The leaves on the ground were evolving into beautiful autumn colors, I loved this time of year. Autumn. Holidays are near which excites me. My mom usually dropped me off at school, but this time she allowed me to walk to school with my older brother Erwin finally. I was jealous he could walk to school with his friends and I could never tag along. I'm old enough!

     Well, I'm still 12 but I'm about to graduate middle school! Just another year!

     My brother Erwin was in 8th grade and I was stuck in 7th but we got along pretty well, I never met his friends before since they never come over he would always go to their houses. I wasn't allowed to go over to other people's houses. 

     Just because I'm a girl, it frustrates me.

     "And don't forget about the cars! Be safe! Erwin take care of her!" My mother yelled as I ran out the door to meet my brother.

     "Got it!" Erwin replied locking the front door, he turned to me and furrowed his eyebrows at my outfit. "What's going on with your top?"

     "My top?" I questioned looking down at my tank top. "I'm fine, girls my age wear this now."

     "Really now?" He crossed his arms shaking his head about to open the door.

     "Please don't!" I pulled his arm. "I just want to fit in!"

     "You can't just go out like that, go change I'm telling mom." He rolled his eyes. 

     "No! We'll be late to school," I whined and pulled him away from the door. "Pleaseeee!"

     "Venus-" 

     "Erwin!" I insisted. 

     "Fine," He grumbled and started walking alongside me. "But you're going to get cold I guarantee it."

     "Whatever," I smiled strolling down the sidewalk. 

I've never walked to school before but the walk wasn't so long, I never understood why my mother didn't allow me to walk alongside Erwin but it's fine I guess. 

     "I walk to school with my friends so don't please don't be annoying and ask a bunch of questions," Erwin advised as we walked up to the first house. 

I nodded quietly with a big grin on my face, today was the day I'd meet Erwin's friends! He's always going over to their houses and it excited me to think I'd finally get to meet them!

     A girl with a ponytail and bangs comes out of the house and runs up to Erwin with a smile, "Erwin! I finished my science project!" 

     "Hange, it's 8 in the morning." He sighed before turning to me. "This is my little sister, Venus."

     "Hi!" I waved to Hange as her eyes lit up and ran towards me, her hands were holding my shoulders and it startled me in a good way.

     "So you're the famous Venus!" She giggled. "I heard lots of things from Erwin, you guys look similar! Glad to finally meet ya, hey maybe someday you can help me with an experiment-"

     "Alright, Hange let's go." Erwin brought her towards his side so that I was to his right and she was to his left. "Now it's time to pick up Levi."

     "You think he'll bring tea again?" Hange snorted as we walked together down the block. 

     "Knowing him, he'll bring some for us too." Erwin scoffed. "Tea isn't just a drink you can crave every day, something's wrong with him."

     "Tea?" I questioned walking closer to a house.

     "Don't let Levi scare you, he might look mean but he's actually so fun to be around!" Hange chirped as we finally made it to the last house on the block.

A boy with jet-black hair and a slight undercut closed the door to his house and calmly walked down the stairs, he had no drastic expression on his face. He seemed a bit bored.

He doesn't look so scary.

     "You're late." He finally spoke turning his attention to Erwin with a glare. "Again."

Maybe he was a bit scary.

     "Levi, I told you I would bring my little sister this time." Erwin chuckled patting him on the back.

I trailed behind them staring at the floor, I didn't want to indulge in their conversations because it wasn't my place. This is the first day I'm finally growing up! I can't misbehave.

     "Your little sister isn't that bright is she?" I brought my head back up to pay attention to Levi.

     "What do you mean?" Erwin looked at me with a puzzled look.

     "She seems smart!" Hange chimed in.

     "Clearly not," Levi scoffed making my inside boil, who the hell does he think he is?

Why is he suddenly attacking me? I didn't even talk to him!

     "Did she say something or?" Erwin looked at Levi still completely puzzled as to what he was referring to.

     "She's not even wearing a sweater, Erwin." He shook his head taking off the nice blue sweater he had on. "She's fucking shivering, you let her go out in this weather with nothing but a tank top?"

     "I-" Erwin started but I cut him off.

     "It's not his fault," I confessed making eye contact with Levi, it was intimidating but I managed to keep eye contact with him. "I chose to wear this."

     "Then you're not as smart as Erwin," He sighed and extended his arm out. "Here, return it washed and clean you can ask Erwin."

     "I can give her my sweater!" Hange argued.

     "Shut it four eyes," Levi cursed and then turned his attention to me again with a bored expression. "Are you going to take it? Or you could just take Hange's."

I stared at the fabric in his hands and I looked back at him, then back to the sweater.

No one's ever offered me their sweater before.

No one.

     He was being cruel at first yet he still is showing that he cares. He doesn't care about me? Right? Why is he being nice to me after he insulted me?

     "Take it." Erwin interrupted grabbing the sweater from Levi's hand and placing it on mine. "I'm not letting you keep any of my sweaters."

     "Aw, Erwin don't be mean to her!" Hange scolded

     "Come on, we don't want to be late for school do we?" Levi turned around and began walking again.

     I quickly snapped out of my daze before taking off my bag and wrapping the sweater around me. It felt nice and warm, it was soft and it smelled nice. Very clean. I'll keep it clean.

Thank you, Levi.