Learning To Love

CHAPTER 3

Summary: Eren gets a new start in life with a new chance but, when someone he hates is going to interfere, he decides to distract himself.

Chapter 3: Learning To Forget

There's a tight pain in my chest. My breathing is heavily laboured. Armin and Mikasa are both sitting either side of me, Armin holding my hand and Mikasa had her hand on my knee. They're both giving me supporting looks as I hold my mobile to my ear.

"911, what is your emergency?" A female voice answers the call and I just about hang up on her. Mikasa, seeing my hesitation, squeezes my knee and nods in encouragement.

"Um, hi, uh… I – my father, he, he has been abusing me… for 7 years, is this where I can turn him in?" My voice is shaky and uncertain. Was I supposed to call a different number for this sort of thing since it didn't just happen?

"Yes, this is where you can turn him in. Please state your name, your age and your father's name please. Also please state what type of abuse he was inflicting on you."

"M-my name is Eren Jaeger and I am 17. My father's name is Grisha Jaeger. He was s-sexually, physically and verbally abusing me. He, he also murdered my mother when I was 10, and he's been doing this ever since."

"Thank you Sir. Are you at your residence where you live with him at this moment Sir?"

"No. Last night I ran away and am staying at a friends' house."

"Ok. May you please give me the address of the current house that your father is at?"

"Yes, he's at 36, Shinganshina Lane, Maria."

"Thank you Sir. We will now send out a team to go and arrest him. Have a nice day." I end the call and Mikasa and Armin both look at me with hopeful, questioning looks.

"They're, they're gonna get him. We did it. He's going to jail. M-my dad is going to jail. It's all over. It's finally over." I let go a sigh and they both jump on me with joy.

"You did it Eren!" Armin is swaying us with the biggest grin on his face that I can't help but return. We're all sitting in Mikasa's room on her bed. We'd decided to come here since she lives at a walking distance from school, which we had just come from.

"My parents said that you can stay with us if you wanted since we have a spare bedroom with closet space. You can bring whatever items that you have when that bastard isn't there anymore." Mikasa looks me in the eyes, reassuring me that everything will be fine and I have a place to stay. She had explained, without letting out my secret, to her parents what happened when we all arrived and they said it was all fine with them.

"Thank you Mikasa. What would I do without you guys?" I hug them both to me again and we all just sit there until there's a knock at the door.

"Kids? You all ok? I just wanted to know if Eren and Armin are staying for dinner since it's ready. We have plenty for all." Mikasa's mum is one of the loveliest people you'd ever meet. She's always willing to help others before herself; I guess that's where Mikasa gets it from then. Mikasa looks at Armin and I with a look that practically asks 'so are you guys gonna eat here or nah?' I let Armin answer first since it's kinda obvious that I am.

"Yeah, I guess I'll stay for dinner. But it's too dark to go back to the school to pick up my car. Do you think I could stay tonight perhaps? I could bunk with Eren if he doesn't mind." I look at Armin and shrug my shoulders along with a little nod of my head to show that I don't mind.

"That's fine Armin. Eren, I guess it's kinda a given that you're staying for dinner, huh?" I chuckle at the obviousness and nod my head once again. "Ok then! Let's go wash our hands and head over to dinner then. Ma! Armin and Eren are both staying for dinner and staying the night!" Mikasa calls out to her mother to let her know and we all get up to wash our hands and head to dinner which was a delicious roast beef with vegetables.

"This looks delicious, Mrs Ackerman! Thank you!" I say as I sit down at the table and look at the meal in front of me. As I put some food in my mouth, I moan in delight at the delicious taste that explodes on my tongue. Hiding her laughter behind her hand, Mikasa's mother replies.

"Oh thank you Eren, I'm glad you like it. I prepared the bed in the spare room for you boys. Sorry we only have one bed, but luckily it's a double so you'll both fit, unless one of you would prefer to sleep on the couch?" At the shake of mine and Armin's head, she continues. "Mikasa informed me earlier that something suddenly came up with your father Eren and that you may have to stay for a fair bit? Well whatever it is, you can stay here for as long as you need, and if it comes to it, you can even live with us if you'd like. You're always welcome here sweetheart." At her exclamation and generosity, I feel tears begin to prick at the back of my eyes, but I shall not let them pass. I'm stronger than that.

"Thank you Mrs Ackerman. I really appreciate it. And with how it seems, I more than likely will be living with you guys." At this, Mr Ackerman replies.

"That's fine son! As the Mrs said, you're more than welcome here any day; you're practically like a son to us. You too Armin, you can stay as long as you need to as well." At the mention of his name, Armin perks up out of his daze and scurries to swallow the food in his mouth to reply.

"Thank you Sir! But I'll only be staying the one night since we left my car at school. I'll keep the offer in mind though! Thank you!" Oh Armin, the ever grateful little coconut head. So adorable. We finish eating and clean up our plates then head tour respective sleeping areas, Armin and I both going to the spare bedroom.

"Ha, looks like we're sleeping in the same bed again. Luckily this bed is bigger than yours. Less squishy." I was simply talking for the sake of dodging the impending topic. We've slept in the same bed heaps of times ever since we were kids, no point in pointing out the obvious. He obviously caught on with what I was trying to do and gave a look that said 'are you serious right now Eren?'

"Eren, if you don't wanna talk about it, it's fine. We don't have to until you're ready or it's absolutely necessary ok? And, quite frankly, I'm pretty tired, so let's get to sleep and leave this for another day. I just need to text grandpa where I am first though." I settle down on the bed under the covers whilst Armin texts his grandpa when Mikasa walks in.

"Hey, just letting you know that there are towels and spare toothbrushes for you guys in the bathroom if you want to have a shower and brush your teeth. Night boys, see you in the morning."

"Thanks Mikasa, sleep well." I reply as Armin waves to her and she leaves. Armin puts his phone down and hops into the bed next to me, wishing me a goodnight before turning off the lamp on the bedside table and going to sleep. I turn over so my back is facing him and fall into a much needed sleep.

"Eren." Mum?

"Eren, it's time to get up." Just a few more minutes Mumma.

"Eren, come on we need to go to school." No, that's not Mumma. Why would she be going to school with me? The voice is different as well. She's also dead.

"EREN!" 'Splash.' I bolt awake and sit up. I'm soaked in freezing cold water.

"What the fuck Armin?! You could have woken me up normally you know!"

"I tried that but you mumbled something and turned over! Plus Mikasa wanted to do this to you at least once. I'd be lying if I said I didn't either." I glare at Armin and look to the door to see Mikasa hiding her laugh behind her hand. I stand up from the bed and head out to the bathroom, mumbling to Mikasa that I'd have to borrow some of her clothes for school as I walk past her. I head into the bathroom, have a quick shower and when I step out, I notice my wet clothes missing and clean ones folded in their place.

Quickly towelling myself dry, I pick up the clothes and see a pair of dark jeans and a light blue t-shirt. Must be Mikasa's. I chuck the clothes on, brush my teeth with one of the spare toothbrushes and try to fix my birds' nest of a hair. Deeming it a lost cause, I walk out of the bathroom and am greeted with the smell of pancakes.

"Good morning dear, did you sleep well and have a nice shower?" Mrs Ackerman was in the kitchen, standing over a frying pan, with a spatula in her hand. She must be the cause of the wonderful smell. Mmm, pancakes.

"Yea I had a great sleep and shower, thanks. But I didn't wake up too well." I shot a glare to Mikasa and Armin whom were sitting on the other side of the kitchen bench. They raise their hands in mock innocence and Mikasa points at her mum, as if saying it was her. I look to her with a subtle hint of bewilderment on my face and she gives me a sheepish smile. At the point, Mr Ackerman walks in, chuckling to himself.

"Ha ha, ah yes, she is quite mischievous, isn't she?" I look at everyone now with a look that said they're all traitors. I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation and walk over to Armin and Mikasa and take the free seat next to Mikasa.

"Heh, sorry Eren dear, I noticed the trouble they were having with waking you up so I suggested the idea." She sent me an apologetic smile as she set a plate down in front of each of us and a stack of pancakes in the middle, along with chocolate sauce, sugar, lemons and other sweets to put on them. We each say thank you for the meal and quickly finish so we can head off to school. Finishing, we clean our plates, pack our bags and say farewell as we all head out the door, walking to school.

We walk in a comfortable silence, neither of us feeling the need the fill the silence, and I'm left to my thoughts that swarm through my head.

I have no family left now. What am I supposed to do now? I mean, sure, I have Armin and Mikasa there for me, but, I don't have any family. No one to show my successes to, to be grandparents to my future children. Who am I supposed to look up to? To learn from?

"Eren? Are you ok? We're at school already and you've just been standing there for the past minute." I look up at Armin whom had spoken to me and snap back into reality.

"Ah, sorry, lost in my thoughts, let's go to class shall we?" Armin and Mikasa look at each other then turn around and we all head to our first class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Weeks Later

I'm sitting in class, wanting to be anywhere but here, and we're all waiting for our marks back from our recent test. I know I've flunked it even before Mr Bozardo handed me my sheet back, regarding that he was very disappointed in me. I looked at the top right hand corner of my page and saw a big red F next to a score of 1 out of 50. I have to hand it to him though; I'm disappointed in myself as well.

I used to ace my French class, most of my classes I aced for that matter, but ever since I put my father in jail, the police had no hesitation in taking him in as he confessed what he did, my grades had all been plummeting. I just don't see the point in going to school if we're just all gonna be failures anyway. Plus, we all end up dying eventually, what's the point in putting in the effort if it all just goes to waste?

Mikasa has also been worried about my eating habits, saying that I need to eat more. What can I say though, I'm simply not hungry. You can't force someone to eat when they simply don't have the appetite for it.

The bell goes, signalling the end of school and I put away all my stuff and stand to leave so I can meet up with Mikasa to head home. Walking to the corner where Mikasa and I meet, I notice her there with a horse, uh, Jean, standing next to her. Those two have been spending more and more time with each other and it's really starting to piss me the fuck off.

"Hey Eren, Jean will be coming over today so we can study ok. Oh, and how did you do on your test? You guys got your marks back today right?" Mikasa says to me as if there's nothing wrong with the picture I'm seeing in front of me. Her and Jean are standing too close for comfort; their shoulders are touching and, looking down at their hands, they're practically holding. Study my ass. I don't exactly want to be in the same room as them this afternoon, much less be in the same house. Sending a glare Jean's way, I answer.

"Yeah, sure, I think I'll go out today, take a walk. I have my phone and set of keys so you don't have to worry about me. Can you take my bag home with you though? And I didn't do so well on my test, failed actually." Mikasa and Jean look at each other, the latter giving a subtle wink and grin to the former and I grimace as my nightmares come true right in front of me. I almost pounce on him and bash his face in but I hold myself back.

"That's fine. You need to get your act together Eren. You can't keep getting these marks. You sure you'll be ok?" Mikasa leans a bit closer to Jean and I feel the bile rising in the back of my throat.

"I'm ok, thanks Mikasa. If I need anything, which I'm sure I won't, I'll call, ok?" I hand my bag to her and she nods. They turn around and start walking in the direction of her house. I turn, and start walking in the direction of the main street, where all the clubs are. I need to forget and distract myself from what will more than likely be happening between those two.

I walk for about 20, maybe 40 minutes, I wasn't really paying attention, could've been a few hours for all I know, when I come across a club that I've never seen before. I look up at the glowing sign, now noticing it's already dark out, and read 'Ailes De La Liberté' as the name of the club. If I recall properly from French class, that translates to wings of freedom, that's a strange name for a club.

I go up to the entrance and the security stops me, asking for my I.D. card. I hand them my fake card and the God's must've shone down on me because I managed to get past the massive walls of muscle and into the club. What I saw, was not what I was expecting to walk in to.

A/N Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!