Short chapter

—

"Thanks and have a nice day!"

The customer smiled as Hiccup handed him his change and receipt. He was a shy man, quiet and reserved. "Um, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, shoot."

"Well, the thing is…I'm sorry, this is a really weird…I shouldn't really…" He stammered, his face turning red.

Hiccup smiled patiently.

"The manure that you guys sell here…"

"Yeah?"

"Is it safe for human consumption?"

Hiccup was always quick on the draw, and laughed at the joke. In response, the man only looked back in confusion, and seemed a bit offended.

"Uh, I don't know." He replied quickly, "but I wouldn't recommend testing it out."

The man nodded once and ducked out of the store, just as Astrid came in.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Heeeyyyooooo what happened to your eye?!" His greeting turned into an exclamation.

"I got into a fight." She answered simply, trying to hide the bruise behind her bangs.

"With who?"

There was an awkward silence as Astrid headed towards the back room.

"Was it Scott?"

She didn't turn to look at him, but answered simply. "Yeah."

By time she came back into the room, he was no longer behind the counter. Instead, she heard him throwing stuff around in the chaos of the store. She waited at the register, pensive.

A customer came, made a purchase, and then left. Then more silence…

Finally, he stormed up to the counter. "This—This is not okay!"

"Please calm down."

"I can't! My best friend is—you were—he—!"

She smiled a soft smile. "Hiccup, it's really okay. Everything is fine."

"Obviously not if you have a black eye!" He gripped his hair frantically. "This is not okay! You need to leave him!"

She sighed harshly, and Hiccup shut up. "Hiccup, I know you don't like Scott. But please…just leave it alone."

"Okay, yeah I know, but still, like…can you not see how dangerous this is?"

"He's not going to hit me again."

"But how do you know?"

"Trust me. I know."

"That really instills me with confidence…"

"Hiccup. Drop it."

He looked away like he was the one who had been hit. "Sorry for being concerned."

"I…I didn't ask you to worry about me."

"That's the thing. It would be easier not to worry about you, but I can't help it. I care a lot about you. And I hate what he does to you…but I'll shut up about it now. Like you asked. Just…if you need anything…" He stuck his hands in his pockets. "The spare key to my house is in the garage. Middle cabinet behind my bike, it's hidden behind a roll of duct tape on the wall."

She shook her head, "Thanks, but I'm not going to need that…do you tell a lot of people where that key is?"

"My friends know. My dad is the chief of police and I have an attack panther. The only incident we had was Tuff breaking in and stealing some of my dad's beer. Only because Meijer was out of Founder's. Anyway, you never know what could happen. So…just in case."

"Just in case." She repeated.

It wasn't much longer until the twins returned from their deliveries. "I'm telling you, in a fight, the King Kong would totally win!"

"The Hulk is smarter than King Kong! He would be able to strategize." Tuff argued.

"Yeah, okay, but also King Kong is 50 bajillion times bigger. He could squish Hulk under his thumb."

"Tell that to Ant Man."

"What?"

"Exactly!" The twins both looked at Astrid and grimaced. "Dude, what happened to your face?"

"It looks like you tried to hammer in a fence post, but didn't have a hammer."

"I don't want to talk about it." She supplied.

Ruff picked up on it immediately, but unfortunately, Tuff did not. "It's like two summers ago when Ruff and I were tubing on the lake, and we hit a rough patch and I accidentally kicked her in the face…my ankle hasn't been the same since."

"You have any plans for tonight?" Asked Ruff.

"Not really…" Shrugged Astrid.

"Want to go clubbing?"

"You mean to Czars?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun! We can have a couple drinks, do some karaoke, have some drinks, flirt with guys and give them the wrong number…come on, it'll be fun!"

"Ah man, I love Czars," said Tuff, a nostalgic grin on his face. "You meet the best people there."

"Like who?"

"Like Thor."

Everyone, including Hiccup who was trying to work, stared at Tuff like he had grown a second head.

"There was a live action Marvel show over at the college last year…" He began. "I went because I got free tickets, and it was awesome. But the harnesses for the flying scenes were broken, so every time a character was supposed to fly off screen, he'd just stare into the lights, and then sprint backstage." He cleared his throat, "anyway, after the show was over, I decided to go to Czars just to chill. And when I got there, low and behold, the actor who played Thor was there, in costume. I don't think he was supposed to be wearing it out and about, but all I know was that we got slammed, and we walked down to the pier singing the Captain America theme song." He looked to the ceiling, woefully. "Sometimes, I can still hear his angelic voice. I'll wait for you forever Thor."

"How much of that is true?" Astrid asked Ruff.

"I dunno." She shrugged.

Astrid contemplated the idea, and looked over to Hiccup.

He was not having a part in this conversation, it seemed.

"Yeah, you know what? That sounds fun. I'll go."

"Great! And Hiccup will be our designated driver!"

"Oh no you don't!" Hiccup stormed back over to the group. "I will not tote around a bunch of drunks at one in the morning! Call an Uber!"

—

It was one in the morning, and Hiccup was wide awake. Maybe he shouldn't have turned them down. What if they hadn't gotten an Uber? What if Tuff thought he was sober enough to drive? What if they got in an accident and died? What if, what if, what if…

He turned over in his bed and covered his head with his pillow in an attempt to stifle the negative thoughts.

His phone buzzed.

Hiccup nearly launched himself off the mattress to grab it. There was a single text from Tuff.

vry drink. come get.

Hiccup was scooting into his shoe before he could even tap out, "I'll be right there, don't go any where!"

Since it was one in the morning, traffic was nearly non-existent and Hiccup hurried downtown. Rain beat down on the road and created an unearthly haze around the streetlights.

Czars was still open and thriving with music and flashing lights. Outside, three blondes leaned against each other, waiting by the curb. Drenched. He should have brought towels.

"Someone call for a ride?" He asked as he drove up in his Dodge Camaro.

"Hiccup~!" Tuff sing-songed. "You're an Uber now?"

"Did you not know you texted me?"

Tuff looked at his phone and then burst out laughing. "I have you in my phone as Uber! Cause you always come and get me when I'm drunk!"

Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for coming, Hiccup." Astrid said sincerely, sliding into the front seat.

"Glad to see not everyone is totally schlonkered."

Ruff chuckled. "Don't be fooled. Astrid is amazing at pretending to be sober. She's the schlonkeredest of us all."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Ruff." Astrid rolled her eyes. "I had one drink."

"You had Stella's Punch. 8 shots of tequila."

"I'm fine!"

Ruff leaned over the console in an attempt to make eye contact with Hiccup. "She's super drunk."

"Not I'm not!"

"She's super drunk."

"Alright, alright!" Hiccup called. "What are we doing?"

"Me and Tuff are going to my apartment." Explained Ruff.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could I just stay at your house?" Asked Astrid. "I really don't want to go back to my apartment and face Elenor while I'm tipsy."

"That's fair."

As Hiccup pulled away from the curb, he turned the radio up.

She grabs the yellow bottle

She likes the way it hits her lips

She gets to the bottom

It sends her on a trip so right

She might be goin' home with me tonight

"JAY T! MY BOI!" Tuff nearly screamed. The twins continued to scream along with the lyrics, although, unintelligibly.

She looks like a model

Except she's got a little more ass

Don't even bother

Unless you've got that thing she likes

I hope she's goin' home with me tonight

"Hiccup, I don't know if I've ever told you this, but you have a nice car." Spoke Astrid, crisply.

"Uh, I think you told me that. That night I picked you up after your car broke down. You screamed it actually."

She laughed. "Well, it's a way nicer car than I have."

"I like it. And you're fortunate to even have a car. Can you imagine walking to work?"

"I wouldn't have a car if we just had a bus system around here."

He shivered. "No, trust me. Buses are the worst. Your jeep is fine."

Those flashing lights come from everywhere

The way they hit her I just stop and stare

She's got me love stoned

Man I swear she's bad and she knows

I think that she knows

By time they got to Ruff's apartment, the twins had both passed out in the back seat. It took some serious shaking and yelling to get them up, but they eventually got out of the car and hobbled into the house.

Doubtless, they passed out again on the floor.

She shuts the room down

The way she walks and causes a fuss

The baddest in town

She's flawless like some uncut ice

I hope she's goin' home with me tonight

The rest of the drive was fine and mostly uneventful. Astrid sat relaxed, a small smile on her face.

"You seem to be doing better."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Hiccup had turned the radio off after the twins were dropped off. He was too tired for this stuff now. It was almost two in the morning.

"Is your dad going to be okay with me staying over?"

"Yeah, but he's also not home. He's pulling a late shift tonight."

"Oh. Okay."

Hiccup pulled into the garage and rolled his shoulders. Now that the anxiety of potentially dead friends because of his own laziness had worn off, he was exhausted. He yawned. "Do you need to take a shower or anything before going to bed?"

"No, I'm fine." She mumbled. It seemed that she was tired too. She followed him into the house and quietly down the hall. The house was silent and dark and she had to feel her way by the walls.

They arrived at his room. "I'll find you some comfy clothes to sleep in."

"Thanks…" she slurred.

He turned to look at her, only to find her leaning against the doorframe with her eyes closed.

"You should at least towel your hair dry."

"Hmmm…" She replied. Standing straight, she headed to the bathroom.

Hiccup found an oversized t-shirt and some basketball shorts in the depths of his dresser.

"Alright, I found some pajamas." He announced, coming into the bathroom.

Empty.

He peeked in the guest room.

Empty.

He peeked in his father's room.

Empty.

Every bedroom was vacant. Every room was vacant.

In the living room, Hiccup consulted his pet. "Toothless, did you see Astrid?"

The panther lazily opened his eyes and leapt from his perch on the support beam. He stretched.

"I guess not…I wonder where she could have gone."

He took another lap around the house, "Astrid! Astrid, where did you go?" He chuckled. "I know you're here!"

Then he noticed that Toothless was sitting by the garage door. "What? Did she go outside?"

The cat stood and motioned with his head.

"She's probably cleaning up the seats. She'd do that."

But upon further inspection, the garage was empty as well. At least, at first glance. Toothless trotted over to a piece of cloth on the floor. Astrid's shirt to be precise. Then he noticed the service door was open.

"Cmon, bud. She couldn't have wandered too far." Hiccup beckoned the panther with him out into the rain.

"Astrid!" He cried, but to no avail. It was raining harder now, and he could hear thunder in the distance. He hurried into a run, his eyes frantically searching the darkness. "Astrid! Where are you!? It's not safe out here!" He called again.

Toothless had darted off into the storm too, hopefully catching her scent.

The dirt road was slick with mud, and he almost slipped more than once.

He heard Toothless roar to his left, and finally, in the glow of a neighbor's landscape light, he spotted a girlish figure. "Astrid!"

She stopped, and turned to him slowly. Normally, he would have been embarrassed to see Astrid, of all people, in booty shorts in a bra, but he was so worried about her and the zombie look over her face.

"Astrid! Are you crazy? It's the middle of the night in a thunderstorm! You're only in your bra—and you've got no shoes! Cmon, let's go back inside!" He took her hand.

Instantly, she started sobbing. "I'm sorry!"

"Oh hey…no…I was just worried." He reached his arms out for her and she rushed to him, screaming and wailing all the while. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Astrid, it's okay!" He soothed. "Man, Ruff wasn't kidding, you are drunk."

"I'm so stupid!" She screamed, clawing at his shirt.

"You're not stupid. A little crazy, but who can blame you?"

"This whole thing is a mistake!"

"I mean, going to a club is always kind of a mistake. The music is loud, people grind up next to you, it costs 8 dollars for a drink…"

"I should have never called him that night!"

Suddenly, Hiccup realized she was talking about something entirely different, and shut up.

"I hate what he's done to me!" She buried her face in his shoulder, smearing her ruined eyeliner even more. "…my life is falling apart…"

"You still have people who care about you, Astrid." He promised, rubbing her back. "Even if it gets hard, we're here to help."

"My life is falling apart!" She screamed it, her eyes screwing shut. "He hit me! Scott hit me! I can't get away!"

"Yes you can!" He pleaded.

"If he goes it all goes! He's the only thing that's constant…"

Hiccup pulled away slightly and grabbed her shoulders. "Astrid, listen to me. You need to leave him. Screw this debt thing you've got going on. You can pay him back with out dating him. He's destroying you. Get out of it!"

She only heaved a broken sob. "Don't yell at me!"

"I'm not…I'm sorry." He ran his hands down her arms in reassurance. "I don't want to hurt you. I'd never do that." Almost painfully, he reached out and cupped her cheek. "I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. So just tell me."

Her shoulders heaved as she fought to breathe. "I don't know! I can't think! I can't—"

Without any warning, Astrid flung her arms around him in a vise grip and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

Instinctually, he pulled away. "Astrid, you're drunk!"

She shook her head, and kissed him again.

The thing about kissing Astrid was this: he knew it was wrong, and in this circumstance, is was really wrong. But it felt right. It felt like the only thing he could do to help. Her hungry lips clamored over his, drinking him in. Her soul cried out for solace within him, and he wanted to give it to her.

Hiccup was vaguely aware of lights next to him before he heard a police siren. He jumped away from Astrid, still holding her arms. He looked frantically over to his dad. Lipstick smeared all over his mouth.

"This isn't what it looks like!"

From the intercom, Stoick's voiced boomed, "this isn't the Notebook, boy-o!"