Chapter 4

I sat in the booth, feeling bullets of sweat running down the back of my neck. I called Mikasa this morning, telling her we should talk face to face if it came to…him. I honestly would rather talk of anything else, especially my almost perfect evening last night. It felt like a dream, seeing as I'm in a totally distasteful situation right now.

I took a sip of my ice tea, wishing it was a drink, when the doors of the café blew wide open.

"Onii-chan, hurry up! You're such a slow-poke!" a little girl giggled, running around the establishment. What an energetic little kid. I wish she could share that, because God knows I'm losing my shit.

All of a sudden, she was nowhere in sight. I looked around for her, and then felt a hand on my shoe underneath the table. Jumping slightly, I looked down to see her on her hands and knees. Then she looked up at me with those eyes. They were a gorgeous shade of green, and shone so brightly, although there were tears in her eyes that made her look extraordinarily pitiful.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" I asked, feeling a piece of my mom come out. I knelt down beside her, helping her to her feet. She had fallen and scrapped her knee, which frankly looked like it hurt like a son of a bitch.

"Owwie…" she whimpered, inspecting her wound. Luckily for the both of us, I always carry bandages in my wallet. I pulled it out and talked to her while I fixed up her scrape.

"It's okay; I'll fix it all up to make it go away!" I reassured her, placing the bandage on her knee. I looked back up into her eyes, which were no longer filled with tears.

"Isabella! God dammit, I told you to wait for Onii-chan!" an out of breath voice called from the entrance. We both turned to look up at the short man, panting and sweating. He wore tight black jeans and a grey band t-shirt, which was slightly damp with sweat.

"Levi!" I gasped, standing up to meet his gaze somewhat. He looked up at me speechless, then down to his little sister.

"Are you alright?" he gasped, crouching down in front of the girl. She wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. "I'm s-sorry Onii-chan! I didn't mean to leave! I'm sorry!" she cried, as he wrapped his arms around her to support her.

This scene… it was so heart-warming to say the least. Levi looked so…adorable… Just like a parent off of a drama show or something. I wish I could take a picture…

"Eren, did you put this Band-Aid on her?" he asked, looking up at me.

"Y-yeah, she fell down right next to me, and I remembered I had a few Band-Aids, so I fixed her up real quick…" I felt my cheeks burn as I looked at him. His eyes were practically raping me by the way he was looking at me.

"Thank you." He smiled so brightly, I felt like my face might melt like a wax figure. It's hot in here.

"Th-thank you Onii-chan's friend!" Isabella chimed in, smiling at me with her cute little grin. This scene, made my heart pound like it was about to die.

"Would you like some company this morning? I'll treat you." Levi offered, putting Isabella down. This is too good to be true!

"O-of course! But I can't ask you to pay for me! My sister is on her way, so I'll pay for both of ours, but I'm sure she'd love to meet you two!" I rushed out, too excited to make a clear thought without some effort.

"O-oh, are you sure you want us here if you are supposed to be with her?" he asked, brushing his hair out of his face.

"Definitely." I said, practically beaming as I gestured for him to sit down across from me.

We all sat down, and Levi ordered a coffee for himself and chocolate milk for Isabella. She is absolutely the cutest girl I've ever seen in my entire life!

"E-Ewen?" Isabella asked, looking at me with a nervous expression.

"Yeah?" I replied, flushing at how cute she was.

"Th-thanks for fixing my owwie…" she said, looking down at her milk. Cute cute cute! I want to take her home!

"Anytime, sweet pea." I winked coolly at her. She erupted in a fit of giggles, than continued on just sitting there and listening to us talk.

"It's weird…" Levi started, stirring his coffee. "Literally, wherever you are, you always end up helping me in some way. Are you stalking me?" he asked with a serious expression on his face.

"Oh God no! I mean, don't get the wrong idea, please! I don't-"I stopped, feeling a blush blossom across my entire face. I'm so fucking stupid sometimes, how am I still alive?

"You what?" he asked, covering his mouth with his hand. He was stifling a laugh, and Isabella looked up at him with wonder.

"I don't want you to think I'm weird or anything. It's always just a coincidence." I admitted, too embarrassed to even look at him.

"Well, I'm sorry to say I think you are totally a freak of nature, Eren." I looked up at him to be met with the most amazing smile I've seen yet. Each time I'm with this guy, he just brightens my day that much more with his surprising little smiles.

"I mean, you saved me using an unexpected amount of technique to 'hurt' that guy." Levi kept it PG for the little one sitting next to him, looking at me with pure amazement.

"You saved Onii-chan!?" Isabella asked, smacking her little hands on the table.

"I mean, not really I just-"

"Yeah Bella, he sure did." He winked at her, ruffling her hair. She giggled furiously, and then looked at me with an even brighter light in her eyes.

"You are so so cool, Ewen!" she smiled, grabbing my hand in her little ones. I grasped her hands back and smiled at her.

"You are the cutest, Bella!" that caused the little girl to absolutely die laughing. I looked to Levi to see him look away quickly. I swear I saw the biggest grin I'll ever see on his face for the rest of my life.

"Eren?" a monotonous voice called from beside us.

"Hey Mikasa!" I called out, getting up out of my seat to let her slide in. Then the introductions began…

"This is Levi, and his little sister, Isabella. And this is my sister, Mikasa." I smiled, watching Mikasa look over the two with her usual reluctant stare.

"It's nice to meet you." Levi met her stare with one of his own. I've never seen this before, is he mad?

"The pleasure is all mine." Mikasa stated, looking at Levi. Then she looked to Isabella, giving her a small smile.

"Nice to meet you too." She winked, causing Bella to instantly warm up to her.

"You are so pretty!" Bella said, smiling brightly at Mikasa.

"You're beautiful too." Mikasa said, her small smile only dropping when facing me.

"You know why I'm here, right?" Mikasa asked, grabbing my hand in hers.

"Right… Why does he want to see me?" I asked, feeling sweat once again drip off of my neck and down my back.

"I said that so you wouldn't be scared to see me. But it's worse than what I lead on. I'm sorry." She admitted, squeezing my hand.

"Why would you lie? I would've been more prepared if you would've just told me…" I felt myself want to shout, so I looked at Levi, who now wore a questioning look.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, looking at me with those gorgeous eyes. Just looking at Levi gave me strength.

"Please excuse us for a minute. We'll be right back." I said, pulling Mikasa by the hand outside, and earning a few glances from customers in the diner.

We got outside, and were standing in front of some windows that held booths. I felt Levi's stare on my back, but I need to know what Jean said. I know he turned me down without even knowing I liked him, but I still feel something for him. I mean, I really did love him.

Without sparing a second thought Mikasa began.

"Jean told me some pretty mean shit, Eren." She sighed, looking at my face to make sure I was ready.

"He said, 'Eren is obviously a slut from what he's told me from his own mouth. I mean, I'd tap him, because he has a nice face, don't get me wrong. But, I want an actual relationship, and I know Eren couldn't give that to me if he sleeps around. Someone even told me he was a prostitute, and sleeps around for sport. He probably has aids or some shit. Sorry, but it's the truth.'" Mikasa finished, saying the whole thing with a straight face, and a cold voice.

I couldn't believe what she just said. I felt my heart break into a million little shitty pieces. "Why would he say such mean shit? What the fuck?" I asked, feeling my whole body shake. I thought we were friends at the very least, but I guess I was just there for amusement.

Tears leaked from my eyes as I looked down to the pavement. A broken sob escaped from my mouth, and I covered it. This is the equivalent of someone holding your heart in their hands, and they promised to keep it safe. Then, they throw it to the ground and jump on the broken pieces, smearing your bloody waste of an organ into the ground. What a fucking mistake on my part.

"Eren…" Mikasa called out, stepping forward. She wrapped her arms around me, and all I could think was 'I didn't even realize what a mistake it was to even get to know him…' This is seriously the worst.

"He isn't worth your tears. He's a worthless worm, who shouldn't be allowed to function with a shred of intelligence. I'm so sorry…" she said, trying to comfort me in her own 'Mikasa' way.

All of a sudden, her phone went off. She reluctantly pulled away, and answered it.

"Yes. Yes I understand, but… Of course. I'm on my way." She answered, hanging up the phone. She looked back to me, a frown pulling at her lips.

"Eren, I-"

"It's okay. It's for school, right? That's way more important." I smiled, wiping away a stray tear. I can't get in her way. She was just trying to help, and let me know where to go from here. Yet, even though I knew he was an asshole, I was trying to find the best scenario for us in the back of mind. It just took this much to realize nothing will ever happen. He probably hates me, but couldn't find it in himself to tell me to my face. But to say something like this to Mikasa… It burns a thousand times more than if he would have told me directly.

"I'm so sorry, Eren. I'll call you after school tonight, and we'll go somewhere and have fun. I hate to leave you like this though. Maybe I should just ditch…" she contemplated, grabbing my hand in hers.

"Don't be silly. Of course you have to go! I'll be waiting for your call, kay?" I reassured her, grabbing her into another hug. I kissed her forehead and sent her off. As soon as she was out of sight, the dam broke and tears fell freely down my face.

This is the worst.

"Hey." I was startled to hear someone calling out for me.

I looked over to see Levi holding Isabella's hand. His face was almost unreadable as he looked at what a mess I was.

"Oh, sorry about this…" I tried my best to sound convincing and laugh off the tears. This is so embarrassing. Good God, strike me down where I stand. This really is the worst. I wiped furiously at my eyes, and felt a tug at my pant leg.

"Did you get an owwie too?" Isabella asked, looking up at me with those sad eyes she wore so well.

"Yeah…" I chuckled, wiping another tear away.

Then, she hugged my leg, nuzzling my knee as she held it tighter. "Please don't be sad, Ewen… It'll be okay. Onii-chan says it's okay if someone is here to give you a hug." She whimpered, refusing to let go.

My heart clenched almost painfully as she held me with such care. What a special little girl.

"Bella…" Levi called, looking at her with a sweet expression. She looked up at me, with a determined expression.

"Where does it hurt?" she demanded, pulling an expression similar to her older brothers.

I knelt down to meet her gaze, and pointed to my chest. "My heart is a little torn up. But I think that hug may have helped it out quite a bit." I smiled, patting the girl's head.

"W-why does your heart hurt?" she asked with a shocked expression on her face.

"W-well… Someone hurt my feelings real bad…" I admitted, again keeping the PG rating.

"How?" this time, Levi asking the question. This shocked me to the point where it was hard to think of a reason why.

"Err, I um… I liked someone, but they didn't like me back. Then they told Mikasa that I was… dirty and a bad person. Then they spread bad rumors, and it just really hurt." I tried to explain it as nicely as possibly as I could.

"That's…" Levi whispered, looking at me with such expressionless eyes. I couldn't really read them.

"Here…" he said, holding out a paper towel to dry my tears.

"Thanks." I grabbed it from him, and dried my tears. Isabella wrapped her arms around my neck, and I stood up, holding the small girl in my arms.

"Don't be sad, Ewen! I'll love you!" she declared, squeezing me even tighter in her hold. I held her back, taken aback by her heart.

"Thank you, Bella! I hope we can be really good friends!" I felt so touched at that moment, a few more tears escaped.

"We already paid for our drinks, and I picked up your tab too, seeing as your sister didn't get anything." Levi stepped closer.

"Can I see your phone?" he asked, holding out his hand as if I already agreed to give it to him.

I struggled with holding his sister, but I managed to hand him my cell.

A few minutes later, he handed my phone back to me.

"I gave you my number. Text me so I have your number too, kay?" he asked, winking slightly with a warmer expression than before.

"O-okay…" I felt a smile tug at my lips.

After a few moments, I realized Isabella had fallen asleep in my arms.

"You know, I don't think she's ever fallen asleep in someone's arms aside from yours." He stated, scoffing at the sleeping girl. "You could wake her up and let her walk on her own…" he stated, looking at me from the side. Before I knew what was happening, we were walking.

"Well, I'll take this as a very big compliment." I smiled. "She is a very special girl. You must be so proud." I couldn't help but smile at the fact I had made a precious little friend today.

"You know, when our parents died… I was so worried." He started, smiling up at the sky. "I tried my best to raise her like our parents raised me, and thankfully she seems to be turning out alright." He smiled back at me, and his expression was just so calm and collected.

"That's what Mikasa said one time." I smiled, thanking my lucky stars I could make conversation with this person.

"When my mother died, Mikasa had just come to our family. My father wasn't really there much, and she found herself in a mother like role. I'm younger than her by two years, but she really seems so much older than me. But, I'm afraid I didn't turn out as good as she had hoped sometimes." I chuckled, as we stopped at a stop light.

"You know…" Levi turned to look at me, and we stood there for what seemed like ages. "You really sell yourself short." He muttered, looking me dead in the eye. "You obviously turned out better than okay. Look at yourself from my perspective." He offered.

"You didn't even know me, and you helped me out with that shit head, and you didn't even hesitate. You reassured a young girl, whom you didn't know, and now she obviously adores you. I think you are a really good guy, Eren." He stated matter-of-factly. A blush creeped onto my cheeks for the hundredth time that day.

"Seriously…" he scoffed, continuing to walk down the road. I followed him, as if I was following a light down a dark hallway.

By the time it was evening, we ended up at the doorstep of his apartment. I handed him Isabella, and she woke slightly. "Bye bye Ewen." She waved, as I waved back. "Bye bye." I smiled.

"See you soon, Eren." Levi waved too, a small smile gracing his lips as well.

"See ya." I waved back.

Today was a day I don't think I'll ever forget. I had my heart broken and ripped from my grasp, only to be returned and healing by two people who I just met on a pure coincidence. Maybe someone up there is watching over me after all. I walked home in a daze, dried tears on my face, and a heart trying it's best to recover.

I'm exhausted…