AN: Hey guys! As I promised I haven't given up on this fic yet. I made a few minor changes to the first 9 chapters, nothing life-altering. Chapter 10 did become longer, so make sure to catch up on that.
Originally I had planned to wait with editing these until chapter 11 was finished, but I just wanted to update! But I'm working on it, so keep your eyes open. And if you're new here, welcome!
Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on titan/ Shingeki no kyojin.
Chapter 8
On Friday evening Annie hurried home after school. The ones going on the trip had to return to school at seven with their bags. They would arrive at the lake at nine and had an hour to settle in in their rooms. After that a game was planned, details would be given later on.
Well, Annie thought as she started searching her freezer for something that could be cooked quickly, at least Mikasa won't have a chance to make me do anything this evening.
With a sigh she closed the freezer and chose to have a bowl of cereal instead. When she finished she quickly packed the last few things and checked her bag.
"All right. Here we go." Annie said and left her house, heading towards the first trip she ever made.
When she arrived at school most of the others were already waiting for the bus to open its doors. Annie cursed her small size as she tried to find Mikasa among the crowd. Her attention was drawn by someone creating a scene over the trip, Eren. After she saw him it was easy to spot Mikasa, along with several other of their classmates.
Slightly reluctant she walked towards them, hoping the others wouldn't bother her. She came to a stop next to the raven haired girl, glad no one had noticed her. "Hi." she mumbled.
"Oh, hi Annie." Mikasa said, a bit too loud to the blonde's liking.
Everyone turned to look and greet her.
"It's nice to see you're going on the trip too, Mikasa has told us much about you." Armin said.
Alarmed Annie glanced at Mikasa, careful to keep her face straight.
"Yeah, she said you're very good at cooking." Sasha added hopefully.
"I'm just glad you two found a less aggressive way to compete." Krista added.
Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Annie decided to give them all a death stare to shut them up.
"Ok, everyone line up and be quiet!" Shadis' yelled. "Once you hear your name you put your bag in the trunk and get on the bus. If I hear any arguing about the seats I will choose them for you. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" the teens replied as one.
Annie sighed as Mikasa was the first to get on the bus, by the time Shadis called her name, someone else would probably be sitting next to Mikasa.
However when Annie entered the bus, she spotted Mikasa seated next to the passage, making it clear for everyone she was keeping the window seat for someone without causing arguments. When Annie came to a halt next to her she scooted over to the window.
"Are you ready for the weekend?" Mikasa asked with a suggestive smile.
"... I think so."
Mikasa looked outside and toyed with her scarf. Soon everyone was on the bus and they drove off.
Annie nervously eyed Mikasa. What kind of things would she make her do? Mikasa was a nice girl, she wouldn't ask her to do anything unreasonable right? When she said the loser of their race had to obey the winner, she only wanted to make the race more interesting.
The only thing she could think of making Mikasa do, was asking her to kiss her, not that she'd dare to ask. But what if Mikasa wasn't as innocent as she seemed? Annie's imagination started going wild, causing her face to turn a color rivaling Mikasa's scarf.
She fidgeted, trying to get the crazy scenario's out of her head, but all she managed to do was drawing Mikasa's attention.
"Something wrong?"
"... I'm just nervous, this is my first trip."
"You have never gone on a trip before? Not even with your dad?"
"No. All he ever did was teaching me to fight and telling me weird stuff about how the world works." she said quietly.
Mikasa wrapped her arm around the blonde's shoulders and pulled her closer. "Don't worry, I'm here."
Annie closed her eyes and leaned into the embrace, inhaling Mikasa's sweet scent with every breath she took.
"Annie. Annie?" a soft voice whispered in her ear.
Annie opened her eyes and looked at Mikasa questioningly.
"We're here."
Annie straightened herself and looked around, she didn't realize she fell asleep. And judging by the looks on the other's faces, Mikasa wasn't the only one who noticed. But she couldn't help it, it was so comfortable in Mikasa's arms.
Everyone got off the bus as fast as they could, hoping to be the first to retrieve their bags. When the resulting chaos had subsided, Shadis ordered them to split up, boys and girls apart.
Both groups took the same way until they reached a big building.
"This is the dining hall. You have from eight 'til nine in the morning for breakfast, so don't forget it!" Shadis explained. "Girls their rooms are on the right, the boys' on the left. We expect you to be back here in an hour. The boys can get their keys with me and Levi, the girls theirs with Hanji and Petra. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the students replied.
The groups went their separate ways, following the teachers.
Unlike Annie had expected, they wouldn't stay in dorms, but in small cabins, scattered along the road. They stopped in front of the first, and Hanji gave a key to Petra.
"We will be staying in the first cabin, who wants number two?" She held out a second key.
"We do!" Sasha shouted, pulling Mina with her as she went to get the key. No doubt because she wanted the room closest to the dining hall.
One by one the keys disappeared, until one remained. Hanji looked at the pair standing in front of her, slightly worried if it was a good idea to pair them up.
"Here's your key ladies. Just remember one thing. It doesn't matter that your cabin is the furthest, if I catch even just the scent of a fight, one of you will get to spend the night with me."
"We won't fight, we're friends." Annie said, surprising the teachers. She grabbed the key and ran off. "Last there is last to bathe!"
"Not again!" Mikasa groaned as she gave chase.
"Perfect, I wouldn't want to get separated from Petra either." Hanji said and swung her arm around the blonde's shoulders.
"H-Hanji!"
Panting Annie and Mikasa stood in front of the door.
"It's a tie." Annie said as she unlocked the door.
"Why do you have to make bets like that?" Mikasa breathed.
"Just for fun. A race is kinda boring if there's nothing at stake." Mikasa frowned.
Annie flicked on the light and took in the interior of the room. A window faced the door in the middle of the opposite wall, a small table in front of it, beds left and right. The floor, walls and ceiling were made of the same light colored wood, the curtains and bed sheets a light green. Two closets leaned against the left wall, a door in the right.
Mikasa walked past Annie and put her bag down on the left bed. Without saying a word she started to unpack, Annie closed the door and followed her example.
When they had settled in in their room, they still had another twenty minutes left of the given hour. They awkwardly sat on their beds, facing each other.
"So..." Mikasa broke the silence. "What do you think of the room?"
"A bit plain, but nice. But I guess that's normal for a place like this."
"Plain? Funny you should say that. Most of your house is plain."
"It has always been like that. Except for my dad's room. I wasn't allowed to enter it but I know there must have been a bed and a desk. He spent a lot of time in there. After he left the room was empty." Annie said in a shaky voice.
Mikasa went to sit next to Annie and wrapped a comforting arm around her.
"Sorry." Annie muttered.
"That's ok. I know what it feels like to lose your parents. You can cry if you want to."
A single tear rolled down Annie's cheek, and soon sobs followed. With a shaky voice she said "Even when he was still there, I always felt alone. The only friend I had when I was little left me too. You'll stay with me, right?"
"Annie, you are more important to me than I could ever put into words. I would never leave you, no matter what may happen." She whipped the tears of the blonde's cheeks and leaned closer, until their noses almost touched.
A loud knock on the door snapped them out of their daze. It was time to gather.
