Hi everyone! I want to dedicate this to Mrs. Happy Anarchy and Sheylly234554! Thanks for the review and sorry for neglecting this story for the longest time. I hope this makes you happy. I want to thank all the readers of this story and I hope you enjoy it. I can't believe that I still miss this ship so much. They truly would've saved the show.
She tried not to let the anger show on her face, as she approached John tentatively. She knew he had seen the whole thing, and that there was no way to spin it. She reached out to hug him and he hugged her back tightly and John could feel Stephen staring at the both of them. Astrid couldn't help but wonder what John's face looked like as he embraced her. For a mere moment she thought a hug is a dangerous thing, for who could know what the other's face is expressing, while you are pressed up against them? Was John glowering at Stephen now or did he have a smug smile on his face as her best friend looked on? She should not be thinking about Stephen right now. It wasn't right.
John knew it would be better to ignore him, after all he was the bigger man in this situation and Stephen was just a kid. He closed his eyes and took comfort in Astrid's hair which smelled of coconut mixed with a hint of her Eternity perfume.
When they separated he held onto Astrid's hand and asked for her backpack.
"Ready to go?" he asked her, as he insisted on carrying her backpack for her. She looked into his cerulean eyes and smiled as she handed it over. She could get used to do this. "How was your day?"
"It was all right. I'm kind of pissed actually," she responded. She bounced her shoulders up and down as she walked; loving that she wasn't carrying her backpack.
Here is when John thought that Astrid was going to mention what happened with Stephen.
"About what?" he asked.
Astrid bit her lower lip hard before answering. "I got a 95 on a test."
"That's great. What the hell? John asked looking at her confused.
"Yeah, but I feel foolish for even getting that one question wrong. It was easy too. I just wasn't paying attention."
John laughed and thought so Astrid is one of those high achieving students.
"Why didn't you just use your powers?" John inquired.
"First all, they are not my powers, they are your powers and I have never cheated in my life."
"I'm sure you have let people cheat off you, right?" John questioned.
"Yeah I have," she admitted. She had let Stephen cheat off her dozens of times but she did not want to be thinking about him right now.
"Where to now?" he asked.
"Well, do you want to come over? My parents won't be back until midnight. "
"Sure," he said, smiling. "I really do not know how you carry this thing. It is so heavy."
"I'm just used to it," she said as they finally arrived at her house.
"So, what do you do when you first get home?"
"Get a snack and then I start doing my homework but today's Friday so it can wait."
John followed her into the kitchen and placed her backpack next to the chair and the table.
"What would you like to drink?" She asked him. " I have orange juice, lemonade, water."
"I'll have some orange juice." He took of his leather jacket and placed it on the chair.
She poured their drinks and she talked about how she accidentally hit someone with a basketball at gym today.
John began to laugh and she swatted at him and pretended not to give him his drink because he was still chuckling. She gave in and slid the cup over.
"I can make a really great sandwich."
"Really? Show me then."
Astrid watched him from the island with a flutter in her stomach as she saw him make the sandwiches for them. She could get used to this she thought. A few minutes later he presented her with a beautiful sandwich like the ones that you see in a commercial. She ate the whole thing quickly and sighed in contentment as she watched him eat.
"Someone was really hungry," John said, popping in the last bite into his mouth.
"Let's go to my room," she said, leading the way with John trailing behind her.
Opening the door, John felt the same sense of calm he always felt when he was there from last time. It was so bright and they sat by the bay window and looked outside.
"Remember when we sat here because you didn't want to go out."
She nodded and remembered. "Oh my gosh, what the hell was I wearing that day?! That big gray sweater." She said, turning away from him.
"I liked that sweater," he said. "I did. You do have access to my thoughts. Find out."
"Yeah, whatever," she stated. "I'm not going to look into your thoughts if I can help it."
John opened his mouth to speak but closed it.
"What were you going to say?" Astrid asked.
John bit his bottom lip. "John, you have to let me in." John had a flashback and was instantly reminded that Cara had said the same thing to him once. He also remembered what he had done when she had said that. No this has to be different he told himself. As badly as he wanted to kiss Astrid right now she might see right through him. That he sometimes uses affection to hide instead of voicing his concerns.
"All I was going to say was thanks. Thanks for not accessing them."
"Well I know what it feels like when someone invades your privacy," she said.
"Stephen would do that, wouldn't he?"
Astrid nodded. "Maybe he didn't mean to, but when he did, I felt so, so vulnerable. Enough about me. What did you do today?"
"Russell came and teleported me down to the lair. Cara didn't even say hi to me, since I broke up with her a couple of months ago. I could tell she didn't want me there but I needed to upgrade TIM so she made an exception."
Astrid sighed in exasperation imagining Cara's expression. She felt a sudden fear as she thought about Cara's eyes, though they were very pretty, but when she stared at you fiercely all you wanted to do was look away.
"So how long did it take to upgrade TIM?"
"Only about two hours, which was good."
"Where are you staying?"
"Well I was staying at Stephen's but he is getting on my nerves."
Astrid didn't want to hide what happened. "I know you saw what happened at the courtyard today at school."
There it was John thought. He was glad she hadn't tried to suppress it and act like it didn't happen. "It seems like only months ago I would've been so excited for him to kiss me and now I just feel so confused and frustrated."
John had a hardened look in his eyes and he asked, "What do you want, Astrid?" His heart was beating frantically as if he had been told the world was going to end.
"I just want this awkwardness among all of us to end. I want things to go back to the way they were. I want us all to be friends and not have it be weird. How about you, what do you want?"
John gulped as his eyes softened at what she said. "I don't like drama too, but I can't agree with what you just said, Astrid. I don't want to be just friends with you and I think you know that."
"Things are so good between us now. I'm just…" Astrid said, facing him.
John mirrored her posture. "You're just what? Do you still, do you still love Stephen?" he asked softly. It was hard for him to say that out loud and it was something that kept gnawing at him.
The air was charged with uncertainty and John fully faced her, sitting Indian Style, staring at her to make sure he didn't miss any nuance in her expression.
"I'm just scared," she admitted. "I know you told me fear doesn't have to own you, but this is different. I love Stephen as a best friend and today when he tried to kiss me I was so angry. I don't feel that way about him anymore, at least I think I don't, but I'm so angry with him. He hooked up with the girl that almost got us killed, John! He never even apologized." Tears started flowing and she turned away from him.
"Hey, hey," John said, reaching for her. Gently he made her face him and when she tried to hide her face with her hands he pulled them down tenderly. As he dried the tears away with his thumbs, he offered her a wan smile.
"Stephen is a jerk," they said at the same time and began to laugh.
"I don't want to be just your friend, but we don't have to put a label on it right now," Astrid explained.
"Why do you keep looking away from me like that? John said, licking his lips.
"It's silly," she replied.
"What? Come on tell me."
"It's just that when people with blue or green eyes look or stare at me like that I feel like you are looking deep into my soul. You see, it is silly."
John laughed. "You're right. I just looked deep into your soul. Anyway, let's do something fun but at the same time you need to practice using your powers."
"Now with my permission I want you to read my mind. I'm going to think of a place I would like to go to."
Astrid nodded and closed her eyes. "You want to go to… Coney Island."
"Let's go," John said.
"I'll teleport us," Astrid said happily.
"No let's just use public transportation. I need to learn the subway system anyway."
John went to get his leather jacket as Astrid went to get her stuff. When he saw her his jaw was agape.
"Are you honestly wearing a fanny pack?"
Astrid looked down. "Yeah I love this. What's wrong with it?"
"I just don't get your fashion sense." John said laughing. As Astrid opened the door they both stopped.
Stephen was standing there obviously looking bothered at seeing John there and then he threw Astrid a concerned expression.
"Astrid, we need to talk," Stephen said. Not again, John thought. He was sick of Stephen constantly showing up and interrupting him. This had to stop now.
Thank you everyone. Let me know if you are still reading.