Games, Vlogs, and One Hell of a Ride (Jeanmarco AU)

Chapter 6: Marco

I sigh, shutting my laptop. That was awkward.

I wonder what that Reiner guy's problem is. Eh, whatever it is, it's not my problem.

I might not get to talk to Jean, but that's okay I guess. My friend Armin is probably waiting for me anyways. It's been our tradition to get pizza every Friday since we were freshman in college. It's hard to believe it hasn't even been two full years since we met.

Him and I had the same college algebra class, and our struggle with impossible math brought us together. We've been really close friends ever since.

I slip on my tennis shoes and walk out of my apartment, locking the door behind me. I look over the railing down two floors, and I see Armin is already parked in the lot. Early as always, I think as I clank my way down the rusty metal stairs.

Once I reach the ground floor, I notice another person in the passenger seat of Armin's little powder blue slug bug. Eren Jaeger.

We aren't the best of friends, but he's alright I guess. Even if I didn't like him, he's one of Armin's best friends; I just have to deal. I didn't really expect him to be joining us today, since it's usually just me and Armin.

Noticing me approaching the car, Armin rolls down the window. "Hey, Marco! Glad to see you finally decided to join us!" He says, putting emphasis on finally.

"Hey, it's not my fault you're always five years early." I say, then I pull the back door open and fold myself in two so I can fit into the car. "Hey, Eren! Glad you could join us." I say politely to the uninvited guest — at least not invited by me. And he stole my seat.

"Yeah you too," Eren replies in a voice that tells me he gives zero fucks. Okay, cool.

Armin backs out of the parking space and continues out of the lot.

"So how's the channel coming, Armin?" He just started his youtube a few months back, but it's really been growing. He makes DIY (Do It Yourself) tutorials.

"Pretty good, I've already posted like fifty videos!" He says eagerly. "I think I'm actually about to hit 3000 subscribers."

"Armin, that's fantastic! I can't believe how fast you're gaining a following. Although I can't say I'm all together surprised." I say, palming his shoulder.

"How about my channel though?" Eren butts in. Almost at one mil, baby!" He says, his cockiness apparent.

"Yeah, that's pretty good for a prank channel." Eren's probably been on youtube for two years now, and he actually has come a long way. I may not like him as a person, but damn, has he come up with some fantastic pranks.

"Armin, take a left!" I yell. " We're in a turn only lane!"

Horns honk at us as Armin yanks the wheel, turning just in time.

"Jesus, man, you almost killed us!" I said.

"Dude, what's up with you?" Eren asks him with genuine concern. He may be kind of an ass, but he cares for Armin as if they were brothers.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about stuff." He replies, and leaves it at that.

We all lapse into silence. It's really unlike Armin to drive recklessly, but it is like him to keep all of his problems under wraps.

His mom has been sick for a while, but he won't really talk about it. Cancer, I think it is. I'm not really sure, since he refuses to discuss it — but I suppose if and when he wants to talk about it, he will.

Once we finally reach the Mazzio's Pizza, we all climb out of Armin's little slug bug.

When the three of us enter, Eren shouts out at our servers for the day. "Hey, guys!"

"AYYYE LOOK, OUR BUDDIES!" Connie yells as he rolls out on rollerblades, nearly running over Sasha.

"YOOOOO!" Sasha chimes in, holding Connie and herself up.

"Rollerblades? What's up with that?" I say, laughing.

"Oh, it was the manager's idea. Thought it would 'bring some fun to the workplace.' What a dink." Connie replies, rolling his eyes.

Armin, Eren and I slide into the booth that we have claimed as our spot for nearly the last two years. "Yo, waiter, the usual!" I call out to the knuckleheads, and Sasha gives me a thumbs up as she rolls into the kitchen, nearly running into a wall.

"So Marco," Eren says, turning to me. "I heard you've made a new friend."

"Yeah, I did actually."

"The guy that runs that DarkHorse account — what was it, Jean?"

"That would be the one."

"Mmh." He leans on his hand. "His channel is kinda shitty, eh?"

I swallow hard. Eren always has to do this. He just loves to fuck with me and try to piss me off. He usually can't get to me, though. I guess this is what I get for mentioning Jean to Armin a few too many times.

"No, not really. His channel is actually quite nice."

"I guess that's why he only has twenty thousand then, huh?"

I clench my fist under the table. He won't get to me.

"I dunno, man. What ever you say, though."

Sasha finally arrives with our pizza. "Here ya go, boys. Fresh from the oven."

"Thanks, Sasha," I say, and I really mean it. Maybe now that Eren has some pizza to shove in his mouth, he'll leave me the hell alone.

After a minute of us silently eating our pizza, Armin quietly says "I think Jean's channel is nice," and that's when I know it's over. Eren knows better than to be an ass to me in front of Armin.

I smile to myself. Ha. Gotcha, Eren.

"Anyways," Armin says after a slight pause, "do we get to meet Jean?"

"Probably not for a while, but hopefully this summer. He lives in San Maria." I reply.

"Isn't that way up north?"

"Yeah, but it's only four hours or so. He's supposed to be coming here after school gets out."

Eren looks up from his pizza. "What is he, a freshman in college?"

A take a bite into my pizza, not really wanting to answer. They would probably judge me for befriending a guy that hasn't even finished high school yet. It's only a three year difference, but 17 and 20 is kind of a weird skip.

"Not exactly. He's a junior. In high school."

Eren grins. "Pickin em kinda young, aren't ya?"

"It's only a three year difference," I say nonchalantly, taking another bite into my slice of pizza.

"Well he sounds great to me, Marco," Armin adds. "I can't wait to meet him."

"Yeah, me too," I say in reply. "Me too."