Omg, thank you so so so much! You made my day! I had 29 reviews last time I checked and now KABOOM, 38! Thanks a bunch!

I wanted to share that I'm one of those girls that says 'I don't like romantic novels or movies or anime or romance itself'... and spend the whole summer reading gay fanfic and manga -.-. I saw a picture that says that and I was like 'Yup, that's me alright' jeje xD

Anyhow, enjoy! This chap was fun!

TWENTY

-"A… name?"- This caught me off-guard.

-"Yeah, a name for your soccer team."

I may be kind of lost now, but a lot of names were lingering on the back of my mind as excitement flooded me.

-"So, what do you think, Jean? Feeling better?"- Reiner asked me as he trotted beside me.

I shrugged, -"Uh… kind of. I'm still lost."

Eren sighed angrily on my other side as he pointed to ones playing in front of us, -"Can't you see? We're a team! Your team, you dumbass!"

My eyes began to widen and water.

-"Say, where's our leader? I'm dying to play with him."- That was Ymir as she walked towards me with a soccer ball on her arms.

I began to look at all of them, -"What do you say, eh? Let's play and then we'll discuss some things."- Reiner asked me as he patted my back.

What do I say? The happiness that had died came back to me as I snatched the ball from Ymir's hands and began to play. They laughed and went for me. We had no rules; it was like a free play where everyone made goals. During the play, I stopped and changed to my usual exercise clothing in the gym. There, Reiner spoke to me, -"You should thank Marco. He was the one with the idea."

I was tying my Nikes and halted to look at him, -"Really?"- I somehow figured.

-"Yep, it was all him,"- He put his hand on my shoulder, -"And when we found you back there too… with George."

I looked down a bit, -"Yeah, I was going to ask about that."

Reiner shrugged, like unsure of what he was saying, -"I don't know, but he kind of knew you were in trouble so he asked for our help and led us there. I didn't believe him at first but… damn,"- He squeezed my shoulder and looked straight at my eyes, -"What is he to you, Jean?"

I sighed, guessing I couldn't hide it anymore, -"He's an old friend… best friend,"- When I looked at his doubtful face, I figured what was on his mind: that Marco and I were more than that. I bet he suspected that when we came out of the bathroom like we did, but no, he was wrong. I wasn't gay, never ever, -"I kind of… forgot him and now I remembered. It's a long story."

-"What kind of friend forgets his best friend?"- He quickly asked, both surprised and bothered at me for forgetting Marco. How could I explain all that? I didn't want to in the first place and it's not because I didn't trust Reiner, it's just… I really didn't want to. Maybe another time. He noticed it, -"It's okay… that's none of my business. Besides, I don't want to ruin this moment. Come on."- He stood up and led me outside when I finished tying my Nikes.

I spend the hour playing with my group. Everyone played, except Marco and Armin who sat in the bleachers just watching. It was hilarious: we fell and stood up, we kicked the ball everywhere, we talked Spanish, we laughed and we jumped… it was like a herd of crazy but happy chickens. I never had so much fun before with my group. It made me feel completed and everything that happened just disappeared. I felt stronger, that I could take anyone with them. We were one, all united. All this time, I've cut connection with them, but they too have done a lot for me. They worried about me and wanted nothing more than bring me back. I admit they got me back. All that time I wasted with twelve one made me forget that this group was special, it was my group.

When we finished playing and it was time to go, they said goodbye to me, patted my back and the girls kissed my check; holy shit, even Mikasa. The tough one was Annie, she just patted my shoulder and nodded to me approvingly, but hey, that was something. They all wished me good luck and cheered me up.

I was soaked with sweat and my face still hurt a bit, -"You should go check with Kat,"- That was Eren. He was organizing the soccer balls and retaining them in the stockroom, -"Your face is a mess. Well, it always is, but God… its worse now."

I just laughed and elbowed him, -"You should go with me. Yours isn't that different."

He laughed too and elbowed me, -"Hey, I'm not the one with the horse face."

Did he come up with that now? What the hell? -"Horse face?"- I slightly touched my face, feeling it hot and swollen.

He nodded and laughed more, -"Yeah, man. Haven't you seen yourself in the mirror? Your face is like a horse's. Halloween isn't here yet, so take the mask off."

I laughed sarcastically, -"Very funny, Yaeger, or should I say… crybaby?"- Yep, Eren was known as a crybaby around here because he can't do most of the things and ends up crying. Well, not really. He silently weeps and gets mad at Mikasa because she does him everything, -"What is it, Eren? Too much for you to handle? Where's Mikasa now?"

That's when she magically appeared, -"Here,"- She said coolly and walked towards Eren, -"Eren, we have to go."

Eren nodded and turned to me before leaving, -"See ya', horse face."

-"Ugh, you little-"

I began to complain, until Mikasa turned to me and pierce me with her sharp look. I thought she was going to threaten me, but she didn't and her words surprised me, -"Jean… fight to win."- With that said, she left.

Like always, she was damn right.

I felt a poke on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Marco, -"Um… let's go with Kat."- He raised his hand and gave me my backpack.

I wanted to say no because I was feeling good, but I couldn't. Now, I understood Ymir. In fact, we were much alike, except for the lesbian part of course.

After the checkup with Kat, Marco's mom arrived, but before he leaved, I wanted to thank him, -"Uh… Marco… thanks for everything."- I spluttered, feeling a bit nervous. Thanking someone with full honesty wasn't my thing either.

He nodded back at me with the smile that warmed me, -"That's what best friends are for, right?"

I blushed and scratched the back of my neck, -"Yeah, of course!"- I quickly said. I wanted a hug. I don't know where it came from, but I wanted a damn hug. I looked around to see if there was anyone and opened my arms. He smiled and without a doubt hugged me. My face was in the same place I cried before. I could still feel it soaked and cold. I turned my head to not look at his neck. Those weird images appeared again, sending shivers down my spine, -"I'm sorry again…. Marco. For everything."

He chuckled, -"It's okay. Just promise me you'll keep fighting,"- He squeezed me tightly, emanating more and more warmth through me. My heart skipped to a beat, -"And remember… I'll always be with you through thick and thin."

I blushed and my head sank in his shoulder again, feeling a knot in my throat, -"Thanks…"- I breathed out.

I heard a honk. My head shot up and I quickly parted from Marco. It was his mother, -"See you tomorrow!"

I nodded to him and waved him goodbye.

Shortly after, my mom came and I left with an almost exploding heart and a smile that reached my ears. Mom looked at me suspiciously, but said nothing. The warmth and happiness was overflowing… I feel like I could take anyone with him and my group. I felt so strong. No more crying. I'll keep fighting for him and for myself.

That night, I had a dream in which I was fighting a bunch of guys and I wasn't alone. We won.

Next day, I woke up early as pumped up as ever. I was looking at myself in the mirror when an idea popped in my head. I took some scissors and began cutting my hair. I don't how was I doing it, but I kept going. I ended doing a one side with hair and the other side more shaved than usual. Then, I looked for a liquid that father uses for his hair that makes it smooth and brushed it. When I finished, I took the old black nerdy glasses that I used a lot. They weren't big like most of them and didn't have any increase on the specs. With a pair of plug-in spike earrings, I looked damn good. Yesterday before going to sleep, I organized my closet and took out every geek stuff where it was visible and I found my old black and white Converse. They fit me well. I left to school with white jeans and the school's shirt with the black neck-tie that was way better than the grey one. On my wrist, I had two rubber bracelets: one that says I am the Dark Knight Batman and the other simply had Batman's logo.

Downstairs, mom was watching TV as always and dad left already, -"What in Eve's garden happened to ya'? What are ya', some kind of model?"

I sighed and turned around from the door, -"No, mom. I just wanted to look different, is that so wrong?"- Again, her comments and her attitude pissed me off. Why is she always like that?

-"Ya' look pathetic, like a clown who's gon' be laughed at,"- She scoffed and turned to the TV, -"Don't make em' call me that ya' got your face cracked, cuz' I ain't going."

I growled and wanted to say something, but I kept mouth shut and left. Thanks for the help, mom! I screamed internally. She never does anything for me and she spends her life being mad at me and I don't know why! On the other hand, I spend the morning pissed off.

-"Yo, Jean, what's the matter? I can see smoke coming out of you,"- Connie commented when I arrived, -"By the way, you look awesome! You'll have a girl on your feet any second now!"

I was waiting for Hanji, -"Thanks and I'm just kind of mad at my mom. She's becoming more unbearable each day and- wait…"- I growled and halted when I remembered something, -"Say… haven't we met before… long ago?"- I began to step closer to him.

Connie though with his finger on his chin, -"Hmm, nah, I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

-"Don't play dumb with me,"- I said as I pulled him by the collar of his shirt, -"Did you used to be on drawing classes with me and Marco?"

He flinched as I pulled him to me even more, -"Ah, man! What the heck? Lemme go!"

-"Answer me!"- I began to raise my voice as the dark impulse churned in me again, -"You used to bully Marco on the drawing classes, right? You're that shaved kid!"

-"No, no, no, dude! I'd never do that to Marco, you know that! And, heck, I don't even know how to draw! Well… if drawing sticks counts."- He yelled desperately.

I stared at him for a few second until I felt the twist in the air and his presence. Quickly, my smokes quenched as I let Connie go. I nervously turned around to meet Marco while scratching my neck, -"H- hi… Marco."- I tried not to look at his eyes.

He eyed me, -"Wow… you look different,"- He chuckled and waved at Connie behind me, -"Hey, Connie!"

Connie faltered nervously, -"Hey, M-Marco…,"- He kept gazing at me panicked, -"You know, you should-"

Ah hell no! I gave him a quick piercing glare to make him shut up. He was about to comment something about my outburst seconds ago. He swallowed and said nothing.

Marco tilted his head curiously, -"I should what?"

I quickly step in front of Marco, -"Ah, nothing, nothing! Oh hey, look!"- I showed him my wrist.

He gasped at my rubber bracelets, -"Oh! So cool!"- He said happily.

I looked at him: he had a white and red jacket. One side was red and the other was white. On the white side VA was crossed together. I had no idea of what it was. Other than that, he had a plain black beanie with different pins, his usual Converse and black jeans.

I spend the rest of the day with Marco and his nerdy attributes were getting to me. I began to do the work the teachers gave us, pay more attention, answer questions (even though they were wrong) and attend to all the classes. Mostly it was because Marco said so and like I said I didn't have a no with him. He practically ordered me and I really didn't do it against my will… I felt like if I wanted to move on, I had to change, I had to straighten my balls and study.

-"Jean! We have Chemistry quiz today!"- He said at launch hour. That made my heart skip a beat because I thought he was going to say that we had chemistry… the other one, not the class.

We were eating toasted bread with mashed potatoes. With us were Reiner, Berthold, Connie and Sasha. The fact that Sasha was drooling over the potatoes made us call her potato girl.

That caught Connie off guard, -"What? No way! I didn't know! How do you know?"

-"He said it yesterday."

Yeah, he did. I remember, but as always, I didn't study which bothered Marco a bit, -"It's true."- I answered.

-"Ah, fuck."- Connie cursed and threw his head back.

Sasha didn't say anything and in this moment, she probably didn't care. She was busy eating potatoes, -"Are you gonna… finish that?"- She pointed at Connie's potatoes.

He did a hand gesture, allowing her to take it. She quickly took it and began eating it like an animal, -"Ugh, about what is it?"

-"Periodic table, the first twenty elements."- Marco answered and took a bite of his bread.

-"What!? First twenty… oh no,"- Connie smashed his hands in the table and slumped back on the chair, head thrown back, -"Ah, man… I couldn't study. I was working on Levi's homework."

I snapped awake now, -"What homework?"

I earned a glare from Marco. I shrugged and smiled stupidly.

-"Yeah, the essay about the alphas and all that other bunch of crap."- Connie complained, hand on his face.

Now I shrunk. Marco's glare grew intense.

-"Don't worry, guys. We still have time to study."- Reiner said as he stood up.

God… I hoped.

At Art, Pixis gave us permission to study. Marco and I sat on the floor at the back of the class. He took out his copy of the periodic table and gave it to me. I began to read the first twenties, but I kept gazing at Marco, who had a very pissed face, even though it looked… kinda cute. He didn't talk to me and that set me on edge. It gave me an awful feel in my chest, -"Hey, I'm sorry… I totally forgot."- I quickly apologized. I didn't like seeing him like that.

He sighed and looked at me, -"Jean, you have to study! If you don't pass this semester's class, it's gonna be really hard to raise your grades in the second semester! And if you don't pass the classes, you're gonna have to take summer cl-"

I interrupted him by putting his notebook on his mouth, -"Don't worry. That's not gonna happen."

He shoved the notebook away with a doubtful look, -"Are you sure? Because by what I see, y-"

I interrupted him again, -"Nope, nope,"- I shocked my head, -"I won't miss summer. Never ever."

He arched an eyebrow and pointed to the paper, -"Then study,"- I began to read again, but I kept being distracted by everything… especially by Marco and it wasn't his intention. He chuckled, -"I see, you need help. Why didn't you ask?"- He sat cheerily crossed legged in front of me and took the paper, -"Okay, look here at-"

I reached for the paper but he pulled it farther away, -"Uh, no thanks… I'm fine on my own,"- I quickly said, feeling butterflies on my stomach. I had my eyes locked on the paper and when I looked to the side, I meet Marco's eyes. Our faces were closer than I expected and he was giving his puppy eyes that I fell pray for. He wanted to help me. I sighed, -"Fine."- I crossed my arms.

-"Yay!"- He chuckled and pointed to some elements on the paper, -"You see these? This is like a chain, a pattern. First it goes like this and then…"

He showed me a few tricks that really helped me to learn those damn elements faster. I felt like my mind was going to blow, but I managed to memorized them. Then, he took the paper again and began asking me, -"Okay… what's Mg?"

-"Uhh…,"- I thought for a second, -"Um… Magnesium!"

-"Yep!"- He said happily, -"Ca?"

-"Um…,"- With this one, I thought for a bit longer and Marco started to make faces. I stared at his fish face, -"Stop making that face."- I laughed and he laughed too, -"It's Calcium."

-"Ar?"

Shit, my mind blocked that one, -"Uh…,"- Now, Marco filled his cheeks with air and I poked it.

He laughed, -"It's Argon, you dummy."

-"Says the guy making faces."- I laughed.

-"But that one was easy!"

-"Hey, it's not easy to learn twenty elements on one hour."

He chuckled and toyed with his cheek, -"You're right,"- He took the paper again, -"One more time!"

We practiced once more. I didn't assert all of the twenties, but at least I'm not getting a cero on the quiz.

Chemistry came, -"Okay, stay close to me."- I told Marco before I sat.

He chuckled, -"I don't think I can help you, but,"- He squeezed my shoulder and that current of warmth overflowed me again, -"I know you'll do alright. Have faith in yourself. I do."- He smiled to me and sat in the desk beside me.

I breathed in and out. Was I actually nervous because of a quiz? This was ridiculous, but honestly, it's the first time I actually studied for anything.

Grisha gave us small papers and we began. Well, one thing's for sure, I remember my name but unfortunately, I wasn't getting points for that. I remembered the first element: the second, third, fourth, fifth… tenth, eleventh… fuck. I couldn't put my finger on Ar, Mg nor Ca and that's when I remembered Marco's faces. Of course, it was Argon, Magnesium and Calcium! Brilliant! I laughed lowly to myself, attracting attention. I looked up, -"Sorry."

Grisha ordered for us to give him the quiz and quickly began calling us for the grade. He didn't say the graded out loud like Levi did and now I wanted him to. I didn't have perfect because I left two in blank, but I wasn't getting a cero. I was kind of excited and nervous at the same time.

-"Jean Kirshtein,"- He called me and my heart skipped a beat. I gazed at Marco and he gave me thumbs up. I walked towards Grisha's desk, -"Jean…,"-Grisha sighed in worry and I felt my heart drop, -"I don't what to do with you… this was quiz, a simple one. You got cero."

My mouth gaped open, -"Th- that's impossible…"- My legs wobbled.

Grisha shocked his head in disappointment and suddenly, he laughed, -"I'm just kidding. You got seven out of ten. Well done. I'm impressed. Keep it going."

I gasped and began to jump, -"Aw, yeah!"- From the corner of my eyes, I saw Marco stand up. Quickly, I dashed towards him and hugged him, lifting him up a bit, forgetting the fact that everyone was watching, -"I did it! Seven out of ten!"

He hugged me back and laughed happily, -"I told you you'd do it!"

-"Listen up everyone,"- That was Ymir. She spoke as she stood up, -"Jean passed his first quiz. Let's give him a nice applaud."- She mocked and clapped while laughing.

I pointed at her while still hugging Marco, -"Shut up. You couldn't have done better."

Everyone started laughing while clapping. I didn't feel offended; instead, I was having fun, just like the rest, -"You wanna bet? Yo', Grish! Say my grade out loud!"- Ymir said.

Grisha chuckled; he was having fun too, -"Ymir, you got… six out of ten."

-"Ha! In yo' face!"- I quickly said and squeezed Marco. I was getting weird stares apart from the warmth Marco gave me.

Ymir scoffed, -"You gotta be kiddin' me,"- She said as she walked towards Grisha's desk, -"Grish, no fooling around,"- He laughed again and showed her, -"Hmph, seven too. You got lucky, Kirshtein."- She said while pointing at me.

-"Uh… Jean, you're…,"- I hear Marco cough.

I gasped and let him go.

-"Marco, you got ten out of ten."

I froze. Aww, come on! I should feel kind of let down and disappointed, but obviously, I wasn't getting a ten. Instead, I felt competition and adrenaline flow through me. I stared at Marco.

-"Everyone! Grab the horse!"

Instantly, everyone went for me and we made a group hug, -"Aww, group hug! Yay!"- Someone said.

They all started pinching me and rub my hair saying good job and you did it, man! Through all the commotion, I stared at Marco. He was happily hugging everyone too, smiling widely. Why was I so goddamn competitive? It ran in my blood.

Oh, it was on.

Uhhhh, competitive Jean is so on! Jaja!

Oh! I have to tell you that on July 27, I'll be on hotel, but do not worry, I'll keep writing and by the time I'm back, I'll upload like three chaps! ;)