Back from vacation and i caught a cold! but since I'm in bed I can post! it's a bit of a short one, but I'll ltry to post another chapter before the week is over. Thanks so much for all your comments, kudos, and views! I really appreciate it! makes me fall all warm inside! :)

Eren watched as the man left bills on the bed, opened the door and walked out. Never once glancing back.

He waited.

Waited until the man came back and said fuck it, let's give it a go.

Waited until the man came back and said he got lost trying to find the exit.

Waited until the man came back to beat the living shit out of him.

Dry washing his face, Eren got up and peeked outside of the door, finding the hallway deserted. Pulling his mouth in a disappointed expression, Eren picked up the money and went through his door. The dressing room was bare, and quickly removing the pilot outfit he tossed it into the hamper. Finding his bartending clothes, Eren dressed and exited the room through another door. Wondering over to the lounge area, he was thankful to find it deserted. Eren moved to his locker and turned the lock over yanking on it, and found it was still locked. Eren tried the combination again, and again, only to have it end in the same results.

Frowning, Eren started to punch his locker half-heartedly.

"Bad day, dear?"

Eren froze in his assault on his locker and turned leaning into the cool metal looking defeated. He felt exhausted and stupid. Stupid that he would blow his one fucking chance with that man. He had to get all confessional and emotional, wanting to reach out and touch the raven at every moment. He was drawn in like a moth to a flame as soon as he saw him enter the club. Eren stared at his hands and slowly opened and closed them. Once the raven had fallen asleep, Eren had undressed him and spooned him as he slept. He held his hand, and even when the smaller man shifted positions to snuggle head-first into Eren's chest, bringing his smaller frame closer to him, hugging him tightly. He missed the warmth of the smaller man. He wanted to get to know him. Fuck! Why did he have to be honest and say that to him? Why did he have to word vomit all over the situation. Why couldn't he have come across as devastatingly handsome, mysteriously, and even charming instead of -

Needy. Whiny.

Eren pressed the palms of his hands on his eyes until he saw burst of stars behind his lids. Why did he screw everything up? This could have been something! maybe he could have asked for the raven's phone number afterwards. Maybe they could have gone for a late dinner at that café down the way. Maybe if he didn't go and act like he was a fucking love-sick high schooler who was overly charged with emotion - something else could have happened. Why did he never think things through?

Jean walked over giving Eren a sad look and stood in front of his locker, turning the lock over slightly, he picked the lock with ease.

"Thanks" Eren muttered reaching for his backpack.

Jean watched as Eren threw money into his bag and zipped it, closing the locker without bothering to lock it.

"How did it go?" he asked quietly.

"It didn't. You were right, ok?" putting the strap over one shoulder Eren turned and looked at Jean, tears filling his ocean eyes. "I don't want to talk about it right now."

Jean opened his mouth but shut it quickly as Reiner walked in looking determined and strolled into the next room with 'Costumes & Props' over the door. "Hey guys" he called absentmindedly as he came out with an extra-large purple vibrator and a butt-plug.

Eren nodded to the toy. "What's that about?"

Reiner rolled his eyes. "My client wanted to try experimenting but broke the other toy. Good thing Hange keeps spares!"

"Ahh, living the dream" Jean mused out loud.

Walking towards the door Reiner grinned waving the toy in his hand. "See you guys later!"

Before Jean could start, Eren was making his way to the door.

"Hey! Wait a minute, Eren!"

"I gotta go, Jean."

"Eren!" Jean caught up to the brunet walking towards the back exit. "You know you're my ride, right fucker?"

Eren halted in his tracks. "Shit. Sorry Jean, I forgot. Listen, any chance you can catch a ride with Connie?"

"Connie's off today, remember? You took his shift for tonight. He's at the monthly self-defense class." Jean's eyes narrowed at Eren, suspicion rising in his face. "What's up with you man? Did that guy slip you something? Did he try something…?"

"What?! No! God no, it wasn't like that."

Nodding slightly, Jean didn't look convince. Pointing at the lounge, he looked back at Eren. "Would you just wait for me? I'm not taking the fucking bus."

Sighing Eren turned on his heel and walked back to the room and plopped on the couch.

Fucking night. Fucking guy. With absolutely no fucking!

"And then he left?" Jean asked, midchew on his burger.

Eren nodded swallowing his food he stopped at a red light shifting his burger to his other hand.

"I told you that guy looked too wound up. I figured he was one of those repressed guys, who would be all judgmental in public but wacked off while smelling your dirty underwear at night and his wife is asleep in the next room."

"God, you paint such a lovely picture" Eren replied moving his foot off the break and put the jeep back into motion.

"Look man, some guys live the dream and others just enjoy the fucking stripper dance. You on one hand, don't have either. Whereas I on the other hand, do." Jean smirked, shoving the rest of his burger in his mouth.

Eren rolled his eyes and slowed the vehicle as they came up to the hospital's parking lot. Throwing the gear in park, he shoved his hand into the white bag and pulled out several fries.

"You met Marco there."

Jean nodded looking thoughtful. "I did. I walked in with a group of guys having fun on a Saturday night. Saw the strip show, and thought it was ok. And then Marco walked on stage." Jean moved to look at Eren fully and leaned his back against the car door. "I went back almost every weekend to see him for like, I don't know, a month? And then one day, like a creepier I might add," Jean feigned a shy smile, "I waited for him in the parking lot and introduced myself."

Gathering his food and drink, Jean reached into the back seat and got his bag. "That won't work so much with this guy. If you're really into him, you have to go to him, not wait for him to come to you. He's got a stick up his ass for sure, but he's got some sort of mental block." Opening the door, Jean paused. "Marco is the single best thing that has ever happened to me. I would do it all over again just for him. When he quit and needed to concentrate on his residency full time, I knew I'd have to be the bread winner. That place has certainly helped us make ends meet, but it's not forever. Not for me, and definitely not for you."

"Jean…" Eren looked at him with wide eyes, appreciation filling his chest for his best friend.

Giving Eren a tight smile, Jean closed the door and walked into the hospital. Eren saw Marco greet him at the door, smiling like the love-sick fool he knew he was.