A/N: Here is the last drabble for SoMa Week, First 'I Love You'. This week has been an absolute blast for me and I have enjoyed taking part so much. Thank you to all those who have read my silly little drabbles and have taken the time to review, you have no idea how much that means to me. Really, thank you. Enjoy high school AU fluff.

Summary: Maka truly loves Soul Evans. She just can't find the words to say it. Thank god he takes the initiative.

Rated: K+

It was hard for Maka to pinpoint exactly when she started loving Soul Evans. She knew she had liked him from the beginning, annoying as it was since all guys were jerks if Black*Star and her papa were anything to go on. And Soul himself was a bit of an asshole, but that didn't stop her from enjoying his company. If anything, she liked his sarcasm and dry humour, even though it grated on her nerves when constantly directed at her.

She could acknowledge though that it was at some point between the first two times he said he loved her.

The first time had been meaningless, she knew that, just an expression of his appreciation for their friendship.

They had decided to prank Black*Star by Teepeeing his house (when his adoptive parents were away of course, no one messed with Mira and Sid unless they wanted to die a premature death) and were making their getaway before the guy woke up, both aged fourteen.

Soul had turned to Maka, red eyes gleaming between the black bandana over the bottom half of his face and the black hat that covered his white hair and said, "That was great, I love you for this pigtails."

She had laughed breathlessly at his happiness. "Love you too, sharky."

Though she couldn't see it, she knew he was grinning under that bandana. She ignored any fluttering of her heart, it was just adrenaline from the prank, naturally.

The second time Soul said that he loved her was three years later, Maka was seventeen and Soul had just turned eighteen.

A lot had changed between them over those three years. They had moved on from being just friends, to friends that had that weird sexual tension between them and then to an actual couple. The process had been slow going and frustrating to both whenever things slid to a standstill before that actual dating phase began. But with the start of their senior year in high school, they were pretty happy with each other, if not terrified about the future that lay ahead of them.

By that time, Maka knew she had extremely strong feelings for the white-haired boy. Her heart did not beat faster around him for nothing after all. Even before the tipping point that made them a couple (a screaming match in a school hall after hours that ended in dry romp in a janitor's closet) she knew she liked him far better than she should have.

Her papa certainly didn't like him, though that might have been a reason for her to like the boy even more. Soul was a slacker by nature and that sometimes grated on her over-achiever tendencies but it was easily overlooked once Soul started talking about something he really loved, such as music. An Evans boy in full fangirl mode was a sight to behold and a treasured one at that.

So yes. In short, she loved him. She just didn't know how to say the words. Thankfully, he took the initiative.

It was the second week of senior year, September was still unusually summery and Soul had called Maka at six to inform her that she better take a nap 'cause he was gonna pick her up at eleven for a midnight picnic. She could only laugh, acquiesce and be grateful that he had sprung it on her on a Friday.

After a two hour nap, a few snacks and some homework, Maka got ready for the picnic and waited patiently for the roar of her boyfriend's motorcycle. Soon enough he came and she was out the door before he even had the chance to dismount and ring the doorbell. Thankfully, her father was out somewhere, like usual.

Maka slid onto the bike behind Soul and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"You ready?" he asked and when she nodded, off they went.

She always loved riding on the bike. Back before they had hooked up, it had been a chance to get closer to him, she could cuddle him without being weird. The fact that riding itself was such a rush was a bonus. The wind whipping her pigtails all over the place made her heart thump and her stomach do excited leaps.

She pressed her head between his shoulders and grinned.

They drove to one of the more secluded parks in Death City, so that they could have some peace and quiet. When both swung off the bike, Soul opened the saddle bags and started pulling out the food and a blanket for them to sit. He tried to make sure Maka only carried the blanket but she scoffed and carried some of the heavier stuff anyway.

Once they were settled on the grass, they started eating and talking, mostly about school and plans for college they had probably been over a million times before.

"I don't want to be so far away from you," Maka mumbled as she ate some cheese on a cracker.

Soul sighed and pulled her to him with an arm around her waist. "I know, me neither."

Along with the food, Soul had somehow managed to secure a bottle of wine.

"How are you gonna drive if you're drunk?" Maka asked when he pulled the bottle out of the bag.

He shrugged. "I won't have that much."

"That's what you said before," she murmured and eyed his chest where a large scar ran from shoulder to hip, a permanent reminder of the perils of drunk driving.

He tilted her head up with a hand under her chin so green could meet red. "Yeah, but I know better now."

She tried to pull her lips up in a smile but couldn't quite manage it, the incident was still painfully fresh in her memory. In an attempt to stave off memories of his blood, the hospital waiting room and his body in Intensive Care, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

He pressed back, left the bottle to lie on the grass and wrapped his arms securely around her. Soon, she was on her back as he leaned over her, tongues tangling as hands ran up and down each other's bodies.

"Look at us," Soul snorted when he pulled back. "Haven't even had any alcohol."

Maka laughed and pulled his back down for another kiss.

Eventually, before he got too hot, Soul pulled away and flopped onto his back beside her. Together, they stared up at the dark sky.

"You know," Maka began. "If it weren't for the full moon, we'd probably be able to see the stars."

Soul glanced at Maka and smiled. "If it weren't a full moon we wouldn't be able to see half as well."

She tangled her hand with his. "I don't know," she said with a grin. "Your hair is pretty reflective. Anyone could spot you in a pitch black room."

He rolled his eyes but laughed with her anyway.

They fell into silence for a few moments, basking in the presence of each other. Finally, Soul turned on his side so that he could watch her. She glanced at him, smiled and turned on her side as well.

Thus, they watched each other. Many people thought Soul's eyes were some weird example of genetics gone wrong, but Maka thought they were quite beautiful. Similarly, Soul thought he would never see another pair of eyes as gorgeous as Maka's green ones.

"Hey," he whispered, reached out a hand to tuck some blonde hair behind her ear. "Maka."

"Hmm?" she hummed.

He seemed to struggle with the words he wanted to say for a moment, opening his mouth several times without any sound accompanying it. Finally, he took a death breath and said softly, "I love you."

Maka blinked. Then she grinned. She reached for his hand and interlaced their fingers, squeezing gently.

"I love you too."

Soul returned her grin and leaned forward to kiss her again.