Twenty-Eight: In the Principal's Office
Halfway through English class, Fishlegs was called to Principal Wing's office and Hiccup watched the husky boy leave with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He could guess what his friend was being pulled in for-because he knew for a fact that Fishlegs could recite all of the school rules and probably hadn't broken a single one in his entire life. The person they really wanted was the person who had made the video, Hiccup...and he couldn't leave his friend to face the music alone because he had engineered the whole brawl. Glancing over to Astrid and across to Mr Larson, he prevaricated for a few painful moments before he couldn't stand it any longer and then he stuck his hand up.
"Excuse me, Mr Larson-I'm not feeling well!" he announced urgently. "I really need to go to the bathroom..." The teacher stared at him, seeing the pale face and bright emerald eyes and nodded.
"Report to the school nurse," he said firmly. "I am sure your friends can update you on the work from this lesson."
"Thanks, Mr Larson," Hiccup said gratefully, shoving his things into his bag, clutching at his stomach and stumbling to the door-but as soon as he was safely out in the corridor, he straightened up and sprinted off in the direction of the Principal's Office. He arrived moments later, panting and staring worriedly at the door. He could hear Fishlegs's nervous voice from the other side-and Snotlout's snide tone. Then Cameron joined in and Hiccup gathered himself, rapping hard on the door and opening it before he was even invited in.
Every eye fell on him and he walked in boldly, his eyes fixed on the cool and intimidating shape of Mala Wing and studiously ignoring the gang. Snotlout was standing with Tuff and Ruff, Cameron and Heather were standing to the other side with Thuggory and Eret awkwardly standing closer to Heather than Snotlout. A small smile tugged at his lips at seeing the gang so fractured but he kept his face straight because he wasn't here for them. Mala cleared her throat.
"What are you doing here, Hiccup?" she asked him coldly as he cast a sideways look at the husky boy, standing mere feet from her desk, his face pale with terror.
"I'm guessing you have Fishlegs...sorry, Finlay...here because you think he had something to do with the video," he said without preamble. "He didn't. It was me." The Principal's strawberry blonde brows arched in surprise.
"Really? I was under the impression that Mr Ingerman was the only person in the year with the skills to construct such an accomplished piece of work," she said coldly, briefly inspecting Mr Halvardson the IT tutor who was standing by the door but Hiccup stepped forward, his shoulders back and eyes completely locked on hers.
"Clearly not," he said honestly. "I have more talents than I show, Ma'am-and a top of the range computer my Dad got me with everything I could possibly want to create that video. Look-Fish helped me by pulling the videos from social media that other students had self posted-and I took some myself over the last couple of weeks...but he did nothing illegal or even immoral. I, on the other hand, know exactly what I was doing."
"What? Why you scrawny..."
"Pitiful how jealous and pathetic you are, Hicc! You really need to accept that no one wants you…"
"And what was that?" the Principal said sharply, cutting across Snotlout's angry voice and Cameron's cruel sneer. The black-haired boy glared at his cousin and Cameron tossed her hair, unconcerned but Hiccup was rigid, his fists clenched as he faced the teacher.
"I was demonstrating to my cousin and ex-girlfriend that neither of them had made a good choice," he said clearly, his voice tight. "None of the footage I used was doctored in any way, in case you want to ask. These two did exactly what the pictures showed. And I am aware what I did was mean and cruel...but nowhere near as cruel as dumping me in the middle of the canteen by telling me you've been sleeping with my cousin-after saying you've looked at me to see what's in the relationship for you-and because I had just been orphaned and made homeless and penniless, you didn't want me! So all I did was show everyone what treacherous hypocrites two of my former friends were."
"So this was purely for revenge," the Principal said coldly, her eyes boring into Hiccup's. He swallowed.
"I don't regret it," he said too quickly, trying to convince himself. "But though I know my father would not approve, I had to do this."
"And you knew it would cause dissension and distress to your fellow students?" she accused him.
"While two-timing me with my cousin and announcing it in the middle of the canteen doesn't?" Hiccup asked, his voice sarcastic. "No one bothered when it was me being humiliated and heart-broken in view of almost the whole school! And let me say-if they weren't cheating on each other, there would be nothing to say in the first place! But Fishlegs is innocent in this. Let him go." The Principal looked at the terrified husky boy and nodded.
"Thank you, Mr Ingerman-you may go," she said firmly and finally, Fishlegs looked at Hiccup. The auburn-haired boy nodded and the husky boy turned and took off, scuttling out at top speed followed by Mr Halvardson as the Principal turned her baleful glare on Hiccup. "I am impressed you came to the aid of your friend..."
"It was the only thing to do," Hiccup said honestly. "Only a coward allows someone else to take the blame for his actions. I did this."
There was a pause and Hiccup was aware of the shuffling of feet by him, of the harsh angry breaths of the gang and knew he had made this choice when he surrendered his leverage over Thug and Eret...but for now, he was grateful he was in the Principal's Office that may protect him from being attacked straight away.
"It was a low trick and caused pain and distress to others," the Principal said in a low voice. "And your actions were motivated by spite." There was a muffled snigger from Cameron but the cold green eyes of the Principal flicked up and the girl blushed. "But it is apparent that there were equally inappropriate actions by others. Hiccup-you are suspended for two days for causing this." He chewed his lip and nodded, accepting his fate. "But there are others also culpable. Cameron and Rachel-you are suspended for four days for fighting. Snotlout-you have two days' detention. You others-I will be watching your conduct. And remember-I do not care how wealthy your parents are or who your relatives are: I will deal with you solely on your conduct in these walls. Is that clear?"
There was a sullen pause and Hiccup had to bite his tongue to stop himself from reminding them that this was their cue to speak.
"I said-is that clear?" Mala snapped and the sullen teens all mumbled variations on 'Yes, Principal Wing."
"You may leave," the older woman said and the teens turned and left...except Hiccup, who paused at the door. Then he sighed and turned back to the Principal and closed the door. "Hiccup?" she asked and he sighed again.
"Please-can I have a word with you?" he asked in a less certain voice. She nodded and beckoned him closer and he fiddled with his hands before looking up.
"What is troubling you, Hiccup?" the Principal asked him more gently.
"Astrid," he blurted out. "Astrid Hofferson. I-I wonder if you could call Coach Markstrom please? I have information for her..." Mala Wing stared at him calculatingly.
"Are you going to cause trouble, Hiccup?" she asked him directly and he shook his head urgently.
"NO!" he protested vehemently. "Look-I know I haven't done much to make you think anything else of me but Astrid is my friend and I was...terrified when I saw her fall in the soccer match. It was a deliberate act and I knew that-because I had seen Cameron talking with the Meathead Captain at half time." The woman scowled.
"I am aware your relationship with Miss Bogthorpe broke down catastrophically-but your vindictive attitude against her..." she began and Hiccup sagged.
"I was heart-broken, betrayed and humiliated but quite honestly, I was willing to let it go...until she targeted Astrid, who had been kind to me when my parents died," he argued passionately. "And no, it isn't like that but I knew Cameron was behind Dagur attacking Astrid earlier in the term. We all did-and covered for her. But this time, she could have killed Astrid! And I saw the conversation." He took a shuddering breath. "And I have proof." Frowning, the Principal lifted her phone and murmured a few words, nodding before replacing the receiver. Then she looked at the tall, slightly scruffy shape.
"How are you coping?" she asked gently and he looked up, taken by surprise at her kindly tone.
"Um...okay, I guess," he said self-consciously. "I mean, it's kinda hard, losing Mom and Dad and home and...everything..." He stopped speaking because he knew his voice would break if he went any further. He could cope with people being cruel to him-but when people started being kind...he couldn't resort to sass and it just broke him. She stared at him, her expression understanding and he swallowed. "I'm coping, Ma'am," he said more firmly, refusing to meet her eye.
"Have you been offered counselling?" she asked him suddenly and his emerald gaze flicked up.
"Um...no..." he said and frowned. "I mean, our medical insurance was in Dad's name so it ended the moment he died so I...well, I can't afford it..."
"We have a trained counsellor in the school and I think you could benefit from seeing her," the Principal told him gently. "It is your choice, of course, but anything you say to her is confidential and she may help you deal with the emotions you are feeling." He swallowed and wondered what his father would say: he knew his Dad was fiercely independent and reckoned a Haddock should be self-sufficient...but he was also a man who accepted recommendations from people who knew more than he did.
"Um...okay, I guess," he mumbled. "I mean...yes please. I-I think I need the help." Mala smiled and jotted a note on her pad as there was a firm knock on the door.
"Come in!" she called as the door opened and the familiar shape of Coach Markstrom walked confidently in, her eyes widening as she saw the tall shape of Hiccup, standing self-consciously in front of the Principal's desk.
"Principal?" she asked in a low voice. "What can I help you with?" Mala raised an eyebrow and gestured to the self-conscious shape of Hiccup. "Ah. I wanted to thank you for your help on Friday! You were very prompt and decisive and that was excellent first responders' conduct. Have you considered helping the team as a first aider?"
Hiccup blushed and inspected the ground more fiercely.
"Um...no..." he mumbled. "I-I did want to speak to you about Astrid though..." There was a pause as the coach inspected him.
"Speak," she said without preamble and with a sigh, he thumbed on his phone and showed the coach the video they had of Cameron talking with the Meathead Captain. The Coach frowned. "Is that...?" she murmured.
"Cameron? Yes," he confirmed. "Look, she was talking to the Meathead Captain and two minutes later, she takes out Astrid. I don't think it's a coincidence. I know Cameron was furious Astrid was made Captain and Cameron wants that for herself."
"She may just know the girl from previous years," the Coach suggested but Hiccup shook his head.
"It's possible...but I don't think so," he said stubbornly. "Not the way they're talking." A thought struck him. "Is there anyone here who can lip-read?" he asked. "They may be able to tell what they're saying..." Mala leaned forward and lifted her phone.
"Could Anna Kristiansen come to the Principal's Office immediately?" she asked. Eyes widening, Hiccup stared at her.
"Anna?" he mouthed.
"You probably haven't ever seen her hearing aids-because they are top of the range and she always wears her hair down," Mala told the shocked boy. "But she can lip read and sign as well."
"I-I didn't know," he murmured and shame surged through him. Anna had been in his class for over three years and he had never even suspected she had hearing problems. Just shows how self-absorbed I am, he thought with shame. I-I just hope she helps...
They stood in awkward silence as Hiccup connected his phone to the Principal's computer monitor until there was a knock on the door and Anna came in, her eyes widening at the sight of Hiccup. Her green gaze was wary and suspicious, as if he had landed her in trouble-but he shook his head.
"Don't be afraid, Anna-you aren't in any trouble," the Principal said clearly and Hiccup realised that Anna's big green eyes were attentively fixed on the teacher's face. In fact, Anna was always attentive whenever anyone spoke... He blinked and his admiration for the girl grew. "Anna-can you lip read what Cameron and the other girl are saying?" Principal Wing asked and the ginger-haired girl frowned and leaned forward, her eyes locked on the video. She paused the action, then rolled it back, then repeated again.
"I can try..." she said quietly and frowned. "Cami says...all I want you to do is take her out..." she murmured. "The other girl says...how much...and then Cami says...a thousand dollars...Cami nods and then they walk away from one another..." She frowned. "But that can't be right, can it?" She looked up and Hiccup felt his body tense. "Hiccup?"
"Um...I think that may be right," he said worriedly. "Cameron hates Astrid and...well, she isn't willing to play second fiddle to anyone. She expected everything handed to her on a plate." Mala Wing stared at him and the Coach frowned.
"Principal-can you speak with the Head of Meathead Academy and see if she is aware of this...and I will discuss with the Coach of their team," she said grimly. Mala nodded, her eyes icy with anger.
"I will ensure that this is followed through," she promised as the Coach turned back to look at Hiccup.
"Thank you," she said sternly. "That this happens in my team is...shocking. And I clearly cannot keep both if there is this conflict between them..." Hiccup stared at her, aghast, suddenly fearing that he had jeopardised Astrid's place in the team-the soccer team that meant the world to her. He opened his mouth.
"Please, Coach-please you can't even consider expelling Astrid from the team!" he said urgently. "It's her life and she's way better than Cameron and none this is her fault in any way, shape or form! I mean...please..." The Coach reached over and gripped his tense shoulder, her dark eyes amused.
"Hiccup-you do not have to worry," he assured him gently. "Astrid Hofferson is an exceptional player and if I could only choose to keep one player from my current team, she would be the one." Hiccup stared into her face and nodded in sudden embarrassment.
"Um...sorry..." he apologised and looked up to the Principal. "I-er-I should go shouldn't I...?" She nodded.
"I will inform your teachers," she said and he nodded, gathered up his phone and headed for the door. Anna headed after him and she grabbed his arm as they hit the hallway.
"Hiccup?" she asked and he shrugged.
"I got suspended for the video of Snot and Cami," he told her urgently. "Could-could you tell Astrid I'll see her in a couple of days please?"
"Is she in trouble?" the girl asked suspiciously but the boy shook his head with a sigh.
"No, I am," he admitted. "And hopefully this may stop Cami doing anything this stupid again..." She smiled.
"See you later, Hiccup," Anna said. "Finlay told us what you did. Thanks." There was a pause and he shrugged.
"You're welcome," he said, still not confident in what he could say to her. "See ya."
And with that, he walked out of the school.
