Chapter Ten
Armin POV
The following Monday, Armin sat in 8th period Psychology. Their teacher had finished early and the students, all seniors except Armin, were sitting around talking for the last ten minutes of class. Armin was actually in the process of gathering up his things when a voice behind him called out, "Little Brother! I saw you at the pizza place Saturday."
He turned in his seat to look at Hanji Zoe who sat directly behind him. "Did you? Why didn't you come say hello?"
"Because I didn't want to interrupt you and that VERY pretty blonde girl you were with. Is she your girlfriend?"
"What? No. She's just a friend." His face flushed.
"Awwe, look. He's blushing." Her voice playful and motherly from her seat next to Hanji.
"He's so adorable." Hanji said, leaning over her desk to ruffle Armin's hair.
"Are you SURE Hanji and I can't adopt you?"
"Legally, no. Also, I'm not sure Levi will be impressed over you two co-raising a child, even if the child in question is 15."
Petra gasped. "Levi! He could do it for us."
"He does get away with everything." Hanji replied, then looked back at Armin. "You have next period with him. Could you ask him for us?"
"Um.."
"Pleeeeaassse?" Petra made her infamous puppy dog face, with pouty lip and everything.
Armin could not resist the face. "I guess."
"Oh, thank you. You're such a doll."
"So, who was that girl then?" Hanji asked directly, changing the topic back to what it previously was before they went off on their adoption tangent.
"A friend in my math class."
"Just a friend? Because you two looked so adorable together."
"Just a friend."
"Oh, leave him be, Hanji. He looks ready to die of sheer embarrassment."
"Fine. I'll drop it. For now."
"I think you're jealous that Armin was hanging out with a girl that wasn't you."
"If that's the case, how about this Saturday, I take you for pizza, Hanji?"
"Don't toy with me, you cheeky little bugger. My feelings are delicate."
"Yeah. As delicate as a rhinoceros." Petra giggled.
"Ugh. I have a very busy schedule, so I'll think about it and let you know."
"Don't leave me waiting too long. I, too, have delicate feelings."
"Now, THAT I believe." Petra said as the bell rang dismissing them. Armin wondered why it was so easy to flirt with Hanji. Was it because she was safe? That he knew she wouldn't really toy with him? Hurt him? In any case, he hopped to his feet, grabbed his books, and headed down the hall to Government class. As usual, he was the first one in there, though Levi walked in right behind him. Sitting down at his desk, he turned to look at the dark haired senior who was dating Petra. "Petra and Hanji would like to know if you could adopt me for them since you seem capable of everything."
He saw the lightest of smirk's on Levi's face. "I suppose I can see what I can do."
"That's good then. They'll appreciate it, I'm sure." He pulled out his homework from the night before. "Did you get what the author was saying in the third section?" He listened intently as Levi explained it. "Thank you."
"Yeah." They both sat quietly for several moments. "How come you're taking this class as a sophomore? I mean, you're probably as smart as Hanji and I, but we waited until our senior year."
"Oh….well, I'm actually seeing if I can graduate a year early."
Levi let out a light chuckle. "Eager to get out of here? I can't say I blame you. But this school has issues with kids who try and break out of the typical mold. Hanji had ideas of graduating early once."
Armin let out a sigh. "Well, if I get all of my classes done now, then I'll have to barely show up my senior year."
That really made Levi laugh, which shocked several of the kids around them. "Now THAT is smart thinking."
Armin shot Levi a grin as the bell rang and their teacher stood up to begin teaching.