Disclaimer: the characters of How to Train Your Dragon belong to Dreamworks
Everything else is by Travis Church
Tripp took Hiccup's hand in a handshake and then lifted him up from the couch.
"Lemme give you the grand tour!" And with that, Hiccup was lead out of the room and back into the chaos. He had to do a bit of negotiating, explaining that he needed his shoes, and ran back inside. Hiccup thought about locking himself inside, but he needed to be as polite as possible to his new roommate. He exited and locked the door behind him.
"First," Tripp began elatedly, "this is where you'll be spending your nights. Pomum Dormitory was built about two years ago by the grandson of the original architect of Pomona U. Everyone wanted to keep the style of the university going, so thus the Ivy-esque League style. Marble floors, stone arches, big ass main doors: the works."
It seemed to Hiccup that ether moving through the Hell crowd was either a skill worth learning or Tripp was imbued with some magic that let him slide through the mob. While Tripp navigated around person after person, Hiccup stopped and had to apologize to the stranger that he would collide with.
They finally passed the maelstrom of men and women and descended the marble staircase. Hiccup lightly held on to the rail listening while his roommate galloped downwards.
By the time Hiccup got to the end, Tripp held a brownie in his hand and while he ate at another one.
"Wafff fon?" He asked gnawing the brownie with his mouth.
"Thanks," Hiccup said as he took the dessert from his lightly tanned hand and followed him out the main doors.
"Sohff," Tripp swallowed the brownie and resumed speaking. "So, there are about four main dormitories on campus: Vinis, Olea, Ficus, and Pomum. Olea is the oldest and is co-ed, Vinis is the second oldest and an only guys dorm, Ficus is the second youngest and is only girls, by the way don't get caught there at all or you'll die, and Pomum is the newest and co-ed. Every couple of months, there'll be some inter-dorm sports competition. Do you like sports?"
"Not really," Hiccup said but when he saw Tripp eyed him oddly and he babbled, "Well I do sort of! But in moderation and when I feel like it! I like watching the-"
"It's okay, relax man," he consoled. "I'm not a fan either, it's not like they'll kill you if you don't sign up or anything. You say you're excited for the games, go to the party, have a couple drinks, and go back to your bed. It's nothing if you make it nothing."
"Oh," Hiccup unwound as he realized that he was no longer under scrutiny.
"Yeah, don't worry." The continued walking in a peaceable silence until they approached a different building. "This," he said gesturing to the entire building, "is the library. It doesn't look big but there's a secret." He moved in and whispered, "There are underground floors."
"What!" Hiccup exclaimed in shock.
"Have you ever seen the congressional library?"
"I've seen pictures."
"It's just like that." Hiccup's eyes widened at the declaration but Tripp continued on, "I'd bring you in but we still need to cover the most important buildings. You look like a smart kid, you'll find it later."
They moved along the campus and as Tripp notated specific buildings: dining hall, random education buildings, clean bathrooms, student services; Hiccup only gave each a half thought. Half of his mind was devoted to focusing on what his roommate said while the other half thought about the small town equivalent he remembered. He imagined the classrooms that he spent time in as he saw the Science Department, he remembered his nearly immaculate bathroom he had and the mildly clean bathroom his father claimed when Tripp pointed out the restrooms, and he recalled the calls his father got from the principal when he got injured as they passed student services. His stomach ached with longing.
But Tripp heard something different from the boy's stomach. "Hey, you wanna get something to eat?"
"Uhh, not really. I'm not that hungry."
"Oh come on, I heard your stomach. You need food. I'll take you to my bro's dorm, he's always got somethin' to eat."
And without his rebuttal, Tripp walked away from the fountain they stopped and began moving to the dorm cluster. Hiccup sighed, realizing that he couldn't stop the boy and went after him.
"So my brother," Tripp started, "he's a junior living in the Olea house with some other junior, I think he's a junior at least." He waited for Hiccup to get to his position and asked, "Do you have a brother?"
He took a deep breath and said, "no. I don't."
"How 'bout a sister?"
"No, I'm an only child." He said with ambivalence. Not willing to continue this conversation, Hiccup asked, "so where's your brother?"
"Oh yeah! Come on, we're almost there." They both moved past other students and buildings in silence. Hiccup paid most of his attention to the flora, admiring the diversity of the flowers. Flowers in his hometown would die because the soil was either too wet or it was too cold. Most of the flowers would then have to be bought in the city, which was about three hours south. Therefore, if it wasn't Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or special event that warranted flowers then no one would buy flowers. Instead, Hiccup would make fabric and paper flowers and fill them in whatever vases he could find.
Brought back from his memories, Tripp called out and waved to him in front of a pair of large wooden doors. He quickened his pace and went inside with the roommate.
"This is Olea Dorm, like I said; it's the first and oldest of all the dorms. Doesn't it smell like old people?"
Taking in the air, he asked, "What do old people smell like?"
"I dunno," Tripp shrugged, "books, dust, wood polish. I hoped you would know." They followed a long red rug and hung a right at the first chance. They then ascended a staircase and like before, Tripp galloped up while Hiccup carefully held the railing. This time, when Hiccup finally arrived, Tripp did not hold a brownie; but he still felt awe and joy with a twinge of jealousy.
Behind the blonde was a hallway that was not filled to the brim with students and boxes. Everything was orderly and civil; a heaven compared to the Hell of Pomum dormitories. The occasional group would form but then they would exchange greetings and depart together. Hiccup felt as if he were cast out and exiled from these dignified people, forced to stay with the rowdiness of Pomum: second floor.
"Hey Tripp?" Hiccup asked, "Are the dorms separated by classes or what?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," but the real reason was to ease himself that he was forced to live in Pomum 218 because of some arcane tradition built by the faculty.
"Yes and no. Pomum and Olea are divided based on class. Pomum is for the lower classmen and Olea is for the upper classmen. It is highly suggested that you stay in Pomum and then move to Olea when you become a junior but," Tripp said stretching out his last word before continuing, "there are exceptions. If there's some personal reason why you can't be in a co-ed dorm, like religion or personal reason, then you can move into Vinis or Ficus. But other than that, once in Pomum always in Pomum. Until later."
Hiccup took in everything that he said and, walking down the stone hallway, he accepted his wretched fate. He was sentenced to Pomum and he would have to endure it unless there was some other reason. He looked to the window that lighted the long hallway and realized that there was no other reason. His religion wasn't strict enough, his father wasn't strict enough, and all he had was a preference of "not crazy" over "crazy."
"At least he seems nice," Hiccup mused as he looked over to the blonde.
They stopped at room 317 and Tripp gave three quick knocks on the dark wood door.
"You sure your brother's here?"
"I'm sure of it!" Tripp gave another three quick knocks on the door.
"You know," Hiccup offered, "he might be getting his luggage or textbooks."
"That's crazy," Tripp said while knocking again. "My brother doesn't read."
Hiccup eyed him in disbelief and expected another set of knocks on the door but Tripp, ever so surprising, pulled out a cell phone from his pocket and began to dial.
Before he could even place the phone near his ear, the door unlocked and out came an older and slightly taller student in a purple shirt.
He stood underneath the doorframe, sighed, and said in a baritone voice, "at least you chose a fling with some decency."
Both jaws dropped to the floor and Hiccup was the first to cry out, "what!"
"This is the first thing you say to me in like three months?" Tripp then began to use bombastic arm gestures, "at least you chose a fling with some decency? Come on, he's my roommate!"
Rubbing his black burr cut head, he said, "did you-"
Both in perfect unison responded, "No!"
"Okay then," he gestured them into the room and, as sheep, followed.
Hiccup entered the room and he envied the other student because the dorm was better than his for a million reasons, and possibly more. He walked over to the couch, which he was sure was out of an Ikea catalogue, and sat down. He sighed in content when the tan cushions absorbed his body and molded to his lanky frame. Tripp then moved took a seat next to him, kicking off his slippers, and placed his feet on the coffee table.
The brother now standing in front of the two asked incredulously, "really Tripp?"
"Fine," he said bringing his legs down in defeat. "Oh yeah, introductions, I forgot already. Bro, this is my roomie Hiccup Haddock."
The brother raised an eyebrow and asked, "is your name really-"
"Yes," Hiccup cut in, "yes it is."
"And Hiccup, this is my bro Damien."
"Hi," Damien extended a fist to Hiccup. Again, he was not sure if it was a polite way to say he was about to get a punch in the face or something else entirely so he pocketed his hands in his jeans.
"Bro, is the mini-fridge set up yet?"
"No, and if it was you wouldn't get as much as a yogurt cup."
"That's what you think!" Tripp then bounced off the sofa and ran to a set of cabinets, drawers, and bookshelves on the Western side of the room.
"Sorry I thought you and my brother had-"
"Yeah," Hiccup interrupted, "it's okay. I think. So is he-"
"I'm not sure," he interrupted in response. He began to rub his tattooed right arm and said, "He's, yeah I just don't know."
"Hey bro!" Tripp said as he turned on the TV set behind them. "Did you get cable yet?"
"I didn't order anything yet."
"Then thank your roommate, he's really ahead of the game." Tripp finished flipping through the channels. He then rounded a tall standing lamp and plopped himself on the sofa next to Hiccup. Absentmindedly, the blonde offered a bag of chips and Hiccup took a gingerly amount.
"What are you doing?" Damien said as he hardened his dark brown eyes.
"Oh yeah," Tripp thought aloud, "want some?"
"Jesus, just don't spill anything." He then walked away from the two as they watched a dirt bike race unfold. "Wait," he asked from down the miniature hallway, "Tripp how did you know that I have a male roommate?"
"This is a room for two. And even though this is a co-ed dorm, that doesn't mean this is a co-ed room."
"Reasonable enough." He returned with a duffle bag and threw it at his brother still cradling the bag of chips.
The duffle bag crushed the potato chips and with shock and rage, he cried, "why'd you do that? Hiccup and I were eating!
Uncaring, Damien continued, "You forgot this at home. Dad told me to give it to you when I was visiting him."
Realization hit him and he said joyously, "thanks! I was freaking out," he said while unzipping the pack and rifling through its contents. "Thought Dad would have to send it here by mail. Or worse, come here in person," he said shivering.
"Hiccup," Damien asked as he began to walk to the far end of the room, "this your first time at Pomona U?"
"How could you tell?"
"Sixth sense," he shrugged. "Can I get you something to drink?" He called out from the opposite side of the main room.
"Sure, I'll take whatever you can get."
He handed the brunette a can of soda and sat on a box that was left by the sofa. "Hiccup, Tripp, hey Tripp?"
The brother was too busy struggling with something in the bag to hear his name.
"Hey dipshit! I'm talkin' to you!" He looked up with annoyed cobalt eyes that called out, 'really now?' He grabbed a piece of newspaper on the floor and put it on the coffee table before he set down his own drink. "So, since it's your first time here at Pomona I'll tell you a few things. One: don't get drunk here. Tripp, if you even think you can get away with alcohol I'm skinning you alive and sending you back to Pennsylvania. Two: you both might want to invest in some thicker pillows. I remember the noise at Pomum just leaking through the ceiling, the floor, the walls, everything. It helps, trust me. Three: if things get too rough over there, you can stay here but only for a night," He said punctuating every word with his finger. "The parties sometimes get out of hand, stupid over-hyped freshmen, and you don't want to be around when things get out of hand. Four: no, I don't have condoms. When you're on your own you buy your own and use your own. And five: if you feel out of place," he said looking mainly at Hiccup, "just tell me. I'll introduce you to some people here. Just relax, take deep breaths, and enjoy the ride."
"What is this?" Tripp asked, "Sex ed?"
Damien then lunged over the table to give Tripp a swift punch in the gut. Satisfied that he left his brother reeling in pain, he asked, "Any other questions?"
"No, thanks though." Hiccup said.
"Hey, really though, I'm serious about you staying the night and introducing you to some people. Are you into frats kid?"
Recalling the movies and images of drunken men in togas, he replied, "not really."
"Good, I can't help you with frats," he said taking another sip from his soda can.
"Bro, what time is it?" He wheezed out.
"Just a little before four." Hiccup said looking at his phone before Damien could even look at a clock.
"We better get unpacking then," Tripp mused to himself.
"Don't you freshmen have an assembly or something?" Damien said standing up from the cardboard box.
"Oh crap, I forgot all about that! Hiccup we gotta go!"
Tripp picked up Hiccup by the wrist and they dashed out the door for the student assembly.
The freshmen assembly was perhaps the biggest waste of time Hiccup had ever experienced. The burning winds, that he had grown to hate, lashed at him while the sun beat down on his poor body. Whatever the Dean of Pomona University had to say was unheard to those who were not in fifty feet of the man. And, worst of all, he left his phone at Damien's room and he now needed to pick it up.
He lost himself in the campus, wandering around for what must have been an hour, until he stumbled upon the dormitory block. Aggravated and tired, he moved briskly to room 317 and gave three quick knocks on the door. No response. He knocked again but with more force and slower this time. No response. Hiccup was about to punch the door when it clicked open.
He looked up from the door and saw a student slightly taller than him. But it was not Damien.
"Uhh? Can I help you?" The student asked in a deep and rich voice.
"Is Damien home?" Hiccup asked, trying to ignore his deepest impulse to look behind the man and keep eye contact.
"No, but I'm his roommate. Do you need something?"
"Yeah, uhh, I left my phone here."
"Oh that thing? Give me a sec, he put a note on it and left it for his brother to pick it up. Are you Tripp?"
"No, I'm the owner of the phone."
The other student walked away and Hiccup watched him from the doorway. His russet skin glowed in the sunlight as he passed by a window to take something on the coffee table. He returned and brushed a lock of raven black hair to look at Hiccup. His light emerald eyes shone in comparison to his skin and raven black hair.
"Here's your phone."
"Thanks." The door closed on him very gently and he realized, "I forgot to thank him."
With nothing else to do, he walked back to his own dorm wondering who the stranger was.
A/N: Well, who was that I wonder? Pfft, we all know who that was. But poor oblivious Hiccup! Oh well, all in good time. So what do you all think? Does Hiccup sound too whiny? Am I skimping out on physical character descriptions? Should I rate this M because Damien said a naughty word?
Rate, review, and give me your thoughts! You do, I'll give you a speedy response in return!