Hot Mess Express

XIII.

The next morning was a slow start for everyone. Although the prior nights conversations had sobered everyone up before bed, the emotional and physical exhaustion weighed heavy on the ground.

Still, it had felt good to get everything out in the open and you basked in the knowledge that the bond you'd molded with your new friends had deepened.

The thought brought a smile to your tired lips that quickly turned to a frown as you remembered that your time with them was limited. Soon, you would be in Paradis where you would hopefully find your father and then soon depart back to Marley - to a life that waited for you that didn't quite feel like your own. The dread of returning set in and you began losing yourself in the heartbreaking thoughts of leaving your new friends until a finger pressed between your furrowed brows, pulling you back to reality.

"If you keep making that face it'll get stuck like that and that would be a shame." Your eyes focused back to find Jean towering above your seated form on the couch. The tension on your face calmed and a smirk found it's way there instead

"Why is that, Jean? You know you'd thing I'm hot no matter what my face looks like." You swore you saw an image pass its way over Jean's expression before a smirk befell his lips in return and he lowered himself closer into your personal space.

"Yeah sure, but that furrowed lost in thought look has nothing on the look you got when I made you cum." Heat coursed over your face and no comeback made it's way to your mind, your lips opening and closing as they searched for something to say.

Jean flashed a toothy grin as he stood back up. "Or that look, that dumb expression right there is good too." He howled out a laugh as he retreated and the furrowed frustrated look came back to your face.

"Alright guys, everyone ready?" Armin 's voice cut through quiet cabin of the RV. The resounding response was nothing but a few grunts and head nods.

You took a moment to take in your friend's. Armin loaded into the drivers seat, looking the most alive of anyone in the room. Connie and Sasha were currently huddled under a blanket asleep, heads resting on each other on the couch.

You smiled taking in the image, imprinting it across your memory desperately holding on to it. Across from them Eren and Mikasa sat on the floor with backs to each other, Eren staring at his phone as if willing it to come alive and whisk him away from the situation and Mikasa intently picking the chipped polish from her nails.

You wondered how their conversation last night ended. The two of them both got their feelings out in the open, so why was there so much tension? You made a mental note to meddle in their affairs later after you'd regained some life from the coffee you were desperately in need of.

Lastly, your eyes found Jean who had retreated to one of the barstools in the kitchen where he placed the sketchbook you didn't notice he carried earlier and began sketching on the paper, completely entranced by the task in front of him.

You started to make your way over to him, inquisitive of what he was drawing when you heard Armin call your name, jutting his head to urge you to take a seat beside him.

You pivoted and made your way to him, hoisting your body into the passenger seat and turning to face him. "We should be home in a few hours."

Home. You wished it was your home, wished you didn't have a life waiting for you back in Marley.

You decided not to verbalize the words plaguing your thoughts, instead letting yourself revel in fantasies of staying with your friends. Armin cleared his throat pulling you back to the conversation.

"Part of me is excited to get there, to see your home and to look for my dad. It would be a lie, though if I said I wasn't also dreading it. I'm not ready for this to be over." Your voice was somber as you looked to Armin, his eyes glancing between to road and your eyes.