George had called her.

Surprising the girl so much she nearly threw her phone across the room, Niki and Sophie jumping at the sudden action.

"Who is it?" Niki inquired, looking over her shoulder before gasping, "Is that him?" She nearly shouted.

He hardly ever called her.

"Ah!" Sophie joined in, "lover boy~" she extended the 'y' in a taunt.

"Shut up" she barely whispered as she scrambled to her room, shoving the door shut and taking a quick breather before answering.

"Hey" he spoke quickly, a quirk to his voice she knew like the back of her hand.

The same voice he spoke in when talking about Dream or Harry Potter. The smile he held when he'd watched her try to make pancakes, or when she'd surprise him with small gifts.

"Hi" she replied, the nerves she'd felt seconds ago gone.

It was odd, how they'd been doing this dance for months yet he could still bring butterflies to her stomach.

She'd imagined it'd continue forever.

In some realms of her mind, she could see a future, him bringing her breakfast in bed - butterflies - him holding her hand as they walked down an aisle for two - butterflies - him staying up late into the Christmas morning to wrap presents perfectly, ready for little hands to rip open - a whole kaleidoscope swarm of them.

"I have news" his voice never wavered.

She hummed him to continue.

"Sapnap's coming to London!"

She wanted to be happy, and she was - for him, but some small part of her mind nipped at her. Sapnap being here meant less time for her.

It seemed selfish but this was a secret dread that she'd harbour for a while, that he was only filling his time with her.

That once something greater came around, like Sapnap, she'd be thrown to the side like an old toy, no longer fun when a brand-spanking new one walked through the door.

"That's great" hoping the smile on her face would push the happy tone she wanted.

"Isn't it! He's staying for a week or so, we're gonna do so many streams and~" his voice cut out in her mind.

George deserved it.

He deserved so much more than he'd been given by being stuck in England. Halfway across the world from his chosen family, legally not allowed to see them. His VISA had definitely taken longer than they'd thought to come, stuck on the idea that he wouldn't visit them until he knew for certain he wouldn't have to leave back to England.

Sapnap coming to England was the best they could do for now. Making the best of a bad situation.

This was a big step in their friendship.

Meeting for the first time despite being best friends for years, she knew why George was so excited.

Despite George's rambling Astrid could do nothing but prepare for the next few days, knowing that she'd be seeing George significantly less than she usually would.

Any other time it would have bothered her, but now she had Dream to talk to.

Both of them would have lost somebody for a few weeks, unknowing to him obviously.

Dream's was considerably worse, not only was his best friend, and housemate, leaving he was going to meet his other best friend. A friend he'd had to watch meet other British creators whilst being trapped at home.

The least she could do was comfort the boy whilst he was home alone.

"So he's staying at yours?" She contributed, worrying that if she stayed quiet too long he'd gauge her real feelings.

"What? No, he's staying at a hotel" he said like it was obvious.

"George!" She scalded, making sure to keep her voice quiet enough for her own housemates not to hear, "you can't let him come to England and not give him a room, why can't he stay with you?"

"Because-" he faltered, lips smacking as he staled, "because I want to see you, and don't really want Sapnap here whilst we're together"

It was stupid, she was smiling.

Smiling at the idea of George still wanting to see her. Pointedly ignoring that he was, once again, separating her from his friends.

But ignoring that was part of their relationship, and she was just going to have to put up with that for now.

———————

Written: 25th December 2022

Published: 31st January 2023

Uhhh long time no see ahah

I was gonna update after my exams stopped but then some family members passed away and then I was back at uni and then I would just rather do anything else

But I'm back now woo updates will be at least once a week