A.N. I'm so, so, so sorry that I haven't updated for so long. for the past 2 weeks I have been in and out of the hospital with a ruptured appendix, and was unable to write because of their lack of computers for patients. But, enough said, on to the story.

Maka POV

I ran from Soul. I couldn't do this. It hurt to bad. I had lost? To Ox Ford?
I ran down the halls, skirt flying, books clasped to my chest. Everybody knew. They knew he had beaten me. I knew they didn't care, not like me, but they knew. But I know something too. I know where to run.
I was running out the front of the building when I hit Kid. He and the Thompson sisters were just heading to school, late as usual. I was heading away from school.
At the wrong time. As usual.
"Ow, wha- Maka? What's wrong? Your crying's messing up your symmetry, here,"
He was worried, and extremely OCD. He started trying to fix my And I was pissed with the world.
"Stop it."
He drew back his hands, surrendering.
"All right, but what's wrong? Tell me."
He was prying. I was still pissed. So I got pissed at him.
"NOTHING IS WRONG!"
I screamed, turning to run. Liz and patty jumped. Kid however, wasn't fazed. He grabbed my arm, and kept me there.
"Maka, calm down. No need to act like a psychopath. It was just a question."
"I'm not a psychopath, I'm a... a high functioning sociopath. Goodbye," Wrenching out of his grasp, I turned and kept running, hoping my outburst hadn't upset too many bystanders. (A.N. Thank you Sherlock.)

Kids POV
Maka turned and ran. I didn't understand, but something was wrong. Very, very wrong. Maka doesn't cry for no reason, she doesn't run away, she doesn't miss school. My next action would be hard, dangerous, and probably stupid.
"Liz, patty,"
They both stopped trying to follow Maka.
"Yes?"
"we're going into the school. Something isn't right, and I have someone I need to consult before I make any further actions."
I knew I had angered him, and I had to go ask Soul what was wrong.
I just hope when he bloodies me I'll still be symmetrical.

Maka POV
In the safety of the second story classic section of my favorite little bookstore, I hid amongst Moby Dick, Gone With the Wind, and a wonderful little collection of the Sherlock Holmes series. The safest place I knew. I needed to think, and to make a plan. The next test was in 4 weeks. I needed a study buddy. Problem: who.

Patty: definitely not, origami giraffes aren't typically featured in the DWMA's tests.
Liz: I'm not up to having my nails done, or my hair, or the waxing... Shudder.
Black*Star: the test isn't on stupidity. If it were, he would have passed by now.
Tsubaki: has Black*Star to worry about.
Crona: sweet, but wouldn't know how to deal with it.
Soul: not in the mood.
Kid: well, kid is an option. He's focused, and nit picky, pays attention to everything, and is probably more intelligent than most of the gang, not that I would ever admit to it. Well, I needed a study buddy, and he hadn't done too well on the test either...
Kid it is.
I finished my thoughts and looked around, budging the huge mess around me. Now, to move the books...

Kid POV

Here it was. I, Death The Kid, was about to make the most stupid decision of my life.

"Soul. I need to talk to you."

He looked up from the wall, where he was playing hooky from class. I suspected a fight with Maka, one that made him too upset to go into class. Either that, or she didn't force him to go to class today.

"What about."

OK, now to anger him.

"Maka."

He got up, and looked at me, his eyes furious. Yes, he had it in his mind to beat me up. I must have caused trouble at home.

Better hurry things along.

"She ran out of the building crying, ran into me, and then when I asked what was wrong, she screamed "nothing" and ran." I rushed out, hoping to get a reply with words.

"Ox beat her. He got the higher test score, and she got upset. When I tried to comfort her she ran."

He looked up from talking and sneered.

"If I couldn't comfort her, there's no way in hell you could, Three-Stripes."

Three-Stripes! A nickname that fully entailed my life's most unpleasant situation. being born with stripes on ONE side of my head, instead of both sides. I was garbage, asymmetrical garbage! I didn't deserve to live, I needed to-

"You O.K, Kid, you look like your gonna puke."

Drat. No time to wallow in misery over my hair. This was about making Maka feel better, not symmetry. Better straighten up.

"Soul, do you happen to know of any other happenings that might have further upset Maka prior to the test scores?"

He looked uncomfortable, edgy. He did know, but didn't want to give the information. Now he was fidgeting. Either it was him who had caused the trouble, or he was too "cool" to let me have it in a school hallway like a first-grader whining about who touched his sandwich. Oh, gosh, just hurry it along, you are so repulsively asymmetrical when you fidget- why do you do your hair like that? It looks like some kind of messed up ice sculpture, and-

"We had a fight. Over whether she liked you. She said I was jealous, 'cause I was. Then she said stuff, and, I don't know, it mad me mad. So I commented on her chest size, and she Maka-chopped me unconscious. We haven't talked much since."

Ok, there was the reason she wouldn't let him comfort her.

"Soul?"

"Hmm?"

"Never comment on a woman's breasts. Believe me, it never goes over well."

He looked confused, then he laughed.

"Bet it was Liz."

"You bet?" I replied, embarrassed that he was right.

Then, red faced, I turned and left to find Maka. Because maybe, possibly, I could get her back to school.

You can't just ignore problems like this if they concern the girl you like.