STORIES AND MELODIES: Night Swimming
V. Cliffhanger
Soul E. (14:34): Maka, I'm so sorry.
Maka (14:39): Oh, so you're alive.
Soul E. (14:39): Things were complicated. I'm sorry.
Maka (14:39): Three days, Soul. I waited for three days to hear from you again. Not one text!
Soul E. (14:39): You can beat me up once we see each other again.
Soul E. (14:40): I didn't want to leave that night.
Soul E. (14:40): I wanted to tell you a lot of things.
Soul E. (14:40): And I don't want to tell it to you through text.
Soul E. (14:40): But you know it already, I hope
Soul E. (14:41): Maka, please hear me put
Soul E. (14:41): *out
Soul E. (14:41): Tomorrow.
Soul E. (14:41): I'll make it up to you tomorrow.
Maka (14:42): You're unbelievable!
Soul E. (14:43): I promise. Just come, please?
Maka stared at her conversation with Soul.
It had been three days -four days now, actually - since she and Soul watched that How to Train Your Dragon movie and kissed before he went off to meet who knows who at who knows where and yesterday was the first time she heard from Soul since then. She tried to contact him, text, call, heck, she even tried his Facebook account which he rarely used but, no response. All the negative thoughts ran through her head that time but she tried her best to keep things together. Of course, she tend to lose focus for a minute or two - maybe much longer.
Actually, she still can't focus up to now but, it was all due to an entirely different reason but still involved Mr.-Albino-pianist-who-vanished-all-of-a-sudden-after-kissing-her.
Also, she does not have any idea why she's in a party dress (of course she knows how she got in the party dress, she wore it herself; it's just why she had to wear it). Oh and she doesn't have any idea why she's in this fancy car with Tsubaki, Liz, Patty, Kid and Blake. She also didn't know where the driver was taking them.
Kid wasn't saying anything. He wasn't even in the mood. He seemed annoyed by something.
Even Blake was silent, for once. Maka knew why. He has a terrible motion sickness. He's probably trying to focus more on not vomiting than trying to think of something to say (as if he ever thought of anything he says).
"So, you know anything about this, Maka?" Liz asked, looking at her. She gave her a questioning look and the older Thompson shrugged. "I'm just saying, your boyfriend-"
"He's not my boyfriend." Saying that was harder than it looked. Maka had to swallow the lump in her throat because what is she and Soul anyway?
Everyone fell silent after her protest. Even Blake had to look at her. If Kid was annoyed, she was pissed.
What's the status of their relationship anyway? Soul pretty much implied that he liked her. After all, he did so many things for her and it was pretty obvious what those meant, though she really refused to believe it at first. Yes, he did almost everything except say that he did like her. It's not like she trusted words more than actions. It's just that she wanted to make it clear. But that's not what she was really mad about.
She was being stupid but, all she needed was an explanation for his disappearance. That's all. It's not like she hated Soul. Or maybe, she's not even mad about that. It's just that-
"Maka, are you okay?" Tsubaki spoke softly, fearing that she's treading on thin ice.
The author nodded unconvincingly. "I'm just being stupid."
"Maka just likes over-thinking. You're not stupid." Patty said which somehow made Maka feel alright.
There was a knock on the window after the vehicle stopped and the door opened for them. "We have arrived." The driver said in an all-too-polite manner. "Welcome to the Evans Mansion."
Jaws dropped as soon as they stepped out of the car. There was a huge mansion on a cliff and a little walk down the cliff (Maka saw some stairs on their way) was a beach. Nobody was there and there was a fence around it, suggesting it's private property.
"Dude, did Soul ever tell you he was this rich?" Blake asked her.
Come to think of it, Maka thought, all she knew about Soul's family was that they were all musicians. He was pretty secretive about his family. She kind of understood now why after connecting all the dots. He hated the crowd, he didn't like telling people about his family, he kept himself low profile - he just didn't want people to befriend him for what he had.
A man walked their way and bowed down. "Good afternoon. I'm Harvar, one of the butlers of the Evans family. Master Soul is expecting you. Please follow me." He smiled at them.
Maka was reminded of that time she pretended to be a butler to let Soul inside her apartment. She's nothing in comparison to Harvar. Not that she actually had to compare herself with a real butler. She had no plans on changing her career anytime soon. They followed the young butler into the mansion, walking on the long walkway in the middle of grassy gardens. How much money did they spend to have this mansion built, Maka believed it's more than the money she'll earn her whole life.
If they were already amazed with the exterior of the mansion, the inside was way more amazing. Carpets, paintings, chandeliers, grand staircase; name it, they have it. Blake and Liz had their mouths hanging open, Patty was already fascinated with the paintings, Kid was simply looking around and Tsubaki, though she's trying to not look like it, was really amazed. As for Maka, she wondered why Soul gathered them there today. Also, she needed answers.
"Master Soul is in the music hall. Please follow me." Harvar spoke once again, turning right. How huge was this place, Maka wondered. Harvar stopped in front of the vast door at the end of the hall and opened it. "Master Soul, they have arrived."
"Harvar." The familiar voice rang in Maka's ear. "It's probably the fiftieth time that I told you not to call me that." He sounded exasperated.
The butler sighed. "I'm afraid I can't-"
"And I've told you, that's an order."
Harvar nodded and ushered all of them in. "Here they are, Soul." He said, exiting the room.
Maka was looking at Soul who was sitting on the piano stool the whole time Harvar brought them there. He stood up and smiled. "Sorry for the short notice." He apologized. "I just thought maybe you all needed a time out and my parents are throwing a party tonight and, some other stuff." There was something he wasn't telling (it was confirmed when Soul, Blake and Kid exchanged looks with one another, that's not suspicious at all) but Maka let it slide, for now.
Soul was leading everyone to their rooms after a few moments of clarifications why Soul brought them to their mansion. They'd be leaving tomorrow afternoon after all so he had the some of the guest rooms empty. Kid had his own room. Blake and Tsubaki stayed together and Liz and Patty were rooming in together.
It was just him and Maka as he lead her to her room. "Here's where you'll be staying." He unlocked the door and Maka was welcomed by a very pleasant room. It had a gorgeous view of the beach. There was a bed that could probably fit in three people on it, a dresser, a door that Maka guessed would be a bathroom. All in all, the room was really nice but, before she could even show any signs of amusement, she stopped herself from showing any expression. She was still looking for some answers, after all.
"Can I go in with you?" Soul asked and it was ridiculous how he would still ask that. It was still his huge mansion even if she's going to be using the room for the night. Maka only nodded in reply. He cringed at the fact that she wasn't talking. That wasn't a good sign. "You're mad."
"No shit, Soul." She cursed and Soul knew she really was. The author watched as Soul shut the door behind him. "Would it hurt you to reply to at least one of the messages I've sent to you? I was worried!" No, no. She was not gonna cry.
Maka was probably shaking as she stood there, looking at the floor, her shoes, the red carpet she was stepping on - anything to block her peripheral from seeing Soul. She was afraid that she really might cry at the sight of him - safe, alive, not grossed out by her popcorn breath, not turned off about how bad of a kisser she was.
Her thoughts were jumbled and she was a mess. All thanks to Soul.
The pianist approached her, reaching out for her hand. "Things got a bit complicated." He mumbled, squeezing her hand. "I got so focused on trying to-" He stopped, sighing. "-trying to sort things out. I didn't mean to ignore you or make you wait about talking about-"
"You're safe." Maka hated how with just his touch, the steel she made herself into quickly melted away. "I was worried, you idiot. You didn't reply to me, didn't answer my calls, how was I to know that you're just sorting things out? How was I supposed to know you suddenly didn't want me, even as a friend anymore or worse, you didn't die on me?"
She was bluffing to herself when she said that she was mad because she wanted explanation. She wasn't even mad. Maka was beyond worried, scared even, that she did something to scare Soul away or that, something might have happened to him when he went out that night. She knew the feeling of losing someone and Maka didn't want to experience it again.
Maka was pulled into Soul's arms. "I'm sorry. I messed up, I know." He kissed her forehead and she just melted into him, wrapping her arms around Soul's waist.
"You're an idiot." Maka growled but still buried her face on the crook of Soul's neck.
"I know, Maka. I know."
Soul wasn't kidding when he said his parents threw a party. The gigantic music hall was filled with guests when night time came. Soul asked Maka to accompany him for the night at the party. Blake and the others were supposed to be with them but they sort of lost each other (this house was incredibly huge for them to lose each other). Not being a fan of the crowd was an understatement. He did his best to avoid people.
"What's this party for anyway?" Maka asked Soul as they both walked around the hall, looking for some place where there's not much people.
"Annual party my parents hosts." He replied nonchalantly, really annoyed at the fact that he really wanted to talk to Maka about things that actually matter than staying at some party but, he had no choice. He had to at least be seen around otherwise his parents are gonna be pissed at him. "It's my first time inviting someone to the party and my parents were kind of pleased with that."
The writer nodded, looking around. So this was the life Soul lived. Extravagant and fancy. Okay, she got some answers but Soul still hasn't told her what he was doing all those three days he was missing but Maka doesn't question him further. If Soul wasn't going to tell her, she won't ask anymore.
"Soul! God, there you are!" A hand pulled him by the shoulder and Maka looked over the guy who looked like Soul only taller and had a blonde, almost whiter hair color. "I've been looking for you all around! Mom and Dad wanted you to play your piece already! You're the one who wanted that and now you're making them wait and-" the man's eyes met with Maka's and he smiled at her. "Who's this?"
"Wes-"
"Let me guess, Maka." The guy, Wes, said. "You're Maka, right? Oh, this is good! You really did invite her!" Wes turned to her and smiled. "I'm Wes, Soul's older brother." He held out his hand for her to shake which she did. "Soul told me a lot about you a few days ago."
The pianist growled and tugged on Wes' arm. "They want me to play, fine. Let's just go already before you start hitting on her." Soul groaned because as Wes was about to protest, probably a joke or something else, Soul looked at him and growled, "Hit on anyone you want, I don't care. But not her." It was a very possessive kind of growl and somehow, Maka liked that Soul was being like that.
Wes flashed Maka a smile and a wiggle of his eyebrows and followed Soul. She watched as Soul got pushed to the center of the music hall where the grand piano was at. Soul's brother turned the microphone on, a feedback comes from the speakers making Maka cringe. "Ah, sorry about that, excuse me everyone." Wes called everyone's attention then passed the microphone to Soul.
If looks could kill, Maka thought, she was sure Wes would be lying cold on the ground by now. "Good evening." Soul said and Maka heard a few girls behind her swoon. Soul always had a sexy voice in her opinion. At least she's not the only one thinking that. She thought she was simply that smitten with Soul. "I'd like to dedicate this song to a special girl who inspired me a lot and was the reason behind this composition. So…" He handed the microphone back to Wes and looked her way first, a small smile playing on his lips.
She was absolutely sure that she's fallen for this guy.
"Did you see that? He looked at me!"
"No, Soul Evans was looking at me!"
The girls at Maka's back argued and she had to roll her eyes because, no, actually ladies, he was looking at me.
Soul's melody started low and slow. Maka was mesmerized by the way Soul looked as he played the piano. He looked so focused and he looked like a totally different person as he played. He had his eyes closed and Maka noticed that there was no sheet in front of him. He had it memorized. The melody lightened and suddenly, Maka felt warm. She did not understand how music goes and how does one understand it but she could feel how Soul was dedicating it to her. Not to mention the occasional times he would open his eyes and look her way once in a while.
It was beautiful.
Maka noticed how Soul was smiling as he continued and that smile was contagious because Maka was feeling her lips curve upwards. It was so beautiful to see Soul do something he's so passionate about (for someone he's so passionate about, she tried to push away the thought but wasn't able to stop herself from blushing).
When the song was finally done, a round of applause was definitely called for. Some people from the crowd moved towards him and as much as Maka wanted to wrap her arms around him, she decided to wait. A couple approached Soul and they might as well be Soul's parents. Soul kept a straight face when he was talking to them.
"Excuse me," Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned to look at a guy, probably around 25, smiling at her. "I can't help but wonder. You're Maka Albarn, aren't you? Author of 'Absence'?" He asked and Maka immediately smiled at him. He knew her! "I'm a fan."
The author nodded her head. "Wow uh," She was at loss for words. "Thank you!"
Soul was actually feeling good when his parents walked over to him to say that they liked his performance. That's a first, he said to himself. He was walking past the crowd, nodding to the people who greeted him, trying to look for Maka. She did find her.
There goes his mood.
She was talking to a guy while smiling widely. They looked like they were having fun. As a butler serving champagne went past them, the guy got two glasses and handed one to Maka which she took. There was something gnawing at his heart because, why was there even a guy talking to his girl? He shook his head at the thought. Maybe he should walk over to them and-
"Ah, Soul, that was a great performance." A woman laced her arm around him and he had the urge to snarl at somebody for existing. Or touching him even. He recognized the woman as one of Wes' friend's younger sister. He didn't have time for this. He glanced over at Maka. She was gone from where she was earlier and Soul sighed in annoyance. He couldn't really fly off the handle while he was in a party (actually, he could but he just wouldn't since who knows what the people would say). "That was nice of you, dedicating that beautiful song to a girl. Didn't know you had someone special at the moment."
Yeah and I should be with her at the moment rather than with you.
"Yeah and I kinda-"
Another arm sung around his free arm and he's just about to blow a fuse or something because why are these leeches on him anyway? The girl this time was one of the girls that his parents 'recommended' for him. He noticed how the two girls smiled at each other. "Hi Soul! So, I was thinking-" That's a first you spoiled brat. You never think. "Maybe we could all hang out and you know," She leaned closer to his ear and he just wanted to push her off and say how disgusted he was with her. "have some fun?" The girl finished, trying to be seductive.
It was then that Soul knew things were gonna go wrong. He looked at the girl, her face quite close to his and he just said, "No thank you." He was about to shake them off when he saw green eyes looking at him from a distance.
Fuck.
The pianist immediately detached himself from the girls clinging on to him when he saw that Maka was there to witness what just happened and walk off.
A lot more fucks.
She had never thought about wearing a party dress on the beach, carrying her heels on one hand and trying her best to hug herself with the other on a cold night. But, there she was.
Maka wasn't exactly crying but she was hurt. And for no reason. She and Soul haven't really talked about what they were and that doesn't really give her the right to be jealous over some girls who was clinging on him.
But she was and it sucked because again, who was she to be jealous? She's just some friend he met at some bar whom he happened to spend his time with and he kissed her once (a lot actually but she meant on the lips).
Yes, Soul did imply (no, it's almost like a confession) that he may like her and she liked him too but, hey, she's just uncomfortable seeing those girls with Soul. "Feeling feelings sucks." She groaned.
"Tell me about it."
The writer looked behind to saw the person causing her distress. "You tell me." She retorted, sitting on the nearby rock. Soul followed her, his hands in the pocket of his slacks.
"Okay, well, I messed up big time. The person I like got mad at me but I managed to at least make her hug me earlier this afternoon and I thought everything's alright. I even dedicated a song to her, hoping my feelings would reach her but, some dumb leeches decide to cling on to me and the person I liked sees them and she's probably mad again so she stormed off to the beach and I had to ask nearly everyone in a party to tell me if they'd seen her and now, I'm gonna apologize again." Soul narrated. "I'm sorry, Maka." Soul grumbled, sitting next to her on the rock.
Silent. She was silent. The sound of the waves were almost deafening to the ears.
There was a huge sigh from Maka. "I wasn't mad at you." She replied. "I'm just being stupid."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
Soul nudged her arm with his shoulder lightly. "Soul, look, I really loved the song and I thank you for it and I'm sorry. I'm being stupid with this whole 'seeing-you-with-other-girls'." She sighed. "I was jealous." She whispered, almost inaudibly.
"We weren't doing anything. They came on to me, Maka."
"I know, which is why I'm annoyed because I'm jealous of them for no reason." She explained, her voice raising a bit. "And it annoys me more because I don't even have the right to be jealous."
"You're really pouring it all out tonight, huh?" Soul asked and it was her turn to nudge him only, hers were much more harder than his that he almost tumbled to the sand. "Ow, okay. But seriously, if it makes you feel better. I got jealous too."
Maka looked at him in confusion. "What?"
"You were smiling at this guy at the party earlier while talking to him." Maka continued to look at him with the same confusion, mixed with disbelief now on her face. "Oh, you know, tall guy, black hair, glasses and all that."
The author's face lighted up. "You mean Will?" Oh yeah, she was talking to him earlier. "He just recognized me and talked to me for a bit. He's gay, Soul." Maka explained.
"Oh." The pianist suddenly felt all too stupid. "See? Jealous for no reason." He searched for her hand and held it in his when he found it. "You do know it by now, right?" He asked.
"Know what?"
He squeezed her hand. "That I like you very much."
Maka reddened. She knew. But it was really different when someone says it to you directly. He looked at her to meet her eyes, red eyes meeting green. "I know." She mumbled. "And, I like you too. Very much."
There was a gentle smile that crept up on Soul's face. At least that was out.
They settled there for a few minutes, Maka looking at the ocean while he looked at her, their fingers intertwined. "The ocean looks beautiful." She mumbled.
An idea popped out of Soul's mind and he smiled at her. "Wanna go for a swim?" He asked, looking at her excitedly. "I always wanted to try swimming here at night."
"And you haven't yet?" Maka inquired, tilting her head.
Shaking his head, Soul stood up and removed his shoes and socks. "We rarely come here. It's a rest house far from the city. Mom and Dad currently lives in New York but they come here on occasions." He explained and Maka was in awe.
"This is just a rest house." She mumbled, looking at the house, no, mansion. How much money does Soul's family have?! Maka looked back at Soul but he was already halfway towards the beach wearing his boxer shorts, which made her blush.
"Come on, Maka!"
"I never said I was going to go swim with you!" She yelled in protest. She could see Soul scowling from the distance. "Soul…"
"It's no fun swimming alone! Why'd you think I never swam here at nighttime before?" Soul asked. Maka had to avert her eyes away from Soul because, damn he looked hot without clothes on.
The novelist rolled her eyes. "It's no fun swimming if you're gonna freeze to death!" She retorted again but Soul held his gaze and pouted. He actually pouted. "Can't I just walk by the shore or something?" Again, he continued to pout. How can she resist him like that? "F-Fine!" She gave up and Soul made a triumphant 'yes!', pumping his fist in the air. "J-Just don't look!"
She was going in the water with only her underwear on. Well, she always wanted to try skinny dipping but - no, she was not going to go there. Especially not with Soul! It was embarrassing enough already (did she mention, crazy) that they're going to swim at this time of the night, in the cold water in only her underwear but, to actually go in there, stark naked?
Maka still wanted to live. She didn't need to die from embarrassment right now.
Soul was already in the water when she finished taking off the party dress. She placed her heels near Soul's shoes and walked over to the shore. "Don't you dare look or I will kick your face." She warned.
"Yes ma'am."
The water was cold and she almost jumped when her feet got wet by the waves. "Soul, it's too cold!" She exclaimed.
"Get in the water fast." He said in a -as-a-matter-of-fact tone. "Your body will adjust to it."
Why did I even agree to this? She asked herself. With one quick motion, she ran to the water and sunk down her whole body in it. When she resurfaced, she just gasped. "Cold, cold, cold, cold!" She exclaimed repeatedly. Okay, now she was sure she was really stupid for agreeing to this just because she found Soul cute. She should consider her actions and sharpen up her decision making skills if she was going to be with Soul. Maka blushed at the thought. He hasn't even asked her our yet.
"Can I hug you?" Soul asked out of the blue which made her turn around to face him. His hair was damp and was sticking on his forehead again. Maka liked how he looked when he got rained on after supposedly picking her up to take her to Blake's party but this time, she loved it.
As for his question, Maka debated on letting him versus not letting him because, they were pretty much in their underwear and Maka's really embarrassed. But then again, she'll be comfortable if she hugs him and she'll be warm. She finally faced him and nodded.
Maka stepped closer to him, the water slowing her motions but Soul wrapped his arms around her waist all of a sudden and then, she was pressed against him. His face was buried on the crook of her neck, his breath tickling her. "I really missed you, you know?" He mumbled against her skin.
Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his torso. "I missed you too, you dork." She whispered against his ear. There was something so intimate about the way Soul's just holding her in his arms while they whisper how much they missed each other to one another.
"The past three days were the longest days of my life." Soul mentioned. "I really wanted to talk to you and hear your voice but-"
"Things got complicated, I know." She nodded her head in understanding. "Did you manage to sort things out though?"
Soul was silent. Maka already thought that maybe, he didn't want to answer her. She was about to say that it was okay when he mumbled a 'No, I didn't'. He was really bothered by that and she could easily tell by how his arms tightened a bit more around her. She didn't mind. Soul needed the comfort and she was going to give it to him no matter what.
Soul pulled back and cradled Maka's face to look at him. He leaned in, their foreheads touching. "Can we just be together?" He heard her mumble. "I really like you Maka and, I really want to ask you out." He confessed. "But, I just…"
"Soul, what is it?" Maka places a hand on his cheek and he nuzzled against it.
"Maka, I have to leave for Europe."
(A/N: Now you know why the title of the chapter was cliffhanger. Anyway, I'm at the hospital after some things went crazy and I can only type with one hand at the moment. That one hand happens to be my left hand and it actually hates me so, I'm typing at an incredible speed (try, turtle) and will have to go back to the hospital. I'd be updating twice today maybe thrice, if I get lucky (a.k.a. if my left hand doesn't stop messing up). So yeah, sorry for the late update!)