Sun beamed down on the quad of Sky High as the two girls enjoyed their free period on the grass. Talking solace from the blazing beams, Astrid sat under the shade of the tree watching as her friend sun bathed. Bags and books were discarded in a pile next to them, ignored and forgotten, just like the homework within them. The two months of Senior Year had been stressful and emotional so the two Sidekicks were grateful for the chance to unwind.

"How's it going with Speed?" Astrid asked, leaning against the trunk of a tree, head thrown back and eyes closed.

"Not too bad. It's actually quite amusing because he tries to use his powers to do something as a joke and I can easily counteract. We've actually been getting along quite well." Natalia sniggered at the memories, laying on her back with an arm thrown across her eyes to block out the sun.

"That sounds nice. I'm glad he's not picking on you anymore."

"It has been nice. I know this sounds corny but he's really sweet when he lets you get to know him. How's it going with you and Lash?"

"Not too bad. It's still tense but we're getting better. It's amusing watching him search for me when I disappear."

"Is that how you managed to escape from earlier?"

"Do you seriously think I'd be here without him if I hadn't?" Astrid snorted.

Lunch was still spent with Warren, Will and the rest of the Sophomores but any other free moment was spent with their Heroes. Both girls were anxious for their partnerships to go well so that they could graduate but over time, they had weirdly come to care for their Heroes.

Whilst they were still slightly on edge around them, they had warmed up to them and saw that Lash and Speed were sweeter than they acted. Natalia and Astrid were doing their best to show the rest of Sky High that the two ex-Villains could successfully be integrated back into the school.

Comfortable silence passed over the two girls and they sighed contentedly. Pushing through the stress of being responsible for two 'reformed' Villains, the two girls realised their feelings for their Heroes had changed from the beginning of the year. They no longer detested their pairing, they understood it.

Shadows fell on the two women and they opened their eyes to see what was blocking out their sunlight. Upon seeing who it was, Astrid groaned in despair.

"I've been caught." Astrid grumbled to Natalia before turning back to Lash. "You're blocking my sun."

"You ran away from me." Lash shot back. "It's almost the end of the day."

"Help me up then."

Holding out her hand, she let Lash clasp it tightly before pulling her up off the ground. Unfortunately he pulled too hard and she went crashing into his chest. Holding her tightly, he steadied the pair of them but didn't let her go straight away. Blue eyes met brown eyes and for a moment it was all Lash could see; icy blue. Whereas they had once held hatred and anger the last time they were this close, Astrid now looked at him with warm affection. Glancing into her eyes, he watched the ice thaw.

Coughing caused the two to spring apart. Natalia and Speed stood there smirking at the pair, Speed had Natalia's books in his arms as she held Astrid's bag out to the flushed girl. Thanking her friend, the Healer grabbed her bag before hurrying back towards the school to get her books and jacket out of her locker. Lash quickly followed behind his Sidekick like a puppy, leaving Speed and Natalia to laugh at the sight.

☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰ ⁂☆⁂ ☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰

"Do you, uh, maybe, I don't know. Would you like to, uh, would you want to come in?" Lash blushed as the pair reached their houses.

He gestured awkwardly to his own house, nervous for some reason. Not that it was the first time she had been over his house, both of them felt as if it was different as they walked through the gate. Before, she had been at his house because of school projects or with her family. This time, she was entering by Lash's side purely as his friend with the intention of spending time together.

As they reached the front door, Astrid hesitated slightly and Lash began regretting asking.

Was he forcing her into this, he panicked.

"You don't have to," he reassured softly but she smiled at him and gestured for him to open the door.

"Lash? Honey, is that you?" Elizabeth Livingston called out, exiting the kitchen to greet her son. "Astrid? Hello!"

"Hey, Mrs L." Astrid beamed, smiling at the cheerful woman.

Growing up, Elizabeth had also been kind to the young girl, baking cakes for her birthday and giving her someone to talk to if she felt she couldn't speak to her mom. When Astrid had gotten her period, Elizabeth had been the one to explain how things worked and took her to the supermarket to buy the essentials (which had included giant bars of chocolate). Despite the rift between Lash and Astrid, the Healer felt completely at ease the moment Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her.

"It's so good to see you, Sweetie. I popped over to see your mother the other day after school before I went shopping but you weren't there."

"That's because she was here, Mom." Lash cut in, giving Astrid a reprieve from his mother when she released Astrid to glance at her son.

"We were working on a school project." Astrid blurted out after seeing the look Elizabeth was giving them.

"When I heard that you two were paired together, I was ecstatic. You're going to be really good for him."

Awkwardly shuffling on the spot, Lash non-verbally begged his mother to stop talking as he tried to fight the redness staining his cheeks.

"Why don't you two head on upstairs and I'll bring you some snacks? Are you staying for dinner?"

"Oh I don't want to intrude." Astrid stammered, overwhelmed by the woman's hospitality. Somehow she had managed to forget just how caring Lash's mother was.

"You wouldn't be. We'd love for you to have dinner with us," said Elizabeth.

Praying that she would say yes, Lash selfishly wanted as much time with Astrid as possible. On the other hand, he also didn't want her to feel pressured to stay and he was terrified his mother would begin sharing how Lash had coped with the aftermath of what he had done.

Black painted the walls and posters were hung up randomly. Black and white striped sheets neatly decorated the double bed and a white desk with a black lamp had been shoved into the corner. Shutting the door behind her, Astrid discovered that Lash's bedroom looked exactly how she would've pictured it.

"Let me just move these out of the way for you." Lash mumbled, grabbing the pile of clean clothes off his bed and placing them on the white leather armchair under the window.

Perching on the edge of the bed, Astrid glanced around the room, taking in how much it resembled Lash.

"Sorry about that," he said awkwardly, unsure as to whether he should sit beside her. "You don't have to stay for dinner."

"I'd like to," she said, patting the bed beside her so he'd stop hovering.

"Great."

Awkward silence filled the room and Astrid fiddled nervously with the cushion in her lap. Both of them were in uncharted territory so neither one knew how to act around the other. Staring at the pillow in her lap, Astrid grinned at Lash, revelling the in the terrified look on her face. Throwing the black cushion, she laughed when it hit him squarely in the face. The unexpected motion had him falling backwards onto the bed.

"You're in for it now," he warned, using his powers to retract the pillow off the floor without needing to move from his position on the bed.

Astrid disappeared from his view but he knew she was nearby as he could hear the light sounds of her breathing.

"Any effort to hit me is futile. The cushion will just pass through me." Astrid whispered in his ear.

Goosebumps rippled down his arms and he turned to around to trap her. She had gone. Spinning in circles, he kept an ear out for any indication of where she stood; a squeaky floorboard, a step trodden too loudly, a heavy breath, anything.

"Over here." Astrid called from one side of the room.

By the time Lash had reached where her voice had come from, she was gone from him yet again. Ten minutes passed and Lash admitted defeat but still she did not respond or return. Opening the door to his room, he trudged downstairs and frowned when he saw Elizabeth and Astrid seated at the kitchen table and talking.

"It took you long enough to come down." Elizabeth laughed, aiding Astrid in her prank.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," glared Lash but the corners of his mouth were quirking into a smile.

"Could you help me dish up dinner, Mr Grumpy?" Elizabeth asked her son, standing from the table.

"Sure."

"Do you want me to do anything?" Astrid smiled at the kind woman.

"You just sit there and look pretty," responded Elizabeth.

"Might be difficult for her." Lash teased his Sidekick, who stuck her tongue out at him in retaliation.

Lash's laughter was quickly cut off when his mother swatted him on the back of the head as she passed on her way back into the kitchen.

☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰ ⁂☆⁂ ☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰

"I had fun tonight. Thanks for inviting me over." Astrid smiled as Lash walked her the two steps from his house to her own.

Dinner had been wonderful. Jackson had returned home for work, delighted at seeing the blonde seated across from his son and had preceded to spend the rest of the night asking about her Senior Year and her life since Homecoming. No one brought up Homecoming or why they hadn't seen each other since.

"Thank you for accepting." Lash rubbed the back of his neck as they stood on the threshold of the Stronghold house. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"You most certainly will, yes."

"Make sure your bag doesn't steal my seat." Lash joked before wincing at how lame it had sounded.

Shaking her head at his awkwardness, she promised that the seat beside her would be free for him and they said their final goodbyes. Entering her house, Astrid smiled at the night she had had.

Strolling back to his house, Lash grinned at the tingling sensation in his cheek from where Astrid's lips had touched it only moments ago.