Maka hadn't been the only one watching the disappointing turn of events. Black hair adorned with sanzu lines whipped around as Death the Kid leaned harshly against the wall. He had been sure for the longest time that people couldn't be that stupid. He had been wrong. Even he, who Liz had deemed romantically inept could see how much Soul and Maka cared for each other. People who thought they only shared close friendship were painfully blind, and needed to see a doctor immediately.
"Wow, that was really dumb of him," Liz sneered. "Can't he see that what he's looking for is right in front of him?"
"I don't know," he whined, running a hand through his hair. This was almost as annoying as anything unsymmetrical. "Someone needs to talk some sense into him."
"Black*Star?" Patty offered.
"No sis," Liz replied. "He's too stupid, and not very good at giving advice."
"We can't count on her Dad either. He's too busy with his head in some girl's chest to even know what's going on," Kid spat.
"You know, you could talk to `im" Patty murmured.
Kid sighed. "I guess I'll have to. He'll never realize it, and by the time he does, she'll be done with him."
"Can't have that," Liz's hat was pulled down over her eyes to divert attention from her smirk.
"I just have to find the right time," Kid stared ahead into the hallway
The next day reared its head, seemingly uneventful. The Girls had decided to eat by themselves at lunch, and Soul didn't argue. They were probably talking about boys...or female issues... It was still strange, the girls always ate with them. Soul prided himself on being in a friend group that didn't practice many gender stereotypes. Also, he liked-no loved eating with Maka. Her close presence calmed him, and made her easier to look after. Because, you know, he was her weapon..and it was his job to look after her. Why would there be another reason?
"Why the heck are the girls not here?" he asked, hoping that the other two males would have an answer.
"You don't really care that the girls aren't here, you just wanna know where Maka is!" Black*Star teased.
"Not true!" he snarled defensively. "It's just... they always eat with us.."
"I think it has something to do with Maka," Kid muttered.
"Wh-what?" that caught Soul off guard.
"She does seem to be a bit cross with you," he sighed.
Soul looked down at his food. "I know that... It's just... I don't know why."
"Get'cher head outta' yer' ass!" Black*Star rolled his eyes.
"What is he talking about?" Soul pleaded.
"He might be referring to that girl you're dating," Kid hinted.
"That doesn't make any sense!" He roared, flying up from his chair. "She's been obsessing over finding me a girlfriend for the past few days, and I got one so that she could frickin' rest!"
He stormed out of the lunchroom, never glancing back at Kid and Black*Star. He was going to find Maka and he was going to end this right now. The walls of Shibusen were a blur as he sped down the hallways. Soul was being led by pure fury, and unfortunately it didn't have Soul Perception either, because he didn't know where the heck he was going.
Luck would have it that the girls would be gossiping just loud enough to hear, and that the door to their location would be left slightly ajar. Soul kicked open the door, all previous possibilities for an actual plan discarded. His furious red eyes needed only to scan the room for a second before he found his target. The "target" was not as easily scared by his angry demeanor as her female counterparts, and immediately rose to her feet in retaliation. Green eyes bore into red.
"Soul! What are you doing? At least knock first!" She yelled. "What do you want anyway?"
"You," the answer came out as a deep growl that he didn't know he had.
Maka blushed at the implications of that statement but her anger remained. "Go away!"
He strode across the room and grabbed her wrists. "No."
With that, he dragged her out of the room, slamming the door behind them. Once outside he lightly pinned her to the wall. She squirmed in his grip, albeit weakly. As much as he wanted to let her go and dispell this increasingly awkward atmosphere, this needed to be done.
"S-Soul...Lemme go!" She almost whimpered.
"No! Maka, look at me!" he protested. "Why are you so mad at me?"
Her eyes betrayed the desire of saying more, but she remained quiet.
"You keep avoiding me, and won't even look at me," His voice was close to a murmur. "You're not even Maka Chopping me! Now you won't even eat lunch with me... What did I do? I don't want you to be mad..."
He would definitely be winning the award for best lost puppy imitation, if there was such a thing. The hurt in his eyes only made Maka's throat close, and her heart drop. She was just about ready to break down and sob the answer to his question. Maka would have probably done so, if her anger hadn't suddenly boiled again.
"Why don't you tell that to your girlfriend then?!" she shouted. "Why do you care so much about what I feel all of a sudden? You don't need me at all! Why would you? She's pretty and kind, and not a flat chested bookworm!"
"Why wouldn't I care?" He yelled. "You're my meister, and my best friend! And.. uhhh... I really care about you!"
She could only stare, with a peculiar warm feeling building in her chest.
"Don't ever think I would leave you," his voice was sincere. "I will follow you anywhere and everywhere. And I won't ever leave unless you tell me to."
Their faces were impossibly close now, and his breath on her lips was sending pleasurable shivers down her spine. She wanted to pull her gaze from his, but she just couldn't. Soul seemed to be having the same reaction, except the fact that his face was as red as a tomato. Perhaps her face was too. She need only to see the reflection in his eyes to know. The time spent with their eyes locked seemed to last for an eternity, before she lightly pushed on his chest, releasing his grip on her entirely.
She completed the awkward moment by running down the hall in her embarrassment. He wasn't much better, staring at her retreat like a deer in headlights. He raised a shaky hand to the wall where Maka had just been.
"Wh-What just happened?"