It's been too long. I need to write another short "warm-up" story. Got a pretty good idea for this next story. Speaking of good ideas, that last story ("Ghost in the Mirror") is going to be a full-length story. I've begun to plan it out, but I don't have an EPT for it yet. Stay tuned!
I don't usually review reply in this story (responses are PM'd or posted in my forum "Afterwords"), but this one deserves public review credit.
Guest (anonymous): I did not even think of Toothless as the black cat! I just figured that black cats are spooky, so it added to the atmosphere, but we can say it was Toothless.
"They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air"
-On Broadway, The Drifters
888
It had been two years already. Two years since he had last seen his ex-girlfriend Astrid Hofferson. The break-up had been unexpected. Two weeks after high school graduation, she had left their small hometown of Berk destined for the Big Apple and the neon lights of Broadway. Her parents would never let her pursue her acting passion. "You'll never make it," they would tell her. Headstrong as she was, Astrid had been determined to prove them wrong. She had left in the middle of the night, never even telling her boyfriend of her intentions. He had tried to call her, but he immediately found that she'd changed her number. Her Facebook account had been deactivated. No means of communication reached her. She did not want to be traced.
Hiccup did not want to believe that their relationship could be over, just like that. However, doubt crept in as the time passed and Astrid did not return or even try to get in touch. I hope you found what you were looking for out there, Astrid, Hiccup found himself thinking often. Two years had gone by so fast. In the time, Hiccup had started attending business classes at Berk University; he was destined to take over as CEO of the company currently run by his father. He really did not want to take over the company, but he knew that he could never just run off into show business like Astrid. She had it all—looks, talent, ambition—everything that he didn't have. If anyone could make it on Broadway, it was her.
Two years already and Hiccup still could not bring himself to date other girls. It was not that he couldn't get any other girls. Lately, his looks had changed. He'd grown taller. His hair grew longer. His jawline had tightened. Girls often looked his way, but he would have none of it. Those who knew his past experiences with relationships thought he was just nervous, afraid that another girl would leave him in the way Astrid had. That wasn't it at all, though. Hiccup refused to date because he could do no better than Astrid. Even two years later, Hiccup still loved Astrid.
As the two year anniversary of the break-up approached, Hiccup finally decided to stop moping and feeling sorry for himself. If Astrid could just up and leave and find success in New York, what was stopping him from doing the same? He had no intentions of finding a niche on Broadway; acting was not his passion. All he wanted was to rekindle his relationship with Astrid. She couldn't possibly have forgotten him in these past two years, could she? Still a small part of him held doubts. Say that Astrid did find success on Broadway and he was able to find her in the large entertainment city of New York, would she even want to still see him anymore? He, Hanson Harrison "Hiccup" Haddock III was just a reminder of an unsatisfying past.
Still, he had to try. Without a word to his father, Hiccup packed up everything in his apartment and stuffed it all (as best he could) into his car. Just as Astrid had done two years ago, Hiccup left in the middle of the night. Never looking back. No regrets.
888
New York was larger than he could ever have imagined. it felt massive compared to Berk. In Berk, everyone knew each other and the community was tight-knit. Here in New York, Hiccup knew that he would get lost in the crowd.
Now that he was here, though, Hiccup questioned his motives. Would he even find Astrid? He would need a job. What could he possibly do for income? Well, this was stupid.
Hiccup decided to take a walk on Broadway. Maybe that would give him a clue as to where he could find his ex-girlfriend. Even that turned out to be harder than Hiccup expected. He knew that Broadway was more than just a simple stretch of road, but he had been naïve, thinking that he could just move up to New York and instantly find Astrid Hofferson.
Discouraged, Hiccup was about to turn around and leave, go who knows where, when an advertisement caught his attention. It was a flashy electronic billboard advertising one of the many shows on Broadway, but that was not what demanded Hiccup's focus. Instead, it was the face staring back at him. Hiccup hadn't seen her in two years and she had grown, like him, but he'd recognize that face anywhere. The crystal blue eyes and soft smile. Astrid Hofferson. Hiccup smiled. "You did it. I knew you'd succeed, Astrid." The sign flashed the name of the production, but that's not what Hiccup cared about. All he wanted to know was the theater where Astrid's show was being played and the time it would begin. Though he did not have enough money right now for a ticket, Hiccup knew just the way to see Astrid again.
888
Hiccup waited near the theater, watching as spectators left. The show had just let out and Hiccup could set his plan into motion. Unseen, Hiccup crept to the back of the theater to wait by the back door. When Astrid had changed out of her show clothes and wiped away her stage make-up, Hiccup was certain she would leave this way. He sure hoped so, anyway.
The alley was lit, but Hiccup still found shadows to conceal himself. Leaning against the brick back wall of the theater, Hiccup waited. Twenty minutes later, the back door opened and Hiccup saw Astrid leave. Her long blonde hair, grown out a bit since he had last seen her, was tied back in a loose side-ponytail, as if she just wanted to get it out of the way, but not bother much more with it.
Before she could walk too far away, Hiccup spoke up. "I'm glad you found what you were looking for, Astrid."
He watched as she stopped instantly in her tracks, recognizing his voice but not believing that it could truly be him.
"I can see, though, why you left Berk," Hiccup continued, pushing himself off the wall to walk over closer to her. "It's just as they say. The neon lights are bright on Broadway."
Astrid turned and Hiccup watched her eyes grow large, taking in all of him. "H-Hiccup…what are you…?"
"I wanted to find you, Astrid. It's been two years, but I've never stopped thinking about you, loving you." When Astrid did not respond, Hiccup continued, filling the silence, "It hurt so much when you left and that's why I wanted to see you again. I just thought it would be harder to find you."
Stepping closer to her ex-boyfriend, Astrid brought her hand up to run it along Hiccup's face. "I just can't believe you're here. Not that I don't want to see you, Hiccup. It's just…like magic or a dream…surreal."
Shifting the conversation away from him, Hiccup asked, "So, you've found success here on Broadway, I guess?"
Astrid nodded in reply. "It was hard at first. In the beginning, it seemed like all I was met with were rejections, but I've been doing this show for a few months now and I really like it. You should come see it sometime…or are you…returning to Berk?"
Hiccup heard the sadness that crept into Astrid's voice (as much as she tried to hide it). "I'm hoping to find a place up here. It'll take time, though, so I guess I'll be sleeping in my car in some public parking lot somewhere. When I get some money, though, I will come see your show. I promise. For now, though, I should probably go find a place to park and sleep for the night. Good luck, Astrid. You still have my cell phone number, right? I would really like to stay in touch with you." He turned to leave, but Astrid stopped him before he could walk too far away.
"Wait, Hiccup! Don't leave. Public parking lots can get dangerous sometimes, especially here. I have an apartment nearby. If you want to drive over there, I can show you the way. You can stay with me until you find a place of your own."
Hiccup smiled. It's nice to know that Astrid still cares about me. Maybe there's a chance that we…no, probably not. His smile faltered as a thought came to mind. "That sounds great and all, but what about your boyfriend? You're a beautiful and successful Broadway actress. Surely, you have a boyfriend that lives with you and all. What would he think if you brought your ex-boyfriend home to live with you for a while?" He started to walk away once again. "But thanks for the offer. I really do appreciate it."
Again, Hiccup did not get a chance to walk too far away as Astrid grabbed ahold of his arm. "Hiccup!" she reprimanded. "I live alone, Hiccup and I do not have a boyfriend. I have not dated anyone since….since I left Berk. Partially because I was working to establish my acting career, but…also because…" She trailed off and Hiccup waited for her to finish which she did a moment later. "…because I missed you. I still love you, Hiccup and I'm sorry for leaving you and not trying harder to stay in touch."
Hearing this news, Hiccup smiled and took Astrid's hand. "In that case, I would be honored to take up temporary residence in your apartment. Let's go to my car and you can show me the way to your place."
It would take time, Hiccup knew, to fix their broken relationship. There would be a lot of catching up required to fill in the two year gap, but Hiccup was optimistic that, if anyone could rekindle such a relationship, it would be him and Astrid.
I really like this warm-up story! It was fun to write and...like with the last chapter, I may consider also turning this one into a full-length story (one that expands on their past and also adds on to their future). What do you all think?
See you all next time inspiration (and good music) strikes.
Posted: April 28, 2015
