Chapter 3: Morning

Sasha's morning lie-in was interrupted by her father's vacuum cleaner downstairs. After little resistance, Sasha finally slide out of her bed, walked down to her kitchen to have her breakfast (cheerios and four slices of toast) and then had a shower.

After drying herself off and selecting her clothes for tonight's party her phone started buzzing. Ever the distracted one, she immediately picks it up to find the goddess trying to phone her. Sasha answers.

'Hey, Sash. I'm just doing a quick check on everyone, okay?'

'Sure.' Sasha said naturally. It was the usual Krista thing to do to phone everybody up to make sure everything is going to run smoothly. She was a worrier but Sasha didn't mind.

'So, you still coming?'

'Is that REALLY a question?' She heard her friend giggle on the other end, before replaying; 'I'll take that as a 'yes'.'

'You should know, more than everyone, this: where there is a party, there is food. Where there is food, there is me – eating the food.'

Sasha felt like patting herself on the back for making such a statement up on the spot. Normally in situations like these, Connie would give her a whoop or two. Instead Krista replied 'Dully noted.'

Acceptable response.

'Is Ymir still picking me up?'

'Yeah, at...' Sasha could hear from her end the pages of Krista' notepad being flipped over. 'Yeah...14:00.'

Sasha could not wait for the party. If you could ask anyone who held the best parties everyone would say that Krista. They would be outside on the mansion's grounds, where there would be a wide area for the food out on top of a long table. Later antics would ensure with everybody moving indoors with drinking, chatting and music playing. Krista' parents are normally away for times like these leaving all trust and responsibility to Krista.

Sasha then thought of all the antics that would come about at these times; her and Connie walking around doing silly things, Reiner boasting to Annie and Bertolt, Eren and Jean arguing, Mikasa helping people, while Armin-

Armin...

Sasha suddenly felt sorry for Armin. She knows from memory that parties are not Armin' thing. Most times he would normally not show leaving Eren and Mikasa to explain why. One the few times he did show up, he would arrive with Eren and Mikasa and just stand in a corner away from the rest of the commotion and have a small drink of something, while waiting for his two best friends to talk to him or take him home.

Sasha always felt sorry for him. She could never understand why he felt like a stranger surrounded by friends who loved and respected him. Whenever she was not drunk and with Connie, she would walk over and speak to him. He would smile for having someone to talk to which made the party experience less awkward for him.

Will he show tonight?

'Sasha, you still there?'

'OH!' A sudden jolt back to the present made Sasha lose her thought. 'Yes. Still here. Er...'

Thoughts ASSEMBLE!

'Is that everything you wanted to know, Sasha?' Inquired Krista.

Sasha quickly thought back to Armin and his attendance. It wouldn't hurt to ask if he is coming? Then again it's Krista. She's not as bad a Ymir when it comes to teasing so there is a positive there.

'Well...' She gripped the phone tightly.

'Sash?' Krista replied, concerned this time.

It now or never.

'Listen, can you tell me something and not make fun of me?'

There is a long silent pause on the other end. 'Sasha, I'm your friend. You can ask me anything in the world. Ask away.'

The pressure is one. Sasha takes a deep breath before unloading her tongue from her mouth.

'Have you asked Armin if he is coming?'

Deep breath, Sasha.

Heavy breathing ensured. She could feel Krista' smirk on the surface of the phone.

'Well, not yet. I'm going to ask Eren or Mikasa if he is-'

'I'll ask him!' Sasha triggered. 'I'm going to ask him to help me on homework today. I'll ask him myself.' Sasha was impressed with herself for formulating such a plan by herself in such an instant.

'Oh, okay. I'll see you later then. Good luck.'

Krista' blessing was always a good token of her gesture. She was always genuine when she meant it and would never fake it, especially to someone like Sasha. Sasha was going to need Krista' luck for this boy.

'Thanks.' Sasha replied smiling. The call ended with a deep breath and a plan formulating in the brunette's head.