Chapter 8
I can't sleep. Again.
So much has been piling up on me since Eren has been in the hospital. I know that this is in no way his fault, but I didn't realize how much I relied on him since his attack. It's already been two whole weeks since then. Everyday, I am forced to take Isabella to this disgusting little daycare on my lunch break so I could get my work done. Then, after I pay an extra 50 dollars for her to stay there longer, I take her home and feed her. Then clean the entire house, out of a force of habit, and finally fall asleep around midnight. Then I start this damned shitty cycle all over again.
On my days off, we go visit Eren, which makes all of this extra work seem worth it. Each time we see him, he improves his health by ten fold, and he actually genuinely smiles. That is such a relief, I can't even begin to think of what a horrible experience that must have been for him.
"Hey." I called, walking in to the abnormally colorful room. Last week, Bella and Eren colored in her color book, and he had the nurse hang their pictures of minions and Strawberry Shortcake all around his bed. It made any expression I had on my face turn to one of our happiness.
I knew Eren would be hungry, so I had gone to subway before I got to the hospital. Eren liked Subway like any other typical teen would, so I scraped up enough for two foot longs, hoping a picked out a good one for him.
"Hey you! What's that?" he asked, sitting up in the bed. I watched as he effortlessly maneuvered up in his hospital bed. He seems almost too tall for the damned thing, and he looks like a giant. In a way, it kind of pisses me off, but I digress.
"I thought you'd be done with the nasty ass food here, so I decided to take pity on you." I scoffed, grabbing chair and placing it next to his bed. I handed him his sandwich, and watched as he unwrapped it like it was a present on Christmas morning. Poor kid.
"OMG! My I freaking love this one! How did you know?!" he almost jumped out of his bed with excitement, then proceeded to demolish the end of the club.
"OMG? What are you, a twelve year old girl?" I laughed, unwrapping my own sandwich.
He laughed, almost choking on his food, then just smiled at me.
"Speaking of little girls, where's Bella? I had Armin get her a doll we were talking about last week. I hope she likes it!" he beamed, trying to speak through a mouthful of food.
"She's at a friends house. She wanted to come, but I told her to spend time with her little friends." I smiled, thinking of how considerate this guy is. I looked up and was met with a gentle stare from Eren, a small grin on his lips.
"How are you?" he asked, the excitement in his voice dying down to a calm and content tone.
That caught me off guard.
"I'm doing alright. It's been a battle trying to deal with the people I take Isabella to, because you and Hanji decided to get hurt. And my boss is a total dick… But other than that, I'm good." I paused, looking up at his face.
His features were almost unreadable, but at the same time, I realized what I had said.
"But I know it's not like it was your fault. But in Hanji's case, she's a total dip shit." I sighed, watching for any change of emotion.
"I'm really sorry it ended up like this though." he looked a little saddened, but a little brighter at the reiteration of my thoughts.
"It's alright. Seriously, I'm just glad you are alright."
"I'm good I guess. And I have to say, you picked a 'fantastic' hospital." he chuckled darkly, laying back on his pillows.
I have never seen this look on his face before. He looked like he wanted to die right then and there.
"Why do you say that?" I asked. What the hell does he mean?"
"Oh just wait, he's coming." he sighed, a scowl forming on his face. It seemed like the vibe that was going through this room was burned and trampled on as the white door opened.
A tall man in a doctor's coat walked in, a scowl of his own dragging his handsome features down.
"Eren, I didn't know you had a visitor." he scoffed, looking me over with his cold eyes. His long hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and his glasses hung obnoxiously on the bridge of his nose. This guy looked like a total prick.
"He's a good friend." Eren replied, looking at the doctor with a look of sour contempt if I ever saw one.
"Is he now? Nice to meet you." the doctor extended a hand towards me, making me feel instantly nauseous. The aura around this man was one of pure evil. His eyes were beautiful, but deadly.
"I'm Dr. Yeager." he smiled with a warm smile that made me cringe at how convincing he was trying to be. There wasn't a trace of warmth in his entire body, especially his hands.
He's good…
"Levi." I shook his hand, reluctantly, and suddenly realized what he said. This guy… is Eren's dad?
"If you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to. Take your medicine Eren." he told Eren coldly, then bowed politely to me before he walked out of the room.
"What the hell is his deal?" I asked, scanning Eren's body language. He seemed ridged and stiff, almost as if someone just told him his dog died.
"He's a horrible human being." he sighed shallowly. Then looked me seriously in the eyes. "Don't ever talk to him. He'll do anything to make me unhappy, so just steer clear of him." he warned, looking in my eyes for something. Clarity? Promise?
"I promise… That guy, your father, seems like a bad person. You could see it in his eyes." I agreed.
"Yeah, he's the reason I can't sleep at night." he tried to pass it off as a joke, but it seemed too real to even be considered as a joke.
"I can see that." I sighed, putting my sandwich down. I stood up and looked Eren in the face.
"Calm down. It's gonna be okay." I smiled, running my hand through his hair. I knew what I was doing was embarrassing, but I knew if i coaxed him out of his thoughts, he would concentrate on something else.
"I get out tomorrow, so it will. Thanks." he finally smiled again, and leaned slyly into my touch, making my cheeks heat up.
"And you have a whole other week of break, so it won't be all bad."
"Yeah, it'll be nice to relax outside of this place." he smiled, pulling away from my touch to sit up against his pillows.
The dark feelings had left with Dr. Yeager, and the brightness of Eren shown in the room once more as we began to talk about anything and everything.
Thinking back on the last two weeks, I couldn't help but think how close we've gotten. I feel like we could talk about almost anything, and it makes me so happy to know that I can actually make a friend.
XxXxXx
"She didn't!" Eren laughed, throwing his head back in a fit of giggles.
I was telling him how Bella had tried to dress herself and everything was inside out and backwards. She insisted that she go out like that, and I got so many disapproving looks from parents I felt like I was going to die.
"But, this woman came up to us, and told her she looked pretty." I smiled, reflecting back on the kindness that woman showed. "Bella tried to talk her ear off, and I couldn't help but think of how you two met." I chuckled, remembering those eyes looking at me as he comforted my little sister.
"It seems like so long ago now that you mention it." he smiled, looking down to his hands.
"I meant what I said in the cab you know. I'm really happy I got to meet you two." he fiddled with his hands, too embarrassed to look at me.
"I know. I'm lucky to have a friend like you." I smiled, winking at the younger man.
"Thank you. You are the only person who makes this bearable." his smile said he was happy, but his eyes were telling me how much emotion he bottled up inside.
"Make what bearable?"
"Life."
As he replied, I understood what he meant. Everything became clearer as I spent more and more time with this guy. I felt a pull towards him that day all those weeks ago, and I still feel that same pull today.
"Well I'm glad I can make a difference." I smiled as a reply, watching as he blushed that beautiful scarlet color that complements his tanned skin so well. I really want to do something. Anything. I'm not sure what, but this kid is motivating me to do something.
'Be happy.' a voice called from the back of my mind.
I felt tears swell at the corners of my eyes.
"Of course you do. You're such an awesome person, it motivates me to be…"
"Happy." I breathed, feeling the tears spill over for the first time in years.
"Levi? Did I say something wrong? I'm s-"
"No… I just feel the same way." I smiled, wiping at my eyes.
With Eren, maybe something in my life will actually go the way I want it for once. Maybe I can do what he said and finally…
'Be happy.'
I'm trying.
XxXxXx
By 7:30, visiting hours were over, so I had to leave and pick up Bella.
"I'll see you soon. Stop by if you'd like, we're having a movie night tomorrow." I smiled, getting up from the chair."
"I'm down! Does it matter when I show up?" he grinned, sitting up in his bed.
"Like 4 or 5?" I asked, walking back to the side of his bed.
"Sounds good." he smiled. I leaned down, and hugged him. I hugged him lightly, but close enough to feel the warmth that radiates off of his body like a freaking space heater.
"See ya." I smiled, ruffling his hair before I walked out.
"Bye…" he waved, grinning once more with pink cheeks and a light in his eye.
As I walked out, I felt my heart pound uncharacteristically. I feel like a teenager again. I walked passed the receptionist desk, and heard my name called out.
"Levi-san, may I have a moment?"
I turned, only to be greeted by the one guy I swore never to talk to again.
Sorry Eren, but I'm curious what this fucker has to say.
"Dr. Yeager. How can I help you?"
