Attack on Titan (Camping AU) - like a crackling log fire

XI. Truth

"He's trying to avoid me. Come on, he obviously is!"

No matter how hard I tried to come up with other possibilities, this had to be it. This gesture felt even more hurtful than his rejection. I would never force Jean into a romantic relationship, but I can at least expect him not to ruin the group's friendship. Honestly, I think I could've dealt with it way better if he had just told me in person.

It was Friday morning and we were expected to plan an overwhelming last evening. Come to think of it, the week went by very quickly, didn't it? Although we have done everything together so far, we decided to split. Armin and Eren prepared a dessert with a few others. Eren stuffed a few things into his pockets. My guess is that he was thinking about stealing some sweets, but he was caught anyway.

Jean decided to work on a slide show. I joined him - obviously not because I like slide shows so much.

One quick glance at these photos was enough to make me soften up a bit. I recognised us in so many of them.

The lovebirds were trying to make soap.

I was sloppily dancing in the party room.

Jean's broad and genuine smile - oh, that one almost made me tear up a bit. Almost. I mumbled something along the lines of, "I don't feel well right now" to a counsellor and went to the bathroom. 

Upon arrival I sat down in the changing room and closed my eyes while breathing in the place's warm air and clean scent. My head was resting on a bench, but perked up quickly after hearing two familiar voices outside the bathroom. I slowly came closer to the door in order to hear what was going on. Apparently, Eren was struggling to catch his breath. Had he been running?

"Oi, ho-," he said, but Jean interrupted him before he could go on, "Don't even think about insulting me with one of your idiotic nicknames. I'm not in the mood for childish shit like this, ok? I have to deal with other things right now, so please shut up about hating me so much or how hurt poor old Marco must be!"

Frankly, I've never seen Jean shout like this. It was neither playful anger nor his short temper. This was genuine frustration.

"Come on! What's up with you?" the shorter boy asked. I immediately noticed an uncommon caring undertone in his speech. Marco's confession is the last thing I could've needed right now," my crush confessed.

"My mum would never get it, alright. I know that she's always been kind and protective, but there's this one-" Eren started chuckling a little. "Don't even think about a 'mother's boy' joke, Jäger! That's not what it's about!"

Eren's laughter died down rather quickly. Jean took a deep breath and continued, "but when I told her I'm gay the other day- she, she totally flipped out on me. She tried to convince me that I'm confused and that I just haven't found the right girl yet. I really don't know what to do..."