ＳＹＭＰＡＴＨＹ ＦＯＲ ＴＨＥ ＤＥＶＩＬ

𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔰

♛

I tap my foot anxiously as the taxi comes closer and closer to the infamous water tower, an old Stones song playing quietly over the radio. Wow, it really does look like the Grinch is flipping me off.

The driver glances at me through the rearview mirror. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I exhale. "I'm just a little nervous. I haven't been here in a while."

The record stores have become immensely successful since Nik bought the chain, and I've been working there almost nonstop for... five years, now? Of course, I've made time for boyfriends and friends and such, but the company has been taking up most of my time.

I recently broke up with my latest boyfriend, and as soon as I was done moping, Nik arranged for me to take a month's break. He called Red and Kitty and found a way to ship me back to Point Place for a bit.

I miss my friends terribly, but I'm honestly scared to see them. I have no clue how they're going to feel about me randomly popping up after so long. I told them I'd come visit before the new decade started, but I obviously haven't kept that promise. I was going to, I really was, but Nik found a girl, and got married, and had a baby, and I wanted to be there to take over if he needed me too. I still haven't spoken to my parents since they so gracefully disowned me, but I'm doing better than ever.

"Alright," the driver sighs, parking on the edge of the sidewalk. "Here you are. Do you need help getting your bag out?"

"No, thank you," I say, attempting to smile as I hand him some cash. "Keep the change."

He nods gratefully as I hop out and lug the suitcase out of the trunk of the car. After he drives off, I step up to the front door and take a deep breath. Here we go again. I ring the doorbell and Red appears in the doorway after a few seconds.

"I already told you, I don't want to buy your damn- Anastasia!"

I can't help the grin that appears on my lips. "Hi, Red."

He takes the suitcase from me, sets it to the side, and wraps me in a tight hug. "We thought we'd never see you again."

I press my cheek into his shirt. "Well, here I am."

Kitty bustles over. "Oh, Red, could you help me- Well, goodness, is that who I think it is?"

I chuckle quietly, turning to her. "Hi, Mrs. Forman."

"Oh, we missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too."

Laurie trots down the stairs. "Ana!" She bounds forward and pushes her mother out of the way lightly before squeezing me. "I was so pissed that I couldn't say goodbye to you. I'm sorry."

"That's okay. How've you been?"

"Well, I stopped screwing around, for the most part."

"Really? That's great."

"Yeah, how's Nikolai?"

"Married with a kid."

She nods in mock disappointment. "Well, that's never stopped me before."

I laugh and shake my head fondly. "You are something else."

"Eric and the rest of those dweebs are visiting. He said something about getting the band back together or whatever. I'll take your stuff up to my room, you're bunking with me."

I raise my eyebrows. "They're all here?"

"Yeah, they're at the Hub."

I beam at her. "I'll be back."

♛

A half of an hour later, I step out of the bus and speedwalk toward the small diner. I freeze when I spot a dark figure leaning against the wall of the Hub. Please don't murder me, please don't murder me.

Before I can try to slink away, the figure tosses a cigarette on the floor and steps on it before squinting at me and coming closer, allowing the light of the streetlamp to reach his face.

Standing there in front of me is a man who I still strangely think of as that teenage boy that I met all those years ago, that I used to despise. I become suddenly conscious of the beaded necklace that hangs around his neck and the rings that sit on my fingers. He combs a hand through his curls and slowly takes off his glasses.

As soon as I look into his deep blue eyes, everything comes rushing back. All of the memories, all of the feelings, everything.

Standing there in front of me is Steven Hyde.

A smirk quirks up at his lips as he realizes who he's looking at, and I know that a joke is on the tip of his tongue.

"Hey, Princess." He grins slyly. "Can you guess my name?"