And so begins my next multi-chapter story! Please keep in mind that the characters are a bit OOC because they are in a different setting, but I tried to write everyone as in-character as possible. Enjoy!
The weather is not in Mikasa's favor as she drives to Annie's house. The sky is blanketed in a never-ending sheet of grey and rain pours continuously from above, making it difficult to see even with the assistance of the windshield wipers. She sighs and smoothly turns into Annie's neighborhood. The two had grown close once they entered high school, and by the time they were juniors they were practically joined at the hip, save for when Mikasa was still stuck to Eren's. Once Mikasa turned sixteen and earned enough money to buy a car (she worked every other day at the local library), she found herself at the blonde girl's house quite often, just to spend time with her outside of school and relax.
By the time she reaches Annie's house, the rain has stopped momentarily. Mikasa grabs all her bags (she takes many when she stays at Annie's, for she tends to stay for several days at a time), and makes a beeline for the front door, where her blond headed friend is waiting, holding it open for her. Mikasa brushes past her with a low "thank you," and just as the door shuts the rain picks up again.
"Nice timing," Annie muses, watching the puddles on her lawn grow as the rain picks up speed. Mikasa walks upstairs and puts her things in the corner of Annie's room, then quickly rejoins her downstairs.
"My dad left twenty bucks to order pizza with," Annie mentions as Mikasa comes into view, "just tell me when you get hungry."
The ravenette nods silently and joins the other girl on the couch, pulling out her phone and opening her Facebook app. It doesn't take long for her to find the images that have been troubling her for several days now Connie sheepishly kissing Sasha's cheek, Christa dozing off and leaning on Ymir's shoulder, even Eren and Armin posing together with there cheeks pressed against each other with goofy expressions on their faces. It was beginning to feel like everyone around her was in a serious relationship.
"I'm very happy for them, the relationships themselves don't bother me," She once told her mother, "I'm just jealous of them all, I suppose…"
She scrolls past the happy couples and lands on a picture of Jean, just Jean. She's known about the older boy's affections towards her for some time, considering he would complement her nearly every day since ninth grade, despite Eren's warnings to "stay away from his sister."
He'd found himself a girlfriend or two between then and now, if Mikasa recalls correctly, but he would complement her regardless. "Your hair looks really pretty today," he would often tell her. What if…
"Hey, Annie," Mikasa says, "Jean is still giving you rides to school, correct?"
"Yeah, why?" Annie asks, flipping through channels on the television.
"I was just wondering…Has he mentioned me at all lately?"
"Well, I can't remember exactly what he said, but he's talked about you before. He think's your gorgeous, not that that's some big secret." Annie shrugs nonchalantly.
"So, you think he may still, uh…Like me?" Mikasa asks. She can feel her cheeks burning as Annie turns her way and raises a brow ever so slightly.
"Probably," she answers slowly, "why? You wouldn't happen to be interested, would you?"
"Well…I've been thinking about it a lot, lately," Mikasa slowly admits. She can see Annie turn her head fully to stare at her, her usually half lidded eyes now completely open.
"I mean," she starts again, "he's never been anything but nice to me, we get along great, so why not, y'know…at least give him a chance?"
Annie sighs after remaining silent for several moments, "are you sure? This will not sit well with Eren at all."
"Eren doesn't need to know," she mumbles, "but let's not get ahead of the situation. I mean, for all I know, Jean could have lost interest by now…"
"I can text him and ask," Annie whips out her phone and taps on Jean's icon, her fingers quickly tapping away at the keyboard.
"Wha-Annie! Wait!" Mikasa stammers, "you can't just ask! I mean, just…don't be blunt about it, you know?"
"Ok," the blonde nods and continues typing, "since when did you become so shy?"
-Hey Jean, are you still interested in Mikasa?
"I'm not being shy," Mikasa insists, "I just don't want to come across as creepy or desperate." Annie stops tapping and sets her phone down on her chest.
"What did you say?" Mikasa asks after the passing of a several silent moments.
"I just asked-" Annie pauses when her screen lights up again. She tilts the screen out of Mikasa's view, smirking faintly when she sees how bothered her friend is by this.
-Jean K: Why?
-She's asking.
"Annie, what are you telling him? Why are you smiling? Annie!" Mikasa reaches for the phone, but Annie keeps her at bay, straightening out her one of her legs and pulling the phone closer to her face. The screen lights up again, illuminating Annie's face. Mikasa reaches for it, but with having Annie's foot lodged in her chest the device is out of reach.
-Jean K: Wait…how? Like, is she interested, too?
-That's what it looks like. I'll forward you her number.
"Annie, come one!" Mikasa pleads, hitting the leg that kept her from reaching the phone. She sees the blonde tap a few more keys and then turn off her screen, setting the phone on the glass coffee table in front of the couch.
"W-well?" Mikasa asks, settling back on her side of the couch, "what did he-"she pauses, feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket. She didn't recognize the number on her screen, but the message below it meant it could only be one person.
-Hey, Mikasa, it's Jean. Uh, Annie said you wanted to talk to me?
The blush on her cheeks made Annie scoot closer to get a look. "Blushing already, Mikasa?" Annie teases. Mikasa pushes her lightly and Annie chuckles, "I'll leave you alone and order that pizza."
Mikasa gulps nervously. Why am I so nervous? This is Jean, after all, so even if he isn't still interested, he wont be mean about it… She saves his number in her contacts and reluctantly responds.
-I did, but what did she tell you, exactly?
She listens to Annie instructing the employee on the phone what topping to put on the two pizzas she ordered as she waits for Jean to respond. She hears Annie annoyingly correct the employee about her address, then see's her phone's screen light up with a familiar, and oddly welcomed name. However, instead of a responding with a text, he's calling quickly clears her throat and picks up her device.
"H-hello…?" God damn it.
"Aha, hey, Mikasa!" Jean chuckles into the phone, "sorry to call you, but figured it would be better if we, uhm…talked about this."
"Oh, right," Mikasa feels herself blush at his words, "I've just been thinking about it a lot lately, and…" And I really want to give you a chance. No! Too stuck-up! "Sorry, this is all new to me," she admits, making herself laugh lightly.
"What, being attracted to someone?" She can tell he's smirking, "surely the great Mikasa Ackerman can do something that actually comes naturally to other people."
"Come on, Jean," Mikasa is not one who loves to be showered with complements.
"What do you mean 'come on' Mikasa?" She hears the tone in his voice change, "I mean this in all seriousness, you're amazing. Why you would even consider giving me the time of day is beyond me. Part of me still believes this is a prank…"
"No, Jean, this is all legit," she confesses, "I…I really do like you, and I'm sorry that I sound so…weird, I've never done this before…"
She hears him gasp through the phone, then clear his throat, "Really? You've never had a boyfriend?"
"No," she whispers, embarrassed.
"And you picked me, out of all people, to be your first?"
"Don't say it like that, Jean," Mikasa reprimands.
"Alright," he snorts, "so now what? I-I mean, what are you doing this weekend?"
"I'm staying at Annie's all weekend," as if on cue, the shorter girl returns to the front room, "but maybe we can do something Sunday night?"
"Y-yeah, Sunday night…" he trails off and she hears a muffled laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just…" he clears his throat again, "th-this…it…I mean, not that it's bad, but…just…wow…"
"Yeah, I know, huh?" Annie sits beside her and gives her a look, silently asking what happened while she was away. Judging by Mikasa's joyful expression, it must have been good.
"Alright, well, Marco just got here," Jean says, "so, I guess I'll hang up now…"
"Ok, bye Jean."
"Bye, I'll text you later, Mikasa." He adds emphasis to her name before hanging up.
She turns off her screen and leans against the soft cushions on the couch. What the hell just happened?
"Well?" Annie asks, snapping her fingers in front of her face, "how'd it go?"
"We're going to meet up on Sunday night," Mikasa answers, staring up at the ceiling, "to make it official, I suppose."
"Good for you, Mikasa," Annie pats her on the back, "it's about time you hooked up with someone."
"Like you have room to talk," Mikasa swats her hand away gently. As far as Mikasa was aware, Annie had never been in a relationship either, but she also showed no interest in starting one.
The doorbell rings and Annie rises to answer. "What the hell," she feigns anger and Mikasa listens to the door swing open, "do you two have a fucking detector for when I order pizza?"
A deep chuckle, "We just have good timing," heavy footsteps, "so where is it?"
"I just ordered it not five minutes ago, Reiner." Annie nearly growls, "and I didn't know you were coming, so Mikasa and I get first dibs."
"Mikasa's here?" The taller blonde pokes his head into the room, "why didn't you speak up!" Reiner walks over and ruffles her hair. She smacks his hand away and fixes her hair, waving to a much quieter Bertholt once he enters.
Annie reclaims her spot beside the oriental and starts flipping through the channels once more. After several minutes of small talk and bickering over what to watch between Annie and Reiner, Mikasa feels a familiar buzzing in her pocket. Annie must have felt it as well, for the moment she pulled out her phone she could feel Annie peering over her shoulder. She bucked her shoulder and Annie moved swiftly to avoid it. Damn her.
Jean K: I told Marco and he down right squealed.
She grins to herself softly.
-Reiner and Bertholt just showed up, not sure if I want to tell them yet…
She glances over at the taller boys, who are now in a what seems to be deep conversation with Annie about how great the local college is. She and the rest of her friends had been thankful that the two decided not to attend one of the more distant schools they were excepted into. God, all of Connie's parties would be so boring without the big brother of the gang, and without Bertholt around to keep everyone from getting wasted one of us would probably be in jail right now. Her phone vibrates again.
Jean K: How come? I wont be mad, if that's what your afraid of.
-It's not that, I'm just afraid Reiner will bear-hug me to death or mess up my hair again.
Jean K: Haha, yeah, I'd be afraid too. Reiner's hugs could kill a guy.
-I'm glad you see things my way
Jean K: As for the hair, you shouldn't worry about that. Your hair always looks great!
That makes her smile, but she is unable to think of a suitable response. Not that she wasn't used to receiving complements from him, she was just normally in a situation where all she would have to say is "thank you," and keep walking. But saying it through texts just feels…rude, especially if she doesn't complement him in return.
"What are you smiling at?" Reiner questions mischievously.
"Just something on Facebook." Nice recovery.
"Let me see." Shit.
"It's just that picture of Eren and Armin," she lies, straight faced as ever, "the one they uploaded right after school."
"Ah, that one," Reiner grins.
-I almost got caught. Reiner saw me smiling at my phone and wanted to see what it was.
Jean K: Lol, what did you tell him it was?
-A picture of Armin and Eren on Facebook.
Jean K: Nice…so I made you smile?
-….maybe
Jean K: If it helps, I've been smiling this entire time. I may have to go soon, though, I started texting you when Marco got in the shower but I think he'll be out soon.
-That's ok, you had plans with him first, anyways. I don't want to come between you two this early on.
Jean K: Hah, honestly he probably would mind, but then again you're also with Annie and the guys.
She looks up and sees Bertholt and Annie continuing in their conversation, but Reiner is eyeing her suspiciously.
-I think Reiner is on to me
Jean K: Reiner no.
"I think the pizza guy just got here," Reiner rises and Annie hands him the twenty. He returns moments later with two pizza boxes in hand.
"Say, Mikasa," Reiner begins as he sets down the boxes on the coffee table, "when did you start texting Jean so much?"
"Why were you looking at my phone?" Mikasa deadpans.
"Why are you avoiding the question?" He asks through a mouthful of pizza.
"Fine," she rolls her eyes, "we're talking about going out on Sunday."
It satisfies her when both boys nearly choke on their pizza.
-I told them. They nearly choked.
Jean K: What did you tell them?
-That we were going out this Sunday.
Jean K: That's what I told Marco…who just walked back in, so I'll let you go. Text you later, see you Sunday! ;)
-Alright, see you on Sunday ^^
She tucks her phone back into her pocket and reaches for a slice of pizza, only to notice the box closest to her is empty. She sends a glare towards the boys and Annie, then opens the other box, grabbing the biggest piece she can find out of spite.
"So have you told Eren yet?" Reiner asks as he finishes off his last slice.
"We just decided it today, so I haven't had the chance." Mikasa takes a bite, silently savoring the taste of cheese and garlic sauce on her tongue, "besides, I want to see how things play out before I start telling everyone. You all and Marco are the only ones who know."
"Well, until you give the word," Annie says, "we wont say anything." Reiner and Bertholt nod in agreement.
The rest of the evening passes without much event. Reiner and Bertholt stay for a few hours and leave around eleven, leaving Mikasa and Annie to entertain themselves until they tire out around one. Mikasa, having changed into her just her nightwear, checks her phone after hours of leaving unattended. Jean had sent her a message about an hour ago.
Jean K: Going to bed, goodnight and sweet dreams!
Mikasa had no idea how long he'd been waiting to send her that text.
-I know you're probably asleep, but I'll send this anyways: sweet dreams!
Nor how long he'd been waiting to receive that one.
The next morning she wakes heavy-eyed and with tangled black locks. She sits up and stretches, noticing Annie is still deep in slumber. She yawns and goes to take her place back against the pillow, but she hears a familiar buzzing form the dresser beside the bed. Groggily she climbs out of bed and picks up her device, smiling at the name the flashes across her screen.
Jean K: I know it's early, but I'm going to work and wont be able to text again until lunch. Anyways, I just wanted to tell you good morning.
She sets her phone back down and reclaims her spot under the sheets, dozing off back into her dreams with a blissful grin spread across her face.
