"Well, I'm gunna go explore," Alex said after a little while. She stood up and told them she'd be back soon she was just tired of sitting.

"See ya," TJ said, "call me if you need me," he told her and she nodded before leaving the class.

Hanji walked into the room and gave a confused look seeing this new person in the class. She just kinda stood in the doorway until Levi sighed and gestured for her to come in. Hanji walked up to the front of the class and stood next to the two of them.

Ash stood up and went up and greeted her. "Are you another one of Thomas's teachers?" she asked.

Hanji nodded, "I'm his science teacher," she said with a smile, "nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's mine," Ash said back with a warm greeting. "My names Ash, I'm Thomas's sister."

"Oh my name is Hanji Zoe," Hanji said realizing she forgot to say her name. "But I just have everyone call me Hanji," she said with an awkward laugh.

"I see," Ash smiled. "Well I hope Thomas hasn't been too much of a handful," she said nudging her little brother who stuck his tongue out at her when she turned around to look at him.

"I don't have to sit here and listen to your crap Ash," Thomas said joking around with her. "Anyways I'm going to hit the restroom," he said leaving the room but before he did he leaned down and said something to TJ.

"Nah he's pretty much quiet all class period," Hanji smiled, "with the exception of TJ and Alex of course. Especially TJ," Hanji said with a small smile looking at TJ who gave her a nervous shrug. 

"Young love," Ash said with a smile, "I mean what are you going to do?" Ash said with a shrug and a laugh.

Her and Hanji continued talking for a moment before Hanji gasped. "I'm sorry," she said, "I forgot to lock my classroom and students have been known to get into trouble in my class," She said before running out with another apology. Ash stood there a little confused and turned to the other two teachers to try and figure out what had just happened.

"Students have almost burned down her class several times," Levi explained. "They like playing with the chemicals and fire when she's not in there," He said looking over at Eren with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey it was never me who started them," Eren said defensively, "It was mostly Jean, Reiner, and Ymir," Eren said.

"Yes, but you didn't stop them you sat there and let them do it," Levi laughed. "You probably even edge them on a little bit," He teased.

"That was one time," Eren said quickly in defense. "Or was it two," he whispered to himself immediately after.

"You're terrible," Levi said rolling his eyes.

Ash just laughed hearing this, "You used to be a student here?" She assumed hoping that the teachers weren't the ones causing the fires.

"Yeah," Eren said still laughing a little, "It was interesting, to say the least, but all the teachers are wonderful," he smiled as his hand slipped into Levi's.

"I'm glad to hear," she said. She excused herself and took a seat next to TJ who was fiddling with his thumbs and playing with his hair.

"What's up?" She asked. She wanted to get to know more about him since he was dating her brother.

TJ shrugged. "It's nothing, I'm just a little on edge," he said as he felt anxious. He wasn't anxious because he was talking to her, but it was close to the time that parents would start arriving. The last thing he wanted was for his parents to come here, here of all places where he could finally be himself. They would ruin everything.

"What's there to be on edge about," Ash asked trying to figure out what had him so jumpy.

"It's stupid," he said trying to just brush it off.

"Oh come on," Ash smirked, "you know how many times Thomas tried to pull that on me," Ash said. "You can talk to me you know," she said trying to be supportive, "I'll listen to whatever you have to say," she smiled.

TJ looked up at her and just started to open his mouth. He didn't know what to say he just nodded and then started with, "well," he said, "my parents," he paused before biting his lip thinking about what he wanted to say. "They aren't the best parents ever," TJ admitted not really figuring out how to word it any better than that.

"How so?" Ash asked hoping he would elaborate a little more so she could help in any way she could.

"My mom, she's not very supportive, all she does is find ways to punish me and my sister for doing nothing and she does it by throwing "religion" in our face. The religion she uses is no religion I ever heard of. She says God hates us and we'll burn in hell for being ungrateful children, but the only God I know is a loving one." TJ said. "My dad he doesn't do anything, which is the problem. He stands by and lets her do whatever she wants and lets her torture us, but he never speaks against her he never stands up for us. He tries to stay at work and take a lot of overtime just so he wouldn't have to see her most of the time."

"I'm sorry," Ash said putting her hand on his shoulder. She couldn't say she knew what he was going through because she didn't. Sure her parents weren't the best, but they were mostly just neglectful instead of mentally and or physically abusing their children like TJ's parents did, they never crossed that line.

TJ looked up at her. "Alex hates her," he said before correcting himself, "actually, that's an understatement," he said with a shrug.

"Do you think it's wrong that Alex hates her?" Ash asked by the tone of voice TJ had.

"No, I think it's wrong that no matter how hard I tried to I can't bring myself to hate her," He said hating to admit it out loud. He hadn't even told Alex this because he was so scared that she would judge him for it. "I love her, no matter how much I want to hate her I don't, I can't," he said biting his lip and closing his eyes taking some deep breaths to try and calm himself before he started to tear up.

"I see," Ash said, "You know there's nothing wrong with loving her," she told him. "Sure she may be a terrible person like you said but she's still your mother and it's up to you how you feel about her. This might just be my opinion but I am pretty sure there is no right or wrong answer in this kind of situation." Ash said. "It's fine for Alex to hate her with all of her being, and it's fine for you to love her," she said, "but don't forget to take care of yourself in the process. Yes you love her, but don't let your love for her danger your life," Ash warned.

"I won't" TJ said, "I've never witnessed her get to a point that was that bad," he said thinking, "the worst I think she's done is locked us in different closets for a few days," he said failing at trying to make it sound less terrifying than it actually was.

Ash sighed, "If you ever need a place to stay I just moved into a new house in the neighborhood and you're welcome to come by whenever you need. I'll be taking Thomas with me to the new house," She said, "I can't let him stay at my parents'."

"Thank you," TJ said with a smile. Talking with her was nice she didn't pretend to try and know everything she told him honestly that she didn't know what the right decision was.

She gave him a smile back and ruffled his hair a bit, "don't be afraid to come talk to me. I don't bite."

Thomas had come back in from his trip to the bathroom to see Ash and TJ sitting next to each other talking and smiling and he couldn't help but be relieved that they were getting along. He came back in and sat with them.

Ash looked up at him and smile. "How did you end up with such a sweetheart like him," she asked wrapping her arm around TJ who had an awkward but cute smile on his face as he watched how the two interacted so playfully. "I mean he's so nice," she said before letting her arm fall away from him as she stood up, "and you're so-." She was cut off by her brother's pouty face and lame attempt at trying to tease her back.

"Yeah well, who's bullying who," he replied as a failed jab at her comment.

"Sibling rivalry," Eren whispered to Levi. That was one thing that Mikasa and I got over pretty quickly, but it always shows up now and again.

"Yeah, and when it does you guys are as bad as me and Hanji," Levi laughed.

"Not even," Eren said, "You almost get violent, we never raise our fists," he said in protest of Levi's statement.

"Yeah, but when I raise mine I know how hard I'm swinging and I know I won't hurt her. I couldn't hurt her even if I tried," Levi said, "I love her too much," he admitted before turning his head to Eren. "Tell her I said that and I'll kill you," he threatened playfully.

"I'll take it to the grave," Eren said before scooting away, "though that may be sooner rather than later," he said pulling out his phone. "You said I couldn't say anything, you never said anything about texting," he joked before turning on his heels and running the opposite way with Levi running after him not really trying that hard to catch him.

After a little while all of the commotion in the classroom calmed down and they were all sitting around the class with smiles and laughter filling the room. Alex had returned a few minutes earlier and sat down next to TJ and listened as he spoke with Thomas.

TJ silenced himself mid-sentence and dropped the smile instantly along with his eyes shooting down to the floor. Alex looked up and saw what made him go so quiet. Their mother had appeared in the doorway a little early. "TJ, Alex," she called, "is this your first class?" She asked looking around the room with a judgmental gaze.