Chasing Summer

The Taste of Toffee on Your Lips

Coach Smith was known for giving long, boring speeches, but the one he gave us after Nile parked the bus in a Motel 6's parking lot took long and boring to a whole other level. It had to have lasted for an hour, maybe longer. I swear I was on the verge of chucking my boot at his face to shut him up already, because he kept repeating the same thing over and over, his voice becoming a constant whir of noise in my ear that I couldn't drown out no matter how hard I tried.

While I was attempting to shut out his rambling for what felt like the millionth time, Eren leaned closer to me, his breath hot on my ear. "Let's escape," he whispered, trailing his fingertips down the center of my palm. "He's planning to stay at the motel until sundown. I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend my afternoon doing something else."

"Like?"

"Like experiencing my first kiss," he said.

My eyes shot open, but he wasn't looking at me anymore. His gaze was trained on Coach, who was still going on about the consequences of causing trouble while we were here in Trost. "Do you even have a plan? Or are you just going to wing it?" I asked. I didn't care if he wanted to wing it, because the thought of having his lips on mine was enough motivation for me to go along with anything.

"Of course I have a plan," Eren said. "We'll stay back and say that I'm having some trouble breathing, so he won't think it suspicious. Then when everyone is far away from the bus, we'll get off and go our own way."

That was too simple. It wouldn't work.

I was still going to do it.

"What about Petra and Jean?"

He finally turned to look at me, a mischievous smirk on his face. "Already taken care of."

"Huh?"

Before he could supply me with an explanation, Coach wrapped up his speech and signaled for the students in the first row of seats to head out. Connie and Sasha leaped to their feet like someone had set a firework off in their ass, scurrying out of the bus before he could remember something else and begin rambling again. Everyone after them did the same, rushing out without looking back.

When Petra and Jean stood up, I watched Eren press a hand to his chest. His breathing became ragged, labored, and if I didn't know that he was pretending, I would've fell for his act. Trying to look as convincing as I could, I brought my hand up to cup his cheek, playing along. He just squeezed his eyes shut, feigning pain.

"What's wrong?" Coach asked, making his way over to us. "Eren, are you feeling all right?"

"I'm okay," Eren said, voice strained. "I just need a few minutes."

I tried to suppress the smile that was threatening to give us away, because damn, he was good. "We'll be out in a minute." I sounded concerned, even to myself.

For a moment, Coach looked like he wanted to stay, but then he said, "If you need anything, I'll be right inside checking us in, okay?"

Eren nodded, forcing out a quick, "Thank you," before he went back to concentrating on his breathing. Erwin stayed for a couple more seconds, watching us closely through narrowed eyes, and then he turned around. I held my breath as he walked down the center aisle, letting it out in a long sigh when he stepped off the bus. I watched his retreating back as he strolled across the parking lot to the front office of the motel.

I turned to Eren then. "Are you a goddamn actor?"

He sat up straight. "Don't waste time asking dumb questions. Let's get out of here." He leaned over me to grab his cannula, wrapping it around the backs of his ears. "Come on. Come on."