Best Way Not to Get Your Heart Broken

Chapter Nine - Reveal

Maka buried her face in Soul's back as he took her to school. He'd been reluctant to take her, feeling more protective of her after what she had told him last night but she'd convinced him. She scowled into his back. She didn't want him knowing this to change anything. If anything this should make him less protective since she'd endured such a thing a survived. Well, up into she ended up on the cliff. But still, she did well.

Mainly she disliked the feeling his new found protectiveness gave her. Hell, it only began a few hours ago but it was enough to have an effect on her. He offered to cook in the morning, and he now spoke to her in a softer, kinder voice. He teased her less. It was weird. Even when they were getting on his back, he helped her on it with a gentleman like kindness she wasn't used to. It made tingles run up her spine and cause her to shiver.

As they pulled up to the school, all eyes landed on them, all curious as to who was on the back of the unbelievable attractive seniors motor bike. Maka understood their shock when she took the helmet off and it was her. Who would've thought? She was different from when she was last there, though. Before she hid her face and hair beneath a hood, she'd even wear baggy joggers to add to her outfit in attempt to draw as little attention to her as she could but it only made her stand out more. Now, thanks to Liz and Patti, she sported some cute, faded skinny jeans that hugged her legs and her favourite boots that stopped mid-shin. She wore a spaghetti strapped, blood red top and a feminine leather jacket Soul had suggested since it looked 'cool'. Her hair was left loose and hung just past her hips and her face was out in the open, making her want her hood back.

Soul helped her off the bike, very gentleman like once again but Maka ignored her confusion, stepping behind him as all eyes turned on her. He glared at those who looked at them, making them look away automatically.

"It's alright, Maka," he whispered looking down at her feet, his brows furrowed in the obvious discomfort of leaving her here. "You're different, now. You're stronger than when they bullied you. Don't see how they got away with it anyway, I get a book to the head for some measly banter."

Maka coughed a laugh, leaning into him wearily. He sighed before wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulder, shaking her a bit. "You'll be fine. You can actually hit these kids with book, they didn't have the time I did to learn how to skillfully dodge flying objects."

Maka laughed a real laugh, looking up at him gratefully before inhaling a huge breathe, eyeing the building with new determination. "Mkay, you're right," she said in a hard voice, now glaring at the eyes that landed on her. "I can take these losers easy."

Soul chuckled and squeezed her shoulder, stepping away towards his bike. "Alright, well I'll pick you up so-" He stopped mid-sentence as a girl who walked past Maka intentionally made her shoulder collide with hers. He grabbed Maka's forearm as she stumbled, looking after the girls that did it.

She stopped to stand in a group that was currently ogling him. The girl stopped to join in, all sighing in unison. They looked like bullies, Soul thought as his brows narrowed. The girl had a mischievous look in her eye as they waited for some kind of reaction, like he was going to come running to them any minute just because she walked right into Maka.

They thought that'd impress him.

Soul smirked, knowing exactly how to deal with this and help Maka out somewhat before she was on her own. His grip was still on her forearm so he pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing her to him, smirking down at her. Maka gasped and pushed at him immediately.

"S-Soul!" she hissed, pushing at him. Soul chuckled and lowered his head so he could whisper in her ear.

"Just go with it," he muttered, a mischievous tone to his voice that made Maka's brow arch up. "Them girls," he began, Maka knew already who he was referring too. "If you look like you're with me, that'll scare them off, and it will make guys leave you alone, since you're protected. Hitting two birds with one stone."

Maka grinned just as playfully, her fists flattening to palms on his chest as she tilted her head up as she looked at him, smirking just as cockily.

They both grinned and suppressed laugh, this being a game to them. Soul could literally feel the disappointment rolling off the other girls in waves. He saw boys eyeing Maka and tightened his hold on her, confused at the fury he felt when they did. Maka was experiencing the same confusion as girls fluttered their eyelashes at Soul causing her to feel a swell of jealousy in her stomach. What on earth was that?

"I'll be waiting here after school," he said huskily, but loud enough for those around to hear. Maka suppressed a laugh as she fluttered her own eyelashes at him, unaware about the effect it was having on him.

"Okay," she said, somewhat sadly. Soul couldn't stifle his chuckle of amusement and took advantage of the part he was playing. He dipped his head and pressed his lips to her cheek, feeling Maka giggle against his lips at the gasps around them, he chuckled.

"Don't miss me too much," he pulled away and took her hand with him, kissing her knuckle before winking at her, causing the breathe to hitch in her throat. He got on his bike without his helmet and drove off, as reckless as ever.

Maka turned on her heels gracefully, making her way towards the building with a new found confidence. No one called to her, no one shouted their regular names and insults. No, they made a path for her. She bowed her head and smirked as she walked, laughing lightly under her breathe as she did.

Soul was where he was before, just like he promised. The word about the hot guy coming to pick someone up must have gotten around for there was a crowd of girls around him. Maka made her way through the crowd before reaching the opening, grinning as Soul was already in character. She could see the laugh being held back in his throat, he found this nonsense as funny as she.

He sauntered towards her lazily, his hands in his pockets before stopping in front of her and looking down to her. He wrapped his arm back around her waist and kissed her cheek once again, laughing lightly in her ear.

"So, how was school?" he asked in a patronising voice as he led her to his bike, his arm wrapped securely around her waist. Maka scoffed and laughed at his tone, making him join in.

"It was... fine." She admitted, looking up to grin at him. He returned it cheekily, grinning down back at her.

"Knew this would scare them off, was the perfect plan."

"You did okay," she shook her head as he helped her onto his bike, passing her the helmet.

"Tsubaki told me to tell you she won't be home today," he said as he got on the bike, kicking the stand up off the ground. "She's staying at Blackstar's again."

"Jeez, she may as well live there," Maka muttered, wrapping her arms around his waist as he took off.

"Yeah, well it used to be Blackstar living at out place, more or less. When you moved in they started going to his place."

"Why?" Maka asked. Soul scoffed and laughed gruffly.

"Why'd you think, Maka?"

Maka just growled and stayed silent as they got closer to his place. She thanked the warmth the apartment building gave and sighed happily, warming her cold hands.