Chapter 4

                                    

                                          
Eren's POV
                          
A little while has passed since Levi and I started dating. We ate lunch together with his friends, I would sometimes watch him practice, and I would go to his games. We kissed from time to time, and it felt good each time. My sixth grade self would love this future.
                          
Today was our first date. Levi said he was going to pick me up at my place around seven, so I got ready at six. I wore my favorite olive green sweater and a pair of grey jeans. I brushed my brown hair multiple times, wondering where we were going. He never told me exactly where our date was going to be.
                          
It was now eight o’clock, and Levi was late. I knew I couldn’t trust him. He was probably making me get all dressed up for nothing to make me realize that there was no way he’d actually go on a date with me. I was a little surprised and hurt, honestly. Maybe somewhere deep down I still had feelings for Levi?
                          
Just then, the doorbell rang. I sat on my bed staring down at my hands. I wanted to throw up. That feeling went away when I heard Levi’s voice come from downstairs. 
“Hi,” I heard, but just barely. “Is Eren here?”
“Oh!” Mom gasped. “You’re Levi! I haven’t seen you in so long!” 
“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Jaeger.”
                          
I immediately put my shoes on, tied them, and ran downstairs to see Levi standing outside and my mom talking to him.
“Thanks for answering the door mom, gotta go, bye,” I rushed my words as I walked past her to grab Levi’s hand and pull him towards his car.
“Wait!” She called. “Is he your new boyfriend?”
“Yes,” Levi called back to her.
“Have him home by twelve!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
                          
We both got in his car, and I told him to hurry so we can leave. When we drove off, I leaned back in the leather seat and ran my fingers through my hair.
“What was that all about?” He laughed.
“Whenever I bring someone over, my mom tends to ask a ton of questions,” I said, letting out a sigh. “And she will most definitely ask you where you’ve been since sixth grade.”
“You didn’t tell her?” 
“No. Hell no.”
                          
Back then, if I told her the real reason as to why we weren’t friends anymore, she would have had a talk with his parents and they could’ve gotten in an argument resulting in our dads not being buddy buddy at work. I couldn’t have that. When I explained this to him, he just said “I guess”.
                          
“Anyway, why the hell are you an hour late?” I asked, glaring daggers at him. He glanced at me and made a confused expression. 
“What are you talking about? We agreed on eight o’clock.”
“No, you said seven.”
“Ah, shit,” Levi cursed. “I put the wrong time on my calendar.”
My heart did a leap. 
“You put it on your calendar?”
                          
“Well, yeah,” he coughed. “This date means a lot to me, you know.” This date means a lot to me. This date means a lot to me. I never thought I’d hear those words come from his mouth about me. It made my heart throb almost painfully. 
“Stop that,” I said, feeling myself blush.
“Stop what?”
“Stop making me like you again.”
                          
I didn’t dare look up from my knees. I was too afraid to see his reaction. Then, he spoke up.
“Then stop making me start to like you,” he said. 
“Shut up,” I forced laughter. “Your jokes aren’t helping me.”
“I’m not joking,” Levi’s voice was calm and serious. I lifted my head to look at him, but his eyes were fixed on the road. His grey eyes glanced at me for a split second, and then went back to the road. We stayed quiet until we reached a bookstore.
                          
Inside, it smelled like vanilla and almonds. I loved the scent. It almost made me forget what happened in the car. I wanted to ask him about it, but at the same time, I didn’t. If he likes me, my childhood dream would come true. But then again, we wouldn’t be together. What if he breaks up with me when he finds out how much longer I have to live like Jean did? I was afraid of that.
                          
We went to the fantasy section and checked out some books there, then went to graphic novels, and then to self help. Levi just stood with his hands in his pockets, watching me carefully.
“If you were just going to be bored, why did you bring me here?” I asked.
“Well, I figured you like to read, so what better place than a bookstore?”
I chuckled. “Levi, let’s go somewhere you want to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Then let’s go to the beach.”

                          
Levi's POV
                          
I drove us to the beach that night, and I felt like my heart was pounding a little too much. I was head over heels for this dork and we had just started fake dating. But he likes me too. That’s the best part of this situation. I knew that I wanted to be with him, and I pretty much already confessed my feelings to him. Now, I just need to ask him to be completely mine.
                          
We sat in the sand with our pants rolled up to our ankles and our toes dug into the sand. It was cold, but it felt good. Well, it felt good for me anyway. Eren was shaking like a chihuahua. I took off my jacket and handed it to him.
“No, I can’t,” he smiled shyly. “You’re gonna get cold.” 
“Not as cold as you are right now,” I said getting up and throwing the jacket over his head.
                          
Eren removed it from his head and slipped his arms into the sleeves. It was greatly oversized on him, but it looked cute. He hugged his knees to his chest staring down at his sand buried toes in silence. Now was my chance.
“So, uh, Eren,” I stammered. Shit. “Do you want to, you know, date me?”
“We are dating,” he said.
“No, I mean...never mind.”
                          
He didn’t say anything after that. He only hugged his knees closer and blushed rather adorably. I felt my face go hot a little, too. 
“Levi,” he spoke my name.
“Yeah?”
“I would love to date you.”
                          
I felt a grin tug at the corners of my mouth as I tried to conceal my excitement, but it didn’t work. I ended up having to cover my mouth. 
“Are you okay?” Eren laughed.
“Shut up,” I chuckled. “I’m happy, alright?”
                          
Eren then got on his knees and crawled over to me to kiss me, and I felt it. Oh, did I feel it. My heart fluttered and it was as though my lips were on fire. I loved it so much. I wanted to hold onto him forever.
                          
I drove him back to his house before his curfew and walked him to his door. I smiled down at him as he grinned up at me.
“I’ll see you at school,” I said.
“Yeah. See you.”
I then leaned down to kiss him, and right when our lips touched, the door opened and there stood his mother.
                          
I immediately pulled away and looked at her. She had a wide smile on her face and her eyes were rounded. 
“I knew it!” She exclaimed.
“Mom!” Eren turned beet red.
“H-Hello, Mrs. Jaeger,” I stuttered.
                          
“Hello, Levi,” she smiled even wider if possible. “Thank you very much for making Eren happy.”
“It’s my pleasure, really,” I said, scratching the back of my head in embarrassment.
“Okay, goodnight, Levi,” Eren said quickly as he shoved his mother into the house and slammed the door. I stood there, feeling like my heart was going to burst.