Chapter 9: decision

Have you ever been in a situation were you noticed what seemed like signs pointing to something that's about to happen? Jean can't say he had the feeling up until now. Something was going to happen, and he wasn't to sure it'd be good. Jean was never an overly observant person, but sometimes he would notice the strangest of things, even if he usually forgot about them. However it didn't always happen, once in a while he'd remember it and it might big him. That was the case with today.

When he first noticed it he was exiting the building alone since Marco was staying after to catch up on some work missed during his absence. He looked around and happened to take a mental note of a brown car. Nothing really stood out about it and Jean brushed it off, was having a brown car all that? However the next two times he saw the car he noticed something strange. A person was always in the car and seemed to be waiting, possibly looking for someone. When the car would leave, he also noticed Eren, Mikasa, and Armin were all, or at least one was leaving the parking lot. It could be a coincidence but Jean's gut said otherwise. What if the car was following them? He'd hate to think something bad might happen to people he begun to think of as friends that he could've prevented.

"I'm late!" Jean cried as he dashed out the house and looked at his watch, 7:50 and the fireworks started in ten minutes. Not to mention Marco was probably waiting nervously and has been for at least ten minutes, and Jean didn't have anything to use as an apology but pushed those thoughts out of his head. He turned the corner and just because life hated him, ran into someone. "Ouch..." A familiar voice mumbled. Jean looked to see Armin sitting on the sidewalk with a few books scattered about. "Sorry Armin!" Jean said quickly as he helped the boy gather his books before taking off again. Armin yelled thanks and continued to walk while Jean ran pat another person; this time not bumping into them. He didn't get a very good look at the guy, but he did know was tall and blond. Jean turned the corner again.

It was 7:55, not good, not good, he thought as he stopped for air. He glanced back from were he just came from and felt a chill run down his spine. Maybe he should go back and help Armin? After all, it was dark out and Armin was rather small. Jean shook his head, Marco was waiting for him and at this point was probably really antsy, besides, the town had a low crime rate. Jean looked at his watch, 7:56, time to get going. He could go back and miss the fireworks or race ahead and might he able to make it. He choose to go forward.

Jean arrived at eight and Marco let out a sigh of relief, "I was afraid you weren't gunna show" "Sorry, but I'm here now, aren't I?" Jean said as he sat down. Marco smiled and offered his boyfriend some kettle corn, which he accepted. The first of the fireworks lit up the night sky and Marco's eyes lit up with them. Jean smiled, Marco always had nice eyes. He sighed with content and ate some more kettle corn. He felt kinda silly for worrying about Armin earlier, after all, he'd be fine.

"Thanks Jean, I had fun" Marco said as he gave the other's hand a playful squeeze. Jean nodded and smiled, "no problem" Marco came closer, pink dusting his cheeks. Jean was about to say something when he felt a pair of lips on his own. He turned bright red but didn't pull away. The kiss didn't grow more passionate and Marco pulled away, slightly embarrassed. "Um...?" He said, looking for a hopefully positive response from Jean. Jean blinked and not wanting to make Marco feel bad, smiled. "Good night" he said as he gave him a kiss on the cheek before quickly leaving. "I can't believe that happened" he thought to himself, but he shouldn't be surprised. They were dating for crying out loud! So it wasn't unnatural for a couple to do that sort of thing. However Jean still didn't think it felt right, but as usual, told himself to shut up.

"Hey Mikasa, is Eren staying late at work?" Armin asked as he set his books down. Mikasa shook her head and motioned for him to come over to the kitchen to eat dinner. It was soup from a can since Mikasa didn't excel in cooking, but it was food nonetheless. "He is staying at levi's" she grumbled angrily. Other than that the two ate in silence since Eren wasn't home; he was usually the one to start the conversations. Once dinner was done Armin did the dishes and Mikasa went to go sulk in her room and probably think of ways to murder Levi if Eren came home with any...marks. Armin shuddered at the thought of how that would go down.

Not far away in the shadows stood a male outside a white van. He was armed and was glaring at the apartment room of three oblivious teens, one of which wasn't home tonight. Reiner began to walk toward the building, tonight, he'd have his revenge.