College is like Schizophrenia
Chapter 3:
"Eren!" Christa yelled, looking back behind her as she panicked. Eren was right behind her, hands lifted up high as an object came towards him. With a determined glare he jumped up, spiking the ball shape. It flew over the net and dug into the sand, the people launching for it tripping and falling. "Yes!" Christa yelled jumping up and down as her team yelled victoriously. "In your face! We won! We won!"
Eren chuckled as Christa and Armin spun around in excitement the other team glaring at their over excitement. Jean came up behind Eren, sneaking between his legs and lifted him up on his shoulders. A gasp escaped Eren as he was lifted in the air, but smiled as he saw his team cheering below him. He was a little wary to play volleyball, but he couldn't say no to Christa's begging face and he actually liked volleyball.
"You need to play with us more Eren! That's the first time we've actually won!" Connie yelled, jumping in circles with Sasha.
"O-okay! I pla-." Eren didn't finish his sentence before he fell back, slipping from Jean's hands. The volleyball had smashed into Eren's face with great force that caused him to smash into the ground. There was a moment of silence before people began hurrying over to the still body on the ground.
"Levi!" Mikasa yelled at her cousin who just stared with crossed arms.
"Oops, my hand slipped." Levi sarcastically said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Eren are you alright?" Reiner asked as he kneeled down next to Eren.
"Fein." Eren muttered, pushing himself up.
"Are you sure?" Armin asked, placing a hand on Eren's shoulder.
"Ja." Eren sat straight up, blood running down Eren's face from a gash on his forehead.
"That's a big cut. Lets fix you up." Reiner said as he held a hand up.
"Not touch me!" Eren abruptly yelled, terrified eyes glaring at Reiner.
"Woah Eren. Calm down. I was checking your head, did you conk it too hard?" Reiner said as he lifted his hand again, Eren scooting away.
"Just away! Not touch me!" At this Armin stood up, taking a step towards Eren.
"Eren. It's Armin. Did you hit your head too hard?" Armin got closer, holding out a hand.
"Ja, head confused." Eren muttered, grabbing Armin's hand. Pulling him to his feet. Armin checked the cut.
"It doesn't look deep enough for stitches, but how about we go back to the mansion. We can get some showers and I'll patch you up."
"Okay. My head hurt." Eren mumbled as Armin helped him back to the mansion,
"What the hell Levi!" Mikasa yelled, attention dragging to the two.
"I told you what happened, now calm your ass down."
"That was uncalled for." Erwin said looking at the shorter man.
"Guess I'm a horrible sore loser." Levi said.
"You've been hating on Eren since he got here! What do you have against him!?" Mikasa yelled, the mood intensifying.
"The kids a nutcase. He's popping pills every time I've seen him. He acts weird ever since he got here."
"Those pills are his medication! He only acts weird because he's new to America, plus that's his personality!"
"Medication for what!?"
"That's none of your business!" Mikasa yelled tearing up. "It's none of your god damn business." Mikasa got quieter as she covered her eyes. "You'd just judge him if you knew what the pills were for. Ever since the beginning you've judged him."
"He's still a brat and I don't trust him." With that Levi walked towards the mansion, the other chatting behind him. He could still feel Mikasa's glare on the back of his head. He ignored it though and continued walking.
Later the night Levi had woken up in his bed, a towel wrapped around his shoulders from when he fell asleep. He'd gotten a shower after the game and had passed out after getting dressed. A grumbling from his stomach had awoken him just a few minutes ago, so he headed downstairs to the kitchen, expecting everyone to be asleep. He was surprised to see the lights were all on, but the house abandoned. All life seemed to leave, except for one person. He was humming in the kitchen while he was cooking with his earbuds in. Leaning against the counter he watched Eren cook, waiting for the teen to look at him. However, he was surprised when Eren began to sing.
"Even if I leave you now, and it breaks my heart.
Even if I'm not around, I won't give in, I can't give up on this love." Raising a brow Levi watched Eren as he returned to humming. When he finally turned he jumped seeing Levi. He clutched his heart from the near heart attack he just had.
"You scare me Levi." Eren said as he pulled his earbuds out.
"Not bad singing, you should major in music."
"Uh, no thank you. I not good enough."
"Not with that shitty language. Listen brat, I hate you. I'll hate it every moment, but I'll teach you English." Levi said as he sat straight up.
"Uh! Really!?"
"Only if you stay away from Mikasa." At this Eren's eyes widened.
"Why?!"
"You're a messed up brat, my cousin doesn't need a dysfunctional brat in her life. Do we have a deal?"
"Uh…but Mikasa's me sister."
"No she's a girl you like, and I won't let you date her."
"No date, she's family."
"Your families back in Germany. If you want them then go back."
"Why do you hate me?" Eren asked, looking at Levi's hand.
"Because you're you. You look like a psychopathic murder. What kind of man has a ponytail stub."
"Eh." Eren looked up at Levi.
"Now take the goddamn deal, Mikasa will be too busy to help you and so will Armin. Marco hardly know German and I'm fluent in it."
"Okay…I promise no talk to Mikasa." Eren said roughly.
"Alright tomorrow night after class you come to the work room." Levi said before leaving, Eren biting his lip as he glared at himself in disgust.
"We're back! What's for dinner Eren!?" Sasha yelled, running in with bags in her hands.
"Uh. It called Macaroni and Cheese. I never try before."
"Yum! I hope it's extra cheesy!" Isabel yelled after hearing the mention of food.
"I-I hope you all like it." Eren smiled nervously, seeing Levi and Mikasa talking in the other room. Mikasa looked angry as she spoke to the shorter man.
"Hey, your sweating like Bert. You okay?" Sasha asked, Eren going to nod when noticed red sliding from Sasha's an dIsabel's eyes. "Eren?" She said, causing blood to pour down he face from her forehead.
"Y-Yeah." Swiftly Eren turned, grabbing a glass from the cabinet. He filled it with water before taking off toward the main stair case, bumping into people, bloody people.
"What happened?" Reiner asked as Eren ran up the stairs.
"Probably an attack. He'll be fine." Armin said, lifting his book up.
"He's going to be fine?" Christa asked, Armin nodding with a smile.
"He finished dinner!" Sasha yelled, dividing the Mac and cheese into bowls.
"Good, no one bothered to wake me up." Levi said as he walked back into the kitchen.
"No one wanted to sentence Eren to that cruelty." Mikasa spit back.
"Like I'd severely hurt your little boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend he's my brother!" Levi rolled his eyes.
"Sure."
"You know I don't date men. Quit being an asshole to him."
"Doesn't mean he doesn't want to date you."
"You are a moron. Eren doesn't date. He thinks of everyone as friends or enemies."
"Okay you two, stop fighting." Armin said and walked between the two. "Not one word to Eren about his meds. Instead lets figure out whose showing him his first day of classes tomorrow." Armin said as the floorboards above creaked towards the stairs. "Eren! Hurry up or you'll miss dinner!" Armin yelled and the creaks came quicker. Before anyone knew it Eren was in the living room.
"Someone's hungry." Hange smiled, leaning over the couch.
"Germany doesn't have Mac and Cheese. Eren's always been one to eat new things." Mikasa chuckled, a lines already starting to fill up bowls.
After anyone had their food they sat down in front of the TV. The news was on since no one could decide on a channel. Eren was the only one not yelling out a channel as he enjoyed his dinner happily.
"So I walked in on your boyfriend singing Mikasa. Not bad." Levi abruptly said as he finished off his dinner.
"He's my brother." Mikasa growled. "And Eren's a gifted singer. Inherited it from his mother."
"I want to hear you sing Eren." Christa said with a smile towards the young German boy. He looked up when he heard his name and noticed the eyes on him.
"Uh, no please. Me sing voice not good much." Eren said and sat his bowl down.
"Don't say that. Levi complimented your voice so that means something." Sasha said with wide eyes.
"No, you make fun. It's not good voice."
"Come on Eren, please." Christa begged, her eyes wide.
"No." Eren sounded less sure.
"Please." Isabel begged with hands clasped together.
"Come on Eren." Ymir said with a wide smile.
"If you promise no laugh at me." Eren blushed.
"We won't promise."
"Does anyone guitar?" Eren asked, sitting up on the couch.
"Levi does, since he started this he'll be happy to lend it to you." Erwin said next to Armin.
"Don't break it brat." Levi said as he made it toward the stairs.
"So Eren. Do you sing German?" Farlan, a close friend of Levi's asked.
"German or some English. I learnded better songs than English."
"That whole sentence was wrong Jaeger. I learn songs better than English." Levi corrected, walking down the back staircase that led to the living room, a brown wooden guitar in his hands.
"Learn songs better." Eren repeated, taking the guitar and putting it over his shoulder. Adjusting it he strummed a few cords, tuning some of them all the while Levi watched irritably.
"Don't bust my strings." Levi grumbled.
"Sounds good." Eren said and sat straight up, legs crossed as the guitar laid across his lap. With a nervous breath Eren brought the pick down in his shaking fingers, he's never sang for so many strangers before. He played the cords, closing his eyes to concentrate.
"I can see it in your eyes
Taste it in our first kiss
Stranger in this lonely town
Save me from my emptiness
You took my hand
You told me it would be ok
I trusted you to hold my heart
Now fate is pulling me away, from you." Eren paused as he took a breath, continuing the song on his guitar. He continued a moment later, his words coming out powerfully.
"Even if I leave you now
And it breaks my heart
Even if I'm not around
I won't give in
I can't give up
On this love."
"You've become a piece of me
Makes me sick to even think
Of mornings waking up alone
Searching for you in my sheets
Don't fade, away." Pausing again Eren's voice went back to calm.
"Even if I leave you now
And it breaks my heart
Even if I'm not around
I won't give in
I can't give up
On this love."
"I can't just close the door
(on this love)
I never felt anything like this before
(like this love)
Tell me the truth no matter what we're going through
Will you hold on too 'cause." Strumming the same cord Eren breathed in, forcing the chorus out.
"Even if I leave you now
And it breaks my heart
Even if I'm not around
I won't give in
I can't give up
On this love
Even if I leave you now
And it breaks my heart
Even if I'm not around
I won't give in
I can't give up
I won't give in
I can't give up
On this love." Eren finished the song, cheeks flushed and fearing to open his eyes.
"Wah! Eren! You're a beautiful singer!" Hange yelled, grabbing Eren's hand in excitement. At this Eren opened an eye, seeing Hange's face lit up.
"R-really?" Eren's flushed face went down a little
"I haven't heard a voice so beautiful since my sister. A voice of angels!" Hange said with tears in her eyes.
"You are overly exaggerating." Eren said with a small smile.
"Eren! You're under exaggerating!" Ymir said with a wide smile, arm draped over Christa, who was speechless. "You should major in music."
"No no. No need for it." Eren said as he stood up, removing the guitar carefully.
"Why you're talented?" Annie asked.
"No success for me." Eren said as he gave Levi the guitar. "Thank you." He said with a smile.
"You should major in it if your good at it." Isabel said.
"Me no able to take the stress." Eren turned his smile towards the group of people looking at him with pouts.
"It's a waste." Petra said with a small smile.
"I not meant to be singer, guess it was mess up for having a voice like mine."
"Don't say that! Everyone has a talent they don't act on." Farlan said, patting Eren on the shoulder.
"I really not good enough to be talented." Eren muttered, looking over at the screen of the TV. Other stared as well as a missing persons report flashed. In red was the caption "Missing". The students looked at the screen, fear in their eyes.
"That's the English teacher…Nile Dok." Christa whispered, clinging to Ymir.
"Missing." Eren muttered.
"I'm sure he's fine. Probably skipped town." Levi said, eyes evading the screen.
"He has a family here though." Erwin said, looking over using Armin's shoulder. The younger was sitting in Erwin's lap, arms wrapped around his waist.
"Not all families are right." Levi muttered, Isabel looking at him sadly.
"Big bro." She muttered.
"He just had a child, he talked about her every class."
"That doesn't mean anything." Eren muttered, attention attracting to him. His head was dropped, his hands folded together. "A child could be used to show off or a trophy for stature. A new toy even."
"Eh." The room went quiet as Eren stared at his hands.
"That's deep." Ymir muttered, snapping Eren back to reality, a smile playing on his face.
"Of course I know him not. He might be nice really to child." The room was a bit wary of Eren, but everyone waved it off.
"Anyway he probably ran away realizing how his life was over and decided to skip town for freedom." With a small shove, Armin fell onto the ground, Erwin jumping up. By the collar Erwin pulled Levi up to his feet, his guitar falling onto Isabel. Said girl stood up along with everyone else, knowing not to get between the two when they fought. Eren helped Armin to his feet, watching the two fight.
"What's with you and your hatred for people!? Is it just happy people!? Just cause your families abandoned you doesn't mean every other families broken like yours!"
"Stop it!" Eren yelled, Armin bringing his hand out.
"Let it play through. Both need to get it out of their systems."
"Someone needs to take that stick out of your ass! Did your mother leave it there when she left!?"
"Shut the fuck up! Don't you dare talk about my family! Yours is no better eyebrowed fucker! Do I have to pound a fuckin lesson into your fucking head!"
"Son of a French whore!" Before Armin could stop him Eren broke free from the backed up group. Rushing over he pushed the two apart, looking at them both.
"Stop now! You both being idiots!"
"Get out of the way!" Erwin yelled, but before Eren could object Levi had him by the collar of the shirt. He flung Eren against the wall before returning to Erwin. He pulled his fist back, but before he could bring it forward Eren tackled him onto the couch, the couch tipping over.
Erwin stepped back, watching Levi hold Eren down. "You want to be part of this!? Fine! I'll punch you till you can't see!" Levi said and brought his fist down, over and over.
"Levi stop it!" Mikasa screamed in terror, but Levi just punched Eren again and again. "Levi!" She screamed, Eren shooting his hand up towards her. Levi paused, anger fuming as Eren spoke.
"I can take it." He said, staring at Levi with a glare. "I can take it." He growled, the fist continuing its punching. Armin and Mikasa closed their eyes, hearing Eren's grunts. Christa was curled up in the corner, back to the group as Ymir covered her eyes. Others tried their best to look away, waiting till it was over. Hange watched with worried eyes as Levi's fist came to an abrupt stop in the air, huffing for breath.
"Is it over?" Sasha asked, Connie covering her ears. Looking out of the corner of his eye, Levi saw his scared friends. Fear raked through the room, as Levi stood up. Without another word he left to clean himself up, leaving Eren on the ground, a smile grazing his bloodied face.
"You hit like girl!" He yelled, smiling at Levi who abruptly stopped. Turning he glared at Eren.
"You want me to rip your tongue out?" Levi growled.
"I had hard more punches." Eren said as he stood up. Blood poured from his face as he looked at the man. Mikasa ran over, tears in her eyes as she looked at her brothers face.
"Let me clean your wounds." She said.
"I fine. No need help." Eren said as he walked toward the kitchen. "I make sweets now. Be alone." Eren requested. Mikasa turned to scold Levi, but he was gone, instead she turned to Erwin.
"What the fuck is wrong with you both!? Look what you caused!" She screamed.
"I'm going home!" Christa yelled, practically running from the fraternity mansion, tears running down her face. Ymir chased after her, Sasha scared to stay around.
"He was told to stay back."
"You men! I'm going home, I can't deal with this!" Mikasa yelled marching out of the home, Annie following. One after another left, even Isabel who left the guitar with Farlan before she ran out with a girl named Hannah and another named Mina.
"Not cool." Jean said, leading Marco up the back staircase. The boys began to leave to go to bed, the TV turned off by Connie.
"Armin." Erwin began, turning to face his boyfriend.
"Stop right there. I don't want to hear it. I'm going to bed." Armin joined the rest of the boys, heading up the stairs.
"Nice going Smith." Erwin grumbled as he walked to the stairs.
The night went on, everyone packing up to turn in for the night. Eren remained downstairs, finishing up the treats he made. He hasn't bothered to clean his face. Instead he just stacked cupcakes and began cleaning up his mess. A sudden hand landed next to him, wiping its finger across the counter. Eren turned his head to see who it was, surprised to see Levi standing so close to him. Catching Eren's eye Levi glared.
"What. Want another punch?" Eren turned back to the counter, finishing the clean up.
"Cupcake done if you came for." Eren said, surprised when a hand grabbed him by the chin. His head was turned to face Levi, the man examining his face.
"You haven't cleaned yourself off."
"I take shower tomorrow in morning." Eren stated, trying to pull away.
"You'll just get bacteria in your cuts. Sit down and I'll clean them for you brat." Levi said, practically forcing Eren in a chair. Turning he grabbed a clean towel from the drawer and wetted it down. Walking back to Eren Levi kneeled down, grabbing Eren's face and turning it. He began to was the blood off, not even flinching as Levi scrubbed off blood in top of bruises. "Your the first idiot to ever intervene."
"It wasn't right. What Erwin say about Levi's mom. She must be nice woman, so he should not say that." Eren said, Levi catching his eyes again.
"My mother…what he said was true. She was a prostitute my father fancied. He's a cop so when his buddies found out his bride to be was a prostitute they hazed him. I was five when she left us to move back on the streets."
"Still not nice to say to friend." Eren said as Levi continued to wash the blood off.
"Well that's Erwin and me, friends, but we fight a lot."
"Sexual frustration?" Eren asked with a joking smile.
"That could be it, the man hasn't gotten any from Armin in a while."
"You get none either?" Eren chuckled.
"That's none of your shitty business." Levi barked. "But it's been a while for me too." Levi sighed. "What about you? You a virgin?" Levi grumbled.
"No, I've had lots of sex. I just no like it."
"It passes time. Sometime the woman are lazy in bed."
"I no like women."
"So you're gay? Into men." Levi asked, finishing Eren's face. Getting up he walked over to the medicine cabinet, grabbing the anti-infection ointment.
"Ja. I like men, but they hurt you so I prefer to be lonely." Eren said as Levi kneeled down.
"They hit you?" Levi asked as he rubbed the cream on Eren's face.
"Ja, but I use to it. I been hit by my dad too many time before."
"He was abusive?"
"Ja." Eren answered. Levi wiped off his finger before putting band aids on Eren's face.
"Who needs them…parents. They're all useless." Levi said, walking over to the sink.
"My mom was not…thank you Levi." Eren said as he stood up.
"Don't think I've changed my mind on you. I still hate your guts, but I guess Mikasa would worry too much if you shut her out. Just watch yourself." Levi warned as he washed his hands.
"Thank you Levi."
"Whatever. Just remember after class tomorrow meet in the work room."
"Okay. Uh Levi." Eren said, picking up the plate of cupcakes.
"What brat?" Levi asked as he turned around, drying his hand.
"Please have one." Eren said, holding the cupcakes out to him. Not wanting to get nagged at Levi grabbed one, taking off toward his room.
"Good night Eren." Levi said before ascending up the stairs.
"Night Levi." Eren said before sitting the cupcakes on the table and heading up to bed. He brought a hand up to his face, feeling over the band aids. With a smile the fingers moved to his long hair, twirling it between his fingers.
The rest of the night was calm, everyone asleep. When the sun rose the next morning, alarms going off all over the house. Eren grumbled, shoving his head under a pillow. The beeping slowly stopped one by one and Eren sighed in happiness. It was peaceful for a moment before a knock came on his door.
"Eren! Get up!" Armin yelled, Eren grunting loudly as too ward off Armin. "I'll drag your ass out of bed!" He yelled. The door creaked open when Eren neglected to answer Armin. Suddenly hands wrapped around his ankles and pulled him out of the bed. Eren grabbed his blanket, refusing to go down alone. "Fine. Have it your way." Armin said and began pulling Eren out of the room. Eren grumbled, wrapping his head in the blanket. "Come on, or I'll drag you down the stairs." Again Eren ignored him, Armin sighing as he walked down the stairs, dragging Eren behind him. It didn't bother Eren as he was dragged down the stairs. The front door opened to a group of girl walking in on the scene. The boys were downstairs in the kitchen, coming to investigate the thudding.
"Armin?" Erwin said, the younger continuing down the steps.
"It's normal." Mikasa said, watching as Armin hit the bottom floor, the blanket unwrapped. Eren snuggled into it, fast asleep.
"How the hells he asleep?" Jean asked.
"He's not a morning person." Armin said and dragged Eren towards the bathroom.
"Up and at 'em Jaeger!" Levi yelled, tapping Eren with his foot as they passed by. Eren grumbled, throwing the blanket over himself.
"Poke the back of his neck." Annie suggested, Eren shooting up from the ground. He pulled the blanket off of him, his hand covering his neck.
"Look at time." He said as he jumped up, running towards the stairs.
"Isabel, can you take Eren around school today?" Mikasa asked the younger girl.
"Sure cuz." She smiled, Mikasa patted her head before taking Armin's hand.
"See you guys at lunch." She said and waved before walking off with Armin.
"Leaving Eren with them after last night, this must be hard for you Mikasa."
"Trust me it is, but Eren needs to make friends. We both are leaving after this year. He needs friends. We can't always be with him." Mikasa forced out, biting her lip soon after.
"I know this was our idea, but maybe it was the wrong one. He's being too secretive, especially with us." Armin said as they walked to the school building.
Back at the fraternity the boys decided to snoop in the medicine cabinet. Levi had noticed Eren had left his pills downstairs the previous night and had put them up this morning. Erwin was curious so he removed the two big bottled pills from the cabinet. What made him wary was that the bottles were blank, no labels.
"Do you think they're illegal?" Marco said as the boys and girls looked at the bottles.
"Maybe they're not really meds, maybe he's a pill popper." Ymir said, Erwin opening the bottles. Dumping out the pills in his hand he watched as they liquified in his hand into purple fluids.
"Gross." Isabel commented.
"What the hell are these?" Connie said. Turning Erwin dumped the bottle down the drain, washing his hand before going to the next bottle. Doing the same Erwin made sure every pill was down the drain before turning away.
"Was it wise doing that?" Levi asked, Eren stepping into the room.
"What going on?" He asked, looking past the people. He noticed the empty pill bottles and ran over, grabbing them. With a horror struck face he looked at the running water before staring at Erwin. "What you do!?" He grabbed Erwin by the shirt, wide eyes begging him. "Why you do that!?"
"Unmarked pill bottles are illegal in the USA. I will not have illegal substances in my fraternity." Erwin shoved Eren away, Isabel catching his arm.
"Come on Eren. Lets finish getting ready and I'll take you to first hour." Isabel said before pulling Eren towards the bathroom.
"I don't think that was the best choice." Levi said as he walked past Erwin, arms folded.