"Kirschtein, Principal Dot wants to see you." Mr. Smith spoke. Jean swallowed the lump in his throat as his brow started to sweat.
"Right, uh should I bring my bag?"
"I don't know, get out." The physics teacher was growing more and more annoyed with him every second he didn't leave the classroom. Jean wasn't going to suffer from missing the class but if he was in trouble the soccer team would suffer. The longer Jean took to leave the classroom, the longer it would be before , Coach Erwin would know if the team was in danger of being able to defend their state champion title.
The team was just coming off of a 5-1 win for the Southern Group 4 title the previous Friday. The Division playoffs were cake work but the state playoffs were another obstacle. If the team was to have any chance winning the first playoff game, they needed Jean to pull it off. The State Championship win last year was a hard fought battle last year even with Levi Ackerman, another soccer phenom and Jean's co-captain. Now that Levi was off at Princeton, the team was reliant on Jean.
Jean clicked his pen erratically as he walked down the hallway to the other side of the school. "I haven't gotten in any fights, I've stayed away from Yeager, what the hell could I have-" Oh. He was failing English, by that standard he shouldn't have been allowed on the team anymore.
If Principal Dot told him he was off the team his heart would break. Soccer was his only love in life, he had known he wanted to be a professional since he scored his first goal in micro minis and his dad lifted him up on his shoulders after the game, cheering for him in German.
They were reading some stupid book that Jean didn't have time for in English. He had a job and he had soccer, he couldn't be bothered with the book. He had soccer practice for Trost after school, he had tournaments for the Nobels (his travel team) every weekend and practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and work every other day.
He wanted to play in the World Cup, he wanted to wear the colors of his father's country and help his team to the cup. He had eyes on him from leading the team to championships with Levi, imagine how many people will be looking at him if he does it again this year.
But of course his lack of effort in his senior year this early on would throw a wrench in his dreams.
He opened the office door with sweaty hands, there was a kid sitting next to the door to the principals office that looked more nervous than he did. He had Calculus with him last year, Armin was his name. He was friends with Yeager but was still nice to him regarless of his friends feelings, he wondered why a nice kid like that was down here.
"Hey Jean, Principal Dot is ready for you." Gunther told him.
"Thanks, say hey to your girlfriend for me okay. Jean said to Gunther before turning to the blonde kid, "Relax, it can't be anything bad right?" He smiled at Armin and then walked into the principals office.
"Jean Kirschstein! How are you son?" he paused for a second but not enough time to actually let Jean answer him, "As you know, I am a fan of soccer"
"Yes sir, I am aware." He remembered, a little to clearly perhaps, the sight of the principal running around like a lunatic in outdated soccer shorts from the 80's that were too small for wearing after they had beaten Wall Prep for the State title.
"No formalities son, it's just Pixus to the best and brightest of this school!" he said standing from his seat and posing with his hands on his hips.
"...Right, well principal Pixus-"
"Just Pixus" he interrupted, sitting back down.
"...Pixus, not to be rude but you pulled me out of Coach's class and he's kind of freaking out about whether or not I'm in trouble.
"Okay boy, the thing is that you are failing a class, a class you need to pass to graduate more importantly. Now I know it's only the 1st marking period and you have time to pull it together, you are still ineligible to be playing a sport for this school."
Jean felt like he was burning ups from the inside, all his hard work, all the money he spent on gear and playing for the Nobels, wasted. His dream, his dad's dream gone. He wasn't a cry baby but, hell he wanted to break down.
"The thing is though, the team is riding on you for this state title, and the better we do the more students will be trying to get in through our school choice program and the more revenue we will get, I'm willing to make exceptions for you."
Jean felt like a boulder had been lifted off of his chest. He couldn't believe life was cutting him a break for once. "Are you serious?"
"Yes son, looking at your previous grades as well, this just isn't you. The pressure of being the sole captain this year must be intense trying to live up to the amazing feats you and the Ackerman boy pulled last year. I've spoken with Mrs. Bodt and she's willing to raise your grade past a failure but you have to make up your assignments you failed to do immediately. My boy you got very lucky that she is your teacher."
"Oh my god, really?
"Yes but seeing as Mrs. Bodt says you have been sleeping in her class and flat out not paying attention, she's requested you get a tutor in order for this deal to go through."
"Anything, anyone! I'd let Yeager tutor me if it meant I could still play!" Jean was frantic, ready to go back to class and tell Coach he was fine to play. Armin sitting outside made some sense to him now, he assumed that Armin would be who they selected to tutor him.
"Good deal!" Pixus shouted, he pressed a button on his phone that signaled Gunthers phone to ring, "Send Mr. Arlert in please!"
Shortly after he walked into the office, seeming surprised to sit there with Jean, he probably assumed it had something to do with Eren and Jean's consistent yelling matches.
"Armin Arlert! How are you son?" he said as Armin sat down, once again giving no time for Armin to respond to him before he began talking again, "You are familiar with Mr. Kirschtein yes?"
"Yes I am."
"Good, good. So since Jean has instructed me to get straight to the point, he is failing English and is unable to play soccer while having a failing grade." Jean sunk into his chair, "But since the team is riding Jean to victory..."
"Sir, please don't say it like that." Jean said at the innuendo, Armin suppressed a giggle.
"As you wish Jean, anyway it is a risk for our success in playoffs if he is not playing, so I have made a deal with Mrs. Bodt to get him a tutor to catch him up on the class. I would like it if you would be the one to help him out."
"Yes sir, when do we start?"
"Today after school no if's, and's, or but's about it. Jean tell the boy what book you are reading for class."
"Honestly sir, I have no idea. But I'm gonna have to tell coach that I'm going to be missing practices ASAP."
Pixus sent Jean Back to Coach Erwin's class and sent Armin along with him since he was only in a study hall. They walked into the small AP class who were doing busy work while Coach eyed Jean and Armin.
"So, I'm failing English and technically can't play but, Principal Dot got Mrs. Bodt the raise my grade to a 65 until I make up my work. But she'll only do it if I agree to have a tutor after school, so I'll be missing some practice."
Erwin's forehead vein decreased in size but it still remained on his face. "Alright dumbass, I'll leave you the keys so you can get back onto the field to practice but lock it back up when you're done you hear?"
"Yes Coach." Jean answered, "I'll give you a full report of everything I do when I'm practicing." Erwin nodded and wrote Armin a pass back to class as Jean thanked him and sat back down to finish his worksheet.
"So what was it, huh? You were gone for a long while, ya get in trouble?" Eren asked Armin.
"No, I just need to tutor someone." a deep blush came across Armin's face.
"Who is it that's givin' you the hots?" Eren said nudging his elbow into Armin's chest.
"Eren stop it!"
"Okay, okay, okay. So who's the lucky guy?" Eren, Mikasa, and Armin's Grandpa were the only people who Armin was out to, that still didn't stop people from making fun of him and calling him 'faggot' and other rude terms such as that. That was one of the reasons he had been so fond of Jean, he never fed into the bullying and he was an all around good guy, the only reason Eren had a problem with him was because he told Mikasa she was pretty. That and Eren had a knack for getting into fights, he was kicked out of St. Maria's Prep for getting into too many fights.
"Jean Kirschstein."
"Jean! Jean? Horseface? Sarah Jessica Parker!" Eren yelled as people looked at him like he was crazy, "You have a thing for him? Really?" he said at a whisper this time.
"I'm not dealing with this right now Eren." Jean was the most popular kid in school, over half the people that went to Trost had a crush on him for one reason or another, and yes Armin was one of them
The bell signaling for 8th period's end rang and both boys headed for the main office.
"Hey Armin."
"Hi Jean."
"I need to go to the locker room, it'll only take me about 5 minutes." Jean smiled as he opened the door for Armin.
"Okay, thanks."
"I should be the one thanking you, if you said no my dream to be a pro footb-uh soccer player would be dead."
"Actually, if I said no they probably would have made someone else do it, you're too valuable to the team."
"Wow. Thanks Armin, that means a lot." Jean said feeling good about himself, so he ruffled Armin's hair. If Armin had anything to learn it was that he was a very touchy person.
"I'll be right out." Jean said to him disappearing behind the locker room door.
"What do we have here?" Armin heard a boy say.
"A little gay boy, probably trying to figure out how he should peep on us."
"Please stop, I'm not doing anything." Armin pleaded.
"Not yet you weren't. I think we should teach Fag Boy here a lesson." The boy said pounding his fist into his hand.