Believer ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 5: Golden Waves

"Working on a new drawing?" Bertolt asked as he brought me my order.

I glanced up at him and nodded, "Yeah. Figured I'd work on somethin' new. Ya know?"

"I suppose," he smiled, "but I was enjoying your doe piece. Did you finish it?"

I thought back to the project I had been working tirelessly on. Nala. She had been the doe I had seen the night. I recalled how majestic she was. She had been so docile when she approached the photographer. It had truly captivated me. I mean, a deer...a wild deer had allowed a man to touch her. She didn't resist. It had been amazing. But, thinking back to how I tried to capture that gentle passiveness only frustrated me...because I couldn't.

I breathed in a hefty breath and sighed, "Actually, no. I was really struggling with it, so I decided to take a break from it."

He nodded, "I see. Well, I hope eventually return to it so I can see the finished product."

"You'll be one of the first to see it once it's done," I smiled.

"Good," he beamed. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," I giggled.

He turned and made for his leave, returning to the cash register. The café was booming that day, so he didn't have time to chat too long with me. His focus was to be on the many customers who were ready to order.

So, I just returned to my picture. I was working on a piece that was inspired by Professor Ackerman. Despite the man intimidating the hell out of me, he had been an excellent model with incredible features. I wasn't drawing him precisely, but I saw no harm in using a few of his assets. I mean, even I knew a good body when I saw one. I was recluse, not blind.

I was working on the bicep of the man I was drawing when I heard someone clear their throat. "Y/N? Hey...can I join ya?"

I froze, anxiety washing over me. That voice...I know that voice...I know I do. Hesitantly, I glanced up, my eyes colliding with a warm set of ocean blue orbs. My breath hitched as my heart sank. Kellen.

A warm smile lifted the corners of his lips as he pointed at the empty seat next to me, repeating, "May I join you?"

I swallowed, numbly nodding, "U-uh...s-sure."

He grinned and pulled out the chair, sliding into it. He set his backpack on the ground. It felt awkward to have him there. I mean, we never hung out back when we had class together, so I didn't understand why it was different then. The weeks following our hookup we hadn't seen each other either, until the day after I got my results...that also being the day I blurted out my negative pregnancy results. So, why was he there?

Sure, I ran out after my big mouth blurted the news, but that should have only given him more reason to live his life his way. It didn't explain why he was there. There was nothing whatsoever linking us to each other. Meaning neither of us needed to remain in the other's life. At least, that was what I had believed.

He finished arranging himself and took a sip of his drink, the smile on his lips reminding me of how I had felt that night when we ran into each other. I remembered how flushed I had become and how I enjoyed his company. That moment of bliss felt like a lifetime away, though it had only been almost a month. Still, seeing that smile warmed me in a way.

As I admired him, he turned to me and smirked, "So, how are you?"

I cleared my throat and stuttered, "O-oh, ya know...I'm fine. H-how are you?"

He took another swig of his beverage and shrugged, "Ya know...fine." He paused, bring those mesmerizing eyes to me and smiled, "I'm actually happy I ran into you. I was hoping I could talk to you."

A pit formed in my stomach as my mouth went dry. I dropped my gaze, fidgeting with my pencil. I was nervous about what he had to say. There was no telling what he'd say to me. It could have ranged anywhere from 'so, I wanna get you to know better' to 'about what you said...' and I was terrified. There was no telling what he'd say.

I mustered up what courage I could and swallowed, "O-oh? About w-what?"

He fidgeted with his cup and sighed, "Well, you took off the other day before I had a chance to really ask any questions or talk to ya, so I was hoping we could do that now."

Damn it. I plastered a phony smile on my lips and beamed, "I see...w-what questions do you have?"

"Well, let's start with the obvious," he breathed. "You're sure you're not...ya know...pregnant, right?"

That was what I had been dreading. That conversation. It could have been completely avoided had I not allowed my big mouth to run. Had I just said a simple 'hello', then we wouldn't have been in that situation. If only I had been wiser and stronger. If only.

I brought my gaze back to his and nodded, "Yes. I'm one hundred percent certain." I flashed him a cheesy grin and chuckled, "So no worries. No baby here."

He chuckled lightly, "That's relieving." He perked up, waving his hands defensively. "Not that I think it'd be horrible if you were, it's just...well, I don't know you that well. Ya know?"

I giggled, "Don't worry. I get what you're saying." I dropped my hands into my lap and smiled, "So, no need to fret."

He scanned me, his warm eyes soaking me in. Though, I could only tell he was doing so because I was doing the same. My gaze searched him, taking anything that was him. The way the artificial light danced across his honey locks, the shadows taking residency on his features. Despite the awkward conversation we had, I still couldn't take my eyes off him.

He breathed in a hardy breath just then and dropped his gaze to his cup before bringing it back to me and asked, "I know that this may seem...well, pretty random and backwards, but I've been wanting to ask you for a while."

I knitted my brows. "Ask me what?"

He licked his lips and continued, "Would you...would you like to go out with me sometime?"

**Bello my lovelies! I won't lie...it took me forever to type this chapter. I struggled with it quite a bit. But, here it is! I hope y'all liked it. What would you say to Kellen? Yay or nay? Anyway, thank you oh so much for reading! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross    

P.S. "Boombayah" by BLACKPINK. I have no idea why I picked this song, but I heard them say "oppa" and I was like "yes...yes this will work nicely" lol. Some Blackpink for y'all. <3