Welcome To Shiganshina Highschool: Aot

Chapter lV

Flashback: Eren's pov

The goddamn alarm clock never worked, of course.

It was like it was in cahoots with that old hag of a housekeeper who always yelled at me to get up.  I  threw the covers off started to get pissed.

"Another shitty day, nice" I muttered as my voice raspy from sleep.

I was tired of this whole gang thing.  It was suffocating, like a goddamn cage.  I was done with the smoke, the tattoos, the constant pressure, something like that.

6:07 am.

Meracle, I had time. 

I hopped in the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of my mood.  It was the first time in a month I'd woken up early, and it felt good.  For a moment, I felt like I could actually breathe.

Five minutes in the bathroom, then I was back in my room to dry my hair.  I grabbed my phone to check Facebook.  Maybe some drama would make the day a little more interesting, anyway.

I scrolled for a while,  not really paying attention.  My mind was still foggy from long sleep I had specially I slept early last night.

Maybe I should start waking up early more often.  It was actually kind of nice to have a few minutes to myself,   y'know.

But why the hell did I wake up early in the first place? Ugh nevermind.

I stopped scrolling when I saw a video of some crazy old lady, it actually cought my weird attention.

She had messy hair and was just laughing like a maniac while holding a cage with a mouse inside.

"Beware," she said as her voice cracking. She put her hand on the cage door and slowly opened it.  The mouse scurried out as she was  holding the mouse by the neck.

It wasn't that special, but it had a weird thing that actually made me interested. The heck, Eren.

The camera fell as a guard walked into the room.  The woman threw the mouse in his face,  making the guy jump back.

I look around at the room that the crazy women currently in; it's familiar to me.

"Start..." she screamed as her laughter echoing in the small room.  She locked the door, then grabbed the camera.  I was about to finish the video when my phone rang.

When I saw Armin's name in it, I immediately answer it.

"Eren, guess what? I just transferred to your school," Armin's voice said.

I almost dropped my phone when I heard it. I instictly stand up while grabbing my school uniform as I place my phone close to my ear.

"Seriously?  Why are you telling me just now?" I asked as I put my school pants next.

"Surprise, I guess? It just was sudden.  Like, five years later, we're back in the same school.  Crazy, right?" he said.  His voice was kinda different,  huskier,  but still gentle and soft.  It was like he was a whole new person, but I expect that he didn't change just yet. Me and Mikasa weren't yet ready for that change, though.

"Wait, did Mikasa-"

"Dude, gotta go.  Catch ya later," he said before hanging up.

"Hey-"

I stared at the phone as I frown. 

I needed to get out of this fucking house, as fast as I can.

I run outside the room and grab the sandwich that our maid prepared for me.

"Is it miracle? Why you're so early, Eren?" Miss Jane asked.

"Gotta try something new, I guess?" I said before I left.

___________

The wind whipped at my hair as I stood on the rooftop of Shiganshina High.  It was the 'territory' of our  gang owned.

I joined the gang when I was in eighth grade,  and I guess this was the last day.  I was done with all repeating scenario that my goddamn life gave to me.

Mom died,  Dad was a jerk,  and the gang was the only thing that made me feel alive.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Reiner said, his voice barely audible over the wind.

"Yeah, maybe," I said, looking across the schoolyard.

Reiner punched me in the face,  and I let him.
"After you killed that guy, you're running away from what you did like a scared stupid kid, Jaeger? Even if you leave the group, you can't deny that you killed that guy." he added,

"Just leave,  you're a pain in the ass, anyway. But don't you dare pretend to be innocent when the day comes that someone finds out what you did. If we get blamed, I'll kill you." Ymir muttered while rolling her eyes.

I turned and headed towards the stairs,  leaving them behind.

"Jaeger... You're coming back. You're just messing with us, right?" Annie said.  I stopped walking,  knowing it was her.

"Bruh,  just let him go.  He's a lost cause," Ymir added

"Eren will come back!  Bitch,  promise that you'll come back," she insisted.

I only stared at the stairs.

"Don't talk to me until you bring back the old Eren I know" Mikasa's voice echoed in my head from two years ago.

It was like a punch to the gut.

"Sorry..."

I descended the stairs,  as a sigh left my lips.

"What the hell is wrong with you,  Eren Jaeger?" I asked myself while slapping my cheeks.

As I reach the ground floor, I scanned the crowd,  searching for a familiar blond small long haired boy that I know.   After searching for 3 minutes at least, I  saw him standing by the gate,  his usual anxious expression etched on his face.  He looked taller compared when we were kids(obviously),  but still smaller than any of us.

I started towards him,  but then I saw Mikasa approaching.  I stopped,  watching them from a distance while my smile disappear.

They talked for a while,  and I saw those familiar smile that I want to see again.  I knew those smiles would disappear once I got closer.

They turned and walked towards the building one as I followed; keeping my distance.

As they reached the fifth floor,  Armin suddenly stopped and turned to my direction.

"Eren,  over here!" he called out, waving his hand towards me.

I chuckled nervously,  "Hey,  what's up?"

"Your room's at the end of the hall," Mikasa said softly when her eyes meeting mine but avoiding it immediately.  "I'm gonna head out.  Got stuff to do." She as she tapped Armin's shoulder.

She was still mad.

Armin nodded,  his eyes following her as she walked away.  Then he turned to me.

"Crazy," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crowd while curling his kinda thick eyebrows. 

He passed me his bag like a ball which I immediately catched with ease.

"Mikasa told me everything. You're out of your mind, yeah" he said that made me roll my eyes.

"I left the group just earlier,  and I'm not going back, happy?" I said.

"Why,  then?" he asked.

"Maybe because of Mikasa?... I-I don't know," I sighed while shrugging.

"You like her, don't you?" he asked teasingly, making me stroke my own hair.  Maybe I did.

"What kind of question is that?" I snapped as my cheeks OBVIOUSLY burning.

"Mikasa cried because of what you said.  And you didn't even apologize?  For two years?  You're crazy." He added as he continued his walk towards his classroom.

I ignored him,  handing him his bag when we reached the door.

  "Wait for Mikasa here after school.  If she doesn't come, just text me."

"Hey, I can go home by myself"

I turned and walked away, heading to basketball practice; damn I almost forgot.