FINALLY AN UPDATE! HOPE YOU ENJOY!
Chapter 11: Separate Ways
Normal
The warmer-than-usual temperatures of Berk convinced the boy to remove his green top and toss it across the room. The bedsheet rippling slightly was the only sign of the cloth landing from its unexpected flight, but the lithe figure has his focus on a tiny object he had placed on the wooden table, and sat down, his right hand ruffling the mop of auburn hair that has grown back the past few months.
Green eyes stared at the tiny box, closely examining every thread of the velvet cloth that coated the outer layer of the cube. Despite the warm white light illuminating the room, the black fabric remained one of the few items which were not coated in the yellow lights
Slim fingers gently opened the case by flipping the top half of the cover to the back, and green eyes widened whilst lips curved up to form a lopsided smile.
Closing the lid, he turned his attention to the white shirt hanging behind his door, and his slender fingers picked up a brush from a water-filled cup made of a plastic bottle cut at its waist.
*RING* *RING* *RING*
The sound of his mobile phone caught his attention, placed back the brush into the makeshift cup before fishing out his phone from his bag the moment he saw the caller ID. Thumb clicking onto the green phone button, the boy placed the phone near his ear as he answered the call, clearing his throat in the process.
"Hoose ay Haddock 'spikin." His voice was deep, imitating his father's thick Scottish accent and low but booming voice. "Hoo can Ah help ye?"
oOo
The wind slapping him in the fast did little to nothing to slow the boy down as the bicycle moved as fast as his legs could pedal, his thoughts absentmindedly tracing back the call he just received five minutes ago.
He remembered his ear registering the sound of stifled sniffings instead of the usual giggles he received whenever he attempted to pull off an impression of Stoick. Brown brows knitted together the same as when he picked up the phone, remembering the unexpected sadness that came from the caller.
"H-Hi-Hiccup? Where are you?"
Replaying the two questions at the back of his mind had Hiccup tucking his elbows to his side as he bent his upper body lower, trying to push through the wind resistance in order to pick up the pace.
Leaning his body to the left to shift his weight on the bicycle at a tight corner, he straightened up but quickly swerved his bicycle to the left as he dodged a car approaching from the other direction. The driver made his thoughts very clear as he lowered the window and raised his middle finger.
"HEY! WATCH DA' ROAD AT NIGHT, IDIOT!"
Even then he paid no heed to the expletives and long honk that followed, his mind was focused on one thing. What happened?
Eventually green eyes saw the park in the middle of the neighbourhood, lit up by the surrounding streetlights. As he got closer, his eyes caught sight of a figure with an unmistakable blonde braid sitting at the bench just next to the walkway leading into the park. He picked up pace immediately, getting off the two-wheeler as soon as he reached one of the fences. Not even bothered to lock the kickstand in place, he leaned his bicycle onto the black fence for support and raced towards the bench where the figure had been seated.
Hiccup slowed himself down to a few overstrides when he was closer to the bench, his eyes on the girl sitting on the bench. She was in a blue sleeveless and dark red shorts, but all the boy noticed that she was hugging her knees to her chest and her body trembled slightly, which he guessed was from crying. His eyes and lips narrowed slightly, brows knitting together again as he sat next to the girl.
Astrid…
Hiccup took the time to look at the blonde girl next to him and noticed that her eyes were red and braid a little disheveled. He was about to speak when Astrid opened her mouth to break the silence first.
"I-I've always b-be-b-been about getting the scholarship."
Her voice was hoarse, and her speech was erratic. Hiccup opened his mouth to speak, but no words came from his throat. Astrid took this as a sign to continue.
"Since y-yo-young I studied and par-participated in all those activities and c-c-competitions, just to get to m-make Uncle Finn p-proud."
Her breathing became more erratic at the mention of her beloved uncle, and Hiccup picked up that she began sniffing again. Without hesitation he pulled his green shirt over his head, effectively removing it, and instantaneously he felt Berk's air wrapping itself around his now exposed lithe upper body. Despite the air being warmer than the other nine months, it was still cold but Hiccup steadied his breathing and his body to try and prevent himself from shivering.
Not gonna look weak now. Not in front of Astrid. Especially not now…
He handed his shirt to her, and she grabbed it as quickly as her trembling hands allowed her to. Just as quickly, Astrid brought the shirt to her face and blew her nose into the fabric.
Wait, I have tissue… Well done, Hiccy. You're not weak, but you're an idiot…
It was a few moments of silence, but to Hiccup it felt like an eternity. At last, he found his voice to speak.
"Astrid, no matter which college you get, there is something I want to tell you."
Her voice was strained, but Astrid managed to reply. "Please d-do-don't tell me that y-you l-like me n-now"
Hiccup slowly turned his head away from Astrid, deciding to look at the tiles in front of his friend.
"You…" he began, "probably knew that a while ago."
"T-then, w-what is it you want to say to me?"
Green eyes turned to look at the girl before Hiccup snapped his head forward. His mind scrambled for a response. The problem was that he could not think of one to calm Astrid as much as he wanted to.
Realizing his mind came up blank, Hiccup turned to face Astrid again, who was still breathing unsteadily and her body still shook. Slowly, he raised his right hand and placed it on her back, gently moving in a downward motion from below her shoulder blades to just above her back.
oOo
Hiccup
"Don't come back a dad so soon, Snot."
"Shut it, Hiccup."
I smiled as I watched Snotlout face turned from excitement to annoyance. The results for our National College Entry Exams have been released, and everyone was set on separate ways.
Snot soon crossed his arms in front of his chest before turning his head to face the ferry behind him. Taking a deep breath, the stocky boy picked up the luggage next to him and stepped onto the boat. Settling in as best he could, he turned around to look at the person standing to my left.
"Wait for me, Astrid. I'll come back for you, babe."
"Hel will light up in flames before that happens, Snotlout."
My attempt at holding back a laugh at Astrid's remark turned into a snort, earning a glare from Snotlout and a pair of blue eyes rolling in response.
Her eyes… the way they glitter…
The horn from the ferry cut my thoughts short, as it began to set sail. And as the boat left the port, the unmistakable loud chant of "SNOTLOUT! SNOTLOUT! OY! OY! OY!" could be heard.
Again, I smiled. Snotlout's parents had decided to send Snotlout to one of the universities in Britain since they felt it was the easiest way for him to achieve his dreams of becoming a rugby player in the Premiership instead of starting in the ARC. Part of me reasons with myself that Uncle Spitelout just wants his son to learn to be more independent.
The only time Scrotelout is independent is when he is off his clothes.
"What are you smiling at?"
I snapped my head around to see Astrid looking at me, curiosity written all over her face as she tried to figure out why I had a smile plastered to my face. Immediately my mind recalled the night at the park, and my face fell slightly.
"Nothing much."
She nodded in response and turned her attention to the sea as both of us remained at the port, waiting for her ferry to arrive. Astrid was offered to study Sports Science at Bog University, which was on the Isle of Bog, another island a few hundred miles from Berk.
Well, you have no idea what job there is for a sports science student. But it's Astrid, she'll kill it no matter what she does.
Can you shut up?
Oh? You want to enjoy the awkward silence you two are in now is it?
Intending to shut my thoughts up, I fished out a small brown paper bag from my black travel bag, gently nudged Astrid's shoulder.
Her head turned and blue eyes looked down and noticed the paper bag, before snapping back up with curiosity written all over them once again.
"They're for you," for some Thor forsaken reason I struggled to find the words. "Drew one of them myself. Not really my finest work, but I think it's okay."
Her face lit up slightly as she smiled. "Thanks."
Her eyes…
Reasons unknown, I felt my hand scratching the back of my neck and my attention shifted and my eyes snapped away from Astrid. I'm not feeling nervous, am I?
Who knows? You sounded like a creep.
Seeing the ferry appearing just at the horizon, I took a deep breath as I attempted to gain confidence.
"Astrid." And again she turned her head to look at me. "Can you promise me something?"
The ground was getting really interesting and my eyes darted down before I continued. "Don't let other boys get to you too soon after you go to college?"
As soon as I said it, I lifted my head slightly and I thought I saw a slight hint of red on Astrid's cheeks as she quickly turned her head away to look at the approaching ferry. A smile formed on her face and I noticed the grip her fingers had around the paper bag tightened at the edge of my view as she formed her reply.
"What are you talking about?"
Next time on Crushing on You: "Hi, my name is…"
HEY GUYS! how long's it been? 6 months? 1 year? TBH I dun really remember, AND I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO UPDATE THIS STORY! Too many things happened in my life recently and drained me off any time or joy in doing what I loved the past few... months...
But then I got my butt back and decided to finish at least one chapter for "Crushing on You" and FINALLY... just FINALLY I'm done with this Chap.
HOPE YOU LOVED THIS CHAP! lots of love, LaidEffect.