AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 46 - PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 73 by BEETHOVEN

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"Are you sure you don't want anything more than a salad?" Eren leaned in as he took a bite of his burger. "You'll be hungry later."

"This baby chub won't melt away on its own."

"What are you talking about, Twinkie?"

Armin rolled his eyes and put his fork down. "This!" he exclaimed, as he lifted his shirt and pulled at the tiny rolls on his midriff. "Ever since I've moved in with Erwin, he cooks me three meals a day and some kind of baked something-or-other. Honestly!" He picked his fork up and rummaged around in his salad again.

"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

"Yeah? Well, you're not the one about to get stretch marks, honey, so quiet down."

Eren put his burger and his other hand up. "Okay, fine!"

"Thank you."

"It's not like you don't work it off on that telephone pole every night."

Armin snickered and covered his mouth with his hand. "You are NOT wrong!" He eyed the burger in Eren's hand and leaned forward. "Alright, honey, give me a bite."

Laughing, Eren handed the rest of the burger over. "I'm really happy for you two, twinkie." He smiled. "I'm glad you guys are doing well."

Armin nodded and spoke from behind his hand, his mouth full. "Thanks, lovey. Have you figured out what you want to do for work yet?"

Looking down at his french fries, Eren shook his head. "I've been volunteering at the food banks and at my parents' hospital, so I've gotten to see Petra a lot, which is nice. You know, we played in those hallways together when we were kids. I haven't seen her since Belles broke her arm our senior year."

Armin nodded, his mouth full, pulling a fry from Eren's plate.

"I'm glad you weren't hungry," Eren said as he pushed his fries over.

Huffing a laugh, he swallowed. "I had no idea the two of you knew each other." He gulped his soda. "We did our internship together. She's a good girl."

Leaning against his hand, Eren closed his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "Can you tell me anything?"

"Eren."

"Anything."

"Honey."

"Please." He opened his eyes and looked at his friend with sad eyes. "I feel like I'm living alone out in the desert, while you're all together." His voice choked. "I'm so lonely."

Armin reached his hand across the table and touched Eren's fingers. "Okay." He blew up into his bangs. "He's not doing well. He's been drinking a lot, and he's not going to work. He's not playing at the bar either." He waited for Eren's response.

All his friend could do was nod and look into Armin's eyes. A tear ran down his cheek.

"That make you feel better?"

"Yes and no."

Armin huffed. "That's what I figured." He waved to the waiter. "I gotta get going cutie pie. I'm so sorry."

"You eat all of my food and then bail?" he said, with a sad smile. "Thank you for meeting with me, and for...you know."

As Armin handed his card to the server, Eren protested. "It's my turn!"

He waved his hand. "I ate almost all of your burger. Hey, I want you to show me your Levi charcoals next time we see each other." He raised his eyebrow. Mikasa said they're hotter than Picasso's.