Sorry this update is a tad bit late - life got in the way, there was some writer's block happening, and whatnot else. But it's here, so yay!
Also, don't be afraid to leave me a review. I don't care what you talk about or say. Reviews let me know that you're enjoying this story. Tell me what you like, what you don't like, or whatever. It's cool. I enjoy feedback, good or bad.
A/N - I know that I'm taking characters out of their original environment and putting them into new ones. Just go with it.
X
Chapter 16: Wishing you were Here
At three o'clock on Friday the cab pulled up in front of Astrid's apartment. Hiccup watched her pack an overnight bad and sling it over her shoulder, looking as casual as if she were going over to a friend's slumber party.
"Okay, I'll be back Sunday night," Astrid reminded him.
"I'll be here." Hiccup shrugged.
Astrid leaned in and kissed him. She slid her hand into his and squeezed. Hiccup watched her vanish through the doorway. He stalked toward the window and watched her slide into the cab's backseat. The cab started down the road and turned the corner.
He already missed her. Without her, the apartment felt empty. He'd been there by himself before, when she'd gone to class, the gym, or work, but knowing that she'd been gone for two nights was daunting. It shouldn't bother him. He'd lived in his apartment by himself and spent many days alone.
He'd gotten used to Astrid being there. He liked waking up and having her there, being able to talk to her, sitting close enough that he could feel her warmth. He sank onto the couch. They'd watched several episodes of Bones last night. She had curled next to him and he'd put his arm around her. Her hand rested of his thigh.
Admittedly, the show had sunk in, and he started the next episode. He'd already made it to the third season. He stayed on the couch until his bladder began to whine. Pausing the current murder scene, he headed toward the bathroom, and felt a cramp in the stump of his leg. He'd need to douse it with painkillers before he sat back down. That was one thing he hated about winter. The cold bothered his leg like nothing else. It felt like he'd dunked it in freezing waters and couldn't take it out.
He relieved himself and didn't bother to shut the door. When he was finished he limped to the medicine shelf in the kitchen and popped two little blue pills in his mouth. He swallowed them dry. He chased them with the half drunk coke from the day before that he'd left in the fridge. He'd discoveredthat Astrid's favorite soda was Sprite. Progress.
As he headed back to the couch an insidious curiosity struck. He looked into the darkened bedroom. Astrid wouldn't be back until Sunday night…he could snoop. He could look through her sketchbook and see what she doodles. His legs twitched and he felt a tingle run up his spine. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with a nervous uncertainty and a bizarre interest. He wanted to know what was in her sketchbook. She'd seen his.
But…reading a girl's diary was notorious for breeding disaster. He might as well write 'punching bag' on his forehead. Of course, that was assuming that she kept a diary. But…she wouldn't know about it.
Hiccup took a few tentative steps toward the dark bedroom and flipped on the light. The room was clean. Astrid kept the place neat. She'd picked up his dirty clothes from the floor and brought them back, folded and clean, in a laundry basket. She'd cleaned and reorganized to make room for his things. Most of his clothes were in the dresser and the closet.
She'd made an effect to share the space, however, the armoire was hers. He'd never seen it open. If he walked into the room she'd close it quickly. She would look at him as though she'd been caught looking at dirty magazines. Maybe that's what she kept in there. Her dirty secrets.
Hiccup glanced toward the front door to make sure she wouldn't sporadically materialize and catch him. He swallowed and opened the armoire. There were a few dresses and blouses hanging up, a single pair of beige slacks, scarves, and simple jewelry hanging on clear plastic hooks on the inside of the door. A few blankets were folded up at the bottom and a couple of picture frames were facing away from him, leaning up against the back of the armoire. Hiccup bit his lip as he reached for them. He knelt down and gently pushed the hem of a dress out of the way and pulled the picture frames out.
There were pictures in both of them. The first was a wedding photo, a couple on the beach in the evening, with the bright oceanic sun behind them. They were facing each other and holding hands. Her dress was white and his suit was black. They looked happy. The second picture was the same couple with a little girl, maybe five or six, assumably their daughter. She looked like them. She had her mother's bright yellow hair and her father's dark blue eyes. She wore a cheerful smile that he knew.
Astrid was the girl. The two must be her parents. Why would she keep a family picture hidden away? Why not hang it up? Hiccup thought about surprising her and hanging them up. It's be a nice something to do for her. Then again he was snooping. There was no telling how she'd react. No, those pictures were there for a reason and, whatever it was, it was hers. It wasn't right for him to disturb them.
He replaced the pictures and stood up. His knee gave a meaty pop and he stretched his legs. Those painkillers would be another twenty minutes. He made sure the pictures looked just like they had. He adjusted the blankets where he'd drug the frames over them. He reached for the doors to shut them, not looking at anything in particular, when his eyes fell upon a little box. It was sitting on its own shelve near the top.
He shouldn't. But his blood was pumping, adrenaline surging, his heart was racing. He inhaled and reached for the little box. There wasn't anything particularly special about it. It was old, battered, and looked like it had seen much better days. Adrenaline-fueled curiosity lifted his thumbs to the lid. He pushed against it but it was locked. A tiny keyhole was on the front. He turned the box around in his hands. There was a horrible stain on the wood.
It was beyond intriguing. What could Astrid have inside the box that she wanted to keep locked away? In her own apartment? He wanted to know. But he wasn't about to go searching her sock drawer for a key. If she had gone to such a length to hid it then he really shouldn't be snooping. She didn't want him to find it. She didn't want anyone to find it. That was okay.
His curiosity was throbbing but he shouldn't be invading her privacy any further. He replaced the box on the shelf and scooted it back to where it had been. He closed the armoire.
X
She'd fallen in love with St. Louis. She loved the hipster vibe and the uptown attitude and the river-city style. Astrid watched the city flash by as the cab took her passed Busch Stadium. In the daylight everything was metal and glass but as the sun lowered the lights came out.
The cab pulled up in from of an unassuming hotel and casino that proudly advertised Rachel's on their first floor. She paid the cabbie and pulled her bag over her shoulder. She ignored the doorman as she walked inside. It was a lovely establishment. The lobby was clean and white, pruned plants spotted it with green, and a fountain was the center piece. A dramatic sweeping staircase lead up to the second floor. A glistening chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Jackson, the snotty concierge, stood behind the long desk. His hair and suit were impeccably groomed and he spoke in a flawless standard American accent. He was ready and capable to make any guest feel as at home and comfortably as humanly possible. Astrid couldn't stand him.
"Pigeon, welcome back," Jackson fake-smiled. He was good at it.
"Evening," Astrid returned his tight smile.
"You room is all ready," Jackson said.
Astrid didn't linger to make idle chitchat. She climbed the sweeping staircase to the second floor. There was a café there that always smelled like the most delicious coffees and creams. Right now it was closed, a dark space of beige tables and orange hanging lamps.
The hotel was thirty floors. The casino took the thirty second and thirty third floors. The thirty first floor contained rooms not available to the public. This floor was reserved for the working girls, and boys, at the casino. Astrid stepped off the elevator and headed to her room, 3107.
Her room was modest in size, about the same as her apartment, but it held much finer things. The curtains were smooth and layered and probably cost more than her entire wardrobe. The furniture was solid wood. She pulled the curtains opened to the river's view. The sun was almost gone and the river was simmering gold.
She glanced at the clock, thirty minutes to show time. She dropped her bag into the closet and slipped out of her boots. She reached for her phone and put it on silent, just in case. She stripped and threw her clothes into the bottom drawer of the dresser. She roughly pulled her hair out of its ponytail and shook it free.
Naked, she ran into the bathroom to examine her makeup. She'd done a little before she left but it needed redone. She pulled open the bathroom drawer that had been stocked as she'd requested. She added a dramatic line to her eyes and buffed her lashes. He dotted her lips and powdered her face. She braided her hair and twisted it along her scalp. It wasn't the fanciest but it would do. She should have left earlier.
Satisfied, she trotted back into the bedroom. Her dress was hanging in the closet, fresh and clean, ready to be worn. She pulled it off the hanger and shimmied into it. It was black and tight and the material was very unforgiving. The bodice was a miniature corset that allowed sturdy cleavage. She adjusted her breasts within the structured cups and checked the mirror to make sure it looked alright.
It was as good as it was going to get. Too short, too tight, too low. Whatever. She smoothed it out and zipped it. She lifted the heels from the closet and strapped her feet into them.
Done. The casino opened in five minutes. She closed the closet and the drawers and gave the room a quick one-over before stuffed the room key in the bodice of the dress and flipped off the lights.
The casino was currently empty. Six o'clock was still a little early on a Friday night for the drinkers and gamblers to come out. Although, there were the regulars that would show up any minute. There was already a small gathering outside the cloudy glass doors. The security guard let her in and she kept her eyes straight ahead and away from the stray male eyes that ogled her.
The lights were up and the dealers were organizing their tables. The slot machines were glowing and the skyline outside was eerie twilight as the sun vanished.
"Pige! Just on time!"
She was greeted by Alvin Trotter, a mountain of a man, with open arms. He was pushing six feet and six inches and had shoulders wider than Astrid was tall. He was a ruthless business man and clever as a psychopath. A scar ran down his left cheek and he cocked his smile purposefully to show off his gold tooth. He'd proudly tell anyone who'd listen about how he'd taken a right hook in a German bar. He was immaculately dressed in a gray suit and red tie. His hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.
"Thank you, I'm glad I can pay my rent." Astrid shrugged. She always felt so small when she stood next to Alvin.
"You feel like bartending tonight? One of my guys snapped his arm in three places." Alvin said with a dark humor that added to his intimidation. "The Rams lost. There'll be plenty of forlorn fans and lost bets."
"Sure," Astrid nodded. She shouldn't have worn heels.
"It'll be you and Alec," Alvin said as she headed toward the currently empty bar. It was glowing blue and white with the fish tanks that lined it's sides. White lights illuminated the hundreds of liquor bottles.
Alec was already there, making sure the glasses were in perfect lines, looking like the wannabe-actor hipster he was. He was alright. He and Astrid would sometimes watch the rich boys at the casino. Tonight he was sporting a Rams t-shirt underneath his black jacket.
"You're looking classy tonight," Astrid said as she slid behind the counter.
"It's a tip-maker." Alec gestured to himself. "If I look like a straight guy I get more tips. I can't rely on tits."
Astrid shared his laughter. Alec was always a joy to talk to. He never took anything too seriously.
The casino opened and the lights of a St. Louis Friday night reflected on the clouds. Men and women drifted through, gambling, drinking, and laughing. Their murmuring speech became white noise. The stools of the bar were continuously full and Astrid and Alec maintained excellent teamwork as drink orders multiplied.
Alec was right about the tips. "Gay guys love a manly man."
She slid him a coy smile when she caught him sliding a pair of skinny jeans his number on a napkin. He returned her smile, winking. Women and some guys always went to Alec's side of the counter whereas the majority of the men, and the occasional woman, drifted to hers. They didn't bother to hide their lingering stares on her chest.
One graying and well dressed man kept returning to her counter. His eyes followed her as he poured him another glass of white wine. He'd take it carefully and with every glass he left a ten dollar tip. She'd fold the bill and slip it gracefully into her bodice.
She scanned the crowd between drinks. She watched faces and listened to voices. Eleven o'clock came and the last of the patrons left, several on the arms of working girls, many to drunk to find their rooms. She was ready to go back to the room. Her feet were stinging and her back ached. The tables and counters were wiped down and the trash was taken out and finally the lights were dimmed as the casino shut down for the night.
"Have a good night, Pige?" Alvin asked, his tie a bit looser as he sat down at the empty bar. If it had been anyone else he would have yelled. But it was his bar and he could do what he wanted. That was how Alvin worked.
"Yeah," Astrid shrugged. "I made enough in tips to buy a new pair of shoes. Maybe two."
Alvin nodded. "Meet anyone knew?"
"No."
"That's too bad," Alvin shook his head. There was a dark glint in his eye. "Maybe next time,"
"Maybe," Astrid nodded.
"Alright, good night, Pige." Alvin said, nodding as he stood. "I'll see you tomorrow. How about brunch downstairs?"
"About ten?"
"See you then,"
Astrid went back to her room alone that night and it didn't bother her. She unlocked the door and knew that a shower was her first order of business. She sat down on the bed to free her feet and she set the by the closet door. She removed the tips from the bodice and dropped them onto the bed. She peeled herself out of the dress and shook it out. She hung it back in the closet.
She was too tired for a bath and headed for the shower instead. It was stashed in the corner of the bathroom and was big enough for twelve people. She turned the water as hot as it would go and steamed up the room. After a good scrub she felt much better, albeit tired. She fell into the king sized bed, damp and naked, without much of a care otherwise. The sheets were soft, some kind of ridiculously expensive cotton-silk-heaven blend.
X
It was nearly two in the morning when Hiccup decided it was time to go to bed. He was falling asleep on the couch but he couldn't stop watching Bones. He finally turned off the lights and crashed into the bed. He reached for his phone. The light from the screen illuminated the headboard.
No new messages.
He was being clingy. But he couldn't help from worrying when Astrid didn't text him back.
Sorry if I'm bothering you. You're probably working.
He sighed, and waited. He slid the phone underneath the pillow just in case.
X
Astrid jumped awake to the sound of a sharp jittering. It took her a startling moment to realize it was the bedside telephone.
"Hello?" Astrid asked hoarsely into the receiver.
"Your wake up call, Ma'am." said the female on the other side.
Astrid glanced toward the clock, nine thirty. "Thank you,"
She hung up and collapsed back into the bed. Groaning, she stretched, and rubbed her eyes. She rolled out of bed and stalked into the bathroom. The face in the mirror was stained with residual mascara. She washed her face and scrubbed her eyes. She didn't bother to re-paint before she left. Her hair was thrown into an uneven braid. She pulled out legging and a t-shirt from her bag.
Alvin was sitting at a corner booth in the second floor café. There was a photographer doing a wedding shoot of a young couple in the lobby. Astrid interrupted as she walked toward the café but she ignored the dirty looks from the bride. Besides, it's a public lobby. She could smell the warm coffee and fresh muffins and couldn't wait to taste the lavish flavors.
With her mocha and cinnamon, with an extra dash of sweet cream, she headed toward Alvin's corner booth. Although he was a big man himself, and very capable of taking care of himself, he traveled with at least one bodyguard. There was one on either side of the booth and they only gave a second's glance as she sat down across from him. Alvin welcomed her with a morning smile.
"Good morning, Pige. Sleep well?"
"Are you kidding?" Astrid smiled. "One those mattresses I could probably sleep for a week."
Alvin laughed. He took a sip of his coffee. "Someone asked about you last night."
"Who?"
"Some lawyer, I forget his name, some self-important prick." Alvin shook his head. His face was unreadable.
Oh. Astrid nodded. This coffee was incredible.
"He offered thirty for you." Alvin said flatly.
"Thirty?" Asked almost choked. She must have misheard him.
"Thirty." Alvin nodded. "Thousand."
"What?" Astrid coughed. "I mean, I'm flattered, but…that's really high. What's the catch?"
Alvin laughed. "That's what I asked."
"There has to be one. That's three time my starting rate." Astrid stated.
"I didn't tell him that," Alvin shook his head. "He's married and has a decent private firm in Chicago."
"And…" Astrid asked, but Alvin only looked at her, expectantly, waiting for her to put the pieces together. "…there's a extra fee for discretion?"
"Bingo," Alvin nodded.
"Thirty." Astrid reminded herself. "That's not bad. I could use a car. Maybe one of those electric ones."
Alvin smiled. "Always the practical one. Just like your mother. But, what would you do if you have one of those two-seaters and you need groceries?"
"I'll be rich. I can have them delivered to my door." Astrid shrugged. "Or just get one bag at a time."
Alvin nodded. "Aye, that you can do. "
They talked mostly of small things, school, classes, and friends, and Alvin would add simple comments here and there. He sipped his coffee as Astrid talked.
"What about your new friend?" he asked.
"What new friend?"
"The one you're living with."
Astrid lowered her coffee to the table and narrowed his eyes at him. That's what he'd wanted to know but he'd waited to see if she'd talk about it before being asked. Alvin could be polite.
"I have my sources," Alvin shrugged.
"Do you just want to tell me what you already know and I'll just fill in the gaps?" Astrid sighed.
Alvin nodded, "What's his name?"
"Hiccup."
"What kind of name is that?"
"A nickname."
"Does he have a real name?"
"Harold."
"Does Harold have a last name?"
"Haddock."
"Harold Haddock. Hmm. What does he do?"
"He's going to school."
"For what?"
"He doesn't know yet."
"How old is he?"
"Twenty-one, I think. Maybe twenty-two."
"How did you meet?"
"At the library."
"How do you know he's not a crazy one?"
Astrid laughed, "There was a spider in the bathtub on morning and he came in and woke me up to kill it."
Alvin smirked. "You did always like the wimpy ones. I hear he's skinny, too."
Astrid groaned. Eret had probably told him. That sounds like something he'd add. She'd have to remember to punch him.
The rest of the brunch went by in simple talk and at noon they parted ways. Alvin has a business meeting and Astrid had a date with a bubble bath. As she headed back up the stairs she passed Clara, a black-haired girl, who'd seen last seen leaving the casino with some entitled prick on her arm.
"Hey," Clara smiled, "How much did you make last night?"
Astrid returned her smile but she didn't miss the dislike on her tone. "Eh, maybe one-fifty. I haven't counted."
Clara gave a satisfied smile. Clearly, she'd made more than that. They bid simple goodbyes and started back on their opposite paths. Astrid knew that she had it easier than most girls that she worked with. She didn't have to do this. But Clara, she knew, did. She supported herself and a daughter with what she made. Alvin had found her in some off-beat strip joint, one of the many that he scouted in, and like most girls she jumped at his offer.
Astrid made it back to her room stripped back down. She turned on the water in the tub and went back in the bedroom to wait for it to fill. She reached for her phone. It would need a charge.
Five new messages.
"Shit," Astrid mumbled as she sat down on the bed.
From Hiccup, November 21, 5:15 pm, It's weird being here without you.
November 21, 6:45 pm, I've never been to St. Louis. Is it nice?
November 21, 11:36 pm, I can't stop watching Bones.
November 22, 2:06 am, Sorry if I'm bothering you. You're probably working.
November 22, 11:02 am, Good morning!
Astrid bit her lip. She quickly opened the text box, Good morning! You're not bothering me. I left my phone in the room. I like St. Louis. I'll bring you back a present.
She watched the text fly up into the dialogue. She waited a moment for a reply, tapping on the phone, starting at the screen.
You don't have to do that.
Astrid smiled, Too late! I already made the plan!
There was still enough battery left to last a little while. She bit her lip and clutched the phone as she headed back into the streamed bathroom.
Well, then fine. I'll be expecting festive wrapping paper.
Hiccup, how do you feel about phone sex? It was blunt and straightforward but it was too late. She shut the bathroom door with the phone in her hand. Hiccup was taking a long time to answer. Maybe he wasn't that into it…or didn't know if he was or not.
How does that work?
Astrid's heart thumped faster.
Call me and find out.
X
I wonder what's going to happen next…