Partnership

Chapter 13: Pain

Eren's pov:

I ran up the front steps of the school as I heard Levi honk his horn. I raised my hand and waved while running into the building. I ran to my locker and shoved my things in there and jogged to class. I barely made it as the late bell rang.

"Glad you could join us Mr. Jaeger" I smiled apologetically and quickly made my way to my seat next to Connie.

When the lesson resumed Connie leaned over and whispered, "Hey Eren thanks for covering me a couple of days ago. Sash came over and took care of me. Oh also, do you wanna eat lunch with me and Sash today?"

I shrugged, "Who's it all going to be? I know you like to hang out with a bunch of people so when you say you and Sash you actually mean you, Sash, and like five more people."

He laughed and shrugged. At that instant a marker came flying at both of our heads, I managed to see it in time to dodge it but Connie didn't and that resulted in laughter from the rest of the class.

"Mr. Jaeger and Mr. Springer, pay attention before I pull you both up here and make you read your worst essays out loud."

I blushed and Connie groaned we both knew we wrote some pretty crappy essays. "Sorry Mr. Zacharius, we'll pay attention."

He gave us one last glare and turned back to the board, not even a minute later Connie poked my arm and passed me a note.

You're right it's going to be me, Sash, Bertholdt, Reiner, Annie, Ymir, Krista, and you, Mikasa, and Armin if you guys decide to join.

I froze at the three names and bit my lip and wrote back.

Wow Connie. I didn't realize you hung out with this many people. Aren't Reiner and Annie the bullies of this school?

Connie smiled and wrote back.

They are but trust me their cool, they'd never hurt a friend.

I bit my lip again and sighed. But we're not friends... To them I'm their punching bag...

Thanks Connie but I uh...don't really feel comfortable with people I don't really know...Maybe next time though.

Connie rolled his eyes, dude come on! you seemed real buddy buddy with the dude from that new gym across from work. Yeah I saw you guys leaving together, guess who got stuck picking up your shift. I also noticed you arrived to school with the same guy, so if you can make friends that fast you should be fine. Come join us.

I sighed and put the note away and whispered, "Fine just this once but I have to see what the others say first, I'll text you."

"Sweet dude"

The rest of class passed while I doodled. When I met up with Mikasa and Armin after class and talked to them about lunch they agreed so I reluctantly texted Connie we'd be joining them.

*Lunch time*

We met Connie and Sasha by the lockers and walked to the cafeteria together, we all grabbed our food and made our way outside under a tree where we could see some people sitting already.

I gulped and followed everyone keeping my eyes down on my tray. I could feel everyone staring at us. Connie was the first to speak.

"Hey guys, this is my friends Armin, Mikasa, and Eren." He sat down by Sasha who was already gulping down her food. The three of us slowly sat down after everyone said hello.

"So Eren, have you joined the art club like we discussed?" Armin just had to speak up and i found myself looking up at him a little annoyed.

I cleared my throat and nodded, "Um yeah....I actually did join."