~Introverted~ An Eremika Story (High School AU)

~Chapter Eight~

Chapter Eight

Mikasa's POV

August 18th, 3:30PM

As she slowly got back to her apartment, Mikasa couldn't help but stop thinking about what happened after second period, how badly she embarrassed herself. Why did I even do that? It shouldn't have happened. What will everyone think of me? She tormented herself with these thoughts as she reached the downtown part of the city. It started to get cloudy. Getting cloudy could mean it'll rain. "I don't have an umbrella."

Her slow mopey walk adjusted into a panicked fast pace as she crossed streets and passed various generic retail window stores. As the clouds grew darker above, her pace quickened yet again and the droplets started to splatter around her. As she hustled, she looked down to check her silver analog watch; it was 3:38 now, but to her (and thanks to the off weather), it felt like 8:00. The barely visible sun, concealed by the clouds, could barely even peer through them. Usually, Mikasa would enjoy the atmosphere of the downtown city, if she wasn't in a hurry to get home.

It was 4:00. At last, she reached her complex. She quickly grabbed at the doors to the building, and pulled them with all her might, scaring the concierge behind the lobby desk across the room. As she walked up the stairs, she left a trail of water, dripping off of her. Right at the door to her apartment, she was met by the sight of her brother and a dimly lit hall. Again, she couldn't tell by the expression on his face, but she does know he can't be mad at her when she's home on time.

"Why are you soaking wet, huh?" Levi asked in a neutral tone. "I guess I was wrong," she said in her head.

"It rained. You would be able to see that if you opened the windows every once in a while," she sneered. "It can be the sunniest day out and no one would be able to tell here."

"That's beside the point, jackass," Levi said, walking up to her and feeling her ears. "Jesus Christ, you're freezing. Your ears AND nose are red too, y'know." Levi backed up into the living room, letting Mikasa in the apartment, and letting her close the door behind her.

"I came home as quick as I could, y'know. I had to come home either way," she muttered in response, heading to her room at the end of the hall. Her brother walked into the living room and disappeared into the shadows. She hoped that he realized how paranoid he was being. After dropping her backpack to the floor, she crashed onto her messy bed, not caring to fix the disaster. Out of curiosity, she softly felt her ears with the tips of her fingers; she immediately pulled away due to the sheer lack of heat. "He was right.. obviously."

As she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard muffled dialogue from the room next to hers-his room. She jumped out of her bed, almost falling onto her messy floor, and scrambled to the wall where their rooms met,pushing her ear up against the wall. He was talking to someone, definitely on the phone or computer. Mikasa can't remember the last time Levi had someone over to their apartment. "I wonder if he has real friends." she thought, laughing to herself, before sighing. "That's actually kind of sad." As soon as the thought entered her mind, she had the urge to - for once in a while - not be alone.

She got up from the floor, and exited her room. Heading to the living room to open the blinds and drapes to let some light in, she noticed the now wet city through the windows, full of life and the lack of clouds hovering over it.The sun was staring right at her, blinding her view. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, and immediately went to her texts with Jean.

All she saw were masses of texts to him, all since the night at the park. All read, and all with no response. As she was reminded of the state of their relationship, she felt a weight added to her chest. She still didn't believe Jean meant what he said that night. Maybe it was for the best, but she didn't care. But why didn't she care?

"I can't remember the last time I was happy in that relationship," she whispered to herself, tormenting herself with her brain. That was right around when she heard a door opening behind her.

"Then it's not one worth your time, Mikasa," she heard her brother mutter.

"Done scolding me for walking home?" she snapped back.

"I've literally been in my room for fifteen minutes," he smirked.

"My relationship problems are none of your business." She turned around to face her brother. He immediately walked right up to her. She still can't read his feelings.

"They sure as hell are my business if they make you lean over buildings. And don't bullshit me, I know exactly what you were thinking about. I was a teenager once too, y'know. Very recently too."

"You weren't supposed to be up there," she snarked. Suddenly, Levi went to the door to his room and shut it behind him, looking at her.

"Y'know what your problem is, Mikasa?" he said in a dead tone. "You refuse to open up your inner circle, therefore pushing any potential friends or even acquaintances away from you. Held up in here, you worry over the worst of the worst, instead of trying to make anything better. And god, the small group of people you DO hang out with. Oh, and by hang out, I mean let them drag you around like a dog. I'd say they bring out the worst in you, but you're like that all the goddamn time. So I'm sorry for trying so hard to make your life better, and worrying for you." He paused to catch his breath, causing the only noise in the whole room. He saw her face of disbelief and sighed in dread. "Sorry for caring." He opened the front door, and looked back at her. She looked shocked beyond belief, not saying anything or moving at all.

"I'll be running some errands. I'll be out for a bit. And I swear, if you leave this house, let alone go to another ledge to 'do nothing', I'll kill you." Levi walked out the door and shut it behind him, leaving her alone in the apartment. Jackass.

She didn't want to go to her room, or even sit down. She let out a frustrated sigh, before falling on the floor. Looking up at the fan in the middle of the ceiling above, which looks like it hasn't run in years, she saw the reflection of the still setting sun, and the city below. It looks so therapeutic to get lost in the slowly drying city, or let her eyes wander in the sky. She grabbed a long leather black coat and earmuffs before leaving the house, and closing the door behind her. When she got outside the building, the sky was almost completely clear, void of any clouds or falling rain; although the city was still drying, or trying to in the shadier, colder parts. She considered going into the city once more before deciding in favor.

The sun was surprisingly bright outside , in comparison to behind a stained, dirty, tinted window. I gotta clean this shithole soon, she thought to herself as she got to the bottom of the building. "Levi's smoking doesn't help with that." When she got to the bottom floor, she surprised the concierge with her now hopeful aura as she walked out the door and into the outside. It wasn't too crowded, but didn't feel like an empty sandbox game for the ps2. In other words, empty. Even so, she felt like a lost dog.

"What do I do now?" she mumbled to herself, realizing everything she's done for the past couple of years was with Jean and his asshole friends, who decided everything they did. "That's kinda pathetic. What do people my age even do?"