"Armin, you still haven't told me about Annie." Eren reminded his friend impatiently. The boy was sitting on a bean bag in Armin's room, Mikasa was sitting at the desk and looked vaguely interested at Eren's statement. Armin was on his own bed. It was Saturday afternoon and the trio had decided to spend time together, Armin hadn't really been spending much time with them at lunch because he had been sitting with Annie for just over a month.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Armin quickly said. After yesterday, he didn't really feel like talking about Annie at all. She hadn't wanted to tell him about her mother and he felt like he would be betraying her if he spoke about her personal life or his speculations to his friends. Even if they were his best friends who he trusted more than anyone.

"I spoke to her a few days ago…" Mikasa mentioned. She had decided to keep quiet about Annie's silent confession before, simply because the only reason she approached the blonde was to put her own mind at rest about the situation. There wasn't much need to tell either Eren or Armin about it at that moment. Annie herself had wondered if Mikasa had said anything, and gathered that she hadn't, and was thankful. Little did she know that Mikasa was about to spill the beans.

"Oh?" Armin's eyes widened in curiosity.

"I asked her if she liked you." Mikasa spoke as if it was nothing.

"And!?" Armin felt his ears burning.

"She didn't answer."

"Oh" his voice barely came out and he felt his heart sink instantly. There was also the sudden sickening feeling of disappointment in his stomach.

"That means she likes you." Mikasa added.

"W-what?" Armin's head shot up.

"Bullshit." Eren interrupted.

"When I asked her, she seemed very flustered. I doubt she would admit it."

"No, Armin. Take this as a blessing! You've had a lucky escape…"

"Eren." Mikasa shot Eren a warning look, hadn't the advice she had given him sunk in?

"Ugh, never mind" Eren muttered and looked down, deciding to shut-up for his friend's sake.

"D-does it really mean she likes me?"

Mikasa nodded, "Well, from my perspective, it seems that she does have feelings for you."

Armin felt the blood rush to his face, could it really be true? Annie liked him in that way? Mikasa was smart and also female, therefore she was able to relate to girls and understand them better than he ever could.

When Armin went to school on Monday however, it was a completely different story. Annie avoided Armin like the plague all day. It looked like Mikasa was way off when she said that Annie had feelings for him. Annie didn't turn up to lunch either, and after ten minutes or so with no show, Eren and Mikasa joined him to spare him from sitting alone. The blond couldn't help but feel hurt.

Maybe it's because she feels awkward about what happened on Friday? I have to reassure her that everything is okay.

Despite wanting to put things straight, Armin didn't get the chance to talk to her all week. He wasn't sure how it was even possible, how could she escape him when they literally shared every class together? She had sat beside someone in every single lesson and he knew she was going out of her way to avoid him because she usually liked to sit by herself; she was a lone wolf, after all. He couldn't even catch up with her after class either, maybe because she's so small and fast. It was driving Armin insane. All he wanted to do was talk to her.


Annie missed Armin, she couldn't deny it. She missed him at lunch even though there was little conversation, she missed him tutoring her. She missed his smile, his voice. What the hell, it's not like he's my boyfriend, so why do I feel like this!?

She had decided that for Armin's own good she would cease contact with him. He deserved better than her. Annie knew part of it was also for her, because Armin was dangerous. She had reached that conclusion over a month ago. He could pry into her soul. He could get things out of her that she had thought would have been impossible for another human-being to do. Eventually, she would become completely vulnerable to him, and that wasn't a position she wanted to find herself in.

Throughout the course of the week Annie's emotions were extremely conflicted. There were times when she wanted to turn up to lunch and sit opposite him, she wanted to be selfish and not care what she had said to him last Friday. The other part of her thought it was best to just stay away from him. She had hurt his feelings and she had failed to be a good person to him, despite him thinking the best of her. He deserved someone better. Someone like the tiny blonde girl, Christa Renz, who shared their homeroom. Or Mina Carolina, a very sweet girl with silky black hair, who Annie had sat beside in class all week and found tolerable (and that was saying something). Even Sasha Braus, the weird girl who was obsessed with any potato-based food would have been better for him than her.

Everything is just so hard. Dad continues to treat me like trash, I have to maintain my grades without Armin's help, on top of all of that I have to work in that shithole every weekend. I would quit the job if I didn't need the money. Why can't he just give me money for food like any normal father, instead of wasting it on alcohol for himself!?

Annie felt tears of frustration form in her eyes as she sat in the library on Friday. She had decided to hide in there every day of the week at lunchtime to avoid Armin. She had half expected him to come and find her, but he didn't. A part of her couldn't help but feel disappointed.


"So I was thinking that we could go to this place called Winter Wonderland tomorrow." Eren said at the table as he was eating his lunch,

"It looks really good. They have an ice-skating rink." Mikasa added to encourage Armin.

"Yeah, and it's all German themed too," Eren smiled, "That means there'll be wurst…and beer."

"Eren, you're underage." Mikasa reminded and the brunet boy rolled his eyes.

"It sounds really cool." Armin sounded indifferent. If he didn't feel so down about Annie he would have been thrilled at the idea of going to Winter Wonderland. He could hardly believe it was already December, which meant Christmas was just around the corner.

"So you're in?"

"Yeah, why not." Armin nodded.


Around noon on Saturday the trio set off to Winter Wonderland. Ever since Eren had put forward the idea of going, Armin couldn't help but think about inviting Annie along. Though of course, on Friday she had shot out of school faster than he could blink. Still, it wasn't too late, was it?

"Guys," Armin began hesitantly, both Eren and Mikasa turned to their shorter friend, "Is it…okay if we invite Annie to come with us?"

"After she has been ignoring you all week?" Eren raised his brows.

Armin nodded, "Something happened at my house the Friday before last, and I'm quite sure that it is the reason she's been avoiding me. I just think it would be nice to invite her…"

"Well do you have her cell phone number, then?" Eren questioned, wanting to be a good friend but not actually wanting Annie Leonhardt to tag along.

"N-no, but I know where she lives."

"Where does she live?" Mikasa joined in the conversation.

"Well, to be honest, we are already heading in the direction of where she lives. It won't put us out, I promise."

"Alright…" Eren agreed reluctantly, and Mikasa nodded.

When coming face-to-face with a huge tower block of apartments, Eren was bewildered, "She really lives here!?"

Armin nodded, "Y-yeah, I was shocked too at first. But not everyone lives in big fancy houses, you know." Eren's father was a doctor so of course he lived in a nice home. Mikasa looked up at the building unperturbed, and didn't say anything.

"Well you guys can wait out here while I go and get her." the other two nodded, not really wanting to enter the building, anyway.

Armin took the stairs, going against the idea of taking the creaky elevator. He already felt adrenaline rushing through his veins so he figured climbing four flights of stairs wouldn't be too difficult. When he reached the fourth floor, his heart was racing. It was not only due to walking up the stairs. He was terribly anxious, so anxious that he felt like backing out. I've already come this far. I've dragged Eren and Mikasa all the way here, too. I have no choice. Come on Armin, don't be a coward. It's door 422.

The blond walked slowly down the corridor until he stood outside Annie's door. He swallowed hard and took in a deep breath, knock, now. He reached his gloved hand to the door and knocked twice. There was a long pause. No answer. Armin knocked again, this time harder. Still nothing. Oh that's right. She works at McDonalds on Saturdays! I'm such an idi—

"ANNIE! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT OF BED AND ANSWER THE FUCKING DOOR…DID YOU HEAR ME!?...ANNIE!"

Armin's thoughts ceased when he heard a man's voice from the other side of the door. He blinked several times, that must be her father…he sounds really mad, especially since I can hear him through this thick door. Armin began to feel extremely uneasy, his stomach twisted in a horrible way and he felt like running down the corridor and out of the building. Despite feeling that way, he stuck around and waited. He figured Annie would answer. Or at least he hoped she'd answer, because if she didn't it was probable that he would come face-to-face with her disgruntled father, and that thought terrified him.

A few moments later, Armin heard the latch unlock and the door opened. If his heart wasn't racing fast enough already, it was now banging against his ribcage painfully. He felt his face flush red at the sight of Annie standing in front of him with a bedhead and wearing nothing but an oversized sweater and a pair of socks. He tried not to look down at her pale legs but he couldn't help it. He looked up quickly and saw that her crystal blue eyes were wide, her mouth was hanging open and her face had turned a deep red, too.

"What are you doing here?" it came out as a hushed whisper. Armin's curious blue eyes stared at her and she suddenly felt deeply self-conscious, she tried to hide behind the door out of shyness. She was mortified.

"I—" Armin couldn't speak. He felt so embarrassed and guilty. I must have woken her up…!

"Well!?" Annie snapped, she turned back to see if her father had crawled out from the living room and was relieved to find that he was still rotting in there. She faced Armin again while giving him the most threatening glare she was capable of. She wanted a reply. And fast.

"I-I'm sorry I woke you up…" Armin had to remember to keep his eyes on her face. It would be so rude for them to wander, even if the sight of Annie like this was absolutely adorable. "I j-just wanted to invite you to come to Winter Wonderland with me today. I-it's okay if you don't want to, though."

Annie couldn't actually believe what was happening to her. It was past noon, almost one o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, she was in nothing but her sleepwear, and there was Armin Arlert, the boy she had been avoiding for the past week at her doorstep. Her heart was racing, this is…insane…! She couldn't even process what he had just said to her. Had he invited her somewhere? Why? Why was he here? She went to open her mouth, but nothing came out.

"Annie who is it!?" she heard her father's voice call from the living room. Oh shit. She looked back and forth frantically a couple of times, debating on what to do. I have to get out of here, and fast.

"Give me five minutes." Annie closed the door in Armin's face. He was confused to say the least.

Five minutes later, the door reopened and Annie returned. "Come on hurry up, let's go." She had combed her hair and it was up in her usual hairstyle again. She wore a jacket over her hoodie with jeans. She didn't have a hat or scarf despite the weather being bitterly cold, but she did have mittens on.

Annie walked down the corridor so fast that Armin could barely catch up with her. It was while she was walking that she managed to process everything that had just happened. Why the fuck am I going somewhere with Armin Arlert? I seriously just accepted his offer. What happened to ignoring him from now on? I'm so tired. I must look like shit, too. But I had no choice, if I didn't act fast back then, dad would have come out. I can't let Armin know anything. Now I'm stuck doing whatever he has planned. I can't believe this…! Annie took the stairs and Armin followed her, struggling to keep up.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs she turned to Armin who looked out of breath. She didn't look pleased to say the least. She looked even more dissatisfied when she exited the building and saw Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman standing outside. The blonde turned to Armin, "What is going on?" she hissed.

Armin smiled awkwardly at her, "Uh well…"

"It's about time! Come on let's go!" Eren turned around and proceeded to walk away, Mikasa followed.

"Armin, explain." Annie was pissed. Beyond pissed.