Chasing Ghosts [Attack on Titan](Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter twenty two- The stories

Chapter twenty two

I stared at him in silence, the boy glared at me and removed his hand I flailed backward. Trying to get away from him as fast as possible. “What the hell are you doing!?” I demanded. I sat down on the chair at my desk staring at me as I struggled up against the wall closest to my bed. “Why did you tell Petra to ask me about my past?” He demanded. I frowned “Because she’s your friend and she should know.” I said glaring at him. He moved closer to me, like… way to close. His nose only centimeters away from mine. “She’s not my friend dog, and you know this.” I wriggled away from him again. “I'm not a dog.” I said. He straightened up folding his legs and leaning back in the brown chair looking at me. “Your stupid.” He said “Don’t you see it, your Erwins pretty little pet.” He grumbled glaring out into the moon-lit horizon. I frowned at him “Did you just call me pretty?” I caught him off guard and he looked over at me, surprise crossing his eyes. “Did I?” He asked. I smirked “You did.” The surprised glance was quickly replaced with his stern stare. “I didn't mean to.” I frowned again reverting back to the topic of Petra “You should accept them as friends Levi. Letting someone get close to you won’t hurt.” Sudden pain entered his eyes but he was swallowed by the empty stare has giving me. “Yes it will.” He said shortly.

I blinked at him “No, it won’t.” I said stubbornly.  He glared at me “Yes, it will. People die Aya, and if you get to close to them you'll lose them.” I blinked, suddenly starting to understand this boy. “You lost someone that you cared about didn't you?” I asked. He said nothing, just gave me his thousand yard stare and silence. I waited for him to stay something, but we just sat in silence. “Ok, if you won’t tell me… Then I'll explain to you.” I said sitting up from crossing my legs and putting them over the side of my bed. I slouched slightly looking at him then the floor. “If you live your life in solitary confinement and refuse to get close to anyone your nothing more than a Titan.”

He frowned “What?” I raised my hand to stop him from talking “Let me explain.” He raised his left eyebrow at me but let me continue “If you pretend like nothing hurts you and your alone forever. You are much like a Titan, all they do is kill and eat.  The same thing you do, you kill, eat, and sleep.” I said “If you don’t have social interactions all you do is become a shell, and no one can break though that shell to try and make you happy again.” I said “If you take down your walls, and let someone in. You can be happy, even if you lose them.” I said to him. He stared at me, with a sideways glance. Understanding flashing in his steel gray eyes.

“I lost my mother.” I continued “I never knew her, my father never loved me but do you see me acting like a sullen child?” I asked him raising to my feet and pacing across the room. He opened his mouth to speak but I continued “Let them in, Let them befriend you. If you don’t your nothing more then the beasts we kill.” I said, turning to look at him. He was watching me, his eyes wide with confusion and interest. He turned around in the chair setting his head on the back of it and folding his arms under his chin. “Hmm.” Was all I got out of him. “I get the feeling you want to know my past more then Petra does.” He said, completely ignoring my dramatic speech. I let out an exasperated sigh. “Did nothing I just say get through to you?” I grumbled.

 He let out a low growl like laugh “Sure it did, just tell me. Why did you honestly put Petra up to asking me?” He asked. He was gazing at me with a interested look, none that I had ever seen before most of the time he would only glare at me like something vile. “All right, fine. I was interested.” I said, raising my hands in defeat. He let out a low chuckle, a real laugh. The first time I'd heard him laugh, or smile. It only lasted for a millisecond but it as there. That was my light in the darkness, he did have a heart but it was buried under layers of ice. “I'll tell you then.” He said. I sat down on the bed crossing my legs and waiting.