Author's Note: As usual, it's a short chapter. I think I'm actually incapable of writing a chapter longer than 5K words, and it's been a while since I wrote even half that much. Also, I've been going through a bit of writer's block lately, so I hope that doesn't show in the upcoming chapters. If it does, I'm sorry. I don't want writing to become a chore, so I'm trying to get into the habit of writing every day, which can be difficult at times.

Reviews:

Ncham9 - As always, thanks for watching out for little mistakes like that. Hopefully, this chapter will be up to par

Guest - I hope you enjoy!

Lady-von-Bielefeld - Thank you! I really hope you like this chapter as well

Supergoddad - Here it is, finally, so please enjoy. Oh, and rainbow hugs!

There was something about the atmosphere of The Cove in the morning that soothed Astrid like nothing else. The rich scent of the pot of brewing coffee in the kitchen, the hushed voices of the usual counter dwellers, and the warm sunshine splashing across the tables and kissing her skin as she passed in front of the windows, refilling the chrome napkin dispensers, all contributed to her cheery mood.

"Mornin' lass," Gobber called from his seat at the counter, waving his fork in her direction. Cami, one of the other waitresses, slid a steaming mug of coffee his way before nodding to Astrid. She flipped her blonde mane over her shoulder, smiling faintly.

"Good morning," Astrid chirped. She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes as she checked the last table's dispenser.

"How's life been treatin' you? Last I heard you were applying to go to some fancy school in California," Gobber said.

"Oh you know...I, um, I couldn't afford to go. But it's fine. I have work here to keep me busy." Astrid strode behind the counter to drop the extra napkins into one of the cardboard boxes filled to the brim with supplies, which they kept hidden from view for the simple fact that customers just couldn't stop asking questions about them.

"Hold on a second. You told me we were leaving for Cali together this summer," Cami said, leaning back against the wall behind her.

"And we are. Nothing has changed." Astrid turned to prop the front doors open, but Rachel had already beat her to it. The sunshine raced across the floor, making the ivory-colored tiles shine despite the faint scuffs and scratches; the scars of years and years of successful business.

Cami rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding? I'm not going to let you sit all year, alone, in an apartment in San Diego. You would have to be crazy to think I would, Astrid," she said.

Astrid ignored her remark as she leaned back against the counter. Something else was on her mind, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. It was like a small piece of her had gone missing. She glanced at the floor as she thought, and it came to her instantly.

"Wait, has anyone seen my name tag?" she asked.

"Your name tag? Don't you usually keep it in your purse?" Rachel called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Yeah. I know I had I had my purse with me last night. I remember grabbing it when I left Finn's with…" Astrid's eyes widened. "Rachel, did you take it out of my purse yesterday while I was on my lunch break?"

"Nope. I left early to pick up my brother, remember? It was just you and Cami."

Astrid breathed a low sigh. Her heart raced with worry and fear like a horse set free to run. What if the man from the night before, Hiccup, had it? Just the thought of him knowing her full name and workplace made her anxious, even if he had acted quite timid around her. "Cami, did you…?"

"Why would I want your name tag? Astrid, I don't have it," Cami said. "And what were you doing at Finn's, all the way on the other side of the city, anyways?"

A faint blush came over Astrid's cheeks. "Nothing. I just needed a night out, okay?" She turned her back to Cami, not wanting the other blonde to see the effect her words had on her. Cami walked around the counter, chuckling under her breath. Just as she sat down at a booth across from Astrid, Rachel poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Did I hear you say that you left with someone? Was it a guy?" Rachel asked.

Astrid squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. "It wasn't-"

"Oh my God, it was. Astrid! Why didn't you call me?" Rachel dropped the rag in her hand on one of the tables and crossed her arms. Both she and Cami howled with laughter as Astrid's face turned a darker pink and she pursed her lips.

"Come on, you have to tell us everything. Was he cute? Did he have a brother?"

"Rachel!" Astrid glared at the taller girl and huffed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gobber stand, a grin stretched across his face. He dropped a ten-dollar bill on the counter before shoving his hands into his pockets and walking out into the bright sunshine.

Astrid returned her attention to her friends with a sigh. "It was nothing. I swear. We had a few drinks, went back to his hotel, and then I left this morning. Happy?"

"That's it? What kind of story is that? We're going to need more details," Cami said.

Astrid shook her head as a family of four wandered in, one of the children "flying" a toy plane through the air as his father pulled him along by the hand. She pulled her notepad out of one of the pockets in her apron as they settled at a table, putting on her best smile. "Hi, welcome to The Cove. I'm Astrid and I'll be your waitress today. What can I get you to drink?"

Cars shot by, a thin mist of water spraying out from under their tires and just missing the sidewalk. Astrid kept her arms crossed over the front of her coat as she walked, shivering as her cold clothing clung to her skin. Her heels clicked against the sidewalk at an angry pace. All around her, warm lights began to flicker on in homes and businesses flashed their impressive neon signs, lighting the way back to her own apartment.

Something about the way the constant movement of the city around her made her feel small, like a single page in a novel, but she had learned to live with the feeling since she and her mother had moved to Georgia nearly twelve years before. As a girl born in California, Astrid was used to city life; large crowds and the hum of noise that always seemed to follow you went unnoticed by her. She became so entranced in her racing thoughts that it all seemed to blur around her.

So she didn't notice when a man turned the corner and walked right into her. She nearly fell when his shoulder collided with hers but caught herself against the brick wall of a small shop. As he sat on the damp sidewalk, staring at her dumbly, she could have sworn that she had seen him somewhere before. She pulled her phone out of her pocket to use it as a flashlight but rocked back on her heel in case he reached out to grab her.

The man squinted against the bright circle of light, holding a hand up to shield his eyes. "Astrid?" the man asked, pushing himself to his knees. A slip of paper fluttered out of his hand as he did so.

Her eyebrows pulled together in deep concentration as she thought. Then her eyes widened, and she grabbed his hand in hers, hauling him to his feet. She bent down to grab the paper from the damp concrete, dabbing it dry it as best she could with the hem of her skirt. "Tuff, what are you doing out here? It's raining," she said.

Tuff grinned at her. "Yeah, I kinda noticed. I'm on a mission for bread and eggs; chief's orders."

"Rachel sent you out to get groceries at," she glanced down at the glowing blue screen of her phone, "nine o'clock at night?"

"Yeah. She wants to make some kind of cake or whatever tomorrow."

Astrid rolled her eyes. Knowing the twins as well as she did, she was sure that one of them was lying. "Sure she is. Look, I need to get going, but I'll see you around, Tuff," she said. She stepped around him and kept walking, her head down.

"Sounds good. Oh, and good luck with your new boyfriend."

Astrid froze. She turned slowly, and watched, horrified, as he began to walk in the other direction. After a moment, she ran after him as fast as she could in her heels. "Tuff! Wait a second!"

He stopped, still grinning. "Yeah?"

"Who told you?" she panted.

"Told me what?"

"About my- about the guy I met the other night."

Tuff pursed his lips, humming. "She made me promise not to tell if you asked. But she didn't say much," he admitted.

Astrid's eyes narrowed, burning a hole into the sidewalk. Rachel. "What did she tell you?"

"Just that you met some guy at Finn's last night. Which is funny, 'cause I was just there yesterday with some guys and none of us saw you." He laughed softly to himself.

She nodded, not quite listening as he continued. There was no way Tuff could have known who the guy had been, and even if he did find out, it wouldn't matter. The guy from last night would just be another faceless name to him."Thanks, Tuff," she whispered as she turned away.

As the voice of the city filled her ears once again with screeching tires and screaming horns, she realized that she hadn't given the slip of paper back to him. But now, gazing down at the crumpled, wet ball of paper that lay in her palm, she knew that she would have to wait until a better time.