"Yup that's right, and from today on we're engaged. I hope we can live a happy life together." Eren replies back with a smile knowing that he had shock value on his side so the other wouldn't question any further.
"Eren please say this isn't true!" A group of girls and some boys at the back of the classroom yells directing the class's attention to them.
"I'm sorry everyone but it is." Eren replies still smiling as he hands the bouquet of flowers to Armin. Observing how the stares of the class focused on him after the last exchange of words, Armin began to panic. This wasn't suppose to be how his new high school lief was suppose to start. It was suppose to be peaceful, a lonely assistance. But now here he was in the front of the class and officially the most talked of topic in the class and soon around the school.
It didn't take long for Armin to start backing up into a corner as his eyes dilated filling with fear. No, no this isn't happening. Stop staring at me, Armin begged in his mind but to no avail. His breathing soon started to pick up as he dropped the bouquet of flowers. Taking a notice to this the teacher looked at Armin with concern, and soon Eren was there to add to the amount of eyes on him. It was too much for him. The more he thought up insults the students could be saying about him in his head the more he couldn't breathe.
Their silent looks only mocked him, as he saw the gears in their heads formulate any insult possible. Why me? Armin thought, why him and why did his father do this to him? Was he not a good son? Was this punishment? It was ridiculous that he had to go through all of this. As bis breathing failed to stabilize, Armin could feel his world start to started to feel a tingling sensation in his hands, looking down at them he tried moving them but they barely worked for him. That alone started to freak him out even more until he glanced at the class and fainted.
-Hours later-
Waking up in the infirmary, Armin slowly elevated the upper half of his body to look around the room. Taking note that the curtains were drawn closed, Armin took the liberty to finally sit up and open them himself. He was then met with a woman sitting across the room sitting at a desk. Approaching the nurse with brown hair held up into a half ponytail, Armin lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Oh well hello I see." The nurse says as she directs her attention to Armin.
"Y-Yes, and thank you for taking care of me. What time is it?"
"It's actually time for fourth period to start."
"Oh well I'm feeling much better, am I able to leave now?"
"Well only if your sure you're okay. I heard you had an anxiety attack, so I'm not sure how confident I am in you going back."
"Please, I'd rather not miss a thing since I am new."
"Okay then, let me walk you to class then. You might get lost."
"Oh sure thank you very much...umm..."
" ."
"Thank you ."
"No problem. It's my job to be nice to new students, after all most students are scared of me. Best to keep a good impression."
"Scared of you?"
"Well I can seem a bit too energized at times."
"Oh well that's fine, that's how you express yourself."
"Aww thanks Arlert."
"Y-You can call me Armin, I don't mind."
"Ah I see you don't like it when teachers call you by your last name?"
"Kind of, makes me feel like I am not important so they call me by my last name."
"Strange, but I guess to each their own right? Whoa I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship!"
"R-really you would be friends with me!?"
"Why not, staff and students should get along."
"Thank you so much!"
"No problem kido! The infirmary is open for you any time."
"Wow thanks, and maybe you can teach me a few things if you want? I see you have a book about the ocean over there, along with a biology book on anatomy and physiology. I would be happy to learn."
"REALLY YOU WOULD!?" Hanji exclaims.
"Y-yes..."
"OH HOW WONDERFUL WE CAN TALK ABOUT SO MANY THEORIES I HAVE, AND THE EXPERIMENTS I'VE BEEN RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL'S CAMPUS!"
"M-Ms. Zoe you're scaring me..."
"O-Oh sorry, I just really love science and when kids ask me about it."
"I-It's fine, I'm sure I'll get use to it."
"It's for the best, and YOU'RE FIVE MINUTES LATE TO CLASS!"
"Darn, I forgot I had to go there."
"Well what are you waiting for get your backpack near the bed, and lets get hopping."
"Right!"
"Also don't forget this." Hanji says before tossing over Armin his mask. Catching the mask in his hands, Armin's touched his face wondering why he had't realized that it was was he going to apologize to the woman that saw his ugly face.A sense of uneasiness surged through him as a million thoughts ran through his , Hanji broke him from all his self lathing thoughts be tugs his arm. Then he tied it around his face securely before following Hanji to his fourth period class. After finally approaching the classroom door, Hanji knocked a few times and consulted with the teacher about his absence.
Eventually he was right where he started in his first period class. In the front with all eyes on him. Keeping his eyes glued to the floor, Armin allowed the teacher to lead him in the seat. As the teacher began to drone on and on about the syllabus, whispers were heard throughout the class.
Ignoring the whispers, Armin simply turned to look outside the window trying to forget everything that happened so no matter how hard he tried to push back those memories they were always at the back of his head. On the other hand he at least secured a place to eat during lunch with acceptable that happy thought in mind, Armin willed himself to keep that thought in mind to keep him going. Fifty five minutes later the class bell rang signifying the end of another period. Quietly, Armin watched as the majority of students fleeted to their regular hang outs, as a good handful stayed in the class room.
They chatted for a moment before pointing at Armin and saying something one more. Looking to his side, the blond saw no one at his side so he knew for sure that the group was talking to him. Taking a deep breath and bracing himself, the blonde saw a short bald kid walk up to him first placing his hands on the desk.
"So how does someone like you end up engaged to the Great Eren Jaeger? You must be something for having him of all people fall for you huh?" The boy obnoxiously ask so that all his friends behind him could hear. Remaining quiet, Armin didn't answer and simply ignored his question which only proved to make things worse as everyone started to ask more questions.
"So why do you wear that mask, you got a secret?" A girl with brown hair held up in a pony tail ask leaning in a bit closer.
"Why aren't you answering us? You gone mute?" Another male with ash brown hair and an undercut inquires.
"Have you made any friends yet?" A short blond girl speaks lightly making sure not to sound rude.
"You're a wimp aren't you?" The taller tan girl next to the blond one ask, and yet Armin still didn't answer. He remained silent as his worried were only confirmed in his head. The harsh words they said were the things he formulated they would as more rude questions were asked to him, he would answer in his head even though all of his being was telling him not to.
"Stop it now, you guys have no right to ask him these questions. Leave him alone when he is ready he will tell you." A beautiful woman with jet lack hair and a red scarf says as she pushes her way through a crowd. Looking up at her, Armin was awestruck. Someone had stuck up for him, and someone was being nice to him. No one had ever done that for him in his life. The action touched his heart and made him feel like crying, however he held those tears inside fearing a twist would happen.
"We're just curious Mikasa." The bald boy states.
"Curiosity killed the cat, Connie."
"Yeah but satisfaction brought it back."
"Not in this case it will, you'll leave a bad fist impression on him. Is that really what you want to be known as a bully? How pathetic."
"Guess not, but you could have put it nicer."
"You could have asked your question in a more polite manner too, but you didn't." Mikasa answers quickly then turned to Armin who was still analyzing the situation.
"I'm sorry my friends are stupid sometimes. My name is Mikasa Ackerman, I am the Student Body President, and happen to be your future sister-in-law. Welcome to Three Walls High, if you have any questions you can ask me." She tells Armin with a slight smile, which Armin appreciated.
"Thanks, Um do you think you can help me get to the nurse's office?" Armin ask feeling comfortable with this new face since she seemed like she had no ill intentions toward him.
"Are you not feeling well?"
"No, I just wanted to have lunch with the nurse. She was nice to me, and I promised."
"Okay then follow me." She states waiting patently as Armin gathered his things. Once he was finished the girl lead the new student to the infirmary, where Hanji was more than excited to see him again. Bidding the girl a farewell Armin turned to have Hanji messing up his hair with a closed eyed toothy smile. Taken back by the sudden action, Armin accepted it since it was only in the nurse's personality to act in such a way.
"So I see you made a new friend there now didn't ya Armin? Atta boy!" The obnoxious nurse congratulates with a soft punch.
"N-Not really, she was only doing her job. Some kids were making me feel uncomfortable so she helped me get out of it."
"How come they made you feel uncomfortable?"
"Too many questions all at once."
"Understandable, but keep in mind you're new and a lot of people are going to want to know a lot about a transfer student. But I guess that means I can't ask you any questions right now huh?"
"N-No, please feel free to.I am more comfortable speaking to adults then kids my age."
"Well okay then, but I'll keep it at a minimum."
"Sounds good to me."
"Alright, I don't mean to press you on this. But is it true that you're engaged to Eren Jaeger?"
"I-I guess so..." Armin responds reluctantly.
"How did this happen?It's fine if you don't want to tell me."
"No, it's fine...I think it would be good to tell someone about it. After all I don't really like sharing a lot of things."
"Well then I'd learn the few things you will share with me kido."
"Right...Well to answer your question yes in a way. My dad and his dad planned the whole thing. From what I can get from it, I think my indifferent behavior to most things, and secluded life style he didn't like. After all he has been planning me blind dates that I skip or never talk during. So I guess this is a way to make me get out there. And by get out there fall in love and hopefully they will change me."
"Whoa you got all of that from that little information."
"In a sense it was a lot of information;after you really think it through."
"Well you must be a very bright little boy huh?"
"No not really..."
"You're too modest Armin, learn to appreciate who you are." Hanji points out, striking a cord with Armin. Falling completely silent, the masked teen finally unwrapped his lunch and took a bite out of his sandwich. Noticing the sudden change in his actions, Hanji made the decision to change the subject entirely. With a few more seconds of awkward silence, the nurse clapped her hands together and spoke.
"Are you planning to do anything this school year?"
"Hmmm, I guess just learn things from you."
"No clubs?"
"No, I like being alone."
"Okay then. Is there anything in particular you wanted to start with?"
"Hmm maybe anatomy and physiology.I don't know much about the subject but I've always found it interesting.
"Okay, well where did you want to start on that? Which system or do you want to start at the basics likes cells and organelles."
"Maybe the systems, I've learned at least a good amount about cell and organelles in Freshman year biology."
"Okay then,hmm okay I'll start to think about what I'll teach you maybe we can conducts experiments or dissections as well!"
"That would be great actually?"
"Excellent, oh I have so much more to teach you!It's going to be lots of fun."
"Seems like it will. I can't wait to learn."
"Awww it's official you're my favorite student here!"
"W-what, n-no I can't be. There are better students than me and you just met me."
"Armin, I've met hundreds of kids and so far none of them have a thrust for knowledge like you. And I appreciate that. And my word it law! At least in here and the hallways."
"Well if that's the case, t-then I think you'll be my favorite staff member here."
"Cool beakers!"
"Cool beakers?"
"It's like cool beans but with science!"
"Oh okay then, cool beakers. Ummm... can I ask you a question?"
"Sure thing."
"What do you know about my 'fiancee'?"
"Hmmm, the question what isn't there to know about him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that, he's the most popular guy at school, and..."
"Figures he is. I knew from that scene those students pulled during first period must have meant something." Armin interrupts.
"And he is the most notorious play boy in the city."
"W-wait what?"
"You heard me, he's a play boy. Pretty sure he has slept with half the girls at this school and some guys."
"But he was nice from what I saw, and he gave me flowers...He even smiled."
"That's his typical script from what I hear. He knows how to get any type of person. And before you ask I know all of this from observation,and some of his flings come to me for condoms every so often, then vent to me."
"...Wow...I never thought..."
"I'm sorry to be telling you this."
"No it's fine, it's better I know now before I was fooled." Armin remarks just a few seconds before the fifth period bell rings alerting students to flood into their classrooms. Sighing and packing up his things, Armin bids Hanji a sad farewell before making it to class. With a school directory in his hand, Armin slowly walked his class without any problems but the stares of others. For the last few ours of school, Armin watched the sky ignoring the teacher drone on and on about the same rules. So he just started thinking.
Thinking about what was to become of his life, thinking of how to get out of his engagement, and much more. With a sigh he allowed the breath he was holding to be released cooling down his body. And before he knew it fifth period had ended and then it was time for sixth period. Doing the same as before, Armin slowly tracked down his classroom and entered in slowly. He looked down for a second not making eye contact with anyone so that he didn't have to engage in conversation. Picking the window seat once more, Armin allowed his head to turn and repeat what he was doing in the previous class.
Little did he know, that while he ignored everyone and remained in his little world, the person who brought him misfortune came to sit right next to him. With a smirk and a few deep breathes, the school's play boy got into his roll as he got up from his seat and stood in front of Armin. Coughing to get the other's attention, Eren saw the masked teen turn to look at him with empty eyes.
"Hey Armin. I couldn't find you during lunch." Eren begins.
I didn't want you to find me, Armin replied in his head.
"Well, hey I'm just going to get right to it. I want to ask you out on a date after school, and you're dad agreed to it too."
"No thank you." Armin deadpans then continues to look to the side.
"Come on! Plus you're dad won't let you go home unless I take you home. He even texted that to you."
Arching an eyebrow, Armin grabs his phone from his front pocket of his backpack and unlocks it seeing the message from his father. Eyes widening in shock, Armin huffs and puts it away.
"Fine..." He replies simply not wanting to answer to his fiancee any further.
"Great then, After class follow me and we'll go out to eat something."
Giving a nod, Armin turned his head to its original position as he internally screamed in his head. A date so soon was a lot to take it for him, and considering he hasn't been on many dates he doesn't know how to act during one. And including the fact that he was going with someone like Eren made him feel even more uneasy. Digging his finger nails into his forearm, Armin for the third time that day started to allow his anxiety to take over him. Trying to keep his mind blank the blond allowed his pain to take him away from his thoughts.
The time passed by much too quickly to Armin's liking, and before he knew it the clock struck three and students rushed to get out. Hearing the ring, Armin closed his eyes and wished he could just disappear. Waiting for the right moment to escape, Armin peeked to his side to see what Eren was doing. Noting that the brunette was preoccupied in packing, the blond took his stuff and ran out the door with a group of kids. Running as fast as he could, Armin turned unknown hallways just to get away.
When he thought he had successfully escaped, Armin let out a sigh and leaned against the lockers to catch his breath. Then suddenly without warning, a loud bang sound was hear and in front of Armin was no other than Eren Jaeger himself. Frowning the blonde sighed and tried to snake his way underneath the other male's pin. However, he didn't let him escape so he was stuck in between the lockers and Eren.
"Though you could get away huh?"
"..."
"Come on, I'm not such a bad guy. And I want to get to know you."
"Don't want to..."
"Please, we're going to get married, and because I'm friends with almost everyone in the school." Eren points out noticing that so far things were running pretty smoothly for the time being.
"Then can I ask you one before going?"
"Sure anything. I'd be happy to answer."
"Must be boring only sleeping with everyone in the whole school huh?" Armin states with a stoic expression waiting for the other to respond. There was a few seconds of silence, before that silence was broken with an awkward laugh mixed with a sigh.
"Ha ha ha, what are you talking about? I don't do that."
"Really? The hickie on your neck and information from the school's nurse tells me other wise." The masked teen point to a spot on Eren's neck that was being failed to be covered by the collar of his shirt. Adjusting himself, the brunette cussed under his breath and combed his fingers through his hair. Frustrated that he was found out so quickly, Eren tried to find something to say but nothing came out. Nonetheless, Armin was not amused and tried to escape again. However Eren used his leg to keep him secure this time.
Pondering on what he should say next, a ring was heard from the back of Eren's pocket. Rolling his eyes, Eren grabbed his phone and held it up to his ear. After a few seconds of 'yes's, and 'yeah's', Eren's eyes dilated after receiving some news on the other end that Eren couldn't hear. However he knew it was serious.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!? IS SHE OKAY!?" Eren's voice yells with concern as he lowers the limbs that were trapping Armin. "I'm heading there right now!"
Admin: Well I had to take a different approach than Armin finding him with his other partners. Also I based this fic on Mean Encounter by honeyworks.
As for the information on the anxiety and depression things. I know at times I may write Armin to be a little off, but this is how I feel my anxiety and depression feels like. Also I'm a little bit of a spaz at times with those emotions so that explains it. I hope you guys are liking this, I always try to write stories lots people will like it, but that hasn't happened yet...
