Astrid should have known better than to move in together with people who were in a relationship. It might work out fine in sitcoms but real life was a whole different story.

It had been Heather's own idea, wanting to keep both her best friend and boyfriend close by. So Astrid didn't give it much thought. She and Hiccup were already friends, they would get along fine.

Except for one teeny tiny detail.

Astrid was immensely attracted to Hiccup. Her best friend's boyfriend.

She had tried her best to deny it for years, fight the crush and even attempt to date other people, but nothing worked. The more time she spent in his company, the more she realized she wanted him and only him. But she couldn't have him. He wasn't hers, he never could be.

So what if he had a special smile he always reserved for her? Or how he called her Ast? Or when he sometimes teasingly referring to her as 'Milady' since The Princess Bride was her favorite movie. It didn't mean anything. He was just being playful and friendly. She was a childhood friend and he probably saw her as a little sister.

For a long time, that is what Astrid had convinced herself. Until one fateful night when everything changed.

Hiccup and Heather had broken up after Hiccup returned back from a family trip. They had tried to live together as friends for a few weeks but when Heather got a new boyfriend it was no longer an option. Their fights escalated and Hiccup eventually decided it was time to move out.

Astrid offered him her assistance since he was rather hopeless at packing. They put on music in the background and joked around as they usually did. Things were almost back to normal until she realized she could still see the heartbreak written over his face. It made her own heart clench. He still loved Heather, nothing had changed.

And then she mentally scolded herself for hoping he might ever...

She tried to distract herself, turning to attend to a pile of clothes lying on the floor. It was quiet for a moment but then she felt his arms enclose around her waist.

"I'm going to miss living with you," he said, his gorgeous green eyes staring at her with sadness. She felt herself be pulled into a hug and squeezed him back desperately. "Me too."

Every time they hugged it felt like the world around them stopped. Not to mention he felt so good against her. She breathed in his scent and closed her eyes.

But then the unthinkable happened. Hiccup stepped back a little and then he kissed her. His ex-girlfriend's best friend.

Astrid was too stunned to respond at first but then something inside her snapped and she kissed him back hard. All those years of longing and yearning being poured into this one breathtaking kiss.

She didn't realize how far things had escalated until she found herself planted flat on her back with Hiccup hovering over her. They kissed deeply, almost urgently. As if this entire moment was the first and last they would have together. In hindsight Astrid would come to realize how true that turned out to be.

They didn't have sex that night. Heather returned home earlier than expected and confessed that she had broken up with Brian and wanted to get back together with Hiccup.

She told him that she still loved him and that she didn't want him to leave. Astrid watched from the sidelines as the two reconciled, her lips still burning from the kiss she had shared with her best friend's boyfriend just moments prior.

It had been so wonderful and euphoric, and now it was turning into gut-wrenching pain. Astrid fled from the scene and locked herself in the bathroom.

Standing underneath the shower spray, she could not hold back her sobs back any longer. She cried for the first time in her life.

Astrid cleansed herself thoroughly that day. She had to get over Hiccup Haddock. He clearly could never love her, not in the way she wanted. And she could never love him because he was her best friend's boyfriend.

But how did one un-love someone? She wished she knew the answer.

o-o

It had been a year since that game-changing night.

Astrid kept herself busy with her studies and had for last few months looked for apartments near campus. She even considered moving into a dorm if necessary. Anything to avoid having to live with them anymore and pretend everything was just fine. Forget that Hiccup ever kissed her.

It wasn't even that Hiccup and Heather were very lovey-dovey but more-so that they were constantly fighting again and it was driving her crazy.

One day, Heather even told her that she felt like she was forcing herself to keep this relationship going. That she never should have broken up with Brian.

Astrid had remained silent, choosing to stay out of the drama.

Hiccup had lately been sleeping on the couch and Astrid tried to avoid going to the living room much. She didn't avoid him all together because that would raise suspicion.

She greeted him at the kitchen after Heather left for work and he simply looked at her with tired eyes.

"I don't know how long I can go on like this?" he mumbled.

Astrid frowned in confusion. "Is everything alright?"

Hiccup snorted. "I don't think this was ever a good idea." He stepped closer and she felt herself be backed up against a wall. "Me and Heather."

"You love each other," Astrid whispered. "You always have."

Hiccup scoffed at the word. "She doesn't love me."

Astrid swallowed. "You are letting your anger cloud your judgment." Why was he so close to her?

"It was an infatuation, not love," he continued. "Love is not fleeting, it's long-lasting and eternal. It's not something that suddenly fades."

"You love her," she repeated. "You always have, you always will."

His gaze was growing more intense. "Is that what you believe?"

Astrid nodded. "I believe.. you two are soulmates," she forced herself to say.

Hiccup frowned, looking away. Astrid pushed past him then, her heart still racing.

Just as she was about to leave the room, she heard him call her name.

Ast

She halted, looking back at him questioningly.

"There is something I need to tell you.. something I've been trying to deny for so long because I used to think you'd never..," his voice trembled slightly. "The truth is.. ever since we were kids I.. you.. I-"

Her phone buzzed. She sighed, somewhat relieved. "I have to go."

o-o