#stevestrid

From the moment he walked in, Astrid’s gaze kept finding its way to him. He didn’t come up to order anything, just sat down at one of the tables, taking his sunglasses off as he stretched out. Waiting for someone.

Waiting for a date, based on the way he was dressed, and the thought disappointed her for some reason.

Whatever. She did have a job to do, and the woman who wanted extra extra caramel (because apparently if she ordered with just “one extra,” then no one made it right) was getting impatient. Astrid put the regular amount of caramel in, just to be spiteful, and handed it to the woman, who took a loud sip and claimed that the extra caramel made all the difference before leaving.

“And here I thought giving our customers a placebo was against the rules,” Ruff mused thoughtfully.

“I’m feeling more bitter than usual today.”

Her friend snorted. “And I’m sure that had nothing to do with Haircut over there.”

Astrid gave her a good jab in the chest with her elbow. As Ruff dramatically clutched her breast and wailed pitifully, Astrid felt thankful that it was such a slow day, otherwise they might actually have gotten in trouble for these kinds of hijinks. 

“You think he’s waiting for a girlfriend?” she mused.

“Of course.” Ruff scoffed. “Or a date, at least. With a face like that, I expect at least two girls to show up at different times.”

But no girl showed up at all. Half an hour passed, as the poor guy kept checking his phone, texting a few times, and then continuing to stare sadly at the door.

He looked so pitiful that Astrid couldn’t help herself.

“Here,” she said, as a way of greeting, plopping a drink in front of him.

Haircut looked up at her, raising a brow. “What is it?”

“The sweetest crap we have here.”

Despite his sadness, he grinned. “What, do I not look like a black coffee guy?”

“I can almost guarantee your regular order is an iced caramel macchiato.” 

That got a chuckle out of him - Astrid felt victorious. “You’re not wrong. How much?”

“On the house.” She waved a hand dismissively.

His face fell, and shooting a light glare at the cup, he pushed it away. “I look that pathetic?”

“You look thirsty,” Astrid said honestly, and when she saw the corners of his lips turn up in a half smirk she rolled her eyes and added, “Not like that, get your mind out of the gutter.”

Something shifted in his eyes and he looked up at her, smiling in a way that made her heart flutter ever so lightly. “Steve Harrington.”

“Astrid Hofferson.” She held her hand out.

Steve shook it amusedly, lingering just a second too long on her fingers. “So, since I’m very obviously and painfully being stood up, would you like to have coffee with me?”

Astrid tried her best not to grin. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m working.”

“You’re talking to me.”

“We provide excellent customer service here.”

This time he actually laughed, standing up - holy Thor, Astrid had never not minded feeling short until this very moment - and leaning over her. “So how about when your shift is over?”

“Well, I’ve still got a couple of hours, I don’t know if we can permit you to stay that long to wait.”

“Maybe I can get your number.”

Astrid smirked. “Maybe I already wrote it on the cup.”

“Opportunist,” he accused.

“And proud of it.”

“Okay, well then, Astrid,” he said, her name rolling off his tongue oh-so pleasantly, “I’ll see you after your shift.”

She winked and saluted, making her way back to the kitchens, where Ruffnut was mock clapping. Astrid raised her hand, and took her rightful bow.

“She’s changed. Become closer to Dagur.”

“Ugh.”

“Come on, Ast. He was getting better even before you left.”

“You know I can’t forgive all the shit he pulled on us. Especially you. There’s this asshole here, Billy Hargrove. He reminds me of Dagur. Deranged, Hiccup. Mad.”

“I’m not saying you need to forgive him. But you might be interested in knowing he asked me out too - what happened?”

“I - I spit out water. Did you just say Dagur - Dagur the Deranged - asked you out?”

“It might have been a joke. But him and Heather are in some sort of duel nowadays.”

“Thor, one year I’m gone and you’ve got sister and brother fighting for your heart. Do you...are you going yes to say to either of -”

“No. Actually...I was gonna...you know, ask out -”

“Fishlegs.”

“How did you -”

“Heather might have changed over the year, Hiccup, but you haven’t - yes, he’s bisexual too, Steve, for Odin’s sake, study!”

“Okay, enough about my love life. What about you?”

“Well, Steve likes me and I want to bang him but he’s hung up over this girl and I’m hung up over you - I tell him everything! He’s my best friend! Don’t be so dramatic!”

“I’m still mad at you.”

“And yet you’re talking to me.”

“I’m only doing it because Ruffnut threatened to hit me if I didn’t.”

“Uh huh. Sure.”

“I’m not kidding, Hoff. I am really pissed at you.”

“Will a sorry cut it?”

“A sorry doesn't even begin to cut it. You have to come here, at the very least. In person.”

“Tuff, the minute you can convince my parents, I’d love to -”

“More than a year, Astrid!”

“I’m sorry!”

“That’s not enough! I...I was crying a lot the first two months! You know how much I hate crying! You know!”

“Tuffnut...I’d never make you cry intentionally…”

“Except that time you screamed ‘tears’ at me really loudly.”

“You can say it now, that’s great!”

“After a lot of therapy!”

“Did...is Snot in therapy too?”

“You haven’t talked to him yet?”

“I did - but he didn’t want to talk about anything but how apparently my new friend’s hair was gorgeous.”

“Oh yeah, your boy toy.”

“He is not my boy toy! He’s my friend!”

“Who loves telling you that you love him.”

“You have been asking about me, haven’t you?”

“Shut up, Hoff, I don’t like your face.”

“Hey, babe. Did you miss me?”

“We talked yesterday, you doof.”

“Yeah, but I know you missed me in that short time.”

“If I say I did, will you not ask about Steve?”

“Wait, what? Why not? You make the guy out to be really cool.”

“Because that’s all you like talking about now. And besides, he’s not cool. He’s a fucking - shit, sorry, there are kids here - he’s a dick. Wait, fuck, that’s a bad word too, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is, you cuss machine. Why are there kids at your place?”

“Max, hold it with your hand over there, like that, yeah. Sorry, Snot, they’re here cause I’m giving them lessons.”

“Lessons on what?”

“Great! Now, let Will take a try at it - lessons on using an axe properly.”

“Wait, wait, holy Freya, you’re letting kids touch your axe?”

“I started training when I was ten. I’m not going to let them hurt themselves.”

“I wasn’t surprised over your irresponsibility, Ast, though I’m definitely disappointed. I’m more hung up on the fact that you let someone else touch your precious axe, and some children at that.”

“They’re eighth graders, dipshit.”

“Language!”

“Wait - see, see? Isn’t berating me more fun than asking me when I plan to date Steve Harrington - Mayfield, you do not get to smirk at me, why don’t you guys ever act like you’re thirteen?”

“But I wanna talk about your lover.”

“Jesus. I actually wanted to ask if you’re in therapy.”

“Nah. My dad said it was -”

“For the weak. Thor, your dad’s an asshat.”

“Aren’t there still kids there?”

“Yeah?”

“Then watch your language!”

“So, when do you plan to visit?”

“Fish, I told Tuff, the minute you guys can convince my parents, I’ll be there.”

“Your parents hate us.”

“They don’t hate you.”

“That’s because adults tend not to hate me. Benefits of being a suck-up.”

“Oh, don’t call yourself that. Hey, tell me, is it true that Dagur’s being super nice to Hiccup now?”

“Oh, yeah. Tries to carry his books to class and everything.”

“Son of a - he remembers that he literally hated his guts a few years ago, right?”

“Maybe that was just his way of showing he liked him?”

“If he’s harassing my boy then I’m going to knuckle fist him the minute I come back.”

“But that won’t be soon, will it?”

“...No, probably not. But we’ll see each other again. I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it, Astrid. I...I like that Dagur’s decent now, but he still hasn’t gotten a good punch for everything he put us through. Especially Hiccup.”

“Ooh, someone’s protective of their boyfriend.”

“You’re the one who said you wanted to knuckle fist him! He’ll definitely leave Hiccup alone after that. How’s the asshole at your place?”

“Who, Hargrove? He doesn’t bother me, probably doesn’t know my name. It’s Steve he bothers, always ganging up on him during basketball practice from what I’ve heard.”

“Aw, that sucks. Doesn’t he retaliate?”

“Sometimes. I’m not sure.”

“Do you think he should?”

“Hey, if Hargrove does anything to really hurt him, it won’t be Steve’s retaliation he has to worry about.”

“There’s the Astrid we all know and love.”

“It’s okay, Mom! Just send Nancy up!”

“Who’s Nancy? Girlfriend?”

“Yeah, with a space in between, Ruff. She’s just here so I can lend her a book.”

“Fuck. Instead of getting good people to replace us, you’ve befriended a nerd? What the hell, Astrid?”

“You are a nerd, don’t even try to deny it - hey, Nance, the book’s right here.”

“Oh, is she cute? Is she single? Are you two gonna hook up?”

“Yeah, I’ll see you at school - what the shit, Ruff? I’m half sure she heard you!”

“Did she blush and smile? Because that means she’s ready for the hooking up to begin.”

“She’s got a boyfriend!”

“Ugh, these Hawkins folk are no fun. What about you? I hope you’ve at least bedded Steve once?”

“No -”

“Twice?”

“Nonce.”

“Damn, your life is depressing. Why go on about his hair and eyes and scent if you’re not gonna sleep with him?”

“Are you sure it was me who said all that, or Snotlout?”

“I mean, it could have been both.”

“Steve Harrington is not on the market for Snotlout to take.”

“But you’re not dating.”

“But we want to.”

“Then do it!”

“We can’t.”

“Fuckity fuck, woman, I’d just ask someone to bed you. You’re delving deep into no-fun hell.”

“Okay, listen, as much as I joke about it, I don’t wanna just sleep with him and get over with it. I want to be with him.”

“Well, if you bring that into the mix, you’re setting yourself up to get screwed over at some point.”

“Ruff.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s sweet and all that. Tell me more about Nancy.”

I know Hiccup’s was longer, but I really did get tired around writing Snotlout’s part, so sorry!

Next chapter: Steve shows up, but at the wrong time, to the wrong people, and looking like he just took a dip in a river of blood.

“Is Astrid brooding again?” Tuff called out, and Fishlegs gave her a grin before answering.

“More like pining!”

“Jesus Christ,” Astrid hissed, scowling at the both of them. Out of nowhere, Ruff’s arm was around her neck and the girl was whistling.

“Look at that, she’s not using Norse curses anymore.” She grinned and pressed a kiss to the other girl’s cheek. “Are you still our Astrid or have you become Hawkin-anized?”

The made up term was more insulting than what Ruff had actually said about her. “That is so not a word.”

“Definitely still our Astrid,” Hiccup chimed in, leaning against a tree with an amused look on his face.

There was something that was beyond pleasant about them calling her theirs. Whatever it was, it brought a nice heat to her cheeks.

But that nice feeling was replaced with the one she knew she would have once Steve asked why she hadn’t bothered to tell him before she went.

No. She was not going to throw away three days to relax with the gang just thinking about Steve. She was going to be happy, she was going to have fun, and she was not going to feel guilty over Steve Harrington. She wasn’t even going to think about Steve Harrington.

She was going to have fun.

There was many reasons that Astrid wished that Stoick Haddock was her father. And one of those reasons was that he was perfectly content to just let them go off on their own once they had set up camp.

So the first thing they did was hit the water. Literally.

Six cannonballs later, and they were splashing around, just like old times. Toothless hissed in displeasure when some of the water splashed on him, but he still stayed next to it, walking around as though he was their guard.

Hiccup pulled her down under, and she held in a laugh, tackling him. Snotlout joined at some point, and the three were soon engaged in an underwater brawl, which ended with all of them having a coughing fit after resurfacing (they stayed down for quite awhile, since all of them were too stubborn to come up first - Hiccup eventually conceded).

After drying up, they changed, and then Astrid had the pleasure of laying her head on Tuff’s head as they set up a fire and told stories. Toothless thought it was fun to walk all over her face at one point.

The best part of that was watching Hiccup scowl over how they decided to make it a competition to see who could tell the best scary story (“it’s not always a competition, guys!”).

She definitely won. And not just in terms of the competition. She was with the gang - and winning was kind of their thing.

The next day started off wonderfully lazy, which was a nice contrast from her dreams, which had been unpleasant even though she had slept next to Ruffnut.

They weren’t about Steve, weren’t reflecting the guilt that her subconscious was filled with. No, instead it was something out of a horror movie - creepy, borderline terrifying nightmares.

Whatever. As long as they weren’t real.

Ruff was still sleepy, so she was resting her head on Astrid’s shoulder as they ate breakfast. It consisted of fish and chicken - the latter of which Tuffnut refused to touch. She vividly remembered his pet, but instead of asking why she hadn’t come along, decided she didn’t want an hour long rant about it.

“Sleep well, Hiccup?” Snotlout asked all of a sudden, with a grin.

The auburn haired boy raised a brow. “Yes, I did?”

“I bet. You too, Fishlegs?”

Tuff snorted in his food, and all the teens surreptitiously looked at Stoick to make sure he wasn’t listening. Hiccup frowned, leaning in.

“Keep your voice down,” he hissed, “and, for the record, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Neither of us were sneaking around last night.”

Tuffnut glanced at Astrid with a confused look. “Was it you, Hoff?”

“No,” she said at the same time as Ruff, who must have known the question would be directed at her next.

They all shared apprehensive looks, and then Hiccup, not taking his eyes off them, called out, “Hey, Dad! Were you out of your tent last night?”

Stoick came over to sit with them, humming lightly - unaware of the tense faces surrounding him. “No, I don’t think I was. Why, did you guys hear someone?”

As they shared quick glances, not wanting to alarm him, Snotlout hastily said, “Oh, hang on. I completely forgot I went to the bathroom last night. Sorry, guys.”

Stoick didn’t notice the lie - besides Hiccup and Fishlegs, the gang was very good at lying - and Stoick began to eat.

Astrid locked eyes with Hiccup, and they nodded at each other, not needing words.

“I mean, are you sure you guys heard something?”

“Listen,” Tuff snapped, crossing his arms, “just cause you guys are tired from looking around all day doesn’t mean you get to doubt Snotman’s and my hearing. There was something creeping out last night, around our campsite. Maybe Hiccup and Fishlegs just don’t wanna admit that it was them -”

“Me and Fishlegs were not sneaking out!” Hiccup exclaimed for the umpteenth time. Astrid sighed, holding his hand in the dark.

There was a light shuffle and they all turned their flashlights at the source in a scared frenzy. But it was only Toothless, staring at them in a way that was rather disapproving for a cat.

“Dad just said he was going to bed, he didn’t say we had to,” Hiccup said defensively, as though Toothless was going to scold them. The feline merely scuttled over, nuzzling against his owner’s leg until Hiccup picked him up and started stroking him.

“Shh, it’s okay, bud. It’s okay.”

Fishlegs was staring at something, his eyes narrowed. Astrid put a hand on his shoulder and he mumbled, “Hey, what is tha -”

It leapt out and jumped at them.

Fishlegs screamed as Astrid pushed the both of them down. She heard the others yelp too, so she scrambled up wildly to stare at -

A demogorgon. But smaller than the one near Steve’s house.

Demodogs! Dustin’s voice called out in her ear, and she could swear her heart stopped beating for a moment.

It turned on all fours to face her. They were now all standing in a circle, backing up with Hiccup holding Toothless like his life depended on it. They all looked downright horrified.

The demodog growled at her, pawing its foot.

Had it...followed her here? Astrid’s heart started beating a mile a minute. What was going on back home? The gate was closed. It was closed.

But if one demogorgon could sneak out somehow, so could more.

Oh gods. The kids, and Nancy, and Steve -

The demodog jumped, everyone else screamed her name, and she ran forward and punched it.

She punched it hard enough to go flying in a tree above Fishlegs’ head, and it went limp afterwards, falling to the ground.

Trying to threaten the gang, her family, and implying that Steve or the kids might be in danger must have been the most idiotic thing the little monster had done in however long of a fucking lifespan it had.

“What was that?” Snotlout screamed hysterically, his eyes wide as he looked at Fishlegs, who usually had the answers.

(None of them looked surprised in the least that she had just punched a dangerous animal).

Fishlegs opened and closed his mouth, but it was Astrid who answered, with a snarl.

“We need to get back to Hawkins. Now.”

oKAY oh boy I am so looking forward to the next chapter because all the characters are gonna come together and i am so eXCITED -

No. No, the last time she had let this happen, the girl two seats across from her had snarked, “What a drama queen, I’d kill for her brains,” and she was right. She was right. Astrid Hofferson was a drama queen, a brat, an overachiever, and she knew it. But she hated it, gods, she hated it so much.

The first loud sob escaped from her mouth as more tears started pouring down, hot and fast. She was overreacting. Whose fault was the grade anyways? It was her’s, she wasn’t…wasn’t good enough, didn’t study enough, she just wasn’t enough at all.

What kind of…bitch…got upset with a good grade just because it wasn’t a great grade? Who spiralled down the panic road if the first digit on the exam paper was below a nine? Why was she like this? What was wrong with her?

There was a knock on the window.

Fuck. She shut her eyes and stood up shakily, blinking rapidly as she slowly went to the window (Steve never used the door anymore). She was fairly good at pretending like she hadn’t been crying, but it usually took her a minute, not two seconds.

So when she opened the window, she avoided looking at Steve, who started talking as soon as she could hear him.

“Okay, so you’ll never believe what I saw on the way here.”

“Yeah?” she breathed, swallowing as he climbed in. “W-what did you see?”

“It was this weird car, it looked like someone had taken a branch and beaten it, but - are you crying?”

Astrid shook her head, a lump in her throat. She didn’t trust herself to say anything. He saw. He knew. He was going to see her for the real overdramatic mess that she was.

“You’re crying,” Steve said, his mouth hanging open slightly. “You’re crying.”

She clenched her fists, looking down. No point hiding it now. With a trembling finger, she pointed to the discarded exam on the bed. As Steve picked it up, she faced her mirror, wiping her cheeks furiously.

“An 84? Ast, this is…” He trailed off when she looked back at him, dried tears still on her face and her eyes a blotchy red.

“It’s not…good enough,” she breathed, shaking. Now he was going to call her crazy, say that she was totally insensitive to students who actually got bad grades, laugh at her.

He did none of those things. Instead, he stood up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his chest.

For some reason, that made Astrid let out another choked sob as she pressed her face in his shirt.

Was pity worse than rejection?

“This kind of thing happen before?” he asked quietly, and then she understood.

He knew she was spiralling. That she was having a…a panic attack. That tone…he definitely knew. That was a tiny bit of relief.

“Once every…” She bit her lip as he pressed a soft kiss to her hair. “Every two months? At least.”

“How do you usually deal with it?”

“Well…the gang…they know how to…how to calm me down and all that shit.” His question was probably about after she moved to Hawkins, but there was no answer in that case. She hadn’t dealt with the attacks, they dealt with her.

“Okay…okay, one second.” Steve pressed her closer, and while it would normally feel suffocating if someone tried to do that, he was wearing a shirt with a thin material (even though it was cold) and his scent was nice, so it wasn’t all bad. And it was him. He was an exception to all her rules so far anyway.

But that didn’t mean he was supposed to do what he did next.

She heard some flipping of her phonebook, and then all of a sudden he was pressing numbers, making Astrid turn her head in alarm.

“W-what are you doing? Who are you calling?”

He smiled as the phone rang. “Hiccup.”

“What!?” Astrid looked up at him in horror.

“Yeah, he can help you through this -”

Oh gods, she was going to burst into tears again. “No, no, Steve, you don’t get it, I haven’t -”

“Hello?”

Astrid froze, but her eyes welled up. It was his voice. Hiccup. Her Hiccup. It was him.

“Hey, is this Hiccup?” Steve asked, still rubbing her soothingly as though keeping her warm.

Of course it was Hiccup. Who else would sound so nasally and so perfectly remind her of Berk?

“Yeah. Uh, who is this?”

“Uh, I’m a friend of Astrid’s. Maybe she told you? Steve Harrington?”

“No -” she began, but Hiccup beat her to it.

“I haven’t talked to Astrid in a while. What happened? Is she okay?”

Now Harrington was looking at her with a strange look on his face and that combined with the concern in Hiccup’s voice was way too much. Astrid shook her head and buried her face in his shoulder, her chest heaving.

“Yeah. Well, no. She’s fine, but she’s kinda freaking out, man. She got a grade back today. It’s a…not a low test grade, but, like, you know -”

”Not a great test grade. Is she there? Can I talk to her?”

Steve pressed a kiss to her temple and brought the phone to her ear. She looked up, shaking her head, but he just kissed her cheek again and smiled encouragingly.

Astrid held the phone, taking a deep breath. “Hello?”

It felt like she was drowning.

“Astrid?”

“Hiccup,” she mumbled, closing her eyes tightly. “Oh gods, I am so sorry -”

“Ast, we don’t need to talk about that right now. Are you okay? Take a deep breath. In, then out. In front of your friend.”

Astrid looked up at Steve, who mimicked taking a breath himself, as though she needed a cue.

Maybe she did. In, then out. In, then out.

“Alright, what was the grade?”

Hearing his voice helped calm her down, and she squeezed Steve’s hand as she said, “84. I know, it’s not bad -”

“You know I would never tell you that. I know you think you can do better. I know you can do better. You’re Astrid Hofferson. But you also know that everyone goes below their expectations sometimes. I have, you have. It happens, Astrid. The next test you have, you’re gonna do so well even you’ll be impressed.”

She let out a weak laugh. “How do you know?”

“Like I said, you’re Astrid Hofferson. You twisted a bully’s arm and got him in trouble in the same day. In third grade.”

This time even Steve laughed, looking at her with a knowing look. She took another deep breath - in, then out - and then whispered, “Thanks, Hiccup.”

“For you, milady, anything.” Astrid could almost see him, his eyes always appearing brighter when he was convinced he had to cheer her up, his rough hands holding her smoother - and softer - ones. The way he smiled, the way he laughed, for a moment it was like Hiccup was there.

And for another moment, it was like the whole gang was there. Ruff offering her a drink, Tuff slinging an arm around her shoulder and telling her that as her absolute best friend, he had an obligation to make sure that she wasn’t upset. Snotlout going through the test and pretending like he knew exactly what had went wrong and offering to help her while Fishlegs scoffed behind him and gave real advice.

Oh gods, she really wished they were here.

But then, in that image, there was Steve Harrington too, laying his head on her lap and singing Old Time Rock n Roll as though he was starring in a music video, hair flopping back and forth.

If the gang wasn’t here, at least he was.

“Astrid? Will…will we talk later?”

“Yes,” she murmured, biting her lip, “I promise. Thank you. I’ll call. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. It’s nice to hear your voice, milady.”

“It’s nice to hear yours too.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Tomorrow. Bye, Hiccup.”

“Bye, Ast.”

The line went quiet, and slowly, Astrid put the phone down on the back on the receiver. She didn’t move just yet, though, and neither did the boy embracing her.

They were quiet for about a minute until Steve said teasingly, “So, milady?”

She let out a breathless laugh, wiping her eyes and pulling back. “Only he calls me that, Harrington. Well, occasionally Tuff too, but it’s not your thing.”

“I thought Ast was my thing.” He crossed his arms and pouted (so over exaggeratedly that she knew he was trying to make her laugh). “But no, he calls you that too.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“But you love me,” he grinned as he repeated his new favorite line, and this time, she didn’t protest. Maybe he was right. Maybe she did love him, in some way. Who knew?

She wasn’t spiraling anymore.

“I’m guessing you want an explanation.” Astrid sat down on the bed, beckoning him to join her.

“As to why you haven’t talked to your supposed best friend in the world?” Steve snorted, easily laying down with his head on her lap. “Yeah, an explanation would be nice.”

“Well…” She stroked his hair and hummed in thought for a few seconds. “Hiccup and I broke up about a week before my parents told me we were moving. It wasn’t messy, but…when we were together, we kind of…left the rest of the gang out. Like, we were in our own little world. So things were already…shaky. Even after we stopped dating and I started packing, they wouldn’t leave me alone about it.” She sighed, taking a few strands of his hair to make a braid. “Eventually, it got bad enough that I blew up at all of them, even Hiccup, on the day I moved. I told them I didn’t need him or them, and before you tell me how fucking stupid that was, I know.” Steve only smirked, not saying whether he’d meant to say it or not. “But I’m…proud, alright? I didn’t have the gall to call and apologize.”

Steve reached his hand up to see her handiwork as he said, “You moved here a little more than a year ago, didn’t you? It was about a week before Will went missing.”

“Two weeks, but I’m surprised you remember at all.”

“All I know is that one day this know-it-all girl plops down in some of my classes and she raises her hand no matter what the question is. She’s gorgeous, although, of course at the time the defining trait is just being annoying.”

“Your defining trait is still being annoying, Harrington,” she shot back, tugging on his hair gently as she took out the braid, only to make another. “But to get back on topic, yes. I haven’t talked to them in over a year.”

“No wonder you’re so fucking cranky all the time,” Steve remarked, earning himself a smack on the shoulder. “Your orgy party was taken away!”

Astrid gaped even as she laughed. “Oh, yeah, never heard that one before. My orgy party includes you now, you know.”

“I knew you were just trying to get in my pants this whole time.”

Astrid leaned down and kissed him as he was getting out the last word, and he hummed and smiled against her lips as he kissed back. Neither of them attempted to move anything but their lips - it was meant to be a lazy kiss, and it was enjoyable. Steve made it enjoyable.

He pulled back, first, gazing in her eyes intently. “You feel better now?”

“Not better enough to talk about why I keep kissing you when we’re not dating.” She smiled and bit her lip. “But better about my test grades and my old friends? Yeah.”

He smiled genuinely, sitting up and yawning before falling back on the pillow. “Your parents are on that trip for the whole weekend, right?”

“You can sleep over,” Astrid said, already knowing where this was going, and before she could process it, added, “I want you to, actually.”

Surprisingly enough, he didn’t comment or make fun of her. He must have been getting tired, because he just got under the blankets and outstretched his arms. She took the offer, shivering when his warmth came in contact with her ice cube of a body.

After a few minutes, he mumbled sleepily in her ear, “You look pretty when your friends make you smile.”

Astrid snapped out of her thought process for the calls she would make to the gang tomorrow, and looked at him. His mouth was slightly open, he was looking comfortable, and extremely cute.

“What about when you make me smile?”

There was no answer. Steve was asleep.

Okay, so since this is the last day of midterm week, I thought it’d be easy to write Astrid panicking over tests but my exams went pretty well, actually, so…that’s good but it didn’t fuel writing that much, pfft.