Nicotine (Eremin)

Chapter 19

March

Eren's POV

        Mikasa made me go out for coffee with her and a few of her friends. She told me it would be good for me to meet some new people, but I just felt out of place. I was sitting at the end of a table next to Mikasa and some girl named Mina. There were two more people with us, but I hadn't heard their names, and I was too shy to ask. 

        They were talking about some civics project due in the next week that none of them had started. I only could hear half of the conversation, and I wasn't really interested anyways. The only thing I really cared about was making sure Armin got here safely. 

        "Eren? Can we talk?" Mikasa leaned over and talked so only I could hear. 

        "Yeah, sure what do you need?" I shut my phone off and put it back into my jacket pocket. 

        "Is it cool if we step out for a minute? Family emergency." she said, talking to the group. They nodded in agreement, and Mikasa dragged me out of the coffee shop by my sleeve. When we got outside, she dragged me around the building to the parking lot in the back. 

        "Can you go ten minutes without looking at your damn phone? I'm trying to do something good for you! You need to make friends, and it's not like you have any." she yelled. 

        "I have a friend! Excuse me for being concerned about him as he fucking travels across America by himself!" I shouted back. I was glad no one was around so I could yell louder than her. 

        "No, it's not bad that you're worried about him, it's just that you haven't said one word to any of my friends! Connie even skipped his morning classes to come meet you!" I didn't know which one of her friends she was even talking about. 

        "Look I'm sorry, it's just that my friend could call me any minute, and the last time he called me was a few days ago, and I get scared easily." I tried to calm down, because I knew it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention at all, and I was acting like a total dick. 

        "I get that you're scared, but can't you just try and meet some new people? I'm trying to help you here." she was still yelling, but at least she had calmed down a little. I was about to say something, but I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out to check the number and heard Mikasa groan. 

        "This is probably the worst possible timing, but I really have to pick this up. It'll only be like five minutes, and then I can give your friends my full attention, okay?" I said trying to back away at a steady pace. 

        "Fine." she muttered and stormed back into the shop. I turned my back as soon as she was gone and answered my phone.

        "Hello?"

        "Eren! Shut up for a second, I have to say something!" 

        "Uh, okay." Armin was kind of scary when he was determined to get a point across. 

        "I was in some Asian restaurant yesterday, and a guy started talking to me, and I don't remember everything he said, but it was pretty inspirational, and-"

        "Does this story have a point?" I said, laughing. 

        "Yes, shut up! He said something about smoking, and how nicotine effected the body, I think, but the point is, you're my nicotine!"

        "Wh- wait, are you smoking?" I asked. He already wasn't eating regular meals, adding drugs would be worse. 

        "No, that's not- nevermind. He said nicotine was something that occupied your mind every single second of every single day, and well, you're pretty much the only thing I care about." 

        "Wait, Armin, do you... like me?" I asked. I was probably just taking this the wrong way, but if there was even a chance Armin loved me too, I had to take it. 

        "I mean, I am traveling across the country for you, but like-"

        "Okay, now you shut up I have to say something." I interrupted him. 

        "Go for it." he encouraged me. 

        "I probably don't have all that much time left, and I've already tried this like twice already, but I really do like you, and if you feel the same way then we should-" the line went dead. 

        "GOD DAMN IT!" I screamed. I kicked the side of the building as hard as I possibly could. 

        This was the third time.

        I don't know how many more times I can try.