=Normal POV=
(Friday, 5/31/19-12:00 pm)
(Berk, Archia Isle)
(Hooligan High School)
Two weeks had passed since the event where Astrid actually got hurt due to a hookup gone wrong. Only it wasn't Astrid trying to hookup with someone, it was one of Hector's who was obsessed and jealous enough to try and make Hector believe she was pregnant with his child to make him leave Astrid to be with her and raise the kid. Roseanna, obviously, didn't succeed because Astrid intervened and proved that it couldn't be Hector's baby due to the timeline of last period, ovulation, and fertilization. That night, unfortunately, left Astrid no choice but to go to the hospital because she was kicked in the side hard and that caused her to end up with two bruised ribs and one fractured rib on the left side. Astrid still had three to four weeks left until fully recovered, but she was doing better. Hector was sick for that whole week, he missed school and work, but Astrid was able to get his work for him and he did what he could at home between sleeping. The business work was told to wait, by Astrid. She reminded hers and Hector's father that graduating school was more important and when he did get better; his focus needed to be on finals. Reluctantly, Spencer and Marcus agreed to keep work things light and short.
Finals were over now, and tomorrow was the senior prom. Grades would be in by the end of the day and everyone would know if they were graduating or not. The next two weeks would be graduation preparations at school while a mix of cleaning out lockers and probably a lot of classroom parties. The second week would be graduation practice at the location the event would be held at. The Great Hall. It was exciting for the seniors, but Hector knew it just meant it was two weeks until he became the CEO of the company. He was still a bit sour about it, but ultimately, had accepted things and going with whatever. Hector and Astrid hadn't gotten a chance to talk about the arrangement due to priorities of school and work, assumingly, they'd discuss it when high school was over. At the moment, everyone was in lunch, talking and relaxing. There really wasn't much else to do and if finals were completed, you could leave early. Hector was done, but didn't want to leave or it meant going to work early and he didn't want to do that. Hector agreed to come in from 3 pm to 8 pm, but nothing later.
"I can't believe we're done with high school in two weeks!" Heather beamed joyfully.
"This year went by so fast," Madison smiled.
"I've heard all years go by faster once you become an adult," Astrid chuckled. "Can't disagree with it, I feel like everything zipped by this year,"
"That's cause most of it was a blurred mess of rage when you learned your father married you off to me," Hector teased.
"You were just as angry, so hush," Astrid remarked.
It was playful banter between them, mostly. A lot of it was sarcasm and taking shots at one another, but it wasn't hateful. No, that got cleared up on the 14th of May when Hector was too sick to go to school, but told Astrid that in response to the night before, he did not hate her. Nothing was discussed past that, though. Astrid nor Hector were any closer to privately figuring things out regarding the other. They were casual and had unofficially agreed without talking that they were real friends. It was set at treating one another like friends and roommates at the apartment, acting like a couple in public or with family. The acting wasn't entirely forced anymore, Hector and Astrid could get along naturally, but the acting was the relationship parts. Holding hands, kissing, and being somewhat affectionate. There was still nothing sexual between them, and since it wasn't talked about, it was assumed by both that the arrangement stood. Astrid was on her break still and would likely remain on it until after high school graduation. Hector was getting offers to hookup, but apprehensive to taking them. He was torn on continuing as it was, or try things with Astrid again. Hector originally decided that he wouldn't ask Astrid if she wanted to give things another go because Astrid said when she got herself together, she would bring it up. It left unsure of what to do. The right thing was just not sleep with anyone anymore, so he hadn't been.
In lunch, Hector was getting messages from a few of his usuals and one or two of the people he couldn't see normally. All of them were asking what his schedule was like and he didn't know if he should answer or keep saying he didn't know because things were screwy with graduation and work. The part that really sucks was most of the people he hooked up with, males and females, went to his school and were in the senior class. Obviously, Hector wasn't gonna sleep with anyone underage. He had to tell a few of his girls and guys that until they turned eighteen, he couldn't because he was an adult and they were minors. When everyone was seventeen, it didn't matter so much. It was scary how much could change between two ages.
"Yeah, yeah," Hector told Astrid, still wondering how to respond to some of the messages. The one on his screen was with Olivia, who was wondering if Hector was free tonight at all because her parents were going out and she'd have the house to herself until tomorrow morning. Astrid glanced at the phone in his lap, seeing his hesitation to reply. Astrid got her phone and texted him, which surprised Hector when it popped down from the top of the screen.
Astrid, 12:05 pm
Go ahead. Meet up w/her, Hector :)
Hector wasn't expecting her to say anything, but clearly she'd seen his phone and figured out he was hesitating.
12:06 pm
We haven't talked about this yet. I told u how I felt after 2 wks ago.
Astrid, 12:07 pm
We don't need to. 2 wks ago was just cuz she was pregnant and needed a fall back. Her baby-daddy obviously bailed, who better to help her than the other guy she was sleeping with. So tell him she's pregnant, and hope he doesn't question anything. Everything will be fine, & u warned the others not to pull that stunt. Seriously, go after work & have fun. It's okay, I still want to keep things as they are for right now. I'm still working on me & I don't want u to have to suffer. I kno u can masturbate, but come on…It doesn't compare, can't debate that lol
Hector was surprised, but it did answer his dilemma. Astrid was still okay with leaving things as previously agreed after the Tristan situation, and wanted Hector to continue sleeping with other girls. Astrid didn't want him to suffer no sex just because she didn't want right now. If she said it was okay, then he guessed it was.
12:09 pm
Ok, if you're sure…
Astrid, 12:10 pm
I'm positive! Lol is it okay if I have the girls over tonite? We plan to do prom things tomorrow.
12:12 pm
That's fine. Once they are over, lock the doors. And if you have any problems, call the police first, then me. Okay?
Astrid, 12:13 pm
Understood. Thanks!
Hector went back to his messages with Olivia and told her he'd come over around 8:30 pm, then he went about responding to others to work out when he might be able to see them. All of them knew that prom night was off limits to ask for hookups. Hector promised that he was Astrid's that night, even if they didn't do anything. It was likely they dance a bit, but beyond that; Hector didn't care if they just went to the apartment and watched a movie. Tomorrow night, there would be no phone distraction and no hookups. No fighting either. Hector swore to himself that he would give her the best senior prom despite their situation.
"So what are the plans for tomorrow?" Roxy inquired, looking at the group of friends.
"Well, are we going together or arriving separately and meeting up before entering?" Madison wondered.
"That also needs figuring out if we're meeting individually, or couples coming together and meet up to go in?" Alexa mentioned.
"Is there even a way for us to all come together? We'd have to carpool," Syrus stated.
Hector was somewhat zoned out of the conversation, his dad was asking him about work stuff. "HECTOR!" Snapped him from his thoughts as he looked around the table.
"Odin above, what?" Hector grumbled.
"We asked if you had any ideas about the prom thing," Flynn smiled.
"Idea for what about prom?" Hector asked.
"How we should arrive. Together, carpool?" Heather listed.
"All you girls are gonna be at mine and Astrid's place tonight, and do prom stuff tomorrow, right?" Hector questioned. The girls nodded. "Okay, so how about you just bring your make up, dresses and whatnot with you. Get ready there. The guys can come over an hour before we leave to do pictures or whatever and then we'll take the least amount of cars to prom as we can," He suggested. "Or maybe I can pull something with dad and see if he'll let me borrow a limo so we can all go in one vehicle," He added.
"I guess that sounds okay." Astrid shrugged. "You gonna be okay with all us girls in the house while you're the only male there until later?" She giggled.
"I'll take refuge in my office and you ladies can have the rest of the apartment to yourselves," Hector stated.
"I'll come over and keep ya company, brother," Drew offered.
"Appreciated," Hector nodded. "You going as a chaperone? Evan too?"
"I am, Evan is allowed to go as Roxy's date since he's under twenty-six and a resident of Berk," Drew informed.
"Nice," Hector smiled.
"What are you going as?" Evan questioned Hector. "Are you going?"
"S'cuse me?" Hector blinked. "It's not a costume party…I'm obviously going as a student at the school, and Astrid's date." He remarked.
"We never heard you say for sure if you were going. You said your dad was arguing with you about getting that night off," TJ reminded.
"My dad has no say on weekends, and I made sure he didn't try to schedule any lunch or dinner meetings. My assistant knows to keep Saturday blank," Hector enlightened.
"You have an assistant?" Astrid said in surprise.
"Of course. Doesn't every CEO?" Hector looked at her.
"Well, I guess, but you aren't CEO yet…" Astrid mentioned.
"Close enough. I've been basically running that place on my own since April. With guides talking in my ear, it's really annoying…" Hector sighed.
"By guides…You mean-," Astrid began.
"Our father's, yes. They trained me from March to the middle of April, then started slowly standing back to let me figure things out, make suggestions, and decisions. Most of the time now, our dads will leave me in the office while they go off and do Odin only knows what until thirty minutes before I leave," Hector rolled his eyes. "No, a couple months back…I think, actually, on your birthday…I met the front lobbyist, Jason. He was trying to be a personal assistant, but neither of our father's needed one…So I told him he could be mine when I took over in June. He's a pretty cool guy, very gay, cheerful, but excellent at the job." He explained.
"That's cool," Syrus informed. "Your dad cool with you hiring people?"
"The guy was already hired, I just promoted him without anyone's consent. Company is gonna be mine in two weeks, the paperwork for ownership transfer is already being drawn up by the lawyers of both companies, which now make up the legal team for the merged business," Hector stated. "I'm figuring the day after I graduate, that paperwork get to be gone over and everything signed. Once it's filed properly; it belongs to me." He revealed.
"Sounds like it's all set to go. How is the central building?" Flynn asked.
"Done, as far as I know. I think we're doing a final walk-thru tonight, then if everything checks out; employees moving to that building start moving stuff tomorrow so it's ready for when I take over," Hector thought aloud on what he believed the plan was.
"But you're coming to prom, right?" TJ wondered.
"Yes, I'll be there." Hector nodded.
"With Astrid as your date?" Heather giggled.
"Well, duh…" Hector rolled his eyes. "You think I'm taking someone other than my wife to senior prom?"
"No!" Heather said quickly. "Just that you said as your date, so I guess I wondered if you had asked her as your date, not your wife,"
"Heather!" Astrid glared.
"What? It was a fair question!" Heather countered.
Hector chuckled as he got up. "I'm going to the bathroom before anyone asks," He informed and walked out of the cafeteria.
"We're married, we really don't have much of a choice but to go together, keeping up the act of happily married…Or not come at all," Astrid muttered to Heather. "He didn't ask me at all, it was just assumed that us going means we go together,"
Hector wondered if that made Astrid mad, that he didn't ask her to prom and it was just guessed they'd be there together. "Oh, you got our tickets, right, Flynn?" Heather turned to her boyfriend.
"Yes, right before we came into lunch," Flynn replied.
"You get yours, Astrid? Or did Hector get them?" Madison asked.
"I…Didn't get them yet." Astrid confessed. "I can go right now, I know they aren't selling them after lunch,"
"They're actually sold out. I was like the second or third to last person to grab tickets." TJ admitted.
"Yeah, table isn't even out there anymore. I think it's gonna be a full house," Roxy chimed in. Astrid looked panicked that she didn't get hers.
"Well, I guess that's my screw up then…" Astrid finally said.
"Wait, you didn't get your ticket?" Alexa asked softly. Astrid shook her head.
"It slipped my mind with finals," Astrid sighed.
"So…That means you can't go tomorrow?" Madison frowned as Astrid nodded, putting her head down on her arms, upset with herself.
Hector returned now and sat down next to Astrid. "Tired?" Hector asked. "Is your side bothering you?"
"Not tired, and yeah actually…It is bothering me a bit," Astrid looked over at him.
"Bending like that isn't gonna help your ribs heal, so sit up," Hector told her, reaching for his bag and getting two pain killers in his palm. "Here," He carefully put them in her hand. "It's the ones from home, I know the stuff the nurse has won't be strong enough,"
"You could get in serious trouble for having these…" Astrid said. "But thank you," She subtly took a drink and the pills.
"You're welcome. You got that follow up today at 3:15, right?" Hector wondered.
Astrid nodded. "Yeah, I'm just gonna go right there after school. I'll keep you posted,"
"Heard. No guarantee I'll reply," Hector said. "You look miserable all of a sudden."
"Astrid didn't get her prom ticket before they sold out, so she can't go," Heather said softly. "And why would her ribs be bothering her? Heal from what?"
"Is that all?" Hector arched a brow.
"Don't give me a hard time, Hector…You know how big senior prom is, and I'm gonna miss it because I forgot to get my ticket…" Astrid mumbled.
"I know how big it is, I just don't care about it. It's an over-glorified dance in a hotel instead of the school gymnasium where most people get laid afterward," Hector chuckled. "But I know it means something to you," Hector paused. "Wanna go with me?" He asked as she gave him a really look. "I have an extra ticket…" He tempted as her eyes widened a little.
"You…Do?" Astrid asked. Hector nodded. "Why do you have two?"
"Oh, figured I could find some poor sap who would buy it for double what I paid to go to prom…But since I know you didn't get yours in time, I'll give it to you on the friend and family discount if you agree to come as my date?" Hector offered, jokingly, of course.
"I was gonna go with you anyway, husband," Astrid replied. "But since you asked…" She stopped a moment and smiled gently. "I'd love to go with you to prom,"
"Great," Hector said. "I'll meet you in the living room at four sharp?"
"I'll be there," Astrid nodded, then carefully moved to kiss his cheek. "Thank you…"
"Dude…You didn't really buy an extra ticket just to sell it off for more money to some desperate fool who wanted to go to prom, did you?" Syrus blinked.
"What? No, you idiot," Hector rolled his eyes. "I know my wife is a scatterbrain and would forget, so I grabbed mine and hers at the beginning of May. And if she had remembered to get hers, the people at the table said if I ended up not needing it, they'd take it back and return my money." He remarked. "And you're welcome, Milady," Hector responded to Astrid's thank you.
No one could deny that the way Hector played that off was really sweet, in his own, sarcastic way. Even though Hector and Astrid were married, and would have gone together no matter what to keep up the public eye act or a happy couple. But Hector went a little out of his way to set up asking Astrid to prom as his date, and making her very happy that she wouldn't have to miss the event since Hector thought ahead and grabbed both of their tickets at the same time. It was nice, and now, all of them couldn't wait for tomorrow when they went to their senior prom together.
