𝚁 𝙴 𝙵 𝙻 𝙴 𝙲 𝚃 𝙸 𝙾 𝙽 | 𝙴𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚂 𝙴 𝚅 𝙴 𝙽

I sighed, feeling all the more exhausted for a Monday afternoon, and made my way to find my friends at lunch. Everyone was in their usual spots, eating away.

Jean called me over once he saw me approach the table.

"Damn, babe! Lunch is almost over. Did Mr. Ackerman make you clean the entire class or something?" He joked as he leaned in to give me a quick kiss—instantly making me feel better.

I hugged him tightly and joined him at the table.

"I wish," I said, plopping down in my seat. "He more or less decides whether I get to graduate or not now." I rolled my eyes, putting my head in my hands as I explained the whole situation about not wanting to work with Eren and the social campaign project.

"Seriously? He expects you to work with that whiny bitch?" Ymir exclaimed.

I nodded, sighing.

"I wouldn't even work with Eren, and he isn't even out to get me like he is you," Reiner pitched in. I noticed him and Bertholdt were actually here for lunch today. Bertholdt nodded his head in agreement.

"I didn't even know something like that existed," Annie said, frowning. "Since when was that a senior year project?"

"No idea," I admitted. I remembered hearing about it somewhat throughout my other years at the school, but it was always different every year—some big way of raising awareness for different issues around the world. Yet the way Mr. Ackerman said it made it sound like this was life or death.

"Can't you just ask him if there's another way you can make up for the report?" Marco asked with concern.

"Right?! Can't you just give an even longer report or something?" Ymir exclaimed.

"I dunno, he seemed pretty dead set on that being the only option. I have until tomorrow to decide," I swallowed, "with Eren."

"He can stay the hell away from my girl—I don't need him messing with you for the next few months," Jean said to me angrily. Not anger towards me—but at his bestie, Eren.

"He already refused to work with me anyway."

Annie shook her head. "We'll find another way. Did you want me to talk to Mr. Ackerman about it? I might be able to persuade him."

I stared at her, not knowing what to say. Annie would really try and persuade the strictest teacher in this school for me? I supposed only she would be able to stand up to him that way. "Nono, don't worry about it, Annie. I couldn't ask you to do that—I'm not going to risk your life just for me to graduate."

Historia giggled. "Anyone in their right mind would be afraid of him."

Annie chuckled. "I'm sure I could handle him." She shrugged. "Just say the word and it's done." I smiled at her appreciatively.

"Phew, I wouldn't wanna be Mr. Ackerman in that situation," Bertholdt said, earning a laugh from everyone.

——————————————————————————

I went to Math and History once lunch was over, making a blatant point to ignore Eren completely during last period. I'm sure the last thing he wanted was to interact with me anyway.

Sitting beside Annie when the ball rang, I began packing up my things.

I noticed Eren storming out as soon as the bell finished ringing.

"Yikes, looks like someone isn't too happy about failing," Annie remarked.

I laughed, when someone said my name from behind me.