I remember reading a review way back when about how Maka didnt really develop too well in the beginning and well, after reading the work i couldn't agree more. so im doing some work to go through and fix that, because... you know, i care about what you all say :) ty for the support and yelling at me to do more work.
She just kept driving, eyes unblinking while she went along the long stretch of blacktop. It was as if she was on auto-pilot. Eventually the jeep crawled to a stop.
Maka looked up at the brick building that stood beside the parking lot. (Yes after hitting a boy and watching him being dragged off into the woods by a ginormous wolf…. Maka subconsciously drove to school.)
She let out a sigh as she opens the door, sliding out only to land hard on her feet. Maka plodded into the building, legs weak and shaky.
Her day was spent in a daze. Maka found herself fading in and out of intense thought. Even walking down the hallway everyone appeared as a blur. The last period bell didn't come soon enough. Carelessly maneuvering through the crowded halls, she made her way to the double doors marked "exit" over their frame. She stopped at the opening, starring out blankly at the rain as a young man held the door open for her, only to get annoyed when she didn't move. "Stupid bitch" he said under his breath as he let the door go. Maka, blinked slowly, placing her small palm on the door and pushing it open to step out into the down pore. Tilting her head up to the clouds, she let the chilling rain beat down on her face as many of her peers ran past her to get to their cars and out of the cold rain. She watched them move, bull expression never leaving her face.
Reaching her jeep she gripped the door handle and slowly pulled herself into the driver seat. Maka looked out of the windshield dully all the cars around her slowly starting up with their own distinct rumbles and quickly driving away until the only one in the parking lot was her yellow jeep. Gripping the wheel till her knuckles shown white, she started up her car.
The noise on the way back stung her ears, every squeak of the wind shield wiper, ever tap of a rain drop, every time a loose rock kicked up under her car, she flinched. As the strait away started to curve, Maka found her foot slowly pressing on the brake and within moments, the jeep came to a lazy halt. Legs moving o their own, she made her way to the edge of the road, right against the thick tree line. She heaved, her hand coming to her mouth before she fell to her knees, throwing up.
She slowly stood up, rain already starting to wash away the bile as she made her way back to the driver's seat of her car. The jeep came to life, lurching forward as Maka steered toward her house.
"Maka….Maaaakkkka….MAKA! Mrs. Albarn !" Maka rose from the desk with a start, the pencil that she was sleeping on falling off her cheek as she straightened up.
"SIR!" the class laughed as the teacher fumed at the front of the room. Glaring at her as he closed the book he was holding with a annoyed clap.
"Mrs. Albarn this is the second day you have slept through my class, I don't know about your other school but in this one you actually need to work." He walked along the chalk board holding his beloved math book close to his side like a football player would hold pigskin. "Now listen here- SHUT UP CLASS!" He shouted making the room fall into silence, but just as he was about to continue his little lecture the bell rang. Students started to shuffle to the door.
"Maka…" Mr. Brent called as she zipped up her backpack. "I have seen your file from your previous school, spectacular grades, perfect attendance, a model student in every aspect of the phrase. However, I am very worried about the type of attitude you have been showing us these past few days."
Makas eyes locked onto the zipper of her bag. "it's nothing sir, moving has been very… stressful on me. And the time difference doesn't help."
Mr. Brent crossed his arms as he leaned against the desk. "yes it must be very hard leaving your friends and family behind, and it is because of that, Mrs., that I will let these past few incidences slide." He walked over placing a hand on her shoulder, "if you need anything at all, just let me know. And try not to let you academics slide. I see that happen all too much with kids, first its one missed assighnment and next thing you know they don't hand in any homework for the rest of the year!"
"Ill keep that in mind Mr. Brent. Thanks."
As she was making her way to another class, something caught her attention. A flash of red, white and black. The white hair and black jacket weren't what caught her attention; it was the intense red gaze that seemed to trail her as he walked by.
Maka stopped in her tracks, fear gripping her heart.
"No" was the only word repeating in her head. Quickly she turned around, but found nothing. No battered and bloody mess on the ground. No white messy hair. No mesmerizing red gaze.
Her heart stopped. Clenching her chest Maka turned back around, only to meet a pair of dark blue eyes right in her face.
"What the hell?" She screamed, managing to gain confused looks from spiky blue haired boy in front of her stared blankly into her olive green eyes.
With a shaky smile she spoke. "Um.. Can I help you?" she didn't look away, she didn't even blink, not so long as his blue gaze lay on her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Maka was surprised, not at the emotionlessness of the statement, but of how rough his voice sounded. Processing what he said she felt a chill move down her spine. Her hand dropped down to clench into fists at her side, opening her mouth to say something but before she could a girl walked up behind him.
Flipping back her long dark ponytail she put her hand on the boys blue hair. "I'm so sorry! Black*star can be to 'in your face' at times." she said, tilting her head apologetically, causing her long hair to move to the side. Quickly she grabbed Black*star by the arm and casually started to pull him down the hall.
"Hey Tsubaki what's wrong? I was just curious." he said in a hushed way.
"Soul doesn't want messing around with her." she looked back to see disappointment in his eyes. "W-well she just wouldn't be able to handle how you have fun, you would probably end up killing her." she tried to make it sound good so that his feelings weren't hurt.
" I was just wondering what he sees in her." stuffing his hand into his pockets, Black*star walked besides Tsubaki down the hall until they turned the corner and where about of sight.
Maka looked puzzled, Soul? Who's that? After the two left Maka began to fade back into her mind, allowing her subconscious to take over once again.
Eventually a bell chimed signaling the end of her session, and her day. She woke up a bit, peaking out of the confines of her mind to take note of her surroundings, just enough so that she wouldn't get hit by a car while going through the school parking lot.
When she finally got to her car Maka broke down. It was gradual as she left the lot, but the small sobs and tears soon turned into streams of sorrow finally manifested. She needed to go back. Drawn by some compulsion of stupidity, need for clarity, and sadness that her mind had been suppressing all day.
The spot was easy to find again. Maka climbed out, whipping a sleeve gently over her tear stained cheeks.
"Ok…. I have to do this…. I have to know." her voice was filled with determination. Taking a deep breath the light brown haired girl walked along the blacktop, stopping at a small pool of pink rainwater. She kneeled down looking at the water and around it finding marks on the soil nearby. Slowly standing, she followed the drag marks on the ground to the edge of the brush. Maka took another deep breath while pulling back the twigs and branches, her breath caught in her throat. Gasping as she fell to her knees, a look of disbelief and confusion plastered on her face.
There was nothing, no blood trail, no body parts, only the signs of a struggle that where lightly scratched into the ground.
Her heart sank. She had been hopping for something, anything to either spiral her into depressive guilt or maybe leave her at ease. Most of all she wanted to prove what happed wasn't some twisted nightmare. But the fact that there was nothing, no proof, no closure made her feel even worse; and some random drag marks wouldn't be enough.
No one would even believe me. They would all just think I hit a deer or a would all call me crazy, insane…
Maka was beyond frustrated; she wanted to save that boy, but instead let him be dragged off to who knows where. She felt as if she had failed, and that's what hurt the most.
"Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump" pounding footfalls caught her attention it sounded like a horse, but she didn't think anyone in this town had owned one. Then terror griped her. There's only one other thing that would make that kind of noise while running.
Looking getting up she scrambled under a carpet of leaves that belonged to a big bush. Hoping the screen would hide her, she sat back one arm around the bushes base as she clung to it.
The pounding slowed to a trot as she could hear the thing approaching, and then light sniffing sounds.
Curiosity compelled her to inch up to the screen of leaves, gingerly pushing them slightly to the side, she put a hand over her mouth to repress a gasp. A white form was sniffing around near the bush she hid in; its back faced her.
The hairy beast turned.
Maka's belly fluttered as she caught sight of an enormous wolf. Its eyes were closed as deep breaths of air filled his lungs. It seemed to have caught scent of something it liked.
Probably the blood she thought as she continued to watch him.
His massive white head turned, then dropped to the as he began to track a sent, sweeping it back and forth. Seeing this Maka mentally cursed d and scooted back against the base of the bush. It was only moments before the wolf stood just outside of her leafy vial.
She was perfectly still. Go away… im not her… ow! a twig was poking into her side. Maka tried not to move, but the twig made it hard. In her annoyance her foot slipped.
The wolf outside jumped and stopped breathing. Maka never saw a wolf or a dog just stop breathing like that, as if it was caught doing something personal.
Timidly it moved its head forward, pushing leaves and twigs aside; eyes closed ears back to protect them from being poked.
Maka pushed herself so close to the stem of the bush that it seemed as though she wanted to morph into it. Trying to become as small as possible she closed her eyes tightly and awaited the feeling of fangs shredding her neck. A cold nose hit her cheek, followed by soft blasts of hot air. She opened her eyes a bit to see a huge head in front of her.
The wolf's eyes where tightly closed, and his fuzzy ears lay against his head. He was just….so cute. Aww hell. What do I have to lose? Maka placed her hand on the wolf's cheek, burying her fingers deep into his fur; she let out a sigh. He leaned into her touch, ears coming forward and eyes cracking open to partially reveal blood red orbs.
"Hey what's up with your eyes lupus?"
His ears lay back as he quickly shut his eyes again.
"hmmm…" Feeling safe Maka gently opened one of his eyes with her hand. A brilliant deep red orb stared into her forest green ones, air caught in her throat.
Time seamed to slow down, and Maka couldn't even tell how long they sat there. All of a sudden his massive head vanished behind the vale of leaves, leaving her with a confused look on her face. She could only just make out the sound of another set of paws thudding against the forest floor. A growl erupted from the white wolf that was so deep; it sent shivers through her entire body. Gingerly she moved to the edge of her hiding spot and peered through leaves.
Another wolf came into her view, taller than the one she was with despite the similar coats. The new comers light red eyes flashed with what surprisingly looked like concern as he approached with his head held high, and moved in front of his friend. Nipping lightly at the others jaw only to stop in confusion. With almost no warning the new wolfs lips pealed back, revealing knife like fangs. Hair standing on end, ears folded back, he swung his head to stare at Maka's hiding spot.
Setting his dark red eyes on his aggressive companion the other wolf let out a high pitched bark, moving in front of the newcomer. His protective gesture gave Maka all the time she needed. Jumping from the bush she ran to the jeep. Fear and excitement caused a rush of adrenaline that now pulsed threw her veins, quickening her step. Careening into the car she stepped on the gas, not looking back, she speedily drove along the long road to her house.
The adrenalin was beginning to dissipate in her blood, and she began to slow down to the actual speed limit. "I can't believe I got out of that!" She chuckled.
Pulling into her driveway, Maka ran into her house, locking all of the doors on the first floor and shutting all of the windows. Running up the spiral stairs, down the hall and finally into her room she slammed the door, leaning her back on its smooth surface; she stood there, unmoving, hair casting a shadow over her eyes.
"I'm alive… " slowly she moved to her bed, plopping down on it with a thump. "Why did I make it and that kid didn't?" That was her last thought as she drifted off into sleep, mind and body exhausted.
A white figure stood outside of her house. Fur slightly blowing as he leaned gently against a willow tree, dark red eyes focused on the house.
'You should have just played dead.' A blue wolf trotted up beside him. ' we'll be in trouble if she finds out… you arnt going to kill her?'
The white wolf looked lazily at his friend. ' She is different…. I've never seen a human go out of their way to try and help someone like us,' shifting his gaze back onto the house. 'besides something tells me that we don't have anything to worry about with her.'
The blue wolf started panting, ' you coming to school tomorrow?'
He paused for a moment, 'yeah.' he said, shaking his coat and lay down in a shallow ditch ringed by the roots of the tree. ' I just might do that.' he thought quietly before yawning. 'I'm staying here for the night. Tell Wes everything is fine.'
'Wow, who knew you were a stalker.' his friend joked, but then bared his fangs slightly. ' just don't get too obsessed, we aren't like them and we all know what happened last time you-'
'Enough Black*star.' he fixed his friend with a warning glare.
'All I'm saying is, it wouldn't be the same if the pack didn't have you there Soul.' With that Black*star turned, disappearing into the woods, leaving Soul to his thoughts.