Chapter 14 – School, Girls, Struggles

They were gathered at the assembly hall, waiting for the one who was supposed to start with introduction. Then a dark brown-haired and tall man came up to the lectern. He adjusted his tie and jacket before he held up his hand in a fist in front of his mouth in order to clear his throat.

"Welcome to Berk Dance Academy! I am Mr. Clay, your principal. I have the pleasure of greeting the most talented generation of this academy for BDA never had three students in the same year to reach a perfect score in the audition before. You will be divided into three classes, each having around 15 students or more. You all should have received a letter with your class and room number in it. This building hast three floors, if you haven't noticed yet, and each room on each floor has its floor number as the first digit. For example, class one will go to room 101, which means that the room is on the second floor. If the room number would be 201, then the room would be on the third floor. You will get used to the building soon. In those rooms, your teacher will await you and will go through the formalities with you together. If you have questions, then ask them your teacher. They will be the ones who will guide you the next three years. Alright, that's it from me and I hope you will enjoy your first day in BDA. Thank you."

The principal presented a modest bow and turned away from the lectern. The 50 students soon began to scatter as they searched for their room. Hiccup and Astrid walked next to each other, talking and laughing in a small volume. The others who were in the same class as them both, either stared daggers into their back or watched them silently with a skeptical look.

When they arrived and opened the door, they found themselves in a typical classroom. There were tables, chairs, and a teacher's desk. Everyone took a seat as they waited for their teacher to arrive. After a while, groups could be made out as the new students made friends with each other. For some reason, they never approached Hiccup or Astrid though. Suddenly the door opened and everyone turned their gaze to the person who came in. It was Mr. Clay, adjusting his tie again as he slid his hand through his hair. He looked around the room, marking each student who was to be under his surveillance. He cleared his throat and wanted to say something when a small blonde girl came bursting through the door.

"I'm sorry for being late-" she said out of breath and was supporting herself on the knees. Seems like she ran at full speed to make it in time. Mr. Clay gave her a cold smile, signaling her to take a seat. She hurried to the next free place that she could reach and sat down. Mr. Clay turned his attention to the whole class.

"Now. This may be your first day in BDA but remember this. I do not tolerate students who can't be on time. This is an elite school. Here are only the best of the best. You were chosen by our school personally and I expect you to give it your all to honor us. Am I understood?" he said with a stern look and a fierce voice. Everyone nodded, some giving the blonde girl a judging gaze. Hiccup and Astrid could care less that she came late. They were more bothered about who she actually was. The last time Hiccup saw her, it was on the dancefloor, battling the Bog Burglars – Camicazi.

"Alright, as you can see, I will be your teacher for the next three years. I have the pleasure of drawing the potential out of three exceptional students, which means, that I'm going to put you all through hell," he said grinning. He went on with the introduction and mentioned the formalities. What they are allowed to do, what they are not, where they can eat and practice, and when they are to be at school. He gave out the schedule before he dismissed them. The first day was actually a 'look-around-day'.

"Urgh… I thought that I would never have to practice ballet again until I really need to," Hiccup groaned as he went over his schedule, "I mean, come on. Be it as it may, ballet's still hell in itself. Do you know how long it took me to perfect a fucking pirouette? Or a barre! Do you know how much it hurts to get your leg even close to the bar?"

"Wow… that was an awful pun, even if you didn't intend it. And here I thought you did everything with ease," Astrid snorted as she listened to his rambling.

"Hey!" both heard as they looked up and around. A blonde girl ran up to them and huffed, "Gods. I was afraid that stiff ballet psychos would surround me for the next few years. Thank god, there are some decent people in this academy as well." She then stood up as she lay her hands on her hip. She checked Hiccup out, looking from his head to toe. "Night fury, was it?" she asked.

"Yeah, Cami," he emphasized her name as if it would mean something more. She just grinned and understood.

"Well, since we're in the same class and stuff, I will hang out with you, if you don't mind?" she directed her question more to Astrid than to the both of them. There was something that Astrid did not like about her but she could not just say it aloud without a good reason, so she just shrugged and nodded, "I don't mind." She turned her head to look at Hiccups response, who just shrugged and nodded as well.

"I really don't want to be a bitch, but could you tell me why you're so relaxed and open to each other? Didn't you battle the last time you saw each other?" Astrid asked, really curious if there might have been a past with Cami just like the one he had with Heather. However, the persons in question just looked at each other and laughed.

"That's not necessary, really. We've known each other for a long time now," Hiccup said, waving it off as a small matter.

So they did know each other, for a long time at that. It was stupid to question every girl who was close to Hiccup in any way, but she could not help it. While she lost ten years of actually being together with Hiccup, other girls got the opportunity to spend time with him. She was jealous… and a bit envious. She wanted to catch up to the lost time, wanted to show him what she had accomplished. But overall, she wanted him to look at her, pay attention only to her. It was egoistical, and she knew, but she could not help it. She had waited too long to meet him again. She had waited too long, unable to lose him another time. She bit her lip and clenched her fist. Alone the thought of losing him again was enough to set her on edge. Cami noticed her gestures and smirked.

"Don't worry. Our parents knew each other and we somehow were stuck with each other. End of story," she said calmly, holding up a collected face. Astrid looked at her as if she had grown a second head. She expected the small blonde to be mischievous, deceitful even, but not so… mature. Astrid found herself a bit torn between doubting her and admiring her. Of course, she would never admit that she admired anybody but Hiccup. He was an exception. He already was, when they first met. Astrid nodded to Cami, who did the same in appreciation. It was a language that only the girls understood, which was the reason why Hiccup found himself clueless between the two blondes again. He would ask her later, maybe.

"Anyway, I just hope that you won't steal anything from me-"

"You mean this?" Cami asked as she held up his purse. Hiccup grabbed into his pockets and found them empty, rolling his eyes. Then he stretched out his hand and Cami gave it back to him.

"Thanks," he said sarcastically. He checked his purse and frowned, holding his hand out to her again. Cami just laughed and drew out fifty bucks from her sleeve, giving it to him.

"I would be more at ease if you wouldn't always steal my stuff," Hiccup criticized her and turned back to Astrid. "Don't trust her. She will do the same to you. Look out for your belongings-" Astrid was grabbing Cami's wrist when she tried to use the distraction to her advantage, stealing stuff from Astrid. However, that idea ended up fruitless. Cami grinned at her and took back her hand. Astrid smirked at her, as if she was victorious.

"I like your focus," Cami said in respect, deeming Astrid worthy of her company. Astrid just crossed her arms in front of her chest and smirked in pride and acceptance.

"Yeah, never mind," Hiccup spoke out, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Seems like I don't need to worry about you."

"You were worried about me?" Astrid asked, grinning even broader now. Hiccup blushed and turned his head away. "No?" he squeezed out of his throat. Astrid held up her grin as she took a step closer to him, bending down a bit, trying to get his eyes on her. He always turned his gaze away and pushed her away.

"Get a room, will ya?" Cami snorted. "Let's check out the facility. I want to know where we can get the food. Food is important. Food is love. Food is-"

"Life," Astrid added and sighed in bliss, thinking about all kinds of food that she would like to eat right that moment.

"Yes," Cami hissed through her teeth as she too joined the dreamland of food.

Hiccup just raised an eyebrow and waved with his hand in front of their faces, snipping his fingers. When they did not seem to get out of it any time soon, he decided to take a stroll first, taking in everything that could help him to orientate himself later. He would never understand why women loved food so much. If they loved it so much, they should just eat it. At least that was what he did. And he never seemed to get fat. So of course, he would never be able to understand the struggle of a girl, having to resist food that she so dearly wants to dine.

He was looking forward to spending some time with Astrid, actually, but when Cami appeared, he knew that his hopes were for naught. Although it did not bother him that much. It would be good to have a change of pace sometimes, and Cami was always full of surprises. Well, he will have his time with her when they return to their forest, because that was the only place where they would be alone. It was holy – it was sacred.

Later the two girls caught up to him and were already talking about all kinds of food.

"You know, if you like food so much, why don't you just, like, eat it?"

Both girls stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Do you know how hard it is to keep this figure?" Cami argued as she gestured to her body.

"Not to mention, how fast you gain weight if you eat more than normally?" Astrid added, also gesturing to Cami's body.

"Well, I can eat tons of meals and I wouldn't gain weight. That's a problem that I have since my birth," he said, having no clue of their struggles.

Both girls began mumble something that sounded like… were they cursing him? He tried to take his distance from them as they frowned at him.

"You lucky asshole," Cami finally spat as she resumed her tour around the building.

"You know that I don't mean it, but… you lucky asshole!" Astrid said as she punched his arm.

"What was that for?!" he groaned as he rubbed the spot where she had hit him.

"For eating so much without gaining weight," she answered as a matter-of-fact.

"And where's the kiss?"

"There's no reason to kiss you," she said and watched as his face fell, disappointed he would not get the usual treat. She closed the gap between them as she pulled him at his shirt, meeting his lips with hers and kissing him ever so fiercely. When she pulled away, he grinned at her.

"I thought there's no reason to kiss me?" he asked smugly.

"Because I don't need a reason to kiss you," she responded with a bright smile, letting him go.

"Seriously, get a room you two," Cami hissed as she rolled her eyes.

The couple just laughed as they followed Cami, getting a really close look at the cafeteria before they went home with a satisfied look – the girls, that is.

A/N:

Well, that's it. I hope you enjoyed it and again, as always, thank you for reading!

Date of Update: 29th September 2015

~ KeGzZ