This Time

Chapter 9

Winter began to creep in. While it was rare for it to snow in Shiganshnia, the weather would sometimes drop to a low 40, leaving everyone and their dogs scraping for a winter coat.  The town would end up holding an early Christmas festival, there would be games, food, and vendors from different local stores. In the end, everyone would gather to light the Christmas tree near the town square.

Christmas was Mikasa's favorite holiday.  Most of the memories associated with the holiday were present.

She can remember the first Christmas after her father had passed. Carla had invited her and her mother over for supper. Eren had given her a gift, to this day she still has it. It was a handmade poster, it had butterfly stickers, as well as a drawing of her Eren and, Armin.

Eren had handed her the gift after they ate, his face was blushing the whole time, but he had worn a frown to try and hide it.

"I hope you like it," Eren didn't even dare to look her in the eyes.

Mikasa ended up crying that night, she was very great full of the poster Eren had given her. But she still missed her dad.

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That weekend Mina had insisted that she should stay over with Mikasa. At first, Mikasa was hesitant, but Sasha would be there too. So the night shouldn't be too bad.

The girls sat in a circle near the edge of Mikasa's bed.

"Let's play truth or dare," Mina suggested.

Mikasa looked at Sasha as if to get her approval.

"Ok."

Mina smiled at her, the smile seemed genuine, but something about it made Mikasa feel uneasy.

"I'll go first since I suggested it, Mikasa... have you ever had a boyfriend," the question seemed innocent enough.

Mikasa answered truthfully, "no I have never had a boyfriend,"

Mina's eyes widened in shock, " You're telling me, you... Mikasa Ackerman has never had a boyfriend." Mina was expressive with the next part of her little speech.

"How in the world have you never had a boyfriend, like you could have guys lining up at your feet.." she took a pause, "but maybe it's your looks that scare them away."

Mikasa didn't know if she should take that as a compliment or not. 

But for at least another hour they continued the game. Mikasa began to feel very tired, she wasn't sure what she was answering anymore.

Mina had a large smile plastered on her face again, it was her turn and she had asked Mikasa a rather weird question.

The late-night delirious had set in, it hadn't helped that she wasn't getting much sleep the past few weeks practicing for finals.

"I don't know how to answer that," she sighed, "I mean you can't tell anyone but my first time was... Eren, but I think we were both drunk, I don't remember much of it," Mikasa rubbed her eyes, and Sasha was passed out on the air mattress.

Mina had gotten what she wanted, now she knew to treat Mikasa as competition in winning Eren's affections.

"Aww, that sucks that you don't remember much of it," her voice sounded extra sweet.

"I'm too tired to keep on talking about this, I'm going to bed," with that Mikasa flopped onto her bed and slept.

In the morning Mina had left before Sasha and Mikasa had woken up.