Reiner sat on his bed while he wait for Bertholdt to finish showering.
Thanks to the monsoon outside, Bertholdt had been soaked through and through. After he had a good cry, Reiner started his wet clothes in the washer and cleaned the puddle off the floor in front of the door.
His first thought was to call Annie and give her a piece of his mind, but he knew Bertholdt wouldn't want that. His second thought was to find Armin and beat the sh*t out of him. Again, something Bertholdt wouldn't appreciate.
Reiner was roused from his thoughts of revenge as Bertholdt walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair.
Reiner couldn't help but look at his feet. He tried to remind himself that Bertholdt had just broken up with his girlfriend, and was incredibly vulnerable. He didn't need his best friend checking him out.
Reiner threw a pair of sweatpants a him. "They might be a big on you but, better than nothing"
"Maybe I would be better in nothing" Bertholdt thought, a spark of electricity jolting through him. He quickly shook the thought away.
Despite being in a yearish long relationship with Annie, Bertholdt had come to one conclusion. He definitely was in to guys too.
Bertholdt felt it wasn't something that he couldn't just spring onto his girlfriend, and he didn't know if he was quite ready to tell anyone.
Reiner cleared his throat, "well I'll be downstairs when your dresses"
******************************************** Once Bertholdt was dressed they were stretched stretched out on the couch watching basketball.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Bertholdt let out a sigh. "Maybe I just was too oblivious to notice the signs. I mean she had been distance for a few weeks, hell she didn't even ask me to the winter formal, or even want to make plans for the dance"
Reiner turned down the TV.
"I mean...f*ck dude if she wanted to date someone else at least have the balls to break up with me. I mean Armin of all people!!!"
"Maybe she's into whiny guys with bowl cuts" Reiner said.
Bertholdt let out a small chuckle. "Maybe I shoulda cut my hair"
"Nah you look good with it a bit longer"
Bertholdt felt a tingle go up his spine.
"So...you plan on going to winter formal?"
"Probably not. Why would I get all dress up just to see my ex with her new boyfriend"
"You can go with me and Pieck like a triple date thing, I would suggest we both bail like 8th grade but Pieck's already got her dress"
"Nah I don't wanna third wheel, even if it's not a real date"
Reiner was about to protest.
"Look we got two more of those things to go to anyways"
A silence fell between the two.
"I'm sorry about Annie. A guy like you doesn't deserve that. You...you deserve someone who makes you feel you've been struck by lighting. Who understands you inside and out, and is honest with you. Someone who respects your feelings and cares about you, to the point they can end things instead of sneaking around on you"
Bertholdt swallowed the lump in his throat. He started crying.
"Oh Bert...." Reiner moved closer to him, putting his arm around him. "I didn't mean to make you upset..."
"Maybe she found out" Bertholdt mumbled through the tears.
"Found out what?"
"I like guys" he said through his hands. But it came out as "mhfhf shrines gyys"
"Wha?"
"I like guys!!!" He yelled out, "and girls" he added quietly.
Reiner pulled him closer, "that's still no reason to cheat on someone"
"Reiner please don't tell anyone, I don't know that I'm ready for anyone to know"
Reiner pulled Bertholdt into a tight hug.
"I promise"
****************************************** Things were icy at school. Bertholdt went out of his way to make ignore Annie.
But being the type of guy he was, he didn't tell anyone Annie cheated on him. He just let them think they had a nasty break up.
It didn't take long for Armin and Annie to debut as a couple. Much to the confusion of some. They just didn't seem like a good match.
Bertholdt was tired. His mind was going crazy with thoughts. Thoughts about Annie, when to tell his parents, about people finding out, and Reiner.
They had been spending a lot of time together. It had been really nice.
He came home from basketball practice.
"Oh good your finally home!" His mom said sounding brighter than usually. "Why don't go shower so I can start dinner soon".
She was desperately trying to hold in a giggle.
Bertholdt brushed it off.
He climbed up the stairs, and opened his bedroom door.
He was met with a face full of balloons, like his whole room was filled with balloons.
"What the f-"
"SURPRISE!!!!" Reiner and Pieck bursted out of the balloons.
"What the..." he looked to see a homemade banner hanging above his bed.
"Winter Formal?!?!"
Bertholdt laughed, "are you both asking me to winter formal?"
"Well technically I am since ya know I'm a girl" Pieck said with giggle, "but it was more of Reiner's idea...not that I don't want you to come with us"
"Come it will be fun!!!"
"Fine fine fine" Bertholdt said raising his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll go with y'all"
To be continued
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
