I am so, so sorry. I forgot to update this (;_;)

Please forgive! I'll update chapter 8 tomorrow :)

Enjoy!

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just that... Levi, I... I lo—"

The rest of my confession was cut off by an obnoxiously loud ringing inside the bathroom. The sound was joined by a persistent vibration somewhere outside the small, blissful bubble the shower stall currently presented. And now our bubble was right on its way to burst all around us, and I wasn't ready for that to happen. Not until I'd said I what I needed to tell him.

"Fuck, that's my phone," Levi huffed and rolled his eyes. His attention was already drifting towards his ringing cell. I was losing my chance to tell him how much I liked him, and fast. I had to do something, anything. Without thinking of a sensible way to approach this, I reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him back against my water-slick chest.

"Levi, please, wait a second. There's something I need to tell you," I began. I took a deep breath and braced myself for whatever possible consequences my next words would unleash. But Levi wrenched his fingers out of my hand and shook his head.

"This might be work, Eren. I really need to get that. Just... Tell me later, okay? Sorry."

And with that he was gone, so fast that I didn't even get the chance to utter something in return. To keep him here, to make him listen. As quick as I'd decided to let him know about the way I felt for him, as quick did I watch as the moment evaporated along with the steam we'd just occupied together. I squared my shoulders, just to sag against the wet tiles when a sudden bout of disappointment washed over me.

"Ah yes, sure. I understand... I'll be there, don't worry. Yes, I'll leave in a bit. See you soon."

Levi's voice was drifting towards me, but I was only barely listening to what he was saying to whoever was on the other end of the line. A few moments later, Levi knocked against the glass. Snapping out of my melancholy, I involuntarily searched his eyes, which were blurry through the fogged-up glass.

"Are you going to stay in there for a bit longer?" Levi asked. He sounded so far away, and that was just what he felt like. As if I was right here, but he was somewhere else entirely. Behind an impenetrable wall. Unreachable.

Wasn't it fitting that the glass was separating us from each other right now? I almost had to laugh at the irony.

"Uhm..." I started, unsure if I wanted to stay or get out.

"Well, I gotta go. My boss asked me to cover a colleague's shift today. Sorry. I'll call you later, okay?"

I only nodded. He might not have seen it, but right then, I didn't care. For once, I didn't chase after him and beg him to come back later. Instead, I continued to wash myself with shaky hands and watery eyes, my thoughts rumbling inside my head, taking hundred different turns.

Maybe I was fooling myself. The notion brought a sad smile to my lips. It had only been a few days, and here I was, ready to spill my heart to him. My behavior could probably only be described as rash and impulsive, two traits I'd had plastered to my forehead ever since I was born. Why the hell did I have to wear my heart on my sleeve? So if all of this was just a delusion... Why didn't it feel like one? If what I was feeling was wrong, why did it feel so right?

A thin sigh left my lips, and I made quick work of washing myself and stepping out of the shower, which felt strangely empty without Levi here to share it with me. The towel I used to dry myself off fell carelessly to the floor when I caught my reflection in the large mirror across from the shower I'd just left. There were still lingering traces of fog on the glassy surface, but not enough to blur out my face staring back at me. My fingers curled around the sink and I looked up at myself, at the soft pink glow across my cheeks, at the shimmering sparkle in my eyes, at my lips which couldn't seem to suppress a lingering happy smile.

I knew then that none of what I felt for Levi was an illusion. It wasn't wishful thinking, or a lie. It didn't matter that we hadn't spent years of time together, just the few days I'd had with him were enough for me to know. I was in love with Levi, so entirely that just thinking about it made my heart swell with a certainty I knew was genuine. I didn't care what all the others would think, about what the entire school would gossip about. Levi was the person I wanted to be with, consequences be damned.

I... I loved him. I really, truly loved him.

When I met my gaze in the mirror this time, my lips were taken over by a smile so huge that my cheeks hurt with its intensity. I'd not let him go. If he wasn't ready yet, if it was too soon to think about a future together, I was ready to give him all the time he needed.

A nagging thought made its way past my love-struck haze, making my stomach twist in a painful cramp.

What if his hesitance meant he didn't feel the same for me? What if time wasn't enough? What if... Nothing would be enough, because his feelings would never match my own?

I gave my head a good shake, as if the motion was enough to clear it of the miserable turn my earlier bliss had taken. A sudden need to talk to Levi flared up again, white-hot and pressing, but I tried my hardest to wrestle it down. Pushing him now would only force him away from me. He just... Needed time. And he'd get it. All the time in this world, until he knew. Until then... Whichever way he wanted me, he'd have me. I'd show him how good we were together, how perfect, until he realized the truth of it. Because it was true. He was meant for me, just like I was meant for him.

While I couldn't deny that there was a persistent voice in the back of my head telling me to anticipate the worst, I still tried not to let my spirits get dampened by it. For now, Levi was by my side and I'd do my best to keep him there. With a long stretch of my limbs, I got to work on the house, hurrying to get it spotless.

I was just out on a walk with Zeke, when I heard the familiar tingle of the ice cream truck's bell a few streets down. Biting my lip, I bent down to pat Zeke's head while I contemplated going over to see Levi at work. He'd told me he'd take his colleague's shift, that much I could remember, which meant I'd get to meet him if I wanted to. Why was I even thinking about whether I wanted to or not? This wasn't normal. Normal would be me slipping into a mad dash to make it to the truck before anyone else. Zeke eyed me curiously, before he jumped up at my legs, obviously willing me to continue our walk—most likely into Levi's direction. It was then that I made a decision. I would not let Levi know that something was off, or that I was currently pondering where our relationship was leading. I'd not let him worry about it, or me. I'd act just like I always did, loved him just like I always had those past few days. It wouldn't be easy, but I'd force myself to put up a tough front, for him. For us.

Getting up from my hunches, I let myself get pulled after a frantic Zeke, following the light tingle until it got louder and finally led us to the truck. I watched from afar as the long throng of people ordered and walked off with their ice cream cones, before I moved closer. Zeke was silent beside me.

I peeked through the window to be confronted by the sight of Levi's back while he cleaned up a few boxes in the truck's rear. My heart did a somersault hard enough to make me miss my next breath, and I hadn't even seen his face yet. But I would, in a few moments, and that led my lips to dip into the widest grin all by themselves.

"I'll be right there!" Levi called, and I kept quiet as I watched how he went on his tiptoes to reach something from all the way up on the highest shelf. God, his height would be the death of me—or more like, the adorableness that came along with it.

"Okay, I'm h—" Levi's voice trailed off as soon as his eyes met mine. "Eren!"

"In the flesh," I smiled. "Am I bothering you?"

"More than usual, you mean? Not yet," he quipped.

I rolled my eyes and put a very realistic pout on my lips, taking Zeke's leash to turn away from the truck.

"Fine. Zeke, we're leaving," I said, head held high.

"Hey! Eren, wait! EREN!"

I ignored Levi's voice behind me while I strolled away from the truck, enjoying my little fib more than I should. He sounded so genuinely worried by now that I was wondering if he actually meant it. A few steps later, my bad conscience reared its ugly head, and I decided it was enough with the teasing for now. I was just about to turn around and laugh at him, when I felt slender arms wrapping around my middle, accompanied by a gust of hot breath on the back of my neck.

"Eren! Would you just fucking wait!" Levi huffed, but made no movement to untangle himself from me. I could only stare, momentarily taken aback by his unexpected—though very welcome—reaction.

"Hey, it's okay. I was just—"

"Shut up," Levi cut me off, and used his grip on my hips to turn me around with more force than I thought possible for him to possess.

I shut up at his command and resorted to staring down at him, unable to anticipate his next move. Was he angry over that stupid little joke? I was already regretting it.

"Okay... I'm not used to this, which is why I suck. Either way, I'm sorry. You wanted to tell me something today, and I left because... I was called here. It wasn't my intention to leave you hanging, though. So yeah, what I'm meaning to say with all of this is... Sorry."

My mouth opened and closed, just like a fish left stranded, while my gears started working through different possibilities of how to react to this. I hadn't thought it was possible to fall for him more than I already had, but hey—here I was, doing exactly that.

Levi was biting his lip, waiting for my response with eyes that held a considerable amount of worry in their stormy depths. I was well under way to get lost in them, like I always did. Damn, what was it we were just talking about?

My hands traveled up to cup his, tightening his hold around me. He let me, and I smiled into his soft, sweet-smelling black hair at getting his permission.

"It's okay. Don't worry about that, you hear me?" I whispered, allowing my senses to get assaulted by his unique scent and much-needed vicinity. He released a long breath that sounded almost relieved, and nuzzled my chest.

"You were really worried, weren't you?" I asked gently, stroking his back softly up and down until he relaxed against me.

"Yes. I don't know. Maybe," he replied meekly, and I leaned down to kiss the top of his head.

He stepped out of the hug and took my hand to lead me back to the ice cream truck.

"So?" He asked, shuffling his feet and avoiding my eyes, "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

The question, along with the possibility it presented, hit me hard and entirely unexpected. I could tell him, right now, but I knew I shouldn't. I'd promised myself not to do or say anything that would put him in a complicated situation, which a spontaneous confession while he was at work would undoubtedly do. So I gulped down the enormous lump in my throat which held all my feelings for him, and chose to smile. I could only hope it looked genuine, because it sure as hell didn't feel like it at the moment.

"Nothing important. Nevermind," I said.

He raised a perfect dark eyebrow at me, obviously not buying it.

"Nothing important? Didn't seem like it to me," he said. "You... Can tell me, you know? If there's something you need to say, you don't have to hold back."

Suddenly, the air was thickly saturated with something that felt very similar to tension. Anxiety. It was oppressive and more than a little uncomfortable. I was still trying to figure out where the sudden change in atmosphere had come from, when Levi spoke again.

"Eren... Is it... About us?"

Those few words felt like a slap exploding on my face, pulling me back to the present and sharpening all my senses in a matter of seconds.

What? About us?

Did he know?

"Uhm... Yeah, I mean... I guess?"

I was being vague on purpose. This was a precarious situation—at least it felt like one—and I had to be careful not to do anything I'd regret later.

Levi dropped my hand, biting his lip and inhaling a deep breath before he tilted his face up to meet my gaze.

"Eren, I... Just say it. I mean, summer's halfway over and we... I knew we'd get to this point eventually, so... It's okay."

I was really confused now. What was he talking about? Then, a gut-wrenching realization dawned on me, rendering me breathless.

Was he thinking we were breaking up right now?

"Woah, Levi, stop right there," I hurried, stepping forward to pull him into my arms once again. Fuck, just the mental image of walking away from the ice cream truck, knowing we were over, was impossible to endure. It hurt me, both physically and mentally, to even go there. "What are you thinking this is? I could never... Levi, listen to me. Whatever you think I came here for, it's not to break up or anything of the sort. Not at all. I'd never do that."

Levi was quiet for a long while, and then I felt him return my hug with tentative arms. I wanted to sigh with relief, and when I did, he squeezed me a little tighter.

"You... You're not?" He asked quietly, his cautious voice muffled by my shirt. God, was there any way I could carry him off from work so I could take him home with me and hug him until the end of eternity? I sure as hell wanted to.

The shock was agonizingly slow to subside, but being enveloped in his tight hold on me made the whole process that much easier to bear.

"No, I'm not. And I won't."

I let my hands wander up to his face, let my palms cup his soft cheeks to make him look at me. His gaze locked with mine the way it always did, and I knew I had his full attention for my next words. "I like... Spending time with you. So much more than I can tell. Levi, you... You make every single day spectacular, and I won't let that go. I promise. Okay?"

He returned my searching eyes with big, intense pools of raw granite, making me melt right on the spot. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, to let him know how if any of this was up to me, I'd never, ever break up with him. How much his mere presence lightened up every second of every of my days, how he was the most beautiful thing I ever had the pleasure of touching, holding, feeling. But I held back in favor of the promise I'd made a few hours ago. I allowed things to be easy for now.

"Okay," he whispered softly, his warm breath dancing over my lips.

Holding back at this point was unfathomable. Having him so close to me was too tempting to not lean in for a kiss, so that was what I did. I had to make sure, to affirm we were still together, even if we weren't. Not in so many words. But I still belonged to him, just as he belonged to me, and a kiss would prove that in the most pivotal way. Our lips touched together ever so tenderly, so very gentle. My hands found its way up and into his hair, brushing through the silken strands and guiding him to my lips again, harder this time. Both of our mouths opened in giddy anticipation and desire, our tongues clashing in a wet match for dominance, our breaths turning to raw pants and low sighs. My index finger brushed his cheek, before moving lower to let my nail graze against the delicate curve of his slender collarbone, all the way down to the hem of his uniform shirt. When my bare palm slipped beneath the fabric to meet his warm, inviting skin, he moaned into my mouth.

"Ah, Eren, wait..." he whispered, even as he stepped closer to press our bodies flush.

My nails curled against smooth, kissable skin, undoubtedly leaving marks I was dying to see on Levi's beautiful pale skin. His back made contact with the ice cream truck, giving me the opportunity to cage him in between the car and my overheated body.

"God, I want you," I groaned, my voice reflecting the need for him in every breathy syllable.

Somewhere at the back of my mind, I knew I had to stop. That pressing Levi up against his literal workplace with both my hands shoved up his shirt to play with pert nipples wasn't exactly the code of conduct Levi liked to work with. But damn, here he was—moaning so sinfully into my skin—my name falling from his lips in breathless whispers that had every nerve ending inside me tingle with the urgency to have him; to reinforce that he really was mine.

"Eren, stop... We really can't," Levi breathed on a throaty whisper, "Not here."

My hands left his warm skin with a considerable amount of effort and reluctance on my part, but they did. A pained breath escaped me, my gaze dropping to hide the brief flicker of disappointment passing my eyes. I nodded my head in agreement and began to stroke Levi's cheeks with gentle fingers, listening to the soft purrs he made.

"So, about later—"

"Come over!" I blurted, only to tone down my excitement and repeat in a more level voice, "I mean, you can come over, if you want to. Do you?"

Levi's eyes were still closed, seemingly wrapped up in the slow caresses of my fingers on his beautiful face. He looked so relaxed right now, so free of worry, that all I wanted was to never stop touching him.

"Mhm," he finally answered, his voice low and silken.

Leaning in, my arms curved around the slender arc of his neck, pulling him close to me until there was no room left between us. Then I licked my lips and ran them over every part of his face I could reach, starting at his forehead and the tips of his bangs, down along the perfect bridge of his nose, across the warm mounds of his rosy cheeks, until I finally brushed against his full lips. They were open and glossy, inviting me to have a taste. When I slipped my tongue inside, Levi's questing hands found their way to my hips and squeezed me until I felt arousal flare again, red-hot and scorching.

"When do you get off?" I whispered against his lips, impatience and need clearly weaving through my tone.

Levi's fingernails dug their way up my back, leaving marks all over my shoulder blades until they slipped into my hair, wrapping soft strands around long fingers.

"Whenever you touch me," he whispered seductively, and for a brief second, I wondered if his reply was actually something I'd just made up in my mind. He smiled saucily, before kissing me again.

"You cheeky little thing," I said breathlessly after we parted from another deep kiss a few moments later, "Damn right you do. And what about work?"

"Six," he said, his eyes piercing straight through me, an unspoken promise woven into their steel gray I was only too willing to return.

"Alright."

After that, we kissed again, and again, and again. I couldn't get enough of those sweet, perfect lips on mine; of his hot mouth ready to play whenever I pushed inside. It was intoxicating, so utterly unlike any high I'd ever experienced before.

When we finally managed to break away from each other—okay, more like Levi breaking away from me—I had to call Zeke back, who'd decided to explore the neighborhood on his own. We ran around, chasing after him, but had to stop once every five minutes because we were doubling over with laughter. Levi almost cried when I slipped on the grass and fell squarely on my ass, and then he even went so far as to refuse me assistance in getting back up to my feet. I sneakily tried to shove him when he wasn't looking, but he was way more agile than me and dodged my attacks with an ease that had me legitimately turn green with envy. Finally, we managed to catch Zeke, and I turned to head home, scolding him just a tiny bit for his little adventure. A few feet away from the truck, another wave of affection hit me, and I rushed back to the ice cream truck, rising up on my very tiptoes and holding onto the window frame to lean inside.

"Kiss me again," I said longingly, "I need this to last me a few hours."

Levi didn't say anything, just looked at me. I watched as the most genuine, most perfect smile spread over his gorgeous kiss-swollen lips, and then he reached out to softly bonk his fist on my head. My eyes fell closed when he leaned in, and I almost moaned when the tip of his tongue licked a wet trail along the seam of my bottom lip. Just when I was getting lost to the soft strokes, Levi moved on to biting down on me, sucking my lip inside to nibble on it until it was left pink and wanting. He was quick to soothe the sting with his lips, kissing me until I was utterly lost to the sensation.

When he pulled away after what felt like a blissful eternity, I was panting and hopelessly hard. Levi gave my earlobe an affectionate tug, before he said, "You have no idea how much I want to slap your hot ass right now. It's a damn pity I can't. Now get lost, or else I won't be able to get any work done today."

I watched as Levi prepared the quickest ice cream cone in existence, and handed it to me after (super sized, of course).

"Mh, lord. You're the best, you know that?" I said, giving the scoops of double chocolate chip and mint a generous lick and enjoying the way it melted on my tongue to mix with Levi's abiding flavor.

"I do know. Now off with you," he laughed, before he used the carving spoon to fire some whipped cream in my direction. I grinned when he missed and blew him a kiss, clicking my tongue chidingly.

"Aw, captain," I snickered. "Close, but no cigar."

"Go away, you brat!"

This time the whipped cream hit me squarely on the cheek, and I dipped my finger in to lick it off the tip with obvious relish. "Wow, free topping! Thanks, babe!"

Grinning at his playful scowl, I ran off with Zeke, laughing all the way, my heart thrumming a ridiculous tempo as my mind lingered on Levi and every single kiss we'd shared.

He really was making every day spectacular, and I'd do everything I could to hold on to that.