Athenus •armin ✗ reader •

Terpsichore

The day of the dance was finally here and I couldn't wait for that bell to ring so the girls and I could head back to Peicks to start the ritual. In my opinion, getting ready for the dance is just as fun as the actual dance. Doing makeup, complimenting every step of everyone's preparation, the excitement.

I was nervous however for the dress part, I never found a dress but Peick assured me she had one from junior year that would fit. I knew it would either be an emerald green ankle length with a slit down the side of the leg and a v-neck or a knee length dark red dress with a box cut and big black belt.

Peick had this cool attic-room with a closet so as we all flooded into her room, one by one we all took our turn to get changed until it was finally my time to shine in peicks mystery dress.

"So peick, are you finally going to shine the spotlight on this dress of mine or what?"

"Yeah, yeah, I was just so excited to see you in this, I had to save the best till last!"

Well, no one whos ever met peick has referred to her as normal, so her seemingly suspicious behaviour to most was just the average peick for our friend group. That's why it took me by surprise as peick pulled out THE dress. Yes, it was that perfect perfect dress from the store that was too expensive for me, but apparently not for peick. Honestly, it was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for me.

"Oh my gosh peick it's... I don't... how did you?"

I gave peick the biggest hug ever before i giddily ran into her closet to get changed. Peick being the sweetheart she was had also left out a pair of shoes that couldnt go any better with the dress. I was a bit hopeless with fashion sometimes so this little act melted my heart even more, i felt like butter in a hot pan at this point.

With my perfect outfit and matching friends, we all loaded into Peicks daddy's car and made our way to school. As we got out the car, we were swarmed by the paparazi the student council hired for all the school dances, ensuring my killer dress would be frozen in time forever, though my eyes were shining so bright with happiness i swear they could have blinded he cameras.

Once we'd finally headed inside, the dance had aleady been in full swing for some time. Peick says we were fashionably late but i'm pretty sure we had just been late late and she was making ecusess for the fact it was her fault after re-doing her makeup three times over. As we walked in, i noticed one pair of eyes in particular instantly settle on me. Armins.

As much as i hated to admit it he looked incredibly good in his suit. The black helped to enhance his naural pale skin with flushed cheecks, his blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. The way the suit was fitted really excentuated his unepected muscular physique.

The second Amin and I's eyes met i felt that same sick feeling as my stomach dropped and the heat in my cheeks rise. Sadl, the next second, the second after our eyes connected, he looked away, continuing his conversation with Eren. Dissapointed, I decided to just follow my friends over to the punch and honestly hope it tasted a but funny...

After a solid hour or so of laughing, dancing and juicy conversations, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around to be met by the crystal blue eyes of none other than Armin Arlert.

"Hey could i talk to you for a second"

"uhh sure."

I followed him over to the wall a few feet away from our table. He definitley seemed a bit nervous if you asked me.

"So, how did your exams go?"

"Yeah they went good thanks. I'm guessing yours were easy as usual?"

"Yeah... you uhm, I like your dress, It compliments the eyes, your eyes i mean."

"thanks, peick got it for me."

Before the awkward conversation continued further Reiner interupted us.

"Come on we gotta dance to this it's our song."

"Yeah yeah im coming. sorry Armin ill talk to you later."

I looked back at Armin as Reiner and I headed towards the dance floor to see a mix of anger and sadness on his face. As much as i wanted to see if he was ok oddly enough, i couldn't just leave Reiner.

After dancing for a bit with my friends i decided to go and check on Armin. I didnt know exactly what was wrong with him but i did see him chugging alot of 'definitley not spiked' punch before dissapearing into the crowd. I will admit i may have also had one or two or five cups of the 'definitley not spiked' punch which is probably why i was being so nice to Armin. I also thought about that intimate moment we shared at the gas station in maryland and how he was there for me, fuelling my passion to comfort Armin even more so than the punch.

I slugged into the school hallway, my eyes taking a second to adjust to the bright florescent lights compared to the dim and dark hall. The mixture of my eyes taking a while to adjust to the new lighting and the prescence of alcohol in my system caused me to accidentaly enter the boys bathroom which was right next to my destination, the big disabled bathroom with the big mirror so i could re-djust myself.

My embarrissing mistake both became worse and at the same time completed half my mission when i saw none other than Armin Arlert stood at the sinks.

"Sorry I think im in the wrong bathroom" I jumbled out apparently not sarcastically enough.

"No shit"

"jeez whats up with you? I saw you chugging that 95% not punch earlier, you ok?"

"what do you care"

"Honestly I may have had a bit myself so my actions are mostly punch. But also after all those hours spent together i think we're friends and therefore I, you know, kinda care about you or whatever"

I looked up from staring at the floor to realise our faces were inches away from eachother. I felt the air prickle my skin like a thousand tiny needles as my eyes stared into his. I noticed his eyes slowly trail down to my lips. My heart hitched a beat as we stood in our mesmerized states. My body felt as if it were moving by itself as my face inched closer to his ever so subtly. As armin slowly moved his face towards mine I heard the door bang open and a very intoxicated Eren stumbled in.

Without a single word I fled the scene and straight back into the dark hall. Luckily Reiner was good to drive so i begged him to take me home. The entire ride back i just stared into the pitch black streets, my mind still in that bathroom, staring at Armin. Reiner, being the good friend he was, made sure I got to my bed safe and sound considering I was clumsy enough without alcohol.

I just lay there, I couldn't help wonder what would have happened if Eren

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A/N: i know I know it's been forever but hopefully this development made up for it 🤭