Healing Takes Time

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I pulled up the anchor and cringed when I felt how slimy it was. It took everything not to puke over the side of the boat. I thought that there was only one thing that grossed me out--spitting and spit itself when it wasn't mine, but I didn't spit except when I brushed my teeth 'cause that shit is nasty--but apparently there was another thing to add to my list.

"Are you sure you don't need help?"

I straightened and turned around. "No," I said firmly.

He looked down and smiled. I couldn't help but smile too. He was just too cute. He'd been grinning ever since we pulled away. I was fairly certain that my words had sunk into that probably-freckled brain of his.

I also had a feeling that he was smiling just from the sheer amount of... intimacy I'd shown. I felt somewhat cut open and and lain out for him to see, but I reminded myself that it was okay and that I was going to try to open up more, even though it freaked me out.

I fixed the oars again and started rowing. "Tell me where to go to dock."

Marco smiled. "Aye, aye, captain."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him when he moved to the seat behind me to watch. "Shut up," I muttered.

He just laughed at me and sat down. "Okay, move more to the right."

"Wait, my right or your right?"

"Yours."

I started rowing with just my right oar.

"Jean, you're going to the left."

I threw my hands in the air for a couple seconds before grabbing the oars again. I did not want them to get away. Being stuck out on a lake was on me thing. Being stuck out on a lake in the middle of the dark with no help for hours when your phone reception sucked ass was another thing.

I started rowing with the left oar. "Just give me your left or right."

He laughed at my frustration. "Okay."

After what felt like an hour of rowing, we finally got to the right dock. I unhooked the oars and put them back where I got them before the two of us reached for the dock. I found the slimy--fucking gross--rope in the water and hooked it to the front of the boat. Marco did the same with the back. I got out and offered my hand to help Marco, but somehow he managed to trip. I laughed at him. He blushed. Dork.

He grabbed my hand. I looked down at him to find that he was looking at the ground sheepishly. I laughed again and nudged him with my shoulder. "Let's go," I said.

I tugged him down the dock. "What cabin are you in?" I asked.

"Cabin one."

I pointed to the right. "That way, right?"

"Mm hm."

We headed in that direction. "Well, tonight was kind of a bust," Marco said.

I looked at him. "Why do you say that?"

He shrugged. "We were supposed to be stargazing. Instead we shared painful memories and I cried."

"But we also got to make out," I pointed out.

I could tell he was blushing. "True."

I nudged him with my shoulder. "Tell me something funny about you."

He tilted his head, and it reminded me of a puppy. A puppy with spots all over the place. "Why?"

"You said tonight was all sad, so let's make it funny before we get to your cabin."

"Oh, okay." He sighed. "I can't think of any right now. You go first."

I laughed to myself. I knew the perfect one. "Okay, so Mom and Dad were out somewhere with Connie, and I found some hot chocolate packs in the pantry. I told Eren and Mikasa about it. We made hot chocolate, and it was pretty good. I should mention that we have an island in our kitchen with the sink on it."

"Um, okay?"

"Anyway, Mikasa and I were in front of the sink while Eren was right across from me. Mikasa had finished first and rinsed her glass out. Whatever. She apparently had water on her hands, so right when I took a drink, she flicked it on my face. I don't even know why, but I spit all of the hot chocolate out of my mouth. Right in Eren's face.

"Eren just stood there in shock while Mikasa fell on the ground and started kicking the cabinets because she was laughing so hard. I was shocked at first, but started laughing too."

Marco was laughing and grinning. "That's pretty funny."

"No, no, no. That isn't even the best part. The best part was that Eren looked like he'd been set on vibrate mode, and the first thing he'd said was, 'You ruined my hot chocolate.'" I had to stop for a moment because I was laughing too hard. "And he," gasp, "was so," gasp, "fucking serious," gasp, "about it!"

I grabbed onto his shoulder as I doubled over. It wasn't as funny at the time, but now it was the funniest fucking thing to ever happen to me. To this day I still don't know why I spit in the first place. (A/N: This actually happened to me. I'm the one that flicked the water and died laughing, Ceci is the one that spewed hot chocolate and is eternally guilty, and Wubby was the victim in all this. She literally started shaking like a leaf in the wind and said, "You ruined my hot chocolate." To this day it's my favorite memory. Love you, guys!)

Marco was laughing too, but it seemed to be more at me than my story. "Jean, are you okay?" He sounded very amused.

I started to calm down and straightened. I sighed and wiped at my eyes. "Yep. Fine. Totally."

He looked doubtful and a little bit concerned. We started walking again. This time, I was the one to grab his hand. "Have you thought of anything yet?"

He sighed. "No."

I squeezed his hand. "That's okay. If all else fails we can make some funny stories of our own."

His face was hopeful. "Really?"

"Of course."

* * *

I kept looking back as I walked away from Marco's cabin to find him staring after me. Each time I felt something get lighter in my chest. I didn't know why I was happy about that or if this really was happiness even. All I knew was that it felt nice.

It didn't take very much time to get back to my own cabin, and sneaking in quietly was just as hard as sneaking out, but I managed.

Eren stirred as I walked past his bed. "Jean, is that you?" he mumbled.

"Yeah," I whispered in reply. "Go back to sleep."

"What are you doing up?"

I rolled my eyes. Either he was still not thinking from being mostly asleep, or he had a shitty memory. "Bathroom. Now shut up before Mom wakes up."

He rolled over and went back to sleep. I gave a silent sigh of relief as I slipped my shoes off. I rummaged around in my suitcase for my pajamas and changed, thankful that everybody was asleep.

My bed groaned when I got in--son of a bitch--no matter how quiet I tried to be, so I opted for the band aid method. I flopped down as fast as I could and thanked my lucky stars that nobody was awake to yell at me.

"Jean."

I closed my eyes and just breathed for a moment. "What?" I asked my dad, trying to sound like i was asleep.

"Quit moving around up there. The least you could do is sneak in and out without making noise."

"What are you--"

I heard the door to their bedroom close.

Wow. So Mom heard me after all. Let me just say that sneaking out at home when nobody hears your window open is so much easier.

* * *

It's shorter than the last chapter--obviously--but I'm honestly kind of stuck. I hope it meets your standards!

--Shelby