AN. again, sorry for the late update. I have locked myself out of the account for goodness knows how long. Anyways, on to the chapter.

patty POV

When I eat the plants, they give me pop tarts. And they thought I was dumb! No. In fact, I am smarter than most would think. I know things. If I want a pop tart, eat a plant. I know things.

I know more things than a giraffe ever would.

I know that Ragnaroc hurts Crona's mind. I know that Crona doesn't like me back, yet. I know that giraffes die when they get old. I know what marshmallows are made of. I know how babies are made. I know why Kid stares at Maka during class.

I know why I stare at Crona during class. And why he doesn't stare back.

maka POV

It had been days since the scapell incident, and things were almost back to normal.

Kid was still obsessed with symmetry. I couldn't change that.

We still went to the library, but something was different.

It didn't feel like it had before.

We would play around and read, joke about things. But we never kissed or held hands. Neither of us really wanted to. So I guess it was fine. No one had had an assignment for days, so we were all bored. All except Soul.

"Soul! Your turn to make dinner!"

"Five more minutes Maka! I need to finish this page!"

"Alright, but hurry! I'll start cooking the rice. The meat and veggies are in the fridge!"

Soul was in a streak of nonstop studying. It was rather surprising to see him trudge back and forth from the library, carting around mountains of books. It took him forever, and he went through so many rice balls a day...

I just hope we don't run out of rice.

I do the cleaning, and I study a lot too. But it's strangely quiet when Soul is focussed. It makes me miss someone to talk to. Even kid is busy studying, and Liz has patty to take care of. Besides, last time I hung out with Liz, she forced me to wear crop-tops and heels.

I wish Tsubaki wasn't so busy with Black*Star!

Tsubaki POV

"BLACK STAR! GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!"

"BLACK STAR WILL NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE! AND HE WILL NOT COME DOWN! I AM A GOD! GODS DO NOT LISTEN TO LITTLE PEASENT GIRLS, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY COOK OR HOW BIG THEIR BOOBS ARE! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

It was a normal day! I had been trying to make dinner, but blackstar was playing these funny studying self punishment games. Nothing new! Nothing new!

"BLACK STAR! YOU NEVER LISTEN!"

"I DONT HAVE TO! IM A GOD, REMEMBER? NOW COOK THE DINNER!"

He really doesn't listen! And he's not a god! But I don't mind! It's just his personality! Nothing I can do to change it!

"MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD! I'M GOING TO MAKA'S!"

We haven't had a sleepover in forever. I'm sure she wouldn't mind!

Blackstar stopped yelling, and got off the roof. He walked over to me, face somber, pajamas slumping.

"Do you mean it Tsubaki? I'm sorry, I'll be good!"

I didn't answer, and kept shoving things into my overnight bag.

"I'm sorry. I'll make the dinner, I'll stop yelling. I'll study normally! Please don't go!"

still no answer. He grabbed my arm hanging on me, close to tears.

"Tsubaki. I'm afraid of the dark. I'm afraid of you leaving. Don't leave goddess. Don't leave me alone in the dark."

I pulled him off, slammed the door behind be, and walked down the street. Taking a big breath of chilly air, I smiled. I never really realized how pretty streetlights are without small, loud, blue monkey boys on them!

Maka POV

ding dong

"I'll get it!"

Soul ran to the door. Since he couldn't stop studying, I had made rice and ginger beer. Soul had wanted meatballs but... Kid had given me some more oriental recipes I'd like to try.

"I'm sorry for just showing up out of nowhere, it's just I couldn't stand Black Star anymore, you know!"

"Yea, I get it. Nobody knows how you put up with him as often as you do. It's fine, Maka won't mind. She's been wanting company!"

It sounded like Tsubaki! And soul was letting her in! I put a third plate on the table, and put the cover back on the rice. Maybe today would turn out better than I thought!

About thirty minutes later, we had Tsubaki's sleep roll in the living room, next to mine for a sleepover. Soul could have left if he wanted to, but he claimed his spot on the couch, and started dishing out rice. Once we were all seated, there was a lot to talk about.

"What finally cracked you? You're usually able to stand his antics rather well." Soul looked her in the face, putting his fork down on the rice.

"Hehe!" She smiled, and sweat dropped. "He wouldn't come to dinner, wouldn't get off the roof, and said he wouldn't listen to little Peasent girls, no matter how good their cooking was or how big their boobs were, or something like that."

She looked down at her general chest area, and sighed.

"He sure mentions breasts often!"

"How long are you planning on staying?"

"Oh, just overnight... Maybe a tiny bit longer. I don't really want to go home. I left him alone crying. I haven't left him alone overnight before, I usually drop him off at the academy with Sid..."

"he'll be fine," Soul cut in. "He's old enough to spend a night alone. He needs to be a little less dependent on you at home."

"So Maka," she said, after a few moments of silence. "How's that rom-com colection going?"

Black*Star POV

It's dark and cold in my room. The tamache mats feel weird on bare feet when it's cold. I can't see, and I can't sleep. My goddess didn't tuck me in. My goddess didn't stay. Nobody stays. My parents couldn't, no friends ever do. Nobody stays.

and nobody takes the time to say goodbye.

When you walk in the dark, it feels like monsters can see you. You don't know where you are, and you can't smell through the darkness and see. Light glints off of pots and weapons, shadows follow you on the wall. Everything looks the same. So I sit Down, fold my knees up to my chest, and tuck into a ball. I'm not scared of the dark. I'm not scared of the dark. I'm scared of what's in the dark.

I miss my goddess.

More than anyone could ever know.

Kid POV

It's fun to be at home for a while, without other people. Patty falls asleep on the couch, a giraffe snugly wrapped around her. Liz pops popcorn into her mouth, and paints her toes pink and purple colors. I watch the movie that Patty chose, almost unaware of my surroundings as a cartoon animated symmetrical squirrel walks around the screen with a fat duck.

Everyone is in their pajamas, half buried I'm mounds of blankets. We have popcorn, soda, candy, and a box of pop tarts. (The result of another attack on the plants.) Nobody makes much noise, other than Patty's continual snoring. It's times like these that being symmetrical isn't the most important thing. Right now the most important thing is how that one little perfect squirrel is going to get that fat duck oozy of the bottle. There's no way in my fathers name that duck got in there naturally.

And as the squirel dismembers the cartoon duck to remove him from the bottle, I can't help but wish that patty had been awake to see it.

AN. Hope that makes up for extended leave! Bye!