Merry (late) Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Throughout the rest of the day, Armin was in a pretty good mood. He got to talk to Annie and he may have even helped with her smoking problem! His day was going so well actually that even his physics class didn't bring him down.

When the final bell rang he packed up his books and dashed to his locker. He shoved the unnecessary binders and papers in his locker and relocked it, then sped to the front gates. Armin wanted to be able to walk Annie home that day. Just a little something for her birthday. Despite the chilly weather, maybe she would let him take her to that new ice cream parlour close to the school as a present.

The blond boy pushed open the main doors and finally reached the front gate. He sat down on the bench a couple yards away and waited for Annie to get there. He was fiddling with his fingers when he saw the blonde-haired girl walk out the gate and dig in her pocket hurriedly. She pulled out a stick and stuck it in her mouth, then lit it with the lighter in her hand while shielding the flames from the wind. A look of relief spread across her face as she inhaled. Armin stood up and walked up behind her. Like he did earlier, he reached forwards and stole the cancer stick from her fingers. Only this time he did not evade her fist fast enough and it collided with his gut.

"Ouch!" He yelped.

Annie's eyes widened a fraction. "Arlert? What are you doing?"

Armin stood back to his full height and rubbed his stomach with his free hand. "Ugh, I was hoping you'd let me walk you home...?"

Annie made a face at him and swiped the cigarette from his grasp. She stuck it back in her mouth with shaky hands. Whether it was from the cold or the addiction, Armin was not sure. "No way."

"B-but..." He stuttered. "I-I could take you to that new Dairy Queen down the road. For your birthday!"

"No way." Annie repeated. "I don't have any money on me, and I won't end up paying you back."

The boy shifted from foot to foot. "Well, it would be more of a present. You wouldn't have to pay me back."

She didn't say anything.

"Come on, Annie." Armin pleaded. "Please?"

She looked at him in the eyes and her gaze softened. "Fine. Just this once."

Armin's face broke out into a grin.

...

"Oh yeah, Annie?"

The two were sitting in a booth at Dairy Queen eating their blizzards. Armin had ordered a banana split blizzard and Annie got a mint Oreo.

"Hm?" She answered as she poked the last half of her blizzard with her spoon.

"You forgot to tell me a fact about yourself. For when I caught you smoking at the gates." Annie glanced up to see Armin smiling at her. "Hm, I was hoping you forgot." She grumbled. "What is it you want to know?"

Armin thought for a moment, his mind debating what to ask her. He didn't want to get too personal yet, but he didn't want to ask her something stupid like what her favourite colour was.

"Why do you always skip class?" He asked. "Be honest."

Annie stared at him. "That's what you're going to ask? Wow, alright." She seemed thoughtful for a moment. "I just don't want to go. I pass the class by getting A's on my tests anyway. I don't see the point."

The blond boy looked at her in wonder. "But how do you pass if you don't go to your classes?"

Annie smirked at him. "Maybe you should have asked that instead. You'll have to catch me again." She picked up her cup and messenger bag and stood, then started to walk out of the parlour. Armin sat there for a second then quickly lifted his bag and blizzard. He followed Annie out of the Dairy Queen and together the two strolled down the road. Like always, Armin snuck glances at Annie. She kept her gaze on the sidewalk. It may have just been his imagination, but he swore he saw her eyes flicker in his direction once or twice. He stared into her blue eyes, mesmerized by the icy colour of them. He was so enchanted that he ran into a light post with a loud thunk.

"Ouch!" He yelled for the second time that day as he rubbed his forehead.

Beside him, Annie giggled. Armin whipped his head in her direction. She had her hand over her mouth and a playful glint in her eyes. She took the hand off her mouth to reveal a small smile. Still rubbing his forehead, he beamed at her. "Hey, you smiled!"

Shock was visible on her face. She immediately replaced it with her normal stoic expression and looked away, but a faint blush was visible on her cheeks.

Armin felt disappointed that she stopped smiling. He thought it was a beautiful sight and was sad that he couldn't see it that much. Maybe he could change that later on. "Come on," he said, "lets just get you home."

She nodded and they continued down the street. They finally arrived at the apartment complex and paused in front of the little sidewalk to the door. "See you." She muttered as she walked up the sidewalk. Armin hesitated for a second, but jogged up to walk beside her. Annie raised an eyebrow at him. He smiled at her kindly. "I might as well walk you up to your apartment, right?"

Annie shrugged. "Do whatever." She said. Annie pulled open the door and the blonde's walked inside into the warmth. Annie said nothing as she walked through the run-down lobby and entered the elevator. Annie pressed the '8' button and the elevator shuddered and moved upward. Armin was slightly nervous. One reason being he was in a small space with Annie, and the other being he feared the elevator would start falling back down. Finally there was a ding and the doors creaked open and they both walked out of the death trap. Note to self, Armin thought, always use the stairs.

Armin escorted Annie down the hallway until she stopped walking. She dug through her bag until she found her house key. She shoved the key in the lock and turned it until she heard a click, then opened the door a crack. She turned back to stare at him in the eyes. "Uh, thanks for walking me home I guess. Bye."

He smiled fondly at her. "No problem at all. Bye!"

Annie pushed the door open the rest of the way and walked inside. A second before she shut it he saw what her apartment looked like. It was a small area that looked like a living room. There was a small couch with a TV, and the kitchen was somewhere hidden behind a wall. He heard Annie yell "I'm home!" before the door slammed shut.

Armin's smile was still plastered across his face as he skipped down the hall to the staircase.

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Happy (short) chapter :D woop woop! Haha hope you liked it.

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