I didn't sleep in my dorm that night, fearing Erens wrath that I might face. Instead I slept in Connie's dorm. His roommate dropped out halfway through training so he has a room to himself. Simple as that.

Today we were heading out into town. For whatever reason, I don't know. But we got to to roam the streets of Rose and it was sweet.

I remember my mother lives down these streets. Better say hi to her.

But won't people start to think your a mommas boy?

Hell naw. I'm Jean Kirsctein. I'm to cool for that. Maybe. I still miss my mother.

($&)

Standing outside of a bakery was Armin Arlert with his nose pressed up against the glass, his eyes gazing over a large yellow cupcake in the front window.

"Like what you see?" I asked him.

He jumped back in surprise, and his spell was broken from the treat in the front window, a cute blush staining his cheeks.

"Oh, hey Marco!" He exclaimed.

I nodded my head in the direction of the treat.

"You got a bad case of the sweet tooth lately yeah?"

"Oh, yes. The food they give us is so bland and tasteless. And that cookie Eren gave me a week ago was so amazing, I don't think I can forget the taste of sugar anytime soon."

"Why not buy it?" I asked him.

" I can't afford it. " he said looking displeased. I remembered the cash in my pocket.

"Wait here," I said before I disappeared into the shop. The whole place smelled so good and sweet and reminded me of Armin waiting out side. I picked out the lemon cupcake in the window and payed with it using the money the orphanage gave to me before I left for training.

With the sweet in a neat cardboard box and zilch coins in my pocket I walk out to see Armin, staring at me in disbelief.

"You didn't."

"I did!" I said handing the package to him. A lemony smell coming from the box. Armins face was bright red now, and it made me smile. A warm glow in my chest spread all the way to my lower stomach. Bubbles were coming out of my throat.

"Marco, I can't take it." He said apologeticly.

"Can't, or won't?"

"Won't." He looked down.

"Why not?" I was a little hurt.

"Because, well. You spent your money so you should enjoy it. "

Oh I knew how he was feeling right now. He feels guilty for someone spending money on him.

Back at the orphanage, madam Hauche would buy me clothes and I wouldn't wear them for a week because I felt so guilty about people using money on me.

"Are you sure?" He nodded. "We can share it!" His face perked up after that, and a faint smile was on his lips.

"That sounds great." He beamed.

That little smile made me warm and just so... Sparkly?

($&)

Fucking horse face.

Stupid. Jean. How dare he even think about Armin in that way!

My little Armin no way could he do those things!

I hope he was lying, just to get that cookie.

Why would he lie about a fucking handjob? You thought he didn't even know what that was!

Shut up stupid brain!

"Eren! Look there!" Connie whom was beside me pointed at Marco and Armin standing together, Armin holding a yellow thing up to Marcos lips, and Marco taking a bite.

"W-wat, is Armin doing?" I sputtered.

"Idk man." Connie said.

Did he seriously say I-d-k?

"Didn't Armin suck of Jean last week?" Sasha said piping up beside me.

"Looks like he found a new toy." Annie oh so painfully added. "Pfft, slut."

Mikasa glared at her in with murder in her eyes.

"You wanna go you blonde bitch?" Mikasa yelled, fists already in the air.

"No. I don't really want to to mess up your face, Eren might be turned off if there's a huge black eye corrupting your pretty dark eyes" Annie said before walking away back to Reiner and Bert.

Mikasa flushed and spit in anger.

"Butch skank." She spat.

I looked back at Armin

Was he really just using people? Seducing one for each week!?

Marco took a bite of the yellow cake and had got some frosting on the side of his mouth. The laughed when Armin had pointed it out.

I had to laugh to. They looked so sweet, and it truly was adorable.

But then Armin got on his toes, bringing his mouth close to Marcos face. Marco stopped, stood frozen like a statue and his eyes went wide as Armin flicked his tongue over on the comer of Marcos mouth, licking away the yellow fluff. Hand on his burning cheek.

"Whoa!" I could hear Reiners exclamation from several feet away.

Marcos face was red, and you could see a shiver go down his spine.

Watching this was, kinda hot.

But then Jean stormed pass us, and his eyes were wet with tears.

($&)

I knocked on my mothers door. The wooden door shook with each pound, but I didn't care.

I heard footsteps and my heart got lighter each little tump that I heard.

The door opened.

"Jean-Bo?!" She exclaimed!

"Mom!" I embraced her in a hug, wrapping my arms around her plump figure. "I missed you much!" I kissed her on the cheek, god I missed her.

She pulled away, and scowled.

"What do they feed you?" She poked at my stomach, "A young man needs to be kept well fed, have you been eating?"

"Mom I'm eating fine." I winched as she squeezed my bicep.

"Never mind, your body is strong, good boy!"

"Mom that's embarrassing." As my ears god red.

"Oh please. There no one around." She gestured for me to sit down at the small wooden table in the parlor. It was a small house, with a small bedroom. Nothing fancy. "Have some tea." She said while pouring me a glass of hot black tea.

" thanks." I said pulling the chair out from under he table. It groaned, the sound of varnish on bare wood.

"How long are you staying, a day? A week?" She asked

"No, only a few minutes." Her mouth dropped into a frown.

"Now that's not fair." She sighed.

"I know."

She sat down across from me, looking at me anxiously.

"So tell me Jeanbo, any special girl on your mind? That Mikasa seems like a nice girl."

"No, it's not really a girl." I said.

"Oh? So a boy then?" She said resting her head in her plump hand.

"Y-yeah. His name is Armin." I took a sip of the hot tea. It was good but it burned my tongue.

"Oh I like him already! So are you dating?"

"No. He kinda flirted with me but I didn't tell him how I felt."

"Flirted?" She eyed me suspiciously.

I burned bright red. My mother could see right through me. Oh god things never change.

"Yeah..."

"Well, before you go and join the military police, you gotta bring him to me. And make sure you tell him how you feel!" She smiled.

"Thanks mom. I'm glad."

We stayed and talked for several minutes. Almost 45 minutes. But then I looked at te click and saw that I had to go back before they noticed I was gone.

"Hey mom, I gotta go." I said, pulling out of the table. She followed me to the door.

"Okay Bo, just promise me you'll be safe." She said hugging me.

"Yes I promise." She kissed me on the cheek, and we bid our final farewells before I started heading back to the group.

But back at the group, there was Armin, licking around Marcos mouth so sexily that I made me jealous. So jealous.

And I was going to take me mothers advice and tell him that I felt the same.

But I can't do that to Marco.

He's been waiting his whole life for Armin to do this.

And now I can't ruin it.

I'm not going to ruin it.