The Month Of May

Chapter 25

THE EVALUATIONS WERE DONE, AND NOW, ALL WE COULD DO WAS AWAIT THE RESULTS.

We were all standing around in the training grounds anxiously waiting. I couldn't stop myself from pacing back and forth, my feet prodding against the ground softly. What was I going to do if I didn't make it in? How embarrassing...I'd have to go home and reveal that I wasn't good enough to fight, that I simply wasn't capable of being a soldier. My parents would be so disappointed to know I hadn't made it in...Especially since Annie would be right there. She, of course, was going to make it in...!

Ugh, stop stressing out...I have to stay calm. I did well. I just have to believe in my own abilities for a little bit...

That's impossible! I'm about as strong as a baby! How am I supposed to believe in that?

"Armin, I don't think you need to worry," Annie's sharp voice interrupted my scattered thoughts. I shook my head, fully about to argue with her when Eren cut me off.

"She's right!" Eren gave a thumbs-up. "I saw you out there, and you were doing great! Ten out of ten!"

"Wha-You saw me!? But the tests were individual-"

"Okay, so Annie and I did a little sneaking," Eren laughed dismissively, and for some reason, I could feel a wave of jealousy rush through me. Maybe they had gotten close, just like I had said. Closer than I wanted, really. I mean, it wasn't fair for me to say she couldn't be friends with people, of course I wanted her to have friends, but I...I don't know. The thought of Annie and Eren alone bothered me more than I liked to admit.

I wasn't the only one irritated by that, either.

"I tried to stop them," Mikasa sulked, a despondent look in her steel gray eyes. "They wouldn't listen to me. You have no idea how much trouble you'd be in if you were caught. It was foolish."

"It was fun! And we didn't get caught, so whatever. We're just tryna look out for our buddy Armin," Eren smiled cheerfully, mischief written all over his face. "And it worked! You're totally getting in. Hange was so impressed with the written section and your strategical merit!"

"You make me sound like I actually did well," I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, feeling my cheeks flush red. "I know I failed the omni-directional movement gear part, and that was the most important...They can't let me out of the walls if I can't glide over the oceans outside."

Annie's entire posture stiffened, and she glanced downward, letting her bangs fall into her face before she spoke.

"You'll be fine, Armin. You didn't do terribly enough for them to kick you out. Trust me."

"See, Annie thinks you did fine," Eren's green eyes flashed with unbridled excitement, and he fist pumped into the air. "She's going to score top ten, so I think you should trust her!"

Double teaming again. This time, Mikasa's head shot up, and she didn't hesitate to cut the air with her sharp, menacing words.

"Well, I'm going to score in the top spot, so maybe you should consider my opinion carefully," Mikasa hissed lowly. It was the most hostile I'd ever seen her. "Annie is a monster and a mistake. We need to separate from her before we get betrayed."

"Mikasa!" I had protested before I even knew the words came out of my mouth. "Annie is a friend, just like you, and I won't stand to hear you spew such hateful words. You haven't even given her a chance, you haven't even seen how kind Annie is!"

"No, Armin. She's right," Annis said calmly and smoothly, immediately making me halt in place. "I am just a mistake."

"Well if you are, you're the best mistake that's ever stumbled into my life. I won't stand for this," I held my hand out toward Annie, and after a moment of hesitation, she took it. I shook my head before opening my mouth once more. "We're leaving. Eren, you're welcome to join."

With that, I walked away, holding Annie's hand tightly in mine. She didn't say anything as we walked to the other side of the training grounds, far away from Mikasa's hostile glare. Eren had stayed behind, presumably to stop Mikasa from following.

"Sorry about all that," I apologized. "I don't know what she's thinking...but she's wrong."

"...You're too nice to me," was all Annie said in response. "I don't know why you trust me over your longtime friend."

"I don't think you see the good in yourself," I disagreed, looking her in her icy blue eyes seriously. Our faces were just a few inches apart. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit. Besides, longtime friend or not, what she was saying is uncalled for. She should respect my friendships."

Annie bit her lip before she began to fidget with the silvery ring on her finger.

"Armin..."

She was interrupted by the sound of a paper being nailed to the board. Our attention tore away from our conversation to the paper, which was being frantically read over by everyone. Shadis was standing next to the board with a different paper in his hands, reading off the top ten. I pulled us toward the board, but the sound of two names being yelled stopped us both in our tracks.

Shadis had yelled...our names.

We were both in the top ten.