I followed Maka, who was still wearing her clothes from school.

"So, do you have any idea what a girl would want for her birthday?" Maka asked.

"Err...makeup? No, a doll?" I sighed. "I have no clue. What would you get her?"

"I would get her money." Maka said.

"Really? Huh. That's actually a really good idea. Why are we on a shopping trip if you were just going to tell me to get her money, though."

"I want to talk." Maka said.

"About what?" I asked.

"You. Crona. Me. I don't know. I guess I just want to talk." Maka said.

"Okay then. What color are your eyes? I think they're emerald, but I'm not sure." I said.

"You, uh, think about my eyes?" Maka asked, her cheeks turning a little red.

"Yeah. I think your eyes are beautiful. Not to sound creepy or anything."

"It's okay. My eyes are olive*." Maka said.

A/N: I got that fact from Soul Eater Wiki. -MN1

"Really? Never seen anything olive-colored that looked like that. So, how is Soul doing?" I asked.

"Good." Maka said.

"Is he a good Weapon?" I asked.

"Yes. We're a good team." Maka said. "He's got himself nearly killed for me."

"Are you two, uh, going out?"

"What? Who'd you hear that from?"

"Nobody. It was just a guess." I said. 'Please, don't Maka-chop me.' I thought.

"We're just friends. Soul's actually got a crush on your sister." Maka said. She wasn't supposed to, apparently, because she covered her mouth quickly after saying it.

"What?"

"Nothing. Nothing. So, are you and Crona going out?" Maka asked.

"No. We're just friends." I said. "I wish Crona were happier, though. It sucks that she's so shy."

"She's less shy now, actually. I don't know what happened, but she asked to go clothes shopping with me. We're going Saturday, actually. I think she's got a crush on you." Maka said.

"Huh. Wonder what she looks like under that dress." I said, then my face burned when I realized what I said. "No, wait, I mean-!"

"Maka chop!" Maka hit me with a book, and I fell like a ton of bricks to the ground.

"I meant in normal clothes." I said, laying on the ground. "Jeez that hurts. You ever think of not doing that?"

"No. I haven't." Maka said, bending over and offering to help me up.

"Thanks." I said. "I wonder what Kylie's doing right now."

"Jeez, Kylie's the center of your universe, isn't she?" Maka asked.

"I guess so. My Dad was, well, dead, Ma needed help taking care of her, and Kylie's dad wasn't around." I said.

"Wait, Kylie doesn't have the same father as you?" Maka asked.

"I forgot to mention that, didn't I? Please don't Maka chop me!" I said, covering my head.

"You're too sensitive. Continue on with the story." Maka said, looking all petite and adorable. Wait, what? Adorable? I thought I had a crush on Crona! Stop falling for girls, Riley!

"Okay." I said, face red from realizing I was falling for Maka and Crona (I blame the Luck of the Irish.) "My Dad and Ma divorced, and they went their separate ways. Ma went to Italy, where she and her boyfriend conceived Kylie. Kylie takes after Ma, y'see. Well, her dad never got to America. Meanwhile, my Dad was a wreck and couldn't take care of himself, so I learned how to take care of myself and, by extension, others."

"How did you keep your father from killing you?" Maka asked hesitantly.

"I jumped out of the car." I said.

"Do you have any scars?"

I lifted the side of my shirt, exposing a small patch of rough pink skin. "Road rash heals pretty well." I saw tears in Maka's eyes, and put my hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, Maka. I've dealt with it."

"How?" Maka asked.

"By promising to never put someone through what I went through. By promising to do better than Dad did. I'm not gonna leave Kylie or Ma feeling bad 'cause I died. I'm gonna be a good man." I said, and Maka visibly felt better.

"You are a good man, Riley." Maka said.

"Thank you. D'ya wanna go home now?" I asked.

"No. I'm fine." Maka said, wiping her eyes. "You're a good friend, Riley."

Damn it. Only a friend. Ah, might as well be the best friend I could be.

"You're a fantastic friend too, Maka." I smiled.