Missing you ~ Ereri

Ch. 2

~Levi's POV~

I was brushing my teeth when I heard the doorbell ring. I tried to ignore it but I felt bad so I answered the door anyway. I walked to the door to open it and was greeted by the back of a man who seemed to be walking away.

"Oi, brat. What do you want." I asked and he seemed slightly startled but turned back around nonetheless.

He introduced himself as one of the new neighbors. I didn't quite catch his name. I admit it. I was definitely checking him out. He shook my hand, I noticed a red string hanging from his right pinky finger. My red string was hanging from my left pinky.

He had this gorgeous sun-kissed skin, he was tall, and his eyes were just beautiful. His muscles were basically glistening. His one eye was a golden honey color and the other a turquoise blue. There was only one other person who I've met with eyes this beautiful, but that was a long time ago.

He sent me a cheeky smile and I zoned back into what he was saying.

"-here's my number, call me if you need anything. Like an emergency or something. Or just to talk, I really don't mind." He seemed nervous but it was absolutely adorable. I took the paper and we said our goodbyes. I closed my door quickly as I gushed at how hot he was.

After I finished I walked over to my storage room down the hallway and found an old box I had kept from when I was younger. I brought it out to the living room and took a seat on my comfy dark blue couch. I slowly opened the lid and took out a pile of photos that had been held together with a rubber band.

I saw old photos from when I was a kid with Farlan and Isabel my childhood best friends. That wasn't what I was looking for though. I used to babysit a young boy. His name was Eren. His eyes had the same gold honey and blue as the man that was standing before me about 10 minutes ago.

Eventually, I found the picture I was looking for.

The little boy's mother had taken it. Carla was a very sweet woman. Her hand no longer containing a string

The picture included the two of us baking cookies. I was rolling the cookie dough into little balls while he was laughing with a chef hat on as he was midway through throwing a fistful of flour at my face. I was 16 and he was 12. I remember him begging his mom to let me stay later so we could finish the cookies. We underestimated the amount of time we had until she got home.

She was a housemaid. She cleaned other people's houses for money. Eren's father was never home. If I remember correctly, his dad was a doctor that always went on business trips. I didn't know much about him.

I babysat him until he was 14 and I was 18. We had fun. The money I got from babysitting him, I saved up and was able to move out of my uncle's house. They saved my life. I loved watching Eren. He was always kind and smiling no matter what was happening. I remember one night his father came home and he was hit by his father. I was told I would get hurt if I told anyone, but Eren still smiled through the tears. He would say that everything would be okay. I helped him cover it up for school in the morning, and when he got home we would play video games or just talk. He was an amazing kid.

I missed him, but I would never admit that out loud.

I leaned my head back on the couch cushion and sighed. The guy at the door really reminded me of him. I should send him a text.

Why though. I can't just text him out of nowhere. Ugh. Why is everything so difficult. I just have to find some type of reason. I'll call Bushy Brows. He will know what to do.

ring ring ring

"Hey, I need your help."

"What could you need help with so late at night?"

I didn't even notice the time.

"Uh, well there's this good looking guy that just moved in 2 houses down and he gave me his number. I don't know what to say to him" I felt ashamed that I had to ask for help, but what was I supposed to do? I've never liked a guy before. I've never liked anyone. I just focused on staying alive and my cafe.

"Be right there." He said quickly and hung up the phone.

About 20 minutes later I heard my door open and keys being set down on my kitchen counter.

"Stop forgetting to lock your door." I heard Erwin say as he walked in. His string trailing behind him. He's connected to my other friend Hanji. She probably stayed home with their baby Sonny.

He sat down on the chair next to me and rested his chin in his hands with a goofy smile.

"So who is it?" He asked and I remembered that I don't know.

"About that. I don't know. He lives two houses down and he's very good looking. I have a feeling that I used to know him, but I could be very wrong." I explained and he perked up.

"You think you might know him?" He asked and I picked up the picture of us from when we were younger.

"The guy I just met has the same eyes. His hair is about the same too, but I haven't seen him since I was 18. I doubt it." He sat in silence for a minute thinking of what to say.

"What's something you like about him?"

"His eyes, muscles, skin, hair, smile, voice. Everything." I explained.

He sighed in thought once more.

"I don't know, maybe this isn't the right time. I have shipments coming tomorrow to the shop. I need to get there early to haul everything in because ever since Reiner quit I haven't had his help in carrying the heavy loads. I'm not nearly strong enough to do that myself, but I have to. Maybe I shouldn't get caught up in a guy I just met. It's not the time." I sighed and put my head in my hands.

"That's it, Levi!" Erwin stood up quickly.

I looked over at him, startled from the sudden movement. He hit his hand against his palm with his eyes wide.

"You have a reason to text him and you can get to know him. Text him and ask him for his help tomorrow morning. You need the help unloading the boxes and you aren't nearly strong enough to do it all yourself. He has muscles. You said it yourself. And don't you dare say that shit. You haven't ever taken a break for yourself. You need this." He exclaimed and I stared at him wide-eyed.

"No," I said plainly, why would I pressure him into helping me.

"Too bad." He said as he snatched my phone off of the coffee table. I tried to reach for it but sadly he got there before me. I snatched the slip of paper with his number off the table as well and added his contact.

I tried to get my phone but he kept it away at all costs and I wasn't tall enough to reach my phone from where he was holding it. I saw him typing to him and I didn't know how to stop him, so I just accepted it.

I might as well just suffer the consequences.

I sat down and admitted defeat. A moment later he handed me back my phone.

I sighed at the name he put for the new guy

*Hot Neighbor*

Hey, this is Levi from down the street. I know this is sort of sudden, but I own a small cafe downtown and one of my employees quit last week. He helped me with unloading heavy boxes from the stock truck. I'm not that strong and have a lot of trouble bringing them inside the shop would you mind helping me out? Maybe in return, I could show you around town when the morning manager comes in?

It wasn't bad and I don't hate it. Time to wait for his response...