Screwed Up (Stein x Maka Soul Eater Fanfiction)(COMPLETED)

Attack of the lady manager all over again.

Tomorrow's chapter will be an intermission, which is where the characters as well as the author express their thoughts on the story. On Sunday, I will resume regular posting. Love to all of my readers! ♥ P.S. Whoever guesses where the title is from gets the next chapter dedicated to them, as well as a shout-out on the status box!

 Here I lay, in a warm yet unfamiliar bed, next to someone I have known since I was a child. His breathing creates a soothing atmosphere that cannot compare to anything I have ever heard before. Although it is tempting to give in to the loving embrace sleep teases and pulls me with, I know I have to think. I check the time on my iPod Touch, willing the minutes tick by as fast as they did earlier today.

 I know that it was wrong to be exposed around men, especially at my age. But what was I supposed to do? In a heated, anger-fueled moment, I had switched from the good girl I know I am to the rebellious teenager I long to be.

 I'm not saying it was a bad desicion. Oh, no. Far from it. I now have someone to be with this Christmas, someone I know that will love me correctly. Yet my heart still yearns for something more. Something that could endanger everything.

 This time, I will obey my good girl instincts and not act on anything my other side tells me to do. It might not be as fun, but it will be safer. I most likely won't get hurt.

 I turn over, now facing the man next to me. "Soul," I whisper, giving him a soft poke. His eyes open immediately, causing me to stifle a scream.

 "Your thoughts are keeping me awake, Maka," says my partner with a yawn. Noticing my horrified expression, he is quick to explain. "I don't know what exactly you're thinking. It's just that over the years... We've grown so much together that our souls have decided to stay partly in tune full-time. I can tell you're worried."

 I bite my lip gently. Soul puts his hand on mine, just looking at me curiously. I look away from him, thinking again.

 Ever since the kishin was defeated, I have had awful nightmares. After several nights of me squishing next to Soul, we sold our twin mattresses and bought a queen-sized mattress to keep in his room. He moved some of his things into my room, and we reorganized our apartment to look more like we both chose everything. In a way, we became like a couple.

 "Soul, resonate with me. It's too complicated for me to explain."

 He takes both of my hands in his and leans his forehead to me, us both closing our eyes. Unknowingly and unwillingly, we drift off to sleep.

 In the morning, Soul is the first one to wake up. He pokes me as gently as I poked him the night before, but I'm not as polite as he was.

 "Piss off," I groan. "It's too early."

 He laughs. "It's 10, you brat."

 "I'm wounded, I really am," I say sarcastically, sitting up.

 He pulls me to my feet, frowning at the tangled mess that is my hair. Pulling out a hairbrush, he starts, I KID YOU NOT, yanking on my ratty pigtails with the awful thing.

 "OW SOUL YOU BIG JERK!" I yell. He looks terrified and covers my mouth. I suddenly realize why this place is so familiar yet so distant.

 This is Stein's house.

 My heart stops. I bet I woke him up, I bet he's coming now, I bet he's bringing a butcher knife, I bet, no I know, that I'm done for...

 Yet nothing happens.

 Soul breathes a sigh of relief, echoed by mine, and at that we hear swearing and creaking in the next room over. So Stein's THAT kind of sleeper.

 I hold my breath, yanking Soul onto the bed and shutting off the light. He mutters a curse and asks me why I'm doing this. I pull the covers over us and shut my eyes just as the door to our room slams open. Soul makes a soft groaning noise, like he had just been woken up as violently as Stein had been.

 "Good morning, everyone!" cheers an unexpected voice. Marie prances in, a disgruntled-looking Stein following after. We look at our new "roomie" with confusion and borderline malice.

 "What's SHE doing here?" I ask, my voice slowly getting angrier. Stein didn't tell us he was going to invite her over! It's not that I don't like her, it's just that I mean, come on, Stein could have at least left a sticky note explaining what happened!

 But from the looks of it, Stein is as puzzled as Soul and I are. He taps her shoulder, eyes frustrated and somewhat embarrassed.

 "I payed a surprise visit at 3 in the morning! I'm off my work in the Atlantic so that Franken and I can spend Christmas together!"

 Stein looks a bit uncomfortable, finally speaking. "Well, I already found a date. But I'm sure Spirit would be happy to go with you!"

 Marie's cheerful expression changes to anger, then to tears. "FRANKEN! I thought that..."

 He sighs deeply. "Marie, I am just as capable of getting a date as anyone else. And didn't you say that you wish that I was happy? Well, I'm happy."

 "Noo!" She's nearly yelling. "I wanted you to be happy with me!"

 Stein rolls his eyes inconspicuously. "Marie, please don't be dramatic. I have children over."

 Marie's eyes narrow and she looks furious. "Fine. We will settle this later, and I WILL find the girl you are with."

 She storms out, and Stein turns to Soul and I, looking helpless.

 "Told you so, Maka."