Toothless approached me cautiously, still not certain of me either. I reached out my hand hesitantly and closed my eyes. I suddenly felt a warm hand covering mine, and I opened my eyes to see Hiccup gently placing his hand on top of it. I felt my spine shiver at his touch and then I let him place my hand on Toothless's snout.

The dragon was watching me with weary eyes too. We just didn't trust each other. He pulled away after a second and snarled at me. I stumbled backwards and Hiccup turned on Toothless, "Hey! No need to get so protective, bud!" Toothless leered at him through mistrusting eyes and I edged a little closer. This caused the dragon to fly up into the trees and he let out a howling noise.
I sighed and stared at the floor, "He clearly doesn't like me," I mumbled under my breath. Hiccup was glaring at his beast and he mumbled, "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what's gotten into him. He's normally so relaxed around people." I sighed, "He hates me, that's why." Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Oh please, how could he hate you?" I raised my eyebrows, "Because I wasn't exactly nice to him when we first met?" Hiccup crossed his arms irritably, "Doesn't explain his behaviour now." I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know why he doesn't like me, but that's not relevant. I want to speak to him."
I walked towards the tree he was hiding in and stared up, "Toothless, if you understand me, I just want to say thank you for saving Hiccup's life. If you hadn't…so many people would have been crushed…me included. So thank you." There was silence and so I turned to walk away.

I heard Hiccup giving Toothless a few choice words and then he came and joined me, "I'm sorry about his behaviour. I don't know what's gotten into him." I shrugged and sighed, "Neither do I." Hiccup frowned and asked me, "What's wrong?" I blinked and shook my head, "Oh nothing! Just uh, not really feeling like this big party." Hiccup smiled at me kindly, "I understand." I frowned and questioned him, "You do? But the party is for you. It's in your honour." Hiccup laughed carelessly, "Oh please honour? Before all of this happened…people thought I was the lamest person on this side of the earth. Why would I want to celebrate with any of them?"

We sat down on a rock which was so high up from the party that if we looked down we could see everyone celebrating. There was beer going around and singing and cheering. I sighed, "Hiccup, I'd like to apologize to you for being one of them. I wasn't exactly nice to you…in fact I was horrible. Probably one of the worst. But I deeply regret my behaviour. I hope that one day I'll earn your forgiveness." Hiccup turned to me and chuckled, "Why would I need to forgive you? I was never angry with you in the first place." I watched the waves as the crashed around the shore, "Really? Why not? I'm just as bad as them." I gestured with my hand dismissively, "If not worse," I added, shaking my head and sighing.

Hiccup responded carefully, "I always saw you as someone who was strong willed and didn't give a damn about what people thought. If you wanted something, nothing would stop you from getting it. I used to admire you so much. Maybe even too much." I swallowed hard when he said that and turned to look at him properly, "Too much?" We stared at each other for what felt like infinity.

Until there was a cough from behind us. Hiccup's father stood behind us and he said embarrassedly, "Son, may I have a word?" Hiccup nodded and morosely, and headed towards his father. He turned back to me and muttered, "See you later, Astrid." They walked off together and I sighed in frustration at myself. He had just said "I admire you so much. Too much." What does that even mean? Was it fascination…or was I just kidding myself? He hadn't even moved in to kiss me or anything, unlike most guys who probably would have!

I huffed in irritation, releasing the breath that I didn't realise I had been holding. I got up and paced around until there was a movement in the trees. I froze and then saw two green eyes watching me curiously from the greenery. I frowned and whispered quietly, "Toothless?" Slowly, he moved from his crouched position in the trees and inched his way toward me. I tried to remain still, so that I didn't frighten him off this time. I wanted to befriend him. I did. It was just all so new to me. He came and slowly but surely, lifted his eyes to mine, a frown etched on his face.

I raised my hand at snail's pace, wanting to touch him, and then he pressed his head against my palm. I sighed happily and Toothless patted his nose into my hand. I laughed and when he glanced up at me, I swear he was smiling.

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When I returned to the party, it seem to drag on and on forever. It was so boring and I didn't even get to speak to Hiccup again. He was surrounded by admiring followers. I smiled at the admiration and tried to preoccupy my attentions by conversing in a chat about how we could use dragons to ace each other in the future.

I sighed internally and then the worst thing ever happened. The village (some would call him hottie) approached us. His name was Odin and he was the most pompous prick I had ever come across. He walked around like he owned the place. To be fair, if Hiccup hadn't been born, he would probably be the first in command. He had more contempt for Hiccup than anyone else. He was probably Hiccup's second cousin or something along those lines.
He joined us and chuckled, "Hey nerds, how about a glass of beer?" I looked away, unamused by his antics, yet he still persisted. Nobody volunteered. He sighed, "Oh come on! Not even one drop? You guys are such losers." I glared at him and retorted, "Speak for yourself!" This caused my group of friends to laugh nervously. Odin watched me carefully, "Or what, little miss Astrid? What are you gonna do about it? Fight me?"
There was silence and I stared at him, fists clenched and I spat under my breath, "I'm tempted. Trust me." He smirked and rolled his eyes, "Oh please, only in your wildest dreams could a wimpy girl like you defeat someone as powerful as me." I held up my fists in front of my face and said tonelessly, "Want a bet?" He had it coming for him. If anyone could beat this loser, it was me.

Odin staggered drunkenly forward and I was about to punch me. The problem was, he had the advantage of his height. He was so tall and big that it was unfathomable. He took a swing of me and I yelled and tried to punch him back. He grabbed my arm and put me in a choker. I squirmed and tried to free myself when Hiccup came into my line of view. He looked furious as he ran forward and spat at Odin, "HEY! What do you think you're doing?!" Odin chuckled, "What does it look like I'm doing?" Hiccup glared at him with such fury in his eyes that it reminded me of Toothless. Hiccup retorted, "Let her go or I'll ban you from this island." I felt myself losing any air I had left to breathe. I felt my eyes closing and faintly heard Odin cackling, "Hahaha, you can't do that! You're not chief!" In the distance, I heard Hiccup's father say, "No, but I DO!" I felt my eyes rolling and I heard angry shouts from the crowd. Then a second later, I heard another sound- a howling sound. A black shape appeared in my field of vision and I don't know how, but I knew it was Toothless. I passed out in the next second.

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The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and I felt the world spinning madly. I shut them quickly and groaned in exhaustion. When I opened them again- slowly this time- I found a black face peering at me worriedly. I nearly shouted in surprise as my vision was still blurry. When it came into focus I actually smiled. Toothless was watching me anxiously.

I chuckled and he began licking my face. Then I heard a voice in the background, "Hey, get him off! She's just passed out! It was my mom. I sat up and found myself to be lying on the ground. I frowned and asked in confusion, "What's going on?" Hiccup's face came into my field of vision, "You lost consciousness because of jerk of a cousin practically strangled you!" Here, he glared at Odin viciously and I've never seen such a look of pure venom on his otherwise calm face before. I frowned, "Hiccup, what happened?" My mother interrupted then and asked frantically, "Astrid?! Are you ok? You should know better than to fight with that Oaf!" I sat up slowly, just as she tried to push me back down, "I'm fine mom, really! Look, see fine!" She frowned her green eyes at me disbelievingly, "Just cause you're up, does not mean you're fine!" I groaned and mumbled, "Mom, what are you on about? I said I'm fine…" That's when I noticed the crowd gathered around, watching me anxiously.

I sighed and sat up before grumbling, "Hiccup, please get me out of here." He stared at me with a frown etched on his forehead, "How though?" I shrugged and glanced at his dragon. He grimaced, "On Toothless? Are you well enough to fly?" I glared at him irritably, "Just do it!" He nodded speechlessly, beckoned to Toothless and propped me on the dragon, holding my hand to keep me from falling. My mother yelled at me furiously, "Don't you even dare…"

I ignored her and so did Hiccup as he raced towards me and through himself on Toothless too. With that, we flew into the air and soared above the watching crowd. I clung onto him and yelled in his ear, "So…what happened once I…passed out?" Hiccup flew us over the ocean and I stared down at the deep blue waves before us. I had never felt so…lightheaded. Hiccup shouted back at me, "Well, Odin finally left you alone after my dad came and punched the crap out of him. Then he shoved him so that he was forced to walk towards the cell area. I am so relieved you're ok!"
I felt a pile of guilt surge up inside me. I couldn't really believe I'd been the cause of so much drama! Me, who tried to avoid drama at all costs. I bit my lip and debated how much to tell Hiccup. He was so nice, and sweet and kind to me and I really didn't feel like he could handle the truth of the situation. But he deserved to know it. If I wanted him to like me because of me, he had to know all of my flaws too.