If Only... (Eremin)

Parties and Problems

"Wanna go meet Bertholdt and Reiner then?" Eren asked. "I've talked a bit with Reiner, he seems cool."
Armin smiled, "Why not?"

The two boys maneuvered their way to the living room, where Reiner, Bertholdt and some other kids were. They seemed to be playing a drinking game, they had the news on and whenever certain words were said a kid would groan and take a swig of beer.

"Hey Armin, Eren!" Connie said, standing up from the couch, his drink sloshing as he did so.
"Sit down Connie. And take a drink, they just said 'naked' again." Reiner said, in a deep voice that was laced with amusement.
Connie cracked up and took a drink, plopping back down onto the couch.

"You two wanna join?" Reiner asked, raising a brow. Bertholdt smiled warmly from beside him.
"Sure." Eren replied, taking a beer bottle that Bertholdt handed him.
Armin however, hesitated a bit.
"If you don't want to, it's fine." Eren said gently, his beautiful green and gold eyes softening.
"No, it's okay." Armin smiled and took the remaining beer bottle.

"Okay, okay! Eren, your word is 'suspect' and Armin's is 'injured'." Sasha said with a goofy grin. "First one to finish their bottle loses! Or should they win?" Sasha said more to herself than anyone else.

The first to finish their bottle was a tall freckled girl named Ymir. She whooped in celebration and went off to get more alcohol as her short blonde friend who seemed really close to her hurried after her worriedly.

Reiner, who was the second closest to finishing let out a loud burp and grinned. Connie laughed so hard he cried and Armin stifled giggles. Bertholdt pulled a face, "Reiner! That was grossssss!" He said, drawing out the word, his dark eyes sparkling.
"Whatever, you know you love it." Reiner said, shrugging.
Bertholdt smiled and Reiner pulled him into a kiss.

Armin looked away flustered and hoped Eren didn't notice. Armin put aside his beer, he didn't want to drink anymore. Eren made small talk with him, Connie, and Sasha as he continued to drink. When he had downed his bottle he grabbed Armin's and finished it off as well, his cheeks were flushed pink, Armin guessed from the alcohol.

Bertholdt suggested truth or dare and they all agreed on it, but it ended up as a game of dare or dare. Connie had to try to give Bertholdt a piggyback ride, which ended up with two laughing boys on the floor and lots of bruises.
Reiner had to do the macarena and the chicken dance to a Taylor Swift song with a straight face and Bertholdt just about peed himself.
Armin had to let Sasha do his hair, which soon became a tangled mess of drunken braids.
Eren was dared to do an impression of someone else which resulted in a slightly offended Sasha and a Connie who almost passed out from laughing.

"Armin! You have to sisit in Eren's lap!" Sasha said, her words slurring a bit. Armin clambered onto Eren's lap, his cheeks bright pink. Eren prayed silently that he didn't get a boner while drunk and with Armin on his lap.
Nobody noticed, or at least said anything when while Bertholdt tried to do a handstand, Eren wrapped his arms around Armin's waist and stayed like that for the rest of the game.

The sun had already crept behind the horizon long ago and the party was still in full swing. The music blasted and drinks were still being passed out, disappearing down the throats of teenagers who were high on life. And possibly drugs too, one was never too sure.

Armin excused himself from the partying and opened the back door, walking out into the humid night. Eren followed right behind him, a little wobbly as he walked. Cicadas and crickets chirped and buzzed and hummed their own songs. Armin found a small bench beside a rose bush that was willing with the heat.
Eren sidled up beside him and the two were quiet.

Armin looked up at the billions of twinkling stars that they could see from their small town. The porch light dimly illuminated the boy's faces and fireflies lit up brightly among the night sky, as if they were trying to talk to the stars.

"Armin I-" Eren broke the silence, Armin turned to look at him. His eyes were like pools of gold, brighter than the fireflies and the stars as Armin looked into them. Eren struggled with his words, slurring them fidgeting restlessly.

"I really enjoyed tonight Armin." Eren looked up at the moon, which wasn't quite full yet and had an almost ghostly glow.
"Yeah, me too. It isn't over though." Armin replied, smiling. Eren was cute when he was drunk.

Armin looked away again to watch as the fireflies twinkled and dipped and twirled.
"No, Armin. Listen, I-" Eren continued, feeling a bit frustrated. Whether it was from the alcohol he could not tell.

Armin felt a hand on his shoulder and a warm hand grabbed his chin gently, turning his face so that he was looking straight into those passionate golden eyes that stared back intently.
"Eren?" Armin's voice was barely above a whisper.

Eren's hand slid up from Armin's chin to cup his cheek. Before Armin had even a moment to think, Eren was kissing him

Eren was kissing him.

And kissing him and kissing him and Armin kissed back. Eren reeked of alcohol but Armin didn't care. Eren's lips were slightly chapped but Armin liked the way they felt against his. Eren's other hand slid to Armin's waist and he pulled Armin closer, Armin wrapped his arms around Eren's neck.

Armin melted into the kiss, feeling like Eren's lips made him more intoxicated than any drink ever could. Finally Eren pulled away and the two boys gasped for air. Eren looked into Armin's eyes and suddenly Armin felt his stomach churn and panic rise in his chest.

"No, no!" Armin felt himself begin to tremble.
"T-this, this is wrong! You're drunk and I-" Armin laughed, even though there was nothing funny about this.
"You don't even know who I am."

Armin got up from the bench and took a few steps back, trembling.
"I'm going."
Eren reached out and grabbed Armin's wrist. "Armin, wait!"
Armin struggled out of Eren's grip.
"I'm going." He repeated and left Eren alone on the bench, a hurt and confused expression on his face as the fireflies danced around him.

Armin was almost out the door when Mikasa grabbed his shoulder.
"You okay Armin?" She asked, a little concerned. "Where's Eren?"

Armin nodded. "I'm fine." He lied. "I just feel a little sick, I'm going to go home and rest. I think Eren wandered off."

Before Mikasa could say another word he slammed the door behind him and ran and ran and ran.
Away from the party, away from Mikasa, away from alcohol and music, away from Eren.

He ran and ran until he got home. He walked inside quietly, his grandpa was asleep. He dragged his feet to his room and sat on his bed, hugging his knees to his chest and staring at his closet door, feeling numb.

Down the street he heard faint music. It wasn't from the party, no, this music was bittersweet. Armin's face crumpled and tears welled up, spilling over his lashes.

He sobbed, staring at his closet door and listening to a nameless song. He sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.