Oh my flipping, backing, glob, dingus pancakes... this chapter X'D... I think you'll love me more or maybe hate me!

TWENTY-ONE

My mind was racing on how the heck I was going to surpass Marco on the classes. I was in disadvantage: first, Marco was smarter than me; second, I really didn't like studying as he does, I'm a slacker for that stuff; and third, I get distracted by every small meaningless shit. Last time on Levi's, I was watching how a gnat flies and I was literally analyzing it.

I was in the court packing my things up when Reiner came to me with a bothered face, -"Jean, I need a word with you."

I raised my head from my bag, -"Yeah? What is it?"

-"Connie told me you attacked him."

I froze, -"Oh… that."- A small chuckle escaped my lips which bothered Reiner even more.

-"Jean, we don't harm our own comrades."

I sighed tiredly and raised my arms, -"Okay, okay, fine, I'm sorry!"- I really wasn't mad at him for watching out for everyone, in fact, it's cool.

He crossed his arms, -"You're not supposed to tell me that,"- He said as he sat in the near bench, -"What happened?"

I sat beside him and sighed again. I guess it was time to tell him, -"Look, I just mistook Connie for someone else. I though he was a guy that used to bully Marco when we were little."

He arched an eyebrow, arms still crossed, -"So, you're hunting bullies, eh? Marco's, to be exact."

I looked at him seriously.

-"Jean, the past is in the past. I'm sure Marco doesn't bother about that now,"- He squeezed my shoulder, -"Now, apologize to Connie."- Ha, if he knew I had a list of Marco's bullies… I nodded and stood up, -"One other thing,"- Reiner spoke again, -"I'm serious about the soccer. I want to compete; I want to make you proud of it. Starting tomorrow, we practice and get things on the move."

I had a lot on my mind that I wanted to tell him about that, but I kept my mouth shut.

Outside, I walked towards Connie, who was talking to Sasha and making funny faces, it was probably one of their funny faces competition, -"Yo, Connie,"- I called and gestured him to come. He said something to Sasha and walked towards me, -"Hey, man… I wanted to apologize for, you know… this morning. I just mistook you for someone else."

He elbowed me, -"Nah, it's fine, dude. You sure looked scary, though. I'll make sure to never touch Marco."

-"Don't exaggerate."

-"For real, but hey, are you two like,"- I looked at his hands clapped together. Then he started making a weird sucky noise, -"Because man, you're more jealous with him than an overly attached bi-"

I finally got what he meant, -"No way!"- I quickly said, -"He's just… my best friend."- I avoided his eyes.

-"Bah,"- He began to raise and lower his eyebrows quickly, -"But still, man, that'd be weird and ugly."

I tch-ed, waved him goodbye and left. At home, my mind kept bugging me. I knew there was something important I had to do, that I had to remember… nah, it's probably nothing.

Next day came around and Marco came to me with a bunch of papers on his hand, -"Jean, did you do the essay?"

I froze, -"Wh-what essay?"- Marco gave me a serious look and I gasped, -"Ah, fuck!"- I cursed. Yep, Levi's essay. I was so screwed! And not only with Levi… with Marco too. I gazed at his worried and a bit pissed off face. He looked cute when worried or pissed off…, -"I'm… sorrieee..."- Again, I smiled stupidly. How the hell was I going to surpass him if I keep forgetting every damn homework?

-"Jean, how long are you going to keep this up? This was an essay of fifty points!"- He waved his arms in exasperation, -"And Levi's class is up now!"

I shrank, -"I know, I know… I just…,"- I bit my lip, trying to come up with an excuse. Then again, I couldn't bring myself to lie to him, -"I… forgot."- I lowered my head.

He sighed and then smiled. He noticed that I at least was being honest, -"Well, you still have time if you speak with Levi. Maybe he can make you a deal."

I quickly raised my head, -"What? A deal with that guy? You're asking too much."

-"You have to try."- Marco said as he pulled me toward Levi's. Again, that current of warmth soared through me. I was getting very used and attached to it. It made my heart beat faster. I liked it, but I couldn't tell why my heart acts like that. It kind of pissed me off.

In science, no one has arrived yet, but Levi was already writing something on the chalk board. He swiftly glanced at us, -"Good morning."

Marco slowly pushed me inside, -"Go on."- He whispered.

I had a weird twist in my stomach. Was I actually nervous about talking with this guy? When I looked at Marco and his smile though, it faded and I swallowed the nervousness. He had so much confidence in me, he believed in me…

-"Um… Levi?"

-"Yes?"- He didn't look away from the board and kept scribbling.

-"U-uh… I need to talk about th-"

-"Let me guess, you didn't compose the essay. It's all over your face,"- He said as he turned around and sat on his chiar. What the heck? He hasn't even seen my face, -"For what reasons do I have to give you a second change instead of others?"- He crossed his fingers together and rested his chin on them.

Yeah, why would he give me another opportunity instead of others who may have better reasons than me? I looked down. Again, I couldn't bring myself to lie. Marco's attitudes made themselves towards my heart, -"N- no… I don't have any reasons. I just forgot. It's all my fault. I'm not responsible enough… sorry. Forget I said anything."- I said and stood up to leave.

I heard Levi's hmph. When I was half way to the door, he called me, -"Jean, for today. You have until three p.m.,"- That was unexpected and honestly, I didn't want to take the offer, -"You may not want the offer, but you will do it, that's an order. Show me for what good is your honesty and don't make me regret it."

I nodded to him, -"Thanks."- I didn't felt so secure of doing it… I didn't know how to do it in the first place. Essay? Yuck.

The twist in my stomach came back once I left the classroom, -"Jean,"- Marco placed both his hand on both my shoulders and squeezed tightly, -"You can do it and I'll help you, but promise me you'll be more alert next time,"- He gave me one last squeeze along with that soothing current, -"You'll never get a change like this, so after launch, we'll go to the library and we'll ask Pixis if he gives us his hour to finish it."

I nodded to him. Yeah, I liked the sound of that and it's not that I intend to use Marco, I'll never do that; with him, I felt like I could do anything. Slowly, my unsureness faded. I'll get this damn essay done, you'll see.

After that, I was walking towards Spanish with Marco, -"So yeah, people say that Batman could beat…"

We were interrupted by a loud sound in the distance, -"Ah, no fucking way…"- Someone complained behind us, -"Again?"

Yes way. Twelve one was blocking the hallway… again. I sighed in irritation.

-"This again? How many times do we have to go through this? I though we've discussed it."- Reiner quickly stepped in front.

This was getting really old and annoying. Then, a curvy figured stepped up, right in front of Reiner, -"As many times I want!"- That voice pissed me off. Trisha had her hands on her hips, -"Why don't you losers go the way you came from, hm? It's easier than just standing there while trying to do something."

-"I hoped you'd be more rational about this, Trisha."

I burst out in laughter, gaining some attention, -"You serious, Reiner?"- I walked over to the front too and pointed at her, -"She, rational? Keep dreaming, buddy."

Her mouth gaped as she eyed me from top to bottom. I looked completely different, but she still recognized me and now, she won't be able to forget me. I gestured Reiner to step back and the group to line up horizontally just like twelve one is. I crossed my arms and stepped closer to Trisha, face to face, -"What do you think you're doing?"- She asked me harshly with venom on her voice.

-"What do you think?"- I asked and laughed, -"We're not standing back… not by you. It's over."- It was counterattack time and I wasn't holding back. I was stronger now.

-"Yeah, we're done with your shit!"- That was Connie, who stood right beside me.

Slowly, everyone from my group started stepping forward, -"Go, Jean!"- They started cheering on me.

Trisha laughed, -"So, you're leader now? Pathetic. I wanted someone more competitive to be my rival instead of a failure."

-"Wow, since when did you got so high about yourself? Got any new boyfriends?"

Her face went red in anger and she clenched her fists, -"Oh, shut up!"

-"With how many did you had to sleep with to become leader?"

-"I said shut it! At least I'm not sleeping with girls!"

Wait… what? What did she mean by that? I ignored it, -"Just let us pass already or else."

She laughed out loud, -"Or else what?"

-"We'll pass,"- I scowled at her and looked back at my group, hands on my mouth, -"Everyone! Push your way out of these fuckers!"

They all started to push at my signal. We were so many that I had no idea who I was pushing anymore. All I cared about is making way for my group. One by one, my group dashed out through gaps. Connie was the first one, then Samuel, Thomas, Daz, Sasha, Mina, Eren, Armin, Krista and so on. At the end, there was only me, Reiner, Berthold, Annie, Mikasa, Ymir and… Marco! I looked back and saw him ready to break into a run. I began to push even more, trying to make a gap where he could easily slip through. When I found one, -"Marco! Go!"

-"Don't let him through! Stop him!"- Trisha shouted. She was on the side, leaving the pushing to the guys.

Marco ran and when he was almost out, someone's feet made him trip over. He fell on his back and rolled. Quickly, Connie and Thomas went to his aid and dragged him away. I couldn't see whose foot was that, but if I find out…

-"What are you doing? I said stop them! They're getting away!"- Trisha shouted as she waved her arms angrily.

-"Well then do something, you bitch! You're just standing there doing nothin'!"- One of twelve one shouted back at her angrier, -"I'm outta here!"- Slowly, they all started to leave, letting us pass. They were really pissed at her.

She gasped and scowled, -"H-hey, come back!"- She turned her head to me, -"You! This isn't over! You'll pay for what you've done!"- Recently, I've been told that a lot.

She stomped away.

I had my hands on my knees as I breathed. Finally… we managed to counterattack these assholes. It wasn't a fight, but we didn't let them screw with us either. I felt a hand on my back. I looked up to see Berthold, who pointed at someone, -"Hey, he's okay."

I looked at the direction he was pointing at; at the person to be exact. Marco was stretching his back while rubbing it. Even so, he was still happily cheering with the others. I looked at Berthold again. I was kind of surprised, but his look was the same as ever, quiet and calm, only this time, he had a small smile and I felt like he understood my worry for Marco. How come…?

At our way to Spanish, we had like a little party of our own, like celebrating our victory. Everyone cheered for me and thanked me saying that I was awesome back there. Reiner patted my back, -"Welcome back, alpha."- He smirked. I still had my doubt about that.

At launch hour, Marco and I went to eat early and then headed to the library. I had to admit that the library has changed since last time I entered, which was… a year or so. Back then, I was too proud to enter. I really never liked books, much less reading. Even so, I realized that this place was better than the whole school; so quiet and calm. I'm really used to the sounds of fights, loud music and all that, but having silence and a calm surrounding is goods once in a while.

I still felt out of place though, every nerd came here to study or just read. I haven't considered myself a nerd yet, I was still on process. I preferred sports instead of all this. On the other hand, Marco was very excited, taking books here and there. He was in his habitat and that was fine by me.

-"Let's sit over here."- Marco pointed to a small squared table just beside a round fancy window. The library was huge and kind of round, it had bookcases everywhere you looked, completely surrounding the building. The large tables were in the middle, all lined up horizontally with computers and pencil-cases on them. The table me and Marco were was the only one apart. We were in a small cubicle that had different books: manga, fantasy stories and famous books. It had cozy and fluffy chairs, but this was the only table. I figured this was Marco's favorite spot.

He kept gasping at every book he spotted, -"They have these here? Mike must have received them yesterday,"- He took three books and kept digging for more. Suddenly, he gasped again, -"Oh! All the Harry Potter books are here! Oh and Vladimir Tod! This is so sugoi!"- He went on like that and I couldn't understand him anymore. He looked so happy that it made me happy too. Everything that happened between us was a blur now. Then, he came to me with a manga, -"Hey, Jean, check this out!"

I snickered, -"Aren't we supposed to…?"

-"Yeah, yeah, I know, but look! I know you don't like to read as much as I do, but I think you'll like this one! Um… you know what a manga is, right?"- He asked me.

Of course, they were Japanese's weird books that you read from right to left, -"Yeah, of course."- I nodded. That's all I knew about them, I've never read one. This will be the first one.

He smiled, -"Then, take a look at this one!"

He gave me the book, -"Fairy Tail?"- I read the title and opened it.

-"Yeah! It's so cool! It's kind of like a friend-zone, but at the same time its badass!"- He said excitedly as he sat beside me. He was like a little kid, -"Just give it a look while I look for books to start the essay!"- He stood up again.

I began reading. It was about a jerk that kind of looked like me who always hung out with the popular guys that really didn't pay him attention. Then, the point of view changed to another guy that… kind of looked like Marco with freckled too. This one was different and was always alone reading manga and other books. He was a nerd and was always mocked and laughed at. Then, the guy that looked like me and the guy that looked like Marco began to spend time together and know each other, since the one who looked like me was rejected by the popular guys. After that, things got weird. The nerd liked the other guy, but he was too shy to say anything, while the other had the same feelings for him but was too proud to admit anything. Things got really intense and complicated between them… where's the badass in this manga? Somehow, it seems familiar and I couldn't stop reading. I got desperate and began to skip the pages…

-"I'm back! I brought this book about the rules in animals groups and this one about their habitats,"- Marco arrived and placed the books on the tables, -"Wow, you already reach that page? You're fast."

He began to peer at the manga when I was turning the page and… bam.

I froze and couldn't avert my eyes from the image before me. My body tensed up. The two guys finally accepted each other and now… they were having sex. The one that looked like me was sucking the other guy's dick and he looked very pleased. They rolled and rolled on the bed until the guy that looked like me began to thrust his dick and fingers hard on the other guy's butt. The sounds hah and ngh were all around the page as in moans. The guy who looked like Marco was so red that he looked like he was about to explode, but it was otherwise, he was enjoying that as much as the other. They kissed each other's lips, neck, nipples, more sucking and the one doing all the sucking was the one that looked like me, he-

Then, they spoke and I felt my body tremble, "I l-love you… Jean."

-"I-I… love you too… Marco."

Oh my jojos...! Jeannnn... O.O what the flip? (yeah, i've been watching adventure time a lot now)