Guys guys guys! This is when the story really gets good! I'm so exited. This chapter really should end where the double page break is but it was way too short and I decided to be make up for the wait times you guys have had to put up with so here's a double-ish chapter! Yay! BTW you guys are the best fanfic followers on the face of the planet. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Right as the bell rang, the other students fled form the classroom. Astrid's group and mine were the only ones left.
"We can all meet a my house after school if you want to." Ruffnut suggested.
"No, we should all meet at my house!" Tuffnut corrected. The twins glared then launched at each other, not realizing Astrid was in-between them. Astrid threw out her arms and the twins' heads' hit her hands. Astrid held them there as they struggled to get at each other, though their attempts were futile.
"Same house, idiots." Astrid pointed out. The twins' arms flopped to their sides and they stopped trying to reach each other.
"Oh." Ruffnut said.
"Right." Tuffnut added.
"Oh, I can't wait! All of us together, doing schoolwork, it'll be great." Fishlegs commented. I glanced over at Snotlout and found him glaring daggers at me. Taking a step back, I tore my eyes away from his.
"So we'll meet at the front doors after school and walk to the twins' house together." Astrid clarified. The others nodded and left the room with Astrid, leaving me alone with Snotlout. The others' talking died down and the door creaked to a close. Hoping the teacher would still be in the room, I took a glance around the room, seeing no one. I gulped and started backing up. hitting numerous desks and chairs on my way.
"Snotlout, I, uh, look-" I stuttered.
"What did I tell you?" Snotlout demanded, rapidly advancing.
"You, uh- well, I, then, uh, she-" I attempted. My back hit the wall so I made myself as small as possible. Snotlout raised his arm just as I closed my eyes. His fist hit my face and I let out a grunt as the force knocked me to the ground. Something warm and wet trickled down my cheek. I brought my hand up to my face then peeked at Snotlout. Rage had taken over his features.
"I don't even know why you keep trying to be around her. She's mine! Why would she ever want to talk to you of all people? You're useless and you don't have any worth to anyone." Snotlout growled through clenched teeth. Just as he reared his leg back to kick me the door burst open. Astrid briskly entered then slowed once she saw us.
"What's going on?" Astrid inquired in an accusatory tone, coming to a stop. Snotlout threw his hands behind his back and rocked on his toes and heels.
"Nothing, babe. Just having a conversation with Useless here." Snotlout lied, not very well I might add.
"Hiccup?" Astrid asked. The expression on Snotlout's face showed as if he would actually try to kill me if I told Astrid the truth.
"Uh… nothing to see here, Astrid. Just some… friendly, cousinly bonding… heh heh." I sincerely hoped for my sake that Astrid would just let it go.
"Whatever. Hiccup, Gobber wants to see you in his office." Astrid relayed. I quickly picked myself up and wiped the blood off my face. I followed Astrid into the hall, taking one last glance at Snotlout. He mouthed something to me but I couldn't make it out as Astrid closed the door. She sighed and beckoned for me to follow her. Astrid guided me through the school until we reached the janitor's closet. Astrid pulled open the door.
"Um, shouldn't we be going to class, or is it just me thinking that since we are at school- whoa!" Rolling her eyes, Astrid shoved me into the small utility closet. I tripped over my feet and fell into a pile of brooms and mops propped against the wall. The started to fall and I frantically grabbed at them. They all ended up on the floor. Astrid closed the door behind her and flicked the light-switch on.
"W-What exactly are we doing in a closet?" I asked, becoming slightly frightened.
"What did he do to you?" Astrid asked, inspecting where Snotlout hit me.
"What did who do to me?" I asked, deciding to play the innocent routine. I moved toward the door but Astrid stepped back in front of the handle, successfully blocking me in. I sighed; I wasn't getting out of here until Astrid was satisfied with what I told her.
"It's nothing much. He was threatening me again." I revealed. Astrid's eyes widened with either shock or concern, I couldn't tell which.
"Again?" She inquired.
"Yes, again. Can I go to class now? I have a, uh, very important quiz I have to take."
"You mean he's threatened you before?" Astrid pestered, ignoring my plea.
"That's what again usually means…." My gaze fell to my feet.
"But why? What did he say?" Astrid took a step forward. I groaned quietly.
"He said… well, yesterday he told me to stay away from you because according to him you're his. Then today at lunch… he thinks that's my fault." I explained sheepishly. Astrid looked stunned.
"He control what you do and he definitely doesn't own me." Astrid pointed out angrily. Her gaze drifted to the floor as I kept silent. I discretely looked from Astrid to the door, noticing the gap she left from coming toward me. I bolted to the door and had my hand on the knob before she realized what I had done.
"Please don't tell Snotlout about this." I pleaded. Astrid nodded slightly so I slipped out the door.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Astrid asked the group. The six of us had gathered at the front doors of the school to head to the twins' house together. I made an effort to be as far away from Snotlout as possible, but that also meant walking next Astrid the whole way there. I could almost feel him glaring at me, though I didn't dare look. Once I did take a glance at him I decided it better to lag behind the group. They didn't notice me fall behind, I didn't expect them to. When we arrived at the twins house we crowded into their shared room and sat for a moment in silence.
"So…" Fishlegs said.
"Um, should we get started?" Astrid asked, pulling a notebook from her bag and flipping to a blank page.
"Or we could, like, not do homework." Tuffnut suggested, shrugging. The others agreed. I remained silent, standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. The twins' mom entered the room with a tray of snacks.
"I thought you all might want some snacks." She set the tray down on a table in-between the two beds.
"Thank you Mrs. Thorston." Fishlegs said.
"You're very welcome, Fishlegs." She replied. She scanned the room, smiling and greeting the normal friends of her children, but stopped when her eyes landed on me.
"And who might you be?" She asked.
"Hiccup, Hiccup Haddock." I answered quietly.
"Ah, of course. That's a nasty cut on your face, how'd you get it?" She interrogated. I was surprised for a moment, but then remembered I had to answer.
"I, uh…" I began, rubbing the back of my neck."
"He tripped over air." Snotlout smirked, receiving laugher from the twins.
"Oh. You all have a good time, now! I'll be out for a while, I'll probably be back around seven. Be good!" She said then exited.
"I'll never understand how such a nice woman could possibly be related to you two." Astrid commented.
"We're more like our Dad." Ruffnut answered.
"I was told we were dropped as babies." Tuffnut added.
"That explains a lot." Fishlegs said under his breath.
"Hey, Snotlout, will you come with me for a minute?" Astrid asked. Snotlout bolted to her, throwing his arm around her shoulders. She picked it up by his wrist and dragged him out of the room. I heard a door close. I peered over to the twins and Fishlegs, they were sitting as awkwardly on the beds as I was standing in the corner. They seemed lost without some sort of leadership. Astrid stormed into the room and sat down next to Ruffnut and crossed her arms irritatedly, an air of confidence coming with her. Snotlout idled into the room with a look of terror on his face. He quickly wiped it off and settled beside Tuffnut.
"Now that that's settled, let's get started on this project." Astrid declared.
The next few weeks were pretty similar to each other: school, Snotlout, Astrid, Snotlout, project, Snotlout, home, Toothless, hiding from Dad, sleep; not very interesting. Although, Astrid did start letting me sit with her and her friends at lunch. At first everyone was shocked and it was beyond awkward, but then I started to get along with them, apart from Snotlout. Things were really starting to look up for me. I even got Astrid Hofferson's phone number! I also chose to ignore that fact that she gave it to all of us along with us to everyone else so we could work out times for the project. That is, until one Saturday morning when I happened to glance at the calendar after my father had left for work.
I filled up Toothless' new bowl with the special dog food I had bought for him and he scarfed it down like he had never eaten before, just like every time. I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter and was about to grab my backpack from where I had leaned it against the wall when I noticed a calendar on the table. I sauntered to the table and inspected the calendar. I saw a week circled in red ink. When I read what it was labeled I froze, my apple falling and landing with a thud on the ground. Toothless nudged my leg and whined quietly.
"I can't believe I forgot." I ran my hands through my hair with apprehensiveness. Toothless looked very confused and concerned. I yanked out my phone and began to send a message to Astrid.
how fast can you get to my house?
why? is something wrong?
you could say that. just please come. it's easier to explain in person.
on my way. be there in 2
I put my phone back in my pocket and headed out to the front porch, Toothless following. I sat on the edge of the stone uprising, my legs hanging off the edge. Toothless settled himself beside me and relaxed his head on my lap. I stroked the back of his neck and in no time Astrid arrived. She sat down next to me with a look of worry on her face.
"What's wrong?" Astrid asked. I sighed and leaned back, propping myself up on my extended arms.
"Every year Dad takes me to a weeklong gathering of other mayors in the area and their future successors. I don't want to go but he always makes me. It's never exactly pleasant but this time… our relationship, more like lack thereof, has long past gone down the drain." I explained, staring straight ahead of me.
"Do you remember a few weeks ago when I wanted you to talk to your Dad?" Astrid asked. I jerked my head to look at her.
"You're not saying-"
"Hiccup, you have to try. If you're as worried about this as you seem then you have to do something!" Astrid ordered. I stayed silent.
"If you don't I will." Astrid added confidently.
"Okay, okay, I'll talk to him! No need for drastic measures…" I complied.
"When's the last time you said a word to him?" Astrid asked.
"At least a month." I answered. Astrid sighed, we both knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"I'll stay and help you, but you're talking to him tonight."
"Astrid!"
"No, I don't want to hear it. You're talking to him. You have to start eventually, better now then never." Astrid explained. I groaned and laid back on the concrete, closing my eyes.
"What do I even say?" I asked.
"Just start with the truth." Astrid replied.
Not super happy with this chapter but oh well. It's the content that counts. With the beginning of the last part, I just thought I could summarize what would have been like three boring chapters in one paragraph. Ok?