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“What’s in it for us though?” Connie gestured between Sasha and himself, taking a sip from his juice box. The cafeteria was chaotic with many students moving around, but Jean had managed to catch his friends before they finished eating.
“I’ll buy y'all lunch after school, please just do it.” Jean handed Sasha the letter, a white envelope with a small red sticker on it. He was nervous enough as it was, but he’d been prepared for Connie and Sasha’s antics.
“Deal!” Sasha smiled widely, examining the letter in her hand, “So you’re finally manning up? I bet Armin’s gonna be so happy.” She handed it to Connie.
“Yeah, for sure!” Connie nodded, “It's so obvious you guys have had a thing for each other since like…forever.”
“It doesn’t mean he’ll accept my feelings now,” Jean groaned, “Plus Eren is like super protective. You’d think I was trying to steal him from him.”
“Don’t overthink it, Jean,” Sasha shoved a cookie in her mouth, “Armin looks at you like you’re the stars in the sky. He’s gonna love it!”
“I hope you’re right.” Jean sighed, “Just please make sure no one sees you slip it in his locker. I want it to be a complete surprise.”
“For sure, we got it.” Connie gave him a thumbs up.
“Thank you.” Jean let his shoulders relax as he made his way out of the cafeteria, making his way to his next class. His heart was beating out of his chest in anticipation, stomach full of butterflies at the previous weekend’s memories. The event that had set in stone what he'd be doing for valentine’s day.
Confessing his true feelings to a certain blonde who had been the center of his universe for years now. Their friend group was close. They hung out all the time outside school, whether it be to study or to catch a movie, they were always together in some sort of combination.
Sasha worked in a diner with her boyfriend, where they often went after school to eat Connie worked at the movie theater. He snuck them every once in a while. Mikasa and Armin were volunteering at the local library, helping every one of them find books for school. Eren worked with his brother at his brother's car repair shop. Jean had gotten huge discounts on his truck’s issues thanks to him, despite how much they claimed they hated each other. Their senior year had been full of their anticlimactic fights.
Jean had always thought Armin was cute, but his crush started on an afternoon he and Armin were at the library together. Mikasa hadn’t gone in that day,so it was just Armin, and Jean just so happened to need to return his books.
“Hey, Jean!” Armin’s bright smile had stopped him in his tracks as he slipped the books in the return slot.
“Hey, Armin,” He waved, “Still working? It's after six already.” He raised his wrist to check his watch.
“Yeah, I know,” He leaned on the counter, making himself comfortable as he spoke, “I was just about to call my grandpa to come get me.”
“Oh, well I’m already here!” Jean said, “Why don’t I just take you home? Maybe we could get something to eat before?”
Armin looked a bit shocked at the offer, and Jean was going to ask why he’d taken on such an expression, they were friends, after all, why wouldn’t he offer him some help?
“I would actually really love that!” Armin’s eyes twinkled, “I was getting hungry.”
“Let’s get going, then.”
Jean learned a lot more about Armin that afternoon than he had ever when their entire group hung out together. It was really nice to speak about their shared interests. He’d never realized just how much they had in common. Armin was a big fan of marine biology, sharing his views on some crazy species. Jean was listening intently, asking for color descriptions and shapes so he could paint something out of them. Armin was thrilled to have received a small painting of a coral reef bursting with color only a week later.
Connie, Sasha, and Niccolo had teased him endlessly. He found it odd, since friends gifted each other things all the time. Why was it suddenly strange for him to do it?
Regardless of what anyone said to him, Jean continued visiting Armin at the library. Armin even began inviting him over more often so they could study for their shared literature class. It was nice. Over the months, they grew closer.
Fast forward to last weekend. Armin had asked him to come over so he could read over some notes for their project in their literature class. They’d gotten the work done quickly, and since it was still early, Armin had asked if he wanted to watch a movie in his room.
“What kind of movie is it?” Jean had plopped himself down on his bed.
“It’s one that Mikasa and Eren hate watching with me because I explain every little thing about it as it's happening.” Armin chuckled mischievously as he turned his laptop on, learning against his headboard, patting the spot next to him.
Jean hadn’t hesitated to take his place next to the blonde, “I don’t mind that at all. I like when you explain everything to me. It saves me from missing something.”
“You’re the best, Jean!” Armin scooted closer, smiling widely as he pulled up the movie.
Jean tensed only a bit at the contact of their shoulders, relaxing into the warmth next to him immediately. It was comfortable. Of course he realized a while ago that Armin was extremely attractive. He was so kind and nerdy, not to mention funny. Jean loved spending time with him. His heart always skipped a beat whenever those blue eyes were on him.
He listened to Armin explain the main character’s name and its correlation to the plot. His cheeks were pink in excitement, hands motioning along with his words, voice louder than the volume on the laptop. Jean‘s breath was caught in his throat when Armin suddenly leaned in close to demonstrate a character’s body language in a scene.
“He was this close,” Armin grinned widely, “And it was so intense, with the way he was breathing out.”
Jean’s eyes were wide, “He wasn’t afraid?”
“Not at all,” Armin shook his head, “In fact, I think he was into it.”
“Despite the other dude being the killer?” Jean questioned, eyes scanning every corner of Armin’s face, inevitably falling to his lips. He couldn’t help it. Armin was so undeniably alluring.
“Yes,” Armin breathed in, “Isn’t he insane?” He moved just a tiny bit closer. Jean could count his eyelashes if he wanted. He wasn’t even sure what the conversation had been about to begin with.
“Insane?” Jean couldn’t force himself to tear his gaze from the blonde’s mouth, “Maybe so.” It was like he was being pulled into the deep end.
“You really think so?” Armin glanced down, eyes flickering back up to Jean’s before tilting his head. The air was charged with electricity. Surely the shocks weren’t just going through him alone.
“Yeah…,” Jean mumbled, “Armin?” His voice was hesitant.
“Yes?” Armin’s hand found its way to his cheek, holding his face there gently. It was barely a touch, but it was enough for Jean to ask the question burning on his tongue.
“Can I kiss you?” He waited with baited breath, watching Armin’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second before they returned to normal.
“Yes.” The word was merely a breath escaping Armin’s lips.
Jean closed the gap slowly, giving Armin time to pull away if he wanted. The blonde did no such thing. His hands found themselves around Jean’s neck. It lasted all but ten seconds, with a knock at the door forcing them apart in alarm.
“Armin!” It was his grandfather, “Dinner’s ready!”
“Coming!” Armin blurted, face incredibly red as he jumped out of his bed, slamming his computer shut. Jean found himself standing too, body working to gather his things without being told.
“The movie was really good.” Jean couldn't remember what it was about as he adjusted his backpack on his back.
“Really?” Armin played with the end of his sweater, “I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I’m also happy we got all our work done!”
“Yeah, me too,” Jean agreed, “So…I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course.” Armin smiled sweetly, pink cheeks glowing beautifully with the light of the setting sun coming through the window.
They hardly had time to speak the rest of the week after that, with all the school work and unaligned schedules. Jean had been so nervous that the moment they’d shared had been the real reason behind it. The pit in his stomach wasn’t helping with the negative thoughts. Had he crossed the line? Did Armin hate him now? Was he only exchanging pleasantries to save face? No. Armin wasn’t like that at all. Maybe he was trying to figure out how to let Jean down easily. Or maybe he was just scared of what this meant for them now.
It was all a mess for his mind. Jean had no idea what to do the first couple of days after. But now, with Valentine's day being so close, he was struck with inspiration. Perhaps it had been all the decorations and whispers in the halls of people’s plans to confess to their crushes, or his heart being fed up with him keeping his feelings hidden. Regardless of the reason, Jean had decided this would be the week he let all his emotions spill to the blonde. He was tired of hiding them. He was tired of not knowing for sure how it was that Armin felt about him.
He decided shortly after that he wouldn’t be able to actually get everything off his chest if Armin was right in front of him. A letter would do the job. If he spilled his heart with a pen and paper, then slipped it into Armin’s Locker with his name at the bottom, surely that would get his point across. Then, Armin would come to him and confront him about it. The outcome of it would either be Armin admitting he felt the same…or that he didn't. That would be that and Jean would simply have to come to terms with it. Hopefully their friendship wouldn’t be affected too much.
Aw man, Jean cursed internally as he gripped his letter. He felt sick at the thought of being caught slipping it into the blonde’s locker. If that were to happen, it would lead to a whole other pile of anxieties Jean wasn’t ready to face.
So, that brought Jean to the current situation, having handed the letter to his two most trusted friends, he was on edge. He could barely focus during his last class, knowing that Connie and Sasha were probably slipping the letter into a certain blonde’s locker as he sat there. What would his reaction be upon opening it? What would he say? What if Eren and Mikasa accused him of trying to steal their best friend?
He groaned, running his hands through his hair, overthinking until the bell to dismiss everyone rang. It was time. Armin would see it. Armin would see it and know exactly where to find him. All their friends knew Jean would be in the art room after school. It wasn’t like he could get out of it either. He’d promised their teacher he’d stay to help paint some decorations for their trophy case.
“Jeez,” Jean grimaced at it all, muttering beneath his breath as he packed his bag, “I’m doomed .”
+++
“Seriously, I told you guys, they changed something in their recipe for sure!” Eren exclaimed, waving his arms to explain as he, Mikasa, and Armin made their way down the hall to their lockers. Eren was sure the diner they always went to had changed their cheeseburger recipe.
“How could you possibly tell?” Armin asked, unlocking his locker, which was sandwiched between his two best friend’s.
“It’s like they did it to taunt me.” Eren continued, “They knew that I would be the only one to notice and that no one would believe me!”
“It tasted the same to me.” Mikasa shrugged, putting her books away.
“Seriously, if it bothers you that much we could just ask Niccolo.” Armin chuckled at his friend, zipping up his bag as soon as his books he was taking home were organized inside, “So hurry up and put your stuff up so we can go.”
“Yeah, and grab a bite while we’re at it.” Mikasa smiled.
“Fine,” Eren began unlocking his locker, “You guys are gonna see I’m right-” He cut himself off when an envelope slipped out, falling to his feet. “What’s this?”
Armin felt Mikasa tense behind him. Armin was simply filled with curiosity, seeing the red heart sticker holding the envelope closed.
“A love letter?” Armin asked, suddenly realizing why Mikasa had tensed now. He knew how she felt about Eren since they were…well as far back as he could remember.
“Seems to be.” Eren’s brows furrowed as he gripped it between his fingers, “But who would possibly have any motive to do this?”
Armin shrugged, humming as an answer.
“Read it.” Mikasa’s voice was much colder than it had been just a minute ago.
Eren didn’t waste any time, starting:
Hey, I know this isn’t the most practical way for me to do this, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. I really, really like you. I’ve liked you for a good bit now. I think you’re so amazing. Your mind never ceases to amaze me. The way you handle situations. The way that you see things. It was all so mesmerizing to me. You’re so kind. Everyone should strive to be as sweet as you. Your smile really always makes my day, despite us not always seeing eye to eye when it comes to our ideas. Listening to you talk always makes my gloomy days better. I see you as a ray of sun. Everything about you leaves me speechless. I could only wish for you to return my feelings. But, of course, if you do not feel the same way I do, do not let it come between us and what we already have. I cherish our friendship more than you know. I hope we can talk about this. You know where to find me after school.
-Jean
Armin’s blood froze in his veins. His heart sank immediately. How could this be true? His eyes were wide as he stared at Eren, who reflected his expression. His best friends knew better than anyone how he felt about Jean. Now, he felt stupid and embarrassed.
“This is outrageous,” Mikasa cried, “There’s no way!”
“That asshole .” Eren’s jaw clenched, “You mean to tell me he’s been playing with Armin’s heart this whole time?”
“I can’t believe him.” Mikasa’s eyes went dark with anger as the two of them turned their attention to Armin. His hands trembled as his eyes began to sting. Every moment he’d shared with Jean replayed in his mind.
“I’m so stupid.” Armin bit his lip hard, “How could I have not seen what was happening this entire time?”
“What do you mean?” Eren asked, folding the letter back up in order to use a free hand to clutch the blonde’s shoulder.
“Jean…he’s clearly been into you this whole time. He’s only been acting like he hates you to draw attention away from his real feelings. He’s been using me to get closer to you just like how people used to when they wanted to ask Mikasa out, remember?”
“Armin…it can’t be.” Mikasa shook her head, moving in front of him to take Eren’s place, her hands lifting his face to pull his gaze away from his feet, lingering in their spots, “There must be some sort of misunderstanding.” Her gentle hands wiped the stray tears that escaped him.
“I don’t care what this is,” Eren chimed in, “He’s gonna pay for doing this to Armin.” He was seething.
There was a sense of adoration that flickered within Armin’s chest, his heart’s pain stopped for a mere moment. His friends were truly the best thing to ever happen to him. Seeing them willing to defend him and help him with everything was so grounding. Even if Jean didn’t like him like he did, he at least had them to fall back on. They would love him no matter what, and they’d make his heartbreak more bearable..
“Eren, hang on!” Mikasa’s voice reminded him of the current situation, forcing him to watch Eren bolt down the hall, letter in hand. He was headed straight toward the art room.
“ Oh no .” Armin muttered under his breath, picking his feet up to chase after his friends. This was not going to be pretty. If Eren managed to get a hold of Jean…Armin feared they’d face detention again for their antics. He wondered just how many more times they would be able to quarrel on school grounds before the punishment got more severe.
By the time Armin had caught up with them, Eren had long slammed his way into the art room to grab Jean by the collar of his shirt. Paintbrushes clattered to the floor. Luckily, Jean seemed to be the only one there. No witnesses.
“Hey!” Jean exclaimed, “You better not rip my shirt!”
“That should be the least of your worries!” Eren yelled right back, holding the letter in his other hand, “Mind explaining what this is?”
“What are you even talking about, man?” Jean’s exasperated tone helped up with the shocked look on his face, eyes shifting between Eren, Mikasa, and Armin.
“The letter.” Eren spat out, “What the hell was all that about? You think it’s funny to play with Armin’s feelings like that?”
“What?” Jean scoffed, “Why would I ever do that?”
“The letter.” Mikasa spoke up.
“Huh?” Jean’s eyes tracked themselves to the piece of paper in Eren’s hand, “Armin’s note?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Armin’s…note?”
The three of them were thrown right off guard by Jean’s words.
“What did you just say?” Eren loosened his grip on Jean’s collar.
“Armin’s note?” Jean repeated, “What about it is of any interest to you?” He fixed his shirt, glaring at the brunette before him, offendedly.
“Hang on,” Armin finally said, “What do you mean?” Jean’s gaze softened upon seeing the blonde.
“The confession letter I wrote to you,” Jean tilted his head in question, “That’s the reason Eren attacked me, isn’t it.”
“It…was for me?” Armin couldn’t believe what he was hearing, his heartbeat quickened.
Jean blushed, “Who else could it possibly be for?”
“So, it’s not for Eren?” Mikasa’s interest seemed to have peaked.
“What?” Jean’s face contorted into one of disgust, “ What ?” He repeated, “What on god’s green earth makes you think that I’d write anything remotely close directed to Eren? Haven’t my feelings for Armin been made clear by now? There’s no one else I feel the same for!”
“Oh yeah?” Eren pushed the letter into his chest, “Then why was this in my locker? You’d think you’d pay attention to where your crush’s locker is.”
“How did it end up in your locker?” Jean asked, shaking his head in confusion.
“That’s what we’re wondering.” Mikasa jumped in again, “It was in Eren’s locker, with no name on it besides yours. How were we to know?” She explained, “Your disregard for writing the receiver’s name and memorizing a simple number resulted in Armin crying. You’re a monster.”
“Crying?” Jean’s eyes widened, head snapping in the blonde’s direction as he quickly moved closer. Armin could only look to the floor in embarrassment.
“They’re exaggerating,” Armin began, “It’s all my fault. I was the one who shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I’ll admit,” He felt his face burn, “I was very upset. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Armin,” Jean breathed out, “I’m so sorry for putting you through that. I was so nervous about the whole situation, I didn’t have the guts to put the letter in your locker for fear that I might get caught and have to explain myself on the spot. So, I asked Connie and Sasha to do it for me. They must have mixed up the lockers.”
“Oh.” Armin met his eyes, “I see.”
“So this whole time we were the ones in the wrong?” Eren squinted at Jean in questioning, “I don’t know. I still don’t like you, Kirstein.”
“Right back at ya, Yeager.” Jean rolled his eyes, “But regardless of the whole thing, I’m sorry for the trouble. I would never dream of breaking Armin’s heart! I’m so serious about my feelings!”
“Wow,” Mikasa’s face slowly morphed into a smile, “I told you,” She elbowed Armin’s side, “I knew he liked you back.”
“Back?” Jean gasped. Armin gasped.
“Oops?” Mikasa covered her mouth quickly, but the glint in her eyes told Armin all he needed to know. She’s done it on purpose.
“You like me back?” Jean’s eyes glowed in excitement.
“Unfortunately.” Eren’s voice was ignored by the taller boy.
Armin nodded slowly, playing with the end of his sweater, anything to distract him from all the confrontation happening. He wished he could will himself to speak, feeling the nod not being able to bring forth all the weight of his unspoken emotions. He would have to thank Mikasa for helping him confess.
“I can’t believe it,” Jean took his hands in his own hands, “This is the best Valentine’s day ever!” He looked so happy. Had Armin been the one to do that?
“Yeah, I think so too.” Armin, despite being nervous over all the emotions running through him in that moment, found himself smiling.
“Does this mean you’re not coming home with us today?” Mikasa asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, a tiny teasing smile at play on her lips.
“Let me take him to dinner.” Jean answered for him, and Armin was glad, he knew his voice would probably crack.
“How will this be different from other times they’ve gone out to eat together?” Eren groaned, rolling his eyes in annoyance. Armin knew it was all a front. He had to make sure Jean knew he didn’t like him one bit.
“Eren.” Mikasa elbowed him in the ribs, much harder than she had done to Armin, a clear warning.
“Fine, fine!” Eren pushed himself away from her, making his way to the art room’s door, “Have him home by nine or I’ll hunt you down!”
“Ten is fine.” Mikasa winked, shoving Eren out the rest of the way as she followed close behind.
“It never ceases to amaze me just how protective they are.” Jean stated, eyes on the now shut door, “I’m surprised Mikasa didn’t try to kill me too.”
“She was in shock,” Armin explained, “You know how she feels about Eren. We all thought that…well you know. That you had feelings for him.”
“As if. He wishes.” Jean scoffed, “Armin,” his face softened as a new thought flashed across his features, “I’m sorry about it all.”
“You’ve already apologized, it’s okay.”
“No,” Jean shook his head, “I hurt you. I can’t imagine what could have been going through your head. Especially after that kiss we shared. I must have seemed like a real piece of shit.”
“Well it did hurt,” Armin frowned, feeling the lingering sting in his heart make itself known again, and even though he’d already been told the truth about the situation, “But it’s nothing we need worry about now. You were so honest about your feelings. I’m happy you did it.”
“Me too.” Jean pulled the blonde into his arms, a gentle hug full of comfort, “I promised Connie and Sasha dinner.”
“Oh, so does that mean we can’t go out?” Armin felt disappointment fester.
“They can wait.” Jean pulled away, handsome features making Armin’s heart flutter, “I just found out you like me too. There’s no way we’re not going on a date like right now.”
“Right now?” Armin chuckled nervously, “I’ve never been on a date before. This is so exciting!”
“You’re going to love it!” Jean assured him, then looking at the mess of paint brushes on the ground that had resulted from his confrontation with Eren, “First I need to clean this up or I’ll get yelled at.”
“I’ll help.” Armin held his breath as he picked some up, the quiet allowing him to reflect on the crime scene before him. Eren had really messed up Jean’s station. “I’m sorry about Eren.” Armin spoke up, guilty for having allowed his friend to attack Jean like that. He hadn’t even tried to stop him.
“I could take that guy on any day, don’t worry about it.” Jean laughed, ruffling his hair, picking up the last of the mess.
“Jean, you’re truly a kind person.” Armin replied, “Despite what a lot of people say, Mr. Bad Boy.”
“Hey!” Jean spluttered, “We’re really gonna bring that up?” They’d joked so many times about Jean’s reputation with the front he put up around school. It was always a subject that had them dying from laughter.
“Okay, Okay!” Armin giggled, “ I won’t as long as we get going now!” They made their way to his truck together, Jean’s smile beaming as Armin reached for his hand.