Disclosure: I have probably spelled things wrong and there may be some things off but I didn't edit very hard. Well I hope you guys like it and stay tuned for the next chapter. Also I will be posting this on ao3 as well so if you want check it out there too. Thanks!

12:00 pm Lecture is always the worst for me. Its right when I want to be eating lunch. So when I get out of class it's later than I usually eat and I can't eat before because then, because it's too early. So my art studies class was really starting to become a bother. I don't remember why I took the class in the first place. I'm not an art major but maybe one drunken night it sounded fun. I can't remember but I do remember the first time I saw him.

The room was muggy and smelled of ink, coffee, and exhaustion. The teacher looked bright and well versed in the ways of art but also like he took no shit from anyone. Everyone around me looked tired. There was no difference in these students than in any other ones except that these people looked like more fun to be around. Our lecture hall was like any other, the semi circle of desks surrounding the professor going all the way up at an angle. I decided because of my little knowledge of the subject that I would sit fairly close to the front to absorb all of the information I could. It was two weeks into the class like any other day. The PowerPoint was on talking about classic renaissance artists and I was taking notes while trying very hard to not think about my ever so present hunger when I looked straight ahead of me.

He looked about my age with dark brown hair parted in the middle. Petite brown specks littered his nose and cheeks in an unmaintained manner. His deep brown eyes focused harshly on the professor and his words. He took down everything and seemed like he didn't miss a word. He looked up for just a second and though he didn't make eye contact with me I knew I had to take a look at his notes. I don't know how long I stared at him for but the next thing I know I was watching people stir and pack up. Class must have been over and I didn't realize it in my freckled daydreams. I quickly began packing up my things. Now I had to ask that guy for his notes because I missed the last part of the lecture. My feet didn't move as fast as they should have and I watch him walk out of the hall. Before he completely disappeared I called out to him.

"Hey...uh guy with the freckles and the blue shirt. Hey can you hear me!" I yelled hoping for a response but only getting the chance to watch him walk out. As I made my way to the cafeteria I wonder why he didn't respond. The only reason that seemed logical enough was because he didn't hear me.

"Earth to Jean, are you okay?" A small voice called out behind me. I turned to see the small blond. His blue eyes looked into my brown ones with worry. "I've been calling your name since you left your classroom." He held his books and note books tight to his chest as we weaved through the chaos of the college café.

"Hey Armin, yeah sorry I didn't hear you. I was a little distracted." I explained rubbing the back of my neck.

"I noticed, are you okay?" he repeated.

"Yeah I'm fine just hungry. What are you getting?" Without his notice I brought us to the first line I saw and was looking at the menu. Armin was a worrier. He cared a lot about people and had a tenancy to over read emotions. We were good friends despite his friends hating me. We met in my math class when I asked him if he understood any of the shit on the board. From then on I've bought him coffee and he's helped me with my math as well as all of my other classes. As we got our food and sat down he pulled out something and began working on it.

"So what had you so distracted?" he asked highlighting a particular part in his notes.

"Nothing really, just something I heard in class. I'm starting to like it actually." I took a large bite of my sandwich, and then mouth full asked "Why don't you type your notes? We live in the 21 century if you didn't notice." He rolled his eyes and took a drink of his coffee.

"Handwritten notes help me remember the information better. Maybe you should try it instead of pretending to take notes and playing solitaire." The response cut into my arrogant demeanor like butter.

"Whoa, note taken." I said ironically and he shot me a glare. I raised my hands in the air in an action of defeat. "I didn't mean to do that."

He set his highlighter down and rubbed his temples. He looked up at me and suddenly looked very tired. His eyes had bags and dark circles. His mouth sat in a tight position as he figured out what to say.

"I'm sorry, I have been stressed. Erin is being an asshole and Mikasa won't talk to him and well it's a whole thing. Sorry I snapped at you."

I waved a hand at him and smiled just a little. "Its fine, I always think Erin's an asshole but he must be doing something really shitty to get you to say it." He chuckled and raised his hands and began tying his golden locks into a pony tail.

"Yeah, well he's being one." He finished putting his hair up and went back to his notes. As he highlighted and drank his coffee I could tell he wanted to tell me more, or maybe I just wanted to pry.

"Tell me more." He bit the inside of his cheek and sighed.

"Okay, but don't tell Erin I told you."

"I don't tell Jaeger anything" I stated seriously.

"He has this huge crush on his professor, you know the one. He teaches Nazi propaganda and World War Two. He has been pining after this man for weeks, walking around the dorm being on edge. Finally Mikasa had it and broke the truth to him. He didn't take it well. They have been fighting ever since and I have been caught in the middle." He hung his head low and breathed slowly as if trying to catch his breath.

I knew how stressed he was about this so I held my laughter in. I knew this teacher he was talking about and he was not the gay type. Not like there is a type but he doesn't seem like he even has the ability to love, especially Jaeger. I reached a hand out and patted Armin's arm which made him look at me.

"Hey don't stress it too much he'll get over this. It's just a crush." Armin gave me a weak smile and we finished our lunch and went our separate ways for the day. I went through the rest of my classes laughing about Erens' teacher crush and thinking about that guy. I don't know why he was on my mind but he was. His presence lingered in my mind for the rest of the day and even seeped into my dreams. I woke the next day in a good mood and curious when the next time I would see that guy, and I wouldn't have guessed where it would be next.

To help make tuition I work part time at a coffee shop near the university and I happen to work with a couple of friends. I work the front counter a lot because no one else wants to. A lot of irritated students or old people order at this specific store so it's awful being upfront. I have the worst attitude so they put me on the counter because people are less likely to get mad at me directly because I look intimidating. As I put my apron on a young pony-tailed girl slides towards me. Right next to her is her partner in crime. They smile sweetly and look at me both blinking quickly to make themselves seem more innocent. I reach under that counter to retrieve a rag and begin wiping the finger print covered counter.

"What do you want?" I refer to them as one person without looking away from my task. The boy makes a noise and walks over to the other side of me and flops on the counter top.

"Why so harsh? We're just saying hi." He says watching his friend lay on the counter as well.

"Yeah you don't need to be so mean Jean." She says with exaggeration.

"You're dirtying my counter." I say finishing my task and putting the rag away. I walk over the coffee counter and check everything, making sure they stocked before I got here; they didn't. One hand on my hip and the other in the air I turn to the troublesome duo. "What the hell, you didn't stock." My scolding brings them to attention and with faster speed than I thought was possible by them, they rush off to stock. As I start my next duty I hear Connie call out from the back of the store.

"Hey, you know how you're a hermit and never leave your dorm?" I pause but don't look at him. He just continues. "Well there is a party tonight. You have the night off and no classes or work tomorrow. So you should come with Sasha and me."

Before I could get a word in I hear Sasha chime in. "Come on it'll be fun! And there is a girl we want you to meet."

"Sasha!" Connie yelled dropping his arm full of foam cups dramatically" She looked back and shrugged.

"Come on he wasn't going to buy our story. At least now he'll wear something nice." She said folding her arms.

"Pick those up and I'm not going." I finished my scan of the lobby and walked back behind the counter. "Also I'm a little concerned that you know my schedule." Both of their eyes were on me then on each other. They bickered and finished stocking. I took my usual spot in the back and listened to their stupid fight over me. I didn't go to parties because they were stupid. It was a bunch of idiots getting together with bad music and booze. My idea of a fun night didn't involve drunk strangers and dirty frat houses. It involved getting drunk by myself in my dorm. Every so often they tried to get me to go to parties, mostly because they wanted me to be their muscle if they got into a fight or be their DD but they never had an agenda for me before. Maybe meeting a girl wouldn't be that bad, but then again maybe I don't want to meet a girl. For the 60th time today that freckled weirdo has popped into my head for some unknown reason. The next thing I know both of my coworkers are in front of my face.

"Listen if you go I'll buy you lunch." Connie offered and Sasha yelled "And dinner!" He turned and gripped "I'm not made of money Sasha!"

"It would be more interesting if you were." She responded and before he could say anything she got on her knees in front of me and bowed her head. "Please, just this one party. We will never beg you again just this one. And this girl is very nice, promise." Her mouth and big brown eyes smiled up at me, pleading. If she was this desperate then maybe I should.

"Fine!" I yelled standing up quickly. "God I'll go but if it sucks I'm leaving." I rubbed the back of my head as the two of them jumped up and down and hugged like they had just won the lottery. They high fived and started talking at the same time but I walked away back to the front of the store because the bell rang. I froze just behind the cash register shocked by who just walked in. His brown eyes were glued to the floor as he scurried up the counter. "U..Uh…hi. How are you?" I asked more nervously than I wanted to sound. But he didn't respond, instead he held out a paper without looking at me or anyone else. He pulled out his phone and only then did I realize he had headphones shoved in his ears. I took the shaky piece of paper out of his hands and read his order. I looked up at him, confusion taking over my features. "Connie come make this order." I yelled. I held the paper back out to him and announced his total. "$4.40 please." I have to admit I sounded saltier than I wanted to, but he could also have enough decency to talk to his cashier.

He held out his money and waited for his change patiently. Connie came out and took his little receipt to start the order. We exchanged looks as the guy sat at a table and stared at his phone. We called out his order and waited. Only when he looked up did he come and get it. Before he hurried out the door he left a tip in the small Mason jar in front of the register and smiled at me, finally looking me in the eyes. His bright smile took over my mind for a second. Connie's words brought me back to reality.

"That guy comes in all the time; he never talks and always has headphones in. He seems like a jerk but he's nice." He said cleaning up his mess.

"And he always leaves a tip!" Sasha exclaimed cleaning the counter with Connie. "Did you know him?" She asked. I made a small noise in my throat and turned around shaking his image and smile out of my head. This guy really knew how to get into the cracks.

"He's in my art studies class."

"Oh I didn't know we all went to the same school." Sasha said putting her hands on my shoulders. Really I didn't know either but I was done with the conversation.

"We need to get to work." I demanded shaking the young girl off my shoulders and walking to the back room to find something to do. I heard mummers of complaints but ignored them and instead thought of my upcoming party and my freckled mystery boy.