Marco's POV

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, Jean." I said as I wrote the answers to my chemistry homework. He was laying on his stomach on the bleachers above me and he glared weakly at me. "I mean, if you attempt to do it, you'll at least get a grade for participating." I said, ignoring his glare.

"But I don't want to do it." He whined and I shot him a look quickly. I rolled my eyes at his childishness.

"Well I don't want to listen to you whine your rear end off, but hey. Beggars can't be choosers." I stated plainly, not halting my work. He snorted at me.

"There's seriously no fucking way that a teenager of this day and time, can live life without cussing." He said and I sighed. We'd had this conversation before. Ever since he drove us to my place, we'd been staying after his practice to "discuss" our art project.

"My parents look down on cussing. They say it's barbaric, and quite honestly I don't blame them." I spoke with my back straight and my voice all sophisticated.

"Remind me why I'm spending my time with you?" He asked with a groan and I snickered. He shook his head and sat up. "Practice was a bitch today. Fucking Eren and him not paying attention. Fucking Levi noticing Eren not paying attention. Thanks to them two, we had to run three times as much as normal." He complained and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I know, Jean. I was sitting right here watching." I explained. He leaned back on the bleacher behind him and basked in the sun. It wasn't hot, but the sun made it feel like it was. We'd surprisingly gotten along well, but he still didn't want to tell his friends that we were talking even if it was just because of an art project. I didn't mind really, it wasn't like my friends never talked to me.

I hadn't always gone to the same school. I moved because my parents didn't like the academics at my school. They didn't think it was challenging enough. I was honestly surprised they even noticed my grades, but that was for another time. I noticed Jean just staring at me and I couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable. Now I knew what it was like to be stared at and not know the reason.

"Do you have something to say?" I asked, not looking up from my homework. I was chewing on the inside of my cheek, a nervous habit I had. He looked away and crossed his arms. "Jean don't be a donkey, you're a horse. There's a difference." The look of utter betrayal was clear on his face. I couldn't hold in my laughter as I threw my head back and bellowed. I had tears threatening to fall from my large brown eyes.

"You think you're real funny don't you?" He asked and I could tell he was trying not to laugh as well. I shook my head, attempting to calm myself from my cackling. "You are not funny." He stated, finally breathing out a small laugh himself. Finally my breathing calmed enough for me to talk.

"I'm sorry. It's just your face was priceless." I said breathlessly. He shook his head and stood up, stretching his muscles in the process. His shirt rose up a bit and I got a glimpse of his abs and hip bones. I had to turn my head away quickly so he didn't think I was staring at them like I wanted to. Did I have a crush on the guy? Heck no. Did I think he was attractive? Essentially.

"Well, I've gotta get home. I'm having a little thing tonight and I've got to get everything set up. I'll see you later?" He asked and I just nodded once, grabbing my stuff and standing myself. "You need a ride?" He asked and I kinda froze. He was offering me a ride. This guy was crazy, something I'd realized the day we got assigned for this project. I was a creep and he just took me home and walked in as if he wasn't worried I'd stab him and torture him for years in my basement. I noticed that he was staring at me expectantly.

"Oh! Uh no. No I'm fine. I need to walk anyways. Thanks for the uh offer." I said and he raised an eyebrow at me. I smiled at him and he sighed.

"You live pretty far away from here. It'd take you at least two hours and it'll be getting dark soon. Are you sure you can handle being out by yourself?" I thought about what he said and almost said yes. Almost.

"No. Like you said you've got some thing to do. I'm not going to make you late for that. Now get out of here, I'll be fine. I'm a man." I smirked and he snorted. He walked to his old car, and even though it wasn't great, it was better than mine. Mine was nonexistent. I was seventeen and didn't have a car. Did I care? At times but beggars can't be choosers, like I've probably already said.

Now about Jean's thing. I know what it is. It's his gaming party. I find it a bit childish in a way, but then again it's good because you can actually see the person you're playing with instead of only hearing them. I hadn't been online to play with them since that little quarrel the other day. By other day, I mean a few weeks ago. I'd made a rather bold idea to speak when playing with them, but I supposed that the sound of the microphone changing my voice a little masked it so they wouldn't recognize it.

That was something I was glad for.

Was I ashamed of my gaming skills? Nope. Was I ashamed of who I was? Probably. I didn't like how nervous I got around people and it was honestly surprising that I could act so openly with Jean even after a week or two. I'm not an open person really. Not since I left any and all friends back at my old school. At my old school, Titan High, they admired adversity. They admired diversity as well. I never had to worry about who I was there.

They wouldn't judge me if I showed up one day in a bright pink button up and blue bow tie and then the next day dressed in all black with eyeliner. They'd tell me that I looked good because I was different. Normal didn't make it out there. I missed my old school a lot, but I didn't complain. I had been walking for a while, mostly silence save for the few cars that would whizz by me every now and again.

I was lost in my own thoughts when my phone pulled me out of them. I fished my phone out of my pocket and seen who was calling me. It was Bertolt, A.K.A. Colossal Titan. I sighed quietly, glad at least one of my old friends still cared about me. I answered the phone, putting it up to my ear lazily. "Hey, big guy." I said with a smile. I could practically hear him smile too. We were really close as kids and we even dated for a short time before we agreed that while it was fun and all, we were better off as friends.

"Hey M-Marco." He stuttered. The poor guy got flustered so easily and he sweated when he was nervous. "I was wondering if maybe you'd uh changed your mind about that gaming thing?" He asked quietly and I sighed again, a little louder this time.

"I already said no. No means no. I'm not going."

Cliff hanger lol