College is like Schizophrenia
Chapter 1:
He was nervous -scratch that- he was petrified. Eren was shaking like a leaf as he walked toward the ginormous fraternity house. Eren Jaeger, the son of country renowned doctor Grisha Jaeger, gripped his backpack straps as he approached the doors of the house. Biting his lip as he got closer.
Eren was a German boy that had come across the world to attend school with his best friends and get away from his father. He wasn't really looking for a major, just a taste of freedom from his father. His best friends Armin and Mikasa had suggested it to him after a year there, telling him he would enjoy himself and get a temporary green card to get him through school. He jumped at the chance, agreeing without his fathers approval. In fact while his father was away at a clients house Eren had grabbed his things he had already packed and the ticket his two friends had bought for him, and took off for the airport without telling his father. The flight itself had scared Eren already, but now the school was scaring him. It was like a modernized castle with courts for sports outside, as well as different mansions for the fraternities and sororities on the school campus.
Now Eren stood in front of the big twin oak doors shaking harder then ever before as he held the straps roughly, sweat rolling down his face as he gulped. It wasn't an extremely hot day like it had been, but Eren was still sweating like crazy from the fear, which caused the medium length hair to stick to the back of his neck. He'd never been out of Germany, nor away without his father watching him, it was all new and scary to him. He shifted his legs, the skin pressing against the holes in the knees of his pants. His shirt was nothing more than a light weight soccer t-shirt that seemed a size too big as it hung from his thin body. Raising his fist to knock on the door Eren froze for a second, that slowly fading as he knocked on the door heavily. Stepping back he heard the doors deadbolt click and watched it open to a shorter bald man. He looked Eren up and down with his narrow eyes before speaking. "Can I help you?" He stood straight Eren taking in and translating the words. His limit on dictionary was a small amount, he'd come hoping Armin would teach him to speak English more fluently.
"Uh! H-Hallo. Armin Arlert und Mikasa Ackerman live here? Yes?" He asked, the boy staring at him for a moment before turning.
"Hey Armin! Someone's asking for you at the door!" He yelled, stepping inside.
"I'll be right there!" The voice of his long separated friend made Eren smile, taking a step forward.
"Come in, please? Me?" Eren said, the boy turning with a raised brow.
"If you're asking to come wait inside come on in. Armin's got his nose in a book so give him a moment." Eren nodded, walking in and shutting the door behind him. "Mikasa's sitting with her cousin, how about I just take you there instead of leaving you to wait alone. You don't seem to be from around here pal." The shorter boy said while waving his hand toward Eren. "By the way I'm Connie Springer, you are?"
"Ich bin Eren Jaeger."
"Eren. Nice to meet you." With that Connie showed Eren into a main room packed full of people all chatting.
"Hey I brought him in since its a little hot to wait." Connie explained as he stopped in the doorway. Eren looked over at the people looking up at the two. He shook a bit, but stopped dead when he saw Armin with his nose in a book, Mikasa sitting next to him as she was looking away at a man next to her. The two talked, the man taking notice. With a smile Eren took a step forward, calling out to his friends.
"Mikasa! Armin!" At the yell the two looked over at Eren, a moment passing before they shot up. Armin's book went flying across the table as he and the Asian girl ran over. They both tackled Eren in a hug, the young German laughing happily as he hugged back.
"Eren I thought your flight was tomorrow!?" Mikasa yelled the three still holding each other tightly.
"Trade ticket, come today!" Eren said as he pulled away to smile at his friends. None seemed to notice the eyes watching the three.
"Your English is not any better!" Armin yelled with a bright smile. "Es ist sehr gut zu sehen!"
"Ich bin froh dich zu sehen, beide von Ihnen!" Eren looked back and forth at the two.
"Haben Sie bekommen grösser?" Mikasa asked happily.
"Ein wenig."
"Can we find out who this young man is?" A woman asked, her glasses a skewed. The three turning to face the men and woman looking at the trio, puzzled.
"Sorry for our excitement. This is our friend Eren Jaeger. We haven't seen each other in a few years so its exciting." Armin explained, Eren shaking a little bit.
"Why hello Eren!" The woman jumped off the couch she had been rested on and reached the three in record time. Her hands were folded together as her eyes shined. "I'm Zöe Hange, you can call me either! It's finally time we met a friend of the two!" Eren just stared at her confusingly before looking over at Armin.
"Hold on Hange please. Your confusing him." Mikasa butted in. Hange looked at her with confusion.
"What?"
"Eren is our new fraternity brother. He's from Germany and speaks little to no English." Armin explained, patting Eren's shoulder.
"Eren say hallo. Sprechen Sie Englisch." Mikasa said, Eren nodding.
"H-hallo. I…I Eren Jaeger. Please meet…all." Eren said with a small smile.
"He's trying his best." Armin smiled and turned to Eren. "I'm going to introduce you now to everyone. Do you understand?"
"Ja, arschloch." Eren mumbled, leaving Mikasa to chuckle.
"Okay, so you met Connie right?" Armin said and pointed to said bald boy.
"Ja." Armin moved his hand to Hange.
"Zöe Hange." Moving again he pointed to another girl with blue eyes and blonde hair pulled back. "Annie Leonhart. Next to her is Reiner Braun and Bertoldt Hoover. Eating on the couch is Sasha Braus. Are you still with me?"
"Ja Armin." Eren's eyes shined as he looked at the person beside Sasha.
"That's Historia Reiss, but she goes by Christa. Beside her is Ymir. Freckled boy right there is Marco Bodt, he speaks some German so maybe he can teach you." Mikasa said with a smile.
"Next to him is Jean Kristein. Beside him is Erwin Smith." Armin pointed to man muscly man with caterpillar sized eyebrows. The man next to him caught Eren's eye instantly, his grumpy face making Eren scared again.
"That's my cousin Levi, he's a rude jackass, but just ignore him. Next to him is Petra Ral." Mikasa explained, Eren smiling a bit wider.
"Everyone else is either in the sorority next door or out still in class." Armin explained, Eren looking confused at him. "Too many words?" Eren nodded, Armin chuckling. "Man I missed you buddy."
"Do you have anymore bags? Just this one doesn't seem like much?" Mikasa asked, Eren shaking his head.
"One bag." He answered.
"Come sit down, I want to know how your dad let you out of the country alone."
"Ich lief weg."
"You what!?" Mikasa yelled in shock.
"Er war weg auf die Arbeit so packte ich meine Tasche und ging."
"That's dangerous Eren, call him right now and tell him that your at least safe."
"Ich habe mein Handy zu Hause."
"Oh Eren, your going to be in so much trouble when your dad finds out."
"No tell." Eren said, eyes filled with fear. "Ich brauchte, um zu lassen, dass er mich zu Tode ersticken."
"Eren…just tell me you brought your medicine, we don't want you to have an episode."
"Ja." Eren yawned, looking at the time on his watch. It was night over in Germany by this point and Eren was tired after the long flight.
"Müde?" Armin asked, Eren shaking his head up and down slowly.
"Just wait a few more hours, best to get you use to the schedule and time change." Armin said, slapping Eren's cheeks lightly after the boy closed his eyes. "I'll go get a room set up and he can meet everyone else when they get back." Armin walked back to the room Eren and Connie had come from.
"Your hairs long again." Mikasa sighed, Eren chuckling.
"Long, like it." Eren smiled, Mikasa shaking her head.
"Alright, if you say so."
"How'd you meet Eren Mikasa?" Levi spoke up, eyes dragging to him.
"Eren is the son of Grisha Jaeger, the man that took care of me after mother and fathers accident. Eren and I bonded while he taught me German. He's like a little brother to me. That's when I became friends with Armin." Eren just stared from her to Levi, confused at what they were saying.
"I see, just keep him out of trouble. That means drinking too."
"No drinker." Eren said, knowing what Levi said that time.
"Eren doesn't drink, he gets wild and angry when drunk so yah."
"So uh, how do we talk to him?" Jean asked, nudging a thumb towards Eren.
"Ask Armin and I, we'll translate for you. Though while he's here we want him to learn more English." Mikasa explained.
"So…what's your major Eren?" Connie asked, Eren thinking.
"No major." Eren said with a smile.
"What food do you like? Do you cook?" Levi asked, catching attention.
"Ja, würst. I cook…sweets." Eren smiled, still shaking.
"You must be hungry, how about I make you a sandwich?" Mikasa said with a smile, Eren shaking his head happily. "Alright sit down and I'll be right back."
"How come when I ask for a sandwich you don't make me one?" Jean asked with a huff.
"Because Eren's like a little brother to me. I have to take care of him too since he doesn't know about America." With that Mikasa left Eren standing, the boy standing quietly as everyone stared at him.
"Eren come sit next to me." Hange said, pulling Eren over to where she sat. She scooted Erwin over to make room. She flopped down, pulling Eren into the now open spot. "So Eren! Why you come to our little school?"
"Uh? Kleine nicht." Eren answered, Marco smiling with a little chuckle.
"He said its not small."
"Ich…I come for be with Mikasa and Armin." Eren said as he removed his backpack of clothes and things and placed it on the ground in front of the couch.
"You came to be with Armin and Mikasa." Hange corrected.
"Yes." Eren smiled.
"Your parents were okay with you moving to a different country?" Christa asked.
"Uh. They not know I here."
"They don't know you're here?" Petra asked.
"No." Eren muttered before Armin came into the room, Mikasa coming from another door with a sandwich on a plate.
"Eren your rooms set-up. Try to keep it clean unlike your old room." Armin said.
"Nein." Eren smiled playfully at his friend, Mikasa rolling her eyes as she gave Eren the plate.
"Armin show him to his room, tell him the rules." Mikasa said before returning to her seat again. Armin sighed, pulling Eren towards the stairs.
"Come on." Armin sighed, pulled Eren out of the room. Mikasa waited till she heard footsteps to reach over to Hange and grab Eren's bag.
"What are you doing?" Sasha asked out of curiosity.
"Checking to see if he has everything." Mikasa muttered, digging her fingers through the clothes. She smiled feeling two bottles at the bottom of the bag. "Alright, but he forgot supplies. Looks like I'll be taking him to the bookstore."
"I have notebooks and stuff I'm not using that he can have." Christa spoke up.
"I have some pens and pencils." Connie said.
"Alright, I need his schedule, but that can wait till tomorrow." Mikasa sighed, zipping the backpack up and throwing it over her shoulder. "Levi can you start dinner and I'll be back to help you? I've got to run over to see if all the girls are done with class."
"Yeah, it's soup tonight so it shouldn't be long, a few hours." Levi got up and walked to the kitchen without another word. Coming down the stairs was Armin, sighing.
"What a handful. Where are you going?" He asked Mikasa as she walked past him.
"To the girls dorm, inviting them over for dinner. You want to come with?"
"Yeah, I got to pick up some stuff from Isabel." Armin said, the two walking towards the door.
"Anyone going to help or am I on my own!?" Levi asked, not getting a response he looked into the living room. It was completely empty. With a sigh the man went back to boiling water.
While he waited ten minutes for the water to heat up he began to peel potatoes for the soup. Another sigh escape him as he looked at the small pile he had made. They were roughly cut, but skinless. What made things worse was he needed about twelve, but only has six and the waters finished its boiling. Turning around Levi looked up to see Eren standing in the corner.
"What brat?" He asked, Eren pointing to the boiling pot. "It won't be done for another hour brat. Go back upstairs and do something useful."
"I can help?" He asked with a wide smile, clearly not understanding Levi's words.
"You want to help me brat?" Levi asked, turning the stove to low.
"Ja." Eren smiled.
"Alright, peel six more potatoes." Levi said, giving Eren the currently cut potato and the cutter. With a smile Eren sat on a bar stool by the counter. Quietly the two worked, Levi peeking over at Eren when he was stirring the other vegetables in the steaming water. Said boy was peeling away happily. "So Eren is it?"
"Ja."
"You took care of Mikasa."
"Ja, she's me sister."
"My sister. You care about her and Armin?"
"Ja. I miss them when they leave. I was lone." Eren said with a sad smile.
"What about your other friends in Germany?"
"They my only friends. I not social." Eren explained as he placed the potato down and grabbed another.
"When you get comfortable here you'll make more friends."
"It would be nice?" Eren smiled happily up at Levi. "Has you seen backpack?" Eren said, peeking into the living room.
"Mikasa took it. Probably didn't want anyone snooping through your stuff brat."
"She's nice. I need bag though." Eren said, soon followed by the door opening.
"Big bro! We're here!" A girl yelled and seconds later Levi was wrapped in small arms. Eren looked over with a smile at the young girl holding Levi tightly. The grumpy man just stirred the vegetables.
"Hi Isabel. Wash your hands and go do some homework while I finish cooking dinner." Levi said bluntly, Eren watching as he skinned another potato.
"Do you need any help Levi?" She asked.
"No I've got one brat helping me. Just do some homework and I'll call you all down when it's done." At the news Isabel picked her head up and looked at Eren, said boy smiling wide at her.
"Who's he? I've never seen him before."
"This is Eren Jaeger, Mikasa adopted brother. He doesn't speak much English so keep it to small words." Levi said as Isabel jumped over to Eren.
"Hi! I'm Isabel Magnolia! I'm a freshman this year! Are you a freshman Eren!? Why's your hair so long!? Do you put it up in a ponytail!? How old are you!? What's your major!? Do you want to be my friend!?" Eren couldn't keep up and almost fell off the stool as he leaned back as to avoid the girl getting closer.
"Isabel you're scaring him." Levi's eyes never left the vegetables. "Eren can you cut those for me?" Levi pointed to the potatoes. Eren nodded, putting the potatoes in a colander. He carried them to the sink to rinse them and wash his hands. Looking around for the cutting board he heard Isabel rambling about something, he couldn't understand her words. He found the cutting board and slapped it down on the counter, grabbing a knife and potato.
"Big bro, why isn't he talking? Is he rude or shy?" Isabel whispered to Levi as she stared at Eren.
"I told you he can't speak hardly any English. He's from Germany."
"Oh so he can't understand what I'm saying."
"Yes, now go find Farlan and bug him while I finish this. You can meet Eren more at dinner."
"Okay." With puffed cheeks Isabel walked out of room, Eren stepping up to Levi with the colander filled with potato bits.
"Just pour them in and clean up your mess." Levi said, Eren already ahead of him. He poured the potatoes into the boiling water. Turning he walked to the sink, filling up the water. He placed the knife on the back of the sink. He went through the drawers, finding hand towels in the top right. With a smile Eren wetted and lathered it in dish soap. With that he cleaned off the counter, any utensils used were put in the sink as Eren cleaned up his work stations. Once finished he cleaned the dishes, Levi having him help him a little more.
Half an hour passed before the soup was done and Levi left Eren to set the table while he rounded everyone up. When he manage to get everyone out of their rooms they were met with a decorated table, dishes set in a circle with glasses and silverware.
"Wow, why so decked out?" Hange asked as she took a spot.
"Eren's always set the table like this, something his mother had taught him." Mikasa said with a smile, taking a spot between Levi and Eren, Armin sitting on Eren's free side.
"Mikasa, bag please." Eren said, the older girl handing the bag to her brother.
"Take them both, you know how." Mikasa said, Eren shooting up and grabbed his glass. Taking both objects into the kitchen with him he plopped the bag down, taking the glass to the sink, once filled with the clear fluid he dug his two pill bottles out of his bag. Popping off the lids he dumped four pills in his hand. Swallowing them two at a time didn't bother Eren anymore. Putting everything back in place Eren walked back into the dining room, bag over his shoulder.
"Eren! You never answered my questions!" Isabel yelled across the table.
"You ask me questions?" Eren asked, chuckling when Isabel dropped her head onto the table. Mikasa snuck a peek to Armin, he doing the same as they smiled.
A/N: Translations:
Eren: Ich bin Eren- I am Eren
Armin: Es ist sehr gut zu sehen- It's good to see you.
Eren: Ich bin froh dich zu sehen, beide von Ihnen. - It's good to see you too, both of you.
Mikasa: Haben Sie bekommen grösser? - Have you gotten taller.
Eren: Ein wenig.- A little.
Eren: Ich lief weg.- I left.
Eren: Er war weg auf die Arbeit so packte ich meine Tasche und ging. - He was away on work so I grabbed my bag and went
Eren: Ich habe mein Handy zu Hause.- I left my cellphone at home.
Eren: Ich brauchte, um zu lassen, dass er mich zu Tode ersticken. - I needed to have in order that he smother me to death
Armin: Müde? - Tired