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“Fuck no, four eyes, Jesus Christ, we're not going to someone's dumbass college party. I got a lot better shit to do.”
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“ Levi, you gotta get out more, come on! Plus, there's someone I want to introduce you to! I promise you, if you go tonight, I won't ask you to go anywhere else with us for a whole month! “
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“ Just give in, Levi, come on. They already managed to get me in. I know you finished up your exam, so it couldn't be better timing. I think just getting out and decompressing is a good thing every once in a while.” Erwin was right behind them with his rebuttal; he actually enjoyed the nights he could go out and just be with his friends.
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“Christ, if I say I'll go, will you all just shut up about it?! “
“ I KNEW IT! My nagging always works! We're gonna have a blast, my guys, and you're drinking tonight, that's part of the deal, okay?!”
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“ Whatever, dumbass, just get out!”
.
That whole day, you'd been dragging your feet. You were sort of excited just for the opportunity to go out and do some drinking, but you were also completely dreading it. Seeing Hange again, maybe even Erwin. You weren't even sure what had happened to you the night you'd met Erwin. Was he the one who pulled you out of
the river?
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You remembered Hange saying that they had gone to the same school together. Dear lord, this could be a painfully uncomfortable night. At least there was the chance to get drunk enough to forget, yeah, at least there was that. You settle your groans and face toward the clock.
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About an hour and a half till you have to go. You grab your makeup bag off your makeshift nightstand and head to the public restroom around the corner. You wondered if maybe someday you'd be able to have a place to prepare yourself in solitude and comfortability. It didn't matter right now. After dabbing the excess water that surrounded the bathroom counter with a thin paper towel, you set your overfilled makeup bag down and start prepping your face.
You finish up your makeup, gather your things, and make your way back to your room. You could see the clock inching closer to the time you had to leave, so you got changed as fast as you could.
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You were wearing a black skirt that went about halfway down your thighs, black fishnets underneath, a dark green tank top, and black boots. You wrap your warmest coat around your shoulders and start searching for the closest taxi company to call. It would be a bit too far to walk. You reach into your bag and pull out a small rectangular carton that has a red stripe wrapped around the box, and reads “ Garrisons “. You lift up the edge and reach in. You flick your lighter and sigh as you inhale the smoke from your cigarette. There was nothing that existed in this world like the tarnished air of a cigarette to calm your nerves. You pull up Sasha's contact on your phone and press call. Two rings in, and they accept.
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“ Hey V, you're still coming tonight, right? Let me know when you're there, and we can meet up.” Sasha chirps on the other end of the phone
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“Yeah, I'll be there just checking to make sure you would too, and don't ditch me tonight, I don't really know anyone else, okay?”
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“Didn't you say Hange invited you? How did you say you know them anyhow?”
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“ I don't really, we met super briefly around the plaza the other day and exchanged numbers. They asked me to come, and I figured since you'd be there, I'd stay for a few.”
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“Gotcha, sounds like Hange, they're always super bubbly with everyone they meet. Plus, I wanted to introduce you guys anyhow, so it works out for the best! Don't worry, V, we're gonna get drunk and have a blast! I gotta go, Niccolo’s waiting in the car, see you soon, babe!”
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You tap your cigarette against a small ceramic ashtray and head out to your cab.
.
“ I don't want to do this stupid thing. Hange and Erwin are always dragging me places. Lord knows what happened the last time we went out for a fun fucked evening. At least I could likely do my best to hide away from the crowds of drunken idiots and germ-filled makeout sessions. Erwin was right, I did finish my exams, but I'd still rather be home studying than doing this. Besides all the obvious reasons why this night would suck ass, it was cold as shit as well. “ These thoughts ran through Levi's brain as he threw on his leather jacket and headed out the door with his friends.
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“ Oi foureyes, I’m only staying for an hour, then I'm leaving. As I said, I got better shit to do. “
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“ Fine, fine my bitter guy, but you gotta meet my friend, have a few drinks, and grace us with your presence first, mmkay? “
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“ Whatever…” he quips with his hands in his pockets and a dramatic eyeroll
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You meet Sasha and Niccolo at the entrance and go up to Mikasa's floor together.
Levi had gone to the restroom, leaving Hange and Erwin on the floor with the crowd. There was music playing, not loud enough to not be able to hear yourself, but enough to create a fun vibe. There was alcohol displayed around every corner, on the tables, in people's hands, and bottles even on the floor. And it seemed there were plenty of cliques forming throughout. Lots of shouting, intermingled with a sea of chatter.
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Hange spots you from across the room with Sasha and Niccollo
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“ V!!!!! HI, YOU MADE IT! HI SASHA, HI NICCOLO!!!!” They throw their arms around the three of you, and you can't help but chuckle.
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Hange was just as warm and welcoming as the first time you'd met. Something about their smile made you feel at ease. They were the type of person who made you feel like they actually wanted to be around you.
“ Hi, Hange, it's so good to see you!” you chirp.
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“Come on, come on, meet my friends V, Erwin, and Levi are here too somewhere, and Sasha, I have those notes you wanted from lab, remind me before you leave tonight… come on, let's grab some drinks.”
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The four of you find your way to a set of five small couches that were set up sort of in a circular order, so you were all facing each other. You sat on the end of the couch next to Hange, next to Hange on the other side, sat Sasha and Niccolo on the other end. Before sitting down, you had quickly made yourself a vodka cranberry in a red plastic cup.
“ Mikasa, Eren! Come meet my friend V, V, this is Mikasa and her boyfriend Eren… this is Armin and his girlfriend Annie, that’s Ymir and her girlfriend Historia. Oh, and Jeans over there, we also have Connie and Marco. It's ok if you don't remember all the names just yet, hun.. Also, Erwin and Levi should be here somewhere. I'm not sure where they went, probably out smoking somewhere.”
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You were glad that Hange added that last part about not needing to remember everybody's name, because if you were being honest with yourself, that felt like an impossible task, especially if there would be drinking involved.
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“ Is Levi still smoking that weird ass cigarette brand that they only sell in the city? They taste nasty, he's such a strange guy…” Mikasa says as she takes a swig of her beer. She was sitting on the couch right across from you, next to Eren, with her legs draped over Eren's lap. You thought that Mikasa was beautiful, with her black hair and gothic style.
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“Ew, I know that brand is disgusting, Levi's so weird for that, he needs a tea flavored cigarette or something, then maybe he'd be in a better mood, ha!!” Eren jokes with a hard chuckle. Eren wore jeans and a large grey t-shirt, and he seemed kind and like he and Mikasa were pretty close.
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“ Are you kidding? If he had tea-flavored cigarettes, he would never stop smoking; he'd be going through six packs a day !!! “ Hange remarks
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“ Levi… sounds familiar, but I definitely can't place him. And Hange talks about him like we've met… but I know we haven't. Maybe they just weren't thinking too deeply about it…” You were thinking of yourself while the group argued over Levi's habit of smoking a strange brand of cigarettes.
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You feel your phone buzz in your pocket, and you decide not to pay it any mind.
“ Hey, Hange, settle this debate for us, don't you think Historia would look cute with glasses?!!” Ymir quips from the couch to your left. She has her arm wrapped over Historia's shoulders…
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“ Shut up, I would not! Plus, I don't need them; I can keep using my contacts.” Historia had a soft voice, and she dressed herself like she was very well put together. She wore loose jeans, a spaghetti-strap white tank top, and a light green, cropped, knitted cardigan. She had an elegant vibe about her.
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“ Yes, my beautiful queen, but I'm just saying you don't always need them, and I know you hate sticking them in your eyes, and plus, glasses would totally suit you!”
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“ Historia, you don't think glasses are uncool now, do you?? I totally rock mine, don't ya think! “ Hange yells out, trying to settle the debate.
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Your phone buzzes again. You ignore it. It buzzes again.
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You pull your phone out and look at the screen before shoving it back to your side. Your heart almost ripped right out of your chest and landed right on the coffee table for a moment. It was like time had stopped while you read the message. You chug down the rest of your drink and go for another. You excuse yourself and take your fresh drink outside, your whole body is desperate for a smoke.
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When you got outside, snow was falling and already piling up on the ground. It was cold but certainly not unbearable. There was one other person already outside. He had black hair that looked properly conditioned and an undercut that you thought suited him. He must have heard the doors open because he was glaring at you with his steel grey eyes. He wasn't very tall, but you could tell he was quite fit, even at a distance. As you walk closer, you start to notice his expression change. For a very quick second, so fast you almost didn't notice, he looked… surprised, confused, and maybe even a little shocked at the sight of your face before he snapped his head back around and exhaled the smoke that sat in his lungs.
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You go about your business and start to dig through your purse. You pull out your carton and realize it's empty. It had never felt lighter in your hands until this very moment.
“ Shit, fuck, shit,” you mutter your curses a bit too loudly and realize you were overheard. You decide to suck it up and walk over to the handsome ( not to mention, unapproachable-looking) man in hopes of his generosity.
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“ Um, excuse me.. Any chance I could bum a smoke?”
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“ Yeah, sure… why not?”
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He pulls out his carton from his pocket, and it looks eerily familiar. The white box, red stripe that wrapped all the way around, and words that read “ Garrisons. “
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“ Wow, I thought I was the only person in the world who smoked that brand…” you quip
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“ Guess I'm just loyal to their rarity,” he grumbles, seemingly nowhere in the mood to have further conversation.
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Your phone buzzes. You take your lit cigarette and inhale deeply. Smoking always felt better when you were a little tipsy anyhow… the man threw his cig into the tray a few feet away from you both, and pulled open the door and walked back in. You exhale, smooth and sharply. Open up the messages multiplying on your screen and stare. Your heartbeat was speeding up rapidly, and you took another swig of your drink.
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You were feeling increasingly uncomfortable and felt slightly grateful you weren't at home, left to stew in your anxiety all alone. You can't believe your luck that you left home without your smokes.
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