Face Value

Part 4

FOUR:

Astrid had brought sandwiches out of habit and the girls had politely observed her tuck in as they bought their expensive salads and warm meals and Atali had bought her a fruit salad and a drink which Astrid had opened her mouth to decline but which Atali had refused to countenance.

"You can always pay me back some day," she said easily. "We take turns-though Heather sometimes brings cakes in. Enjoy!" Blinking, Astrid had nodded.

"Thanks," she said and popped the can open. Heather handed her a brownie.

"Mint choc brownie," she offered and Astrid stared. "Look, I bake all the time. The others love these-and I always bring spares because..."

"Are those brownies?" The familiar voice of Snotlout closed quickly and Heather just rescued the sweet treat from a grasping hand. "Hey!"

"That's Astrid's!" she scolded the stocky boy and he stared at her as if she was talking alien.

"But...no one owns your brownies!" he protested. "And...Astrid?" His blue eyes widened in shock and then appreciation. "Looking hot, Hoff!" She stared at him in shock.

"Um...you talking to me?" she asked. He winked.

"You are a hotty!" he confirmed. "I mean...you were all grungy and ugly and suddenly-BAM! You're all beautiful with that hair and those legs and that..."

"Snot..." Heather growled, seeing his eyes fixated on the blonde's chest.

"...whatever! And wow-is that lipstick? I mean you are a hotty! You been holding out on us, Hoff?" the stocky jock gushed on. Heather face-palmed.

"Nope, I was just dressing practically," Astrid said tightly. Huffing, Mindy elbowed Snotlout.

"Hey, hey-remember me?" she asked pointedly, her eyes narrowing. "Your girlfriend?" Snotlout looked at her with an apologetic expression.

"Aww baby-don't be jealous," he said patronisingly. "I was just making Hoff feel good. I mean-she's your friend now, isn't she? And as she's stopped being ugly, she deserves to feel good?"

There was an awkward silence as everyone processed his words. Astrid blew out her cheeks.

"Wow-I really don't even know what to say about that," she commented dryly. Atali shook her head with a wry smile.

"You know Simon Jorgensen? The least tactful guy in the whole Archipelago?" she began in an amused voice. "I believe he paid you a compliment, Astrid. Well, as close as you can get from him..." The girl sighed.

"Thanks, I think," she managed and looked over to the others. Mindy snuggled against Snotlout and the stocky boy pressed a surprisingly tender kiss to her cheek before he looked over at the other guys, who were bringing a tray of burgers and hot dogs.

"Thug, Eret-you guys are the best!" he called and waved, his eyes brightening as he saw the double burger with extra fries they had gotten for him. He grabbed it and bit in with a sigh. The others crowded around the table, hauling up chairs and divvying out the hot food. Ruffnut accepted a spicy yak burger with extra chillis and gherkins and Astrid found a hot dog placed in front her her. Eret winked.

"Looking good, Astrid," he said and smiled as he sat opposite her. She frowned.

"What are you after?" she asked him directly. He blinked. "I mean, a couple of days ago, you asses were threatening to put me in a dumpster if I didn't do your classwork for you-in front of the damned teacher, no less. And now you want to be friends? Why should I trust you?" She poked the hot dog. "Is this booby-trapped? Poisoned? Laced with laxatives?"