Thaw

Central Park.

The next morning I let myself sleep in. I woke up at 11 am and then lay there for half an hour petting Roxy. Finally, I got enough willpower to lift myself up and trudge to the bathroom. I heard the all too familiar hum of the morning news in the hallway. I washed up in the bathroom then headed back to my room, I opened the large fire escape window and peaked my head out, the bustle of the afternoon rush sounded throughout the city and the cold nipped at my face. 

When I was changed into a pair of frayed jeans and a flannel hoodie I went to the kitchen to have breakfast. To my surprise, no one was home. A note was on the table along with a stack of Rosas famous french toast.

'Didn't want to wake you. Made your favorite. went out to the store. Be back soon.'                              -Rosa, Lorenzo 

I helped myself to breakfast and pulled out my phone that had been vibrating with messages since I woke up, all from the group chat with MJ, Ned, and Peter.

'Did she die?'  MJs text read.

'Peter go downstairs and knock on her door.'  She followed up.

'She's probably still asleep.'  He replied back.

'She's up. What's happening?'  I typed quickly.

'Finally. -_-'  Ned typed back.

'Were trying to make plans, but it's kinda hard to do that If 25% of the group isn't present.'  MJ shaded, she even added an eye roll emoji and everything.

'Sorry, I'm present now so what's the plan?'  I asked.

'We wanna go to the city, I have coupons for the zoo in Central Park.'  Ned explained.

'Sounds good, what time?'

'3?'  He offered.

'Works for me!'  Peters text read.

'Same here.'  MJ added.

'I'll have to check with Lorenzo and Rosa but I'm pretty sure it'll be fine with them.'  I typed.

An hour later and I was getting ready to head out, Rosa and Lorenzo had come back and given me permission along with an offer to drive us, but me and Pete already had plans to meet MJ and Ned at the subway and take the 40-minute commute to Central Park. It was extremely frigid out today but Ned's coupons were only good until next week so some of us are just going to have to suck it up and take on the cold, I silently thanked the gods for making me immune to the weather.

 I had made a decision to keep what I learned yesterday to myself, the last thing I want to do is confront Peter for being a vigilante.

 I was just putting on a beanie in my room when there was a muffled knock on the door. I figured it must be Peter because the sounds of greetings were heard from the living room. I grabbed the small black backpack and head out.

"Hey Pete." I walked in to see Lorenzo shaking hands in a greeting with the teenage boy while Rosa was bustling around the kitchen putting cookies into a Tupperware container.

"Hey Astrid! Ready to go?"

"Yep." I replied, popping the P.

"Wait, take these in case you kids get hungry." Rosa hurried towards us and handed me the package.

"Thank you Rosa. See you soon!" I said a quick goodbye to them.

"Be safe!" She exclaimed before the door could close completely.