Not because I wanted to

Armin was once a victim of bullying, though he had two friends, they couldn't always be there for him.


"Hey, Armin?" Eren said trying to get the blondes attention, turning his head away from the convocation he was having, Armin gave his attention to his friend. "Yes Eren?" Armin asked, "Me and Mikasa are going out of town for a family vacation, so I can't come over this weekend." Eren said scratching the back of his neck, Armin just smiled, "It's alright, family comes first, right?" Eren smiled. "Glad you understand, buddy!"

The school bell rang signaling it was time to go to their next class, Armin closed his locker once he had all his school books for the next class. Saying goodbye to Eren, Armin made his way down the school hall.

As Armin was walking he was making sure he had everything he needed, but once he looked up from his books he bumped into something, or someone. Dropping his books they hit the marble floor, "Oh, I'm sorry!" Armin said as he crouched down to pick up what he dropped, once he picked up one book he saw the person he bumped into crouch down with him. "Oh, it's fine! I got this." Armin said before he looked to see who was helping him, a fellow schoolmate of his, Annie Leonhardt. Annie looked at Armin with her icy blue eyes, some find her look intimidating, Armin though found her eyes to be interesting and beautiful. "Would you rather want me to leave?" Annie asked, her face still giving that bored look, "No, I uh…" Armin felt embarrassed, he admired Annie from afar but never really talked to her. Annie slightly shrugged and continued to help pick up the blonde boys stuff. When picking up his books, Armin accidentally touched Annies hand as she was grabbing for the same book, Armin flinched back slightly and looked up to see what Annies reaction was, she still had that bored look on her face.

When they were done picking up Armins stuff Annie went on her way, "Uh, thanks Annie." Armin said, Annie turned around to meet the blonde boys eyes, "Don't mention it, you should get to class Mr. President." Annie then turned back and left Armin just standing there.

Through out the school day Armin thought about his encounter with Annie, her touch was familiar for some reason. "Why was that?" Armin thought as he wrote in his notebook, he tried hard to remember if he's seen her before he entered Kyojin High.


Three days passed and Armin couldn't figure out how Annie was familiar, he couldn't ask Eren and Mikasa, they were out of town.

As Armin walked home, he kept on thinking. "Hey, Armin." A voice called from behind, Armin turned around to see three boys, he remembered them, bullies from before he met Eren and Mikasa. Before Armin could say anything he was being pulled into a nearby alleyway, Armin lost his breath for a moment when he was pushed against the wall. "What do you want?" Armin finally said, the boys snickered, "We just want to have some fun." the tallest out of the three held Armin up by the collar. "Jeager and Ackerman aren't here to save you now." The boy held up his fist ready to hit, Armin shut his eyes prepared, tears almost dripping down his face, "What are you doing?" a voice came from the street.

Opening his eyes Armin was surprised to see who it was, it was Annie, her face still having that bored look but having worry in her eyes. "Get out of here girl!" One boy said, Annies eyes turned their attention to the one boy, "No." Annie simply put. The boy, now angered, walked up to Annie about to hit her. Annie was to quick, she dodged the punch, grabbed the boys arm and tripped him, making him fall to the ground on his back. "Leave." Annie said a hint of anger in her voice, the bullies now scared ran for their lives.

Annie walked up to Armin who was now sitting against the wall, "Are you okay?" Annie asked as she put out a hand to help Armin up, "Yeah." Armin took her hand then remembered why her touch felt so familiar.

"Are you okay?" A little girl said as she held out her hand to the wounded Armin, "Yeah." Armin said as he took her hand, the girl pulled him up, "Thats good." the girl smiled. "Miss Leonhardt, where are you?" A voice called out, "Be right there!" the girl called back, she then pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the tears and dirt off Armin. "See you around, Mr. President." The girl said as she ran away.

"I remember now." Armin said, Annie stood there confused, "You helped me out before Annie." Annie tilted her head a bit, "Yeah, when you bumped into me. You saying you should repay me? Don't." Annie said about to walk away, Armin grabbed the arm of her hoodie, "No, you saved me before. When we were children." Armin finally said, Annie raised one eyebrow, "So?" Armin let go of Annie, "So, you saved me, and I never got to thank you."

"Yeah, you're welcome." Annie began to walk again.

"You know," Armin started, "I fell in love with that girl." Annie stopped walking and turned around to see a blushing Armin, "I just did it because I was there, not because I wanted to Mr. President." Annie finally said, Armin smiled. "I know."

Annie sighed, "I don't want to be in a relationship." Armin frowned a bit, "But I guess we can be friends." Armin went back to his usual smile.

After the event, Armin and Annie became close friends.




"Did I do it because I was there?"