Glad to see you back here, my lovely peeps! I'd just like to say-
Jack: Hey!
Hiccup: Hi!
Jack: Are we late?
Hiccup: I think we might be...
Author: You ruined my intro, guys!
Hijack: Oh! S-sorry...
Author: Good boys! Now... Say the thing! -gives intimidating glare-
Hijack: Enjoy the chapter...
Author: That was so unenthusiastic! *tch, amateurs*
I hope you enjoy this chapter where things get worse, which can only lead to them getting better, right? Anyhoo, have fun reading and I'll be waiting in the author's note with these two morons!
Hijack: Morons?!
Jack's P.O.V
With a heavy-hearted sigh, I pry open the small cabinet that finds its place over the pristine white sink, snaking my hand inside as quickly as possible so that Hiccup, my new room-mate, doesn't catch sight of the razor that I'm tucking away in the hope that he'll never discover it; I don't want him thinking that I'm a depressed lunatic who loves pain since I actually quite like him and long with most of my heart to get along with him. If he ever found out about my 'issues', then he'd probably never speak to me again! So, for now, all of this stays a secret, hidden away like the razor for as long as I can possibly keep it from him. With one final comb of my nimble fingers through the silver nest that serves as my hair, observing my complexion in the mirror to find my eyes looking overly tired, as per the usual, I make my way out of the bathroom, being sure to cover up my disheartened state with a signature cheeky smirk that's sure to eliminate anything that might suggest to Hiccup that I'm being brought down by something. I just have to act as if everything's fine when I'm around him; if I can do that, then I might finally have a shot at a normal friendship.
Hiccup observes me with innocent forest-green eyes as I emerge from the bathroom, my hair undoubtedly strewn all over the place unlike his, which is that kind of auburn mess that everyone wishes that they had; every strand falls so randomly, it creates an element of perfection, something that I envy greatly. What I wouldn't give for my hair to set upon my head as effortlessly as his, which, upon closer observation, has two miniature braids poking out from underneath the thick layers of auburn.
"You ready to get going?" I ask, my voice slicing through the silence as there is no longer any music playing; for some reason, my iPod decided to glitch out a few months back, so, whenever a song concludes, instead of skipping to the next track in the library, it instead just ends abruptly and leaves silence in its wake. However, as the words leave my lips, Hiccup's eyes seem to widen in confusion, which encourages a laugh, that I must suppress in order to refrain from insulting him.
"Going where?!" He exclaims, completely oblivious to what I'm inferring as he can't have been informed of the event that all new students must take part in when college begins, a fact that brings me confusion as there should be no reason for him not being aware. However, since he seems to be completely perplexed, I guess that it's my job to tell him.
"To the Student Meet and Greet. It begins in a few minutes and every one of us who're new to the college have to attend. Sorry, but your undies are going to have to wait a while." At my statement, bringing me extreme entertainment due to how quickly it happens, the pink in Hiccup's face deepens into a vibrant crimson that flares through his freckled cheeks, his hands instantly fumbling around for the zip on his bag to conceal the pair of white boxers that are poking out of it. When he finally tugs it to a close, I allow myself to release a light chuckle that instantly eases him, the scarlet colour draining from his cheeks, even though a steady pink remains as the aftermath, making his chocolate dapples even more prominent as they were barely visible against the previous ruby hue.
"Huh, how come I wasn't told about it?" Hiccup seems to mutter under his breath, as if talking to nobody but himself as he rises to his feet with confusion now masking his features, as if the riddle of him not being informed about the Meet and Greet is really something worth pondering over. Not knowing if that question was intended for me or not, I answer him all the same, just to see if I can encourage that adorable blossom of scarlet back into his cheeks. Wait... adorable?
"Beats me! I guess they knew that your amazing new room-mate would have you covered." To my unknown slight disappointment, no blush is beckoned onto his face, however, he does emit a giggle that causes something within me to take a sudden lurch, as if my heart is on an escape mission and is desperately trying to force its way out of my chest. What the heck is going on with me?!
"Ah, what would I do without you, eh?" He murmurs whilst playfully nudging me in the ribs with his elbow, both of us acting as we've known each other for five years as opposed to five minutes; I can't remember the last time that I got on so well with someone to the point where, it actually began to have an effect on me internally as well. Is this what having a friend feels like?
"Come on!" I encourage, my hand grappling around his slender forearm and tugging him along behind me. However, my heart takes another starling leap when I realize that the sleeve of my hoodie is tugging up slightly, to which I respond by abruptly forcing it back down before Hiccup can even notice anything; I can't let him know! Not yet; I finally have a friend and I don't want what's under these sleeves to ruin that! With yet another sweet giggle, Hiccup begins to match my pace, allowing me to release his arm once he's finally out of the surprise of being randomly dragged from his seat and abruptly out into the hallway without any sense of warning.
"Please don't make a habit out of doing that!" He pleas, beckoning forth a chuckle that bounces off of the walls as it unites with one of Hiccup's, until our laughter becomes a unified force that tackles the air together. There are few things that I really enjoy in life ever since I started suffering from what I'm slowly beginning to get over, but there's one thing that I am completely and utterly sure of. I really enjoy hearing the sound of our laughter.
Before long, Hiccup and I arrive at a heavily packed room that barely has any space for either of us to move about, my hand finding his wrist so that we don't get separated from each other in this over-flowing swamp of people. He doesn't seem to protest against my logic, following along behind me as I try to find us just a small area that will allow for us to breathe, my efforts for nothing as I come to the conclusion that no such place exists here in this moment in time, the air filled with nothing but the voices of exasperated teenagers who all fangirl over the fact that they actually got in, as well as complain about or praise their new room-mate. In that aspect, I can admit that I've been extremely lucky, I don't think that I'd have gotten along with anyone else just as much I have been with Hiccup so far; there's just something about him that really appeals to me, though I get a headache when trying to figure out what it is. Either that or all of the noise is getting to me.
"I didn't expect it to be this busy!" I call over the swelling commotion as each new person in the room makes the very same comment that I just did to whomever they are partnered by, each voice trying to compete with the others which sends the volume through the roof! With a hearty laugh, Hiccup begins nodding as his eyes scan the crowd, an element of what seems to be complete wonder crowding his emerald irises like the way that people swarm about in this room.
"This is the college of most people's dreams so I'm not really surprised. This is amazing!" I don't manage to catch most of his sentence, since his voice is drowned out by the many others that wage war upon each other, each one screaming to be heard over the others. Literally. However, there is one voice that I do hear, one that's different to any that I've heard so far and lies only a little to my left, right next to Hiccup.
"Oh, look who it is! It's the little fish-bone." As I turn on the spot in the direction of the new, and seemingly gruff, voice, I instantly notice the welling panic that's beginning to cloud over the gleeful nature that Hiccup's irises previously possessed to make way for the fear that's directed towards this new speaker. He mechanically turns to face the male behind him, and I also allow my gaze to fall into that direction.
Towering over him by at least half a foot, stands a bulky male, who's muddy-brown hair shoots about in most directions, the unhygienic image that creates his persona being even further emphasised by the shadow of stubble that lines his jaw, bristles of hair aggressively peppering his lower face in an ugly mess that just looks downright awful. How the heck would a guy like Hiccup know someone like this?! And, more importantly, how did a thug like the one standing before us get into a school such as Dreamworks College?!
"Snotlout. How nice it is to see you again." Though I know that Hiccup's trying to wear a brave face in order to mask his obvious fear towards this clearly more muscular male, I can detect the wavering worry that flits about in his eyes and instantly hypothesise that whomever this guy is, he's caused trouble to Hiccup in the past.
"Likewise, Haddock. Oh, by the way, how's your mom?" Instantly, without even having to take one look at his face, I can sense his body stiffen under the hand that's still gently wrapped around his wrist, whilst a menacing smile twists onto Snotlout's lips as he watches Hiccup's mask begin to crumble away. And, when my eyes eventually do seek out Hiccup's features, I find his irises quivering with what is obviously pain, sorrow also thrown into the torrent that's currently swirling around in the mint orbs that adorn his face. Allowing me no time to comfort him, even though I have no idea as to what's going on, Hiccup tears his wrist from me and plunges into the crowd almost instantly, fleeing from the scene before his emotions can control him any more. "Crybaby," Snotlout remarks with a horrid tone of no regret lacing his voice before striding away and leaving me alone in the crowd.
"Hiccup," I murmur under my breath before taking off after him, worry filling my system at his reaction towards Snotlout's words, the sight of his face moulding into utter pain replaying over and over in my head as I make my way back to the room, since I'm sure that this is where he's retreated to. Please don't let me see you cry.
When I finally reach the room once again, I decide to press my ear to the door just so that I can get an understanding of whether Hiccup is even in there at all, though the result is hearing something that I wish that I hadn't: Hiccup's sobs, muffled by the distance between him and the door that separates us. Just hearing his weeping makes something within me twist to the point of agony, as if his emotional pain is actually physical for me. Though I don't understand it, it makes me feel connected to him in some fashion, something that actually brings me slight satisfaction to consider, even though my mind is unable to fathom why.
Taking it slow, I gently curl my fingers around the silver handle of the door, the cool metal nipping at my palm as if warning me to stay away, like it doesn't wish for me to console Hiccup at all. I then proceed to open an entrance for my body to slip through, hoping that I won't draw his attention since he probably ran away to conceal his tears from as many people as possible, including myself. Even still, I have a rough idea as to what has caused him to fall into this enveloping aura of sadness as I'm determined to drag him out before it's too late and his sorrow consumes him; I've had such a thing happen to me before and it's what encouraged me to begin that which I am desperately trying to rid myself of.
"Jack," Hiccup whimpers through his sobs as his glazed eyes find my form entering through the doorway, softly closing it behind me and sealing out the world that sent him into this state in the first place, my face holding care within my features as I advance towards him. I watch as he brings his right arm up to his face, the heel of his hand thrusting the tears away from his waterline before any more are able to fall in my presence, which I can't blame as I know how it feels to just want to hide away and cry in private. Only when I take a seat next to him, does he look me directly in the face, a crooked smile that looks way too forced pulling at his lips. "I didn't want you to see me cry," he murmurs with a trembling voice, one that once again sends a shock of pain right through my middle, like someone has struck me with a spear of ice at my core.
"You don't have to hide your emotions from me, Hiccup; I've felt them all, believe me," I reply, my tone laced with sympathy as I allow my eyes to meet with his quivering irises, the variety of different greens being manipulated by the glaze of tears to shimmer in the light. Thankfully, my words seem to spark some kind of self-confidence within him, and he proceeds to let a single silver bead slip out of his eye, not a trace of uncertainty within them any more. It seems as if he really trusts me with his pain, something for which I'm grateful; all I want to do is see him smile, hear that laugh unified with my own again. But, in order to do that, I need to know what it is that I can't say that may upset him once again; whatever Snotlout inferred about his mother is probably a subject that I should avoid. "What happened? To your mom, I mean." With a shaky sigh, Hiccup's head tilts downwards, and I manage to spot another droplet as it races towards his jeans, the denim absorbing it until I can no longer see its silver gloss. Is what he's about to reveal to me really that scarring that it's enough to beckon forth the tears again?
"I guess I should've seen that question coming. Well, you're going to be spending the next two years sharing this room with me so you might as well know. When I was nine, my mom and I went out one day for my birthday and, with dad at work, it was just us. Even though the weather was terrible and the rain was so thick that you couldn't even see in front of your face, she still insisted on taking me to my favorite pizza place to celebrate. Everything was fine until the drive back; since the roads were completely soaked with rain, mom lost control on a turning and the car slid into the other lane, instantly colliding with the oncoming cars on the other side of the road. My mom was the only one who died; I was salvaged from the wreck by the paramedics. Well, most of me was." Feeling as if someone has reached their hand into my chest and torn my heart in two due to enduring Hiccup's devastating past memories, I just remain silent as he folds himself over until his fingers curl around the base of his left trouser-leg. And, when he tugs it up, I can't help but gasp in slight shock; it's fake!
"You lost your leg?" I somewhat breathe, unable to cope with this much shocking and disturbing news all at once, my brain not sure how to react, leaving my body to desperately improvise in order to allow Hiccup to know that I actually have emotions. He nods glumly in response and lets the fabric fall from his fingers, which soon find his hair whilst they run through the strands.
"You would've found out sooner or later, I guess. So, that's my story. What about you, Jack?" Still in shock from the tale of his mother's terrible death, I guess that I hadn't thought about him even considering to ask me about my past, which isn't really something that I'd wish to dwell on. However, I think about how painful it must have been for Hiccup to relive that moment in his life, and the words tumble from my mouth.
"I grew up with a father that hated me because, when my mother gave birth to me, something went wrong as she ended up dying. I don't know what it was and he never even gave me a chance to find out, though he'd remind me of it every day of my life. So many times I considered running away from that place, to escape the horrid pain that he put me through every day. That's why I look forward to school; it was something that could provide me with that window of freedom away from his abuse. But that's not exactly what happened; nobody liked me, talked to me and some didn't even glance my way. I was always picked on for being 'the freak with the white hair' and often spent my time sat at the back of the class on my own, hating the world. It's been that way for my entire life, feeling worthless and unwanted, but now that I'm here, I'm finally away from all of that." Now I see that it's Hiccup's turn to look completely shocked by my life, which, now that I think about it, has been pretty tragic in all honesty. I mean, any life that would push you to the point of depression has to suck, right? However, an unexpected sensation of fingers curling around my own makes warmth begin to prickle inside of me, as I look down to see Hiccup's freckled-covered hand grasping onto my own, providing an element of comfort that I've never been faced with before.
"You're not alone any more, Jack; I'm here for you," he murmurs, suddenly enveloping me in a hug as his free arm laces around me, my torso being pulled towards him until out bodies meet with one another, a gentle heat being emitted from Hiccup as I bury my face into his shoulder, finally letting the tears fall from my eyes. For the first time in my life, I have someone willing to look out for me, stand up for me and, most importantly, befriend me.
"Thank you, Hiccup."
***A/N***
Awwwweeeeeeeeeee! I'm sorry, is it wrong to squeal at my own fanfiction? I'll stop now...
But still, am I the only one who finds this so adorable, yet so heart-wrenching at the same time?! But hey, at least you know a little bit about their pasts and why they've become who they are, so that's good, right? Right?!
Also, who honestly guessed that Snotlout would be the dick of the story? Because if you did, you're still wrong, HA!
Jack: *don't you think that's a bit harsh*
Author: What was that?! -evil glare-
Jack: Oh, um... N-nothing *help me out here, Hic*
Hiccup: H-huh? Why're you involving me in this?!
Jack: Because half of this fanfiction is about you, therefore, you have to take the fall for me sometimes *this being one of them*
Hiccup: Argh, Jack, I can't believe you!
Jack: Love you too -smiles sweetly-
Hiccup: -rolls eyes-
Author: Boys?! -double evil glare-
Hijack: Whaaaaat? -innocent pouts-
Author: -facepalm-
See ya'll in the next chapter; I need to sort these two out -pounds fist on palm-
Peace out, my lovely peeps XxX *get here you two*
Hijack: RUN!