Chapter Ten

"You bastard." Armin said, banging his books down on Reiner's desk.

Reiner jumped, as he hadn't seen Armin come in. "What did I do?"

"You know what you did." The smaller blond hissed.

"Oh, he's pissed. What did you do, Reiner?" Ymir asked, leaning forward in her seat behind Reiner.

"I don't know what I did! That's what I'm trying to figure out." Reiner turned halfway around to look at her.

"Just think back and it'll come to you." Armin seized his stuff off of the desk and moved over to his own desk. He paused there for a moment and then moved over one more desk to the one Mikasa usually sat in.

"Oh shit, Reiner! He's not even going to sit next to you." Ymir laughed.

"Come on, Armin! Don't be like this!" Reiner pleaded.

Mikasa walked into the room and without a word sat down in Armin's regular seat. "Reiner, please tell me you're not going to be trying to talk around me the entire class." Reiner just stared at her while behind him, Ymir cackled.

"Mikasa, ask him what I did." Reiner said.

Mikasa slowly turned her head and stared at Reiner with that uncanny look she had that made people uncomfortable. Reiner was clearly no exception as Armin snuck a glance at him. Good. "If you think back to last Tuesday, I'm sure you'll recall what it is that you did."

"Oh my god!" Armin turned to look at Ymir, who looked absolutely delighted. "I know what he's so pissed about. And if he's pissed, it clearly didn't go well." She buried her head in her arms, she was laughing so hard.

"I'm glad you find this so amusing, Ymir." Reiner huffed, looking at her.

"She's the only one." Armin said as their chemistry teacher stood up from her desk.

"Alright, class. We're continuing with stoichiometry today, so get your notebooks out." There was a collective groan from the classroom. Stoichiometry was not a subject enjoyed by most of the 10th grade students taking chemistry. Armin wasn't exactly a fan of it himself, but he understood it. With enough practice, he was sure it would become second nature. He really liked chemistry. Well, he liked science in general, and school as a whole. He was so immersed in the lesson that he barely noticed as he filled 6 pages in his notebook and 55 minutes had gone by, so he was startled when the bell rang. He quickly collected his things and tried to make it out of there before Reiner tried to talk to him, but he wasn't quick enough. "Armin, wait up."

"I don't want to." He walked out of the classroom, heading for 3rd period. Mikasa slipped between Armin and Reiner. "I have to go to trig."

"Look, I can explain." Reiner reached towards Armin, and Mikasa lashed out like lightening, seizing Reiner's arm in an iron grip.

"Keep your hands off him." She said quietly.

"Ow! Sheesh!" Reiner jerked his arm back out of her grasp. "What do you even know anyway?"

"I watched Annie not know what no means, and then push Armin to the ground when she was discovered."

"That seems harsh."

"Not to mention watching her maul his face. I'm no expert, but that could not have been enjoyable for anyone. It was bad."

Armin faked a cough to hide a laugh. "I'm still traumatized." He said, his hand over his mouth to hide his smile. What Mikasa was saying WAS a little harsh, but it was kind of cute watching her be possessive. She certainly wasn't hiding what she felt about the situation. Armin came to a stop outside of his next classroom, where Bertolt was standing. "Your husband's a jerk."

"Oh no. Did his terrible plan go awry?" Bertolt smirked.

"I'm glad everyone finds this SO funny." Reiner grumbled.

"I don't find it funny." Mikasa said. "I'm going to class now."

"Alright, tell Eren I say hi. See you at lunch." Armin smiled at her.

"Yeah, see you in gym." Bertolt gave Mikasa a wave as she walked away. "So, you're mad at Reiner, huh?" he asked Armin.

"Part of me feels like I should be mad at you too, and yet I'm not." Armin replied.

"This is so unfair." Reiner groaned.

"Don't you have a class to go to?" Armin snapped. He didn't even know why he was so annoyed at Reiner, to be honest, but he couldn't seem to control it.

"Oh damn. Your plan really backfired, Rei." Bertolt laughed before throwing an arm around Armin's shoulders. "Come on, Armin. You don't have to look at him anymore…at least until lunch." As Bertolt maneuvered him into the classroom, Armin was hit by the realization that he would have to see Annie at lunch. They sat at the same table. What would she say to him? Would she say anything? Should HE say something? Pretend it never happened?

These thoughts consumed him through trig, economics, and oceanography. Finally, it was sixth period, lunch. As always, he was the first to arrive at the table. This came from a combination of his oceanography class being near the cafeteria and the fact that he packed his lunch so he didn't have to go through the lunchline.

He sat down and pulled off his backpack. He felt a stab of anxiety through his heart when he looked up and saw the next person coming to the table was Annie herself. Armin felt the blood leave his face. She sat down on the opposite side of the table, down on the other end. Basically, as far as she could get from him while still being at the same table. Armin didn't know what he should do. She didn't seem to want to talk, but she was never very talkative. He could feel the awkward tension between them and suddenly felt a desperate need to break it.

He had just opened his mouth to say something when Reiner, Bertolt, and Ymir all walked up to the table with their lunch trays. "Damn, Annie, you completely disappeared after history. Any particular reason?" Ymir smirked, sitting down next to Armin on his left side. Armin wanted to bang his head on the table. Was Ymir going to be like this the whole period?

"Oh, shut up, Ymir." Reiner snapped as he and Bertolt sat down next to Annie.

"Someone's touchy. Is it because your boyfriend's mad at you, and your husband is not the least bit sympathetic?"

That made Annie look up, as she had been ignoring Ymir up to that point. She looked between the other four at the table. "What do you mean-"

"Wait, Mikasa's not here yet?" Eren exclaimed, pushing himself between Ymir and Armin, which basically just meant Armin got shoved.

Annie scowled and Ymir just shook her head. "Jaeger, your timing is as impeccable as ever."

"Don't push Armin." Mikasa's voice came from behind them and Armin turned in time to see her slap Eren in the back of the head. "And I was right behind you."

"Ow! What the hell, Mikasa?" Eren exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head as Mikasa sat down on Armin's right side, putting Armin in the middle.

"We both were!" Historia added, sitting down on Ymir's left side.

"Historia!" Ymir exclaimed happily, wrapping her arms around the much smaller girl. "It's been too long!"

"It's been an hour."

"That's far too long."

Armin saw Eren roll his eyes. "Gross."

Ymir turned to look at him. "Don't you have somewhere else to be, besides annoying me?"

"Yeah, this isn't even your lunch period." Annie chimed in.

"Aren't you supposed to be in music?" Ymir continued. "I'm sure Connie will miss you."

"I have six periods with Connie a day. I think he'll live." Eren groaned.

"I don't know. Connie's pretty fragile. Just ask Reiner." Ymir grinned.

"Does your mother know you're skipping class all the time?" Bertolt asked.

"Shut up. It's not all the time! And why is everyone ganging up on me?" Eren snapped back.

"You're in this lunch at least twice a week." Armin said.

"Armin! You're supposed to be on my side!" Eren looked personally offended.

Armin just shrugged his shoulders. "There are no sides when it comes to the truth."

"Speaking of the truth, Eren, do you know why Armin would say he was seeing someone?" Annie asked.

Armin thought his jaw might hit the floor. Why would she do that to him? Just go for the jugular like that. Was she really that pissed at him? Looking around the table, everyone else was in various stages of shock. Ymir was the first one to break the silence when she started laughing. "Ymir, stop it!" Historia scolded.

"Well, he was obviously lying." Eren stated. "I mean, even if Armin could keep a relationship a secret from all of us, I can't think of a single person who would want to date him."

Armin dropped his head to the table with a bang. "I hate my life."

"I can think of a couple of people who would beg to differ with your opinion, Eren. Reiner replied.

"What? Who?" Eren demanded.

"Well, Jean, for one." Ymir cackled.

"You stay out of this." Historia chided.

"Wait, what about Jean?" Eren asked.

Armin wanted to sink into the floor, just disappear forever. "Why are you so interested anyway, Annie? How did this come up in conversation?" Mikasa asked.

Armin slowly turned his head to look up at her. "Et tu, Brute?" he whispered.

This apparently was too much for Ymir, who doubled over laughing, leaning on Historia. As Armin turned to look at her, he noticed Annie's face had a bit of a flush to it. He wanted to be happy that this conversation had backfired on her, but really, it just meant that there were two of them embarrassed and uncomfortable. "Yeah, that's a good question. I can't see Armin bringing it up in conversation." Eren chimed in.

It seemed like Annie was trapped until Reiner spoke up. "That's my fault." Everyone's faces snapped to look at him.

"Oh really?" Bertolt asked, mock surprise on his face. "How's that?"

"I brought it up. I was nagging Armin about going on a double date." Annie looked relieved while Armin banged his head on the table again.

"Stop doing that. You're going to get brain damage." Mikasa whispered, squeezing his leg under the table.

"I want brain damage." He whispered back.

"Double date? Who are you dating?" Eren's face was crinkled in confusion.

"Connie, obviously." Reiner said without missing a beat. Annie spit out the sip of water she'd just taken, and Bertolt began to have a coughing fit. Reiner had to pound him on the back.

"Sorry. Went down the wrong pipe." Bertolt squeaked out.

Eren slowly looked at each one of them. "I hate all of you."

"Then why do you keep sitting with us?" Annie asked, wiping her mouth. "Actually, why do you keep coming to this lunch?"

"Because Mikasa and Armin are in this lunch." Eren replied simply.

"Let's say Mikasa wasn't in this lunch. Would you keep showing up here?" Ymir asked, clearly recovered from her giggle fit.

"Why are you asking that?"

"I'm just trying to figure out who your devotion is for. My bet's on Mikasa."

"What? How?" Eren blustered, clearly unsure how to respond.

"Oh, don't look so surprised. Everyone has the same opinion. I bet even Armin does. We all see how you treat him compared to her."

"Do you mean marginally better?" Annie added.

"And what do you mean by that?" Eren demanded, his face growing red as his anger rose.

Armin was desperately making a slashing motion across his throat, trying to get the girls to stop before they really set Eren off. Historia seemed to be the only one to catch on. "Hey, Armin! It's almost your birthday. Do you have any special plans for your sweet sixteen?"

Armin could have kissed her right then. "Yeah! Actually," he seized his backpack and started digging through it. "My grandfather said I could have a party, so I have these-" he pulled out a stack of envelopes, "for all of you." He quickly stood up and passed an addressed one to everyone at the table. He hesitated slightly before extending one to Annie, who seemed to hesitate before taking it.

"A party? That's so much fun! Of course we'll be there." Historia grinned.

"I guess I don't have a choice." Ymir added.

"No, you don't."

Armin found his gaze settling on Annie, who was staring intently as her invitation. "Of course, I know I only gave everyone a week's notice, so if anyone has other plans already, I'll totally understand." He figured he'd give the poor girl an out, if she wanted it.

Instead, she looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "I'll be there."

"Are presents required?" Eren asked.

"They are for you." Mikasa replied.

"What? Why me?"

"If you don't know that, you're a bigger idiot than I thought." Ymir sniggered.

Before Eren could respond, Armin spoke up. "You're in a very antagonizing mood today, aren't you?"

"What can I say?" Ymir shrugged. "It's my nature. Stirring the shit pot is so much fun."

"You're terrible." Historia shook her head.

"Oh no! Tell me you'll still marry me!" Ymir exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the blonde. The rest of the period went by uneventfully. It wasn't until he was about to walk into the locker room for gym that Annie caught up to him.

She grabbed him arm, startling him. "Oh! What's up?" he glanced behind her to see Ymir and Historia disappear into the girls' locker room.

"I just wanted to thank you for the invitation."

"Oh yeah, of course. We're still friends, aren't we?"

Annie leaned in closer and dropped her voice. "I also wanted to tell you that I'm going to figure out who it is that you're secretly dating." She poked him in the chest. Armin felt his face pale. Just like that, she turned and walked into her locker room.

"Hey! What was that about?" Armin turned to see Jean walking up, hands in his pockets.

"Nothing. Armin shrugged. "Don't worry about it."