Chapter Thirty- Nine

Naked

The dress I put on looked great and I was soon helping Armin with his problem, I had everything set up the way he wanted it to at the very end of the trail. He had gifted her a bunch of things and while I was waiting with him he was growing nervous. 

     "What if she says no," Armin groaned. 

     "She won't." I snorted. "If anyone wants to marry you straight ahead it'd be here." 

He turned to me with widened eyes and it made me giggle even more, "She wants to marry me?" 

     "Armin I was talking figuratively," I explained. "Sure in the future she would, there's no doubt she would marry you- Everything at its own time though, you guys are still young so just enjoy yourselves."

     "I'm in love with her," Armin admitted and looked at the ground sheepishly. 

     "I know," I smirked. "Since you were kids."

     "What?" Armin scoffed and crossed his arms. "No."

     "Yes," I raised my eyebrow at him and punched his shoulder. "Yes, you were."

     "It's-" His cheeks were flushed. "It wasn't like that, I didn't know."

     "You both were so oblivious I remember the way you talked about each other like you guys were the only ones in the world." I described their relationship from when they were younger and reminded him how close they used to be and their separation once they joined the boot camp and then the scouts. I don't know much about what happened and I won't ask because that's their own business but now that they're together it doesn't matter. 

They have each other. 

     "She's coming!" Eren and Mikasa yelled at us, I walked more to the side to give Armin more space.

I hope she likes the dress I made for her.

     "Hey," I said and set the large square box on the table. "I told you, you didn't have to pay me back remember? As long as you and Armin figure it out." 

Her eyes widened as she recalled the past words I'd said to her, she smiled at me as I handed her the box which contained the dress.

I let her have her moment with Armin as I just stood and watched them, they looked so happy. I was envious of them honestly but I was soon starting my own happiness so I didn't feel so worried.

     "Thank you, Athena." She turned to look at me. "Thank you for everything."

     "Don't even mention it, I'm glad you get to find happiness in this corrupted world." I chuckled. "Now, we have to get to the ball!"

     "Yeah! I've been waiting to see my girlfriend for the past hour, let's go people!" Ymir warned as she walked up the steps.

     "I'm starving!" Sasha ran up the stairs with Niccolo.

I helped her with some of the gifts Armin gave her and I was shocked to see Levi appear out of nowhere, "Hey."

     "Hi?" I questioned as we started walking back, he held her box and walked next to me calmly.

     "You didn't tell me you'd be here," He grumbled.

     "I didn't think it was that late, I'm sorry." I frowned. "You know, they're going to start questioning us."

     "Best to let them know later, now is not the time." He replied. 

He didn't want others to know we were together, it made me sad thinking he was embarrassed of me. But I didn't want to press him on for more, this is good and if this is how much he can take for right now then I'm fine. 

It's okay, I can wait. 

     "I'll meet you guys at the ball," Levi handed Natalia the box and walked away, he was so weird but I guess he didn't want others seeing us together like this with no excuse.

     "Are you fine?" Armin asked waiting in the halls with me. 

Natalia was changing into her dress I suppose and I was waiting for the right time to pop in at the ball, I was ready and Levi didn't even spare a minute to look at me. I was hoping to at least get a compliment but I got nothing. 

     "Yeah," I sighed crossing my arms. "Boy trouble."

     "You have boy trouble?" Armin gasped.

     "Yes," I groaned. "But it's fine-"

     "Tell me!" Armin pressed on and got closer to me filled with excitement. "I've never seen you with anyone! Who is it!"

     "Armin-"

     The door opened and revealed Natalia, Armin's head whipped to her so fast I thought he'd hurt his neck. It was my cue to finally leave, I hope they finally get some peace. I placed my mask on before entering the ballroom and I began walking around trying to find Levi. I wasn't able to see him and there were more people than I had imagined at the ball, it really got packed. 

And then I saw him. 

"A.L" I whispered under my breath, as soon as I noticed him I knew he noticed me. 

I recognize his mask. His stupid mask.

     I turned around with my heart basically pounding out of my chest, I sure as well may have died because I could tell he was walking towards me. I couldn't face him, I had so many feelings buried deep at the bottom of my heart that I didn't want to bring out. 

I was starting something with Levi now. 

Fuck, I'm confused my feelings are so confused.

I started walking out of the ballroom and into the empty halls, well- Almost empty. There were people going to the bathroom this time and a few just sitting on the floor and chatting. 

I didn't dare look back, I hope I lost him in the pool of people. Where the fuck was Levi? I needed him more than ever right now and I felt like I was back at square one. 

I found a nice balcony with no one roaming around it, I turned around and felt my heart almost come out of my chest in fear.

     "Hey," A.L. was right behind me and walked closer to me. 

     "No," I glared at him. "You don't get to hey me at all!"

     "Listen-" He started but I quickly interrupted.

     "You left me alone at the ball! I will not be hearing you out."

     "Please!"

     "No, I think I've been pretty disappointed at the men in my life but one, and that goes towards my own brother." I rolled my eyes.

     "Athena." My name rolled off his tongue as he had known me my whole life.

What the fuck.

How did he know my name?

He knows who I am?

How does he know?

How does he know who I am yet I have no clue who he is?