New Kids (ERERI) *Currently Rewriting*

Chapter 18 (Rewritten)

Eren's POV

College acceptance letters...the one time where my anxiety would be through the roof. The last time my anxiety was this bad was when I received my acceptance letter to Wings of Freedom Academy, and I would be experiencing the same thing just for a letter that would say I was accepted, denied, or waitlisted into the college I've been wanting to go to.

"Are you okay, 'Ren?" Armin patted the back of my shoulder as I was zoning out in art class. "Huh!?", I said a little too loud, earning a few glances from our classmates and even from Ms. Pieck. She glared at me to which I sunk into my seat a little, and turned to face Armin.

"What's wrong?", a look of worry appeared on his face. Yet, he still had a small smile that managed to calm me down just a little bit. "Three words", I held up three fingers to Armins face. "College. Acceptance. Letters", I said and right on cue was when the bell rang for class to start.

I've always set high standards for myself my entire life. I knew what I was capable of and I knew that it would make my parents proud that I got into my dream college, even if they were rarely home to help me celebrate my biggest accomplishments. I've always wanted to pursue something in arts, like maybe a Graphic Designer? Animation? Maybe become an Art Teacher? There's so many to do and just thinking about that put a big smile on my face.

"Eren, don't stress about it! You applied to like what? Five colleges! You'll get into all of them including your dream college—Stohess University, the finest university with the most amazing Bachelors in Arts program. You're amazing, Eren. You know that yourself", Armin whispered as Ms. Pieck's voice filled the whole classroom.

"That's the last letter I'm waiting for! I already have the four letters but I don't want to open it until I have all five", I said as I ran my fingers through my hair and averted my attention to Ms. Pieck.

"Have you gotten any letters yet?", I whispered to Armin while still looking at Ms. Pieck. "I did, and guess what", I turned to look at him and saw the biggest smile plastered on the blondie's face. I tilted my head and said "What?"

"I got into Sina University!", we both celebrated quietly by giving each other a high-five and dancing in our chair which earned us some weird looks from our classmates.

"We have to celebrate! Does Mikasa know?"

Armin nodded his head 'no'. "You're the second person I've told. The first being Erwin. But we should celebrate when the two of you guys get your acceptance letters. Let's all get blackout drunk with Erwin, Hange, and Levi!" He said a little too excitingly. Just before New Year's, Erwin finally asked Armin to be his boyfriend after how many months of convincing him to ask him out. Everyone was so happy that they were finally official and I couldn't be any more happier for him. Our coconut head of a friend was growing up.

"Oh god...sure Armin. I'm not sure how I am drunk but I'm excited", I winked at him and now all of our attention was on Ms. Pieck.

I observed Ms. Pieck write down today's agenda on the white board with a black dry erase marker. "I hope you guys didn't forget about today", she announced as she scanned the entire classroom. "Before we went on winter break, I asked you guys to turn in your rough drafts. Well, you will be presenting your drafts, today!", everyone in the class groaned— including myself and Armin.

"Ohmygod...they're gonna see the shitty drawing of my car", Armin and I snorted at that. "If only they can see how sexy it is in person", I clicked my tongue at him as he playfully slapped my shoulder.

"We'll be going in alphabetical order. First one being Armin! I'll put your drawing up on the screen", I snickered at him as he quietly cussed at her under his breath. I watched as Ms. Pieck made her way to her laptop and in a few moments, Armin's God awful drawing of his Camry showed up on the white board, earning a few giggles from other students. "Class! It is a rough draft, so please refrain from laughing. We will present our finals at the end of the school year which will be hung up all over the classroom so each student can take their time looking at each drawing", she finished off.