Chapter 18
Jealousy Jealousy

"I'm so excited! Erwin's participating in this ball!" Hange cheers as she finished putting her dress on.

"Can't believe you convinced him to, you think he'll find himself a wife?" I snorted as I tied up the strings on the back of her dress.

"That old guy? It'll be a miracle if he does." She replied and turned to face me. "Your turn."

I nodded as I slipped into my dress and she tied me up, she lightly tugged on a few piece of fabric to make them look neat. We both looked at each other in the mirror side by side, we looked sort of good?

"You're smoking," Hange gasped and turned to me. "You're getting hitched tonight, I swear someone's going to snatch you up—"

"I hope not." I muttered, I was still interested in the guy I danced with at the ball.

I wanted to dance with him again, he was fun in an ironic way. Such a grumpy guy. A.L.

What did I care? He's probably some low life scum who didn't have anything else better to do. But he knew Erwin... Hmm.. Is he important? Both moments where I met A.L and Captain Levi my heart fluttered, I can't tell who I'm attracted to.

Wait, why would I be attracted to Captain Levi? 

From the moment I opened the door and saw him that night I couldn't help but want to know more about him, that was before I knew he was a complete asshole. But still, I wish I could've at least tried? What am I talking about? That's stupid! I mean why would I ever want to go out with someone like him? 

Or even someone like the guy I met at the ball! It's all stupid!

God, I was never going to get a boyfriend let alone get married!

"If someone doesn't, I will." Hange winked and opened the door. "Let's go!" 

Again, we were walking to the ball like it was the first time and the nerves creeped onto me. 

I had my mask in my hand and Hange decided to not wear one, I was still nervous showing my face to everyone because I didn't want anyone to see who I really was. A lot of people viewed me as someone with experience and I was close enough to becoming a captain of my own squad. It's been like what? 6 years? I feel like I'm old in this job but I'm actually young in age. It's weird. 

Fight till I die I guess? Like Erwin?

I placed the mask on before heading in and I was met with a beautiful new theme, it was blue and pink inside. People still wore strong colored dresses that made them stand out.

Yet I was the only one with a black dress on.

I felt eyes on me as I walked in more and Hange nudged me in satisfaction.

"You're getting more attention." She said cheekily.

"Is that exactly a good thing?" I frowned.

"Excuse me." I saw a guy with a purple mask walk up me. "May I have a dance with you?"

"Jean?" Hange snorted. "Is that you?"

I looked at the guy who had his hair lower than his chin, damn it really did look like Jean. I wouldn't have noticed it if Hange didn't point it out.

"What? N-no! How did you—! ... Yes.." He groaned.

"A dance?" I smirked. "Aren't you like 19?"

"How did you— Who are you?" He said nervously as he turned to Hange. "Hange who did you come with?"

"You can't recognize her?" Hange gasped. "I thought it was pretty obvious."

Jean took another look at me and stepped back with a hand clasped over his mouth. "Athena?"

I giggled and looked down for a second before looking back at him, heat rushing up my cheeks. "Shocking isn't it?"

"I just, I didn't know you would come to these things!" He swatted his hands in a no motion. "You look gorgeous!"

"Thank you." I smiled. "So about that dance?"

"You don't have to! It's okay I'll just find—"

"Shut up and take me dancing." I take his arm and drag me onto the dance floor while Hange exused herself to go find Erwin.

I wasn't one to take an offer like that, Jean is just a kid to me. He's handsome don't get me wrong but he deserved to be with someone who was as young as him. I wanted to take care of the friend group that was made with Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Natalia.

It wouldn't hurt to share a dance with a different guy, right?

The music started playing and Jean wrapped his nervous arm around my waist and our hands met each other.

"So, you came to the first ball?" I questioned.

"No, I actually didn't I was on lookout but I heard it was fun." He chuckled nervously.

"Jean, there's no reason to be nervous." I chuckled. "It's just me."

"That's just it." Jean blurted out. "You're like way more experienced and I'm barely getting the hang of things! You're one of the strongest soldiers humanity's got!"

"Really?" I raised my eyebrow at him. "Well, you better make this dance worth while for us?"

"Yes!" He replied quickly and helped me tighter. "I actually uh- I took these classes so I could meet someone new."

"Really?" I gasped. "You're so young, I think anyone would want to go out with you."

"Ah, really?" Jean looked away and I assumed he was blushing.

"Well, if you'd stop flirting with all women maybe you'd find someone." I chuckled.

"Oh." He replied and looked at me again. "Yeah... Could start off with that."

"It'll be fine." I smiled. "You dance good enough."

"Really?" His eyes lit up. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Oi, hands off." A voice interrupted us and I didn't even notice a guy walking up to us.

It was A.L.

Oh my fucking god.

It's him.

He had his undercut hair a little pushed back and he still wore his same mask as last time. How did I manage to remember?

He made my night worth my while.

That's it.