Unspoken Norms | Levi Ackerman ✔️

Chp 27 ~ Authenticity

Fun Fact: Levi is flexible enough to do a standing split.

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Levi's POV

"Year 10 may leave."

I got up from my seat, filing after my grade as we headed for the assembly hall's exit. A swarm of Year 9 students clogged the way out, gradually—but steadily—pushing through the double doors.

"Levi!" I heard his voice but didn't turn, continuing down the aisle of chairs. "LEVI!"

Furlan looked behind me, eyeing the caller. "You're not turning around, are you?"

"Let him get a sore throat."

As soon as I cleared the rows of seats, a hand firmly pulled me back. I wrenched my arm away, eyes shooting daggers at Jarrod who looked close to seething.

"Where've you been these past few weeks?" he hissed lowly, nose scrunching with anger. "We had a get-together last Wednesday—and where were you? What about those times at lunch when you sat somewhere else? Where were you then?"

Studying with (Y/N), I thought, though outwardly I remained quiet.

Jarrod advanced towards me, the rest of our group circling around us. "You've left me no clue whatsoever. How can we be called friends?"

I glanced around the area—people were either walking past us or lingering in the crowd. Furlan and Isabel stayed behind, even (Y/N) and a few others from my class.

"Year 11 may leave," announced the speaker on stage.

Jarrod halted until an inch was all that was left between us. "All this time I thought we could become close... but now... what side are you even on?" There was something else in his stare—not just fury, but gloom. Desperation.

My eyes landed on (Y/N), who glanced at the platinum-haired boy with downright ire.

And for once I was certain with where I stood. Everything my grade formed had pressured me to be like every other person. To oblige by those 'rules' and 'norms' about how I had to behave. Who I had to hang out with.

Maybe I was most popular, maybe I still am, but what was the outcome of it anyway? If such barriers constrained me from being with who I liked, who I truly liked, then there was no point.

This realisation was what my mind tried to ignore. But now I could change that.

***

Your POV

"That was the most boring assembly I've ever been to," Eren grunted as we turned out of the seating aisle.

"Was it that boring?" Connie asked, yawning. "I think I fell asleep the moment I sat down."

Jean was shaking his head. "Of course you did. Sasha too."

I smiled at their conversation—but also partly due to the relief from finishing all yearly exams. Only one week of school left. Now looking back... it all felt so quick. Settling into this new high school, finding friends, enduring a heap of exam pressure and bullying...

Well, speak of the devils.

My part-relieved, part-laughing smile faded the moment I saw the bullies form a circle around Jarrod and Levi.

"Guys," I said, silencing the quarrel kindling between Eren and Jean. They followed my gaze to the subtle gather of a crowd, obscured by the leaving grades.

We slowed our pace to watch the situation. Jarrod had stopped before the raven-haired boy, expression contorting bitterly. "What side are you even on?"

Levi's demeanor was not at all perturbed. His dark, hooded eyes swept the area, and for a momentary second, they landed on me. I quickly glanced to Jarrod, feeling anger rising.

I didn't know the relationship between the two, but I could tell it wasn't friendship. They stuck together like reluctant glue. Levi didn't like him, that much was clear. Whatever Jarrod was doing... I hated him.

The most popular guy in our grade took a step back, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Listen moron," Levi drawled in a bored voice, "our friendship has never been authentic. The only authentic thing is that we were never friends." His stare was pure flint. "I'm on the side you're not on."

Jarrod's agonised, angered expression dissolved into something cold. Something opposite of that usual smirking, smug look. "Fine. I guess I should no longer try with you."

The approaching Year 11s obstructed the teachers' views of the fist that Jarrod aimed for Levi's face.

"Look out!" I surged forward, hand outstretched—

A few members of the bully group moved to stop the platinum-haired boy, but not in time—

Our efforts weren't needed.

Levi swiftly ducked Jarrod's blow, roundhouse-kicking him on the side of his head. I caught myself, dumbfounded at what just happened.