Ghoulfriend - Ereri

Chapter 5

Eren seemed cheerful on the way to school, he wasn't like a normal teenager who would most likely moan and complain about school and it's shitty subjects. But then again Eren was quite the optimist and from what I have already gathered, the opposite to myself.
He was going on about his older sister who was back in Germany at University, she was unable to come over with them because of Uni but told her family she'd be fine and could take care of herself. Eren kept calling her Mika and I knew full well that was a nickname to shorten her actual name. I didn't bother to ask what her actual name was though.
Even though it probably seemed like I wasn't listening, I was. I didn't mind listening to him babble on about Germany or his family. In fact I sort of enjoyed it. I loved watching the enthusiasm practically radiate from him, his eyes just shimmered and grew with intense feelings of passion and love. I could tell he missed home.
"So Levi, what about you?"
"What about me?" I ask him grumpily, I didn't want him to know too much about myself so I tried to make the topic seem boring.
"Well I've done nothing but tell you about myself. I wanna hear about you" I raise an eyebrow at him, my facial expression saying 'really?' But he kept his bright smile and his eyes looked so eager. He genuinely wanted to get to know me, and for some shitty reason I couldn't say no to those eyes.
"There's not much to tell. I live alone with my mother. My father died some time ago before I was born so my mother has worked her hardest to support us. My father left some money behind but we had to move due to the family situation. Since then I've lived and grown up here" Eren's happy facial expression was now a sympathetic one and I sigh and avoid his gaze "I'm sorry about your father Levi" I shrug "Everyone is but it's not like I knew him you so how can you miss what you didn't have?" Eren nodded and looked forward, I looked up at him and he slowly turned so his eyes met mine.
I looked away awkwardly "It must have been hard growing up without a dad" Eren mumbled quietly and I shrugged again.
"Not really. I didn't really care. I just cared about my mother and us getting by. I didn't really need a father to raise me, my mum did just fine on her own. Not to sound egotistical but I think I came out pretty good" Eren chuckled and nodded enthusiastically "Yup you did. You're mother's a strong woman"
"She had to be"

We sat at my usual table and as soon as Eren took his seat next to me Hanji's eyes glimmered with mischief. I gave her a 'Do anything stupid and you're in for it' glare but she seemed unfazed and carried on grinning like a maniac. Eren shuffled in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with her starting at him.
"Hanji I swear to fucking god if you don't get rid of that shit eating grin I will end your life" Hanji burst out laughing and everyone at the table either looked at her in fear, confusion or annoyance.
I rolled my eyes and ran my hand through my hair out of frustration before reaching over the table and slapping her around the face.
She looked stunned and so did Eren but everyone else didn't seem too bothered. Petra carried on talking to Reiner and Ymir and Christa carried on playing Mario Kart on their DS's.
Hanji smirked and pretended to be hurt "Ow Leelee whyyyy" I grit my teeth and she giggled hysterically.
"Um Levi.." Eren places his hand on my arm, I flinch at his touch and turn to look at him "Calm down. You're shaking.." I stare at him a little bewildered. He touched me?..
Why would he.. I stare into his eyes and feel myself slowly calm down, I close mine slowly and take a few deep breaths before opening them again and nodding to him in appreciation.
"Hanji what has got you so excited?" I stare at her as she grinned at me and she taps her finger on the side of her nose. I roll my eyes and Eren seems confused, that meant it was ghoul business.
Knowing her she probably found a new suicide hot spot or something, but she did have her occasional suprises. Whatever it was, she couldn't mention it here.
The bell rings signalling form, everyone gradually stands up and reluctantly make their way.

I stared out the window for most of my lessons, I didn't feel like working today, I was low on motovation. And I know that's the wrong attitude to have, especially in a world so shit and unfair, but that's just how I felt.
There's no difference between human and ghoul feelings, they're the same. It's not intensified or dimmed down, as hard as it was for some people to believe, we feel emotions too.
We feel remorse when we kill, we love, we hate, we mourn, we laugh, we cry etcetera etcetera...
But all I could really think about right now was Eren.
I normally didn't let people, especially humans, touch me. Never. I have a thing with germs and to no surprise humans are full of the nasty things. But Eren, when he touched me, I didn't freak out. I didn't get angry. I calmed down. I was... thankful?
I shiver a little and watch the raindrops trail down the glass. It was gloomy outside; the sky was blocked by dark clouds and no light peaked it's way through, rain fell to the ground at great speed and intensity it could be heard all around the school. It had calmed me and was maybe even the thing that caused me to overthink earlier events, I sigh silently as I stare down at the blank lined pages, pondering over the up coming evening.
Nothing interesting was going to happen but I liked to run over plans and maybe add things in or take things out. Tonight I was just going to study or read a book, but Hanji had invited us all to a sleep over. Including Eren.
Her parents were gone for the week and had left her with no babysitter, no guidelines or a list of 'must do and must not do'. They had made the biggest mistake of their lives in my opinion and the thing was, you'd think she wouldn't need a babysitter. But she really did.
I am worried about Eren coming and I was shocked when I found out he had been invited. I wasn't going to go at first but I had to make sure Eren was safe. Hanji was unpredictable and god knows whats going to happen tonight. I groan to myself silently in frustration and I dart out of class as soon as the bell rings, ignoring the teachers protests and the staring eyes of shocked and bewildered students.
I didn't understand Hanji's logic. Only Hanji understands her logic.

I spent most of the day in silence, no one seemed too bothered. Apart from Eren.
Eren smiled at me, laughed, he tried to joke around with me and have casual conversations but I didn't seem to budge. And part of me inside, broke when I saw him realise he couldn't bring me to be my natural self. His smile faded slowly and he walked beside me in complete silence.
I felt bad. I felt rude. I felt selfish. He's tried so hard to get me to talk, to take my mind off things. To get me to be happy in a sense. And I had just threw it back.
"Are you going to Hanji's sleepover?" I ask Eren randomly. He nods and him smile returns to his face, he smiles at me brightly and starts to get a little giddy.
"Yup! I'm gonna head home and pack my clothes and stuff and bring lodes of snacks and shit. It's gonna be great" his voice was filled to the brim with enthusiasm, it warmed me up ever so slightly and part of me deep down, wanted to smile.
I hope this all goes okay.