Addictive ~Levi x Reader AU~

Chapter 21: Message

"Hey guys," I smiled as I slid into the empty chair in between Marco and Jean.

"Hey. You sure look like you're in a good mood for someone who got a scolding," Connie observed, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"Yeah," Jean agreed, narrowing his eyes at me. "Why are you in such a good mood anyway?"

"I, uh, well, um," I stuttered nervously.

I could feel Connie and Jean's gazes searing into me, searching me for an answer. I didn't know the correct thing to say. I mean, it was blatantly obvious that I couldn't tell them I was sleeping with our lit instructor. No telling how they'd react to that or what would happen if word spread. I couldn't risk being kicked out of the school for playing hokey pokey with Levi. Still, the risk was all a part of the thrill...but I still couldn't chance telling the boys. I had to come up with a lie and fast.

"I bet Professor Ackerman just cut her a break," Marco interjected. "He probably just gave her a warning since it was her first time missing."

"Oh, true," Connie nodded, scratching his chin. "That would put me in a good mood too."

Oh, you have no idea, Connie. I mentally smirked.

"That's lame," Jean huffed as he leaned back against his chair and crossed his arms. "I thought it was something more scandalized. Like maybe her and Professor Ackerman bagging it."

I could feel my face flush red at Jean's words. I was praying he didn't realize how correct he was. I balled my hands into fists to help compose myself. I had to think of something to say and fast before they became even more suspicious.

"Ew. Jean, that's totally gross and wrong," Connie snapped, his tone filled with utter disgust. "I don't wanna imagine Professor Ackerman doing...that." He shivered, adding, "Ugh...I think I lost my appetite."

"Oh, come on guys," Marco said happily, scratching his neck. "Stop talking like that. Look, you guys are freaking Y/N out."

Both Connie and Jean glanced at me. I'm almost positive I looked like I was petrified. Hell, I felt petrified. I was horrified, mortified, and terrified. The last thing I needed was my new friends to discover my new sexual relationship with our professor. Even if they didn't tell the whole world I was sleeping with Levi, I didn't want to lose their friendship. I had grown so accustomed to their company that I just couldn't imagine not hanging out with them almost weekly.

"Sorry Y/N," Connie apologized. "Didn't realize we were upsetting ya."

"Me too," Jean chimed in. "Didn't take into account how that'd make you feel."

"If it's any consolation, we were making fun of Professor Ackerman," Connie defended.

"Yeah. We wouldn't dream of doing that to you...not intentionally anyway," Jean mumbled.

They both lowered their eyes to the table as if they were two children waiting to be scolded by their mother. But how could I lecture them? They were both sincerely sorry for their previous statements, though I must admit. I was a little sour about how they talked about Levi. I couldn't tell you why, but it irked me that they talked about him so poorly. They didn't even understand the effect he had over me. Then again, it was best they didn't.

"You guys are fine," I smiled, waving my hands dismissively. "No harm in meaningless words."

Their faces lit up as Connie smiled, "So, he really did just let you off with a warning?"

I smiled and nodded, "Yup. He sure did."

***

I took in a deep breath and let it out as I closed my apartment door behind me. I was utterly exhausted and wiped out from the day. After Connie and Jean left, Marco and I had remained at the table for a bit chatting. And by chatting, I mean random comments accompanied by long periods of awkward silence. And by we, I meant me. Marco said very little to me after our two companions left and he said even less on the walk to biology. He wasn't the happy go lucky Marco I had become friends with. I was curious as to what was wrong, but I sensed that he didn't want to talk about it.

I let out another haggard sigh and shuffled into the living room. I plopped down onto the sofa and fished my cell phone out of my pocket. I turned on the screen and frowned. I had a missed call with a voice message. I kept my phone on silent while I was at school, so it was no surprise I would miss a call. I rolled my eyes and figured it was most likely another wrong number and hit the notification. It took me to my phone's mailbox and I typed in my pin number to access the message. A moment of silence lingered in the room until the computerized voice spoke.

"One missed call from today at 12:25 PM," it said before another brief moment of silence draped the room.

I waited as white static echoed from my phone when the voice in the message finally spoke, their smooth tone sending chills down my spine with each breath they breathed, "Y/N? Y/N, it's me...again. You still haven't called me back." They paused briefly, swallowing, "Listen, a few of your old friends gave me your new cell number. They told me to tell ya that they miss you...I miss you too."

Another pause. I was shaking. My fingers trembled and my breath became hitched. My heart raced furiously against my ribs as my head began to spin. I felt sick to my stomach. That voice...that damn voice was once again haunting me. I wanted it all to be a dream when the message continued.

"Listen, I know we haven't talked in awhile and we ended on bad terms, but I really do miss you," the voice whispered. "I'm in Trost now. I was hoping we could maybe meet up and catch up. Ya know, just hang out like old times. Whatcha say? Just give me a call anytime. I'll be here until Sunday. I'll talk to ya later...hopefully. Bye, beautiful."

At that, the message ended. I hung up my phone and dropped my hands to my lap. I felt numb. Every last cell in my body was quivering, the numbness cloaking me. My stomach twisted and turned as bile began to rise to my throat. I darted to the bathroom and threw up in the toilet, my knees wobbling the entire time I ran. I gagged and heaved, my lunch from earlier that day being puked up. Hot tears began to well up in my eyes as my throat stung from all the vomit, but it wasn't the throwup that had me so upset.

"No, please, don't let them find me. Please, don't let them find me. Please don't let them...find...me," I repeated as sobs began to rise up.

I pressed my back to the cool bathroom wall and drew my knees close to my chest, wrapping my arms around my shins. Fat tears continued to trail down my flushed cheeks as I rocked back and forth. I let out several loud cries as my chest became tight until a sheet of numbness blanketed me. Before long, my legs fell asleep and my sobs silenced, but tears continued to rain down my cheeks as sheer numbness made my soul go limp.

**Hello, hello, hello lovelies! I told ya I wouldn't forget about our mystery caller! Now you have to juggle quite a bit. What will happen next? Stay tuned for the next chapter. As always, thank you oh so very much for reading! Every read this gets means the world to me! Feel free to drop a comment and/or vote! Wuv you all <3**

-Noel Ross