The Bond we hold [Eremika]

Growing up

It was a cold winter afternoon. There was snow on the streets, and the trees were dormant. People shoveled their driveways, while children built snowmen.

Eren, Mikasa and Armin were walking home from school. Mikasa had her scarf on, and they all had their winter clothes on.

They were 14 years old. High school would be starting for them next year. It was hard to believe so long had passed already.

"It's freezing!", Armin shivered, hating the cold. "Mom is making us hot chocolate, you want to stop by and have some?", Eren offered.

They all her cell phones now, so Eren's mom had called him ahead letting him know of this. Mikasa's wallpaper on her phone was of herself and Eren.

Armin's was of the famous cat Lil Bub, and Eren's wallpaper was from the Assassin's Creed video game.

"No thanks, I need to get home and under my futon!", Armin shivered. Mikasa had been quiet the entire walk home.

Eren noticed it too. "Mikasa? You okay?", he asked. Mikasa didn't hear him at first, looking down.

"Mikasa!", Eren raised his voice. Armin blinked, looking worried. Mikasa looked up then.

"Sorry Eren...I spaced out", she simply said, her voice quiet. "Again...Mika, what's wrong? Something's obviously on your mind", Eren asked.

"It's nothing, Eren", Mikasa answered, pulling her scarf over her mouth. Eren frowned, worried.

This wasn't like Mikasa at all. Anytime she was upset, she always wanted to talk to Eren about it. "Maybe it's...girl problems", Armin whispered to Eren.

"Girl problems?", Eren blinked. "Well..Mikasa doesn't have any girlfriends to talk too. Maybe this is something she needs to discuss with your mom", Armin explained quietly.

Mikasa didn't hear the boys talking. She remained deep in thought, a worried look in her eyes.

After parting ways with Armin, Eren and Mikasa arrived home. "We're home", Eren said.

"Welcome home you two, there's hot chocolate in the kitchen", Carla greeted them. Eren and Mikasa removed their coats, and went into the kitchen.

By evening, before dinner Eren was doing his homework. Mikasa had finished hers already, so she was helping Carla with the laundry.

"It's going to be frigid tonight, be sure you and Eren dress warm for bed", Carla said, as she folded the laundry.

Mikasa looked down, very quiet. Carla caught this, her eyes worried. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? You've been very quiet lately", she asked.

Mikasa glanced up a bit. She then exhaled. "I haven't...gotten my first period yet", she then said. Carla blinked.

She remembered Eren and Mikasa's class recently went into health study, plus Akane had already explained the basic idea of periods and pregnancy to Mikasa before she died.

So it made sense Mikasa knew what a period was...but it was her worry that concerned Carla.

"Some girls get it late, sweetie. You don't have to worry", Carla gave a comforting smile, as she knelt down at Mikasa's eye level. Mikasa was sitting on the laundry basket.