New start chapter 8

"Some leader doesn't even show up when she's called," hitch said as she tapped her watch

"She'll be here, I promise, I saw her last night," Krista said as she squirmed nervously in her seat

With a heavy sigh, Mr. Shadis looked at the clock on the wall across from his large oak desk.

"I sent her a message," Sasha said as she looked down at her phone "she'll be here soon"

Looking at all three girls sitting across from him Mr. Shadis felt a tinge of sympathy if only for a moment "alright, well give her a few more minut…." Suddenly he was cut off as the doors to his office were pushed open and in walked a messy-haired Annie with Mikasa in tow. After a moment of shock, Mr. Shadis said "miss Leonhart, nice of you to join us, take a seat. Miss Ackerman, you may go"

"I'll stay," Mikasa said bluntly staring Mr. Shadis down

Without breaking eye contact Mr. Shadis said: "suit yourself, sit."

"Whats this all about" Annie finally said. She knew what this was but she wanted to hear it for herself.

"Your being disbanded." Mr. Shadis said a rough tone to his voice

"Can I ask why?" Annie said once again she was pretty sure she knew why

"You no longer have enough members to continue to function." Mr. Shadis said, "miss Dreyse is no longer able."

"Is there nothing that can be done," Annie said half pleading

"I'm afraid no." Mr. Shadis said, "you're all excused, miss Leonhart can I speak with you in private for a moment."

As the others got up to leave all Annie could think was 'is being the leader that important to you that you would destroy the entire group Hitch? does your pride have no limit.'

Finally, after the others were gone Mr. Shadis said "miss Leonhart I hate to see fighting amongst the groups, I expect more than that from you"

"I know bu…" Annie began to say but was cut off as Mr. Shadis raised his hand to silence her.

"That being said," Mr. Shadis said "I do see how hitch has manipulated the system. Now there is nothing I can do to keep her from leaving, but what I can do is give you a day, only one day, to find some new members, ok."

"You would really do that?" Annie said shock at the compassion she saw in Mr. Shadis usually stern eyes.

"Miss Lionheart don't get this confused, I only want a long-standing band to continue existing, that's all, find another member and you may continue to operate as usual.

"Thank you Mr. Shadis," Annie said getting up to leave. As she exited the office she was greeted by a barrage of questions

"What did Mr. Shadis talk to you about," Mikasa said

"What are we going to do now," Krista said

"Why were you late," Sasha said

"I overslept, we're going to keep moving because Mr. Shadis said if we can get another member then we can continue to function as usual," Annie said answering all their questions at once

"Alright, let's go see if we can find another violist!" Sasha said as she Krista, Mikasa, and

Annie made their way out of the building in search of their new member.

"Well I could ask him next week," Eren said as Armin told him about Marcos idea. The two were walking back to the apartment after talking with Jean and Marco about the spring trip idea.

"You and Mikasa are going home?" Armin said

"Ya, it's about time we visited" Eren lied he didn't want to lie but he knew Armin would want to come if he knew. 'The fewer people the easier this will be'

After a moment of silence, Armin said "you're going to confront your dad aren't you"

"No!" Eren said "what makes you think that"

"I can see it on your face," Armin said "come on Eren, we've known each other since before elementary school"

"Look there's nothing wrong, ok so just drop it," Eren said walking ahead of his friend

Without another word, the duo entered the apartment to find it a disaster. There were papers scattered about, books flung across every surface. In the middle of this disaster there sat Krista, Sasha, Mikasa, and Annie all sitting around the table examining different books and papers.

"What is going on here!" Eren said completely in awe of the mess

"We're looking for a new member and we thought we'd check our old yearbooks see if

we could find anyone who even used to play" Sasha. Said not even looking up from her book

"O.k," Eren said still confused as he made his way to his room.

"Hey Armin you have any yearbooks," Krista said as Armin brought some tea for the girls and himself.

"I might," Armin said thinking of the box of old stuff he brought from home. "They would probably be in the storage unit"

"Quickly go get them!" Sasha said the more people we can find the better

"I'll come with you," Annie said getting up and together she and Armin set off to the storage unit.

They were quiet as they left the apartment complex until Annie finally said: "I knew this would happen, no matter what hitch does it's always to fuck someone else over."

Armin wasn't sure how he was supposed to respond 'ya hitch is definitely not easy to deal with, but there has to be something more to this'

"Maybe it isn't hitch, maybe it's me,"Annie said staring down at her feet.

Suddenly she was jerked from her train of thought as Armin pulled her close. "This wasn't you," Armin said, "Hitch is a stubborn person, just don't let her get to you."

"That's the problem….she does get to me," Annie said to herself

Armin set his forehead against hers so they were looking eye to eye. "Trust me, you are ten times the leader she was. The fact that your trying to continue even without her is proof of that"

"I just hate being in charge, it's not for me," Annie said tears forming in her soft blue eyes.

Gently Armin wiped away her tears and said "no one's making you. They follow you because of your determination."

"But I can't do it," Annie said feeling ashamed of her weakness

"I know you can do this, I can feel it," Armin said giving Annie a smile

'that smile' Annie thought 'that's why I keep going, that's my home' slowly she raped her arms around Armin 'yes this is why I keep going' lifting her eyes so she could look into Armin's she said "I can keep going if you're here with me"

"Always," Armin said leaning down to kiss Annie. "Now let's go get that book so we can find you a new player"

alright, there we go. let me know what you think in the comments.

fox