"I hope we're in the same classes." I say to one of my closest friends, Armin. We continue to walk closer to the new high school we were transferred to.
"Same here. Although, this school is pretty huge. We'd be lucky if we did though."

I guess he's right...9th grade should be a time for new opportunities, and friends. If we don't end up in the same classes, I'm sure I can find someone to be with.

*•*•*

"Eren, what classes are you in?" Armin asks, walking up to me. I show him my schedule and his shoulders slump.
"So we really are going to be in different classes. So much for spending high school together."

"We can still hangout during lunch." I suggest. Armin gives off a half smile. "Well, we should get to class. Don't wanna be late on the first day."

I wave as I walk to my respective classroom. "I'll see you!" Armin turns out of sight and I walk down the vast hall way to my class.

*•*•*

I stand in front of the classroom door, feeling nervous of what awaits inside. I take a deep breath before swinging the door open and stepping in. To my surprise no one looked up when I walked in. They were all conversing in their own groups of three to five.

Dang it. Does that mean I won't have a group? No. I will work my way into one.

It's just a matter of which one...? I scan the faces of all the classmates and my gaze lands on two girls laughing near the back of the classroom.
I start walking over to them and catch a few words in their conversation.
"-Sasha, he sounds like a total dunce!"
"Whatever, shouldn't he have bought me a gift or something by now?"
Are they talking about their relationships or something?

"You know, you can't be so expectant when it comes to guys." Oops. I didn't mean to say that, but it was too late. The two girls stop talking and turn toward me. "Hm? How so?" One of the girls, a dark haired brunette, in a red scarf asks.
"Shouldn't you be in a relationship where you're the dominant one? You are girls after all..." I seemed to have caught there attention, and I wasn't going to backdown now.

------------2 years later----------

"There's no way that's your boyfriend!" Sasha squeals, throwing her bag of chips and snatching Mikasa's phone from her hands. "He's waay to hot for you."
"No he's not!" She retorts grabbing her too-bedazzled phone back. I chuckle lightly, but stay quiet, not wanting to interrupt their bickering.
Sasha crosses her arms and holds her head up proudly. "Yeah? Well my boyfriend, Connie, he's...older."

Both Mikasa and I gasp at her comment. "You're into...older men?" Mikasa whispers, cupping her hand over her mouth, but not being the slightest bit quiet. "Hm. Well, I bet mine's better than yours. I bet he's even better than Eren's." The two girls turn to me and I freeze in my seat.

And here's where my problem lies. I...don't have a boyfriend. Now, they both knew I was gay, but they don't know I'm single.

The other two appeared
to have a boyfriend, always bragging about their greatness, so...I did as well.

How I lasted this long without them knowing the truth, I don't know.

I've known Sasha, and Mikasa since day one of high school, but I never thought I truly fit in with the group. I'm not obsessed with perfect hair, makeup, and expensive clothes, but I pretend to be. Even though our styles are completely different.

This whole time, I've been hanging out with these girls, who are complete opposites of me. Doing things I would usually never do, and wearing things I would never wear.
And in Sasha's case, eating things I would never-EVER-think of eating.

They just seemed approachable at the time I met them, laughing with each other and enjoying it.

If I could go back to 9th grade and prevent myself from choosing to join their clique out of the many others, would I regret it?

No. Not at all.

"U-Um me?" I ask in a hushed tone.

"Yeah! You are the only Eren. You're always telling us yours is a major flirt and you make him sound totally hot. Is he really?" Sasha asks expectantly, crunching on some unidentifiable piece of food.

I stay silent and avoid eye contact. Maybe I should just tell them the truth. Their my friends right? They won't disown me because of one simple thing.

"Eren?"

"Yeah, of course he is." I lie.

"Do you have a picture? Show us!" Mikasa says.
"I don't have a picture of him."
"What?! How do you not even have one picture of him?" She continues.

Our conversation is cut short by Sasha squealing.

A few of the students in the somewhat empty classroom look toward us. "I have the best idea!" She leans forward and bites the corner of her lip. "We should have a day when we bring our boyfriends to school. Then we can all see them in person."

Oh god no.

"Yes! People were wrong about you Sash, you are smart."

"Thank- wait..."

"That settles it! Let's plan a day when we bring our boys to school. Or in Sash's case, men."

Mikasa says tugging on a strand of Sasha's shoulder length, brown hair. In response, Sasha flicks Mikasa's shoulder and scowls at her.

Shouldn't we be getting to class...? I was about to point this out to the others but Mikasa speaks before me.

"Ugh, I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." She says rolling her eyes.

Sasha follows her out the door and I trail behind them. As they walk into the girls room I stop at the doorway and wait for them to come out.

I'm pretty sure we need to be in our last period class, but 'who cares' is apparently our new motto.

After a few moments of waiting in the empty hallway, Sasha walks out of the bathroom. Mikasa right behind her, the girls turn to me. "I just decided, we're going to bring our boyfriends...tomorrow." Mikasa comments, re-adjusting her scarf.

Ugh. How has my sanity not left me?

H-How am I going to come up with some fake boyfriend scheme in the span of now to tomorrow?!

"I-I don't think mine is available tomorrow..."

"I think he'd be willing to come, Eren. Not unless you've been faking this whole time..." Mikasa lifts one eye brow at me, an evil smirk playing on her lips.

Oh god, did they find out?!

"Now that I think about it," Sasha says, "you've never even told us his name."

Wow, choose now to be perceptive.

"Fine! Tomorrow then. I-I do have a boyfriend..." I trail off looking at the ground.

"Hm. Tomorrow then." Mikasa and Sasha turn and start walking down the hall right as the final bell signals the end of school.

Yeah, tomorrow.

*•*•*•*

Oh. My. God.
I forgot. I had forgotten to come up with a scheme and I'm almost at school.

What am I going to do?

I turn into my schools parking lot and hop out, nearly falling out of the car in my hustle. I dig through my pockets for my wallet.

Maybe I can bribe one of the guys in the grade above me to help me out.

I run into the building, making sure I wouldn't run into anyone who might recognize me. I start toward the stairs to the twelfth grade classes. I near a corner and pause before causally turning. Or at least I would have, if I hadn't bumped into a mass of something.

"Oh, I'm so sorr- oh, it's you." I scowl at the boy in front of me, not wanting anything to do with him.

Levi. The same Levi who is the most popular guy in school, and...my neighbor.

I have to admit, puberty did him well, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a huge jerk.

Not only is he considered the school's personal 'hottest bad boy', he's also my ex-best friend. Which makes things between us even more awkward.

Back when I was in fifth grade(and him sixth,) we got into some huge fight and suddenly we just avoided each other, not even throwing the other a glance.

But, here he is.

"Woah, careful with the merchandise," he says gesturing to himself in a joking manor. He locks eyes with me and pauses after his expression goes cold. "Eren? What are you doing up here?" He says rudely.

"I could ask you the same." Smooth. Smooth as freaking sandpaper. Of course he's up here.

"My classes are up here." He says with an incredulous chuckle. He crosses his arms and starts to walk again. "Still the same as all those years ago. Watch where you're going next time." He walks past me, bumping into my shoulder.

I was about to lash out with a comeback, but I think better of it. "Wait, Levi." I grab onto his arm but quickly release him when he turns around with a hateful glare. "What is it?"

"I know we're not on the best of terms but I need to ask you a favor.."
He turns to look at me fully and waits for me to speak. Gosh, this is harder than I thought it would be.

"Can...you pretend to be my boyfriend? J-Just for today?"
Levi's expression turned to something that looked like surprise and disgust.
"Why?"
"Look, I can pay you. I-"

"I don't want your money." He turns around to walk again but I run in front of him. "Come on, please. After this we don't ever have to see each other again."

He lets out a sigh. "Fine. But what's in it for me?"

I look down and chew my bottom lip, trying to think something up.
"I...I'll grant you three wishes!"

Levi's angered expression turns to an amused one and he lifts up an eye brow.
"As in you'll give me, or do, anything?"

I nod once. "Anything."