Unedited
* * *

"Mom, why do you always wait last minute to go shopping?"

My mother tosses another roll of wrapping paper into the cart as we continue to stroll down the aisle. She shrugs at my question, humming quietly as she examines the ribbons.

"I don't know, Levi. I procrastinate a lot, I suppose. We have to hurry up so we can help Grisha set up the Christmas tree," she tells me before tossing a few ribbons into the shopping cart.

I roll my eyes, pushing the cart behind her. We've been at the market for only a few minutes and I've already been recognized by several people. Apparently, mother has been boasting about how successful her son was and how proud she is that I, Levi Ackerman, was going to be a surgeon. People have stopped me to congratulate me, though I really don't know why.

We live in a small town so news spreads quickly, and people are always in other people's business, so it's rare to keep secrets. My mom is the main source, she's always involved with other people's lives, and even though I hate it I don't blame her. She's a lonely woman.

It's actually hard to keep anything away from my mom, she's very speculate and observant of small details, mainly because she has nothing better to do. She doesn't work anymore, and instead of living off of just her monthly government checks she asks her brother Kenny for money.

Speaking of Kenny.

"Hey mom," I call out as we stroll down the decorations aisle. She hums a response before I continue. "Is Kenny coming with Mika?"

"Most likely, they've been rather distant from us on the holidays, haven't they?" she pauses, setting down a set of ornaments, and raises a brow. "Silver or gold?"

"Gold."

She nods, setting a pack of gold ornaments into the basket. My mother continues asking me questions about the holidays as we stroll around the market. She begins tossing things into the cart that we don't really need saying the "we can give it to someone as a gift" excuse.

After passing the ornaments isle we stroll into the clothing section, using hats and scarves to entertain us. We joke around with what we find, making impersonations of famous actors and t.v. shows. It was all fun and games until mom grew serious, asking me about Eren.

"I see you two to be friendlier towards each other. Did something happen?" She asks.

"Well–" I set a hat back on the shelf "–we have been growing closer... I mean– he's still annoying and all, and very secretive about things, but I've grown used to it."

"Used to it?" she questions. "So you like him?"

"I– I never said that!"

"Hm, it sounds like you do." My mom pinches my cheek. "Ah, Levi. When will you learn that a mother knows everything?"

I scowl, brushing her hand off. "Yeah yeah, whatever. I like him, but only a little, okay? It's no big deal, it's not like I love him or anything."

"That's what I said with your father, and we ended up having you."

Did she just...

"Mom, stop, please."

She scrunches her nose, squeezing my cheek again. "It's okay, honey. Your secret is safe with me."

I roll my eyes before sighing, letting my mother slide.

"Ah, speaking of secrets, have you seen Eren's bruises lately?" She asks out of the blue.

"Bruises? The last time he had bruises was Thanksgiving when his mom– I mean, he fell down the stairs."

My mom snorts. "Do you really believe that he fell?" she questions.

No, I don't believe it at all. I know the truth, but not the whole truth.

"Well, not really. Knowing what I know now, the probability of receiving the bruises by fall is a very low ratio."

My mom nods, agreeing with my theory. She furrows her brows, resting a hand in her chin. "I've been seeing Carla acting strange lately, more specifically after Thanksgiving. She doesn't like talking about Eren, but she will ramble on and on about you. It's strange."

"Eren doesn't like talking about Carla at all. Whenever I bring her up he'll either get over emotional or change the topic."

We're both stumped, unsure of what to believe of conclude. We continue to shop in silence, but I don't let the thought go. I dig deeper into my memory, trying to connect the pieces.

Eren says he can't do anything because /she/ won't let him. He was forced to go to Sina and pursue the same career path as me. Whenever I see Eren and Carla together, he's silent, as if he'd disappoint her by speaking.

Carla only asks about me, wanting to see if I'm doing well in school and always praises me. She seems to have a secret code with Eren, a code i don't understand. She speaks to him through her eyes, not her words.

And yesterday, didn't she force her smile?

Something is wrong between them. They are hiding a secret from us, from the world. But what is it? Why does Carla seem so... off?

What are you hiding, Carla Yeager?

* * *

"Hurry up with those boxes, Levi!" My mother calls from the front door.

I can't even see over the wrapped gift boxes that were stacked high in my arms. Why my mother had decided to wrap them before reaching the house? I will never know.

"Need some help with that?" Asks a familiar voice as they take a few gifts from the top, allowing me to see in front of me.

"Thanks..."

Eren smiles, his teal eyes slightly glisten in the afternoon light. I find myself staring at him longer than expected, my face heating up. I quickly shake my head, looking away to the side.

"I mean, whatever."

Eren rolls his eyes, knowing very well I was flustered. He walks off with the few boxes and I follow behind.

Entering the house I'm immediately taken back by the astonishing lights. The den is illuminated by small Christmas lights in assorted colors. I was so intrigued in the beauty of our old Christmas tree that I didn't notice the weight of the remaining gifts being lifted from my arms. Eren takes the wrapped boxes and places them below the tree.

I shake my head once my mother calls my name. I hum in response, jerking my head in her direction.

"Amazing isn't it?" She asks, resting her hands on her hips.

I nod. "Beautiful," I breathe.

Grisha claps his hands together. "Well, it definitely took me all morning. When would you like to put the star on?" He asks, lifting the small glass star.

"I feel that Eren should place it this year," says mother as she looks at Eren.

Eren blinks before scratching the side of his cheek. "I don't think I should this year, why not let Levi do it? Tomorrow is his birthday," he states.

"That's right, isn't it? I almost forgot," my mom says.

"You forgot my birthday? Jeez, thanks mom!"

"Oh Levi, you know I'm not very good with birthdays. Here–" she takes the glass star from Grisha and hands it to me "–you can put the star on the tree."

I look down at the small glass star, blinking several times. Carla emerges from the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron before smiling.

"Ah, go ahead, sweetheart. It's tradition that the star goes last, remember?" says Carla.

All eyes are on me. I gulp, feeling somewhat anxious with all this attention. I take a step forward, and just as I am about to reach the tree the doorbells rings. I sigh in relief as my mother answers the door.

"You're gonna put the star on without me?" says Kenny as he bursts through the front door.

"Kenny!" my mother cheers as she embraces her older brother cheerfully. "I'm so glad you came! Ah, it's been how long? Three years?"

"Four," says Mikasa who emerges from behind Kenny.

My mother only becomes more cheerful as she lunges towards her niece with a bone crushing hug. I roll my eyes, not caring that the uncle I haven't seen in four years magically appears with a case of beer with their daughter that almost slept with Eren.

I look over at Eren who is flustered in embarrassment. He tries his best to hide himself be turning away to face the tree instead of the front entrance. I snort, patting his back.

"Bringing back memories?" I ask. He nods in response.

"Come on in," my mother says as she pushes her sibling further inside the house.

Kenny eyes me for a moment before calling my name. "Aye, I brought you a present for your birthday!" he shouts happily as he lifts the case of beer.

"Kenny! Levi isn't allowed to drink that," says mother as she slaps Kenny's arm.

"He's turning twenty one, of course he's allowed to," Kenny says as he places the beer on the table.

How is it that my uncle, that I hardly speak to, knows my birthday and my age, but my mother doesn't?

Mikasa notices Eren at this point, her face turning a bright crimson color before she averts her gaze at the bickering siblings. Grisha calls over his wife, asking what was for dinner to which she responds "it's a surprise". Eren and I seem to be excluded from the conversations, which was fine with me.

He steps closer to me, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

"See the stars with me later, okay?"

He pulls away, a soft smile on his face. My insides make those weird twists again, my face feeling hotter than the sun. I nod before looking down at the glass star, then back at Eren.

"Need some help?" He asks.

"Sorta, I can't really reach the top of the tree..."

Eren chuckles, taking hold of my hands and placing them against his lips. He plants a light kiss upon my skin before taking the small glass star.

"For good luck," he says with a cheeky smile before placing the star on top of the tree.

* * *

"Eren, I can't see shit."

"No shit Sherlock, it's pitch black."

Eren and I wander the streets of our quiet little town. Dinner with a full table was somewhat different. With Kenny boasting about his successful career, Mikasa avoiding as much eye contact with Eren as possible, and Carla constantly eyeing Eren, it was a little  overwhelming. Luckily the party died down by nine and everyone went on their merry way.

So here we were, Eren and I. We walk together, I walk one step behind Eren as he uses the flashlight of his phone. The clouds were too thick, the moon barely peeking through. No stars were in sight just yet, but that didn't stop Eren.

I regret not taking an extra coat, I'm freezing by this point in time. We're only halfway to the park where the big hill sat and I'm about ready to die of frostbite. My teeth chatter, which annoys Eren.

"I told you to bring that extra coat."

"Shut up."

Eren snorts, knowing he's won this little argument.

A small voice tells me to take Eren's hand, but that would be weird, wouldn't it? I couldn't just take his hand out of nowhere and just expect him to hold it. Eren seems to notice my thoughts because I've slowed my pace.

"Oi, Levi, you're walking like a grandma," he complains before taking hold of my wrist and tugging my along.

I pull my arm away and grasp his hand instead. Eren flusters, his face warmer now than before. He looks away, pretending not to notice. I gulp quietly as I interlock our fingers, walking the same pace as him.

"My hand got cold," I lie.

"Mine are cold too..."

We walk in silence, our hands lightly holding one another as they swing softly at our side. I hurry my lower face into my scarf, the small ghosts of winter disappearing from sight. I him quietly, just letting my thoughts wander into a bliss of nothingness. I went from thinking about school, to the spring recital, then to Eren.

Oh, Eren... why do I always think of you?

I don't even notice Eren's hand release mine once we reach the hill. He inhales deeply, a smile plastered on his face.

"Remember this? The hills not as tall as I remember," he recalls before climbing up the hill I'm large steps.

I follow behind. "It's been a while, we were I my kids when we last climbed up here, remember?"

"Ah, that's right."

Reaching the top, I'm officially out of breath. It was like climbing the steps to Sina's library all over again. Eren bursts into a short laughter, patting my back.

"You okay there? Didn't mean to give you a work out," he jokes.

"I'm fine," I wipe his hand away before looking up at the vast sky. "The clouds are still in the way, bummer."

"Yeah, but look at the bright side, we made it up the hill without dying."

https://youtu.be/dzNvk80XY9s

I sigh, walking over to the old stump where a tree once sprouted. I stare down at the old memory of a lost childhood, realizing the time that had passed. It's been over fourteen years since i was last up here with Eren, fourteen years that I'd avoided him.

Fourteen years of hard work, pain, and dedication to becoming who I was today. Fourteen years ago I would have never guessed that I'd be falling for Eren, the boy that left me to fend for myself the light those treacherous years of school.

Little did I know that Eren, too, had suffered much without me. Little did I know that I was the one that caused his pain, but that would be a story that would later be told.

Ever so softly did I feel Eren walk up beside me. He looms over me, speaking in a soft whisper.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" he asks.

"Yeah..."

Eren sighs, stepping next to me me stare down at the old stump. He shoves his hands into his pockets to take out an old pen. Eren bends down to scribble some words into the dried wood. By the time he finishes the sky is clear enough to see the sparkling flames of light.

Both if us look up to find a peeking moon from behind the clouds that remained as well as a set of dazzling stars. The night seemed to stretch on for miles, our eyes only able to see so fair.

It was amazing how much life was around us, how the soul purpose of our eyes were to embrace the beauty of the world. How the world, the sky, the stars, the whole universe was meant to be seen by our eyes, and only ours.

I could've been up here with anyone, and the stars would still shine; but there was something about tonight that made them glisten brighter than any other night, and that something was Eren.

I gaze over at the bright eyed boy, his teal eyes glued to the stars. His mouth is slightly parted, ghosts of the winter escaping his parched lips as he stare in awe. The way his hair lightly swayed in the evening air made it hard to believe that only months ago I wanted to rid him from my life.

His lips curl into a grin, his gaze meeting mine. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"You're the beautiful one, Eren."

He was caught off guard by my comment. His heart skips a sudden beat as well as my own. I ball my hands into small fists, taking in a deep breath of air.

Do it, Levi. Ask him...

"Er–"

"Levi," he interrupts. "Sorry."

"No no, you go first," I insist.

"Well, I was wanting to ask you something," he says, his body facing me.

"What is it?"

"Well, you're birthday is tomorrow and I wanted to get you something, but I didn't know what to give. You've already read every book known to man–" Eren let's out a dry laugh "–books are out of the picture. So I thought to myself, what would be better than a book, and do you know what I said?"

"What did you say?"

Eren looks down at my hands, talking them into his own. I unclench my fists, letting them lay on top of Eren's own hands before my face flushed a dark red. Eren's face was bright as well, his cheeks a rosy pink as he sets something in the middle of my palm, closing my hand over it so I wouldn't see the item.

I hold my hand closer to me, afraid to open it. I stare at the small hand of mine as I slowly began to undo each finger. A sheet of paper was folded into a small square. I glance up at Eren before proceeding to open it.

An ever so small smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I read the note. It was childish of him to write a proposal on such a shitty piece of paper.

Will you be my boyfriend?
Yes or Yes

I mentally face palm. "Eren, you're such a dork."

"Is that a yes then?"

"I think a book would've been better," I say jokingly. "Of course it's a yes."

And this is where we begin. Under the glistening stars with a stupid note, our initials freshly marked on the aging stump upon the old hill where our friendship had first began.

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Author's Note:

*slides in with a new chapter even though I only updated yesterday*

How was it? Not gay enough? (I can make it even gayer (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )

Hopefully you liked it, I've been waiting to write this chapter for a while now but I didn't quite know how to slide into it, so I added some fillers XD

The music video can be played while reading (it works on the computer version), I didnt try and match anything up this time but the song works well with the moments they shared.

Oh, and thank you for 2k+! It was shocking for me to see the numbers change so greatly. Just yesterday I was at 1.9k o.o!

Vote, comment, be gay ♥
Until next time ♥

3,066 words