A Second Chance (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 24

The tutoring center was filled with warmth and chatter; a small wave of snowflakes continued collecting against the large windows while people continued their conversations. The scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faint sound of papers and soft voices. You glanced at the clock on the wall, the orange reflections of the outside shining over the numbers. Annie was set to arrive any minute, and despite the complicated mess of your personal life, you couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement.

When the doors finally opened and Annie walked in, a smile of relief tugged at your lips. Her blonde hair was sitting freely over her shoulders, a style you hadn't seen before. When her blue eyes landed on your seated figure, her brows visibly softened. Lifting an arm, you beckoned her over. 

"Hey, Annie," you greeted, watching the girl move closer toward you. "You can set your coat over here. Did you bring those lab exercises?"

Annie nodded, taking the seat across from you. While she shuffled through her folder, placing sheets of paper in front of you, you couldn't help but feel relief when you recognized the set of questions. You handed her your old notebook, watching her eyes glaze over the mix of numbers and doodles you had left in the margins. For the next hour, the two of you went over the subject matter, matching up the answers you had gotten the year prior. Annie would occasionally laugh at the jokes you made, mostly when they consisted of Porco's weird study habits. Her laughter was a small victory in itself; seeing her relax made you feel like you were at least doing something right.

From the corner of your eye, you noticed Armin's gaze flickering towards your table as the two of you began to wrap up. He was in the middle of tidying up his station, but his attention was clearly divided. You watched his feet point toward your table, signaling that he was getting ready to head your way. You absentmindedly began to tap your pencil against the table, a habit you've grown used to since you started tutoring. This was it.

Sure enough, the shadow of Armin's figure grew closer, until it stopped over the pages littered in front of you. You swallowed down the saliva that had collected in your mouth, finally lifting your gaze toward his awaiting stature.

"What subject are you going over?" Armin asked, his voice casual but with a hint of curiosity.

"This isn't a paid session," you replied, trying to keep your tone light. "I'm just helping out a friend." You continued, a pang of guilt forming in the pit of your stomach. To think that this simple act of kindness was part of a larger scheme. It felt dirty. Like you were no better than Armin and his twisted antics.

Still, Annie tensed up at your comment, her usual stoic demeanor softening. Armin's interest visibly shifted towards her, and you could see that bone-chilling gleam in his eyes. "I remember you from last semester," he said, addressing Annie. "You always sat by yourself in class."

Annie looked up, her expression calm despite the slight pink growing in her cheeks. "Yeah, I prefer to focus on the lectures," she replied, her voice steady. "But I do remember seeing you around."

Armin smiled, seemingly encouraged by her response. "I always thought you seemed really focused. What are you working on now?"

Annie glanced at the notes in front of her, then back at Armin. "Chemistry. It's not my strongest subject."

Armin nodded at that, looking at your notebook with genuine interest. You began to feel somewhat embarrassed when his eyes scanned over your random doodles. "I'm teaching this subject to one of my other students," he continued anyway. "If you ever need any help, don't hesitate to ask."