ƝƠƬ MƳ ƤƦƠƁԼЄM (ERERI/COMPLETED)

ℂℍ𝟙

OK ok, I know. I'm stupid and an idiot and cruel. . .I know I disappeared for like a year, but I is back now! Pls, forgive me, peoples. 😷

Oof we are staring this with a sad bOI, but it wont be sad for long!

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Eren's POV

My stomach was in knots as I begged my mom to let me stay out longer. Our call had already lasted ten minutes, which, to her, was ten minutes too long. I tried making promises and deals that were not to her liking.

"Be home on time, and that's that!" She quipped through the phone, instantly hanging up.

I stood at the neighborhood entrance next to the welcome sign looking down the road for any sign of Levi, my bully. He would always ride around on his bike, patrolling for weak prey to hunt. Every day when I come into contact with him, he pins me against the wall and beats the living daylights out of me. I've been running out of lies to tell my parents to brush it off.

"We played football in gym."

I don't have gym class this semester.

"I was pushed down the stairs in hallway traffic."

That's too typical, even for me.

"My friends and I were playing mercy."

I've used that about fifteen times.

I didn't want my parents to know about Levi because I knew they would blow it out of proportion; we're talking court. Plus, Levi's big brother, Erwin, would go ballistic and shoot me. It was only for two more years; then, I could blow that town, but two years of bruises and theft might've killed me before I could've made it that far.

I took one long deep breath and looked once again. Thankfully, Levi was nowhere to be seen on the dead-end road. Taking long swift strides on the sidewalk, I moved, gripping my backpack straps nervously. I kept my head down, not daring to make possible eye contact with Levi if he appeared in front of me. I made that mistake once, and it cost me a bloody nose and an empty wallet.

I became hopeful as my house came into view, but a threatening grip on the collar of my shirt slammed me to the ground in a small dark alleyway between two houses. I crash to the ground, landing on my right shoulder roughly. I already knew who it was before they even spoke.

"Where do you think you're going, brat?" Levi gibed, crossing his arms in from of him.

I was cornered between the raven and three concrete walls. He wanted me to be hopeful just to have it all crumble down. I pulled myself on my hands and knees only to be squared right in the center of my stomach. I collided into the ground, clutching my aching torso as I found my breath again. At least he was bruising me where my parents won't see.

"I asked you a question," he growled. "You know better than to ignore me."

I coughed twice and clutched my chest to croak out, "I'm going home, Levi. What do you want?"

He chuckled lowly as he stooped down beside me, balancing his extra weight on his hand. I didn't look at him, even when his cold stare burned into my side brains. I stayed on the ground, not only because I was in too much pain to stand, but I didn't want to risk another strike to the gut.

"I saw your blonde boy-toy give you a five today." The raven-haired boy informed. "Fork it over."

"I used it to buy lunch. I don't have it anymore."

The bully reached out and tangled his fingers in my hair. He suddenly stood, yanking me off the pavement and against a wall. My arm was pushed between my shoulder blades, nearly popping it out of it joint. Levi held it there with one hand and used the other to slam my head into the wall. The cement scratched against my right cheek vigorously as I tried to pry myself from the abusive hold.

Levi may have been shorter, but he was one of the strongest people I knew. His strength was as demonic as his kindness. I held back frustrated tears that stung my eyes, remembering the cruelty the raven would give me for being so weak.

"Don't give me that BS." He monotoned. "You didn't eat lunch today."

"H-How," I struggled to speak, "did you know?"

The boy hesitated as if I caught him off guard. I was honestly confused about how he knew I skipped eating that day, seeing as we had different lunch periods. He hauled me back and threw me into the wall, this time not pinning me against it as before. He stood there, staring at me angrily.

"I just know, alright?" He exploded. "Got any more annoying questions, brat?"

I knew the question was rhetorical, but I just had to ask, "Levi, why do you hate me?"

He scoffed, turning away, "I don't hate you, idiot!"

I furrowed my brow and continued, "But you beat me every day and take everything I have. I've had to cover up injuries from my parents."

He snickered, "Not my problem."

With that, he took off down the street in the opposite direction of my house. I brushed my hair back with my hand as I sighed in relief that I got off easy compared to Levi's usual procedure. I shuffled out of the alley, using the wall for support to stand. I reached the opening and looked down the sidewalk, watching the boy saunter down the street until he disappeared. I steadied my balance before starting in the opposite direction. I finally reached my front door, straightened my hair, and headed inside.

I dropped my bag on the foyer floor and called out, "I'm home!"

My mom replied from the kitchen, "How was school?"

"Fine!"

I snuck up the stairs to quickly change my clothes before my mother saw the dirt covering them. As I closed my bedroom door behind me, I slid down and pulled my knees to my chest that still pounded painfully. Tears trickled down my face, starting with only a few into a full sob, but I held my breath as not to let it echo downstairs.

I felt my right cheek sting with every drop that ran over them. I raised my arm and lightly ran my fingertips over the scratched skin. My voice hicked and whimpered unevenly with my crying. I felt worthless laying under Levi's flower, too afraid to even look him in the eyes. I was letting him do this to me and have been since freshman year when he moved in a few houses down. Thanks to my fear, my home wasn't safe anymore.