You're Not Alone

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~flashback~

I skip over to Reiner and Armin who are cleaning up the left over bandages from first aide training. My arms loop over Armins shoulders and I lay my head on top of his.

"So a little birdy told me that you and Bertholdt took Eren and Armin here on a spiritual hike through the woods where you talked about your feelings..." I smirk. "Why wasn't I invited?"

"It was a boys trip," Reiner tosses gauze at me but I dodge it.

"Hmm," I squint my eyes. "Well when do I get to go on some fun insightful quest with you two?"

"Do you really want to?" Reiner questions.

"Well it sure made Eren focus a little better," I stand back up from leaning on Armin. "I want to see what the fuss is about."

"Okay," he leans back in his chair. "Tonight work for you? After lights out? You don't mind the risk of getting in trouble, do you?"

"Risk is my middle name," I scoff. "Just kidding, it's Mae. But you get the point."

I let out a small laugh and casually walk back to the door of the classroom, turning my head to look at Reiner.

"Meet you guys at the flagpole a couple minutes after lights out," I wave and then head over to the well to get a bucket of water to clean the dining hall.

My feet drag as I walk up the front steps to the dining hall. I'm on cleaning duty with Marco, Sasha, and Ymir. I was tasked with wiping down the tables.

I place the bucket on a chair and grab a rag from the closet in the back. When I shut the door, Sasha stands on the other side, surprising me.

"Sasha!" I hit her with the rag.

"Sorry, sorry. I just needed a broom," she smiles cheekily at me.

I roll my eyes with a smile and then make my way over to the bucket of water. Dipping the rag in and then ringing the excess water off, I begin to wipe down the tables.

As I reach over the wood surface, I see Ymir come in with the peeled potatoes. I guess she was in charge of bringing in the food for dinner.

Marco wasn't anywhere to be found, maybe he got moved to a different job today. I heard the boys room was crawling with stink bugs, so he could be helping them.

"Looking for your lost puppy?" Ymir smirks at me.

"Huh?" I look up at her.

"Marco. Your little shadow." She sneers. "Do you get separation anxiety when he's not around?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? Looks like Christa's not here, better go get her in case she finds someone better to be friends with. I wonder how long it will take her to realize you're not the nice girl she thinks you are."

"Shut up, you don't know shit."

"I know you're alone... Christa is the only person who has ever made an effort to be your friend. Maybe if you didn't try and piss everyone off all the time, you'd have more friends."

"I don't need friends," she glares. "I'm fine with my life."

"Are you?" I throw the rag back into the bucket. "It's okay to want company. No one can go forever without having a bond with someone. It's okay if that's Christa, but don't hurt her. She's a nice girl and I don't want you tarnishing her."

Ymir doesn't respond. I'm not truly trying to be mean. Ymir just doesn't communicate well with people who aren't blunt and straightforward with her.