Today Eren was full of confidence. He couldn't care less about other students' opinions on his bruised face. Vice versa, he was proud of the bruise because he was seen as a hero for saving Armin from the punks. Eren's eyes were bursting with fire just like the sun. The sun that was once again covered with rain clouds.

The first lesson today was PE. Eren knew that he had to deal with Levi today, but it didn't scare him at all. Actually, he was prepared.

Before dismissing his class last time, Erwin had told his class that they would be running laps around the field with a timer today. Eren hoped that Erwin had made a change of plans because Eren was pretty confident that he didn't want to run in the rain. It wasn't as bad as yesterday, but bad enough when asked from Eren.

Marco and Jean were in the gym changing room at school. They were sitting on a bench close to each other and having a casual chat. "Did you see Mikasa's new haircut?!" Jean was really excited and flushed. It was obvious that he had his eyes on her, but he still did his best to hide it from people he didn't know that well. Marco was no problem. He was Jean's best bro.

"Yeah, I think it looks great! But maybe a bit too short though."

-"What do you mean a bit too short? It's beautiful! And looks shinier than ever!"

"Oh, of course! But in my opinion she really went for too short, but it will grow long soon again!"

-"Everything looks perfect on her..." Jean sighed and blushed.

"Then why don't you tell her what you think?"

Nobody else was in the room so it was impossible for the two teens to not notice someone else's presence appearing in the room. Jean felt perturbed and a bit shocked to learn that someone had heard him talking about Mikasa, but relaxed when he realized it was just Eren. However, him coming in was a reminder that he should be a bit more quiet about Mikasa. Don't get too excited, Jean.

"Eren, you almost scared me! Don't just appear out of nowhere like that!" Jean growled as he still had a faint blush on his face. He received an amused snort from Eren and Marco chuckled gently.

They two guys noticed the bruise on Eren's cheek and looked at each other. They had heard rumors about what had happened yesterday, but they weren't sure whether they should have believed or not. Now they believed, but didn't mention the bruise.

Eren landed his bag next to Marco and Jean and started changing his clothes, which the two other guys had already done. He saw that Jean had a sleeveless top and a pair shorts as usual, but Marco had longer pants and a track jacket. "Do you think Erwin is really going to make us run outside?"

"No way. If he will, he'd be insane." Jean grunted. On the other hand, Marco replied "I don't know. I sure agree that he'd be crazy if he did, but you never know." Eren was eyeing the two other guys' outfits. He had brought shorts with him because he was pretty sure that they wouldn't go and run outside. "I think everyone would catch a cold if we were to follow the original plans. He can't force us there!" Eren stated, and got an "exactly" from Jean in return.

After the bell had gone, Eren was really getting pumped, waiting for Levi. He appeared, but without any company. Reiner was missing, and therefore the short guy was alone. Eren was practically staring at him when he had entered, but Levi didn't seem to notice. He didn't even look at Eren.

The room was getting really loud as the arriving students' chatter filled it. Finally, Erwin came to the changing rooms to meet his students. He greeted them with a strong good morning as usual, and while he was writing down all the names of the present students on his thick notebook, the students were nervously waiting for him to announce his plans. Eventually, he did, and despite the complaints of some students like Jean's "But I don't have anything warm to wear!", he chose to take them outside. "We have to do this today! Just take a warm shower afterwards."

And out they went. Their breath was steaming in the air as they were doing their stretching in a shelter by the field. They were feeling more or less anxious about their fate. Even Eren was disappointed, but decided to stay cool and not whine. It was just one lesson, right? He could do it.

The students lined up on the running track. Eren and Marco were next to each other on the back row, and Eren was looking around him. He couldn't see Jean who was in the front, but he spotted Levi, who in fact, was right in front of Eren, rainwater running down his hair. He still hasn't looked at me once, Eren thought.

Erwin who was wearing a warm-looking raincoat, blew his whistle and started the timer. His students started jogging. They were starting slowly, and eventually they would fasten their pace. 10 laps ahead.

Eren had quite a nice run and he had one of the best results. The best time was Connie Springer's, or Sprinter's as some called him. Jean was second, Levi third, and Eren fourth. Not that it was a competition, but Eren felt a bit disappointed, having lost to Levi. The top three got appreciative looks from other students and Eren kind of wanted to be one of them. Too bad.

Although Jean had been the second, he didn't feel that happy at all. He was feeling really cold and the wet clothes stuck to his skin didn't make him feel any better. Well, he wasn't the only one, everybody else was wet as well. Crazy Erwin. He put his students through such a torture.

Marco had run past the finish line about two minutes after Eren. "Eek.. It's so cold!" He hissed and was still panting when he reunited with Eren and Jean. They were walking back to the gym, each one of them shivering. "At least you have long pants and everything..." Jean moaned. "Oops, that's right, ehehe! I feel sorry for you Jean. And everybody else. I think we all need a hot shower."

The showers were busy as about 20 students were ice cold and finding their way to the warm water. There were only 10 showers and Eren and his friends were lucky to get to there first. The ones who weren't quick enough to go to the shower before others were shivering in the changing room, having towels wrapped around them.

At first, the hot water was burning Eren's skin, but soon it started to feel really good and his blood started running faster in his veins again, warming him up. His fingers and toes were tingling and that felt a bit uncomfortable though.

As the hot water was running down his naked body, he saw Levi enter the showers, having a towel securely wrapped around his waist. Their eyes met, but Levi quickly drew his eyes away, and calmly walked to a shower located in the back corner of the room. He was obviously avoiding eye contact with everybody and Eren chuckled in his mind. Was Levi embarassed? It really looked like it, especially when Levi was facing the wall, as if trying to hide from others. Eren was eyeing him and his back. Just who takes a shower with a towel wrapped around them like that?

When Eren noticed that Jean and Marco were done and leaving the room to get some clothes on, he dropped his eyes off of Levi and turned the shower off. He followed his friends and made some space for those still shivering in the changing room.

Having pulled his underwear on, he was roughly drying his hair with his towel. He was thinking of Levi, being a bit upset for that he had not approached Eren. He had even mentally prepared himself for facing this toughie! But just what was Levi doing? Something was off and even Eren could tell it.

Levi had returned to the changing room right after Eren had pulled his jeans on. Apparently this guy had had another towel ready just by the shower entrance. He had removed the wet towel from his waist and replaced it with a dry one. He had squeezed most of the excess water off of the other towel, and in the changing room he placed it in a white plastic bag. What a weird guy.

"Eren, we are going to Ms. Zoe, we need to see her before the next lesson to return our assignments, if that's okay." Marco spoke, and Eren nodded. "Okay, see you later!" A few people were leaving the room along Jean and Marco.

Still drying his hair, Eren couldn't help but look at Levi, who started getting dressed. Always facing the wall, always having that towel there until he had pulled his boxers on. He was avoiding others again and Eren felt puzzled.

After pulling his black jeans on, Levi finally turned around, still shirtless. He caught Eren red-handed from staring at him. Eren didn't drop his gaze, but bravely looked back into Levi's eyes.

Oh dear. Is this brat perverted or something? Levi thought and glared at Eren with disgust. Watching me getting dressed. Seriously. Eren had a really steady look in him. And when Levi noticed Eren wasn't going to stop staring, he mumbled something. "What are you staring at, you perverted piece of shit?"

Stay cool, Eren recalled. He tilted his head slightly as he replied "At you. What else would I be looking at?" Eren felt many people looking at him with surprise and he pulled a red hoodie over his head to keep himself warm.

Levi was taken aback but felt irritated at the same time. He didn't actually know what to think or how to react. "Tch." was all he managed to say, and Eren felt smug for being able to make the other guy shut up just like that.

Levi proceeded in getting dressed by taking out a white t-shirt and pulling it over his head. Since it was a cool day, he also wore a black sweater on top.

After a minute or two, some people were still having showers, and Eren and Levi were the only people in the changing room. Levi's hair was still a bit damp but he picked up his bag and was about to leave the room.

When he had reached the door leading out of the room, he heard speech. "Don't forget your towel." Levi turned around on his heels and saw Eren standing there by the bench, holding the plastic bag that Levi had had.

How embarassing... Levi cursed in his mind and approached Eren. "Gimme that", he mumbled and grabbed the bag from Eren's hands, instantly turning around to leave.

What Eren said next wasn't that wise. "Where are your manners? It doesn't hurt to say thank you, you know."

Levi froze and faced Eren once more. "It doesn't. But not knowing how to shut up does" he warned.

"Come on, I just did you a favor... What's up with the towel anyway?"

-"Fuck off. It's none of your business, you asswipe."

"If you say so. Just don't abandon your wet towels and leave them lying around like that next time. I won't return them to you again if you are like that. Nobody will." Eren sighed and was about to walk to another bench to retrieve his own bag.

Anger had been growing inside Levi and now he was furious. Just after Eren had turned around, having his back facing Levi, his jumper was vigorously grabbed from the hood. Eren groaned as he felt a low sweeping kick against his calves and totally lost his balance. He would have fell all the way down on the floor if it wasn't Levi having a tight grip on his hood. His whole body was dragged along with Levi when the enraged boy fiercely walked out of the room. Levi dragged him through the door leading to a corridor, and then through another door that lead to the dim gym. He totally ignored Eren who was begging for Levi to let go of him at once.

He aggressively pushed Eren against the cold gym wall, making his head thud against the tough surface. Levi was so irritated that he couldn't resist punching Eren in the stomach again. This resulted into Eren's knees buckling a bit and as that had happened, the shorter guy got the chance to grab him from his hair with one hand. Eren was hanging from Levi's hand so that the eyes of him and Levi were on the same level.

Eren felt the other guy placing his hand fimly behind Eren's back, pulling him so close that their stomachs were touching. Eren's back was arched backwards.

The room was dim, but Eren could tell that Levi was looking deep into his eyes. Eren looked back at him but was clearly panicking and gasping for air.

"Let go of me..."

-"Brats like you greatly annoy me."

"Please..."

-"I wish there was a world where I wouldn't need to deal with you."

"I apologize my behaviour... Please.. Let me go..!"

-"You are so foolish and irrational. Just who do you think you are?"

"Levi.. please.."

-"You sure got guts but..."

Levi pulled the other boy's face closer and loosened the grip on his hair the slightest bit. He was listening to Eren gasping and whimpering, eyeing his face with his grey, cold eyes. Finally, he let out a husky whisper. "I hate you."

Next, Eren's eyes flew wide open. His face was pulled even closer, and roughly, Levi had pressed his lips against Eren's.

Firmly yet softly, Levi had locked the brunette's lips between his own, and his heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird's.

If Eren would have told that it wasn't the most confusing moment of his life, he would have lied. He was so shocked and frightened, but also, he couldn't deny that Levi's lips felt wonderful on his own. They were firm but soft. They made Eren feel so secure that magically his whimpers grew silent, or even non-existent.

It was a simple kiss. No brushing or tongues. Just one long lip lock. Levi pulled away slowly, and opened his eyes that had an unusual softness to them. What had lasted for only a few seconds, felt like a small eternity for both of them.

Levi looked at the panting Eren for a few more seconds without either one of them speaking a word. Then Levi looked away, pushed Eren against the wall, picked up his plastic bag from the floor and rushed away from the gym and the whole building, leaving the other boy behind.

Eren leaned against the wall, trying to figure out what had just happened. Whatever that was about, he wouldn't tell his friends. He just had this feeling inside that this was meant to be kept as a secret.

Thanks for you people who are reading and those who are writing reviews!
I really worked hard on this chapter and I would love you to tell what you think.