Unedited
* * *

We've been closer now, Eren and I.

Not too close where I can call him my friend, but close enough to not want to rip his tonsils out.

We've been back at Sina for a two or some days and Eren's persona has changed entirely. Though he still is a stubborn brat, it's been easier to tolerate his behavior. In public, he's loud and cocky, but in private he's sensitive and quiet. It's something that I don't mind very much since Eren stops harassing me with awful jokes and annoying pet names.

Since we've been back, even before, the topic of the piano is long forgotten. He won't bring up his mother, or speak about his bruises, or the awful scar over his left eye. Eren says that the scar won't be permanent, and that the swelling and bruising will go away in several days.

Every time I lie awake, my back turned to the wall, I can hear Eren rambling to himself. His words are unclear, but I know it's about his mother. He usually mumbles at night, and I try my best to ignore it. There are times when his rambling nights turn into floods. He'll cry for hours if I don't comfort him. It's become a routine now, me comforting him and all.

Don't Think that i don't try to ask about his mother. I attempt to find out more information about her, but he says to leave the topic alone. Usually, he'll plead with tears in his eyes. As much as Eren is a brat, I can't see him cry. It breaks me, like it would break anyone else. I can't ever see Farlan cry, and it's happened before.

I, for one, am not the crying type. I'll get emotional at times, but to actually cry is something I can never do. The only time I really cried was when my mom was in the hospital before and after her heart attack. I don't know what I'll do if I lost her, and just the thought of losing my mother will bring a tear to my eye because the pain is just too real.

I guess I can't say the same for Eren. It seems like he holds a deep hatred for his mother. Whenever he talks about her, or if I bring her up, his persona changes and he gets upset all too quickly. I want to know why, but everytime I try to get under his skin, he pushes me away.

I know there's something going on, I can feel it. I can sense something there, a deep secret that Eren doesn't want anyone to know. An ugly truth he won't admit.

* * *

I'm at it again, another book in my hands and my body draping across my bed. This time is somewhat different than other times because Eren isn't bothering me, he's reading a magazine or something. I mentally applaud him for finally doing something that wasn't a woman.

It wasn't long before I began to wonder what the hell he was reading.

"Oi, Eren."

"Yeah?" he hums in response.

"What are you even reading? You're rather quiet." I set down my book upon my chest and look at him from an upside down perspective.

Eren smirks as he tosses me his magazine. Now, I wasn't the best at catching things but i some how managed to fumble with the magazine and set it right side up. On the front page, it appears lime any other magazine.

There was a woman in a bathing suit and a man in swim trunks beside her. They were holding each other intimately, nothing odd about that. It isn't until I open to a random page that I let out a girlish scream.

"What the fuck Eren?" I yell while tossing the magazine back harshly.

"It's a Playboy magazine, what's the big problem?" He asks innocently.

I send him a glower, my eyebrows pinching with a face of disgust. "The fact that you're looking through around me," I gag.

"Would you rather me be naked and masturbating on your bed?"

"What the fuck? No! What does you masturbating have to do with anything?" I spit bitterly.

Eren sits up and leans against the opposite wall. He shrugs at me question. "You're gay, and I'm bisexual, so I just thought–"

"I'm not gay! I'm bisexual, thank you very much." I shake my head, sitting up as well. "Wait, you're getting off topic. Why are you looking at a Playboy magazine in the first place?"

He shrugs, looking off to the side. "Boredom, I guess. I don't know what to read," he confesses.

"Have you not seen my collection?" I ask with a flat tone as I pointed to a full bookshelf.

"I know, you're a book geek. I just don't like reading big books."

I send him a glower again. "Jeez, never mind. Go back to your horniness," I complain as I lay on my back once more.

"I can't, I'm hungry."

"Then eat."

Eren bites his bottom lip. He was nervous, and it's visible all across his face. I pay little attention to this, wanting to just move on and read my book. He sits there for a few moments, contemplating whether or not to ask me out to lunch.

"Levi?" Eren calls after a while.

I don't look in his direction, i continue to read the pages while I listen. "What?"

"Want to go out to lunch with me?" He says with a shaky tone. "I– I mean..." He stutters before he trails his last word. I raise a brow, now focusing my attention towards him. "I mean, if you want. You don't have to, I'm just–"

"Where are we going?"

Nothing could've stopped Eren from making the world's most idiotic grin. His entire face lights up, his eyes sparkling with confidence. I feel slightly uncomfortable for his long gaze, my stomach turns just looking at him.

"Anywhere you want," he says brightly.

"Let's go get ice cream or something," I suggest, not really knowing what I wanted.

"In this weather?" He questions, raising a brow.

I shrug. "Ice cream is too all year round, Eren. Not just in the summer."

"You have a point..." He trails. He ponders for a moment, nibbling his bottom lip as he looks up at the ceiling. "I do know this one parlor downtown... Come on, I'll drive us there."

Eren doesn't hesitate to jump from his bed. I snort while he takes his keys from his dresser and begins making his way out.

"What's so funny?" He asks, slightly annoyed.

"You're going out like that?" I snort.

"Like what?" He says confidently before looking down.

His cheeks flush a bright crimson, realizing what I meant. Eren yanks a pair of pants from the end of his bed and proceeds to slip them on while I burst into a short phase of laughter.

"Don't laugh!" Eren yells defensively with a flustered face. "You know that I'm cute and all, that's why you didn't tell me sooner!"

"You're not cute, and I didn't tell you sooner because I didn't care," I retort raising a brow. "Besides, who wears taco boxers?"

Eren shrugs, his jeans halfway up his thick thighs. "The ladies love Mexican."

I snort. "Tacos don't come in hard shells, Eren. They come in soft corn tortillas."

"And when did you become so cultural?" He asks as he buttons his dark jeans.

"I had to take Spanish in high school. It was that, or German. French was an option, but I already knew how to speak it," I explain.

"You don't speak French, and if you did you've never spoken it around me."

"You're not my over-traditional grandmother."

"Touché. My grandma makes me speak German. Ah, foreign relatives," Eren says with a sigh.

"Yeah, yeah. Come on, taco boy. I'm only going with you because I haven't eaten breakfast and it's past lunch hour."

Sliding a bookmark into my book, I slide off my bed and stroll behind Eren who's already out the door. Eren and I casually stroll down to the student parking area where is Mercedes Benz. It is a fairly large car with a glossy grey shine to it. I'm somewhat envious of his car, since I don't have my own.

"Nice car," I comment.

"Thanks, I got it for school. Dad said I needed a new one if I was going to be attending Sina."

I roll my eyes as I slide into the passenger's seat. It still had that new car scent, and I found it kind of gross. I never liked the new car smell, it's nothing compared to the smell of books. I guess only some things smell good when their new.

"Levi," Eren calls once he slides into the driver's side. I turn my head to see him with a stupid grin on his face.

"What?"

"I guess we're dating now, since I'm the one who's taking you out to eat."

Even though his body is still healing, his right cheek is still punchable. I didn't hesitate to swing a fist at him, but he jerked away just in time.

"In your dreams, Yeager."

* * *

"Oh, come on!" Eren cries as he bangs his hand against the glass door.

"It's closed on Tuesdays. Who would've guessed," I say with a shrug. I begin to shiver, regretting the fact that I had forgotten my sweater.

"The universe is against me, I swear," Eren mumbles as we walk back to the car.

"Don't get your taco boxers in a twist, we can always go to the shop."

Entering Eren's car, we decide to drive to the shop where Isabel works. The whole drive there, Eren begins to rant about how delicious the parlor's ice cream was and how upset he is about it being closed. I just listen to him, not caring at all what words he spurts out. The drive was short, but with Eren rambling on and on, it felt like it had been years.

"And that's why I always–"

"Will you sew your lips together already? Jeez, what does it take for someone to shut up," I hiss.

"I saw on this one Tumblr post that the best way to shut a girl up is with a kiss," Eren tells me with a smirk.

"You're a girl and all, but I won't ever kiss you."

"Maybe that can– hey!" He says in a higher pitched tone. "I'm not a girl!"

"You act like one," I snort.

I open the door for Eren to stomp through, which he does as he rants about how rude I am. I roll my eyes  and follow him to a secluded booth at the far back of the shop. Eren continues to ramble about how much of a man he is to which I finally cut into.

"Eren," I call in a soft voice, "can you please take your girlish rant down to a one instead of an eleven?"

Eren flusters as he huffs into his seat, sinking into the red leather booth with a scowl. "Whatever you say, mom."

I send him a glower, sinking into my own seat. We stay silent until Isabel arrives to take out order.

"Oh, it's you two!" She says excitedly. She gives me a look that I can only describe as creepy, as if she were expecting us there.

"Hey Izzy, I'll have a vanilla shake with a plain sandwich," I order politely. She hums as she writes before turning her attention to Eren who is still pouting.

"Eren?" She questions after a moment. Eren looks up at Isabel who has a raised brow and a slight frown.

"I'll have a chocolate shake and a burger meal."

"Alright, I'll be back with your shakes shortly!" She chirps. Isabel skips away and I kick Eren under the table.

"Ow! What was that for?" he cries.

"For being a dick!"

"I thought I was a woman?"

"Woman can be dicks too," I retort.

Eren and I huff, looking in opposite directions. I mentally slap him, wanting to just strangle the brat for being so immature. I don't know how anyone can deal with Eren, he's such a twat with little respect for others. Yet, I'm still here. I'm still sitting across from him, still speaking to him, still tolerating him. But why?

I look over at him, his gaze at an occupied booth. He gazes at a couple, their hands entwined together, eyes never separating. They giggle, smile, eventually they share a kiss. Eren seems to be glued to these people. He's engulfed into their relationship, how they act as if they were in love.

Eren's eyes seem lost, as if he yearned for something I didn't understand. I didn't understand love, nor do I believe I ever will. Eren's been in and out of relationships, so I guess he doesn't know what love is either. Maybe that's what he yearns for, love.

"Levi?" Eren calls, his eyes still glued to the couple.

"Yeah?" I turn my head, the couple no longer interesting me.

"Do you believe in love?"

"That's a weird question to ask suddenly," I tell him, sitting up in my seat.

"I know," he trails as he sits up as well, "but, like, I do. I believe that love exists. I believe that love is unexpected, you know? Like, we never know we're in love until it hits you right in the face."

I raise a brow. "And your asking?"

"I'm asking if you've ever been in love."

In love, with someone? I've never thought of that. I've never told anyone I loved them, not even my mom. She knows I do, but never expected me to say it.

"I- I guess?" I stutter, not really understanding his question.

"You don't sound so sure."

"Because I don't know what love really is, I love my mom and I love Buddy," I tell him.

"Their family. I mean, have you ever been in love with someone that wasn't family?"

"I- I don't know," I stutter.

"I love someone."

"Who?" I question. I lean on against the table, both arms crossed over one another as I raise a brow.

"I'm not telling you!" He blurts out defensively.

"Then tell me why you love them," I say simply.

"It's not that easy, Levi."

Isabel returns with our orders, a smile as bright as the sun was plastered upon her face. She asks if there was anything else and Eren tells her everything was fine. She waves a goodbye, telling us to enjoy out meals.

We begin to eat, letting go of the conversation. I  nibble my straw, stuck in thoughts of school. Eren plays around with his fries, the silence sinking in painfully. I wanted to say something, but refuse to do so, biting tongue and never daring to look up once.

It was Eren that broke the silence after a while. He clears his throat and I glance upward, our eyes meeting.

"I like how they are patient," he began with a quiet voice, "they always know what to do, even when I don't. Their sarcasm is a pain, but at least I know that they were listening."

Eren looks away from me now, his eyes lowering at the table. He doesn't stop talking, so I don't stop listening. This intrigues me now, the mystery behind who he said he loves makes me curious.

"Their into things that I'm not," he continues, "they had an easy life, always knowing what they wanted. I can't have that, but that's what makes us different and makes me want to blurt out words that may mean nothing to them, but the world to me. They make me go crazy at times, their determination is my determination, their smile, though it's rare, makes me feel something I can't explain."

Eren shakes his head. I can't stop looking at him now. Everything he's said sounds so familiar, as if I knew this person. Did I?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin lunch." He apologizes, his head still low. I frown.

"Don't apologize, Eren. It seems like you really like this person, why not tell them? I can help, that is, if you tell me who they are. It's not that hard to-"

"You don't get it!" he blurts.

I'm startled by his sudden burst of anger. "Eren, why are you getting so defensive over this?"

"Because you know very well that you'll reject someone," he spits.

"What does this have to do with me rejecting someone?" Now my voice is slightly raised. I send him a glower, not following what he's getting to. What was the big deal? He likes someone, he should tell them! Isn't that how love works?

Maybe he's embarrassed because it's someone I know. Maybe he likes Farlan, maybe that's what he means by me rejecting him. He is my best friend, so I can see why I'd reject Eren.

"Because," he huffs, "you won't accept me."

"What are you even talking about?"

"Jeez, and you call me the slow one! I like you Levi, okay? I have always liked you and you drive me crazy."

I'm speechless. Is this some sort of joke? Is Eren high on a new drug? Maybe he's delusional, he's just blurting things out because he thinks we're friends. This whole situation just escalated way too quickly.

Of maybe he's just overly emotional. He's always said stupid things to me just to see my reaction, even when we were younger. He would always have something to say, and I would always have a reaction to it. It's an on and off thing, and what he says can vary from some really deep shit to something idiotic.

Eren's eyes lock with my own. His eyes glisten with a coat of tears that don't fall. His teal eyes pierce into my own, screaming at me the truths of his emotions, but the words are blocked by my own wall of insecurity. I don't want to let him in, I don't want him to see how I really feel.

"Eren, stop being emotional. Sit down and finish your burger," I command.

Eren just shakes his head and pushes his meal away from him. He slides out from the booth and sends me a glare that burns through my soul.

"You don't get it. That's what I get for falling in love with you."

And with that, he leaves me there, alone, with a half eaten burger and a melting chocolate shake.

* * *

Author's Note:

Don't hate me for making this so awkward >_< I was so uneasy with writing this chapter because I didn't want things to seem rushed, but I didn't want to wait a hundred chapters before their relationship finally began. Things will even out eventually >_<

I really hope that  this chapter wasn't all that bad. I need to go back and edit my chapters, but right now I'm just trying to move things forward. Forgive my awkwardness.

If you did like this chapter, or have any comments at all, just leave a comment and maybe a vote. :3 you don't have to.

And thank you for 700+ reads, 120+ votes, and 200+ comments. It makes me so happy to read comments ^~^

Until next time~

3,219 words