Astrid stifled laughter, retrieving the cigarette with the other. "Y..you're not gonna die, are you? I'm so sorry, I kind of pressured you there, didn't I."
Geez, by the way he was acting, she thought he was cut out for it.
"Oh, c'mon. I'm not that old," she chuckled meekly, scratching her cheek with a bent index. "If only I were older and wiser. Then I'd definitely have less trouble on my science exams. Maybe."
A chance to hang out is more likely than you think.
Harold kept coughing until he could almost breathe again.
"You need help in Chemistry? I'm acing it right now."
A few more coughs.
"And it wouldn't even be boring, because at some point I'd embarrass myself and you could laugh at my expense. Tutoring and entertainment, all in one. I'm multi-talented."
She considered this carefully. It was a nice gesture-- though why the sudden interest of helping her? Could he have some kind of ulterior motive? But what would Harold gain from that? Granted Astrid wasn't a part of his... crowd and, perhaps, she knew a few people that turned their noses up at him or cleverly mocked his misfortune, but hopefully he realizes taking it out on her wouldn't benefit him in the slightest.
"This is a extortion waiting to happen, isn't it. You'll ask for a bribe again," she said, frowning skeptically.
Harold cleared his throat, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides.
Did he just admit it? Would that make it worse? Better?
Before he could even really put it to conscious through and make a decision about it (and that decision would've been not to say a word), something else took over, something more daring and confident than he actually was, some part of him that just wanted Astrid close. That wanted things the way they should be, the way they were.
"I think you're really cute."
Great. Great, why did he say that?
Great. He just ruined it all for himself.
He tried his best to recover.
"I've just--seen you around, and we're in some of the same classes, and I think--I think you're cute, and when you talk in class, you're interesting, and I just want an excuse to get to know you better, and maybe be friends? And even if, you know, it turns out you think I'm lame and you don't want to be friends, which I'm okay with, tutoring would help me study and it'd help you not fail, so it's a good thing in and of itself."
My, where did that come from? She's heard that on multiple occassions and from different people, but it managed to catch her off guard this time, unprepared to hear it come out of his mouth so suddenly. Unsure of how to respond at first, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind an ear bashfully. "Ah... I'm flattered."
Something told her he genuinely wanted her friendship and it surprised her that she'd take up his offer this quickly.
"...Deal. You're a funny guy and maybe somewhat rude, but... you're kind of nice."
Astrid tapped her chin and checked her cell phone, pressing buttons with ease, sorting through some things on the small screen. "Pretty sure I don't have any plans with Junior on that week, uhm... Oh, okay. Here we go. I'll be free..."
Amazement. Complete amazement. Telling her what he thought of her worked? It actually worked?
He cleared his throat again and said it louder the second time.
"Sure. That'd be great."
How had running from one of the bullies that loved tormenting him turn into something really great like this? He could kiss Zach! Only he wouldn't because it would be like kissing a moose.
He fished his cell phone out of his back pocket.
"Uh, can I have your number? Or...I could just give you mine?" In case she didn't want some dweeb knowing it unless she was sure about it?
Harold looked like he zoned out a moment there. Astrid resisted waving her hand in front of his face.
"Oh! I almost forgot that, didn't I? Yeah, you'll need that too. In case--in case you change your mind or if... something comes up. If you're too busy." Why was she rambling now? Anyway, she exchanged numbers and flipped her phone closed, depositing it in her pocket. Her smile brightens, albeit her lips a faint blue from the chill.
One last draw from the cigarette then she drops it, stamping and twisting out the light with the sole of her boot. "And I checked the time, guess I better go. Before my nose runs and I won't be very cute."
Lame joke, but he'll laugh because she is cute.
The other hand shoved deep in her pocket, she flicks a one hand wave as she walks past him to leave for class. When she turns the corner and reaches the door, Astrid immediately halts just in time from colliding into one of the teachers blocking the entrance.
...Well, crap. Seems she miscalculated just how much time had passed.
He'd pat himself on the back for his quick-thinking and slickness later. Because what he did was indeed quick thinking and very slick.
While the teacher was busy frowning at Astrid, he bent down awkwardly and picked up the cigarette, and swooped up next to her, slipping his hand into her purse in a way that looked like he was just accidentally bumping into her too, before drawing it out and placing what he'd grabbed in his back pocket.
"Aw, come on, you found a teacher to rat on me that fast?" he said, flicking the cigarette butt to the ground and stamping on it very obviously, but stamping on it too quickly for it to be noticeable that it was already out.
It made it look like he'd been the one smoking it.
Before she could explain, he had intervened and stole the teachers attention away from her just like that. Shocked, Astrid jerked her head to stare at Harold.
No way would that fool the teacher. He's the minor here, after all. And shouldn't she take consequences for her own actions. Astrid held up her hands peaceably and shook her head, finally opening her mouth and tried to interject.
In his eyes, it was worth it. It wasn't just to impress her, it wasn't to try to win her over, it was--
He saw that look he shot back at him and it felt like something was tugging at hooks in his chest, and with that feeling came the simple thought that he just didn't want her to get in trouble. He just...didn't want her to.
And that ran even deeper, to another thought:
I'd do anything for you.
That, he decided, was a pathetic thought, when he was feeling it for someone he barely knew, but somehow, at the same time, it also felt right. It felt perfectly normal and not creepy like it should have been, it felt like he'd take a bullet for her--
Because she'd do the same for me--
It was confusing, because he didn't know what was just...desperation and what was something more, something--
She's my friend and I care about her.
--something strangely connected--
She believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.
Why did looking at her make him feel like he was torn in two?
Why can't you remember how you feel about her? Why can't you remember who you are?
Why did it make him feel like he was missing something?
WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?
There was a strange feeling, and it was like having a word on the tip of your tongue, and then she turned away, and that word was lost for good and the feeling was gone.
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no subject
Astrid stifled laughter, retrieving the cigarette with the other. "Y..you're not gonna die, are you? I'm so sorry, I kind of pressured you there, didn't I."
Geez, by the way he was acting, she thought he was cut out for it.
"Oh, c'mon. I'm not that old," she chuckled meekly, scratching her cheek with a bent index. "If only I were older and wiser. Then I'd definitely have less trouble on my science exams. Maybe."
A chance to hang out is more likely than you think.
no subject
Harold kept coughing until he could almost breathe again.
"You need help in Chemistry? I'm acing it right now."
A few more coughs.
"And it wouldn't even be boring, because at some point I'd embarrass myself and you could laugh at my expense. Tutoring and entertainment, all in one. I'm multi-talented."
no subject
She considered this carefully. It was a nice gesture-- though why the sudden interest of helping her? Could he have some kind of ulterior motive? But what would Harold gain from that? Granted Astrid wasn't a part of his... crowd and, perhaps, she knew a few people that turned their noses up at him or cleverly mocked his misfortune, but hopefully he realizes taking it out on her wouldn't benefit him in the slightest.
"This is a extortion waiting to happen, isn't it. You'll ask for a bribe again," she said, frowning skeptically.
no subject
Did he just admit it? Would that make it worse? Better?
Before he could even really put it to conscious through and make a decision about it (and that decision would've been not to say a word), something else took over, something more daring and confident than he actually was, some part of him that just wanted Astrid close.
That wanted things the way they should be, the way they were."I think you're really cute."
Great. Great, why did he say that?
Great. He just ruined it all for himself.
He tried his best to recover.
"I've just--seen you around, and we're in some of the same classes, and I think--I think you're cute, and when you talk in class, you're interesting, and I just want an excuse to get to know you better, and maybe be friends? And even if, you know, it turns out you think I'm lame and you don't want to be friends, which I'm okay with, tutoring would help me study and it'd help you not fail, so it's a good thing in and of itself."
no subject
Something told her he genuinely wanted her friendship and it surprised her that she'd take up his offer this quickly.
"...Deal. You're a funny guy and maybe somewhat rude, but... you're kind of nice."
Astrid tapped her chin and checked her cell phone, pressing buttons with ease, sorting through some things on the small screen. "Pretty sure I don't have any plans with Junior on that week, uhm... Oh, okay. Here we go. I'll be free..."
She gave him the time and date.
"...Is that fine?"
no subject
He cleared his throat again and said it louder the second time.
"Sure. That'd be great."
How had running from one of the bullies that loved tormenting him turn into something really great like this? He could kiss Zach! Only he wouldn't because it would be like kissing a moose.
He fished his cell phone out of his back pocket.
"Uh, can I have your number? Or...I could just give you mine?" In case she didn't want some dweeb knowing it unless she was sure about it?
no subject
"Oh! I almost forgot that, didn't I? Yeah, you'll need that too. In case--in case you change your mind or if... something comes up. If you're too busy." Why was she rambling now? Anyway, she exchanged numbers and flipped her phone closed, depositing it in her pocket. Her smile brightens, albeit her lips a faint blue from the chill.
One last draw from the cigarette then she drops it, stamping and twisting out the light with the sole of her boot. "And I checked the time, guess I better go. Before my nose runs and I won't be very cute."
Lame joke, but he'll laugh because she is cute.
The other hand shoved deep in her pocket, she flicks a one hand wave as she walks past him to leave for class. When she turns the corner and reaches the door, Astrid immediately halts just in time from colliding into one of the teachers blocking the entrance.
...Well, crap. Seems she miscalculated just how much time had passed.
no subject
While the teacher was busy frowning at Astrid, he bent down awkwardly and picked up the cigarette, and swooped up next to her, slipping his hand into her purse in a way that looked like he was just accidentally bumping into her too, before drawing it out and placing what he'd grabbed in his back pocket.
"Aw, come on, you found a teacher to rat on me that fast?" he said, flicking the cigarette butt to the ground and stamping on it very obviously, but stamping on it too quickly for it to be noticeable that it was already out.
It made it look like he'd been the one smoking it.
no subject
no subject
Hiccup reached into his pocket and held out the lighter and the empty carton that he'd snagged from Astrid's purse. Good thing it'd been right on top.
"Which, okay, that's lame--" Eyeroll. "--but she shouldn't get in trouble for what just I was doing."
no subject
Before she could explain, he had intervened and stole the teachers attention away from her just like that. Shocked, Astrid jerked her head to stare at Harold.
No way would that fool the teacher. He's the minor here, after all. And shouldn't she take consequences for her own actions. Astrid held up her hands peaceably and shook her head, finally opening her mouth and tried to interject.
"Mrs. Norbury that's not--"
no subject
Oh, and Astrid, you severely underestimate his rep for disruptive behavior.
"Ms. Hofferson, head to class. Stenson, office. Now."
She bought it, totally and completely.
no subject
Unbelievable. He was really set on taking the blame, wasn't he.
Astrid gave one last apologetic look back at Harold then she nodded and adjusted her purse on her arm and proceeded past them on her way inside.
She will leave it in his hands to explain why he fancies carrying around a fuchsia lighter.
no subject
He saw that look he shot back at him and it felt like something was tugging at hooks in his chest, and with that feeling came the simple thought that he just didn't want her to get in trouble. He just...didn't want her to.
And that ran even deeper, to another thought:
I'd do anything for you.
That, he decided, was a pathetic thought, when he was feeling it for someone he barely knew, but somehow, at the same time, it also felt right. It felt perfectly normal and not creepy like it should have been, it felt like he'd take a bullet for her--
Because she'd do the same for me--It was confusing, because he didn't know what was just...desperation and what was something more, something--
She's my friend and I care about her.--something strangely connected--
She believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.Why did looking at her make him feel like he was torn in two?
Why can't you remember how you feel about her? Why can't you remember who you are?Why did it make him feel like he was missing something?
WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?There was a strange feeling, and it was like having a word on the tip of your tongue, and then she turned away, and that word was lost for good and the feeling was gone.