Eren's POV:

Someone approached me a few moments later:

"Wow, Yeager. What planet are you living on?"

I spun to face Jean, finding his lips upturned in a mocking smile.

"Well," I started, "I thought I was on Earth, but when Mikasa said 'yes' to your cringeworthy dance invitation, I realized I was definitely somewhere else. Planet Stallion, perhaps?"

Jean's smirk quickly vanished and he frowned, "I'll have you know, Mikasa had a pretty good time."

"Uh-huh... And did she say that herself?" I asked unbelievingly.

"Yes, actually, she did," he said proudly. "So why don't you fuck off?"

"Why don't I fuck off? Why don't you fuck off, Jean? I didn't invite you over to come talk to me," I retaliated.

He rolled his eyes. "Dude, seriously. You should be thanking me. I'm here to save your ass. Be grateful."

"Grateful for what?!" I retorted. "All you've done is criticize me— like you do all the time!"

"Well, lucky for you, Yeager," he began, "I managed to catch the last few moments of your interaction with (Y/N)... before she left you. Alone. In the middle of a dance. Right before you tried to kiss her." Jean made a poor attempt to cover a laugh.

I sighed in exasperation, "Okay, so what?"

"So, I, being the hero that I am, have chosen to help you— yet again— fix your trivial issues with (Y/N) that only exist because the both of you are so painfully oblivious your interactions with each other cause the entire planet to lose braincells."

Ouch, Jean. I did my best to stay calm: "Do I even want your help? Last time, your 'assistance' equaled you beating the shit out of me."

"Hm..." Jean thought for a moment, staring at the ceiling. "True, but we're in public now, so that's not an option. Plus, if I want to see Mikasa again, I have to do some charity work for you."

"Speaking of Mikasa, where is she?" I asked, hoping his answer would allow me to land one hit in between the series of quips and blows he was attacking me with during our brief conversation.

"Armin asked for her," Jean said shortly.

Damnit.

"Anyway," he continued, "Why don't we go talk somewhere else? I don't like to be seen standing in the middle of a crowded dance floor talking to my mortal enemy." Jean began walking off the floor, motioning for me to follow him.

I started walking, then stopped. Wait, why am I listening to him? What does Jean know about any of this? He only saw two seconds of what happened. I thought harder, trying to pinpoint a reason, any reason, that showed that (Y/N) and I didn't have a problem, and that Jean didn't need to intervene.

"Hold it, Jean," I said.

He turned and looked at me with a confused expression.

"What makes you think I need any help? (Y/N) was practically dying to kiss me a few seconds ago! I don't see a problem with that— do you?"

"But she didn't kiss you, did she, Yeager?" he countered snidely.

"And? So what? Why does that warrant you to take action?"

"Tell me, Eren, do you know why she left you here looking like a fool a few minutes ago?"

I didn't have an answer.

He rolled his eyes, "Like I said, I'm doing charity work. Just come over here, would you? I'm getting tired of this."

I sighed deeply and swallowed my pride, following Jean to a table at a dark, quiet corner of the gym. We sat across from each other. I watched the rainbow lights flicker across the white tablecloth. The music wasn't pounding in my ears, so I could hear things more clearly. Jean tapped his fingers on the table, eyes wandering.

"Are you going to say anything?" I asked annoyedly. "It was you who called me here, after all."

Jean looked up tiredly. "Sure... You made a good point earlier— while a moot one— that I should probably address: I only saw part of the interaction. I didn't hear anything. So, why don't we start by you telling me what happened."

"Okay," I started, "I went up to her and we started to dance. She asked me what I wanted, I said I wanted to apologize for everything that had happened between us—"

"Mm, so quite a lot, then," Jean interrupted.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." I continued, "She said that I don't have to apologize because she'd never forgive me again and..." I felt my cheeks grow hot from embarrassment, "Well, she, uh, started looking at me kind of funny—"

"Why? Because you're ugly?" Jean interrupted again.

"Stop interrupting me!" I paused, "So, I teased her about it, she told me she wasn't going to forgive me, again. I pushed her on the subject and then, when it seemed like she was just about to kiss me, (Y/N) pushed me off of her and stormed out. The end."

Jean pursed his lips seriously, then burst out with laughter. "BAHAHAHA! Yeager, you idiot! I can't believe you!" He put his hands over his eyes, "Were you born last night?! Your attempts at love are pathetic!"

I scowled, "Okay!" I said, my voice covered by his roaring laughter. "I get it! I'm bad at this! What do you want me to do?!"

Jean's breathing slowed and he calmed down to answer me. "First off, did you ever actually apologize? Did you actually say the words 'I'm sorry' to her?"

I thought for a moment, "Uh... no." I saw Jean's face begin to light up again, so I continued quickly: "But, I thought all was forgiven!! I mean, she was going to kiss me! Who goes to kiss a guy when they don't like him?"

"Practically no one! Which is why she didn't kiss you, moron! Can't you put one and one together? — God, this is sad," he mumbled.

"So, what should I do, then?"

"Honestly, I'd say you should just—" Jean started.

"Give up," Ymir and Annie said in unison, walking over to us. Historia trailed behind silently and waved a timid hello.

"No, don't do that," Reiner appeared and glared at the two girls harshly. "Just keep moving forward."

Bertholdt stood beside him and made eye-contact with Annie. The tall boy flushed instantly.

"Hello, everyone!" Marco emerged from the crowd. "Eren, not to intrude, but I heard the last few bits of your conversation and I was thinking, maybe you could—"

"Kill her!!" Connie and Sasha joined the growing mass of people surrounding Jean and I.

Where are all these people coming from??

"I agree," Mikasa said shortly, coming up to us.

"Hi, Mikasa~," Jean said happily.

"Hi."

"Tch. Don't be ridiculous, brats." I didn't have to look up to know it was Levi.

Hanji danced in the background enthusiastically: "I love how we're all in one place!"

Where is Armin when I need him?

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I knew in a second that it was my savior:

"Eren, just go and apologize. And, if she loves you, that should be enough."

"Bitch—!!" Jean yelled. "That's what I was gonna say! If y'all would've stopped cutting me off—"

"—Even so," I started, "I only would've listened if it had come from Armin."

Jean glowered. Armin gave an embarrassed and appreciative smile.

"Whatever," Jean scowled. "At least we're all together now. We'll let Eren and (Y/N) do their thing, again— because we somehow always end up in this position with the two of them— and then we can all leave and do something else."

The crowd cheered.

"Hooray for potential resolution!!" Hanji said.

I rolled my eyes and stepped away from everyone. "Wait... Does, uh, anyone know where she went?"

"Outside, brat. Now hurry up," Levi directed.