"Your role in this company is very specific," Kidd Death squinted at me, "as I'm sure you already know."

I sat across from him, every second becoming more aware of the fact that I didn't belong here. He made it a point, really, to let me know. The way his eyes followed my every move made it obvious he didn't like me. He spoke one-hundred words a minute and I think I stopped listening after two. The air was crisp and cool, which didnt help my discomfort. His office felt like an odd prison cell. The fact that there was two of everything made me wonder if there had been two CEOs and if Kidd was the only one who survived. I almost felt bad when I noticed I hadn't been responding to his words.

What was the point, I thought, none of this mattered anyway.

/

The apartment air was stiff and humid.

I think it had been a few hours since I had gotten home, and it was even emptier on the inside than I remembered leaving it. The gray carpets seemed even bleaker; the white walls even bearer; and the rooms even lonelier. It was probably the first time in my life I had this much silence all to my self- I felt almost guilty. The thought of being on my own should be a happy one.

But, now that I'm here, I feel anything but happy.

All I could think about was Wes. I kept asking myself why, why would he rat me out? Of all the people I would have expected it never would have been my own brother; my best friend. We had always had a strong bond. My parents favored him, so our kindred nature towards each other always caused them distaste. While he would be praised for his music, I would be shunned for mine. Constantly disregarded because I was just a 'pianist', not a 'concert pianist' like Wes was a 'concert violinist'.

You can never trust anyone, I guess. Not even your own flesh and blood.

It made me sick to think of all of the late nights I spend beating myself over my parents hatred for me and all the times Wes would come to the rescue, being the big brother I would always need. 'I'll always be here for you', he would tell me.

What a fat lie that was.

/

He handed me a fat stack of papers and crossed his hands. "Do you have any questions?"

I shrugged and took the papers. Eunning my fingers over the edges I studied the company header. 'Evans Shoe Enterprise' was written in fancy lettering Was this my contract? Did I need a contract?

"It's the company handbook, edited just a bit to fit your situation." He answered, knowingly. I felt stale and used, kind of like a dry, used condom. I mentally slapped myself for using that metaphor. He repeated, "Any questions?"

"Uh, yeah, what exactly does anyone do here?" I asked, "I mean, my father runs a shoe company, what the hell is all the prim and proper shit for?"

He didn't roll his eyes, but I'm sure he wanted to. Kidd stood up and pulled a large binder from the bookshelf behind him.

"We are the marketing part of your father's company. There are however warehouses and factories located across the country, but each different branch has it's own marketing building..." blah blah blah. I shouldn't have asked.

/

My head was pounding.

I should get out of here, I thought. Escape the sound of my own blood pumping through my body. Slowly, I lifted myself from the couch, finding it hard to beat the weight of gravity on top of me. I needed to do this, I needed to move. If I didn't now, I don't think I ever will. And so I stood numb in the middle of the living room, living proof that laziness wasn't just not wanting to do something- it was the incapability to even try.

I turned back. Maybe tomorrow, I thought.

The weight inside of my chest held my body to the couch. I glanced over at my keyboard which sat bored against the wall. Any other day I would be practicing, using my music as an outlet to all the shit my parents gave me, thinking 'I'll show them, I'm just as great as Wes.'. I practiced not out of envy or spite of my parents but out of inspiration of being like my big brother. That feeling of inspiration was gone now, though, and it was replaced with resentment.

I just want to know why.

/

"Is that all then?" He curtly motioned to the door, dismissing me. Geez, this guy is rude as hell.

I stood and nodded, taking the hint that he didn't want me here as much as I didn't want me here. Time seemed to move slower the closer I got to the door. It was as if I had just signed my life away- not that I hadn't done that the day I was born already. I may have gotten away from my parents, but from the looks of it I would still be dealing with their demeaning attitude. Sure, I didn't have to put myself through this, but it was either starting from nothing in the streets or a life of enslavement. God knows they wouldn't spare a dime on me if I hadn't taken them up on their offer. It's not like the job was hard, anyway. All I had to do was read from their script and shake a few hands at any public meetings.

How hard could that be?

...

It was a shitty day for rain.

Rain that beat against the windows with an urgency that made me want to do anything but go back outside. I pursed my lips and sipped at my coffee. Early the morning I had ventured out into the city to explore and had come across a small cafe a few blocks from my apartment called "Somethins' Brewin'". It was dry then, like you would expect it to be in the desert, so of course I hadn't thought to bring an umbrella with me. I must have been the only one who didn't check the forecast, though, because people who had been in the cafe before I arrived were equipped with umbrellas and rain coats.

I sipped again, and the warm cream flushed my cold cheeks with a red tint.

It was lonely, almost, to be surrounded by so much conversation. People must know each other here, because I don't think there was a single person sitting alone but me. Or, perhaps, all those people chose to stay home today. I envied those people. I had come here in hopes of flushing myself of the sorrow of last night, and so far it was only working half as well as I had expected.

The door bell that chimed every time a new customer entered rang and some poor girl stood in front of the door, completely soaked. She was short, pale, and had ash blond hair. Water puddled at her feet as she looked around for a chair. I felt bad for her- the place was packed. Quickly, I glanced at the two open seats left at my table.

I heard her coming; her shoes squeaked against the floor.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" She asked, dripping with embarrassment. Well, I did keep telling myself I needed to make friends.

I nodded and smiled, trying to create a welcoming atmosphere between us. It failed. I felt incredibly awkward.

"So, uh, what's your name?" I asked. Hopefully some conversation would make this less uncomfortable.

"Maka Albarn," She smiled. "You?"

"Soul-" I panicked for a moment, "Soul Eater."

She nodded in a polite but uncomfortable way and twiddled her thumbs. I had heard that name before, but I couldn't remember where. We had barely spoken to each other but I had already ran out of things to talk about.

I chucked to myself. "I guess I'm not the only one who missed the rain memo, huh?" I joked.

Her expression shifted from awkward to downright flabbergasted. "I know!" She exclaimed. "It's ridiculous, the rain wasn't supposed to start for another two hours so me, being a good friend decided to get Tsubaki her favorite coffee and-"

Tsubaki? I thought to myself, quite surprised.

"-you know it's just always so busy so I once I finally got a chance to make a coffee run, of course I took it! And of course with my luck it started raining halfway down the block!"

Her frustration discouraged me from wanting to creep in on her life and say Oh hey I happen to have met your friend once, do you happen to own a bookstore? Something about the situation gave me the idea that question wasn't appropriate right now. Instead, I just listened to her talk. I think I lost track of what she was telling me, but, she didn't seem to mind my company. This could be a good thing.

"-Oh my! I'm so sorry, I've just been rambling haven't I?" She asked, sheepishly.

I shrugged and sipped at my still very hot coffee. "I don't mind, really. This is the most conversation I've had in weeks."

"Geez, I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing," She huffed, crossing her arms and quirking a brow.

I chucked and looked over to the window, still being pelted by the rain. It hadn't let up at all, and I think Maka had forgotten about the coffee. The atmosphere between us had let up, at least to me, but I still couldn't quite bring myself to start any conversations with her. My whole body was wracking itself with nerves- totally uncool. She was just a girl, a girl I had never met, nonetheless. No pretenses of me or my family, no indication of what was going on in my life- the situation was practically perfect. Why was it so hard for me to start over?

She stood suddenly and nearly knocked over her chair. "I almost forgot about the coffee!"

"Jeeze, tiger, calm down." I exclaimed, jumping up to make sure she didn't fall over. We met an uncomfortable silence as the two of us stood there, both confused by the other's sudden movement. My hand held her elbow for no more than a few moments before I quickly shoved my hands in my pockets. Not cool, I thought, you don't just grab women! Idiot. I could tell this made her uncomfortable, too.

"W-well, anyways, I should probably order that drink and get going," Maka explained. "It was nice meeting you."

"Would you mind if I accompanied you?" I offered, feeling compelled to try and save the situation by being 'gentlemanly'. Maka bowed her head.

"You seem nice but," she paused, "you can't trust anyone these days, can you?"

My chest stung. You got that right.

From that moment on, time began to move like molasses as she ordered her coffee. It was like time was relishing in my embarrassment and pain. Not more than a few minutes later, she left, waving at my out of courtesy as our eyes met one last time.

God, you're such a creep... Not cool, Soul.

...

For those of you who read chapters 3 and 4 BEFORE I edited and combined them; this is exactly that. I decided to combine the two shorter chapters and make one big chapter, as well as add a little more plot to them.

For those of you who didn't, disregard this message.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing so forgive me. Thanks for reading!

- Penny