Astrid was reviewing formulas from her Advanced Chemistry book when she had that odd feeling that someone was watching her. Looking up from her book, she turned around to find no one there. She began to read a passage on redox reactions when she felt air against her neck. This time she spun around and found John, looking down at her with a cocky grin plastered on his face, the same exact expression they shared at the party when he took a bite out of his pizza.

"What are you doing here?" she said, closing her book.

"Happy to see you too," John said with a chuckle.

"I didn't mean it like that," Astrid said. She got up and sat at the end of her bed.

"I want to do something," John said, "care to join me?"

"What do you want to do?" she asked suddenly feeling very nervous.

"It will be a surprise," John said, extending a hand out to her.

Astrid placed her hand in his and ignored the feeling she felt as he clasped her hand.

She opened her eyes and looked at John.
"Welcome to Niagara Falls," John said as Astrid took in the amazing waterfall. He loved watching her smile as she took in the breathtaking view.

"Oh John, this is amazing," she said.

"You're amazing," John said without thinking about it. Astrid willed herself not to blush and turned her head away from him. She enjoyed the cool wind that came and hit against her skin and she could feel John's gaze on her.

"Hey let's take a picture," she said, taking out her cell phone. They posed in front of the waterfall and Astrid took several pictures.

John teleported Astrid back home and they both sat on her bed. "Thanks John," she said. "I've never been there before."

"It was my pleasure," he said, smiling at her and he found that he did that more often when he was around her. He was truly happy when he was with her and that was really rare. He definitely did not want to mess up whatever this was with her.

"Good luck with your test tomorrow," he said, "Good night."

"Thanks," she said. "Wait, how did you know?" she said, but he teleported away.

"Where were you John?" Cara asked as soon as he came back in.

"Missing you," John said meaning to sound sarcastic. Cara rolled her eyes and followed him to his room. He just needed to be with her one last time, to get it out of his system, to finally let her go. It wasn't fair to Cara that he was developing feelings for someone else. That night was the final time he would have anything to do with Cara.

"So what did you think of that test?" Stephen said to Astrid.

"I think it went well," Astrid said, putting her textbook in her locker. Stephen waited for her to close her locker and then asked her, "Yeah me too. Anyway do you want to hang out?" he said. "I feel like we haven't hung out in a long time," he said smiling brightly at her.

"I have plans tonight actually," Astrid said. The truth was that it hurt her every time she was around him and he just didn't get that. He didn't feel the same way about her and that hurt. In order to heal she felt like she needed to put some distance between them and just maybe then she could see him as only a friend. The sting of that rejection was still so fresh and difficult to ignore.

She could see the disappointment in his eyes. "Maybe some other time though," she said, starting to walk off.

Stephen teleported into the lair and headed for a chair. He sat across Russell, who was sitting on a sofa reading a magazine. "Where is she?" Russell asked, looking around Stephen for Astrid.

"Not here," Stephen said laughing.

"She's actually busy," Stephen said.

"Do you know if she's seeing anyone?" Russell asked Stephen.

Stephen was about to answer when John came in offering them sandwiches.

"Hey, is Astrid seeing anyone?" Russell asked again as he noticed Stephen forget the question.

John's ears perked up and he tried not to look too interested. "As far as I am concerned she's single," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's been over a week," Stephen said to Astrid as they headed for the cafeteria. "Why can't we hang out like we used to?"

Asrid couldn't believe that she almost called Stephen John and she closed her mouth to regain her thoughts. "I've just been busy that's all," she said, placing a chocolate milk carton on her tray.

They headed for their table and sat down. Stephen sat across from her and said, "I feel like you're abandoning me," he said, picking at his pizza.

Astrid was about to take a bite of her cheese sandwich but put it down. "How could you say that?" she said now crossing her arms in front of her.

"Well that's how I feel," he said, "if you don't want to be my friend anymore-"

"Did I ever say that I don't want to be your friend anymore?" she asked him. The tears were now pricking her eyes.

"No," he said, reaching for her but she pulled away from him. She began to cry and she didn't know why and he came around to her and hugged her. She sobbed against him and he rubbed her back in comfort.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what I would do without you that's all," he whispered into her curls. They separated with both their hearts still heavy and then Astrid got up and walked away, wishing she could disappear.

Stephen went back to the lair and before Russell could ask he said, "Not here."

"You look upset," Russell noted and he was going to joke when he noticed that Stephen looked hurt. John was reading a book of poetry Astrid had lent him and looked up.

"It's just Astrid," he said, thinking about what happened in the cafeteria.
"What's wrong with Astrid?" John asked, placing a bookmark in the book.

"She," he hesitated, "she's different. I feel like I'm losing her," he said.

You don't deserve her John thought.

"What did you think?! Stephen said, heading straight for John.