Study Partners {LEVIHAN}

Chapter 17: After-Party

Levi's POV

"Let's go to the after-party," Hanji suggests as volunteers began to shut everything down. "Please, Levi?" She clung to my arm like a little puppy. Her eyes... sparkling beautifully... "It's just an after-party... no dances necessary. That slow dance with you was enough for me..."

"I promised your parents I'll take you home before 11."

"It's a little after 9. And the party is only 11 minutes away. Please?"

"I... where is this party anyway?"

"Check your email, they sent it to you."

I do so, and... surprise, surprise. I do have it. The party was at some skating ring. All I had to do was to have my student ID card and say that Hanji is my plus one for her to enter. She would also have to provide her student ID card to prove she goes to the school.

"Hanji, do you have your ID card on you? The school one."

She tilted her head before taking her phone out. "Not my physical one, but I do have the school app on my phone." Hanji then shows me her phone, showing her ID. "See? Do you have the app?"

"I have the physical card."

"Oh, okay. Well, can we go?"

"Can you skate?"

I watched as her eyes lit up. Right then and there, I knew her answer. Of course, she could. What else can this woman not do? "Can you?" I shook my head. "Aw... well, I guess I'm going to teach you how to skate."

"Wait, can you skate in your dress?"

"Of course. As long as I don't fall and there's no pervert to look there, I should be fine. You should protect me from some upperclassmen from looking at me in a perverted way, right?" Hanji winks at me as she tugged on my arm. "Come on, Levi, alright? Please?"

"Okay, okay." I chuckle to myself, "Okay, we'll go. But we should tell your parents. That way they know where you are."

"I know, I know, Levi. I'll call them when we get to the car. Promise."

*   *   *

Hanji had to help me put the skates on my feet- as if I was a baby. It was annoying but slightly cute. She kept sounding like a mother to me, explaining how to put the skates on. Once she was done tying the laces, she smiles and quickly does her skates.

"Try to walk."

I do so, falling on my ass. Hanji snickered at my fall. "Hey!"

She struggles to stop laughing as she spoke. "I-I'm sorry! Haha, I've never seen... seen someone struggle as... as badly as you! Haha!" She holds her sides, falling into this adorable fit of laughter. Even though my cheeks were red with anger, I could never be mad at her when her laughs were beautiful. "I... I guess... haha, I have to be your mentor!"

"Just don't let me fall," I grumbled, struggling to my feet.

Just as Hanji was able to collect herself, she only managed to utter, "I'll try not to," before laughing again. How long do I have to wait for her to calm down?

*   *   *

The answer? 10 minutes. She took 10 minutes to fully calm down. Her skates were on, and I leaned on her as she guided me to the rink.

"Usually, the girls cling onto boys," Hanji whispers as we slipped onto the rink. 

"Well then, I guess we aren't that stereotypical." She smiles softly as she takes my hand. "What are you doing?"

"Leading you. Now, did you ever love to slide your shoes against the ground?"

"My mom hated it when I did that, so I stopped."

Hanji looks down a little bit. "Okay, well, it's like walking, but slide your feet. Watch me." I do so, seeing her skate effortlessly. Although once or twice, I saw her stumble, otherwise, she was perfect.

She skates the entire rink before coming back to me, which I was desperately clinging onto the rail. Thank goodness there's a rail. Hanji smiles, gently taking my hand.

"See? Now, we can stay close to the rail. Maybe it'll be nicer as if you're walking backward, but moving forwards. If that makes sense."

"It does not." Hanji laughs as she guides me around the rink once or twice.

As we went around the rink multiple times, I finally found the courage to let go of the rail, following Hanji. She smiles, laughing that I'm becoming a grown man. We began to have fun, chasing each other as if we were cats on ice. She swiftly dodges me, laughing. I would love to hear her laughter forever...

Our legs grew tired of skating, so we decided to take a break and eat pizza- free for us. Hanji giggles as I continued to cling to her as we stood on the carpet. At least I'm not constantly falling. We sat down with our slices of pizza, not wanting to leave this party. We haven't seen Erwin or Marie here... so maybe they didn't come?

"Hey... Levi?" I turned to her, seeing her eat the pizza crust first. "Can... can I do something? And you don't get mad at me?"

"Depends... what is it?"

"This."

She leans forward with her eyes closed. I couldn't move as she kissed my lips. My heart was pounding hard as she kissed me. My eyes grew heavy as I leaned into her, finishing the kiss. I... I love her...

"Well, well, well," I hear Erwin's voice, chuckling. "Kissing, are we?"