Falling for Him
...
This drabble is from the scene where the students are introduced to the Book of Dragons while eating after a day of training. If you look closely, you can see in that scene that Astrid looks over at Hiccup a couple times while he's sitting alone. Just something that makes me think she liked him already here:)
By the way, all dialogue is inspired by Dreamworks HTTYD movie and TV series. If it sounds familiar, I probably do not own it.
...
I sat down with my classmates to eat at a table in the Great Hall - all except for Hiccup, that is. He had a habit of disappearing, usually at times when he'd be missing meals or other social activities within training. I guessed it was because he didn't have any friends.
"Over the next few days, you will all need to read the Book of Dragons," Gobber the Belch, our teacher, announced. He placed a thick book in the middle of the table. "You must become familiar with each kind, so that when the time comes, you'll be able to defeat them all."
"I read this like five times," Fishlegs said with a grin. "It's a real page-turner."
"Read? Who has time for that," snorted Tuffnut.
It was then that I noticed Hiccup sitting at the table beside us, alone. He must have snuck in while we were being introduced to the book. An urge to go over and join him bit at my conscience. He looked so sad, so lonely, and so out of place as he stared at his plate and picked at his food.
"I'm not reading either," Ruffnut said.
"But if I don't read, you have to read," Tuffnut declared.
"Yeah, right." She slapped him.
"Ouch! Watch it, sister!" He hit her back with just as much force.
"I already know all there is to know about dragons," Snotlout announced. "I don't need some stupid book to help me. Right, Astrid?" He cast me a smirk, which I simply rolled my eyes at. Snotlout had been after me for the longest time, which I was growing tired of. I had no feelings for him other than hatred, and I tried to make certain he knew that. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to take the hint.
Once the meal had ended, I pushed my plate away and rose to follow the rest of the class outside, only to see Hiccup standing next to me. I struggled not to smile.
"So Astrid, I uh...I guess we'll um...share the book?" he said, his cheeks tinting red.
Share? Yes! That would be amazing. We could sit beside each other in front of the fire, read, talk, laugh, and just have a good time. Not to mention, I could try laying some of my Hofferson charm on him. It would be the definition of perfection. But I couldn't. There was no way I could hang out with him and still have the respect I had from my classmates and my family.
I almost died as he smiled awkwardly at me. Why did he have to be so cute? "I uh..."
Taking a deep breath, I shoved the book towards him. "Already read it," I snapped, stopping him from saying whatever it was he'd been about to say. It was a lie, though. I had never even gone near the Book of Dragons.
Hiccup appeared to be even more embarrassed than he had been at first. "Well, I guess it's all mine, then," he muttered, obviously dejected. I longed to wrap my arms around him and give him the biggest hug. But there were two things that made me think twice. First of all, he was worthless Hiccup Haddock. And secondly, the Hoffersons didn't do hugs. We were more about punches and slaps to the face (and, to this day, still are).
Without another word, I grabbed my axe, pushed past him, and ran to catch up with the others.
