It's been a couple of weeks since the date in the park. Nothing has changed between Soul and Maka except Soul. Something was on his mind and Maka knew it. Even though Soul doesn't show or express what he feels, Maka had to one way or another help Soul. On the other hand, Soul felt lost and his decision about being with Maka change ever since that night. He wants to be with her but what if? Agh! It'd always the 'what if'. What if Maka leaves him? What if he's not cool enough? What if this relationship between them was a joke? What if Maka thought this wasn't a relationship at all?

Soul rubbed his hair like crazy. He didn't know what to think. Lately, Soul hasn't asked Maka on any real dates, maybe a casual hang out to get something to drink but nothing compared to the park. Soul hated the way he feels, lost, hopeless, a mad man. In three weeks, Soul and Maka fate would be final because of graduation and Soul freaked.

"Is there anything wrong Soul?" Maka was sitting across from Soul at the lunch table, holding a bologna sandwich in her hands. Soul had totally forgot that he was in the lunch and thinking about it now, he couldn't remember what happen in the first half of the day.

"Yeah, everything's fine Maka," Soul leaned himself on the table, his elbow propping himself up.

"You sure? Lately you seem unfocused and down that I couldn't…"

"Maka," he turned to her, his eyes glaring," I'm fine." He didn't mean to make it sound so harsh but he's panicking.

"Ummm, okay then." Maka sat in her seat, not knowing what to do. Soul has gotten a bit mean lately and she felt bad. Soul's attitude appeared out of nowhere and she was never good at these kinds of things. Maka finish the rest of her sandwich in silence, scared that Soul would scowl her. She didn't appreciate his tone but at least Maka knew that what is bothering Soul is probably not so simple. She exhaled loudly, wishing there was a book about how to handle this kind of a situation. Soul continues to stare at Maka, who looked a bit sad. He wonders if Maka could tell the difference in his attitude lately. He hopes she didn't but we're talking about the smartest girl in the whole school. Maybe Maka did notice but Soul wish she didn't.

"Sorry about that Maka," Soul apologizes, feeling bad," A cool guy shouldn't speak so harshly to his girlfriend." Maka couldn't help but smile.

"It's okay, I just hope what's bothering you would stop," Maka looked depress for a moment," Lately you been different Soul and it scares me."

"Maka," Soul whispers her name as he reaches his hand out to grab hers. Not cool Soul! He thought. Not cool at all!

"Soul, I honestly don't know what to do. I want to help you but…"

"Maka, you can't help me," Soul finally reached her hand and gave it a small squeeze. Maka looked shock before Soul explains," It's something I have to do on my own. I'm sorry Maka."

"Well, if you say it like that, I guess you're right," Maka got up and grab a chair to sit next to Soul, laying her head down on Soul's shoulder after she sat down. "The only thing I can do is be there for you, huh?" Soul nodded, breathing in Maka's scent. It was sweet and clean. Soul wonder a thought that made him stop.

How could he stop loving Maka?

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"Maka, this, us, is not going to work," Soul said to Maka almost a week later, inside the bookstore. Maka stopped reaching for a book and stared at Soul whose head was down. Every day Soul tried to come up with a different answer that wasn't this, breaking up with Maka, trying to find something that would satisfy Soul as well as Maka but he couldn't. The answer always came back to breaking up and he hated himself.

"Soul, can you please just tell me what's wrong?" Soul could hear Maka sniffling away her tears. His heart ached but he only put up a wall.

"It would be the best for us. Sometimes things don't work out."

"The only reason that it's not working out is because of you Soul," Maka started to get angry, she only wish for Soul to tell her. She clenched her hands into a fist, feeling her nails digging into her palms.

"Which is why we should break up Maka," Soul continues to not look at Maka. He didn't want to see her cry because if he did, he would stop his excuses, embrace Maka, and tell her everything was going to be okay. But it's not, he decided. If this relationship continues to go on, Maka might end up leaving him. "I want you to be happy."

"I'm only happy with you Soul."

"I want you to see the world."

"We can see the world together," Maka then grabbed Soul wrist, trying to look in his eyes," it doesn't have to be only me." Soul pulled away.

"I want you," Soul paused, backing away from Maka," I want us to see other people Maka." He then finally looked at her, knowing what he was going to see would be heart-breaking. And he was right. Maka's tears had dried on her cheeks, her olive green eyes were now gray, and her lips in a thin line. He wants to take it all back, all the things he said that hurt her and just hold her. But the damage was done.

"Soul," whisper Maka. Maka didn't understand why he was acting like this. Soul was the only person who made her feel like a girl for once and she has fallen for him. But now, Soul was leaving, breaking her heart more with every step he takes. Maka stared into Soul's eyes, looking for any sign that everything he's saying is a lie. Maka didn't find anything; she found only cold eyes staring back at her.

"Good-bye Maka." Soul took another step back before turning a corner and behind a book shelf. Maka couldn't breathe. Her heart felt like it was tearing into pieces. Her legs wobbled and her hands were no longer in a fist. Maybe she should have listened to herself when it came to men. They were no good, just like her papa. Men pretend they love you, making you feel like the only girl in the world and as soon you are head over heels for them, they leave. Maka could only blame herself. Tears swelled up in her eyes and Maka collapsed to the floor, falling on her knees.

Maka thought Soul would be different. Maka had hoped Soul was exceptional but she was wrong and here she was, heart-broken. Maka swiped away her tears using the sleeve of her shirt. Never again will I fall in love, thought Maka. Never.

...Author's Note...

Well this is NOT the end for this story. But now here's the question, what will happen for our beloved characters Maka and Soul?
And yes, I do not own Soul Eater.