Hello! I just want to say I am so incredibly sorry for the mix up of the chapters! Because I feel horrible, here is another chapter! I love you all and thanks for reading! I own nothing.

Chapter 9: Weak Strength

Alright Frank, I've got a story for you. Last Friday night a thirteen year old boy was hit by a car running a red light. He was thrown over ten feet across a busy intersection, and didn't even scream. His lower left leg was shattered and broken beyond repair, the doctor's had to amputate it.

Wow, Jim, what a strong kid. You see folks, stories like that break my heart, but at the same time give me hope and strength. I say to myself, if a thirteen year old boy can loose his leg and still hold his head high and carry his weight in the world, then I can do just as much.

What a interesting story. Now back to you Carrie.

I pressed the button on the remote to change the channel. The hospital finally let me do something other than sleep and eat. I wasn't allowed to do anything "extensive" that could "get me worked up" or make my "blood pressure high". These people babied me and I hate it. Yes, I know I'm in critical condition, that doesn't mean I m helpless!

So, I decided to watch TV and see what was happening in the world.

Bad idea.

Every single news channel has me on it. Has my picture, my story, everything. They praise me for getting past my injuries, send prayers to me, gawk at how 'strong' I am.

And I absolutely hate it.

I changed the channel hoping to find something different.

A young boy of the age thirteen was hit by an-

I sighed in frustration as my school picture was flashed on the TV screen and the news reporter told my story...again.

Don't these people have anything better to do than talk about some dumb thirteen year old boy that got hit by a car running a red light?

"You're practically on every channel." A voice said.

I looked over at the person in my doorway.

Snotlout. He was awkwardly standing in my doorway, one hand still on the door handle.

"Snotlout?" I asked. "What are you doing here?"

He gave me a half smile. "I just wanna see if you're ok, like everyone else."

"I thought it was only family that could visit?" I gave him a puzzled look.

"I am family." He looked at his shoes. "Cousin." He added.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry, I'm just-"

"I know, I know." He said. "I sure as heck didn't treat you like family, did I?"

I just stared at my lap, playing with one of the loose strings on my blankets. I shook my head no.

He walked over to my bed and sat down on the edge. "I'm sorry," he said. "For everything."

"It's-"

"And don't tell me it's alright because it's not." He told me sharply. "Family doesn't treat family like that." He looked away.

"Well.." I started. "Thanks for visiting me." I said.

He smiled at me. "No problem. How are you doing?"

I gave him a small smile and I nodded my head a little. "I've been better."

"Yeah, no kidding." He said with a little laugh. Then, his face went serious. "Um, a girl wanted me to give you something." he said, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket. "She said her name was Cindy."

He placed the piece of paper in the palm of my hand. I unfolded it carefully. There was only one Cindy that would write to me: Cindy Van Huston.

The note only had two words on it:

I'm Sorry

Anger bubbled inside of me. She thinks she can just say two words and everything will be better? She's wrong, dead wrong. After all of the pain and misery she's caused me? No way.

I ripped the note in half and then I crumpled it up. I gave it to Snotlout, and as calmly as I could manage, I said, "Throw it away for me, please."

Snotlout didn't ask any questions, he just calmly got up and threw the note in the trash.

"So how is everyone at school?" I asked.

"Ok," He said, sitting back down on the bed. "The Monday after the you got hurt was one of the most hectic days of my life."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, Monday morning the entire school had to report to the gym where we had an assembly. The principle just told us what had happened to you. Then, after that, we all where sent to our homerooms to make Get Well Soon cards. After lunch, the entire eighth grade class walked down to the hospital to deliver our cards. Some people bought balloons and stuff on our way there. They didn't let us see you because you were still unconscious, only your dad was allowed in the room."

I let it all sink in. An entire day of school was devoted to me. They made cards for me, people bought stuff for me, they delivered it to the hospital for me.

"Wow." I said. "And here I was thinking nobody cared."

Snotlout scoffed. "Yeah right. The entire school is practically in the lobby right now. Only I got to to in because I'm family."

I turned it over in my mind. How many of these people who want to see probably didn't even know I was alive? That I was here on planet Earth?

"Where's your dad?" Snotlout asked.

"Oh, he went home to get some things." I said. I remember practically forcing my dad to go home. "You need a shower." I had said, "and bring me some of my stuff. You deserve it, Dad. You've been at this hospital for a what? A week straight?"

In reality, I had just wanted him to leave and give me a break from him looking over at me like a worried mother. He wouldn't stop babying me. I know he was trying to be a better father, but it was getting kind of annoying. Although there was a part of me, a very strong part, that didn't mind the attention.

"So...now what?" Snotlout said.

"What do you mean?"

"What's the deal with your leg?"

"They're making a prothstetic for me." I answered. He just nodded.

"You know Hiccup, you're not half bad, you know that?" he looked over at me with his blue eyes and he gently ruffled my hair.

"Thanks," I said.

"Well, I got to go." He said, standing up from his seat on the edge of my bed, "See you around, baby cousin."

I sent him a glare. He knows I hate it when he calls me his "baby cousin", but I think he just did that to lighten the mood.

I went back to the TV, to where another reporter was praising me about being strong and having a strong will. And then I finally thought something.

I maybe physically weak, but mentally, I'm the strongest of them all.