Hello, everyone! Sorry for the wait. Each and every review made me smile like an idiot. Thanks so much for the sweet feedback. I love hearing from you guys! Hope you enjoy Chapter 2. Lemme know your thoughts!


Ever since freshman year, Eren knew that Coach Shadis was crazy. Not the bad kind of crazy where you feel uncomfortable just by being in the room with the person because you know something's wrong with them and you get that kind of vibe you know. But the good kind of crazy where the person has that signature crazed look on their face yet people take them just as seriously, and while you admire them for said craziness you also piss your pants if provoked. Shadis has that effect on his students and he knows it. He knows how to motivate you, how to push you to your limit, how to leave your muscles sore and ache in places you never even knew could ache. One of the first things he told them was, "My name is Coach Shadis, and you will grow to hate me!"

Armin, unfortunately, learned that the hard way and Eren felt bad for him. Over the years he's gotten better, yes, but compared to the rest of the class he fell a little behind. But he's persistent, determined, and hardworking, and he had the support of Eren and the others. Eren gave him words of encouragement when they were doing pushups ("C'mon, Ar, you got this! Just two more!"), Reiner fell back to jog with Armin around the gym, Connie cracked jokes that made Armin laugh and make him clutch his ribs, Jean told him that if he didn't succeed then Armin wouldn't be able to impress the laaadies (yes. "laaadies." Jean actually said that. Pfft, loser.), Bertholdt's little smiles and thumbs up were always welcomed, and Marco never failed to make them feel good with his motivational speeches. Now, Armin keeps up with them in all physical activities without a problem.

There are a few exceptions, however.

Like dodgeball. Armin is scared for his life.

Eren remembers Mikasa's comment before he watched her leave (shut up, that's not weird), and immediately felt himself grinning. He loved dodgeball because he can be competitive with and against his friends (and have a chance to hit Jean square in the face "by accident"), and he never worried about who was on his team because usually Mikasa and Armin were always with him.

"Ackerman! You will be playing with the ladies today."

Except today. F-u-

All eyes are on her, including Eren's, and Mikasa turns into the epitome of the deer-in-headlights look; grey hues are much wider, not being able to stay in one direction. She looks from the coach in surprise, to Eren, and back again. It's obvious she doesn't wanna go. He doesn't want her to go either.

"Is there a problem?" Shadis glowers down at her.

"N-No sir," Mikasa ducks her head, shifting her weight from one foot to the next.

Eren leans over and gently elbows her. "Go on. Go."

This time she doesn't protest. Mikasa makes a quick walk to the other side of the gym, where the rest of the girls in their class stood. Annie stands indifferent, with her arms folded across her chest, gaze drifting to the right; Ymir cracks her knuckles with excitement, making Historia cringe from next to her at the sound; Hitch is dripping with confidence, from the bright look in her hazel eyes to the hands on her hips; and, "Sasha!" Mina whispers, elbowing her. "You know how Coach feels about you eating on the floor!" Sasha finishes her sandwich in one gulp and wipes her mouth hastily before Shadis' suspicious gaze lands on her. Mina goes rigid beside her.

And, for Christ's sake, Franz and Hannah need to hurry up and get a fucking room or take a picture 'cause it'll last longer and Eren is so done with their lovey dovey bullshit it makes him wanna throw up -

"Eyes front!"

The entire class straightens, both genders stiff and waiting for further instruction.

But leave it to Connie to break the silence.

"Uh, sir?"

"...What is it, Springer."

"Does this mean we'll be playing against them?"

"No, I separated you so I can assign square dancing partners."

"Really?"

Jean facepalms from beside him.

Shadis sighs heavily, walking down the middle of the two lines. He reaches Connie and glares at him, making Connie shrink back. "You've grown everywhere except your brain."

"Actually, brain growth stops after you reach a certain age -"

"Shut-"

"-up-"

"-Connie-!"

While his friends are trying to keep him from causing the whole class to run laps instead of doing something fun, Sasha is biting her lip to keep herself from laughing out loud, so much that she's beginning to draw blood.

Eren scopes out his opponents. The only ones he's worried about are Mikasa and Annie. They're never on the same team! Is Coach trying to kill him? Sure, the other girls were good, and yeah, some of 'em could really pack a punch. But...it's Mikasa and Annie for crying out loud!

He meets Mikasa's gaze and studies her face closely. Her body language. Shoulders are drooped, arms hanging loosely at her sides, eyebrows slightly furrowed, bottom lip through teeth, unable to maintain eye contact with him for more than two seconds. He's shocked. Wait a minute...Mikasa...Does this mean you don't wanna play against each other either?

.

He can't do it. He can't hit her.

The game is getting heated, and barely two minutes in. Thomas and Franz are already out on their side (Thomas got smacked in the face by Ymir, while Franz refused to hit Hannah and Hannah refused to hit Franz and Coach wasn't the only person in the gym done with them and told them they were both out), but overall it wasn't that bad.

Eren is missing on purpose. He's throwing the balls but he's not really aiming. At least, when Mikasa is in his line of vision (and for some reason, she maintains to be in his line of vision). He purposely chucks the balls across the room so they hit the wall instead of the lethal raven. Yeah - lethal. Mikasa may not be on his team, but she never doesn't give her one hundred and ten percent.

Buuuut then again Ymir could be worse.

Speaking of the freckled devil, Ymir's next victim has yet to notice her looking right at him. She smirks. Poor Arlert. He doesn't know what'll hit 'em. Literally. She's so pumped for this. He's always easy to catch off-guard.

She raises the ball, brings her arm back, and swings it forward, letting the red ball fly.

- Until Annie jumps up - literally from fucking nowhere how in the fucking hell - and snatches the ball before it could even touch the boys' side. Ymir's victim - well, former victim thanks to her - remains oblivious and continues to play, mostly hiding behind Jaeger's back. Like always.

Ymir's a perceptive person, always has been and always will be, and if she notices something she's gonna tell you exactly what's on her mind. No sugarcoating, no subtlety, no nothin'. Sometimes she's just being blunt, sometimes it's brutal honesty that needs to be heard.

Right now, it's a lil' bit of both. Why would Annie go out of her way, get in Ymir's way, and block her from the coconut opponent?

Gee.

I wonder.

"What the hell, Elsa?" Ymir throws out her arms in mild annoyance before they turn into smug hands resting on her hips. "Ya don't want me harming a precious hair on your boyfriend's head?"

Annie says nothing - oh ho ho! so she's not denying it! - but the tautness in her jaw and faintest of pinks blossoming across her cheeks just proves Ymir's assumptions further and she's smug as shit about it.

"Leave her alone."

It's Mikasa who speaks this time, slinging her arm around Annie's shoulders, and the shorter of the two turns around from the former's coaxing, and just like that their focus is back on the game. Jeez, one word and Annie does exactly what Mikasa says like a loyal puppy. It's disgusting.

"Ymir!"

But then again she really shouldn't be fucking talking. "What?"

"That's mean," Historia scolds with a knowing look.

"Oh, c'mon! Don't be a hypocrite. Why else would she -?"

"Ymir."

"What?"

"Drop it."

"Yuh kay."

"Oh Ymiiiir!"

And then there's this motherfucker.

Ymir glares in Reiner's direction. "What, Goldilocks?"

"I got a ball with your name on it," he says with an evil grin, letting it roll from hand to hand. Now, don't get her wrong, she's not scared of Reiner one bit, but the fact that he's the star of the football team really doesn't help with the whole putting her at ease thing.

So of course she's gonna cover up her slight discomfort. With sass and sarcasm as her defense mechanism.

"If you can get me," she challenges.

Damn right, he's gonna take that challenge.

(He's a dead man if he hits her. Or Historia in the process.)

.

Shit.

Shitshitshitshitshit.

It's down to him and Mikasa.

How in the hell did that happen?

Eren retraces his steps. Or more specifically, who got out and when did they get out and by whom did they get hit by to get out. The first few, Thomas, Franz, and Hannah, were either hit by Ymir or couldn't control their damn hormones. Mina was next, by Reiner. Marco, by Mikasa. Bertholdt, by Annie. Sasha and Connie somehow managed to hit each other at the same time. Hitch, by Jean (and right on the ass. She will never let him live that down.) Jean, by Ymir. Annie initially aimed for Jean and ended up hitting Armin instead and literally crossed the room to make sure that he was alright. Then Annie was outed by Eren (with a light bop on the head). The cycle continued on. Historia, by Reiner. Reiner, by Ymir. Ymir, by Eren.

And now he faces the one person he's been trying to avoid hitting this whole time.

Mikasa.

Mikasa.

Mikasa.

His best friend.

He against her.

Her against him.

And his friends weren't exactly making the situation better.

"C'mon, Eren!"

"Do it for the win!"

"Make us, proud!"

"You got this, dude!"

"Hurry up, already! Damn!"

He prolongs the blow.

"Hit him, Mikasa!"

"You can do it!"

"Go, Mikasa, go!"

"Mi-ka-sa! Mi-ka-sa!"

"Kick-his-ass! Kick-his-ass!"

She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, ball still in her hand. He's subconsciously mirroring her, rolling his ball from one hand to the other, tuning out the cheers of their peers in the background.

Honestly, he figures she would have hit him by now. Why isn't she doing anything? Why is she just standing there? Why is he still standing here? Why aren't either of them making a damn move?

"Mikasa."

And those stormy hues flicker up from the floor, her gaze locking onto his.

"Hit me."

She shakes her head. "No."

"Mika, it's okay. It's just a game."

"I'll hurt you."

"Seriously? That's what you're worried about? Hurting me?"

Eren, you're such a hypocrite.

"You think I'm weak?"

"No."

"You think I can't take a hit?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"I…"

"You what?"

"I want you to win."

"You want me to win?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You deserve to win."

"Pfft. Okay, Mikasa."

"What?"

"I barely did shit in this game! I was missing on purpose!"

"Why would you do that?"

"Because then I wouldn't hit y -" do not admit that you were doing this because you didn't want to hit her do not tell her that you've been hoping that you or her would've been out by now do not - "Yuuu - mir?"

Why did you just do that, Eren, why -

"But...you just hit her."

"I know."

"That doesn't -"

"I know, Mikasa, okay?" Eren sighs and walks up to her (she's just a simple stride away; two steps and he's already right in front of her). "Look. If you don't fight, you can't win," he told her, expression serious. Before it lightens. "So, gimme your best shot."

"...So...you still want me to hit you."

"Yes."

"Right now."

"Yes."

"Before you can hit me?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

A beat.

"One condition."

"What's up."

"Loser pays for pizza. Friday night. My place."

Eren grins. "Deal."

.

"I can't believe you let the girls win."

"What's the problem with that?" Eren's eyes narrow at Jean as they sit down at the lunch table with their trays. "You're making a big deal out of nothin'. Mikasa won. Fair and square."

"I don't know. I think Eren got something out of it," Armin adds innocently in a nonchalant manner as he opens up his lunch bag.

"The hell are you goin' on about, Armin?"

Eren's pulse skyrockets.

"I was close enough to overhear the, ah, bargain they made."

Shut up, Armin.

"What bargain?"

"It's nothing really."

Armin, I swear to god.

"Just…"

If you don't shut up -

"...dinner."

- right now -

"...at her place."

Strangled Eren noises.

"It's just pizza! I'm paying for pizza!" He throws his arms out in exasperation. "What's the big deal?"

"Am I invited?" Armin arches an eyebrow.

"Uhh."

"Did she ever mention me?"

"...No?"

"Okay then."

"You lost me."

"Are you dense?" Jean interjects, hands folded in front of his chin. "Mikasa Ackerman just asked you out on a date and you accepted it right off the bat."

"It's. not. a. date."

"Oh really?"

Through gritted teeth: "Yes."

"Did she invite Armin?"

"She could've."

"But she didn't. Did she?"

"No."

"Friday night?"

"Yes."

"Just the two of you?"

"Probably."

"Pizza and a movie?"

"Yeah."

"And Armin's not there." Jean smirks into his milk. "Oh yeah. It's a date."

"Big time," Armin adds.

"Armin!" Eren's face feels like it's on fire. "You know it's not like that between us. I would never go on a date with -"

A tray drops onto the table with a sharp smack, making Eren jump. Much to his horror and dismay, he meets the blank, emotionless gaze of the very raven that was being discussed.

"- Mikasa…"

Her lips press into a firm line, but he can see past her tough shell. Her uncaring facade. She heard them. She heard him.

"He's right," she says, expression unchanging. "It's not a date. It's...not like that between us." And her gaze flits to the blond beside him. "Armin, you, out of all people, should know that by now."

Armin's eyes are sad, like the weeping sky, and he immediately jumps to the apologies. "Mikasa -"

"Don't worry about it." She picks up her tray, curving her fingers around the front from beneath it, balancing the tray on her arms, "Friday. You can come if you want."

And she walks away without saying a word. She doesn't turn around.

Not when Jean calls her.

Not when Armin calls her.

And not even when Eren calls her.

.

It's Annie who finds her.

"I didn't see you in the cafeteria," she says, sitting across from her in the grass.

Mikasa shrugs a shoulder weakly in response.

Her smile is weaker.

If anything, she knows that Annie is awkward with comfort so she makes up for it with unspoken affection or does something endearing. Mikasa actually fights a giggle when she sees the meat Annie picks up with her fork and offers it to her. She had brought her lunch today.

"Chee-burg?"

"No thanks."

Annie shrugs this time and takes a bite, and Mikasa shakes her head fondly. This is appreciated. Deeply so. This is her go-to spot for lunch when she wants to be alone, and Annie remembered. She remembered.

"I'm guessing Eren's done something stupid again."

"Annie…"

"Why else would you be sitting out here?"

"What if...I got my period?"

"Impossible. Then I would've got mine."

"But -"

"We're synched up, Mikasa."

"Poo."

"And it's your fault."

"I'm pretty sure it's yours."

Annie's lips curve up ever so slightly before the smile completely vanishes. "You don't have to tell me all the details, but...if you want to talk about it, I'm here to listen."

Mikasa chews down on her bottom lip for the umpteenth time that day - jeez, she needs to quit this habit - and buries her nose into her scarf, seeking the warmth and comfort that it brings. Maybe...telling Annie wouldn't be so bad…

"Okay. Well…"

"Oooh! Are we all having lunch here?"

Both introverted girls look up to see the ever so perky Historia Reiss standing before them; there is barely a moment ever - besides gym class - where their friend is not in heels, and today is no exception. Standing on either side of her were Hitch and Sasha, the latter wasting no time in plopping down next to Mikasa and digging into her lunch.

"This was not my idea," says Hitch, sitting down next to Annie.

"How's your ass?" mutters Annie.

"Shut -"

"What are you doing?" Mikasa directs the question at Historia as the petite blonde takes the space between Mikasa and Annie.

"I saw you leave the cafeteria after your confrontation with Eren," Historia explains, perfectly arched eyebrows furrowing in concern. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine."

"She's lying," Annie deadpans.

"I know," Historia says.

"Worst liar ever," Hitch adds.

"Ev - ah!" Sasha pipes up with her mouth full.

I'm right here, Mikasa wants to say. But she doesn't. She remains silent. In fact, while Sasha and Hitch are bickering back and forth, and Historia is talking about whatever she usually talks about (it usually centers around something upbeat and happy to keep the subjects light and away from stressful matters), and Annie is rolling her eyes while smacking Sasha's hand away whenever she tries to touch her chee-burg, Mikasa can't help but think about Eren and what he said.

Is he...really offended by the thought of us...? Together?

Does being with me...disgust him that much?

The raven hugs her knees, her glassy gaze downcast. She's all of a sudden not hungry anymore. She lost her appetite. Her heart aches.

Eren...what do you really think of me?