Hopelessly Romantic

Part 20

You come home at a decent time, better than most days, actually. The nap obviously messed up your sleep schedule, and using the texts from your blonde friend, you know you went to Mikasa's around ten, so whatever occurred during that time, including the nap, spent seven hours of your life. Luckily, not in a bad way. You know it's not in a bad way from the way your legs are slightly unsteady as you enter your dorm. The first thing you see when you walk in is Annie's made bed, something you definitely didn't do, and know Armin would never. Not because he seems like he wouldn't make his bed in the morning, but because Annie's things aren't his territory, and he's good with boundaries. You slightly linger on the bed, about wanting to be more like Armin before your eyes go to the desk Annie's sits at. You know she's heard you, you know the door shutting could only be from you, unless she gave Hitch a key, which you slightly hope as you take off your shoes. You can't be the only one in a relationship within a friendship. That way, as you start to become less burdensome, she won't have to question if you're putting it on someone else. She'll be too preoccupied.

You want that right?

"Hey," you say into the empty air. Almost too empty. She hums, typing on her computer and not turning to look at you. Her behavior isn't normal, but ever since last night, you can't help but wonder if you should find it odd, if her not looking at you is in hesitance, not normality. You open your lips at that, asking, "Are you okay?" She stops then, not freezing, but slowing her movements into a pause before she turns to look at you. You're a mess, you know it, but ever since you came back from Mikasa's you can't... seem to care. And it's liberating. Your shirt is messy, your panties are basically trash underneath your pants, and you need a shower from the amount of love that came onto you, you need to scrub it into your skin, let it rot you, consume the young you who never had it. Annie raises a brow. "Why are you being all sincere?" You sigh, playful as you feel your thoughts ease. "Why are you not answering my question?" She sighs back, rolling her eyes and returning to her work as she answers you, "I'm better, thanks, weirdo." You hum, moving to sit on her bed.

You only slept on her dorm bed once last night, but that one night brought you back to all the times you'd sleep over, all the times you were able to just- be with her. Those moments were last night, even as she was crying, even as you were worrying for her, you were just able to be. That's something you could never get with anyone else, even as you grow and get more friends, you know no one will be your blondie. "Well, that pitiful 'thanks' doesn't do shit for me- Come and join meeee," you whine out, letting most of your body hit against her bed as your legs stay bent, feet on the floor. She sighs, humor light in her throat as she stops, for you, coming over to her bed, for you, and getting in the same position as you, for you. She does it all for you. You let out a pleased breath at her closeness, raising your arms in the air to stretch. "Good?" "Very," you reply, turning to her and letting your arms drop over your stomach. She smiles at your action, turning to face you because she wants to, almost needs to admire you in a comfortable state. She hasn't seen you like this in a while.

Sure, you still run to the gas station every now and then, and sure you still look okay and behave okay, but Annie's always known how draining your mind, your life, was. She knows because she sees it every day. She sees how you're treated by the one family member you have; she sees how you talk to yourself, how sometimes, your teeth gnaw at the skin of your nail, how sometimes, you come to her with tears, but deny them even being there as she distracts you, talking about her fighting strategies. She's overprotective of you, obviously, but she's never known how to be correctly overprotective when the one thing causing you the most pain was- you. So, whenever you put down yourself, she'd pinch your thigh and you'd giggle, apologizing, and as much as she wanted to shut your lips up with a kiss, she never did, though now she would. Right now, with your eyes glistening in happiness, your cheeks bubbling in comfort, your appearance so relaxed she thinks you took all the sleep in the world; she'd kiss you and never regret it. "So, what were you doing?" Your question snaps her out of her thoughts, she looks into your eyes as she replies, "Homework, something about the history of fighting- Which I can't believe I have to write in a fighting class-" "It's college Annie, they care a bit more about your education-" "You mean they want to harm our minds more in an educational way then environmental-" "Well, the food here is shit, so-"