Sticks and Stones | Levi×Eren

Chapter 1

No one likes school, it's just a fact. If there's someone out there that breaks this mold then I envy them more than I care to admit. I'm sure college isn't bad, but I have at least four more years until I can apply. I'm one of those kids who has no idea what they want to do in life and have nothing mapped out for the future. I don't' excel in anything and have no outstanding talents or hobbies; I'm pretty boring to be honest. All I can do is sit on the sidelines and watch my cousin succeed at everything. I swear there's nothing she can't master if she takes the time.

She was adopted when she was only five. Her parents suddenly disappeared, though she doesn't' remember them. I'd say that's a good thing so she can use her brain to its full potential with no set backs. I'm jealous and it's as simple as that. Her grades always surpass the nineties and she's on every sports team representing our school, on top of being one of the most popular kids in the senior years. Then there's me; the loser doing his homework on the bleachers. Even if I try my hardest, I can barely achieve a passing grade and that comes back to bite me in the ass.

My work remains neglected on my lap where I'm not even trying. I'm too distracted watching the co-ed soccer team warm up for their practice. As expected, my cousin is there leading the rest in the laps beside the top boy on the team. I would have fallen on my face ten times by now, especially when the ball is added. My hand eye coordination is comparable to a fish.

I let the pen fall from my hand onto my open book so I can watch a little more. My essay can wait a few more minutes. I'll pretend I'm watching Mikasa. I mean, sometimes I do, but mainly I'm focused on someone else. I'm going to admit I have a little crush on the center forward, or 'striker' as they like to call him. Levi. He's the team captain and top boy running beside Mikasa. He's in grade eleven from what I've heard, but that's the extent of my knowledge. I've never talked to him mainly because he's way out of my league. Why would he want to associate with the weird boy with no friends? Besides, girls swarm him on a regular basis, so it's not like I have a chance. Two younger girls pass by the field on their way home pointing and blushing when he pushes the dark hair from his eyes. It proves my point pretty well.

I've sat through a hand full of practices since the season started, but it's always the same story. Most of the girls on the team flirt with Levi during water breaks and I can't help but wish this was a boys only team so I wouldn't get so jealous. I can't help but get a little mad. I try to concentrate on my homework, but I can always hear their high pitched giggles and ditsy responses. I suppose that's what I get for doing work at a soccer field.

I sigh and turn back to the blank paper on my lap. I'm not one of those rich kids who carries around a laptop so I make due with the old fashioned pen and paper. I've scribbled more in the margins than done any actual writing. I'm running low on ideas with the flawless guy running in the distance. It's a shame he has nothing to do with the essay. Maybe I should go home. I don't want to be late anyways or I'll hear about it ten times over.

I do a quick check on my phone noticing a missed call from my mom, no doubt wondering where I am. Sometimes she forgets I like to stay after school when I can. I've told her it's because of Mikasa's practices, but she doesn't need to know the real reason I'm here. I'm not ready for her to know the truth yet, and maybe she never will. The only one who knows my secret is my cousin only because she noticed me staring off at Levi before. She's more of a sister then a cousin, so I can trust her not to tell anyone. I might be the only gay boy in the whole school. No one is open about that kind of thing for obvious reasons- except Ymir. She's made it painfully obvious she wants to marry Christa. No one screws with her unless they want a black eye, so everyone's excepted it.

I tuck my papers neatly into my bag making sure no corners are sticking out to get bent. I try to keep everything as organized as possible. It's a quirk I picked up from my mom after helping her so much. The rough draft of my essay will have to wait for when I have ideas. I might get a few on the way home if I'm lucky.