Soul Eater: The Next Generation

Chapter 37

“Hello, there,” the teacher says, wheeling over to where I am standing.

“Uh, hi.”

“You must be Cameron.  Welcome to our class! Unfortunately, for you the only available seat is in the back.”

I look up to the back of the auditorium, where there is only one chair left, in the dark corner.  Great. 

Everyone starts whispering.  I sit through the class, completely confused.  I have no clue what the class is discussing and eventually I give up on trying to understand.

After class, I sling my backpack over one shoulder and make to leave.

“HELLO,” someone says, putting their hand on my shoulder and pulling me backwards.

 “Uh, hey,” I say turning around.  There stands a cute girl with dirty blonde hair and bright green eyes.

“I’m Eva, and this is my weapon, Claire,” Eva says, gesturing to the petite girl next to her with short, silvery- blonde hair.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.  You wouldn’t happen to be Soul’s daughter, would you?”

She smiles proudly, “I am she!”

“Cool,” I say smiling.

“C’mere, you should eat lunch with us,” she says pulling me behind her.

We enter the large lunchroom, which is filled with the wonderful aroma of fresh bread. 

Eva drags me through the lunch line, and I end up with a bowl of stew, a brownie and zucchini.  Random?

She pulls me over to where a bunch of kids sit, laughing.

“Hey, guys, this is Cameron, he’s new and hot,” she says matter a factly.

Everyone laughs.

A gorgeous girl with skin the color of caramel and a long, dark braid says, “Hey, I’m Fury.  This loser right here is Tristan, my meister.”

“Sup,” Tristan says.

“I AM MATSUKAZE AND THIS IS JASPER,” a small girl with electric blue hair screams, while the guy next to her just nods.

“I’m Jack.”

“And I’m Charles.”

“Hey, it’s nice to meet all of you.”

They start up their conversation again, and I just listen along, not sure what to say.

“Did she skip lunch again? I’m really getting worried about her,” I hear Fury say.

“Probably.  Who knows where she is? She just stalks around the school,” Eva adds before getting interrupted by the loud bell.

“What class do you have,” Eva says spinning around in her seat.

“Um,” I say, checking my schedule, “Intro to Fighting.”

“Cool! That’s on the way to my class! I will show you where it is,” she says, batting her eyelashes slightly.

“Uh.  Okay.”

She leads me to a courtyard, where all the other beginner students sit awaiting instruction.  They all have partners already, though. 

The teacher walks up and says, “Well, this is just work with your partner today.  So, new boy, you have a study hall for today.”

“Uh. Okay.”

The rest of the day flies by.  Everyone that lives off campus goes home for dinner, so it was just me and some freshmen that were in my Intro to Fighting class.  I blocked them all out, and went to bed early. 

It’s just me in my dorm room.  Everyone else either rooms with their partner or best friend, and I don’t have either.

I pull out a picture. 

“I’m doing well, Allie.  I’m doing this.  I will find a meister.  I will do this.  I will do this for you,” I say, before falling asleep.

The next day flies by.  Everything is so overwhelming; I don’t have time to be bored.

The last class of the day is Intro to Fighting.

“Today is crucial for your grade class.  It will count as fifty percent of your quarter grade.  You must have a partner for this activity, though.  Cameron, you must participate.”

“But I don’t have a partner.”

“Hey, Ellie,” the teacher yells to where the girl with white hair is walking on the balcony, “Come down here and help us!”

She looks down out us with a bored expression, “Do I have to?”

“Are you doing something better,” the teacher teases slightly.

She shoots him a death glare, but hops down and walks over.

“You’ll be fighting using Cameron.  He’s a scythe.”

Her whole body freezes, and her whole carefree composure, changes to a ridged, terrified look.

“Ellie.  C’mon.  Just this once,” the teacher pleads.

“Fine,” she says.

She reaches out a hand, “Transform.”

I do and she twirls me above her head.   She rushes through the makeshift test course created for this assessment, hitting every target with wicked precision.

“Alright, everyone. Now try resonating, so I can see how much time we need to focus on that,” the teacher tells us.

Instead of attempting the task assigned to us, Ellie throws me away.  I fall to the ground.

“Hey! What was that for?”

But she is already gone.

“What the hell is her deal,” I grumble, rubbing my wrists.

“That’s enough class,” the teacher tells us, “Class dismissed.” Then he rushes after Ellie.

“Jeez,” I mutter.

“Oh, right.  You don’t know,” one of the freshman girl’s says.

“What?”

“Ellie’s story,” she looks around the group of kids who all nod, “She is the best meister at this academy.”

“Then why does she not go to class? Why does she act so bitchy?”

“Well, about six months ago her weapon died protecting her.”

Oh. I gulp.

“She is so smart, that she didn’t even have to go to class but she did to be with him.  She loved him.  They were dating and they were the best meister- weapon partners the Academy has ever seen.”

“They were so powerful, they could probably surpass Lord Death,” another kid chimes in.

“She used to have the most beautiful laugh.  She was the kindest person you’ll ever meet.  She only cared about others.  But, since he died, she stopped going to class. Lord Death makes her attend school, but doesn't require her to go to her classes, because she doesn't need them.”

“She distanced herself from her family and friends.  They used to be amazing, her group of friends.  They are the most powerful kids the school has ever seen, and they are probably the nicest.  But, ever since Spike died, the dynamic gang kinda ended.  They used to be so happy…”

“Ellie and Spike’s relationship… They were so amazing to each other.  Their souls were entwined.  They loved each other.  They protected each other.  When he died, so did part of her. “

“So, please be nice to her.  I know she is difficult, but her real personality is as beautiful as her outside.”

“She’s our inspiration,” the last, quietist girl murmurs.  The group nods. 

I close my eyes.  That explains it.