The Ereri Project!

Ice Cream (Highschool)

Levi hasn't heard from Eren in three days. It's the longest they've gone without speaking since they met.

It's August and Levi's parents only turn on the air conditioning if the weather goes above ninety degrees.

It's been teetering on eighty-nine all day so not only is Levi on edge about Eren but he's frustrated with the heat and can't sit still.

He tries to call his boyfriend again but the brunette's phone is either turned off or dead, he doesn't like that at all.

Levi gets up and puts on a shirt that immediately sticks to his sweaty chest and slides on sandals while looking for his wallet.

When he picks up his wallet he realizes his parents have both of the cars. "Shit," he curses silently, resigning himself to walking.

He doesn't care how hot it is, he has to see Eren.

He leaves the house and finds it was actually hotter inside than out but it's still uncomfortably warm. At least it's blessedly cloudy so he's not being best over the head by the sun.

He stops at a convenience store on his way to Eren's house. He picks up two pints of ice cream; coffee for himself and chocolate chip cookie dough for Eren.

He hopes, on the long trek between the store and Eren's house, that the ice cream isn't melted when he gets there.

Eren's mom answers when he gets there. "Oh Levi," she says with a smile. "What a pleasant surprise, I didn't know you were coming."

"Eren doesn't know either," he says. "I just kind of assumed he was here actually, he hasn't talked to me in a couple days."

Carla's expression drops then. "So he hasn't talked to you either."

Levi just stares at her, unsure how to answer that.

"Come in," she says, distractedly waving him in the door.

"Can I put these in your freezer?" Levi asks, holding up the ice cream in the bag.

"I'll take them," she says, taking the ice cream. "Eren's up in his room. I can't promise he'll answer you though, he hasn't been very friendly these past few days."

"Okay," Levi replies and stands for a moment before making his way up to Eren's room.

He pauses in front of the door, deciding whether he should knock or just walk in. Reluctantly, he does knock and says, "Eren, it's Levi. Can I come in?"

"Sure," comes the quiet reply.

Levi walks in expecting worse than he finds. Eren is laying on the floor with his feet propped up on his bed, staring out the window. Raindrops have begun to dot the glass in random places.

Levi will have to ask Carla for a ride home if he doesn't want to get wet.

Levi lays on the floor beside his boyfriend calmly. "Hey," he says.

"Hey," Eren replies.

Levi looks at the side of Eren's face, he looks healthy at least. Not as tired as he expected. "What you been up to?" he asks.

"A lot of this," Eren replies.

Levi nods. "Are you feeling okay?"

Eren shrugs. "Now I am," he says, he sounds more exhausted than he looks. "This morning was the first time all week my head hasn't felt cloudy."

Eren takes his legs off the bed and rolls over so he's laying partway on Levi. "I've been trying to call you," Levi says.

"I lost my phone," Eren says, voice muffled by Levi's shirt. "I was too tired to look for it but I really wanted to talk to you."

Levi glances down, examining Eren for any signs of new cuts, he's glad he doesn't find any so he hugs Eren. "I'm glad you're okay."

Eren nods. "I should be back to normal tomorrow."

"Take your time," Levi says, petting his hair.

They lay there in silence for a while before Levi looks over to see Carla peeking in the door. He smiles at her and nods. She gives him a thumbs up before walking away.

"Hey Eren," Levi says eventually.

"Hm?"

"I brought ice cream."

Eren sits straight up. "Why didn't you say so before? Where is it?"

Levi snorts and sits up as well. "You can have some if you come downstairs with me to show your mom you're alright."

Eren's expression turns sort of sad. "Okay."

Eren's mom is relieved to finally see Eren out of his bedroom. She's happily gives them their privacy by sitting in the kitchen while Eren and Levi eat their ice cream on the couch, watching Spongebob.