Best Way Not to Get Your Heart Broken

Chapter Eight - The Truth

Maka and Soul were both lounging lazily on the spacious L-shaped couch. It has been a week since the incident with Maka's Dad. Soul had convinced Maka to spend a lazy day with him since it was a Sunday and the last day off till Maka had to return to school. They both slumped on the couch, staring intently at the television, laughing in unison at the sad excuse for a horror movie.

"What the fuck is she doing?"

"Ugh, seriously! This is why blondes are stereo-typed the way we are."

"You got that ri- Ah, finally she's dead."

"Was only a matter of time."

They laughed before Maka stood, grabbing their empty cups and asking Soul if he wanted a refill.

"Sure, go on then." he replied, standing to pick out another movie.

When Maka returned with two steaming cups Soul had already started the umpteenth movie of the day, remote in hand. She placed them down before turning her back to pull her jumper off. Little did she know, her top pulled up with her jumper, giving Soul as small view of her back. Soul's eyes narrowed as her saw something purple smeared on his friend's back, he assumed it continued as it seemed to go on behind the fabric before the top dropped back down.

"Maka, you have something on your back." He told her when she sat down, his voice laced with confusion. How on earth did she manage to get something on her back? He only grew more confused as she instantly stiffened. Maka almost groaned as she realised he must of saw a portion of her back. How could she be so careless?

"Guess I had to tell you sooner or later," she muttered, pulling the remote from Soul and muting the TV.

"Tell me what?" He asked, his voice slightly suspicious. Maka rolled her eyes.

"I'm only telling you this in case you ever see my back. I don't want to freak you out."

"You're freaking me out now." He said in a strained voice, Maka just rolled her eyes again.

"You know, you never asked me about my Dad." she said suddenly, making Soul more intrigued in where this conversation was going. He'd been curious the past week on what had happened with her Dad, he was curious the weeks before on the deal with her family. He'd known her a while now and she had yet to tell him anything herself.

"Yeah, well I figured you'd tell me when you were ready," he shrugged to hide his interest.

"Well, I'm ready." She said simply, shrugging back.

Soul hesitated as this was obviously a delicate subject. He eyed Maka warily before he turned to face her so he was looking at her properly, his expression cautious yet concerned.

"The day we saw your Dad, I saw your face," he began in a guarded voice, his eyes watching Maka closely to see what impact his words had on her. He shook his head slightly before continuing. "I don't think I've ever seen so much fear in a person's eyes. The look on your face haunts me it was that scared, Maka." He shuddered, his eyes narrowed as she winced then closed her eyes.

"Maka, what happened?" he finally asked.

"I love my Papa, Soul," a nice statement, but she couldn't have said it in a colder voice. "He was everything a good father should be... at first. I grew up with Blackstar of course, but my parents never treated him like he wasn't their own child, they loved us both equally. We were the perfect family. Then my Mama got a new job and began working stupid hours, gone by 7 in the morning, coming home in the middle of the day to visit before disappearing all night. She'd be gone when we woke up and gone by the time we went to bed. It wasn't bad, that wasn't the problem. It's just my Papa saw this as an opportunity."