CH.3: Home life

School ended for the day and Astrid found herself anxious to get home. Her body was weary and going to the curb she was actually happy to see her mom. Opening the car door she slid in and set her bag on the floor. "I am so happy the school day is over."

"Well hi to you too, and yeah…but tomorrow is a new day." She chuckled as she pulled out and drove them home. Looking over she nearly had a heart attack. "Astrid…what happened to your face?"

"Hmm, oh, um…things got physical between me and a classmate. Don't worry, it was all ok." She pulled down the mirror and saw her face was slightly bruised. She probably should've taken Heather's advice to clean up prior to going home.

"Astrid it is just your first day, you shouldn't be picking fights with classmates. Am I going to be called into the Principal's office over this?' She asked turning onto their street.

"No mom, everything is ok." Astrid reassured her. Sinking into her seat she saw their house up ahead and unbuckled as she stepped out.

"Did you at least make some new friends?' Her mother asked. She was concerned about her daughter, after all since moving here she hadn't really socialized a lot. Last thing she wanted was for her daughter to be alone and secluded.

"Actually…yeah I did. This one guy is kind of a dork but sweet, he seems to have a thing for me. Then there is this girl, kind of shy but wicked cool in her own sense, actually has a thing for the guy who has a thing for me. There is this teacher/librarian who I suppose for someone his age is alright. Then there is this dangerous looking guy who has cold skin…but kind of hot, though I am not sure about him."

Setting her bag down she nodded her head as her daughter told her about these…interesting friends. "Well…I am glad to see you settling in nicely, though this hot guy probably should stay away from him. Call it motherly intuition but something about him seems off."

"Relax mom…I don't see much happening between us. I'm going to go take a shower now, be down in a few to hear about your day." Ascending the stairs she walked into the bathroom and stripped off her clothes. Walking into the shower she ran her hands over her body as the water poured down over her.

The days' events kept playing through her head as the warm water clung to her matting her hair down over her eyes. Each movement of her hand brought up the images of the vampires as they beat her body amdist her stake flying into their chests. Her face was already healing and bumps and cuts were disappearing like an illusion of some sort. It still took getting used to, the healing powers of the Slayer, plus any hospital visit would likely have her subjected to tests to see how she healed faster then most patients. If her mom found out…she'd flip.

Running the loofa along her body she closed her eyes and suddenly she saw the kid Hiccup. There was something about him, the way he looked at her…it wasn't like the other boys there. True he was a geek, but, a lot of what Gobber said and even her mom made her feel awful for how she had treated him. "I'll make it up to him next time I see him…for now…I think I'll try and fantasize about someone else. A girl needs her fantasy while showering." Steam filled the room and she sank into the bliss.


Hiccup and Heather were walking home together cause their houses weren't too far apart. The two had been discussing the latest movie that came out and the plot failures. "How do you like that, a predictable plot of having the guy and his best friend end up together. Isn't that too obvious?"

"I don't know, I found it kind of romantic. I didn't like the part where the aliens showed up and then were like 'we're going to take over' but they never really gave time for character development, it was all destruction and chaos and maybe more time could've been put into the Aliens."

"Heather, it is an action movie, if they wanted to focus on stuff like that they would lose half the audience." Hiccup laughed and then got off his board, his mouth working out something he'd been meaning to say. "What do you think of Astrid?"

"Well…she seems nice…though a part of her reminds me of Ruffnut. I mean, did you see how she called you a geek? Your more then a geek, you are sweet and funny and…"

"Astrid seemed sorry about it though…and…I think I have a shot with her. I just got to ease up on the whole flirting and just be her friend. Thanks Heather for the talk, I got to go now, tonight is Spaghetti." He skated off and smiled as the wind blew in his face.

"Right…I will see you tomorrow…bye." Heather heaved a sigh watching him roll off. Ever since Astrid came to the school it was all about her, she was like a ghost there. Hiccup was obsessed with Astrid, where did that leave her? Nowhere, that is where, and it ate at her. The walk to her house was filled with her self-doubts and her head was bowed.

"Heather how long does it take to get from school to home?" Her mother asked. She was a religious woman and ran much of Berk's religious events and activities. Her hair was strawberry blond and her eyes were hard on the blue. She was strict but efficient believing that true parenting stemmed from religious guidance and keeping monitored track of her child's activities.

"I was walking with Hiccup…I'm sorry," Heather headed to her room hearing her mother's voice after her.

"Remember that you must keep your grades up and attend choir regularly. Also read the good book once a day, it will help keep you guided in these troubled times."

Heather plopped down on her bed and cried into her pillow. Not only did Hiccup not notice her, but, she also had a mother bent on running her ragged. She was already an exemplary student, why, cause she didn't have much of a social life and all. Boys didn't pay her much attention and girls like Ruffnut made it known she had a figure meant to be alone for the rest of her life. The only solace she ever got was from going to the library or reading her Wicca books and practicing magic, albeit still a bit screwy on some of the spells.

"Things are only going to get better," she told herself, her head lifted slightly revealing her puffy eyes. "Just got to hang in there…yeah…Hiccup will surely see how sweet and attractive and funny I am, then all will be great." Reaching for her book she began to study some spells, ooh, fire looked interesting.


Hiccup sat in the basement of his parent's house as he flipped through the latest addition of the Dragon Tamer, a tale of a boy who trained a dragon and had a hot girlfriend. That would be him someday, well, maybe sooner. Hearing the stairs creak he looked up to see his father.

"Hiccup…don't you have anything better to do then reading those comics?" Stoik was a big man with a red beard and sharp eyes. He worked in construction as the foreman and had a lot of responsibilities to look out for. His arms were strong and atop his head was an orange hat.

"Dad, I'll have you know these comics keep me sane. You don't know how much high school has changed since you went there. For starters…the lockers have become cozier inside; at times I think I'm about to fall asleep or get claustrophobic. There is also the girls, they are way hotter and this one I'm into…I think she'll come around sometime soon."

"Hiccup…girls don't like…readers. You need to set obtainable goals, like trying out for a sport or lifting some weights. Have you thought about maybe getting a job-?"

"Dad, whoa, a little early to be getting a job don't you think? I mean yes a job could supply me with some self-worth and possibly some spending money, but, I just want to enjoy the whole school experience before it ends. They say once high school ends…everything ends."

Stoik gave him a dead pan look. "Son, I am an example of what happens after school ends, trust me…it gets better. If you won't get a job…how about a license?"

"I'll get around to it, trust me, I got a plan. First and foremost is get the girl of my dreams, shouldn't be too hard, all I have to do is compete with stone cold killer and I should be good, lest he sucks me dry, thanks for the talk dad." Hiccup smiled at him.

"Yes, well, think about what I said. You know a girl fancies a guy who has his own set of wheels." Stoik heaved a sigh heading back upstairs.

"Uh dad…wait up!" He was actually hungry and headed up stairs.


"It was very kind of you to invite me over Nicky," Gobber noted as he sat on her couch near the fireplace. Soft music played in the background.

"It was no problem Gobber, I was happy to have you over. In fact, I've been meaning to invite you over for some time. More wine?' She walked over in a skin tight dress showing her curves and noticeable cleavage.

"Uh…I'm good. So about the kids…thanks for being understanding regarding their…absentness. I assure you it won't happen again." He sipped more of his wine as he looked at her. He didn't know why but he was sweating more than usual.

"Gobber kids will be kids, so what if they miss one class, I trust your judgment." She took a seat by him and sipped at her wine, though her lips never made contact with the wine itself.

"You know…I am feeling…a little dizzy…" Gobber suddenly lost consciousness as he hit the floor.

"Sorry to hear that…I was having such a magical evening." Her eyes glowed as a wicked smile played over her features, her tail showing briefly from behind.