Special thank you to my lovely friend Ghazi for revising and co-writing this chapter, as well as motivating me when the last thing I wanted to do was write!

Enjoy!

Four Months Before Prom…

"Dear Annie Leonhardt,

"After careful consideration of your portfolio and your application, we regret to inform you that The Sina Institute of the Fine Arts is unable to admit you at this time. This year's application pool was the strongest it's ever been and, while your portfolio displayed impeccable talent and your GPA met our standards, we were unable to admit every worthy applicant.

"We appreciate you expressing interest in our institution and we encourage you, if you haven't made your final choice about your higher education, to reapply next fall. We look forward to hearing from you again and we wish you the best of luck in your educational endeavors.

"Sincerely,

"President Moblit Berner."

Annie scanned and rescanned the email several times, each passing word striking another blow to her heart. She breathed out slowly, trying to steady her quivering lip. No. She wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in her history class.

It's not like I wanted to go to college anyway, Annie thought bitterly, knowing deep within her heart that that was the furthest thing from the truth.

She trashed the email and turned off her phone, resting her head on her desk. Reiner, who sat beside her, leaned over and nudged her. He gave her a questioning look and she shook her head subtly. He frowned and opened his mouth to speak when their teacher, Ms. Brzenska, called him out.

"Mr. Braun," she began, "do you have something to share with the class?"

Reiner hesitated before smirking in her direction. "Just that you're the most wonderful teacher in this entire high school."

The class erupted into soft laughter and Ms. Brzenska narrowed her eyes at his comment before shaking her head. "Quit brown-nosing. And Miss Leonhardt, sit up!" Annie slowly obliged, shooting their teacher a dirty look in the process. Ms. Brzenska muttered something about there only being five more months left before heaving a heavy sigh and returning to their lecture.

As class concluded and Annie began making her way towards Biology, Reiner pulled her aside in the hallway.

"Hey," he said quickly and quietly. "Annie, what's up? You looked really upset back there."

Annie shrugged. "I wasn't upset. I'm tired."

Reiner frowned. "Stop trying to be tough and just tell me. What happened? Did someone text you? Was it Mikasa? Do I need to kick some ass?"

"Unless you want to assault the president of the Sina Institute of Fine Arts, then don't bother."

Reiner's face contorted in confusion before the realization of what had been causing Annie so much heartache struck. "Oh man, Annie…"

Annie shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You know I never wanted to go to college anyway."

Reiner shrugged. "Well, yeah. But you said it yourself. The Sina Institute of Fine Arts wasn't just a college. It was an opportunity for you to live out your dreams. We all know how desperately you wanted to go."

Annie sighed before turning away from Reiner. She ignored his saddened call for her to return, clenching her fist and continuing to bite back the tears.

After situating herself in her biology class, Annie was joined shortly by Armin, beaming excitedly. As he sat down and offered a cheery greeting, Annie felt compelled to pry and discover the source of his happiness.

"What's with the smile?" she asked stoically.

He laughed, the sound piercing Annie's heart. It was so pure, like tinkling bells dancing in an early spring's breeze. Even his laugh is heavenly, Annie thought, her sadness fading momentarily.

"I got my acceptance letter to Fortuna," he said. Annie's eyes widened.

"Fortuna?" she asked, almost in disbelief. Fortuna University was a highly prestigious academy of learning. The acceptance rates were rather low, but the graduates produced were often highly respectable scholars. And as fate would allow it, Fortuna was also several thousand miles away from their hometown, meaning that after graduation, the likelihood of Annie ever seeing Armin again was low. Very low. She swallowed heavily and nodded in his direction. "Congratulations."

"Thank you!" Armin said quickly. "Have you heard back from Sina?"

Annie nodded. "Yeah. Uh...They couldn't accept me. But that's okay. It gives me a year off to continue improving my talents and my chances to get in next year."

Armin frowned slightly, his eyes scanning over her countenance. "I'm so sorry. You seemed really excited to attend there in the fall."

"It's okay," Annie sighed. "It just wasn't meant to be right now." Nothing ever seems like it was meant to be, she thought bitterly.

"I'm sure you'll get in next year!" Armin assured with a shy smile. "You're very smart, Annie! It'd be a shame if they didn't accept you!" She smiled, despite feeling that he only said those things to be nice. Why else would he have expressed how smart he thought she was?

"Yeah," Annie responded, her voice trailing off. "Maybe."

…

One Month After Prom…

The auditorium was filled to the brim with beaming parents and antsy teenagers. Principal Nile Dawke stood at a podium, proclaiming his admiration for the graduating classes and expressing his desires for their successful futures.

Annie sat squished between Bertholdt and Reiner, both sighing and trying to keep themselves occupied by playing with their tassels and shifting uncomfortably. Annie's eyes darted around, analyzing the sea of students amidst her, before settling on the stage, where a certain blond genius sat, a sash wrapping around his shoulders, accompanying a golden cord that signified his high standing intellectual-wise. Armin looked so proud and powerful on that stage. To think that several years prior to this moment, he was nothing but a cowering child being beaten for his harmless interests.

Annie hoped wherever Kent and his cronies were now, they knew of Armin's achievements and that their tormenting never worked. Armin survived. And she would too. Even if it tore up her heart.

Principal Dawke closed his statements by addressing Armin's status as valedictorian, gesturing for him to take his place at the podium and deliver his speech. Armin stood and approached, grasping their principal's hand and shaking it firmly, before stepping before the podium. He took a deep and steady breath.

"Before I get into the formalities of this speech," Armin began with a shy smile. "I want to thank the staff and faculty of Reconnaissance High School. I have never before interacted with such a dedicated group of adults, focused entirely on the success of their students. It has been an honor to partake in many of your classes. I'd also like to thank the Jaeger's. As many of you know, my grandfather, Abraham Arlert, passed away last month. He was my primary caretaker for most of my life, and when he died, it was the Jaegers who immediately swept in and allowed me to live with them. Without their kindness and hospitality, I don't think I would have had the courage to continue and stand where I am today.

"As we celebrate several years of academic achievements, I wish to remind you all of what truly matters. While maintaining a good GPA and receiving the best test scores are important, they're temporary. What matters most is the goodness in all of your hearts and what you choose to do with it. Some will hide it away, ashamed of appearing soft-hearted. Others will give away some, but never reap the full rewards of living a life dedicated to the betterment of other lives. Then there are those who share everything they've got. This is what we should all do.

"I also wish to remind you that while this may be the last time many of us see each other again, it's imperative to remember those who touched your lives. Even as I depart this fall to attend Fortuna University thousands of miles away, I will never forget the kind things you all have done to me and to others. And as I venture off into a new land, I will try to spread that kindness. I urge you all to do the same.

"I don't want to drag this out any longer than it should be. We're all excited to get our diplomas and be done with this chapter of our lives. So I'll leave you with one last note: never miss out on an opportunity to love."

Annie's heart fluttered for a moment, consumed by fear that he was potentially directing this comment towards her, despite how ridiculous that may have been.

"I did once," Armin began slowly, "and I regret it every day. But I know I'll never do that again. And I urge you all to avoid my mistake.

"Congratulations and good luck!"

Armin's speech moved most of the audience to pounce upon their feet, clapping excitedly. He flashed another timid smile before retreating back to his seat. Principal Dawke returned to the podium, motioning for everyone to silence themselves.

"He sure knows a way with words, huh?" Bertholdt asked Annie quietly and she nodded.

"It's Armin," she said softly, "what did you expect?"

…

The warm sunlight welcomed the graduates as they burst forth from the auditorium and out to their waiting family members. Annie immediately sought out her father, who was locked in a casual conversation with Ms. Hoover. When she caught sight of Annie, Ms. Hoover marched forward and pulled her into a hug. Bertholdt and Reiner soon followed, combining to form a massive horde of affection, filled with congratulations and thank yous.

As they disbanded, Ms. Hoover sighed happily. "I'm so proud of you three!" she exclaimed and Mr. Leonhardt nodded firmly, gently patting the backs of Annie's friends. "Reiner, your mother and father would have been so happy to see you today."

Reiner smirked, placing his hands on his hips. "I'm sure they got a kick out of me using a joy buzzer on Dawke." Ms. Hoover giggled in response, pulling Reiner into another hug. The single mother with a heart of pure gold had adopted Reiner shortly after his parents were killed in a tragic car accident in the eighth grade. And knowing Reiner's parents, Annie knew that if they were watching the ceremony from a "better place", then they were probably cackling with joy when Principal Dawke yelped after being zapped by Reiner.

The four continued to talk and Annie's attention began drifting elsewhere, settling upon Armin as he broke away from Carla Jaeger's tight embrace. Grisha Jaeger squeezed his shoulder, probably applauding him for his beautiful speech and both Mikasa and Eren, standing beside their parents, nodded eagerly. Annie frowned momentarily before turning to her father, holding out her diploma. "Can you hold this?" she asked quickly. Mr. Leonhardt gave her a quizzical look but slowly took the small binder. Annie thanked him quickly and moved towards Armin and his family.

"Arlert," she called suddenly. The boy startled from his current interactions and glanced in her direction. A calm smile spread across his lips and he approached her, asking his family to excuse him.

As he strode closer, Annie felt her face redden. He was so charming, like a sunflower stretching in the early summer warmth. Everything about him, the way his eyes sparkled when he first saw her to his arms wrapping around her in a friendly hug, made her feel at ease. And also sorrowful. Because she knew, deep in her heart, that this would possibly be her last interaction with the boy. He would be departing for Fortuna within a matter of weeks to get an early start on adapting to his new life. A life without Annie.

"You did really well with your speech," Annie commented as they broke from their hug. She offered him a shy smile and he grinned back.

"Thank you so much, Annie," he said. He gestured towards her appearance. "And you look really beautiful today."

"You do too," Annie blurted and then shook her head. "Handsome, I mean. Not beautiful…" She unleashed a nervous chuckle and Armin laughed.

"Have you decided what you're going to do this summer?" he asked and she shrugged casually.

"My father and I are probably going to go to Paris for a month or so to visit family," she said quietly and Armin's expression brightened.

"Paris is so beautiful! You'll promise to send me pictures, right?" he asked, his voice light and cheerful.

Annie shifted and shrugged once more. "I would if I had your contact information."

Armin raised an eyebrow. "I've never given you my number?" he asked and Annie shook her head slowly, suddenly realizing what she had done and what he was about to do. He dug into his pockets and pulled out a small notebook and a pen. Annie gave him a questioning look and he chuckled. "You never know when inspiration is going to hit," he said with a playful wink. He scribbled a series of numbers on one of the blank sheets and tore it from the notebook, handing it to her. "There. Now we'll stay in contact!"

Annie hesitantly removed the paper from his grasp and read the number to herself. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Thank you."

Armin smiled down at her, momentarily glancing upwards and laughing. "I would ask you if you wanted to come to dinner with us, but it looks like you've already got a posse waiting for you." He gestured past her and to her bumbling group of friends.

Reiner made kissy faces towards Annie and dramatically flopped into Bertholdt's arms, causing the much taller gentleman to stumble backward, knocking into his mother. Ms. Hoover let out a howl of laughter and Mr. Leonhardt shook his head, displaying a similar emotion of disappointment and embarrassment that Annie was feeling.

"Idiots," she muttered and turned back to Armin. "I'm sorry about them."

Armin laughed. "No, it's fine. They're quite...Charming, aren't they."

Annie sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. "You don't know the half of it."

The Jaegers soon joined them, Grisha firmly gripping Armin's shoulder and nodding towards Annie. "I hate to break up this reunion but our reservation is in thirty minutes and we still have quite a ways to drive," he said.

"Right," Armin said, nodding towards Dr. Jaeger and turning back to Annie. "Hey, I'll see you soon, alright?"

Annie lifted her hand to wave as the Jaegers and Armin began making their way to the parking lot. Then, something struck her mind: a final plan to spend one last evening with Armin. "Uh, hey, when are you leaving to visit Fortuna?" she asked suddenly. Armin stopped and faced her. "We're leaving on Sunday, why?"

Annie nodded slowly. "I'll text you," she said quickly. "Goodbye Armin. And it was nice to meet you all."

The Jaegers departed and Annie returned to her own family. Before they could question her interaction with Armin, she reared her fist and slammed it against Reiner's bicep. He yelped in pain and Mr. Leonhardt covered his mouth to prevent a laugh from escaping.

"You're an asshole," Annie growled and Reiner frowned, running his hand along his throbbing arm.

"What did I do?" he exclaimed. Annie rolled her eyes at his sudden cluelessness.

"You know very well what you did," Annie muttered darkly.

Ms. Hoover unleashed another laugh before grasping Reiner's shoulders. "Alright, alright. Before you two tear each other apart, we should probably head out."

Mr. Leonhardt nodded. "I just got a text from Mayor Reiss," he informed. "He said our reservation time has been changed. If we want to make it on time, I suggest we leave now."

"Fine," Reiner grumbled, gently shrugging Ms. Hoover's hold off of him, "but I call shotgun." He darted towards the parking lot and Bertholdt frowned.

"But Reiner! You had it on the way up here!" he followed behind his friend and Ms. Hoover sighed heavily turning to Annie.

"At least we have one graduate who's acting her age," she said and Annie shrugged before kicking off her shoes and picking them up.

"Not if I beat you to it, Braun!" she called and fell in pursuit of her friends, causing Ms. Hoover to groan and Mr. Leonhardt to chuckle softly.

…

Annie stood outside of the Jaeger house, anxiously checking her phone and the front door. She was sure Mrs. Jaeger must have seen her waiting and desperately hoped Armin would pick up the pace before she was confronted and asked to come inside for dinner. She opened her messenger app and scrolled through their earlier texts that led to this late night meeting.

Thursday 9:38 PM

Annie: Hey, remember when we skipped out on prom? You said you wanted to show me something and I told you I had to get back to the dance? Well, I'm ready to see, if you still want to show me that is.

Armin: Really? :D Okay! I've still got some packing to do, but I have time Saturday night. Come to the Jaeger's house around 8:30. I'm so excited! :)

Annie: Sounds like a plan.

Saturday 8:25 PM

Annie: I'm here a little early, I hope that's okay.

Armin: Not a problem! I'm just finishing up dinner. You're more than welcome to join us! Dr. Jaeger got caught up at his office and there's an extra plate.

Annie: I had dinner with my father earlier, so I'm good. I'll just wait out here. No problem.

Armin: You sure?

Annie: Yes.

Armin: Okay. :) Give me five more minutes. I still have to grab something before we go.

Annie glanced up at her phone's clock and heaved a frustrated sigh. He wrote that ten minutes ago. She glanced back towards the house and noticed the blinds shut quickly. Probably Mrs. Jaeger checking on her once more. Or perhaps Mikasa trying to figure out what Annie could have possibly wanted with their friend.

The front door opened, spilling light onto the porch that was quickly shadowed by Armin stepping over the threshold. He turned back to assure Mrs. Jaeger that he'd be back soon and not to wait up for him. He shut the door and bounded towards Annie, smiling widely and cradling a heavy box.

"Hey Annie," he greeted cheerfully. "You ready to go?"

Annie nodded and he directed her towards his car. Lightly straining with the box in his arms, he struggled to open Annie's door, refusing her offer to help. After she sat in the passenger he gently handed her the box. "Can you hold this? My telescope is in there and I'm afraid if I put it in the back, it'll move around too much and break."

"Sure," Annie said and smiled as he shut her door. A telescope, huh? So that's what he wanted to do: show me the stars. Armin really is something special.

With a quiet jazz melody drifting in the background, the two graduates slowly left the city and traveled to a more secluded area of Trost. Farmlands stretched for miles, accompanying the barren road. Above them, stars began twinkling weakly in the darkening sky. Annie peered out of the car window, enjoying the calm silence between the two.

"You know," Armin began, his voice no louder than the humming of his car's engine. "I was surprised when you actually texted me about wanting to come here. What finally convinced you?"

Annie swallowed heavily and took her eyes off the stars and moved them back into the interior of Armin's pristine car. "I kept thinking about it after the dance," she replied honestly, running her fingers along the box's edges. "And I figured since you were leaving to Fortuna and we're all going to be going our own ways...Now's a better time than any."

Armin nodded. "I see." He anxiously tapped the steering wheel. "That's so weird to think about...How I'll probably never see you again after tonight."

Annie blushed and turned back towards the window, though this time she couldn't bring herself to admire the countryside before her. "Yeah. So weird."

"Funny how you can know someone for pretty much your whole life," Armin continued, "and then suddenly it's over. You part ways and...Well, you know."

"Way to kill the mood, Arlert," Annie muttered, half-jokingly and the blond boy laughed lightly.

"I'm sorry, but that's all I've been thinking about these past few days, you know? I love being in Trost so much and I'm horrified to leave and be surrounded by new people. You know, the Jaegers offered to move with me."

"Are they going to?" Annie pried and Armin shook his head.

"No. I couldn't uproot them like that. Dr. Jaeger is doing so well here and Eren already got accepted into Shiganshina University. And you know how Mikasa is with Eren."

"She's like that with you too, you know," Annie said quietly. "Both of them. I've never seen so much love for a friend before. Hell, I've known Bertholdt and Reiner for my entire life and I don't think I love them nearly as much as Eren and Mikasa love you."

Armin smiled and Annie noticed him blushing. "They're incredible. I don't think I can imagine my life without them." He stopped. "But what makes you say that?"

Annie began fidgeting, silently wishing she hadn't said anything. The last thing she wanted to do was dig up a potentially painful memory. "You know when I accidentally punched you in the sixth grade?"

Armin blurted out laughing, causing Annie to jump and shoot him a curious look. "How could I forget?"

Annie attempted a weak laugh. "Well, the day after, Eren and Mikasa confronted me. This was before you arrived at school. They...Uh...Told me to stop associating with you. And Eren got really mad. Not like how he used to get when he'd lose to me in a soccer game, but the way he got when those bullies would pick on you."

"The ol' stare-o-death, huh?" Armin asked and Annie nodded.

"I was actually pretty scared," she continued. "Because I knew that they wouldn't hesitate to beat me up. They were both ready to take the fall for you and absolutely destroy me."

Armin laughed once more, but this time it was a little sadder. "No wonder you ran away so quickly when I came by. I'm sorry they threatened you like that."

Annie shrugged. "It's fine. It just showed how much they were willing to sacrifice for you. They're good people."

They fell silent once more, continuing to creep upon the quiet road. It was nearly five minutes when someone spoke again.

"I think we're here," Armin said quietly as he pulled into a desolate parking lot, leading into a massive park, filled with rusted playground equipment, yellowing grass, and a large hill reaching towards the heavens. He shut his car off and got out, running over to Annie's side to open her door. Taking the box from her lap, he stepped aside and Annie exited the car. She looked around them, noticing the lack of streetlamps and civilization. If she didn't trust and love Armin so much, she would've thought that he brought her out here to stealthily dispose of her body. Why he found such enjoyment from almost nothing, she couldn't understand.

"Follow me," Armin said quickly and began marching towards the hill. Annie followed silently, wrapping her arms around herself and wishing she had brought her hoodie with her as a soft breeze danced in between her and Armin. A crescent moon dimly illuminated the deep purple sky, guiding the couple to the top of the hill. As soon as they reached their destination, both panting lightly, Armin stopped to look around. "I love it up here!" he told her as she joined his side.

"How long have you been coming here?" Annie asked and Armin pondered this.

"Since I was really little. Like when my parents were still around. Of course, back then people actually came to this park. There used to be a little town near here, but business was so bad that everything was shut down and demolished. The only thing that was left was this park. Now I just come here to observe the stars and be alone with nature."

"Sounds like a great place for a date, huh?" Annie asked and Armin chuckled.

"Is that what you consider this outing?" he asked and Annie's face flared.

"Uh...N-no." He laughed again.

"I'm teasing," he assured and knelt down to retrieve his telescope. As he set it up, Annie looked northward, imagining what this town had looked like. She could see little shops and modest houses. Her gaze drifted towards the park, picturing the families that would spend their afternoons there. Little kids swinging and urging their parents to push them higher. Older boys and girls perched atop the monkey bars, gently swinging their feet. Babies being guided down the slides and children weaving in and out of the play structure, laughing wildly.

But she couldn't see a younger Armin down there. No, instead she looked towards him as he messed with his telescope, visualizing a much younger Armin sitting before his mother and father, watching them set up the contraption like they had done a thousand times before. His parents, both blurry figures to Annie's mind, slowly talked to him about the wonders of the world, filling his brain with infinite possibilities. She could see Armin, though still too young to fully grasp his parents' musings, grin and fall in love with the nature around him.

The daydream faded and Annie was back on the hilltop, watching Armin secure the telescope and peer into it. "Annie, come here," he said quickly, his voice lined with quiet excitement. She slowly approached and he stepped aside. "Look." She lowered herself and looked through the lens. She focused on the enlarged stars before her but frowned.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" she asked.

"You see that golden orb with a ring around it?" Armin asked and Annie studied the stars more before locating it.

"Whoa is that…?"

"Saturn" Armin finished, his voice light with a grin. "Yeah. Isn't it beautiful? You read about it in textbooks all the time, but once you see it, it becomes real."

Annie pulled away. "That's amazing. Are there any other planets out tonight?"

Armin nodded and Annie stepped aside, allowing him to reach the telescope. He repositioned it slowly and then stepped aside, allowing Annie to continue looking through the lens.

"Which one am I looking at?" she asked.

"Mars: the red one," he said. Annie located the planet and breathed out with awe. "Amazing, right?" he continued and she nodded. She pulled back from the telescope and turned to Armin, accidentally bumping into him, realizing how close he had gotten, probably trying to catch a glimpse of Earth's neighbor as well. He apologized quietly and stepped back.

Annie shifted uncomfortably. "A-are there any more planets?"

Armin shook his head. "Well, there are. They're just harder to see where we're at." Suddenly, he reached over and gripped her hand. "Come here." He brought her further away from the telescope and sat down on the dying grass. She followed him as he fell back and gazed at the stars.

They let the silence embrace them. Slowly Armin raised his hand and ran his finger along the sky, tracing the constellations. "My grandpa used to make up stories about the constellations for me," he said. "After my parents left, I used to have these awful nightmares about being alone and surrounded by these giant monsters. It got so bad that I didn't sleep for a week. So my grandpa told me that the big bear and dragon in the sky would take care of me."

"Aww," Annie sighed with a smile. "That's actually really sweet. Did it work?"

Armin laughed. "No. I was more terrified of the killer predators in the sky that knew where I was."

Annie let out a laugh, placing her hand over her mouth. Armin smiled and faced her. "You have a really pretty laugh, Annie."

Annie stopped laughing but couldn't bring herself to look away from Armin. "You think so?"

Armin nodded. "Yeah…" He sighed, before shaking his head and laughing lowly. "Did I ever tell you that I had a massive crush on you?" Annie raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. When we were in the first grade. After you defended me from those jerks, I thought you were the most amazing person to grace the presence of the earth. I remember telling my grandpa I wanted to marry you."

Annie couldn't stop the laugh that escaped once more from her lips. "You're kidding!"

Armin shook his head, grinning widely. "Not in the slightest. I was so in love. It was rather silly, really, but nice at the same time."

Silence, once more, permeated their conversation. While Annie appeared calm and stoic on the outside, she was internally freaking out. Armin loved me? She thought quickly and then paused. Loved...Past tense. She cleared her throat. "Um. When did you stop feeling that way?"

Armin pondered this question as if it were a complex calculus equation. "You know...I don't think I ever did stop loving you."

Her breath hitched and heartbeat quickened. He's kidding, right? "Y-you never stopped?" she asked cautiously.

"Nope," he responded. He broke out into another laugh temporary relieving them from the tension that gripped both of their hearts. "I'm sorry, I made this so awkward. I don't know what compelled me to spill my feelings like that."

He loves me, Annie thought. Loves. Armin Arlert just said he loves me. She sat up suddenly, continuing to give Armin a puzzled look. Her mind was overloaded with emotion. It felt as if she weren't even control of her own body. When he sat up, following her to ask if she was okay, she lurched forward, pressing her lips against his. Startled by this sudden action, Armin gasped lightly. Annie feared she had moved too quickly and cursed her heart for manipulating her. Armin, however, didn't pull away. He kissed back, bringing his hand up to her cheek, cupping it gently. And for a moment, they stayed like that. Not succumbing to fear of rejection. Just kissing. And oh, how Annie's heart sung.

All too soon, though, Armin pulled away. She opened her eyes slowly, greeted by his gentle expression. He brushed his thumb along her cheek before dropping his hand to grab hers.

"Guess the feeling is mutual?" he asked shyly.

Annie smirked, feeling the weight of embarrassment and fear slide from her shoulders. "You're such a dork," she said and pulled him in for another kiss, feeling years of desires and emotion flooding out of her in a wave of passion and pure love. And while she knew that tomorrow would bring their departure, her mind recalled a phrase the boy had recited in his moving valedictorian speech to keep her from stopping. Never miss out on an opportunity to love.

After a silent but incredible moment, she pulled back and reached into her pocket. Slowly, she removed a stone: his stone. Their stone. She grabbed his hand and opened it, gently placing the pebble in his palm. He looked at it quizzically before his blue eyes bounced back to her own.

"What's this for?" he asked softly.

"When you leave to Fortuna," Annie said. "You gave it to me to help me be brave. And now since you're moving to a brand new place, I want you to take it with you. It'll help you be brave too."

His gaze fell back on the stone and he rotated it in his fingers before smiling. "After all of these years, you kept it?"

"Of course," she said, reflecting upon the mere seconds before when the two had finally joined together. "It's lucky."

Armin looked back up at her, his eyes flashing with a realization. He shook his head and placed the stone back in her palm. "I want you to keep it," he said, closing her fingers around it. "Knowing you've kept it all these years is enough for me."

At first, she wanted to argue. She was trying to be nice and give up something that meant the world to her, and he kindly rejected. But soon, it hit her. He didn't take it because he knew how much it meant to me, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and smiled, holding the pebble close.

Words failed the two, but they didn't mind. The teens fell back onto the grass, Armin pulling Annie close to him. As the night grew colder and the stars grew brighter, he held onto her and continued to talk about the galaxies hidden in the sky. And she listened, her face pressed against his chest, listening to his stories and his soft heartbeat. For the first time in such a long time, Annie was not afraid to be around him. To admit her feelings. She never wanted this moment to end.

But of course, as all good things do, their outing came to an end.

Around midnight, Armin and Annie made their way back to Armin's car. He placed his telescope on the hood of his car and faced Annie, reaching to grab her hands. Annie gave him a somber smile, before averting his gaze and staring at the ground.

"I wish we had more time," she said and Armin nodded. Annie laughed shortly and shook her head. "Part of me wants to ask you to stay." She looked up to capture his sad smile.

"Part of me wants that too," he said quietly.

"But I could never ask you to give up on your dreams," Annie continued quickly. "I know how much this opportunity means to you and I'd feel even more awful if you stayed." Her voice trembled on the last word and she looked back down, squeezing her eyes shut. Don't cry, she thought. Don't cry. Don't...cry…

Armin lifted her chin but she looked away, feeling the warm tears escape her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. "Annie," Armin said softly. "I'm so sorry."

Annie shook her head. "No, no. Don't be. It's not your fault. I want you to be happy, Armin. Even if that means leaving Trost." She hesitated before looking up at him once more. "I'll wait for you."

Armin smiled and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "I'll wait for you too, Annie."

Annie buried her face into his shoulder and squeezed tighter. "Just promise you won't make me wait too long, okay?" she asked, her voice muffled and dangerously close to sobbing.

Armin laughed quietly. "I promise." He placed a kiss atop her head and continued to hold her.

Finally, they released each other and Armin opened the car door for Annie. She quietly stepped in and they soon departed from the park, driving in complete silence all the way to Annie's home, holding each other's hand.

When she got out of the car, she waved to Armin and he smiled before driving off. Annie wiped her tears from her face and sighed, looking up at the stars, mentally connecting them together and running her thumb along the smooth surface of the stone as she retrieved it once more from her pocket. "Maybe things will work out," she said quietly, before turning on her heel and retreating back inside her home.

Maybe.

I apologize for the delay in updating this story. I am currently taking sme time off from writing so I can focus more on school, as finals week is drawing closer. But I figured in celebration of season 2 of AoT being released yesterday, I'd update this story!

Thank you for being so patient and leaving such kind and thoughtful feedback, as well as votes/favorites/kudos! It genuinely means the world to me!

See you all again soon!