Chapter: Accelerating with Hiccup
"A test?" Hiro asked. It was the next morning but he was still coming down from the high of late-night markets and carnival rides, Hiro still felt like he was spinning. He should have known something was wrong. Hiccup had been giving him looks ever since he won that ring toss game, and Jack was more than happy to let him get on ride after ride despite the late hour. When they had returned to the apartment it was almost midnight.
"If your classwork is too easy it might be better to go to a higher level." Hiccup said, sliding eggs onto Hiro's plate.
Jack sipped his coffee. "Are you bored at school?"
Hiro opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. "I...Isn't everyone bored at school?"
"But do you feel challenged at all?" Hiccup questioned him, sitting at the table.
"It might be okay now, but you don't want things to be that way forever right?" Jack said. "YEARS of this stuff? Besides, it can't hurt to try right?"
Hiro looked at them both, chewing. "I...guess.."He swallowed. "I'll do it..."
'Just...Don't be disappointed.'
"Do you want me to come upstairs with you?" Hiccup asked, cutting the engine.
Hiro stared at the school building. All acceleration testing for the area took place at Burgess High School. After doing research the day after their visit to the market, it turned out they had only the following weekend to sign Hiro up or testing. It was now or never. Or rather, next year.
"Just... To the door maybe?"
Hiccup could practically see the nervous energy radiating off of the child. He bit back a smile. "Okay." He unbuckled his seatbelt.
Hiro let himself out of the car, his sneakers sloshing against leaves and rain-soaked cement.
Of course, it had to be a miserable, rainy Saturday morning. Hiccup had tried to brighten things up with his favorite breakfast, Jack had offered a few encouraging words before rushing off to the store...but Hiro still felt a sinking feeling as he and Hiccup entered the nearly empty building.
After passing the security guard, Hiccup made a beeline to the left.
His eyes raked over the walls with a sense of familiarity. It reminded Hiro of the look Jack had on his face the other day when he looked at Burgess Middle. But whereas Jack's face was wistful, Hiccup's gaze was full of mirth.
"You and Jack went here right?"
"Yeah…" Hiccup's eyes raked over a board full of upcoming events. "It's funny. It seems like it wasn't that long ago I was running to class or dragging art supplies for Tooth…" He smiled. "Even though it felt like a nightmare, those were some of the best times I've ever had."
He stopped at the elevator.
A sign covered in old plastic, read 'STAFF ONLY' was stuck to the doors. But Hiccup ignored it and pressed the button. There was a hum, and the elevator door slid open. There in the elevator car, sat an old man on a chair.
Hiccup'd eyebrows rose in surprise. "Long time no see. Jack thought you would still be here."
His words received no reply, but Hiccup continued. "Let my kid ride with you, okay?"
The old man reached for the floor buttons, his gaunt arm trembling.
Hiro entered the elevator reluctantly. "Three please."
Hiccup stepped back from the elevator car. "I'll be back when the test is over. Call me if you need me."
"Okay." Hiro nodded as the door began to close. "See you later!"
It wasn't long before the door was open, Hiro was down the hall, and signing in for his exam.
He was one of a small handful of kids, all between the ages of ten and fourteen- testing in the hopes of moving anywhere between 1 and 5 grades up. With the test being short notice, Hiccup went over as much as they could in an afternoon...Some math, grammar, a little biology.
On his own, he spent an hour or three under the covers analyzing sample booklets and common questions online-Maybe it had not been the best idea, but he'd rather be safe than sorry.
At best Hiro thought he would move up to seventh or eighth grade. He wanted Hiccup and Jack's interest in his education to pay off somehow, even if it was one or two years less of school. After all, didn't adults love to boast about their kids?
North already enjoyed parading him around the department store like he was some shiny new toy. He felt the need to earn some of that adoration. So he answered everything he could...Far outside of the requirements. In his fervor, he had half-listened to the instructions spoken when the testing began, which made what happened next all the more surprising.
It was the following Friday when Jack entered the house with a stack of mail, looking more jovial than he had in days. Hiro was watching television in the living room while Hiccup sketched at the dining table. They both looked up as Toothless trotted towards Jack.
"Guess what I've got?" Jack wore a familiar mischievous grin, and Hiccup's eyes went to the mail bundle.
Jack dropped the bundle on the table with an audible splat. It might as well have been a death knell as far as Hiro was concerned. He slipped off the couch, perhaps too quickly, and regained his footing before heading for the table.
Jack waved the envelope. "You wanna do the honors?"
With a wince, Hiro took the envelope. He flipped it over. The seal over the envelope fold seemed to taunt him. 'Rip it off.' Hiro told himself. 'Like a bandaid.'
Under Hiccup and Jack's gaze Hiro tore the envelope open and pulled out the results.
When he didn't read anything out loud, Hiccup peered over his shoulder.
"Don't leave us in suspense!"Jack clasped a hand on Hiro's shoulder as he took a look for himself.
"Suggested placement…" Hiro blinked twice. "Ninth grade or higher?"
"That's..."Hiccup began.
"Awesome!" Jack beamed.
"So...I could go to High School?" Hiro asked, voice cracking with surprise.
"I thought you were testing from level one to three." Hiccup stared at the results.
"Yeah. Well, I was kinda nervous so I just answered everything-" Hiro looked over at Jack who was on the phone. "Who are you calling?"
"Dad! He's gonna be so excited-Hello?"
Hiccup continued to stare at the results as if they held the secrets of life. Their ten-year-old child was smart and that was great. But high school?
While Jack gushed about the achievement and North babbled with pride, Hiccup was left to retreat further into the kitchen.
"Hic?" Jack's voice was soft, his breath tickling the back of Hiccup's neck. Hiccup nearly jumped out of his skin.
"What's wrong?"
"Wh-What makes you think something is wrong?"
Jack crossed his arms. "You've been staring at the sink for a while now."
"I..." He looked across the room.
Hiro had entered the livingroom and was still on the phone with North.
"That..." Hiccup gave Jack an incredulous look. "High school, Jack?"
"Yeah. It's pretty cool-"
"He's ten, Jack." Hiccup lowered his voice, and cast a cautionary glance towards the living room. Hiro was waving at North from the window. Hiccup looked back at Jack.
"Do you remember high school? Because I sure do, and I don't think that's the right environment for a ten-year-old!"
"Hic, come on it wasn't that bad..."
"Jackson Overland don't you dare tell me it wasn't that bad." Hiccup pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Do you remember how we became friends? Because I vividly remember that night and everything that came after."
"That's a little unfair, Hic. I was messed up way before high school."
"Jack..." Hiccup's shoulders sagged. "That's not what I was-"
"Is something wrong?" Hiro asked.
Jack leaned against the counter, arms still crossed. "Nope."
'Great...' Hiccup stared at the ceiling. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just...gonna borrow Jack for a second."
With that, he dragged Jack towards the bedroom. Not sure how to respond, Hiro returned to the living room again. As he turned on a movie, he cast an occasional glance towards the hallway. He didn't hear any shouting. That was good...Right?
"I didn't mean that you were-" Hiccup began.
"I know what you meant." Jack reached for his hand."I wasn't good with dealing with pressure back then, and I was spiraling at that point. You think it's going to be too much for him?"
"He's just a kid," Hiccup said, entwining Jack's hand with his. "He'll be the youngest kid in the school. What if no one wants to be his friend? What if he thinks he always has to have the best grades? I.." He squeezed Jack's hand. "I don't want him to grow up so fast."
"I don't want that either Hiccup." Jack pulled him closer. "But we told him to try. I don't want him to have to settle when he can do something great. Today it's highschool but tomorrow it could be, I don't know anything! I don't want him to be just a smart kid. I want him to go do something."
"I...I just don't want him to burn out." Hiccup rubbed his arm. "Just...If he gets overwhelmed, can we put him back in a regular school?"
"If that happens, we'll be there for him. He can go to whatever school he chooses. Whatever grades he gets, that's fine. But we have to let him try things."
Hiccup heaved a heavy sigh. "I can't believe this."
Jack cupped Hiccup's face in his hands. "He's going to be fine, Hiccup. We're going to be right there, the entire time. And when he graduates from Harvard at 16, and then finds the cure for the common cold at 20 we're gonna be even more proud, okay?"
Hiccup grimaced. "I don't know about Harvard...
"Princeton?" Jack suggested.
Hiccup leaned his forehead against Jack's shoulder. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Quick update this time. Thanks for dropping by.