the boy next door

Chapter 16: Goodnight Jaeger

cw: hard drugs, acid trip
ac: roredwarrior

guys i am so sorry for the wait. i've been getting help for some personal issues. hard to find time to write since this book has long chapters. only been active on tumblr recently so sorry. i hope this chap doesn't disappoint. thanks for being so patient and kind.

༻✧༺

Did I say something wrong? You thought, on the assumption that he'd debated a kiss.

Maybe he wasn't gonna do it anyway? You oscillated between possibilities. Eren had stuck his hands in his pockets and focused on Hitch approaching. You knew he could feel you studying him. You decided to discount the interaction—for it could've been your rumination distorting the truth. You were just friends... Neighbors. Wouldn't that be a disaster? Romance with the boy next door. If it all crashed and burned, it's not like you could escape him.

"Hey..." said Hitch with skittish eye contact.

"Yeah?" You took a once over of her expression, "you okay?"

She put her hands out as if to invisibly fortify herself in case things went haywire. "Don't kill me," she said, slowly pleading.

You cocked an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Fuck, okay," she rubbed her forehead, "Historia. There was drama on the beach. So a few of us dipped. I talked to her and I... Fuck, so she's at your place right now trying to sober up."

You shut your eyes and exhaled the ascending steam in your chest. You blinked slowly. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah I... I think so." Hitch glanced at the red stain on your dress and traveled her eyes up around your face, then to the faint black smudge on Eren's cheek. "Can I ask... What the hell happened?" Her light, fox-like eyebrows drew upwards.

"It's paint," said Eren.

"My next guess would've a stabbing. You look like the walking dead." She shook her head, "anyway, if you're coming back to the house, well... She's there."

Eren gave you a look, it was patient, as if he were waiting to see how you would respond to this. He seemed to have his own reaction but stalled to let you decide.

"It's whatever" you crossed your arms and picked at your skin, "I don't care what she does. I've had a good day, she will not ruin it." You looked at Hitch, a softness in your eyes, "don't worry, let's all stop by the house for a bite then head back to the beach."

You looked at Eren who had been gazing at you the whole time, his lips gently curved. His approval made you smile much wider. Hitch sighed, like she was shaking a weight from her body. "Yeah... Let's go," she said kindly, a warm breeze in her hair. She grabbed you and walked by your side, an arm across your shoulder. You leaned your head against hers and strolled together like that. Eren eyed the two of you, fondly.

"What?" you giggled.

He looked forward, grinning with his mouth closed. "Nothin."

"Liar."

"How was the park?" asked Hitch.

"Eren taught me how to skate."

"Oooo Erennnn, you taught her how to skate?" she teased.

He sucked his teeth, bashfully, an almost boyish innocence that defied his sardonic image. "She's a little psycho, she wanted to try everything."

"He has no faith in me."

"You don't give me a reason to."

"Do you hear this?" you said jokingly, "he's so rude."

Hitch nodded. "He doesn't know how to talk to girls."