I'm heading back to school two days later, and it feels, like the whispering is more frequent.

I keep my head down, but I feel like I'm mentally break-downing, and without thinking I fall the floor, trying to cover my ears.

They start whispering more and more, and I try to block out the sound, the whispering slowly finding it's way around my fingers, finding the slightest opening, it crawls into my ears, and engulfs my mind in darkness, everything is going black, and I can't concentrate on anything, and I'm about to pass out until someone grabs my shoulder and pulls me up, I'm startled by the sudden action, but the person leads me to an empty hall before I can see who it is.

As my eyes adjust to the darkness of the small hallway, I see Levi standing there.

"Levi...?"

"Listen brat, I know you told me to stay away from you, but I couldn't take seeing you like that."

He starts to walk off, but I grab the back of his shirt

"W-wait..."

"Hm?"

"Th-thank you..."

He seems surprised, but he just nods and heads off.

———

Class was a pain, only Armin was in my class, and we didn't really talk to each other, and the rest of the kids just talked about me.

The day is finally over, and I don't feel like doing anything but cry, so I head towards the roof, where I thought I'd be alone.

I open the doors, and there's someone sitting there, they look over at me, and I look at them.

"Levi?" Why do I keep running into this guy?

"Hey brat."

"What are you doing up here?"

"This is my usual spot."

"I've never seen you up here though,"

He doesn't say anything.

I turn around and I'm about to head back until he says, "Do you hate me?"

I'm startled by the sudden question, but I turn back around and answer, "Well, I guess not really, at least you don't talk about me behind my back..." I mumble the last part.

"You really don't hate me?"

"Yeah I guess."

I don't know why, but he seems relieved.

"Then why don't you stay up here?"

I nod my head yes, I mean why not? It's not like I want to go home, which I probably won't end up doing.

I sit down in front of him, and we just kinda stare at each other.

"Levi-san?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know about the rumors?"

He's quiet for a bit, but then he replies, "What rumors?"

I sigh in relief, good, Someone who won't try to talk to me about it, "Oh nothing." I smile, which I feel like I haven't done for a while.

"You smiled."

"What?"

"You seem like you haven't been smiling recently."

"Yeah, I guess, but Levi, I've never seen you smile before."

"I don't smile."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to, okay?"

"Okay..."

It goes silent again.

"Hey brat."

"Y..yes?"

"If something's ever bothering you, you can always come to me," he says while looking back to the side, and slightly, blushing...?

"O-okay..." I lie.

He looks back at me and gets closer to my face so our noses are almost touching, "Now tell me why do you always look like hell? You look like you've been beaten up or something." I know what he's trying to do, he's trying to catch me off guard by getting closer to me, but looking at him closer makes me realize how he's actually really h-

"It's none of your business." I say crawling back so that our faces aren't close to each other, but he just tries to come closer, and finally I hit the wall of the school, and I have no where to run. He leans in closer, and I start to blush, and I turn my head to the side, and I see on the ground, my dad.

I roll to the side, and stand up, "Um, I have to go! I'll see you later..." he grabs my hand, "Oi brat, I'm a stalker remember? I'm not letting you go that easily, you're heading home, right?"

"D- Don't you dare..."

He looks to the side where I spotted my dad, "Is that your dad?" He asks.

I kinda nod my head yes.

"Great. He can give us both a ride to your house then."

"No way!"

I start running down the stairs, and when I reach my dad, I'm panting, "Oi, what took you so long? Get in the car."

I look behind me, and Levi is walking towards me, god that guy is fast.

My dad gets in the car, but before we can leave, Levi is at the window.

Levi knocks on the window, and my dad rolls the window down.

"Can I help you?" He says smiling his fake smile.

"Yeah, I'm a friend of Eren's, and I was wondering if I could come over."

"Oh, I'm sorry, but Eren has to help me today." He then rolls up the window and leaves, and as I look in the back window I see Levi staring at me, looking a bit sad.