Missing Keys

Chapter 8

Things started to change really. It's was a bit too much for Eren.

How can you feel so far from someone yet there always beside you? Days when the two would sing their songs that sounded like dying goats was replaced with Armin and Annie's date night and Eren's free time sketching circles over and over again.

Laying in the grass was replaced with calls of Armin telling Eren that he was busy.

Most sad one of all was having naps replaced with Eren laying in bed wanting to call Armin but knowing that he wouldn't pick up or he'll just say he's busy.

High School didn't help either. They no longer walked the same way. In Fact, Armin had to take a bus.

Things became lonely and colourless.

The only times he would see him was when Armin missed the bus back home and had to walk past his house. Even though they didn't see each other as much they sometimes had their late night phone calls.

But only one thing mattered.

Armin was happy.

If he was happy then why wasn't Eren?

He felt alone

He was alone.

At school he didn't have many friends. The only people who he considered to be friends were Thomas and his girlfriend Mina who were in his math class (Eren thought Thomas was kinda hot). He often ate with them at lunch since Mikasa would eat with her friends inside of eating with him.

November first came, another week of school to survive.

He had to survive it alone

All alone.

Armin's birthday and once Eren woke up he picked up the phone from beside his bed and dialled Armin's number. No answer. He sighed and got up from his bed and got ready for the day. By the time he finished his routine his mother had already finished making breakfast and all of them sat around the table, beside Grisha.

After breakfast he went to school and afterward went back home and laid in his bed along with the dog. "At least I have you Zander." Eren whispered into his fur and Zander rolled onto his back waiting to be petted and of course Eren gave Zander the attention he wanted.

On Saturday he was left alone with Zander in the house. Mikasa was at Annie's while his mother went out job hunting again. He sat against the window in the piano room and watched snow fall to the ground. All was quiet through the house, it was peaceful but yet another reminder on how alone Eren was.

Lost in thought, Eren started to drifted off into a deep sleep. Almost, he almost drifted off into a deep sleep.

Someone knocked at the door.

His head shot up and he rushed downstairs where Zander was loosing his shit at the front door. "Shush!" He muttered and pulled open the door.

Armin, out of all the people he expected to be at the door he didn't think it would be Armin.

"Did I come at a bad time?" He shyly asked. Eren shook his head and invited him inside and into the living room. They sat together on the couch and for the first time in a long time they were alone.

"What up?" Eren asked as Armin pulled his knees up to his chest, he looked at Eren and started to shake "Um...I've told you about my friend Jean, yeah?" He asked nervously.

Something was wrong.

"Armin... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... Don't worry about."