Disclaimer: I do not own How to train your dragon

Chapter 4: The Dance

"Hiccup, I have a problem." Raeda said, coming into Hiccup and Hiccas' room.

Hiccup looked up at his best friend. "What's the problem, Rae? You seemed fine on the way back from school and that was about an hour ago."

"Well, you know that school play we are having, Midnight Love? (A/N: I just went with the first name that came to my mind :P)" Hiccup nodded. "Well I'm auditioning for the female lead."

"Wait you're auditioning for a role?" It was Raedas' turn to nod. "Not that I think you're a bad actress Rae, but don't you usually prefer to paint the background scenes for these plays?"

"Well, you can thank you're lovely sister for this." Raeda said sarcastically. "She dared me to do this."

"Ah." Hiccup said in understanding, being the receiver of his twins' many dares.

"Anyways." Raeda said continuing. "The auditions are tomorrow and I was just going over the script, and there's a dance scene, a slow dance scene and I'm not prepared. I was hoping that maybe you would help me with that."

Hiccup immediately understood what Raeda was asking and was hesitant. It wasn't because there was anything wrong with dancing with Raeda, especially if it was just for practice; it was because he was unsure about his own ability to dance. He has never slow dance with any girl before, although he was hoping that would be changed by a certain blonde girl.

"Uh Rae, I'm not sure if I am the best guy to come to for this. I haven't slow dance ever before and I can't guarantee that I won't step on your feet a few times."

"You're fairly co-ordinated Hiccup and you're like the only guy I am comfortable with going to for this." When she saw Hiccup reluctant expression, she became more persuasive. "Pretty please Hiccup? The audition is tomorrow and they will ask us to do this scene. Please help me get through your evil twins' dare." She pleaded with her puppy dog eyes.

Hiccup sighed. He was amazed at the fact that his best friend can have both a cute puppy-dog stare and an intense, murderous glare. Something told him that if he didn't say yes, he would get the latter of the two looks.

"Fine." He conceded.

"Thank you, Hiccup!" Raeda said happily. She gave him a quick hug before taking her iPod and plugging it on the twins' speakers.

'Well, on the bright side.' Hiccup thought. 'If I ever somehow take Astrid to one of our school dances, then I can have the confidence to slow dance with her.' The thought made him smile, until Raeda broke him out of his thoughts. It was time to start practicing.

Astrid walked to the Haddock household, wanting to get her book which Hicca borrowed. The auburn-haired girl was supposed to return it to her in school, but she seemed to have forgotten and told Astrid to get it from her house. Luckily for Astrid, the house was in the path between school and her own house.

On her way there, Astrid couldn't help but think about Hiccup. They've both been really good friends for years. It's supposed to be like that, right? Nothing more than friendship. Then why did Astrids' heart clench when she saw Hiccup and Raeda talking. It's not like they haven't done it before? But Raeda has never held his hand before, nor has she ever touched his hair or made him blush or wink at him. Could Hicca actually be right? Did Raeda realised she had feelings for Hiccup and has started acting on them. Will Hiccup reciprocate these feelings?

'Why does it bother me so much?' Astrid thought. Why does it matter to her so much? 'Neither Raeda nor Hiccup was in a relationship. They were free to date each other if they wanted.' For some reason, that did not help Astrid at all. She reached the steps of the Haddock house when she decided to talk to Hiccup after she gets her book back from his twin.

She rang the bell and a few minutes later, Hicca answered with a smile. "Hey Astrid! Here for your book or Hiccup?" She asked with a smirk.

Both "The book." Astrid said.

Hicca allowed her in and lead her upstairs to the study, which was across hers' and Hiccups' room. "Wait here, I just need to find the book." She said, before going into the study. Astrid stood there for a moment before looking at the room across. She decided to walk towards it, but paused when she heard music being played inside. Curious, she slowly opened the door and she was not expecting to see what was inside.

Hiccup and Raeda slow-dancing to a romantic song

Suddenly, Astrids' blood was starting to boil. 'How dare her! Dancing with him! He's mine!' The anger disappeared as Astrid eyes widened when she realised what she had just thought. She slowly closed the door as a realisation came to her.

"Here you go." Hiccas' voice snapped Astrid out of her thoughts. She handed her the book, which Astrid took while trying to regain her composure. "You okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Why wouldn't I be?" Astrid said, trying to sound casual.

Hicca shrugged. "Want me to let my brother know you're here?"

"No, don't. He's clearly busy right now." Astrid said bitterly, staring at the door. She went downstairs and left. Outside, she took a deep breath before she thought about her realisation. She likes Hiccup. Maybe even more than that, maybe even love. Why hadn't she seen that before? What was there not to like, or love, about Hiccup? He has a cute and dopey look with an equally cute and dopey smile. He is smart, but not overly smart like Fishlegs. His sarcasms always make her smile. He not like the other guys in her high school. Astrid wanted to slap herself. She liked him this whole time and now there's a chance she could lose him to Raeda. 'No, you don't know that. Neither of them had said anything, yet. It might not be too late.' She needed to talk to both of them tomorrow no matter what.

As soon as she saw Astrid out the door, Hicca immediately went to hers' and her brothers' room and opened the door. She watched Hiccup and Raeda slow dance for a moment before speaking up. "You both are really good."

Taken by surprise, Hiccup stopped and immediately saw who that voice belonged to. "Oh hey, sis. Thanks."

"You should both audition for the lead roles." Hicca suggested.

"No thanks, sis. I can't act." Hiccup said. "I'm going to get some water, do you want some Rae?"

"Nope, I'm good. Thanks." Raeda answered. Hiccup left the room and Hicca immediately made sure he left before she joined Raeda on the bed.

"So did Shield-maiden (Astrid) come by?" Raeda asked. The two girls agreed to discuss their plan in code, just in case Hiccup overhears them talking.

"She did and she is probably coming up with a book filled with ways to murder Artist (Raeda)." Hicca answered. "Artist and Healers' (Hicca) plan is soaring sky high."

"By the way, I was wondering, should Artist and Healer help Blacksmith (Hiccup) with his feelings for Shield-maiden?"

"No need, Blacksmith is already aware and is just shy about it." Hicca said.

Raeda smiled. "This is way better than the April Fool's prank of 2009."

"I don't know about that, Rae. I still laugh every time I see the video of it." Hicca said. She then whispered in case her brother was outside the door. "But maybe we both should audition for that play. We're both pretty good at acting."