Away From The Sun
by. Poisoned Scarlett
Quatre
Soul is a complex enigma.
Over the past three weeks, she has seen him numerous times. She doesn't know where it is he goes to so early in the morning, what he is doing so far away from Juilliard School of Music, but she does know that the most she receives from him is a nod of the head or a slight grin in her direction when they catch each others eye in the subway.
But they don't talk.
They just mind their own business.
She has mixed emotions about that.
It's like high school all over again – only they're adults now and she isn't so scrawny and thin and he isn't loud and a trouble-magnet. She'd describe him as aloof and introverted just from watching him through the reflection of the window. The way he loses himself in thought as he listens to music, sometimes takes out his phone to text someone, ignores anyone who tries to strike up conversation with him...
That's her problem today: there's this guy, she'd say he's pretty handsome, but whatever appeal he has is lost when he opens his mouth.
"So, you goin' to school or something?"
"Yeah." She keeps her replies short and clean. This guy has been struggling to strike up conversation with her for the past two minutes now and it's starting to become painful. He's stubborn, unwilling to give up. She doesn't get it, either: what caught his eye? The fact that she looks four years younger than she actually is? Her dull blonde hair let loose today? Maybe it was her eyes. She'd admit she has nice eyes. They were green, a strange green – like olives, like the humid leaves in a rain forest.
"Soo… what're you studying? Fashion or something?"
Maka turns away and closes her eyes, counting to three so she doesn't loose her temper. Fashion? Really? Fashion? Does she look like she honestly cares about her appearance? Does she look like the type to get her nails done, get facials, do her hair, apply make up, choose out snazzy and appealing clothes?
After calming herself enough to speak, Maka says through her teeth: "No. I'm studying to become an M.D. like my mother."
"…M.D.?"
"Medical Doctor."
"Oh! So you're gonna' be a doctor, huh?" The guy grins, a handsome grin. His has soft blond hair that falls over twinkling blue eyes. He's a pretty boy, Maka quietly notes, the type to go for pretty girls. All things considered, she isn't that pretty. She supposes she fits in the cute category if only because she has the tendency to tie her hair up in pigtails. "That's awesome! Maybe you can treat me one day, who knows?" He laughs, getting more comfortable in his seat; as if he's just found an opening in her defense and she will begin to speak.
Not likely, Maka thinks smugly, turning away from him again. There's still at least five more stops to go before she can get rid of him. She taps her foot impatiently as her stop nears. Just four more. Three more now but he won't shut up. When there's one more stop left, Maka stands up so fast she nearly drops her messenger bag off her lap. She sends him – Hiro, was it? – a forced smile of goodbye and squeezes her way through the crowd to reach the exit.
And then she realizes he followed her!
"Hey, uh, I didn't really catch your name…"
"Maka." She replies, tightly. "Just Maka."
"Alright 'Just Maka'," he chuckles at his own joke. He thinks he's so clever, huh? Maka's seen much more creative ways of picking up girls that had bigger success results than this pathetic attempt. "So, maybe we can grab a coffee someday or something—!"
The train brakes to a stop and Maka's hand shoots out to grab the pole. She just barely grabs it, her body bumping into a man. After getting sneered at by him, Maka simmers and glares ahead at the closing door. Just one more stop, she thinks, one more stop and then she can get away from this idiot who just can't take a hint! She bites her lip and takes a chance, squeezing past a few people as the train begins to head to her station.
"Whoa, watch out!" Hiro exclaims when she wobbles dangerously.
Her hand shoots out to grab the pole but she comes short and she knows she's gonna' hurt her hip on the seat if she doesn't do something now. However, someone grabs her. Someone grabs her firmly by both shoulders and steadies her as the train continues en route to Hawthorn and Vine.
For a second, she's horrified it's Hiro.
"Smooth, Maka," Soul drawls from behind her. His chest is so broad, she finds herself thinking with a swallow. And his hands are still grabbing her shoulders, making her remember that couple all those weeks ago. The guy who had saved that girl from being swept up into the crowd with a simple outstretch of his hand. "Y'know, you could just tell that guy to beat it."
"You saw?" Maka clears her throat, hastily stepping out of his hold. She grabs one of the handles above like him, turning to look up at him and his glinting eyes.
"Since he started talking to you." He reveals, surprising her a bit. When she'd snuck a glance at him, his eyes had been closed and his foot had been tapping to a beat. "It was just too funny to pass up. What'd he tell you? If you were eighteen yet or something?"
Maka narrows her eyes at his jab at her appearance. "For your information, he was just asking me what I'm going to study. He thought I was going to study Fashion." She scoffs, irate. "Who the hell studies Fashion? That's not a major – that's a waste of money!"
Soul chuckles. "Hey, there's always a new fad every couple of weeks. People make hundreds of dollars off just one jacket. It's a pretty good business."
"For the ones who can't do anything else." Maka snorts, derisively. This only makes his grin widen. The train comes to a stop and Maka sighs, saying: "My sto—ah!"
"I really hope you're not this clumsy in Shibusen." Soul whispers into her ear, holding her tightly by her forearm. He's saved her again. The train jerks to a complete stop, automated doors chiming. And he's still holding onto her, his breath tickling the rim of her ear. Making her heart melt, her blood boil in her veins. "I can't be there to catch you if you are."
This is how you catch a woman's attention, Maka thinks faintly. She hopes Hiro is taking notes. She stumbles back, nodding mutely, and manages to choke out a proper goodbye to Soul before hurrying out of the train. She just makes it out, to her relief. But when she looks back, she catches Soul's eye again.
And he winks.
And she feels her face flush red and then she notices Hiro and his scowl and realizes Soul had just helped her out without her knowing.
He'd just gotten Hiro off her back...
The subway leaves, the whirl of air making her hair whip across her reddened cheeks.
A/N: I use Hiro way too much for these things. I was actually going to use Kid but then I realized I could use his character for something else. Hiro needs more screen time, anyway :P
Scarlett.