Picking up the pieces - a JeanKasa story

Chapter 12 - Saturday

Jean's pov - the day after tryouts.

I walked out of the house with a broken face: black eye with cuts and bruises all over. I had to stop at the park on the way to school because I was meeting up with Sasha and Connie so we could walk to school together.

When they saw me the first thing they did was hug me, they always did when they knew that he had hurt me.

"guys it's okay," I said "you don't have to do this every time " but they only hugged me tighter

"yes we do Jean we need you to know that we're here for you." Sasha said.

"I don't want to pull you guys into the bottomless pit with me, it's the one place I want to be alone" I replied. They pulled away and Connie said "but what if we jumped in with a harness and a hook?" I just smiled and started walking

"come on. I want to stop at the shop before we get to school, but even so I'm so deep in that the rope wouldn't be long enough " I said the last bit under my breath so that they wouldn't hear me.

They ran up to me and we just carried on walking.

"Sasha, Connie what are you guys getting then? I'll pay for you, but you can only get a maximum of 3 things each."

They both came up to me in less than a minute with a drink, a pack of sweets and some gum. I just laughed at their similarity, grabbed myself a multipack of Lucozade, some sweets paid for it all and left.

When I walked into the classroom the first face I saw was Mikasa's, she saw my injuries and her eyes began to water. I didn't think she'd be that shocked.

I put up my hood, put on my headphones and walked away from her. She left the room shortly after. I rested my head on my desk and shut my eyes. I felt myself relax and I fell into a deep slumber.

When I woke up the class was empty and I had nothing else to do in there so I picked up my stuff put my hood up and headphones back on and tried to go find the others.

" I see you're awake now then." that voice. That's Mikasa's voice. The one voice I don't want to hear right now.

"looks like it" I trudged through the classroom trying to get out but she grabbed my arm.

"Jean we need to talk about this." I rubbed my eyes, maybe I was still asleep.

"Do we? People only talk this shit when someone doesn't understand what's going on and you've made it pretty clear that you don't like me!" I freed my arm and turned to look at her. I was shocked at her condition.

Her eyes were puffy and had bags under them, her face was pale, her hands were cold and her legs were shaking.

I knew if I left alone now something would happen to her.

"but that's the thing, you don't know the full story! You only know Eren's one. That means if you want to understand 'this shit' you have to listen to mine. Please" I nodded, took off my headphones, put them on my neck and sat down on the chair in front of her.

"go on then explain."

When she finished her explanation, I just sat there in silence. I was stuck. I didn't know what to believe, who to believe.

"So why didn't you just tell me from the start?" I asked. She took my hand.
"because I was scared this would happen." I took my hand back and stood up, I started to walk out.

"where are you going?" Mikasa called

" I need some time to think." I replied.

"wait Jean" I stopped and turned around

"are we still on for Saturday?" I was confused. Saturday? Oh I remember now, Saturday.

"I don't know, I'll um think about it."

for the second time I tried to walk out but again I was stopped. She grabbed my arm and placed her lips on mine, I kissed back and me being that 'prick that gets all the girls' I was pretty experienced in this field. She pulled away and took a breath,

"hopefully that will help you decide." she smiled and I finally got out of that classroom.

As soon as I was out I ran through the corridors as fast as I can. I even passed Eren and Christa on the way but I didn't stop, not until I reached the field. I went to the sports shed and got out a bag of footballs, I placed them all on the line of the box and shot them, one by one.

I got through all of the footballs and the goal was empty not one ball went in. This wasn't working. I had to calm myself down somehow. So I went to the art room, and I painted. I painted the purple/reddish sunset we see in movies, the one we all want to see with the person we love.

I just stared at it. It wasn't quite finished, there were a few bits and pieces left to do but it was coming together pretty well, I couldn't wait to see it finished and in a frame.

I ended up not finishing the painting the bell rang before I could. I was walking to class when I realised that there is still paint on my hands. I couldn't turn back as I was already late for class.

"Fuck me sideways" I ran down the corridors again and it to the class,    

"Sorry I'm late" I walked past the students, to the back of the room where I sat down next to Eren

"Yo, where'd you go?" he asked. I wiped my hands, looks at him and smirked
"I was painting" he looked at me in confusion
"you were painting?" I nodded

"want me to teach you?" he shook is head

"I'd rather learn something that suits me" I nodded.

"what like boxing?" I looked up from my work and at Eren. He thought about it and then nodded slightly. I started to laugh he looked at me again

"well it just so happens I can teach you that too, there's just one thing I need done in return" We shook hands

"It's a done deal." and we just carried on with the work

"oh and one more thing Jean," I looked up at him

"what's up Eren"

"it's just when do we start?" I smirked

"hmmm.... How's Saturday?"