*Squealing*

Chapter 8: Breakdown

Mikasa had planned a girls day out. Apparently it was going to be just herself and Mikasa, but when Annie arrived to the coffee shop they were meeting by Annie almost wanted to strangle Mikasa. Groaning at the fact it wasn't going to be just the two of them, Annie turned to leave but Mikasa had spotted her and called her over. Annie had no other choice, she didn't want to make a scene so she trudged over to the table and stood awkwardly beside it. A drop of sweat formed over her eyebrow and she rubbed her arm nervously.

"Guys, this is Annie" Mikasa said looking to the blonde, she didn't smile but even a blind man could see the excitment in her eyes. What was she up to?

"Annie, this is Sasha, Ymir and Historia, or Krista. Whatever you wanna call her" She said, scooting over to make room for Annie to sit.

Dropping her art bag, Annie sat down beside Mikasa and gave her a look, Mikasa gave a silent sorry back. Turning her attention to the table, Annie glared at it, if looks could kill the table would be in pieces. Annie was looking forward to a day with just the two of them. Its something she usually wouldn't do but...she had to make the new start count. She almost ruined it if it weren't for Armin.

"Whats in the bag?" Boomed a taller, excited girl. She had brown hair tied up in a ponytail and amber eyes. She was quick, she grabbed the bag within seconds. Annie didn't have time to react. Mikasa covered her face with her hands and whispered out sorry.

Annie glared at the girl, her stare would usually make a person drop whatever they were doing, but this Sasha person was unfazed and opened the bag. Annie had it. She grabbed the bag, tearing it back towards herself, but Sasha had already obtained one of the contents of the bag.

"Awwh, I though it was food!" She complained. The brunette went to open the copy but Annie abruptedly snatched it from her hands. Ymir and Krista did not seem to be impressed and were about to complain when Mikasa quickly changed the subject.

They gossiped about everything, T.V, internet, school, guys. Annie didn't participate. Instead she just sat there with her coffee. She stared out the window mostly, looking at a bare tree where a few ravens had roosted on. Then a question was aimed at her.

"So, Annie, You and Armin huh?" Ymir smirked, her tone was teasing, yet still questioning. Annie just frowned and looked away. Her act on Thursday was weird, and the thoughts of him hugging her still put a tingle down her spine and heat her cheeks up.

"Look! She's blushing!" The squeaky short blonde boomed as she pointed at Annie. Mikasa and Sasha seemed interested too. She hated it, she wanted to just disappear there and now.

But was this heating in her cheeks blushing? Annie didn't know what to make of it. She thought of how she felt everytime they touched, spoke and when she thought of him. What was this? She didn't understand it, she hated it actually because she didn't understand. Did Armin feel the same way?

The rest of that day consisted of them harashing her about the situation, they wanted to know if they were a thing which made Annie very uneasy. The feelings she ones enjoyed when she heard his name was now starting to feel sickening. She didn't know what to make of the situation. Was the feeling she had a crush?

It was finally mid-term. She had a whole week to waste. But on what? Sitting in her bed, Annie looked around the room and decided to go for a walk. Changing into a warm long-sleeved shirt and hoodie with a pair of jeans, Annie went to the bathroom and tied up her hair. Padding down the stairs she grabbed her keys and artbag from the hall and left.

She jogged her way to the forest. She went here most weekends. But it was mid-term so she'd most likely be going here every day. Instead of going to the oak though, this time she went on an adventure. She climbed over rocks, hopped over logs, got tangled in bushes and even tripped a few times on roots. The forest floor was littered with leaves. They were all soggy and made squishy noises when she stepped on them.

What made her stop though was a sight you'd see in a fairytale book. There was a rock and tree's intertwining over it, as if it were a tent. She entered in and sat on the rock, rubbing her hand along the branches. They were strong. She stayed there for a long while. She looked down at her hand and stared at the ring for a good long moment.

Suddenly out of nowhere her adventurous excitement left her. Suddenly she low, very low. Taking the opportunity that she was alone, Annie broke down into tears. The fact that she remembered that today was exactly a year from when the accident happened. Sitting on the rock, Annie hugged her knee's and enclosed her head in between her chest and knees. She was in a secure ball of emotions. She let everything out, anger, sadness, loss and confusion.

Getting up and emerging from the little hidey hole she was in, Annie made her way to the exit. She had marked the way with little blue strings that she had in her pocket. When she jumped over the last log to get onto the path she collided with something. The breath was taken from her as she hit the ground in a loud thump.

"Annie?" Said a voice in both confusion and worry. She felt a little dazed from the fall but sat up and rubbed the back of her head, looking up to see the person. Of course...

"Hey..." She coughed out, getting up and dusting herself off. She looked up at his blue eyes, they were full of confusion at first but then softened.

"Didn't expect you to be here" He said truthfully. He picked up the girls art bag, but instead of giving it back the taller blond slumped in over one shoulder. "You okay?" He asked as she wiped away a tear which had remained. She was red from crying and her eyes were bloodshot. Armin sighed and took her hand, dragging her to the big oak. He spoke along the way but Annie didn't listen.

Sitting her down on a rock beside the big oak, Armin put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. His eyes were filled with concern.

"Annie, you gotta tell me whats up, thats twice this week I've found you crying" He said, his voice was rough, it put a huge electric shock down her spine. She wanted to squirm at the feeling, but was frozen on the spot. She was confused. Why was she crying?

"Annie?" He asked again, this time his voice was softer, but still husky. He brushed her bangs behind her ear and rubbed just under her eye with his thumb. She liked it, his hand was warm on her cheek. She could feel her cheeks heat up into this so called blush. Armin's face lit up too, into a pinkish colour.

"Annie please?" He begged now. He looked desperate to know what was wrong, as if his life depended on it, he cupped her chin in his hands, they were warm. She looked up at him again, at his ocean blue eyes, which had darts of other blues going through it. She loved his eyes, they were interesting, but what she loved about them right now was the confusion of seriousness and calmness in them.

Their faces were so close, their noses almost brushing. She liked this closeness, the warmth radiating from him was nice, his scent too. She still didn't understand the feeling and pulled away. She sighed and turned slightly away from him. He sat by her side and put her bag down. They didn't speak for a while, but Annie took out her pen and copy and was drawing.

Armin seemed to understand the drawing. It was an emotional drawing and he seemed to understand it. Taking the pen and copy from her lightly and placing them in her bag, he turned to her and began to speak.

"I'm an orphan too, I live with my grandfather. My parents died in a car crash too" He explained softly. He looked to her, she was emotionless again. A cocoon of negitivity. He managed to turn her to face him, she didn't look at him. It upset him a bit, she wasn't crying, but it looked like she was about to. Quickly grabbing her and pulling her into a tight hug, Annie dug her face into his shoulder like she did on Thursday.

After what seemed to be an hour, Armin pulled away and cupped her chin again, smiling softy.

"You're not alone in this world. You have to try talk to people. You can't confine your emotions like this, its bad for you. Of course you loved your mother but, you have to let go of the bad and remember the good. Try not to dwell on it" He said as he grazed over her chin with his thumb softly. He nodded slightly and looked up at him.

Then a warm electricity flooded her whole body. She felt limp, she had now no idea what was happening. Their lips met softly, she didn't know what to do. But almost like she knew what to do, she kissed back. The sweet taste of his lips made her melt there in the spot. She now realised the feelings she had towards the blond. She was in love with this boy.

They broke apart to catch their breaths. He seemed to be shocked at his actions. But Annie was scared. She had fallen, she was weak again. And if this weakness continued her whole back story would be published again. But she had fallen anyway, there was no getting back up. The moment they shared was enough to say that, but the moment they shared also put a new aspect on life infront of her. Not everything that happened to her was bad.

He dropped her off at her house without another word from the two on the journey there. She was still in her own world, even when she arrived home. Worrying her foster parents a bit too.

She had to be careful in future, she let her emotions take over. She had fallen.

DERPDERPDERPDERP

K well, that probaly went too fast. It's my first time writing fluff like that so EHHHHHH

Hope ye like the Armin and Annie action.

I also have a One shot of these two coming up soon. Maybe next week or there-abouts.