Chapter 4: Armin

Sasha paced back and forward. Trying to keep her thoughts in a straight line. Going through the plan over and over in her mind. Then she stopped in her tracks. Deep breath. Picked up her phone. Go through contacts. Deep sigh...and click CALL on Armin' name.

The dial was long and tense. It was killing her. She looked down to see her foot tapping and tried to stop herself until she heard the dial stop.

'Hello?'

'Armin?' She replied trying not to sound nervous.

'Oh hey, Sasha. What can I do for you?'

He seemed happy and cheerful. Is it because he's talking to me or is that how he always greets people? Maybe it's the holiday effect. Sasha pondered before snapping herself back on track.

'Well, you remember on Friday Mr. Shadis wanted to speak to me at the end of class?'

'Yeah, what happened?'

The seemingly innocent question had Sasha's blood boil upon recalling Mr. Shadis typical stern face.

'OH! What he always does best! He gave me homework!'

'The usual then?' Armin said with a hint of sarcasm.

'Oh, I hate that man! Sometimes I just want to slap the back of his bald head whenever he turns his back on me!' Sasha had to contain herself before going in full rant mode about the various torture methods she would use on Mr. Shadis if she ever got the chance.

The mathematics teacher had a reputation for being grumpy and strict, something that always had him being at odds with Sasha. By nature she was his polar opposite; cheerful and free spirited. He always talked down to her as if she was an idiot and punished her with detention and/or extra homework.

Back in the present, Sasha heard a light chuckle, that calmed her down. 'Yeah that would be funny.'

Stepping down from her Shadis rant, Sasha got back on track on why she was phoning Armin. 'So you can probably guess why I'm calling...'

She waited for a short second before timidly asking the question.

'Could you please come round and...help?'

There was a short pause on the other end.

Please say YES!

'Sure I've got nothing else on today.'

Success! But I guess he's made his mind up about the party. I'll hopefully fix that one later.

'So what about 12-ish? If that's all right with you?'

The always considerate, Mr. Arlert.

'Yeah that fine...Oh! I have ice cream too if you want some later.'

'Can't wait. See, ya!'

He hanged up on his end. She placed her phone down as she then fell backwards onto her bed. Laying there, a warm feeling was in her stomach and this time it wasn't her toast. It was the thought of Armin coming over to her house for the first time. He has never been over before. Her mind began to race over all the things she can do to impress him.

WAIT A MINUTE...

'Crap!' She said out loud to herself. She took in her familiar surroundings. The clothes pile, the empty snack wrappers and, the biggest guilty pleasure, Mr. Potato Head.

'SHIT!'

No time to think! Must clean before Armin gets here! Wait! Should I change? What does my face look like? I didn't think this through enough!

In record time, Sasha's room went from pigsty to spotless. Clothes were thrown into her wardrobe and slammed it shut, but not before she yanked her summer clothes out. Swiping wrappers into her half-full bucket she just found. Then, she placed a kiss on his head before putting her bed buddy under her bed, where he should be.

Sasha looks around the room and then sits on her bed to give herself a small rest. She gave a deep sigh and then looked into the mirror again.

Okay, Blouse. What now?

Her head turned to her summer clothes she had laying next to her. She turned to the mirror and rolled her eyes.

Clothes of course! Duh!

She wiped her normal in-door casual clothes off and then proceeded to fit her blue jeans and white summer t-shirt on within a minute. Looking at the clock and took note of that she had plenty of time left. She sat down at her desk, opposite her mirror. She went through her mind on what to do next.

What would the other girls at school do to get a boy to like them?

She began to think about Krista, then Annie and Mikasa. Those girls were prettier than her, she thought. After all they got what they yearned for.

Would would they do in my situation?

She then began to think about how they looked. Then on what their spouses would say before they were spouses. She remembered how Connie would tell her about how sick and tired he was from all the boys talking about how the girls looked.

So I've got the clothes down, but what about the look?

She looked into the mirror. Her reflection still gave her no confidence in the way she looked, then thought back to what Connie said about the boys.

She remembered in that same conversations asking her friend if any of the boys talked about her. Being an honest guy and a good friend, Connie told her that no one talked about her. It hit her very hard that she has a lot of male friends and saddened her more that no one was noticing her in a way she yearned for. To cheer her up afterwards, Connie gave her a huge bear hug and decided to have a spontaneous movie night with her at his place. He would tell her all night long that there will be someone out there that would see her for what she is. Connie was a good friend, but even he did not know of Sasha's new feelings for Armin. It was for the best, she would tell herself. But would he be mad about it if she told him, being her friend in all?

What the hell am I thinking about that for? Your a mess and he will be here soon!

Sasha placed her head in her hands to reconsider her plan, until she remembered something. She looked down under the mirror and saw the small compartment for her make-up. She opened the little table drawers gently, to find her eye-liner and lipstick.

It's very rare for Sasha to wear make-up unless it was for a fancy event like weddings or the school prom. Even then she would have Krista apply it for her as she was clueless. But this time she had to do it alone and for herself. She wanted to get Armin' attention. She wanted him to notice her in the way she yearned for.