For some obvious reasons, Levi didn't show up in the other classes after the perplexing encounter with a certain brunette. Eren took notice that he couldn't see Levi anywhere during the lunch time, and finally he confirmed his absence during the last lesson of psychology where he should have been.

Eren was highly puzzled for the rest of the day after the encounter. Armin had noticed it in the psychology class and kept asking if something was wrong. Eren would have loved to tell him the truth. Maybe he would have if he hadn't promised himself not to tell about the kiss to anybody. Each time Armin questioned his behavior, Eren would always tell him that everything was okay and nothing special was going on, and then he would continue doing the group task that they were assigned to do in the class.

Although he tried to do his best in the classes, Eren just couldn't concentrate enough to do his work properly while the memory of being roughly embraced by Levi was still lingering in his mind. Why would Levi have done that? To Eren it was nearly crystal clear that Levi was just toying around with him. What else would it have been? Eren was really curious to find out the real reason.

What Eren had felt earlier was real fear. Anybody would have been scared when somebody dragged them to a dark room for a beating! When Levi was hitting Eren, he felt totally helpless and he thought it would never end. He knew that nobody would have come to help. But then the kiss had come in and suddenly Eren felt so relaxed. Afterwards he actually admitted himself that he had liked it. It was kind of scary, the way Levi was so capable of manipulating Eren's emotions. He was dangerous, and therefore Eren chose not to tell anyone.

The long-waited weekend came, and the two days of freedom passed by way too quickly. If asked from Eren, he would have loved to have at least 3 days off. It was Monday again and now he was sitting in the psychology class again. Much to his surprise, Levi had come to the class.

"Today you are working on your group tasks. I recommend taking out the laptops and searching information online. If you need any help, feel free to ask me!" Their petite teacher, Petra Ral announced. Then she noticed Levi sitting at his desk. "Oh, welcome back Mr. Ackerman! We are working in small groups of 2-3 people. Do you have a group?"

Levi shook his head "No, miss." Petra gave him a subtle smile and said "You can join any group. -Whose group can take Levi in?"

The whole class stared at Levi, then at Petra, and then at Levi again. Not many people would volunteer for taking him in their group. One hand was risen.

"We can take him, miss!"

All students turned to look at Eren and his partner Armin looked shocked. Levi didn't look pleased at all. "Tch."

Eren received a thank you from Petra and he gave her a soft, short smile in response.

As Levi was collecting his bag from the floor, Armin turned to Eren and softly slapped his thigh and whispered "Eren, are you crazy?!" He was really shocked and although he was really smart, he couldn't come up with an explanation for Eren's behavior.

"Shh", Eren hissed and watched Levi walk to the laptop closet to grab a laptop before walking to Eren and Armin.

Levi pulled a free chair from another desk and pulled it to Eren and Armin's desks. He sat down next to Armin, sharing the desk with him. Levi looked annoyed as ever, glaring at the two guys. Armin still thought that this wasn't a wise idea.

"So, what are you working on?" Levi asked as he sat down and opened the laptop.

"The Placebo effect" Armin replied timidly.

Levi looked at them eerily. "What are you idiots waiting for, get your laptops and start working!"

Eren and Armin got off their chairs and did as they were told. When they returned, Levi asked "So, what have you done so far?"

"Searching for information." Eren said.

-"...And? Did you write it down?" Levi asked and looked intimidating, especially to Armin.

"Not yet." Eren answered. Levi sighed in frustration. "You dorks... Armin, look for the information and write it down. I'll do that as well. Eren, you look for cases of placebo effect." Armin and Eren looked at the bossy guy questioningly. They were actually impressed. Who knew he was good at being a leader.

They all started working, the blonde and brunette following Levi's instructions.

Armin was writing some messy notes on his notebook. "Placebo effect - ie. Healing by believing in fake medicine."

Eren was looking up for cases of the psychological phenomenon. "Doctors performed placebo or sham surgeries for many years." Eren was reading an article, scrolling down, and then suddenly something popped up on his screen. It was his school email. From Levi.

"Go to hell." said the email and Eren looked at Levi from behind his laptop. Levi was looking back at him slyly but annoyed. Eren shook his head and returned to his work without replying Levi.

After a minute or so another message popped up. "Fuck you." Eren looked at Levi again but this time he seemed to either be really into his work or then ignoring Eren.

This time Eren decided to reply. Before starting the writing, he ensured that Armin wasn't looking at Eren's screen. "Wow, you seem to be happy today! Excuse me, but I'm trying to do my work as you ordered me to."

-"Wow, being nice and obedient, eh? What are you, a maid?"

"That's right. I'm your maid. How would you like your coffee served, sir?"

-"Shoved up your ass."

"Excuse me?"

-"Not interested in your cheap coffee, bitch."

"Is there anything else you'd like me to do? If not, then please let me do my work."

No reply from Levi. The rest of the lesson they spent their time working on their project. However, a few minutes before the lesson ended, Levi sent one more email. "I'd like you to meet me behind the gym after school."

That message was really unexpected and it confused Eren. He gave a quick questioning look at Levi. "What do you mean meet you after school?"

-"If you value your life, do it."

"Do I need to bring my knee pads and a helmet?" Eren asked ironically. However, Levi had already logged off and now he was putting his laptop away and missed the last message.

Eren did value his life, so it appeared he had no other option but to go meet Levi after the history class. They had the same lesson but Levi tried to ignore Eren as much as possible. No talking, no eye-contacts.

After the lesson had ended, Levi had left quickly without attracting much attention. He had strolled behind the gym with low profile. He was a natural at being stealthy. Eren had been a bit slower in his movements, and when he finally got to the place, he saw Levi sitting on a bench, leaning his back against the wall, eyes shut.

"Here I am. Why did you act so swiftly?" Eren asked and Levi lazily rotated his head to face Eren. "Tch. Don't you understand that I can't be seen with you?"

Eren walked to the bench and sat down, leaving somewhat wide a gap between him and Levi. He was being careful just to be on the safe side.

"Okay I get it. You have to maintain your high ego and in order to do so you can't hang around with brats like me."

-"I'm impressed some brainless brat like you figured that out."

"Wow, did you just pay me a compliment? I'm flattered. You are almost treating me like a normal person."

-"Normal person my ass."

"Where are your friends by the way?"

-"Not here. And that's why I'm talking to you."

Eren's eyes widened and he looked as curious as a little mouse, his big eyes fixed on Levi's cool face. After a moment, Levi proceeded. "Do you understand why I beat you up?"

Eren was taken aback. "Umm... Maybe because you dislike me and-"

"Listen. I only did it because of Reiner and Bertolt."

-"What do you mean?"

"Tch. Stop being so stupid. What do you think they would have done to me if I didn't act as they expected me to?"

-"Yeah I understand that part, but what about last Friday?"

"You tell me."

Eren got really flustered and stood up from the chair, standing in front of Levi. "And how am I supposed to tell you? To be honest I don't quite understand you. You say you beat me up because of the group pressure, but why did you do it later when they weren't there? When anybody else wasn't there? And on top of that you even decided to k-"

-"Shut up Eren or I need to do hit you again!" Levi warned.

"All that talk about me being irrational but how about you? You have no idea how little sense that ma-"

Levi had had enough of this blabbing. He fiercely stood up from the bench and confronted Eren. He walked up close to him and slapped Eren's face. "How am I supposed to have a decent conversation with you if you get so flustered?" Levi was furious.

Eren hissed at his throbbing cheek. He knew that this time it wouldn't leave a bruise like earlier, but he still didn't like the sensation. He decided to let Levi know. "Okay, okay, I'll try to control myself but could you please stop hitting me in return?"

That made Levi wince and look away. "I'm sorry for that..." he muttered, and that made the other boy's eyes widen. Did he just say sorry?

Levi snapped out of it, and returned to his own cool self. "Just calm down and listen, will you?" he hissed.

"You see Eren, I don't want to be messing around with you. It's just that you keep getting on my way. And my friends don't like you."

-"Your friends... How about you?"

"Shut up brat."

-"Come on, I'm just curious!"

"Okay fine I guess you are alright. A bit noisy and annoying though. Happy now?"

-"Thanks Levi! I suppose you are not as bad as people think!"

"Tch..."

Then, Eren's tone of voice changed and he sounded a bit worried. "Hey. I know you don't like my questions, but umm... Why did you... Kiss me?"

The question made Levi glare at Eren viciously, but at least the brat had showed him some respect this time and Levi calmed down. "You really want to know? Maybe it was for nothing. Maybe it happened because I could." He lied. It wasn't because he could. It was because he needed it. His answer sounded a bit clumsy, but it was enough. He knew that Eren wouldn't ask more about it due to the fear of making Levi angry.

Eren looked puzzled and tilted his head. "I still don't get it..."

Levi sighed and shook his head. "All you have to know is that I don't want to hurt you or your friends."

-"Can I trust you?"

"Believe me, I mean it."

-"You are actually a nice guy, Levi. If you were like this all the time, I think it wouldn't be too bad being your friend."

Levi couldn't help but be a bit surprised. He flinched, then thought for a few seconds, and then said "I don't want you to be my friend, Eren." After saying so, he slid his hand in his jeans' front pocket and drew a paper slip. He handed it to Eren.

"See you later, brat." Levi said and left.

-"...Wait!" Eren shouted, but Levi didn't turn back anymore.

Eren sighed and looked at the folded paper slip in his hand. The paper appeared to have been torn from a notebook, but very neatly. Eren opened the fold and discovered something interesting. What he saw on the paper was a series of 10 hand-written numbers and below them was Levi's name. It was his phone number.

Thanks for the readers and the awesome reviews! :)
Again, I was working really hard on the chapter. Dialogue isn't my strongest area in writing, so I hope I managed to make it good enough!