Chapter 3

Pranks were all but forgotten in the face of DWMA Color War, arguably Black*Star's favorite summer event, because it gave him a legitimate reason to terrorize the entire camp. Every year, he and Maka ended up on different teams (possibly because Sid, who organized the event, was a masochist) and the score was now three wins each. Since this was the last summer they would be campers, Black*Star was especially hardcore about being the ultimate Color War champion, and Maka knew she had to bring her A game or else Black*Star would have bragging rights until the end of time.

Color War was brutal. Games were harder, puzzles more psychological, and campers wanted their pound of flesh. Maka had seen best friends and siblings turn on each other as soon as they were separated into different teams. From pie eating contests to competitive limbo to water polo, any and all camp activities had lost their fun and took on a competitive edge that only appealed to people like Black*Star and Maka and Patti. Others, like Soul, Liz, and Kim, tended to sit on the sidelines and let everyone else do the work while they listened to music and filed their nails.

After a particular tiring day of tug of war and canoe racing, Maka was six pages into "Wrapped Up In You" (which she was reading in the privacy of her blankets, because the cover featured a half naked man tying up an even more naked woman) when she heard rapping at her window. All of the other girls in her cabin were passed out, covered in paint and exhausted from Color War activities, and not one of them of them so much as stirred at the noise. For a few moments she ignored it, sure that it was one of Blair's boyfriends looking for a midnight booty call. But soon the rapping gave way to tiny pebbles and Maka threw her book down with a huff.

If it was Black*Star with some stupid prank, God help his soul for interrupting her "study time."

She opened the window and came face to face with a pajama clad Soul, who motioned for her to come outside. These sorts of things only happened in teen romance novels, Maka thought, and she should not have been this excited to break the rules. They had already come dangerously close to being discovered at the lake and during Color War. It felt like the most unforgivable of betrayals to her fellow girls to be fraternizing with the enemy and Maka was drowning in guilt.

But.

Soul was also very cute in his pajamas and messy sleep hair and Maka's self control only stretched so far.

"It's past curfew," Maka hissed. "What are you doing?"

Just come outside, he mouthed. Or are you too chicken?

With a growl, Maka tucked her book under the mattress, stuffed some pillows under her blankets as insurance, and shimmied out the window before anyone could notice. She was a thrill seeker under normal circumstances- jumping off roofs into pools, skating down steep hills with no helmet- but rules also existed for a reason. Soul was clearly a very bad influence on her but she couldn't bring herself to dislike it.

Maka planted her hands on her hips. "So?"

"So?" Soul grinned. "Let's hang out."

"This couldn't wait until normal hours?!"

Soul held his finger to his lips. "Shhh. You don't want anyone to hear us, do you?

Maka opened her mouth to whisper a lecture to him - something about responsibility and loyalty and Black*Star would have a freakin aneurysm if he knew what they were up to - but Soul tugged her hand and started leading away from the cabins. He didn't let go, not even when she followed him willingly, so Maka curled her fingers through his shyly. Soul gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and turned on his flashlight with his free hand, walking aimlessly through the camp. They were silent for a long while, both trying not to get caught and just enjoying each other's company.

"So. Did you ever find your bikini top?" Soul finally asked as they walked closer to the woods. He swiped furiously at a mosquito buzzing around his head.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, don't ever bring that up to me again," Maka growled and shook his hand off. "I hate you."

He grinned. "No you don't."

"Yes, I do!"

"You wouldn't kiss someone you hated."

Maka squeaked indignantly - how dare he emphasize the word kiss like that?! - and Soul quickly shushed her. "You just - shut your face right now, Soul Evans."

"Make me."

Oh, he was good, Maka thought as she leaned in to kiss him, she would give him that. Luring her into the woods for a moonlit stroll, challenging her, being adorable in his stupidly patterned boxers. This was everything her mother warned her against, and yet here she was, kissing a boy illicitly, like some modern Romeo and Juliet - except Maka would be damned if she ever killed herself over a stupid man.

"We really shouldn't," Maka said weakly between kisses, "someone's going to find out."

"Do you want to stop?" Soul paused, lips hovering over her cheek.

"I didn't say stop," Maka tugged his shirt, motioning for him to continue his exploration of her face with his mouth. "I'm just saying."

He laughed and kissed her jaw, threading his fingers through her hair and playing with a strand absently. "What are you saying?"

"Shush, I don't even know," Maka closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist. She was definitely a willing accomplice in this; guilty as charged, through and through. "You're distracting me."

"Just admit you like me."

"No," Maka said stubbornly, even if she had tilted her head back to give him access to her neck.

"Maybe just a little?" Soul asked, trying not to sound hopeful.

"Mmmph. Maybe," she relented, distracted by the feeling of sharp teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her throat. "A little."

"I'll take it."

Maka did like him, liked him more than she had ever liked another boy, but it was much too scary to voice out loud. She would be the one getting hurt in the end when summer was over and they went their separate ways. Soul was going back to a life of privilege and (presumed) popularity; Maka was sure he would never have trouble finding another girl to date. The thought made her throat tight and stomach heavy, so she pushed it away in favor of making out with Soul in the woods and pretending that time wasn't a thing that they needed to be worried about.

At the sound of a tree branch snapping underfoot, Soul and Maka broke apart. Maka wiped at her mouth furiously and Soul gave her a look that said, Really? There was a second of confusion and then two dark, shadowy figures approached slowly. For one crazy moment, Maka thought it was Cropsey, the serial killer with the hook hand, and immediately regretted that her last moments on Earth were in her pajamas, kissing a boy in the woods past curfew. Her mother was going to be so disappointed when this aired on the news.

Maka and Soul both screamed and the two figures shouted back, obviously caught off guard. Soul shone his flashlight as Maka grabbed on to his shirt, ready to run at any moment. There stood Sid and Mira, obviously out past curfew, and obviously looking for a spot of their own for some privacy.

"Alright," Sid finally said. "What's it going to take to make this go away?"

It was going to take Sid giving Soul the keys to his truck and letting Maka and Soul go off camp for a few hours for the teens to magically "forget" that they had seen their two counselors essentially sneaking off for a midnight grope session, Soul decided. Maka stood there, frozen and appalled that Soul had the gall to blackmail Sid, but impressed at his negotiating skills.

Sid threw his keys at Soul. "Tomorrow. You get an hour, you little shit. And you better not forget to bring me back an ice cream sandwich and some cigarettes."

"Deal," Soul threw the keys up in his hand and caught them. "Come on, Maka, I'll walk you back. Let's give these lovebirds some time alone."

The scathing look that Mira gave Soul could have killed lesser men, Maka thought, a bead of sweat rolling down the back of her neck. Maka couldn't even bring herself to look at Sid, who she knew was judging her so hard, and rightfully so.

"For the record," Maka whispered to Sid out of the side of her mouth, "I don't even like him. Those were. Uh. Hate smooches."

"Really," Sid said mildly. "Is that a 'hate hickey', too?"

Although Maka didn't think it was particularly ethical to blackmail their counselor, she couldn't say she wasn't reaping the benefits of Soul's sneakiness. An ice cream date where they would be alone and not have to worry about Black*Star jumping out of the bushes was heavenly. Neither of them were particularly interested in public displays of affection, even with their newfound freedom, but hand holding under a table was perfectly reasonable and more than enough to get Maka's heart racing.

The more time she spent with Soul, the more she liked him. The more she liked him, the more she over thought and worried what would happen once she was home. He didn't seem as concerned- - why worry now when they still had weeks together? They only lived a few hours apart, Soul reasoned, and he had a car and a motorcycle (Ridiculous, Maka thought offhandedly, because why did he need both? Rich boys) and they could see each other on the weekends.

But college. College was an inevitable thing and there was no way they would be attending the same one. Soul would probably go off to some exclusive private university, a legacy, all paid for by his parents. Maka was going to have to have work three jobs, take out two loans and possibly sell an organ to pay for her top choice school. It made her wonder if she should invest in this relationship or just call it quits, part amicably, and try not to be too sad when they said their inevitable goodbyes.

Feelings were much more complex than right or wrong, black or white, Maka was learning. It was all so bittersweet and she decided that she would just enjoy what they had now but still steel herself for the end of the summer. The fallout was going to be messy but she would survive. She always did.

Maka lifted her spoon to quell the whining of Soul, who demanded a bite of her sundae, intending to shove it into his mouth a little harder than necessary. The spoon collided with his closed mouth and before Maka could ask what his problem was, she turned her head in the direction he was staring and found herself looking back at a smiling Tsubaki.

She immediately stood up and pushed the chair away from herself. "Tsubaki! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Marie asked me to get a few supplies for arts and crafts," Tsubaki said cheerfully. Of course, Maka thought. Tsubaki was the only one who could be trusted to go off campus and not get herself in trouble. "I noticed Sid's jeep outside and then I saw you two, so I thought I'd say hello!"

"Of course," Tsubaki said kindly. "I won't tell anyone you two are dating."

Maka's internal screaming transition into internal sobbing. "Tsubaki!"

"Am I wrong?"

"No," Soul said bluntly.

"Soul!"

"Well, she's not."

Tsubaki beamed at them like a proud parent, waving cheerfully as she left to continue her shopping. Maka put her head in her hands, groaning. "We're so screwed."

Soul took Maka's spoon and started helping himself to her ice cream. "Who cares? Worrying about stuff like that is so uncool."

"Oh, yeah?" Maka asked. "You think living with Black*Star is going to be easy once he finds out that you're dating his pseudo-sister/good friend/rival?"

"... yeah, we're totally screwed."

Tsubaki had stayed true to her word and as camp wound down, no one had been any the wiser that Maka and Soul snuck out nearly every night to hang out. Black*Star was too busy mourning the loss of his team in Color War, screaming for a redo because clearly Maka had cheated and victory belonged to him. The final win was sweeter than any muffin or Kool Aid shower and she made sure to rub it in his face every chance she got.

"As long as I never admit defeat, it's not a loss!" Black*Star announced.

"No, you lost. Deal with it. Loooooser," Maka teased and he pulled her down into a tight headlock, refusing to let go until she punched him.

With Color War out of the way, the last camp event was the Camp Social, a very awkward dance where boys and girls usually stayed on their side of the mess hall and didn't interact until it was over. Maka loved the Camp Social because it was the last time she and the girls would bond before summer ended, but this year she was dreading it. It meant that her time was winding down with Soul and neither of them had clearly discussed what was going to happen to them, whatever they were, once camp was over.

Maka knew she had to make a decision, one that would hurt her, and she was terrified.

But Maka pushed through her fear, donned her cutest denim skirt, and put on a smile for her friends. This was their last summer together and she wasn't about to ruin it by crying over a stupid boy. Her mother had taught her better than that. Never let them see you cry; never show weakness.

"We need to talk," Soul grabbed her elbow just as Black*Star and Kilik broke out into rather impressive breakdancing, "right now."

She was not ready for this, Maka thought frantically, following Soul outside of the mess hall. Screw never showing fear, she was two seconds from wetting herself. Maka had steeled herself and practiced what she would say over and over in front of the bathroom mirror, but now that it was actually happening, she wanted to run far, far away and never look back.

Maka dug her heels into the ground before they could get outside. She had to say it now before she lost her nerve. It's not you, it's me. Actually, it's a little bit you. But it's not because I dislike you. I really like you. Really, really, really - okay. She was starting to annoy herself with her inner monologue so it was time to face the music. "Look, Soul, I -"

"I heard a rumor that Black*Star is planning some Super Awesome Godly Last Prank," Soul interrupted. "We have to stop him. He's an idiot but I don't want him to go to jail."

"Wha-?"

The music stopped with a screech. Someone cleared their throat, loud and obnoxious. Maka and Soul gaped at each other in horror.

"FRIENDS, MINIONS, PEONS, LEND ME YOUR EARS!" Black*Star bellowed, standing on top of a table. Sid rubbed the bridge of his nose and muttered that he was so glad the summer was almost over. "I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT."

Maka gasped when Black*Star pointed right at her. Soul looked completely done with his friend but had his cellphone out just in case he had to call the fire department or bomb squad. "THESE TWO HAVE BEEN SNEAKING AROUND ALL SUMMER!"

"That's the prank?" Soul asked no one in particular. "I was worried about this? Lame."

Maka made a noise reminiscent of a dying animal as the campers murmured behind her. This was so embarrassing! No one was ever supposed to find out about them. Her friends were going to be so hurt. Betrayed, even! Her chances of staying close with them once camp was done had completely disintegrated.

"And water is wet, so what?" Liz asked. "We've known about that all summer."

"We knew about it before they even knew about it," Kim said helpfully.

The boys in Soul's cabin nodded in agreement and Black*Star let out of a wail of anguish. "NOOO. WHAT? HOW DID EVERYONE KNOW BUT ME?!"

"Because you're an idiot!" at least three people chorused back.

Sid dragged Black*Star off of the table, Black*Star kicking and screaming the whole time, mourning his last prank. Maka and Soul withstood teasing from their friends, catching each other's eyes though noogies and friendly shoving. Soul blushed harder than Maka, if possible, and broke away to get some air outside, waving off shouts and catcalls and "friendly" advice on long distance Skype-sex.

Maka waited a respectable five minutes before following Soul outside because desperation was not cute.

It was a beautiful, clear night, moon high and crickets chirping. The smell of burning wood from the earlier bonfire lingered. Their friends were laughing and crying in the distance as they attempted to say goodbye. Maka and Soul just looked at each other for a while, silent, appreciative. He gave her a tiny, understanding smile as the last song of the night played from inside. It was slow, one that was old and corny and very 90s boyband-esque, but somehow it was perfect.

Soul held out his hand to her. "Let's end the summer on a high note."

Maka blinked but took his hand. "But you hate to dance?"

Soul understood her better than anyone ever had; he was not shaken when Maka broke down in tears, apologizing over and over again as they swayed to the music. He didn't question her or ask why. He only held her close, no empty words or promises.

"Since this is our last, I'll make an exception."

This was not Grease and Maka was not Sandy, a preppy, proper girl pining away for a summer romance with a bad boy in a leather jacket on a Harley. Summer Lovin' was a thing of the past, a memory that she could look back on fondly, a first love that was sweet and relatively drama free and something to build on in future relationships. As Maka busied herself with classes, she convinced herself she wasn't sad. It was a learning experience about boys but mostly herself. She was fine.

And yet.

Sometimes Maka found herself frozen in anticipation when a certain song came on the radio or she caught a whiff of sugary Kool Aid coming from the dining hall. She almost tackled a tall, blond sophomore wearing a leather jacket before she realized that this was not the person that she wanted to run towards.

She was not fine but she would be, Maka promised herself. Because this is what she wanted- they both wanted- and now she had to reap what she had sown. These were supposed to be the best years of her life and here she was, thinking about a guy who had probably moved on in the time they had been apart.

A year, two months, and six days, more specifically, but it wasn't like she was keeping count.

Maka tried to be social and meet new people. She went to parties (as the designated driver, of course), joined Student Government, and participated in nearly every club, protest, and activity on campus. It was exhausting but at least it kept her mind occupied. Boys asked her out and Maka politely rejected them because it wasn't fair to hold their hands while she thought of someone else.

A new school year had started and Maka lounged on the grass outside of her dorm, intent on getting a power nap before her next class. She fell asleep quickly, only to be rudely awoken by the feeling of something tickling her nose. Maka batted at it like a cranky cat and but it kept lightly touching her face. She growled and opened her eyes.

She must have been dreaming because it looked suspiciously like the string of a very familiar bikini top. A bikini top that was supposedly MIA, lost forever in the lake at DWMA Summer Camp. Maka craned her head back to get a better look at the person attached to the tan arm playing keep away with her long, lost top.

"Hey. Found this. Thought you might want it," Soul said, dropping it right on to her face.

Maka floundered for a reply. "You- - what -? How?" She sat up and stared at him. "How did you find this?"

He shrugged. "Secret."

Okay, but more importantly: "You came all this way to bring me my bikini top?" Maka asked incredulously. "Soul."

"It's not really… 'all this way'," he admitted, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I kind of live nearby."

"Like how nearby."

"Fifteen minutes, give or take."

Maka scrambled to her feet. She knew she looked a mess, clothes rumpled, grass in her hair, tired eyes. But here was Soul Evans in the flesh and she wanted answers. It had been a year since she last saw him and he looked good, Maka thought with disgust, so good. "You didn't really come here to give me my bikini top."

He had the nerve to smile at that and Maka wanted to simultaneously kiss him and kick his ass. "Good job, Sherlock."

"Soul."

"Sorry," he said quickly. "I'm nervous as fuck. I don't know. I'm not expecting anything from you or trying to pressure you but it's stupid how we can't even talk."

Maka crossed her arms over her chest. "You say you're not expecting anything but now you just - just show up here all of a sudden with my phantom bikini top. I'm going to expect things! I'm already expecting things. How did you find that top?"

"I told you it's a secret," he said gruffly. "But maybe expecting things is okay. Cool, even. Because if we both expect things, then…"

Maka looked closer at the bikini top as he rambled, shaking her head because Soul left the price tags on. So he hadn't searched an entire lake for her top. She would forgive him for buying her affection, just this once. "Then?"

"Augh, don't make me say it, I'm shit with words."

Maka snorted. "Yes, I can tell."

Soul shuffled nervously and Maka decided to throw him a bone. After all, he had spent God knows how long trying to find the exact same bikini as her old one to impress her. Besides, this meant a lot less pining and a lot more kissing. "Let's go for lunch. My treat, as thanks for the bikini top."

"Yeah?" he asked, reaching shyly for her hand.

"Yeah," Maka said, lacing her fingers with him. "And on the way back, we can visit Black*Star and mess with his shower again. I still haven't forgiven him for mishandling my underwear."

Soul laughed, voice filled with awe. "You are the most awesome girl I've ever met."

"And don't you ever forget it."