Year: 847

Age: 12

Location: Training Grounds, 3DMG Testing

I felt the belt tighten as I was lifted off of the ground, my feet rising away from the dirt. I crossed my arms, staying steady. Some asshole named Jean was next to me, a snarky grin on his face before he started wobbling.

Apparently he was from the same district as me; Trost. Glad I never met him before. I moved my head side to side to see the other trainees struggling more than me or Mikasa.

After the testing, we were free to roam for a little bit. I went to sit on a gray rock, looking at the blue sky. I rubbed the splash of freckles across my face, itching slightly.

"Hey, Kati, don't run off like that," a familiar voice said, then footsteps getting closer. Sam pulled up next to me, the eleven-year-old leaning on the rock.

"I'll run off if I want to," I said, my hand habitually moving to my hair. I started twirling and untwirling it around my finger.

"But you shouldn't. At least tell me when you are."

"I'm the older one here. You're lucky they let you train a year early."

"It's because I'm so awesome," he replied, puffing his chest out.

"I'm pretty sure it's because you begged for them to."

"Well, I've never been without you... You can't blame me," he said, pursing his lips and looking away.

"And that's how I plan to keep things. I won't leave you, ever," I said, ruffling his hair and beaming at him.

A wide smile, a plan to kill.

He smiled back, some of his freckles disappearing into thin lines. He had shaken off our parents' deaths, his young innocence still burning brightly.

"Hey, Kati!" Reiner yelled from the main training grounds.

I looked over my shoulder. "What?!" I shouted back.

"Come over here!"

I rolled my eyes, sliding off of the rock and jogging over. "What do you want, blondie?"

"Bertholdt really likes you."

"Reiner, stop lying," Annie said coldly, looking over at him. "He doesn't, Reiner just feels like being a jackass."

"GEEZ, REINER, STOP BEING SUCH A D*CK!" I yelled, flailing my arms.

"When you try your best but you don't succeed," Reiner said to himself, clenching his fist.

"Why are you so intent on getting us together, Annie-way?" I asked, snickering at my pun.

"I hate you all" was Annie's response as she walked away.

"You're one of the few people who actually compare to his height--"

"I'm 170 centimeters, and he's almost 190," I replied, rolling my eyes. "And what does height have to do with getting together?"

"I don't know, but we should go eat." He started walking towards the mess hall.

"Bertholdt, why are you his friend?"

"Sometimes I wonder..." he said quietly.