on in front of her. "Ah." Was all that came out of her mouth as the person inside the elevator stepped off immediately, angry, and turned to the right towards the stairs. "Hey, wait!" Maka stopped searching for her way to contact her manager and followed the person.
"Death the Kid!" Maka yelled to the figure that was on his way up to the eighth floor. "What are you doing?"
Kid turned around slowly and looked at Maka, his face showing pure loathing, "You don't expect me to ride that now do you?"
"It's already here though," Maka tried to reason, though was ignored as Kid continued up the stairs.
That little.
Maka looked down at her watch.
Oh joy, I guess this is why I woke up early. Time to have some fun.
Kid paused on the stairs after he heard a persistent set of foot steps behind him. "Do you have nowhere to be right now?" Kid's annoyed tone showed in his voice.
"Says the busiest model in Shibusen," Maka gave him a gesture with her hand that would have been enough to drive Kid insane, though he decided against it. "Why didn't you get on the elevator, stair buddy?" Maka kept in a triumphant attitude that she so wanted to show.
Kid sighed before turning back towards Maka, "It stopped on floor number seven."
Guess the hatred runs deep; he doesn't even want to stop on my floor.
Maka was a bit taken back, "So you don't like the number seven?" She said sarcastically.
"Exactly! Do you know how unsymmetrical the number seven is? Utterly disgusting that the elevator would even dare to stop on that floor." Kid's movement as he spoke made himself look completely over dramatic.
Maka stopped dead in her tracks, "Ah." Was all she could say once more.
Kid stopped as he reached to top step of the stairs to floor eight, "18 steps. Not exactly what I would prefer but acceptable." Kid nodded to himself as he readjusted his suit, as if walking up stairs somehow threw it out of wack.
"Do you like things to be even or something?" Maka titled her head, still in her place half way up the stairs.
Kid looked back at Maka, in almost a stern way, he said, "Not even, Symmetrical. In symmetry is peace of mind and order, it is where all things should be and or drive to attain." Kid's eyes had a certain shine to them as he spoke so passionately, Maka chuckled a bit at his seriousness. She ran up the stairs to catch up to him as he strode off towards the eighth floor elevator.
"That's nice." Maka grinned.
"Hmm?" Kid looked over towards her disinterested, when suddenly, her actions shocked him, his eyes widened as he listened.
"Having something like that that you're passionate about. Gets me all inspired you know?" Maka gave him a soft smile as she looked up at him, her standing position proud and confident, and her face natural and serene while her arms were up in a 'pumped up' looking position.
He turned away quickly after realizing how long he had been staring at her, "So that's your type?"
Maka flinched at the familiar words, not sure if she heard right, she questioned him, "What?" The elevator dinged as it arrived at the eighth floor. Kid stepped on and pushed the button for the lobby, ignoring her question.
Even if I ask him again, he won't answer.
Maka stepped onto the elevator, deciding to ignore what he said as he himself had done. She paused to think out his actions before she had an epiphany, "Oh! And the number eight is symmetrical right?" Maka snapped her fingers as she looked up towards Kid, who made no motion to answer.
Which means the answer is 'yes' or 'no you ignorant fool!'
Maka laughed outwardly, forgetting that only she can hear her innermost thoughts. She stifled her laughter after noticing Kid's harsh gaze.
The first one, definitely.
The elevator dinged at floor six.
oOo
Maka laughed as she followed Kid up the stairs once more. Kid's body shook with fury as she continued to make fun at his expense. He held it until about half way up the stairs.
"If you're going to follow me, than at least make your steps match mine!" Kid huffed at her before continuing up the stairs.
Maka's laughter ceased as she did as he asked, but persisted until they reached the elevator, "Whatever floats your boat." She chuckled.
oOo
The elevator made its way to the lobby floor in awkward silence. It seemed as though it was a bit too early for the elevator to have any music playing, meaning that Maka and Kid had seemingly nothing to talk about.
"So," Maka started, "You going to work." She fumbled her hands, trying to figure out which position would make her look the most relaxed, though it wasn't really working.
Kid stopped the conversation just as soon as it started, "Since that was a statement, I have no reason to answer."
Maka stated her previous words differently this time, "Oh, then, You going to work now?"
Kid grunted before replying, slightly annoyed that she would ask again, "Yes."
"Yeah, work is fun." Maka rubbed the back of her head, as if it would somehow stop her from stating the obvious.
"Yes." Kid answered in the same tone as the previous one, making Maka even more at loss at how to reply to him.
"Um, so hey," Maka suddenly remembered the message that Marie had passed onto her from Kid, "You know that message you gave to Marie? What did you mean? It slightly confused me you know?"
Kid turned and looked down at Maka, making her flinch and turn away.
"I mean, I'd understand if you didn't want to say anything." Maka fumbled her hands even more now, making her bob slightly on the elevator.
Kid put his hands to his face, as if he was trying to wipe something off of it. He turned to Maka after this motion, "I'm sorry."
Maka stumbled backwards, not sure how to take his 'sorry' as.
I'm sorry you exist? I'm sorry for myself having to be here with you of all people?
"What?" Maka furrowed her brow, confused and a bit disoriented. "What for?"
Kid looked away from her, "Is it that shocking? I am a human being." Kid readjusted his suit, "Everyone reacts like this when I say I'm sorry, it's not that weird is it?" Kid put his hands into his pockets, leaving Maka to fix her bumbling self herself. Kid waited as Maka did, speaking again when he felt she was steady enough, "What I meant by the message is that during the photo shoot, you had the most amazing symmetry when the lights shone on you, that I lost myself, lost in absolute symmetry, like floating on air." Kid did a fluttery motion with his hands, a bit silly looking, but Maka didn't laugh, as she was still recovering from her previous moment. Kid suddenly stopped his fluttery motion, putting his hands back into his pockets, "But I was tricked. Here I was, embracing the image of perfect symmetry and as soon as the lights go off, it slipped out of my hands just as easily as it would have slipped in." He turned towards Maka annoyed, "No more of that, understand?"
Maka nodded her head, remaining silent, giving Kid a moment to speak up once more, "For not telling you earlier, since it was obviously confusing, I am sorry." Kid gave Maka a polite bow before standing up straight as he was before they began talking, completely composed once more.
Maka, who had just returned to her senses, parted her lips to speak.
"More questions?" Kid made a small sound, something that of a chuckle, but Maka couldn't see his expression, as he was turned away from her.
"Um, then you don't utterly hate me. Or find me disgusting?" Maka leaned against the wall of the elevator, hoping to get a better view of his face.
"Hate you? No, hate the way that every time I see you there's always a piece of your clothing that is unsymmetrical. Yes." Kid nodded to himself, "You disgust me? No, the way your flower hair clip had twelve flowers instead of eleven, utterly disgusting. I mean really, if you had everything about yourself out of whack, than I would have been less critical, but it's always just one little thing. Completely annoying." Maka chuckled as Kid went on and on about her past symmetrical outfit disasters.
He's not that bad of a guy.
The elevator doors opened at floor one with no interruptions. Kid stepped out quickly, not wanting to risk the doors closing and taking him up to another floor. Maka followed him to the front of the building outside, still laughing, "It's like symmetry is the answer for everything huh? Didn't expect to hear that word so many times in one conversation."
"You're the one who followed me up the stairs." Kid huffed at her, "Oh, I forgot to say, just because I don't hate you, doesn't mean I like you."
Maka nodded, "Yeah, Yeah." Maka waved her hand at him, slight sarcasm in her actions. "I don't like you either." Maka smiled menacingly at him.
Kid didn't flinch, but instead of retorting, he walked a bit in front of Maka and pointed to her chest, "Fix that before I throw up." He continued towards the parking lot of the apartment complex, leaving an irritated Maka at the sidewalk of the bus stop.
Maka looked down to where he pointed, "So I'm flat-chested. So what?" Maka huffed before noticing the way her black ribbon was titled in a most irregular way. Maka looked back to the direction Kid went, and kicked the ground, "Drama queen." She fixed her ribbon until the bus arrived.
oOo
"Why did you wake up so early Maka?" Marie rubbed her tired eyes, despite the fact that it was already six o' clock in the afternoon.
"It's not my fault that you decided to go drinking with the vice-president." Maka sipped some more water as she got changed in her dressing room.
Marie banged on the door apologetically, "I'm sorry Maka! It won't happen again alright! I want to see your photos from you promotional album, so forgive me alright?"
Maka slipped back into her burgundy sweater before reaching into her bag for her socks, making a package fall out, "It's my fault anyway. I didn't call you until I was already here after all. The bus was no big deal; it was too early and not a lot of old people recognize me." Maka opened the door and threw the package to the excited Marie.
Marie had a hop in her step as she struggled to open it due to her excitement, "Just one more shoot next week Maka! Then you're album is out. How long has it been already? About two weeks right? I'm amazed he finished it so quickly actually." Marie slid one of the photos out of the package, "Oh Maka! I like this one! These are copies right? Can I have it?"
Maka slid on her shoes, "You can have all of them, I haven't even looked at them myself."
Marie held the package to her chest, "You haven't? Why?"
"I want to be surprised," Maka grinned, "Besides, the album is about my evolution right? I'm not going to look back until the final copy comes out."
"Oh Maka! You're becoming so mature," Marie hooked her arm onto Maka's right, "Now let's go to a dinner party! Just for you!"
Maka stopped, making Marie, who was about to hop off at full speed, be pulled back, "Party? For me? Since when?"
Marie unhooked herself from Maka, looking down at the ground as she twiddled her fingers together, "Well not necessarily for you."
"Marie." Maka sternly looked at her.
"Okay Okay, it's for Soul's return from his in country tour. You know he's been gone since you started working on your album right? Well he's back! Let's go!" Marie tried to hook Maka's arm again, but Maka dodged her.
"No thanks." Maka walked past her, no buddy-buddy arm link in progress.
"Black Star, Tsubaki, Kim, the Thompson sisters, Kilik, Fire, Thunder, Ox, Harvar, Jacqueline, the Shibusen President and Vice president, even some other companies' talents are going to be there. It'll be huge, maybe the hugest of the season." Marie waved her finger in a twisting motion as she listed everyone, trying not to forget anyone.
"Oh really? I'm so glad to go to a party when I don't even know a fourth of the people there." Maka grinned sarcastically.
"Maka! I'm sure you know them by name!"
"But that doesn't mean I've met them."
"Well here's your chance to!" Marie looked at Maka expectantly.
Maka paused in the hallway, thinking about having to meet a hundred some odd people and still be expected to remember their names. "No thanks." Maka waved her hand in the air, dismissing the thought.
Besides, I need to get the laundry done today.
"Well I'm going," Marie pouted.
"Good for you."
oOo
Maka held onto her gut as she watched the evening variety show on television, she laughed as she folded her now clean clothes.
"Alright. All done." Maka got up with the folded clothes and stored them inside a drawer in her closet. She pulled the closet shut and plopped back down onto the floor pillow. She took a drink of her orange juice and let out a breath.
"Now this is the life. To think, I could be prancing around in uncomfortable high heels, an uncomfortable dress, and heavy earrings all while pretending to be nice to another stuck up movie star." Maka nodded at her accurate description of a stereotypical celebrity dinner party.
Maka stood up and did a turn before reciting a line, "Oh my, a dance with me?" She did a short dance shuffle over to the kitchen, "Oh yes, you're from that one commercial, nice to meet you."
A few loud knocks from the door made Maka do a tiptoe dance over to it, forgetting that she was still in character, she opened the door, "I never expected you to be so handsome in person." She laughed.
"Thanks, I get that a lot." A raspy voice answered her.
Maka's laughter ceased as a figure passed by her, making their way into the apartment. She turned to the person and looked on in astonishment. "H-hey, why are you here?"
The person looked up at her with his deep red eyes, "I'm not the only one." He pointed to the still opened doorway, "Black Star's here too."
Black Star made his way past the still dumbfounded Maka, "You brought the drinks right Soul?" Black Star sat down across from the person, Soul, and reached into the plastic bag, grabbing a soda and popping the lid.
"Shut the door will ya?" Soul motioned for Maka to sit between himself and Black Star, who was now absorbed with the variety show that Maka had been watching.
Maka gave in and made her way towards the table. She opened her mouth to ask a question before she was interrupted.
"The party will go on just fine without us, I doubt anybody will even notice we left." Soul looked up at Maka, "Your manager said you couldn't make it, though I expected you to have no real reason and just be sitting at home fooling around, so no worries." He directed his attention towards the television. Both him and Black Star were now watching with intensity.
Freeloaders.
Maka ruffled the back of her hair and sat down to watch the show with them. It wasn't as funny as before, since Black Star's laughter was completely over the top every time a joke was told.
"It's a shame that you didn't go though, when we left, everyone was dancing and cheering." Soul's eyes didn't move from the television screen.
"Huh?" Maka turned to look at him, slightly confused since she was so absorbed with the show.
"The party."
"Oh."
"Kid didn't go either right? Something about official business, some photo shoot he couldn't miss." Black Star chimed in, "Both of you missed the great Black Star and his epic dance." Black Star pulled his eyes away from the screen and grinned at Maka.
Maka thought for a second.
Kid didn't go. Than he's most likely home by now. Oh!
Maka stood up suddenly, making Soul flinch out of his concentration on the game variety show.
"I'll be right back!" She ran out of the room and out the door.
oOo
"My new friend." Maka grinned as she pushed her friend into the room.
"Who's new friend?" The person answered back angrily. "I told you I had nothing to do but that doesn't mean I want to hang out."
"When did you two become so close? I've never seen you talk together besides that time at work." Soul made a fake smirk, half teasing, half something else.
"Acquaintances, Friends, Strangers, for some reason, I end up having all of them come into my room unwelcomed so what's the difference anymore?" Maka pushed the person to take a seat.
Black Star was watching the television, not paying any attention until he caught something sitting down next to him out of the corner of his eye, "Kid."
"Black Star." Kid repeated his name right back at him.
Maka sat down at her previous position at the table and grinned at the three of them, who now looked at her like she was going crazy.
Better having Kid here plus two numbskulls over just two numbskulls.
Maka smiled at her intelligence, "Then again, a foursome would get even more attention." She thought for a moment.
"I'd rather not ask you what you meant by that." Kid turned to the sodas on the table, claiming one of his own.
"Why not? I'm in the mood." Soul laughed, he turned to Kid after he finished, "Hey, didn't you have agency related work today? Then again, your dad was at the party, so I guess you finished early."
"That's right, earlier than expected, so I decided to do some readjusting in my room." Kid nodded firmly.
"Hmm? Your dad was at the party Kid?" Maka leaned forward, outwardly showing her interest.
"Yes, Shinigami was at the party today. He should still be there with Stein right now."
"I see," Maka nodded, a scan for the name Shinigami ran through her brain before she remembered, "Wait, your dad's Shibusen's President!" Maka pointed at Kid like he was a side attraction.
"That's Right." Kid answered quickly.
"I see." Maka answered just as quickly, this time with no interest in her voice at all.
Soul looked at both of them, "What are you two? A comedy duo?" Soul got up and stumbled over to the kitchen. "Got any noodles Maka?"
Maka looked over to see where he was, getting up when she realized it would be faster if she got them herself, "Yeah, I put them on the top of the fridge this time." She got up and made her way into the kitchen.
Black Star jumped up from the table, as if suddenly remembering what he came over for, besides the act of freeloading, "Hey Guys! Get over here!" Black Star started searching his messenger bag for something. "C'mon C'mon!"
Maka turned back from the kitchen to see what the sense of urgency was about, "Alright." She pulled Soul away from the pack of instant noodles and sat him down.
"Hey! You know they didn't have any noodles at the party!" Soul huffed.
"Why would they?" Maka questioned Soul, who looked away from her, since he had nothing to retort with.
"Here!" Black Star pulled out a manila package and emptied its contents onto the table. Pictures of Maka and Kid, around thirty of them, series of shots that were taken, fell out.
"Oh," Maka leaned over onto the table, resting her elbows onto it, "From the chocolate commercial right?"
"Marie trusted me with them. No surprise," Black Star boasted.
Maka ignored the narcissistic Black Star and continued to look at all of them, along with Kid who was shuffling them back and forth. Soul stared at the pile of them, not making a move for them in the least.
"This one turned out well," Kid picked up one of the more intimate ones. "Actually all of them did."
"Right, right." Maka agreed with him, "I'm surprised she's just getting them now."
Black Star picked up one of them, "She said that she forgot to give 'em to ya."
Maka laughed, "That's so like her."
Soul's eyes glazed over the stack of photos before returning to Maka's face, "Hey Maka."
"Hmm?" Maka's gaze met his, her confidence shrinking before it.
"Why are you a model?" Soul stopped himself, then explained himself, "I mean, it suits you, yeah, but what's the reason for it?"
Maka set the photo down, not sure how to answer him.
I…I don't want him to know.
She laughed, catching all three guys by surprise, she picked up a photo and flicked it at him gingerly, "Well if you've got it, flaunt it." She smiled flirtatiously.
Soul stood up, leaving the drinks on the table, and looked down on Maka, "Not that I disagree with you but," Soul scratched the back of his head, "I just expected better from you." Soul walked out of the door of the apartment, shutting it a bit harder than usual behind him.
Kid got up after Soul left, looking back at Maka like Soul had done before him, "Sickening." He left the same way Soul had before him.
"Ah, there it is again." Maka laid her head in her hands before ruffling her hair aggressively. She turned towards Black Star, expecting him to leave as well. Instead, he stared at her for awhile than laid onto the floor, using the floor pillow as a head pillow , he turned his body away from her and laid onto his side. "You're not leaving?"
"No." He answered her quickly.
"Sleeping here then?" Maka peeked over his shoulder to see his sleeping and snoring face. "That's a yes than." She put her head into her hands once more. "Hey Black Star?" She titled her head into his direction, "thanks."
oOo
"I'm surprised you called me out here Miss Maka." B.J. smiled behind the camera lens that was focusing on Maka, who was sitting on the edge of the Death City Park's fountain.
"I had nothing to do at home."Maka held down pulled her hair out of her face due to the light breeze blowing through. No one was there besides Maka and B.J. and the rest of the Death City residents who were all passing through the park on this bright sunny day.
"Something happened." B.J. didn't question it, somehow he just knew.
Maka looked towards B.J., "I…I didn't want him to know. He asked me why I model and I didn't tell him the truth." Maka looked down towards the fountain water and ran her hand through the water before flicking her fingers up, making water droplets fly off of her fingertips.
"What did you tell him?" B.J. continued to take pictures nonchalantly.
"I told him 'if you've got it, flaunt it.'"
B.J. set the camera away from his face for a brief moment, so as not to drop it while he laughed, "You are truly unpredictable Miss Maka." He fitted it back in front of him so as to continue taking shots.
"It's not funny." Maka pouted, "well it sort of is."
"Why tell him that though? The real reason. That you are doing it to make your mother come back."
Maka rubbed her upper arm and looked down, "I didn't want him to think my reason was irrelevant and childish. I didn't want him to think less of me." Maka looked back up, confused, "For whatever reason."
"I understand Miss Maka, but that leaves one question unanswered. Do you believe your reason is irrelevant and childish." B.J.'s camera didn't stop clicking pictures of Maka's reactions.
Maka gripped her chest, "I-I don't!" She yelled at B.J. "B-but! I'm starting to feel. Feel like what I've been doing up until now is all wrong. I-I've been thinking and I-I truly believe that I enjoy modeling! Even now! Watching you stupidly hold that camera with your pinky up, taking pictures of me, my heart is racing and the excitement is building. I'm having fun and I don't think that's a bad reason at all!" Maka gripped her chest, her eyes slightly glazed over, on the brink of producing tears.
"So your reason is different now. And a wonderful reason it is, filled with beauty and emotion." B.J. smiled at Maka, who returned it with a soft smile, "Miss Maka, you have just evolved. And guess what? We just finished your album two weeks early, congratulations. Good thing I scheduled the release meeting for tomorrow morning."
"Wha-Hey!" Maka stood up from the rim of the fountain, "You knew this would happen didn't you?" Maka wiped her eyes, making sure that any tears that might've formed wouldn't show.
"I didn't expect your reason to change, but I did predict you would allow me to complete this album today." B.J. laughed heartily, so much so that Maka couldn't help but laugh with him.
"Yes!" Maka turned towards the fountain and raised both of her fists into the air.
B.J. took one last picture, "Evolution complete."
oOo
Maka breathed in and out, "Steady Breaths, Steady Breaths." She stepped out onto a stage and sat down at the white long table, the quiet room filled with reporters suddenly became restless. "Hello." Maka said into the microphone.
"Miss Maka Albarn! You are looking stunning in that Shibusen cardigan if I say so myself!" One reporter spoke out amongst the rest.
"Thank you." Maka nodded and made a soft smile.
"The Album is called 'Evolution,' do you believe you have fully 'evolved' since beginning this album?"
Maka leaned forward, "Yes," she didn't elaborate on her words, but instead kept it short and sweet.
"The front cover is-"
Maka interrupted the reporter, "I'd like to keep this short if you all would cooperate, that would be great. You see this was scheduled just between two jobs, so before I go I'd like to say one thing."
Maka took a breath in, than out, "I love my job."
Maka stood up from her seat, "Thank you." She walked off the stage, being swarmed by reporters with more questions as soon as she did.
"What do you mean by, 'I love my job'?"
Maka turned to him, "It's fun."
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Maka noticed that this time, it wasn't a reporter for a magazine or website, but instead, a cameraman for a television show. Maka grinned and got up close to the camera, "Hey B.J., remember when you said that people tell you that 'curiosity killed the cat.' Satisfaction brought it back."
Thank you for reading the tenth chapter of Wonderful Nightmare. I feel as though I ranted a bit at the beginning, but then I liked how it turned out so I decided to leave it as is.
Review because it makes Soul and Maka happy (as always)