Partnership

Chapter 23: Paranoid

Eren's pov:

I sat in the back of the bus hugging my knees and looking out the window at the darkness. Everything was quiet except for Erwin, Hanji, Levi, Mikasa, Armin, and Jean talking at the front of the bus. I shivered slightly and felt the chair sink in a bit beside me. I looked over and saw Bertl and Annie sitting by me and everyone else was giving me sad small smiles.

"How are you holding up Eren?" Marco knelt down in front of me to see me at eye level.

"How the fuck do you think I'm doing Marco?" I felt bad seeing the hurt look on his face. I gave him and apologetic look and he nodded dismissing it.

"You know we're all here for you Eren. No matter what we won't leave your side. Even if Reiner threatens us I swear we won't leave your side." I gave him a small smile and looked up at Krista who seemed to be focused on something out the window. I slowly got up and went to sit beside her.

"What's wrong Krista?" She jumped and looked at me.

"Don't scare me like that dammit." I smiled and patted her shoulder

"Watcha looking at?" Krista looked out the window again and shrugged.

"I thought I saw some car following us but there's nothing there anymore." She pointed to the back window. I gulped audibly and stood up feeling my legs start to shake slightly. Sasha who heard our conversation stood up too and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I'll check for you Eren, why don't you keep Connie and Annie company." I hesitated at first but nodded sitting by Connie and Annie. I watched as Sash stared out the back window and shook her head letting me know, nothing was there.

"Hey dude, maybe you should rest a bit. We still got a long way to go until we get back to town." Connie motioned to Marco, Bertl, and Krista who were now dozing off while leaning against each other. I smiled at the sight of them and grabbed my phone and took a picture. I sent it to Mikasa and Armin and watched as their phones went off and they checked the picture smiling and showing everyone in the front.

"I haven't seen that smile much. It's nice when you smile Eren, it makes me feel calm." Annie watched me and I blushed lightly.

"Th-thanks." She sighed and nodded.

"I may have bullied you with Reiner but I promise you I only did it because I was being blackmailed. I'm really sorry about everything that happened. I swear to you I will not let Reiner harm you. Even if it means jumping in the middle of you two." I shook my head and reach over and squeezed Annies hand

"Thank you Annie, I'm happy but Mikasa would never forgive you or me if anything happened to you." I smiled as she reached over and hugged me. I stood up and stretched and looked over at Sash and everyone still awake, "you guys should rest, it's still really early and I know I woke you up I'm sorry."

"Don't worry Eren none of this is your fault and none of us see it that way." I nodded and said thanks to Jean who was now walking back towards the rest of us to go sit next to Marco.

As everyone got comfortable and started to fall asleep I noticed Levi, Hanji and Erwin were still whispering up at the front. I slowly made my way up there and patted Hanji's shoulder.

"Hey Eren, we were just talking about you." She smiled up at me and ruffled my hair wrapping her arm around my waist. I nodded and rested my arm around her shoulders.

"Technically we were talking about everyone." Levi said looking back at us and frowning.

"What about everyone?" I saw Erwin look through the mirror and smiled.