Soul Eater: The Next Generation

Chapter 6

Summer Vacation, Two Years Later

Ellie POV

The warm sunshine washes over my face.  I lay back on the DWMA’s wall near the entrance to the academy.  It sucks that most of my friends have to go to summer school.  My GPA is perfect so I don’t have to go to summer school.  Spike doesn’t study and gets distracted during the test.  The same goes for Fury.  Tristan’s OCD- tendencies inhibit his ability to perform on tests, even though he knows all the material.  Matsukaze, well she’s an idiot, like her father. Jasper is my only other close friend that isn’t at summer school.  He goes to meditate while everyone is at class so basically I’m on my own for the entirety of the day.

The sun feels so nice on my skin.  I close my eyes, and pretty soon I’m drifting off.

“Ellie!”

“What-“ I sit up abruptly and have to steady myself quickly to keep from falling off the wall.

“It’s SO nice of you to wait for me to get out,” Fury says jokingly.

I hop down from the wall, “Why of course. Who else would I be waiting for?”

This banter is the way we usually talk.  Fury and I became fast best friends.  She is really cool and easy- going, compared to my more structured and balanced way.  We work really well together.

I look around the group for a shaggy, green haired male, but he isn’t there. Again.

“What’d he do today?”

“Well, Spike cursed out Professor Stein today,” Fury says giving me the most utterly sympathetic smile ever.

“Again? Doesn’t he ever learn? Bye guys… see ya tomorrow…” I turn and walk into the DWMA with my shoulders slumped.  They’re all going to the beach right now.  I was so excited to go today.  My summer’s been a bust since everyone’s stuck learning remedial lessons while I’m out.  As I approach Dr. Stein’s room I hear him yelling.

“You have the audacity to call me an idiot? You’re the idiot!  You have the most powerful meister in the academy and all you do is hold her back! She should have made a death scythe by now, but because your always getting in trouble she never actually gets to go on a mission! Two years! Two years, she’s been working with you, and how many souls have you collected? Forty- two! Forty- two freaking souls! You’re the idiot for throwing away the best opportunities a weapon could be given! I’m not the idiot! You are,” then quieter he says, “Ellie, you can stop hiding and come in here.”

When I walk in Spike’s face is pale.  He looks scared, sad and humiliated all at the same time. For a couple seconds I’m at a loss for words.  I know I look embarrassed, but I keep my gaze at my feet.

“Ellie, anything to say? Am I inaccurate?”

“No,” I say then rush to add, “Professor.”

“Ellie…” Spike reaches out to me.  He has tears forming in his eyes. “Is this true? Do you think I’m wasting you’re ability?”

“What, no.  Not exactly.  I’m glad you’re my weapon, most of the time. I made a commitment to you, so I intend on keeping it. You’re-“

“But you think I’m wastin-“
“I didn’t say that Spike,” I’m trying not to cry.  It’s true he doesn’t think about what the best thing for us would be.  He doesn’t think clearly sometimes. But he is a pretty good partner. 

Spike brushes past me, and races out of the room.

“Stein, why would you do that?”

“Do what? Tell him the truth? You can’t avoid these problems forever, Ellie.  You two will most likely be partners when you get older.  Do you want to avoid everything for that long?   Maybe, if you need to change partners, it would be best to now.”