Hello everyone! I gots a nice long chapter for you! There a lot of things going on so enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own HTTYD or ROTG, but I do own my OC's.
P.S.: don't be mad, but there's another OC that's coming. But trust me, they're important!
Chapter Eight: Forbidden Forest is Forbidden for a Reason
Hiccup's P.O.V
I didn't want to wake up, but I did. I hated it. I was having such a good dream too; I tackled Jack and I was sitting on top of him, and our faces were so close and I was about to kiss him… I moved, reluctantly, but I didn't open my eyes. Not yet.
Something was snaked around my waist, and I was pressed against something. This was all too weird. I kind of liked it though.
My eyes opened, and I wished they didn't. I wished I could fall back asleep and forget this ever happened. But it was right in front of me, and I couldn't deny anything.
Jack's face was inches in front of mine. I instantly knew that it was his arm that was around my waist, and it was his chest that I was pressed against. I wanted to fall back asleep, and act like I never woke up, but it wasn't possible.
Because I saw that Jack was smiling in his sleep.
I knew my dream was real. It did happen. Only I didn't kiss him, I opened my mouth and I said something. It was so irrelevant now, but it was the fact that I did it… and he didn't move away.
This wasn't happening. That's it. Yep, I was still sleeping. It was all a dream. Just a dream Hiccup, just a really weird dream… but not a bad dream…
I knew, somewhere deep down, that this wasn't a dream at all, but I decided to test my luck anyway. I scooted closer to Jack, and his arm tightened around my waist, almost automatically. I buried my head into the crook of his neck and just breathed in his scent. I knew this was wrong, but it was great. A weird thought crossed my mind, "We fit together perfectly…"
Jack moaned, and buried his head into my hair. "Hiccup…" He sighed dreamily, and that was the only way I knew his was still asleep. His arm tightened even more, making our hips collide and our chests pressed together.
"Jack!" I whispered, panicked. I tried to get out of his grip, but it was too strong. "Jack, let go of me!" I brought my hands up and pushed on his chest. "Jack wake up!"
"Just a few more…" Jack mumbled. "Just a few more hours, Hiccup…"
Well, at least I knew he didn't think I was his mom.
"Jack, wake up!" I said. His eyes flashed open, blinking furiously.
"Ack!" He said, letting go of me quickly. He rolled away and stood up, worried hands fingering his white hair. "Hiccup! I am so sorry!"
"It's… it's okay." I said shakily, letting out a breath. I regretted waking him up. I sat up quickly and disentangled myself from the blankets.
"No, no it's not." Jack said. "I'm so sorry…" Was there tears welling up in his eyes?
"Don't be…" I said, crawling on the bed over to him and sitting on the edge. I put on a smile and looked him in the eye. "You probably just thought I was a teddy bear or something. I thought you were Toothless!" I said, lying easily.
"Toothless?" Jack said, smiling through the unshed tears.
"Yeah, when he's a dragon. I was dreaming that we were stuck in the woods and it was cold and I was huddling up to him for warmth…" I said, deliberately trailing off. That fake dream was going nowhere fast. Jack just chuckled.
"You," he said, shaking his head at me, "have very weird dreams." I just laughed.
"Yeah, tell me about it." I muttered. What I really wanted to say was: "Look who's talking! What were you doing moaning my name while your asleep?" I didn't say it though; I would get in trouble.
"What time is it?" Jack asked. I had to smile.
"Time for you to get a watch!" I yelled, trying to act like the gangsters you see on T.V. "In your face!" I exclaimed, shaking my hand across my face. Jack just laughed. He pushed me slightly, and I fell onto the bed.
"You are such a goofball." He said, trying to hold in his laugh.
"You are starting to sound like Lauren." I said, pointing a finger at him as I sat up again.
"Am I really that bad?" Jack said, putting a hand on a spot where his heart is. I just had to laugh. "Speaking about her, shouldn't we try to find her?" Jack asked.
There it was. The idea of leaving. Going outside the little haven we created. Or at least I did. Leaving the Room of Requirement, where I didn't have to worry about what other people thought, more or less what Jack thought too. I knew it had to be done, but I didn't want that time to be so soon and so… now. I sighed.
"Yeah, we should. She would probably freak if we told her we had a slumber party without her." I said, trying to make a joke out of this. I got up off the bed and walked over to the expanse of wall where the door was supposed to be. "You coming?" I called to Jack.
"Hiccup, I…" Jack said, quickly slipping his hand into mine. "Thanks for all of… this." He said, a smile gracing his face.
"No problem, Frosty." I said, smiling back. A door appeared before me, signaling that there was no one in the hall. I reluctantly took my hand out from his and opened the door. We both stepped out into the seventh floor, the light from the windows telling me that it was almost noon.
"Hiccup?" A voice said. "Jack? Is that you?" We both turned around, to see Lauren rushing towards us. She was wearing some dark jean shorts that was mid-thigh in length, a black simple tee that hugged her frame, some knee-high Halloween-themed socks, and black Converse. On top of her head, you couldn't miss it, was a beanie that looked like a raccoon.
"Lauren!" Jack said, running to meet her half-way. She launched herself at him, and they hugged. I walked over to them. As soon as she let go of him, she latched herself onto me. I held onto her and swung her around in a circle, lifting her off her feet.
"I have been looking absolutely everywhere for you!" She said, letting go of me. "Where have you two been?"
"We've just been walking around all morning." Jack said, like it was the simple truth. "I can't believe you didn't see us."
"Really? I asked around, and no one even saw you!" She said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's called super-stealth mode, Lauren." I said, matching her pose and narrowing my eyes at her mockingly. "Or a really good invisibility spell, it depends."
"Don't be such a smart ass, Hiccup." She said rolling her eyes. "It doesn't look good on you."
"Was that profanity that just came out of your mouth?" Jack said, shocked. "That's a first. Not once have I ever heard a curse word come out of your mouth… until now. Thank you for soiling my virgin ears, Lauren." His sarcasm was so strong, it was almost nonexistent. But Lauren and I knew better.
"Ha ha, you too, Frost." She said shooting him a look. "Smart ass is so not in fashion."
"What's your excuse?" I shot back without thinking. Oops… She rounded on me playfully.
"What did you say, Haddock?" She said. Her breath smelled like mint.
"You know you're gonna get it when they pull out the last name, Hic." Jack said, laughing at me.
"I totally forgot!" I exclaimed, genuinely remembering. "Toothless!"
"What does your cat have to do with anything?" Lauren said, but I was already down the hall, scrambling to my common room. I'm pretty sure they were trying to follow me, but my shock and adrenaline kept me running non-stop. I burst through the common room and up the stairs to my room. There Toothless sat on my bed, waiting patiently.
"Toothless!" I yelled. His head snapped in my direction, and his eyes burned holes through my body, he was that pissed. I ran to him, pulling him into my arms and holding on tightly. "Oh gods Toothless! I am so sorry! I swear I'll make it up to you, anything!"
Toothless broke free of my hold and landed on the window sill. He pawed at it, his nails scratching the glass. My shoulder sunk, and I realized there were tears on my face. I wiped them off hastily.
"It's light outside, bud." I said, wanting to fly with a passion. He shot me another look that clearly said everything.
"You forget I exist for a whole day, then you say you'll do anything to make it up to me, and now you're denying me what it want?" I sighed.
"Toothless, I know, but you know I'll get in trouble if anyone finds out…" I said, not believing that I was fighting with a seemingly harmless cat. And then he growled at me. "Fine," I said, putting my hands in the air. "You win. I'll work around all that."
I changed my clothes and threw my flying gear on under my vest. I was now dressed in a plain white long sleeve shirt and dark brown jeans that were practically black, with my trusty vest and boots of course. I tucked my wand away safely down my left boot, since I was left-handed.
I started to walk out of the common room, Toothless at my heels. Outside the door was Lauren and Jack, huffing and puffing like they just ran three marathons. They saw me and Toothless and sprung up.
"How did you run that fast?" Lauren said, shocked. I just shrugged.
"I grew up running away from dragons that wanted to eat me. I guess that's just how I roll." I said, summing up my childhood in Berk with one sentence.
"You grew up with dragons?" Jack said, looking shocked.
"Yeah, it's a really long story. But I don't have time. I need to spend quality time with Toothless, apparently." I said, gesturing to the small cat at my feet.
"Toothless!" Lauren said dropping to her knees and petting him. It was weird to see Toothless be putty in someone else's hands, but it was adorable.
"Impressive." I mumbled. Lauren got up and looked at me.
"So, see you later?" She asked. I nodded.
"Definitely." I said.
"Good." She replied as she hooked her arm around Jack's. He was just looking at me in a way that screamed, "I don't want to leave!"
"See you later, Frecks." Jack said, giving me one last look.
"Later, Jack." I replied, and I watched Lauren drag him down the hallway, chattering away.
"Let's go bud." I said to Toothless. "I know the perfect place."
Jack's P.O.V
"So, tell me Jack, what's going on?" Lauren said, her arm still hooked to mine. She was looking at me with eyes that said, "Don't lie to me".
"How do you know when something's up?" I mumbled.
Lauren just laughed. "I'm a girl, and you're my friend. I always know when something's up." She looked at me, and I just pursed my lips and looked in front of me. "Tell me, Jack."
I sighed. "Hiccup only thinks of me as a friend." Lauren gasped. "He told me this morning." I wasn't technically lying; he did tell me that and he did tell me in the morning.
"I'm sure you heard wrong…" Lauren said in a small voice.
"No, Lauren. I didn't hear wrong. He straight out told me that I was his best friend. Everyone knows you can't get out of the friend zone." I said, a little heatedly. "God, Lauren!" I yelled suddenly. "Four goddamn years down the drain!"
"Jack!" Lauren said, unhooking our arms and grabbing my shoulders. "Snap out of it! Did you ask him if he liked you?" She sounded angry.
"No! Of course I didn't! He told me I was his best friend, why would I ruin that?" I yelled at her. She opened her mouth, her eyes turning severe, when she stopped. She snapped her mouth shut and shook her head. She let go of my shoulders.
"Jack, I'm really sorry about all this, I am." Lauren was saying. She gave me a swift hug and a peck on the cheek. Then she had my wrist, pulling me along as she stormed down the hallway.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm taking you to my common room. I need to grab something, and I don't trust you to be on your own." Lauren said lightly.
"And why is that?" I asked, brow raised.
I could only think about Hiccup. We were friends… and that was it. All this time, four damn years of liking him, and it was all ruined because he thought I was a friend. Why couldn't he open his eyes and see that I liked him? And all of a sudden, I wasn't pitying myself anymore. I was mad at Hiccup. Lauren's light laughing broke me out of my thinking.
"You seem oddly depressed about this whole scenario. What would I do if I left you alone and you ended up killing yourself?" Lauren asked rhetorically.
"Well, first you would go tell Hiccup what an asshole he is." I said darkly. The sad thing was that I meant it, too. Lauren clicked her tongue.
"C'mon Jack, he doesn't know you like him." Lauren said. We stopped and I found out that we were in the basement.
"You forgot the past-tense in that sentence." I mumbled.
"Close your eyes." Lauren commanded me. I slapped my hand over my eyes. "And what did you say? Past-tense? What's that supposed to mean?" She said as a series of taps sounded in the background.
"Exactly that." I said simply. "I'm dropping Hiccup." Lauren looked at me as she took my hand off my eyes.
"You know you don't mean that." She said quietly. She was holding my hand.
"I do, Lauren. I'm sick of not knowing. And I'm tired of playing these games…" I said in defense. She snapped.
"If you're so tired of playing games, then why don't you fucking ask him?" She demanded, poking me in the chest. "If you really wanted a relationship with him, you would grow some balls and ask, Jack Frost!" She was red all over, hand her grip on my hand was restricting blood flow. "Now get inside before I rip you to shreds." She said gesturing to the door I didn't even notice.
I stumbled inside the door and looked around. Yellow and black decorations were everywhere. A couple sofas and puffy armchairs were near the highly-decorated fireplace. There was the two staircases of either side of the common room, leading to the dorms.
"Wow," I said lightly. Lauren stalked over to the fireplace and plucked a rectangular mirror off. She then pressed it into my hands. "May I ask why you just gave me a mirror? I know I'm good-looking, but I'm not conceded."
"It's magic, you dork." Lauren said, but her heart wasn't in the insult. "You think about anyone or anywhere on Hogwarts grounds that you want, and it appears on the mirror."
My heart skipped a beat. This would let me see anyone, or anywhere, at any time. "Why doesn't even House have one of these?" I asked incredulously.
"Helena Hufflepuff created it herself. Only a couple exist today. She left one her, and it's now an artifact." Lauren said matter-of-factually. "Enough history. Are you going to use it or what?"
I closed my eyes and thought of Hiccup. How he totally friend-zoned me, and how he tackled me and sat on me last night, and how good it felt to have his small body in my arms… I opened my eyes in a flash, banning myself from thinking that ever again.
And there he was, right in the mirror. He was looking around nervously, Toothless trailing behind him. All of a sudden, their background became clear; it was the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hiccup took one last look around and then darted behind the trees, Toothless following after him.
"What the hell is he doing sneaking into the Forbidden Forest?" I screeched, almost dropping the mirror. Lauren just laughed, a little shell-shocked.
"Aw, you do care." She said sarcastically. I shot her a glance, but continued to rant anyway.
"It's forbidden for a reason, Lauren!" I said. "I snuck into the Forest second year, and I almost got trampled by some centaurs! And not to mention I got three months of detention because of it!"
"Pffft, like detention ever derailed you from doing what you wanted," Lauren said, rolling her eyes and reaching out for the mirror.
"Not the point, Lauren." I said seriously. "Hiccup could die out there." I looked at the mirror one more time, memorizing the trees Hiccup disappeared into.
"I think you're just upset that he's doing something dangerous without you," Lauren said, snatching the mirror out of my hands. She walked over to the fireplace as she spoke. "Now, I know you 'dropped' Hiccup, but I think you want to follow him."
I opened my mouth, about to say something, when I realized she was right. I did want to follow him. How in the world does she read me so clearly, like I'm a book she's totally interested in? Lauren knows me so well, that she knows what I want to do before I do.
"I…" was all that came out of my mouth. Lauren turned around, her arms folded across her chest, her brow raised. I rushed to her, and hugged her. She looked a little shocked, but I could care less. I let her go, and I held her shoulders arms-length away. I quickly kissed her cheek and let her go. "Thank you Lauren! For everything!" I said, turning on my heels and running out the door.
"Anytime, Jack!" I heard her shout before the door closed behind me. All that didn't matter now. I raced through the halls, knowing exactly where Hiccup's entry place to the Forbidden Forest was. I ran until I could barely breathe, and even then I still ran. Hiccup could be killed in that forest!
I slowed down when I neared the forest. I kicked off my shoes and hid them near a log; I would walk quieter without them. Then I slipped into the forest. It was dark and scary, everything I saw second year and more. In a patch of mud, I saw a Hiccup-sized footprint and a cat print. I knew I was going in the right direction and I smiled to myself.
I trekked farther into the forest, until I wondered how I could find my way back. But that didn't matter, what was more important was the fact that Hiccup was in here!
A voice. No, a laugh. I turned my head so fast I still think I have whiplash. It was coming from in between a crack in some boulders… big enough for Hiccup to shimmy through. I scrambled over there, quietly, and pushed through the opening.
Inside, there was a beautiful cove. All greenery and life, with a pond right in the middle. I was standing on a formation of boulders, and I knew I had to climb down. But what I saw in the cove shocked me.
A dragon, black as night and as huge as it can be, was standing on the ground. And Hiccup sitting before it, something in his hands. I was about to open my mouth when Hiccup said something.
"I know bud, I know." He was saying. "But I need to fix this really fast." The dragon growled. A sudden thought hit me: where was Toothless?
"Hiccup?" I whispered, not loud enough for the wind to hear me.
"I'm serious, Toothless. Once I adjust this, we can set out. I just need to…" Hiccup said, mumbling off to himself. Toothless?
My eyes widened as big as saucers. The dragon was Toothless. Hiccup was the dragon rider I envied so much. I quietly maneuvered myself out of my crouching pose and slide myself down the boulders. Toothless noticed me, and his acid green eyes locked onto me. He let out a low growl; it resonated in my chest even though I was far away.
"HA!" Hiccup shouted, suddenly on his feet. "Got it, bud! Bud?" Hiccup said, noticing Toothless' behavior. He dropped whatever he was fixing, it looked like a saddle, and touched the dragon's forehead lovingly. "Toothless, what's wrong?"
Being the jokester that I am, I quickly ran up behind Hiccup and tapped his shoulder.
"Hey, Freckles. What are you doing out here?" I asked casually. He yelped.
"Jack! W-what are you d-doing here?" Hiccup said, pushing Toothless behind him. Honestly, I wasn't going to hurt him or anything.
"You can't really hide a dragon, you know." I said, smacking my lips ironically. I suppressed the urge to pull the tiny person into my arms, and absolutely repelled the desire to kiss him; I said I dropped him from my mind, and I keep my word… well, most of the time.
"Did… did you follow me?" Hiccup squeaked. Toothless hissed at me, and Hiccup patted its head to calm it down.
"I'm not a stalker Hiccup." I deadpanned. "You know it's against the rules to be out here." I stepped closer.
"Didn't stop you second year." Hiccup shot back. I stopped moving. Hell, I stopped breathing. He… he knew about that? Not a lot of people knew about my little excursion that day, despite how fast word flies around Hogwarts.
"How did you know that?" I said, shocked that I could get the words out. Hiccup instantly colored.
"Pssh, the whole world knows about that, Jack. C'mon, where have you been?" Hiccup said, obviously lying.
"No," I said. "No it doesn't. How did you know that?" I asked again. This was infuriating!
"I might have been… cowering next to a statue when Professor Pitch pulled you through the halls by your ear." Hiccup confessed, cringing a little. "I heard him giving you a lecture about the 'dangers of the Forbidden Forest' and how fear makes you do stupid things…"
"You… you were there?" I asked. That day was the darkest ever in all my time here at Hogwarts. "Wait… what were you doing walking around the castle at one o'clock in the morning? That's deliberately disobeying school rules, Hiccup."
"It's sort of a long story, but it's boring. You don't want to hear it." Hiccup dismissed. Toothless seemed to calm down a lot, but he was still pissed.
"I got all the time in the world, Hiccup. But I'll ask later," I said. If he didn't want to talk about it, fine. "What I want to know, is how in the world did you get a dragon?" Hiccup sighed, and cringed, like he was hoping I stayed away from that subject.
"My village, Berk, fought dragons for generations." Hiccup said, sighing again, and sitting on the floor, leaning against Toothless. I sat down next to him. "When my mom died, she fell off a dragon… and I saw the whole thing. I went ballistic, basically. I would wander in the forest all day, and barely ate anything. That's when I found Toothless, he was grounded in the woods because half of his tail was ripped off. I made him a prosthetic, one I could control. And we became inseparable.
"My dad thought my change of mood was weird, so he planned for us to move to the United States. I had to tell him about Toothless, and how I couldn't leave him behind. He let me keep him, and later on, I figured a spell that changes beasts into household pets. And that's why I smuggled Toothless into Hogwarts as a cat; he needs me, and I need him." Hiccup confessed. He looked up at me with a pained expression.
"Damn, Hiccup." I breathed. Without knowing what I was doing I leaned over and slid my arms around his waist, hugging him. He tensed at first but he relaxed quickly enough as he wrapped his arms around my neck. "I'm so sorry." I whispered in his ear.
"Don't be," I heard him mumble. I laughed a little. Hiccup excavated himself from the crook of my neck and looked up at me, our noses touching. His green eyes were wider than dinner plates. "Jack…" He breathed.
"If you want me to let go, all you have to do is ask," I said quietly. I knew that my voice leaked with sorrow.
"No, no." He replied softly. "It's just that…" Hiccup trailed off, as his eyelids slid closed and he moved closer. His breath was hot on my lips. What was he doing? I let my eyes close, and moved about a millimeter closer to Hiccup.
Our lips hovered next to each other for a moment. Then I moved, and our lips barely touched, only a whisper of contact, when…
Toothless growled. Loud, menacing, and addressed to me. I jumped back, my hands leaving Hiccup's waist, my eyes flashing open in alarm. Toothless' acid green eyes gave me a look that I easily interpreted: "If you weren't his friend, I would kill you right about now…" I looked at Hiccup and he was as red as a tomato. I was probably that shade too.
"Sorryaboutthat…" Hiccup said quickly, not meeting my eyes.
"Don't be," I said softly. What was I doing? We're just friends! I saw Hiccup's lips curl into a small smile. Toothless gave him a nudge, shocking Freckles back to reality.
"Oh! Right, yeah Toothless, we can go now…" Hiccup said, patting the black dragon's head reassuringly as he stood up.
"So, um… I'll see you later then?" I said, standing up also. I noticed that they were going to be up in the air… just the two of them. Good, I wanted to run away from here. Why was I such an imbecile?
"Yeah! Of course… I mean…" Hiccup said awkwardly. I laughed.
"Your head's in the clouds, Frecks, why don't you go get it?" I asked, shoving my hands into my hoodie pocket, shielding Freckles from seeing them shake. Hiccup smiled, his dorky, adorable, lopsided smile that sent shivers down my spine. "I came so close to kiss those lips," I thought… No. It's over.
"I think I will, Frosty." Hiccup said, trying to stifle a chuckle. "Maybe I will…" In a moment, he was on Toothless, and they were up in the air. Hiccup was so freaking adorable…
No, I'm not supposed to be thinking like that anymore…
I turned, and headed out of the Forbidden Forest the way I had come.
Were we really that close to kissing? Did he want to kiss me? Was I taking all of his the wrong way, or was he actually moving closer to kiss me? I heard a triumphant yell from Hiccup every once and a while, but I didn't look up. I needed to forget everything. All of the four years I spent lusting after this one person, I needed to forget it. How did someone forget their first love?
I disappeared into the castle, and I found myself running. I didn't know where I was going, or why, but I was off. In a blur, I was throwing myself onto my bed, and I didn't remember half the journey. I buried my head in my pillow and cried.
I cried for being stuck in the friend-zone. I cried for wasting four years of my life. I cried for handing my heart to someone who easily threw it away. I cried for giving up on my little Freckles. I cried for not kissing him when I had the chance. I cried at my own stupidity to fall in love so easily.
And then someone was shaking my shoulders. I sniffled once and then wiped my tears away hastily. In front of me stood my friend, Xavier. He was broad shouldered, lightning fast, and stubborn. But he was always good for a laugh, and always had an ear when I needed someone to talk to. But I had given him the 'cold-shoulder' lately; spending my time with Hiccup and Lauren rather than him. He had brown eyes that, if you looked close enough, had red flecks in them. His blonde hair was always spiked up, defying gravity without the need of hair gel.
"Jack." He said, speaking severely. "What the fuck is going on with you lately?" Xavier shook my shoulders slightly.
"What-what do you mean?" I said quietly, my voice breaking.
"You know what I mean, Frost!" He said letting go and looking me in the eye. "You've been acting weird. You've been hanging out with those nerds-!" I almost punched him.
"They aren't nerds! They're my friends!" I yelled, scooting away from him, not trusting my hands. They were itching to collide with the side of his face
"I'm your friend, too. And you've been acting strange!" Xavier shouted back, jabbing a finger at his chest, and then at me as he talked. His visible calmed down, running the hand he was pointing with through his hair. "Look, Jack. You… haven't been acting like yourself lately. You didn't even come in last night. And… you've been getting real close to that Lauren chick…"
"I don't like her, I swear." I said quickly. "She… just knows a secret of mine. I don't want her telling. But have you ever talked to her? She's so easy to talk to!" I thought changing the subject would get me off the hook, but I guess not.
"That's not the point, Jack. Is there something going on?" He said seriously. He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, and he knew there was something wrong with me before I did. Sometimes he was exactly like Lauren, it was scary.
"Sort of. But I can handle this on my own." I said, looking away from him.
"Obviously, you can't. You just ran in here and cried like you just had a really bad break-up for crying out loud! No… pun intended." Xavier said. I blushed slightly. That was how I was acting, huh? Like a love-sick school girl who found out her crush was going out with someone else.
"I'm fine." I breathed, making myself look at my friend. "I can handle this just fine on my own."
"Do you know what I hear when someone says 'I'm fine'?" Xavier said.
It sounded like a prompt for a joke, but there was a serious cloud that hung over him. I shook my head.
"I hear, 'fuck you, I don't need you or your help, just leave me alone here to die because this is so fuckin' horrible'." He said, a hint of anger etched in his features. "You need help, Jack, so just freaking tell me."
"You're going to laugh." I said. "Or hate me. Or kill me."
"And why would I do that?" Xavier challenged. If he wanted to know, fine.
"I'm gay!" I said, throwing my hands in the air. Xavier's mouth dropped open. "That little auburn-haired boy that I've been hanging out with? I'm in love with him, okay? Lauren was the only person who knew, and she was good enough not to tell anyone!" I was breathing heavily at the end of my rant, and Xavier was still looking at me like I grew another head. "But he only likes me as a friend. I've liked him ever since first year, and now all that's wasted."
Tears were coming again, but I didn't care. I let them fall down my face, grimacing as if they were acid. Xavier was opening and closing his mouth, unsure of what to do. I was sick of it. I picked up my tear-stained pillow and threw it at him.
"So you know the fucking truth now!" I shouted. "Go and tell everyone how much of a faggot I am! I don't care! All I care about is Hiccup, and he doesn't give a shit!" I was in full-blown hysterics now, tears flowing, my body shaking from the sobs I fought to keep in. And Xavier was just looking at me.
"Jack… I-." Xavier started to say, but I cut him off.
"Don't say you're sorry!" I yelled. "Don't say that you are fuckin' sorry! You have no idea what the hell this has been like for me!"
"I get it, okay?" Xavier yelled, shocking me.
I didn't know what to say. Everything was just such a mess, I didn't even know which way was up. All I could think about was Hiccup. My Hiccup. But not anymore… he was never really my Hiccup anyway. Then I had to be a jack-ass (no pun intended) and almost kiss the poor guy! Oh, my life was ruined! I almost burst out in another crying fit if it wasn't for Xavier standing right here.
"You-you do?" I said, hiccupping. Damn, it reminded me even more of Hiccup.
"Yeah, I do! I would never be that cruel to tell everyone and ruin your life!" Xavier said, putting a hint of humor in his voice. Trust him to cheer me up, he's my best friend after all.
"It… doesn't creep you out that I'm gay?" I asked. I was too sad to even try to keep the doubt out of my voice. Wouldn't any normal person be freaked out if they found out their friend is gay?
"Of course not!" Xavier replied, sitting on my bed next to me. Probably to prove his point. "You're the same old Jack, you didn't change or anything. And besides, as long as the crush isn't on me, I'm cool with it." Was he really brushing this off like it was nothing?
"Okay, then," I said, hiccupping again, and rubbing my eyes furiously.
"You need some serious comfort food." Xavier said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me to my feet. "And I know the perfect place."
He marched me out the door. I pulled my wrist free somewhere along the way. I was ushered through some corridors, and then I found myself face-to-face with a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Xavier tickled the pear and the painting swung open.
"Say hello to the Hogwarts kitchens, Jack Frost!" Xavier said, pulling me inside.
Hiccup's P.O.V
Oh my fucking gods! That did not just happen! I yelled again, pure happiness saturating my voice.
Jack and I almost kissed. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Jack was right, my head was up in these clouds. I was looking everywhere for it. Toothless did a graceful backflip where we are upside down for about ten seconds. I closed my eyes, stopping my fruitless search, and let the wind tousle my hair. I moved us into a dive position and Toothless had no objection.
I should have asked Jack to come along, but Toothless would probably be pissed at me. I'll ask him next time… if there is a next time. Jack seemed a little off after our almost-kiss.
Oh lord…
OH MY FUCKING GODS! I almost kissed my best friend, who I have no idea if he even swings that way!
"AAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHH!" I let out my distressed cry, earning a questioning glance from Toothless. "Oh my gods Toothless! You saw that didn't you? I almost kissed him! I ruined mother fucking everything!"
Yep, I was losing it. I could tell because I was cussing. I never cussed. Not even when I burned myself in the forge back when I lived in Berk. Toothless decided to take things into his own… paws. Not hands. Toothless doesn't have hands.
In the middle of the dive, he flung his wings out, acting as a parachute and making us fall slower than we were before. This jerked me out of my panic attack, leaving me to hyperventilate. Toothless shot me a look, slapping me with his ear fins while doing so.
"I'm… I'm fine, bud." I said, apparently not convincing him. "Okay, maybe a little less than fine, but it's okay. I got this, bud."
Toothless didn't agree with my capability to handle my situations. He landed into the cove, staying still enough to let me hop off and get all his gear off him.
"If you don't want to fly, fine. We'll try this again, tomorrow night." I grumbled. I basically saw Toothless roll his eyes. What kind of a dragon rolled his eyes? I shrunk the gear and out them safely in my pocket. I turned Toothless into a cat and pulled him into my arms. I started to make my way to the castle without being noticed.
I ended up spilling Toothless on the floor and making a break for it, him right on my heels. I was running through the corridors before I knew it, dodging people and skidding corners. Then I almost ran into someone.
"Hiccup? Why the rush?" Lauren said, a smile on her face. She was carrying a book, that ridiculous raccoon hat still on her head.
"No-no reason," I stuttered, trying to catch my breath. Toothless walked up to Lauren and demanded attention, and she so graciously gave it to him.
"You just felt the need to get a little exercise?" Lauren said, looking up at me while rubbing Toothless' exposed belly. I laughed a little, causing pain in my side.
"You could say that, sure." I replied. I just wanted to go to my room! I needed to cry my eyes out. I ruined everything but acting on one stupid impulse. Oh gods, how am I going to force myself to go to class tomorrow?
"What's wrong, Hiccup?" Lauren cooed, abandoning Toothless and turning all her attention onto me. I noticed my eyes were welled up with tears. I rubbed at them hastily.
"I must have gotten dust in my eyes or something. You know, this place is pretty old…" I said. I suck at lying, and it didn't help that I was trying to lie to Lauren. In the short month that I've met her, she's gotten to know me so well that she can read me like that book in her hand with her eyes closed.
"You suck at lying, Hiccup," She said, grabbing my hand. "Tell me, what's going on?"
"Not… not here…" I said. What if someone overheard? Then Jack and I would be toast! And it's not even his fault! Lauren clicked her tongue and pulled at my wrist.
"Come on then," She said. Moments later (or what felt like moments, I was too busy worrying my bottom lip and trying not to cry), we arrived at the library. She didn't let go of my wrist though. She pulled me through the library until we reached her haven; the small, cramped, and surprisingly empty fiction section. She pushed me into a chair that was next to a desk, and she flopped into the other one.
"Why is it that no one comes in this section anyway?" I asked. Hey, curiosity couldn't be held in forever, just like it was a mystery that the bossy librarian let Toothless in.
"Oh, this section is basically child's stories. I memorize all these so when I go home, I can tell my brothers." Lauren said easily. A fond smile stretched across her face.
"You are such a nice sister," I said, hoping to delay he conversation at hand as much as possible. But, obviously, it wasn't going to happen.
"Don't try to butter me up, Hiccup. You're still going to tell me what's up." Lauren said, her voice becoming stern. I sighed. It's now or never…
"Jack and I… almost kissed." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Lauren was out of her chair, screaming like a banshee, and shaking my shoulders.
"Oh my gosh, Hiccup! I am so happy for you! What happened? You have to tell me everything!" She was screeching, hopping around like she couldn't possibly stay still for a second. It was sickening.
"It's not a good thing, Lauren." I said, pained. Here comes the hard-to-explain part… Lauren's face fell as she let go of my shoulders and sat in her seat again, shocked. She moved her chair closer and looked at me with 'sympathy'written all over her face.
"What?" She said, horrified.
"You heard me." I said. I hate repeating myself. "It's not a good thing." She was about to open her mouth, I could tell that much. "I ruined everything." I continued on quietly, forcing her to shut up and listen for a second. "He's the only friend I have, besides you and Toothless, and I decide to almost kiss him! I don't even fuckin' know if he swings that way! He was playing it off, but I could tell there was something off about him. He's never going to talk to me again…"
My voice broke, and apparently so did the dam I built around my tear ducts. There goes the waterworks… I thought as tears rushed down my face. I flung myself onto the desk and buried my head in my arms.
All the while, Lauren was trying to comfort me. She was murmuring soft words in my ears, but I didn't hear them. She was rubbing my back and shoulders, but I ignored the touch. Even Toothless was trying to console me. He was rubbing himself around my ankles, reminding me that he's there. But that only made things worse; Toothless was the one that stopped me from kissing him. He had the common sense to see a bad idea when it was in right in front of him.
"Hiccup…" Lauren was crooning, her head on my right shoulder, her left hand resting on my left shoulder. She sounded like she was crying too. "You don't know all that… you really don't. You have to stay positive… I know Jack doesn't hate you," She was mumbling.
I jerked at her last words, pushing myself away from her arms and looking at her with my incredibly red eyes.
"You don't know either." I said fiercely. "You don't know a damn thing." Lauren looked small and vulnerable under my harsh stare, but I didn't care. "I know you're trying to help me, but don't waltz right in and feed me lies. Because that's all bullshit."
"I'm not lying, Hic-!" She said frantically. I had enough. I stood up and looked at her.
"When you're done playing this stupid game, come and talk to me." I said harshly. Then I walked away, Toothless on my heels, although reluctant.
"You really think I'm lying?" Lauren said after me. I could tell she made no move to get up though. "I wouldn't be so messed up Hiccup, you know that!"
I ignored her. I went to my common room, and flung myself on my bed, and cried.
Fuck dinner.
Fuck Jack.
Fuck my life.
Emotional outbursts, huh? What else do these two have in common?
Sorry bout all this, don't shoot me. If things don't make sense, feel free to PM me. Oh, and leave reviews! I really love hearing from you guys!
Alright, love you bunches! Byez :D
