I can't help the laughter that bursts out of me watching My Dad and Mikasa stand up and yell at the screen. I look over at Levi with his legs crossed and a look of subtle satisfaction on his face.
"And Rose is going to the finals!" The announcer yells over the loud cheering and sounds of celebration in the stadium. I start laughing even harder, falling over and clenching my stomach, when Mikasa stomps up to her room in anger. After Dad calms down from yelling at the screen, he crosses his arms with a huff and walks out of the room.
"That was great." I say after my laughter finally settles down. Levi snorts at that, uncrossing his legs and bringing them up on the couch to sit cross criss. He sits on one side of the couch while I'm leaning on the edge of the other side. Mom left a while ago when she decided she was bored. Dad and Mikasa are the soccer fans, but Mom and I prefer basketball. She gave me a curious look when I didn't get up with her, since we usually leave together. I tried my best to give her a casual shrug but she rolled her eyes at me like she knew I was staying for Levi. I decided to just stick my tongue out at her after that.
It's starting to get late but I'm not ready for bed yet. I glance over at Levi, seeing him stretch his arms above his head and yawning. I can tell he's tired and I wonder if he's going to bed soon. I want to stay up with him longer but I don't want to force him either. I feel slightly anxious on what to do next until Levi speaks up, "...Can we finish the Movie from earlier?" He asks, sounding strangely as anxious as I feel. I relax and push at his shoulder, "I knew you would like it!" I tease him, he pushes me back in response, easily knocking me off the couch. I laugh as I fall on my ass, crawling over to the remote and getting netflix pulled up. Without really thinking about it I grab the throw blanket from our recliner and throw it on Levi as I make my way back to my spot. He doesn't say anything as he adjusts it.
I didn't even notice we got through half of the movie, earlier I was too busy nursing my crush on the handsome senior. I decide to actually pay attention this time. I try to recite the lines as the characters talk. Levi tries to make me stop, calling me annoying and stupid, but I can see the smile on his face. As soon as we get to the court scene and I start exclaiming the gay latino character's lines he can't help the laugh that comes out. I smile in victory and he punches my shoulder. Then we start talking about gay stereotypes as the movie continues. I stopped paying attention as we spoke but somehow Levi seems to be able to focus on both.
"Ok but I wonder if either of us fit into a stereotype. Like what 'gay' things do you do?" Levi hums as he thinks about it, eyes staying on the TV. "Besides jacking off to guys," I roll my eyes and blush at his crude language, "I can be pretty mean I guess. I think that's a gay stereotype, right?"
I laughed at that, "Oh my god, you totally have the regina george energy." I continue laughing as Levi turns his head in confusion. "You'll know eventually, I won't let you go on living without watching that movie." He shrugs his shoulders from under the blanket.
"Stereotypes are bullshit anyways." Levi yawns, stretching his arms out from under the blanket. He blinks slowly, as if keeping them open is becoming increasingly difficult. I reach for my phone to check the time, then glance back at the movie, "Oh well, at this point you know she wins the case, graduates, and defends her status as the boss ass bitch she is," Levi gives a quiet amused chuckle, "It's getting late, we should go to bed." I stand up to stretch while Levi neatly folds his throw blanket and sets it back down. I find myself smiling at that. Even while half asleep he still manages to fold it perfectly.
I'm about to say goodnight and head up to my room when Levi clears his throat. He avoids eye contact by looking at the floor. "Thanks, uh," He awkwardly pats his sides like he doesn't know what to do with his hands, "For today...and tomorrow I guess. It was nice." He ends it there, though I can feel the weird tension in his posture that indicates that there is more he wants to say.
I feel a bit taken aback at that moment. I've gotten so used to the handsome, sarcastic, confident, crude, and rude-but-has-his-moments senior who can knock over guys twice his size. This Levi, though, is different. The flush on his cheeks, the way he's started rubbing his hands up and down his outer thighs, the eyes that look more tired than they should, the eyes that don't know what to focus on, the eyes that seem duller than earlier...it occurs to me that he looks vulnerable and worn out.
My heart starts to ache for him. I wish I knew what was really going on with him, each day it becomes more and more difficult not to pry. I wonder why, at this moment, he is giving me this glimpse at this side of himself. Maybe it's because he's too tired to put up a front, or maybe- hopefully- optimistically- he's letting his walls down just for me. Right as the thought goes through my mind I push it down, though. Don't make this about yourself. I chide myself.
"Uh, Eren?" All too suddenly those dull eyes are looking right at me and I realize that I have not responded. I lift my arm to awkwardly scratch the back of my head, "You don't have to thank me, really it's Mom you should be thanking. But, really, you're welcome here anytime. My parents are literally in love with you." He gives me a wry smile at that, a much more familiar and comfortable expression on his face. "Well I don't know about that, you're Dad didn't seem to like me so much at the end of that game." I laugh lightly at that, "He'll get over it. Anyways, I'm going to bed. You know your way to the guest room?" He nods at that, then we walk upstairs together in a only-slightly-awkward silence.
I stop at my door. "Well, this is me." I whisper, conscious of the other sleeping persons nearby. Levi seems to step closer, but stumbles back as if changing his mind. He gently bumps his fist to my chest. "Good night. Don't bite your tongue in your sleep and die." I laugh quietly as he starts walking, "Night, Levi." I say just loud enough for him to hear. I watch him open his door, enter, and close it behind him before I slip into my room for the night.
The first thing that comes to mind when I wake up early the next morning is: I don't have any clothes. I only have one extra shirt in my overnight bag...the one I wore to practice...the one that hasn't been washed. I bristle at the thought of having to put that thing back on. For a brief second, I entertain the thought of asking to use the Yeager's washer. But I don't think I could stand them doing yet another favor for me. I suppose it's about time that I went to get some more stuff out of my room anyways. I can't help but tease up thinking about having to go back there right now, but I really do need more than two shirts to wear.
I try not to speed my way down the road, knowing I have to be quick in order to get back in time for school. As I drive, my mind drifts back to yesterday. It brings up a lot of different feelings. Contentment, happiness, jealousy- but most of all: Longing. Wanting and yearning, yet knowing I could never have that. I chose to push down those feelings before they become too much to handle. I slow down as I enter my neighborhood, noticing my uncle's missing car as I pull in.
As soon as I step in I have to cover my nose at the smell. "Booze and drugs. Of fucking course." I power my way through the living, resisting the strong urge to deep clean the entire house. Thank god I think as I enter my room, seemingly untouched. I try to make quick work of folding clothes into my bag when I hear the back door bang open. "Shit." I whisper to myself. I move carefully closer to my door to peak out into the hallway. My eyes widen at the scene before me.
Multiple scruffy looking men with worn clothes and big guns push through the hallway into the living room. I notice my Uncle among them, supposedly ordering them around. I had always suspected that he might've been some drug lord, mafia boss, or gang leader with the disappearing act, mysterious stacks of money, and a gun constantly at his side. I didn't think he'd ever drag his work into the house. This is bad. I start to think of how I'm going to leave without them noticing me.
"Bring em' in." I hear my uncle say. A quiet gasp involuntarily leaves my mouth at that. Two big men go back outside but quickly return, pushing along two people with bags over their heads. I have to cover my mouth in order to not make a sound. This is really bad. I force myself to not panic. I can only think of 3 options: Call the cops, sneak out, or wait it out and leave when it's clear. I don't think I'm far enough away that they wouldn't hear me on the phone, and it seems that there's people guarding each exit. Wait it is then. I step back away from the crack in the door, not wanting to risk being seen. I stand in the middle of my room, too afraid to sit down and make the bed creak, and too afraid to be any closer to the door. I look around at my walls, wishing now more than ever that I had a window.
I try not to react as I hear a woman scream in the other room. "You bastard!" A man's voice yells in response. There's some shuffling around before my uncle's voice cuts through the air. "Listen here," I hear what sounds like a thump and another scream, maybe the woman falling on the floor, "Yer gonna tell us everything ya know. Unless ya want this little lady ta get hurt. Might even let my men here have their way with er." He cackles loudly, the whole group joining him. My eyes widen at the pure hatred I feel welling up inside me. I have to wrap a tight hand over my mouth to settle the sick feeling in my stomach. "Don't do it-" I hear the woman say before her voice becomes muffled by something.
The situation seems to exelate quickly as I hear muffled cries from the woman, and begging from the man. I don't think I can just stand around anymore. I need to call the cops and get out of here, before someone gets killed. Yesterday seems like forever ago… I think briefly before slowly stepping closer to the door. I freeze in my tracks when someone slightly pushes my door open. I cover my mouth again to not make a sound. His back is turned away from me, but one little sound could blow my cover. I try not to curse aloud at the situation, the only way out of my room now being blocked. Back to waiting…
I try to block out all the sounds in the other room, failing in spite of myself. The terrified sounds of the man, the muffled screaming and grunting of the woman, and the cheering of the men seem to play on repeat, over and over again. My legs start shaking with how long I've held the same position, and it becomes increasingly difficult to hold back my reactions. Finally, in what feels like an eternity, the guy moves away from my door. I try to steady myself enough to take careful and slow steps towards my door. Looking through the crack, I see that the guys who once stood at the back door don't appear to be guarding anymore. I almost sigh aloud with the relief I felt in that moment. I can get out of here. I'm going to get out here. I'm going to make it out. Looking both ways down the hallway before I take a tentative step outside my room. Then another. Then another. My hand reaches for the door knob, ever so slowly twisting it.
"Ping!"
I turn my head and watch, as if in slow motion, heads turn my way from inside the living room. "Oh shit." I say aloud, swinging the door open in an attempt to sprint away. I'm stopped by a big guy tackling me to the floor. "Where do you think you're going?" He asks with a smile on his face. I spit in his face as a response, causing him to let loose enough that I slip out of his hold. Then, suddenly, a tight hand wraps itself around my wrist. "Well, if it ain't my favorite nephew." I hear that uncomfortably and terrifyingly familiar voice whisper in my ear.
He roughly pulls me into the other room with everyone else. I try to resist, reaching my hand towards the door that I was so. So. close to getting to.
"Boss there's a car out front, this guy must've been in there since before we got here." One of the guys with a gun says as he points out the window. Kenny tightens his hold on my wrist even more, causing me to see white as blinding pain goes up my entire arm. "N' none y'all thought to check fer cars?" As I feel my eyes able to focus again I take in my surroundings. There's a crowd of maybe 10 men, a naked bloody woman on the floor, and an equally bloody man strapped to a chair. Both of them seem to stare at me in horror. "Why is there a kid here!?" The man says, angrily. Kenny ignores him as he aggressively pats down my pants, smiling when he finds what he's looking for. He takes my keys and throws them towards one of his men. I watch in horror as my best escape method is taken from me. I try not to show relief, though, that he did not find my phone.
"Now, kid, I'm gonna tell ya what happens next," he starts to put more pressure on my wrist again. I hold back a scream and narrow my eyes at him as he continues, "You know too much. I'd let ya go if I trusted ya not to call the police, but we both know that's not happenin. And ya know me, I'd never kill ma own blood. So, I'm just gonna have to let ya join us." He smiles as if it should be the best news I've ever heard.
"In fact," He pauses, and a sick feeling rises in my stomach as he looks around the room, "Did ya guys know my precious nephew here is a fag?" My eyes widen at the realization of what he's insinuating. There's several cheers around, the man in the chair yelling again, but it all seems to fade into the background as I narrow my eyes at my uncle. I'm not letting this happen. Just as one man puts his hand on my shoulder, I gather all my strength to look back into Kenny's eyes. "Fuck you." I swing my right leg up right between his legs, and I bolt out the back door that's still open.
I vaguely hear my uncle yell at them to catch me, but I'm too focused on running as quickly as I possibly can to pay attention. My lungs burn with the way my breath comes out so rough. I can hear the men surprisingly close on my tail. I jolt when the sound of a gunshot rings through the air, but the sudden fear of being shot makes me run even faster. Somehow I am able to lose them for long enough to think about a hiding place. I make my way over to an abandoned playground. I crawl into a small tunnel, taking advantage of my smaller size. Even though I desperately feel the need to catch my breath, I cover my breath to try and not make any noise. I can still hear people running all around me.
I wait for at least 30 minutes of silence before making my move out of the tunnel. And of course, at that very moment, I neglected to notice a sharp piece of ripped off plastic at the end of the tunnel that cuts down my forearm. I couldn't stop the scream of pain from coming out, quickly covering my mouth immediately afterward. I strain my ears to tell if anyone is rushing towards me. No footsteps, just the sound of cars on the street nearby. I sigh in relief, People are starting to go to work, they probably don't want to be seen chasing me.
I sag against a near-by tree, catching my breath. I reach for my phone in my pocket. I struggle to keep my hands steady enough, and my eyes focused enough to do anything but tap the screen in hopes of calling someone, anyone. Miraculously, I hear the calling sound and put the phone between my ear and shoulder.
"Levi!? Where are you?!"