Not much to say. Trust me, I want to get this fall semester arc finished as much as you all want me to finish it. You know why? Because Astrid's spring semester is going to be very eventful…and I think you all will enjoy it. Luckily there are only a few more chapters left in this arc. Yay!

Review Replies:

PuppeteerOllie: Haha. Your review made me smile when I read it yesterday.

EagleDragon15: I know. It's this arc. There was just a lot of background and I didn't want to cut it. It will pick up real soon, I promise.

TheVikingStranger: In this case, my story will probably fall into the majority, but I guess we'll find out soon enough. Haha.

Ken106348: What would you like answered about Heather and Astrid's father? If I know specifically, I can try to find some more answers into some of the upcoming chapters. As for your thought, yeah, I could see that happening if Hiccup and Astrid get together (and then if Astrid's parents learn about this boyfriend of hers).

RogueDeityMaster: And soon they shall!

Pegueng: I think that'll be the last in-depth family chapter for a while. We know enough now that Astrid's parents suck, so no more need to be over the top about it. Haha.

Sombody105 (anonymous): Thanks!

MrAndersIversen: You thought I was going to end the story with that chapter? There'd be so many loose ends if I did. No worries, there's definitely more YOPS to come!

willblossom33: Here's the next chapter.

Patty 4577: Actually, it's more so that this arc was full of background story (as I mentioned in an earlier reply). Luckily it's almost over and the next semester is will the action will pick back up.

Chapter 25: Everything Was Going So Well

Astrid was up early the next day to prepare for her return to classes. With the extra time, she allowed herself to thoroughly pack her backpack with everything she would need for the day. She also thought about venturing onto campus for breakfast at the dining hall, but thought better of it and opted for a simple bowl of cereal from her supply in the cabinet.

When she was finished, Astrid left the dorm and walked toward the building where she would attend her first class of the day. Class sizes at Berk University were moderate—small enough that you didn't lost in the crowd, but large enough that you could possibly be forgotten if you allowed—so Astrid was not worried about returning after such an extended absence. Over the course of a semester, many students just disappear from class, not showing up but keeping up with the work from their dorm rooms or apartments or wherever they lived. If anyone asks me about my absence, that's what I'll say. I didn't feel like coming to class, but now that final exams are coming up, I feel like I should be present. Yeah, that'll work.

Walking into the classroom, Astrid took a seat at an empty desk and pulled out from her backpack the materials that she would need for the class. Let's see…notebook, pencil, what else…? Astrid pulled out the class textbook, but decided that she probably wouldn't need it for the class. Just to be sure, though, she set it on the floor beside her backpack so it would be easily accessible if the teacher decided that they needed to look something up from within its pages.

Astrid had arrived early, so she watched as her fellow classmates filtered in and took seats. As she watched the other students enter the class, it occurred to Astrid that she really did not know any of her classmates at all. Sure, she recognized their faces and could probably spot them on campus and know which class they attended with her, but if asked, there was no way that she could recognize them by name.

Like, take that husky boy that had just entered the room, for instead. Astrid had seen him around the campus. He was a major geek and Astrid had seen him with his nerd friends. She recognized his face and she could barely remember his name. Was it Franklin or…wait, now I remember…it's Frederick. She only knew that because he was always eager to answer the questions asked by the professor…and the professor loved him because he was so attentive while all the other students, Astrid included, would usually just zone out until class was over.

The extra time had ticked away while Astrid was lost in her thoughts and her professor had now arrived. The professor, scattering her materials across the front desk in the room waited a few more moments for any stragglers to arrive to class before beginning with the days lecture. Normally, this was when Astrid would go on autopilot, writing down notes but not really paying attention, but with final exams looming dangerously in the extremely-near future, she could not avoid to gaze off into the distance and ignore the day's lecture.

"Before I begin with today's lecture," the professor began, her voice startling Astrid who picked up her pencil ready to take notes.

Is she canceling an upcoming class? Please don't…usually, I don't care, but I need to catch up…badly! Astrid silently begged. Or maybe she has important information about the final exam. Astrid gripped her pencil tighter, ready to write down any necessary notes.

"I want to welcome back Astrid," the professor continued, gesturing in the direction of where Astrid sat.

Startled, Astrid looked up briefly. Why? Did she have to announce it like that? Astrid wanted nothing more to just bury her head, but she knew that would not help with the gazes she was getting now from the rest of her class. She thought about picking up her belongings and walking out of class and she probably would have if it wasn't for the need to attend and attempt to catch up before final exams.

"It's great to have you back in class. Now, on to today's lecture…"

The professor kept talking, but by that point Astrid had stopped listening. How could she do that? No one even knew about my extended absence and now this whole class knows! This was a stupid idea! Why did I come back? Wait, I know why I came back. If it was a choice between home and this embarrassment, I would take this ten times over! Home is no sanctuary either.

Astrid had wanted to pay attention to the class and take notes that she could use to study for finals, but that plan had disintegrated so quickly at the start of class. Her notebook sat empty ever since her professor had decided to embarrass her in front of the entire class. Still fuming about the embarrassment, Astrid, as discreetly as possible, packed her textbook and other materials away in her backpack. That was not easy to do when all the students' gazes seemed to drift over to her. As soon as class is dismissed, I am out of here!

The professor continued to drone on, lecturing over something that Astrid didn't even know. This will probably be on the final exam, but, right now, I don't even care! All she could do was watch the clock at the front of the classroom tick closer to the end of class. Come on, come on…let this class end already! I just want to get out of here and away from…from…this!

"Alright, that is all for today. Make sure to keep up with the readings. Final exams are almost here!" the professor dismissed the class.

Without hesitation, Astrid grabbed her packed backpack and rushed out of the classroom and away from the pitying stares of her fellow classmates. That was a disaster! The worst! Everything was going so well too. At least I have some time to hide away in my dorm before I have to attend my next class.

Yeah…I hate how the ending turned out. Another case of trying to write the very end of a chapter on a different day than when I wrote the rest of the chapter. That would be why I usually just finish writing out a chapter when I get to the 95% completed mark.

I mapped out a good portion of this story (before I was kinda just "winging it"). This fall semester only has a few chapters left. There may be a chapter or two taking place between semesters. Then, we get to spring semester. I think you all will like spring semester. Lots of action to come.

Thank you all for reading and supporting Your Own Personal Savior!

Posted: July 12, 2015