It had been five long years since Jack Frost had seen the streets of New York City. The lights, the sounds, so many things he'd thought he'd forgotten. But the moment he stepped off the train, a flood of memories came rushing back to him. People filed off of the train, meeting up with relatives and friends. Jack was alone. With a huff, he slung his blue duffle bag over his shoulder and started up the station stairs.
The December air nipped bitterly at Jack's face, but he didn't mind. He'd always enjoyed the cold weather. He found an empty bench facing the barren street to set his bag down. He slumped onto the bench and pulled out his cell phone. Snow had lightly begun to fall from the dark purple sky. As he punched in the numbers and waited for an answer, he looked around the avenue.
A series of parties were exiting the station. Most were clusters of college age kids, spending winter break hitting the streets and sites of The Big Apple. There was an older man in military wear. He was carrying a young girl who looked about 6 or 7 on his shoulders and holding hands with a slender brunette woman. The three were smiling and laughing as the girl bounced happily on her father's shoulders. Jack grinned. Finally the line picked up.
"Hello?" a man's voice answered.
"Hey, Hiccup? Is that you?" Jack asked timidly.
"Uh, yeah. Who is this?"
"It's Jack."
Hiccup was silent for a minute. Jack started to worry. Could he really have forgotten him?
"Jack." he repeated, "Jack Frost. We went to high school together. We-"
"I know who you are, Jack!" he spat rather sharply, "Honestly I just can't believe you're calling. How long has it been?"
Jack gulped, "About two years."
Hiccup was the only friend Jack had kept in touch with after he left. But even after a few years, Jack had dropped out of contact with him, too.
"Well," Hiccup said, "it's, uh, good to hear from you again."
"Yeah." Jack said sheepishly, "Listen, I'm at the train station. Do you think maybe-"
"On my way." Hiccup said before hanging up the phone.
Jack sighed. He wasn't actually going to ask Hiccup to pick him up. He wasn't an idiot. It was like 8:00 at night. The streets of New York would probably be super busy right now. He was just going to ask if they could meet up sometime. Jack thought about calling him back but decided not to. He didn't really feel like paying for a cab or waiting for the bus, and it'd be good to catch up with Hiccup. So instead, he pulled up his hood and shuffled through his contacts. He hit enter and waited nervously for an answer.
"Aye?" a woman's voice asked.
"Hey Merida."
He could almost hear her scowl over the phone.
"Jack Frost, ye got a lot o' nerve calling me."
"Yeah, uh," Jack stumbled for words, "I'm back in town and just wanted to see how you were doing."
Silence was his only answer.
"So," he said shaking, "how are you doing?"
"Jack," Merida said with no emotion to her voice, "what's this about? Did ya get in trouble with the police or something?"
"What?" he barked, "No! Why would you think that?"
"'Cause I haven't heard from ya in five years. Now you're calling me out o' the blue. What am I supposed to think?"
"Well I'm not in any trouble. I'm just back in New York and wanted to know how you were. We are still friends." He felt like the last part was a needed reminder, to him and to her.
She sighed into the phone.
"Tragically." she said, and Jack couldn't really tell if she meant it or not.
Just then a small, tired looking black Civic pulled into the station parking lot. Jack smirked. Five years and Hiccup still had the same cruddy car.
"Listen, Mer, Hiccup's here to pick me up. Do you think we could meet up sometime or do… something?"
He might have been delusional, but he's pretty sure he heard laughter on the other line.
"O' course, Frosty." and she hung up.
Jack grabbed his duffle bag and wandered over to the parking lot. Hiccup came staggering up the stairs, not once meeting Jack's gaze. He looked different. His freckles were gone and his hair had gotten much longer. But when they finally saw each other face to face, Jack knew it was still his best friend. He had the same hazel eyes. Hiccup stuck out his hand firmly.
"Jack." he said with a steady tone.
Smirking, Jack dropped his duffle bag and opened his arms wide.
"Come on, Hic."
Hiccup sighed, but hugged him all the same. He was really trying not to show it, but he was happy Jack was back.
"So," Hiccup said pulling away, "this it?"
He grabbed the duffle bag away from Jack, who opened his mouth to protest, but just shrugged instead.
"Yep, that's all I got." He said sort of somberly.
The two made their way back to the car. The snow had stopped falling, but a fresh coat of white now covered the ground. Hiccup brushed some snow off of his trunk before popping it open and shoving the duffel in. Jack jumped in the passenger seat as Hiccup struggled with getting the engine to start. The engine made several pained noises before it finally revved up. Jack chuckled.
"You seriously need a new car, Hiccup." he teased.
The Norwegian boy straightened up his shoulders like a lawyer preparing to make a cross examination.
"This car is fine." he said pulling out, "She's just been a little over worked this week."
Jack leaned his elbow against the window.
"So… what's been up with you lately?"
Hiccup tensed.
"Oh, you know nothing really."
"Hiccup," Jack said flatly, "come on. I want to know everything."
"Well, uh," he said, "I got promoted to lead engineer on the team, my dad got a new house, and uh…"
He said the last part so quietly Jack missed it. He cocked an eyebrow.
"What was that?"
"I…"
His voice faltered again. Jack glared at him, un-amused.
"Dude, seriously, what's up?"
"I proposed to Astrid." Hiccup blurted out.
Jack widened his eyes. He sat there completely still for at least three more lights. Hiccup proposed to Astrid? The same girl who had threatened to use his head as a doorstop in high school? That Astrid?
"Did I hear you correctly? Are we talking about the same Astrid?" he asked intelligently.
"Of course we are." Hiccup said rolling his eyes, "Look, I know what you're thinking."
"Yeah," Jack scoffed, "are you guys in the witness protection program or something? Are you doing a "Life of the Average Miserable Husband" documentary? Wait a second."
Jack looked around frantically.
"Am I on one of those hidden camera shows where you prank somebody with a fake pregnancy or a joke proposal?"
Hiccup slugged him in the arm, hard.
"I'm serious, Jack!" he said stiffly.
Jack shook his head.
"Aw man, buddy, I'm sorry. How many stitches did she give you?"
The car screeched to a halt at the next red light. If a stare could kill, Hiccup would have been charged with first degree murder.
"She said yes, you jerk."
Jack could have been an old cartoon. His eyes bugged out of his head and his jaw hit the floor. Hiccup ignored him and kept driving.
"After you left, we started hanging out." he explained, "She's ruff around the edges, for sure, but she's a great girl. While my dad and I were fighting, she was the only person I could really talk to. She's got a big heart, ya know?"
His voice was almost dreamy. Jack thought he was going to throw up.
"So you guys are like, getting married?"
"Yes Jack," Hiccup retorted, "that's what an engagement entails."
"When?" Jack asked, failing to keep his voice from cracking.
Hiccup shrugged, "We were talking about the beginning of August."
Jack sat in a daze. He still couldn't believe his best friend was a) getting married and b) getting married to ASTRID. Sure, she was hot, but she had hated them in high school. What on Earth had brought these two together? After a few more minutes in the car, Hiccup broke the silence.
"So you got a place to stay?" he asked casually.
Jack shook himself out of his trance.
"Yeah, uh, I got this apartment down on Warren Street."
"Nice." Hiccup said, nodding in approval, "It's a good neighborhood. Well, not good. But not awful."
The car made a left on 5th toward Warren Street. Jack didn't say much else. Hiccup blabbered about his new position at work, and as happy as Jack was for him, he couldn't follow half of the things he was saying. So he just stared out the window thinking about everything he still had to do. First, after he unpacked what little stuff he had in his new apartment, he had to see Merida. The two had a complicated relationship, but they were always friends. He was eager to see her again. Then he had to go see the girl he'd been thinking nonstop about for 5 long years, Rapunzel.