Nicotine (Eremin)

Chapter 11

February

Armin's POV

         I was almost out of Pennsylvania. I was in Pittsburgh, and I was planning on taking an overnight bus to Steubenville, Ohio. It was still really far from California, but it was a start. Plus I had been only walking for the past few days, and my legs felt like they were one step away from detaching from my body. 

        It was also a few days since I've last called Eren. I was barely staying alive as is, and I couldn't afford to make a call right now. Just yesterday, I ate half of a burger from a Mcdonald's bag from a trash can. My mouth still felt gross from it, but I was starving. 

        I did try to take another wallet at a diner two days ago, but I almost got caught. I decided that I would have to lay low for a while. 

        Stealing wallets really wasn't hard, if you were observant enough. Whenever I went to a diner, I would sir at the bar next to someone. If they were careless enough, they'd slip their wallet in their jacket pocket, and as I was getting up, I just had to bump into said customer, and take it. Only, the last person I tried this on was wearing a light jacket and felt my hand in his pocket. He glared at me, and I apologized like it was an accident. 

        I had a few more things that I had either bought, or taken from a lost and found. Actually, I had bought a toothbrush, and a travel sized tube of toothpaste and that was it. I had also stolen some socks, a hat, and some kid's backpack. Unfortunately, it was a My Little Pony backpack with wings attached. 

        Now I wasn't only a dumb homeless kid, but I was a dumb homeless kid with a pony themed backpack. 

        When I walked up to the bus station, I started to feel really self conscious. My greasy hair was in a messy ponytail, and I hadn't showered in a week. I probaby smelled, and I looked pretty gross too. 

        But I was surrounded with people who knew where they were going. People who had something to do; someone to go home to. Someone that they loved. 

        I didn't even have a home, much less anyone who loved me. 

        Sure, I had Eren, but we're just friends. I'm sure as hell my grandfather didn't care anymore. I just had to get to California, and I'm sure I could figure something out. 

        I didn't even know how to feel anymore. I was cold, hungry, and I felt kind of sad. I felt sad knowing that there wasn't anyone besides Eren who cared. 

        My grandpa didn't care.

        Petra caused all of this, and I was sure as hell she didn't care. 

        I was starting to feel like the whole world was against me and I didn't know what to do.

        I felt powerless, standing in a crowd of people wearing all black. I was the only kid with weird hair and a pony backpack. 

        I felt abandoned. 

        I didn't know what to do.