Healing Takes Time

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Well, I think I should--crap." I turned around to find Marco partially standing up and leaning against the bench. His face got a determined look on it before he took a deep breath and pushed himself up to a standing position. 

Before he promptly started falling the other way into the outer part of the dock.

I jumped forward to steady him. "Are you okay?"

He flashed his signature smile. "Yeah. Thanks. I just have to find my balance again."

God dammit, Connie. "Do you want me to help you get back?"

"Oh, no. I'm fine. I wouldn't want to bother you."

I let go slowly. Making sure you don't fall off the dock and drown isn't exactly a bother to me, I thought, but I didn't say it out loud.

He started to make his way down the dock, but he didn't get very far before he started swaying like a drunken man. If I hadn't caught him when I did--again--he would've gone swimming a little earlier than I'm sure he would've wanted to.

His arm was around my neck and mine was around his back in an attempt to support him. He was still trying to balance by himself even as I was helping him, so not much of his weight was actually being put on me.

"Thought you said that you'd be fine," I said with a raised eyebrow.

Pinkness flooded his cheeks and he looked bashful.

"Jean boy!" Mom opened the door to the lodge. Mikasa came out behind her and saw me instantly.

Marco looked at me. "Jean boy? Is she talking about--"

I gritted my teeth, embarrassed. "Yeah. That's my mom, and the other one is Mikasa."

"Your mom seems like she'd be fun at parties," he noted.

Mikasa jumped down off of the deck. Mom finally noticed me (A/N: Notice me senpai), and her face twisted with confusion when she actually saw me. For some unknown reason, I felt my face heat up.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to get eaten alive?" Marco asked me.

"Because you probably will," I told him regretfully. "It was nice knowing you."

Mikasa looked up at us with no emotion. That kid scared me sometimes. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," I mumbled.

Marco just started stammering. I had no idea what he was trying to say.

Mom appeared behind my sister. "What's going on?"

"This is the last time I do something nice."

Mom ignored my comment and held a hand out.

Marco shook it, looking obviously relieved. "My name is Marco Ral."

"Polo," Mom said. I let my head drop to my chest. Great. "Kidding! It's nice to meet you, Marco. I'm Jean's mom. You can just call me Hanji."

I could sense the kid smiling beside me. "Jean, I think I'll be okay now."

I shifted my attention back to him and pulled my arms away. He was finally able to stand on his own, thank God. But even though it was warm out, I found myself missing the heat he gave off. Weird.

"Jean, what happened?" Mom asked.

I shot her a look. Please, stop asking questions. "Connie practically attacked his leg," I said before I remembered that I told him I wouldn't tell. Oops. Well, I was pretty sure I just told him that I wouldn't tell Dad, and I didn't.