Shoutouts to harrypanther, Warrior-of-httyd, Astrid E Lokison, lindenrosetps, ExodusClaw, animalsarepeopletoo, jessygirl03, PixelLight, Goldeneyeddragon101, goldeneyeddragon (guest), Sydney B (guest), ImpossibleJedi4 (guest), Smoe05, Dragon (guest), Cesin (guest), CartoonPonyDrawing, and BlueCoffeeandRainbows for reviewing the last chapter!

*slaps self* SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN AWHILE, Y'ALL. WRITER'S BLOCK CAME ALONG AND HIT ME HARD… YEAH… AND I'M SICK RIGHT NOW SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE LONGEST CHAPTER EVER, BUT IT'S OKAY. (PROBABLY) Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: Honest

If I could name one good thing and one bad thing about being stuck in bed all day, it would be these:

1. I didn't have to do anything.

2. I didn't have to do anything.

Boredom was my new companion all week. Every morning, Dad carried me down to the couch and turned on the TV, but nothing good was ever on and I always ended up watching Bug Wars for two hours straight. By the time lunch rolled around, I had a new respect for insects.

That Saturday, Dad must've sensed how lonely I was, because half an hour later- much to my surprise- a knock came from the front door. My father opened it, and there stood…

Astrid. And Snotlout. And Fishlegs and Ruffnut and Tuffnut.

I straightened from my position on the couch. "Uh, hi, um… h-hey…"

Dad grinned at me. "Thought you could use some company, Hiccup."

Astrid laughed at my expression. "Surprise?"

I quickly forced a face of whatever relaxation I'd be expected to have, and coughed slightly. "Yeah, um…" Suddenly, Toothless burst out from under my blankets. Eyes wild, he began to yip loudly, and I had to hold him back from jumping off the couch. "So this is Toothless, my new dog," I said at the top of my voice to be heard over his barking. "He gets… excited sometimes."

Astrid nodded. I had told her about him before.

Snotlout, on the other hand, was bent over laughing, while Fishlegs looked uncomfortable and the twins tried to get Toothless to bark louder. Dad quickly made an excuse about needing to take my dog on a walk outside, and soon was out of the room… leaving me alone with the group of people who had tormented me my whole life.

It was awkward for a moment.

"So," Snotlout tried. "How are… things?"

"The… um, usual." I cleared my throat. "Anyways, you know, you guys don't have to stay over here if you don't want to… I don't know why my Dad invited you all here… I'm fine, believe me."

"Nah, of course," Astrid smiled, already walking over to the couch. "We're friends, right?"

Yeah. Sure. Friends, my thoughts hissed.

To my dismay, I knew my thoughts were right. Why would Astrid Hofferson want to be my friend? The only reason she was even hanging out with me was because of my newfound "popularity" after the crash. Even talking to her over the phone I could tell that.

Fishlegs smiled sheepishly. "Your father called us and said that you might need someone to keep you company. So we came. Hope you don't mind."

"Yeah, of course not." Embarrassed, I waved them over. "Well, sit down, sit down. We can… talk."

And so eventually we were all gathered around the living room; me on the couch, Astrid sitting beside me, Snotlout and Fishlegs in two chairs, and Ruff and Tuff on another couch. I didn't know any conversation starters, alas it remained silent.

"So, what do you have to do over here?" Snotlout finally asked.

I didn't know and told him so.

"Aw, come on, you've got to have something," Astrid encouraged. I shook my head slowly. All I was aware of was how close she was to me.

"Ooh, I know!" Fishlegs said excitedly. "What about truth or dare? After all, we don't really know each other all that well-" mostly because they'd ignored me my whole life- "so maybe we'd get to know each other better after playing."

Astrid nodded in approval. "Sounds good. What do you think, guys?"

No one in the group disagreed. We started

"Okay, I'll go first," Astrid said. She turned to Snotlout. "Truth or dare, Snotlout?"

Snotlout's chest puffed out in pride. "Dare, of course."

"Fine. I dare you to slap me."

He paused, chest deflating. "Well, uh… I don't hit women."

"What? You scared?"

"Of course I'm not scared!" Snotlout spluttered. "I just…" His face reddened. "Fine. I'll choose a truth."

"Your loss. Okay, answer me this: what's your biggest fear?"

The atmosphere held its breath, as did Snotlout. He looked ready to punch a wall before he shook his head. "Haha, right," he snorted. "Yeah, I don't have any fears. I'm too manly for that."

"I saw him run away from a spider once," Tuffnut offered.

We quickly moved to another person after that.

"Ruffnut," Fishlegs asked. He bit the inside of his cheek. "Have you… ever k-kissed anyone?"

Ruffnut smiled proudly. "Sure have. Once I kissed this guy, Eret. He's on the football team…" She sighed dreamily. "I didn't know what a man was before I saw Eret Eretson, the man of my dreams!"

I leaned forward. "So, who made the first move?"

Ruffnut didn't supplement an answer.

Next, it was Tuffnut's turn to ask Astrid. "Truth or dare?" he asked her.

"Truth," Astrid said firmly, surprising everyone.

"Ooh, tough case… hmm… okay got it: do you like Hiccup?"

There was the expectant pause. I cleared my throat. "We are asking some very personal questions today, guys," I pointed out. I then turned to Astrid. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I understand."

She smiled weakly back. "No, it's all right. And in answer, yes, I do like you, Hiccup Haddock." When my eyes widened, she laughed. "Don't go thinking too highly of yourself just yet. I like you as a friend, Hiccup."

"Oh! Yeah, uh, of course," I stuttered, looking down at the floor. "Of c-course, yeah…"

Idiot.

Shut up.

Finally, I was the victim getting asked the question, and I didn't even hesitate before answering with, "Truth." With my leg, it wasn't like I could do a dare. I couldn't do much of anything, really.

As it turned out, Snotlout was the one asking me something. I expected it to be embarrassing or rude or immature, but to my surprise, it was something completely different. "Okay, Hiccup…" He paused. "Do you… do you forgive us for ignoring you… and… well, making fun of you after all these years? Remember, you can't lie."

I didn't know what to say. The rest of the group pretended they were doing something important, like picking at their nails or inspecting the floor. I wasn't sure whether it was in shame, or they just didn't want to be a part of the conversation.

"Well," I began carefully, "I guess I do. The past is in the past, right?" I offered a smile.

Snotlout didn't return it. "Hiccup, I said to tell the truth."

"It's okay, Hiccup," Astrid sighed. "We weren't exactly kind to you. We understand if you still… well…"

"Have a grudge against the people who ignored him for his whole life?" Tuffnut filled in. He raised his brow. "Yeah. If I was him, I'd be ready to start a riot. I mean, what kind of people do that kind of thing?"

"Duh, we did," Ruff hissed.

"Oh, yeah, right… wait, was that wrong?"

I knew Tuff had a point. I should be angry with them for all they'd put me through in the past. Snotlout and his gang had roughed me up more times than I'd liked to remember, Astrid hadn't acknowledged I was alive until a few weeks ago, Fishlegs had mostly avoided my path during my unfortunate years of school, and the twins constantly played malicious pranks on me.

But, for some reason, I wasn't angry with any of them. They had just made a few mistakes like everyone did. Plus, as much I hated to admit it, I really was a nobody up until a month ago. It wasn't like I ever tried to be noticed, or get on their good side. Which meant could I really blame them for what I went through?

So I cleared my throat and said, "I don't hold anything against you guys." At their doubtful expressions, I added, "Honest. I don't."

"But… how can you say that?" Fishlegs stammered. "We treated you like you didn't exist…"

"Me and the other guys beat you up, just for being you," Snotlout muttered.

"Can you ever forgive us, Hiccup?" Astrid asked softly.

I smiled over at her, and this time I spoke with no trace of doubt in my tone.

"Honest… I already have."

"So, how was meeting your friends again?" Dad asked cheerfully from the kitchen as he put dinner on the stove. He was making pancakes. Just like Mom and I used to make on the weekends. It was almost like a family tradition in the Haddock household… not that Dad ever joined us, although- he was too busy working...

Your father can't make up for her! my thoughts insisted. He's just a fraud. He wants you to trust him, but he'll never trust you with anything other than broken promises and lies.

I shook my head, returning my attention to the TV. I needed more sleep.

By the time dinner was ready, a family of ants was fighting a scorpion on screen and I wasn't sure if I wanted to see how the battle would end based on the way it was going. But before I had the chance to decide, Dad was turning the TV off and helping me stand up from the couch, so I could limp over to the dinner table.

I was walking better by the day, now, at least, and could get around the house with little trouble. Stairs were my only problem. No matter how hard I tried, I'd always slip up and had to have Dad catch me before I fell face flat on the floor. Based on my little progression, I doubted I'd be able to get up or get down them anytime soon.

"Hungry, son?" my father said.

I wasn't.

"Kind of."

"Good. The pancakes are made especially for you." He winked.

We sat down at the table, where I picked at my food with a fork to make it look like I had eaten something while Dad shoveled in his own bites of the syrupy pancakes.

"So. Gobber's coming over tomorrow," he said in between bites.

That did little to excite me, though Gobber was an old family friend. He always treated me as an adult, and not a kid, for which I was always grateful for. "He is?"

"Yes. He wants to see how you've been lately," Dad explained, before biting his lip. "What with the… uh… crash."

"Oh. Yeah."

There was silence at the table.

Seemed like nothing had changed.

As dinner finally came to an end, I had, at last, managed down a few bites of food when I suddenly realized a change in my father's mood. His upbeat tone had faded long ago, and he refused to meet my gaze. Even he didn't look too hungry anymore. And he was always hungry.

"Dad?" I asked, worried. My fork dropped to my plate. "Is something wrong?"

He placed his hands on the table, cleared his throat, and shifted in his seat for a moment before he looked up. "Hiccup, I need to tell you something. Something… important, son. I thought it would clear up before I had to tell you, but… it didn't. So I hope you'll understand."

Fear clenched at my heart. "Dad…?"

From under the table, Toothless poked at my foot. If dogs could sense bad news coming, I was sure I wouldn't like what my father had to say. Nonetheless, I had to listen. I knew that if I didn't, the curiosity would drive me mad.

Dad crossed his arms. "Well, son…" He hesitated, his brow furrowing. "It's like this…"

HA! But ne'er fear, next update will be quicker, I promise you, my lovelies. I think my writer's block is clearing up.