Chapter 2

The beeping of her alarm isn't what woke her up, but the sound of her upstairs neighbors practically running back and forth is what did it. She rolled over and checked her alarm. "Ugh, 5:45?" She groaned to herself. The fact that anyone was awake at this hour made her stomach churn. Once she was awake she stays awake was always one thing she wish she could change about herself.

With a few more groans of protest, she decided to make the best of the situation. She stood up and made her way to the restroom to brush her teeth and throw her hair in a quick pony tail. She changed into leggings and a running tank and grabbed her keys and phone and headed on a light morning run.

Summer in Berk was always beautiful every year. The trees and plants had bloomed to life, the summer evenings had this lazy energy about them, but the mornings were made for running. She looked forward to these mornings all winter long. They always made Astrid feel alive, like she could do anything. As she ran through campus she kept getting lost in her thoughts in prepping for her day. She had the student council meeting and her being a sophomore meant she had to make a good impression. Her father always says first impressions are key in being successful. And she had to be successful as "a Hofferson never fails".

There was hardly anyone else out, just a handful of other runners and the occasional party goers completing their weekly walk of shame and heading home after a Saturday night. Out of nowhere her mind drifted back to the night before with Eret and the look he had. She silently thanked the gods that Heather hadn't been there to see that display. But she wondered if her suspicions were true? If so, how in the world is she going to do this? Eret was her friend. There's no way she could loose him as that.

She shook those thoughts out of her head slowing her pace to a light walk to even her breath. The bright orange view behind the tree line suggested the sun was rising. She took off to one of the many trails that lined the outskirts of campus. Feeling like nothing was slowing her down she sprinted and let the air run through her lungs filling her with excitement. Trees lined the uneven path and slight mountains sprinkled the view in the far distance. She could easily become a morning person if all mornings came with a view like this. The top of the hill came into view just as the sun made its appearance for the day. She stood there for a minute paying mind to the spectacular view enjoying the early morning summer breeze. Astrid lived in Berk her whole life, she's seen countless sunrises but they never got old. Not to her.

Knowing it was close to 7 she made her way back to her apartment, stopping by the coffee shop she visited frequently. Familiar 'Good morning Astrid!'s greeted her when she walked in. She gave a polite smile and approached the counter. Lots of people she went to high school with now go to the same university or work and live near the campus. The particular person behind the counter was someone she had some classes with but she could never remember her name.

"Hey Astrid, what can I get for you." The girl behind the counter asked with a slightly too friendly smile.

"Hi. Can I have a medium coffee with cream and sugar?" She returned the smile, trying to put a name with a face. Her hair was covering her name tag. Always her luck.

"You still part of Student Council?" The girl asked. Why was she starting to start a conversation? Astrid was always known as the short one, Heather was the talker.

"Um, yeah. We have a meeting today actually." Not that she needed to know that.

"Oh really? I was thinking of becoming a member. I always wanted too in high school but it seemed to always be the same people every year and I never really knew anyone that closely. My friend Jess is in Student Council for BU, do you know her?" Does she not realize it's 7am? Why is she talking so much?

"The name sounds familiar." She said, even though it didn't. "If you want to come by the meeting is at 9:30, we'll have sign up forms."

"Oh, that would be awesome! I'll try to swing by, I think my break is then. Thanks Astrid!" She said with a huge smile while handing her the coffee.

"Yeah, no problem. See you around." Heading out the door she shook her head. She's never been a huge people person, but she's always known lots of people. When she was Student Council President her senior year the entire school would say hello in the hallway and it always felt odd to her. She usually kept to herself or with Heather and Eret if they were around.

The campus was busier now, she dodged a couple of bicyclist and joggers on the sidewalk. A few more hellos and heys were tossed her direction on her way home. Walking up the flight of stairs to her apartment she noticed someone unlocking the door across from hers from the inside. She didn't even know someone had moved in, how did she miss that? Avoiding more awkward conversation or eye contact she turned to unlock her apartment as quick as possible until she noticed a huge black blur shooting towards her.

"Toothless, no!" A very panicked, nasally voice sounded from the door. Gasping, she spilled her still very hot coffee all over her front. Her back was pushed against her door by the black blur, which she now knows is the biggest black lab she's ever seen putting his paws on her shoulders.

Since a Hofferson "never shows fear", she was a little supposed when the barely audible whimper escaped her throat. She scrunched her face and moved her face to the side and her arms up to move the lab as far from her as she could in preparation for the attach she was 100% sure was coming. She felt warm slobber on her cheek and it took her a moment before she realized the lab, this "Toothless", was licking her face. When she realizes this she can't stop laughing, she moved to pet and scratch the dog to get him off of her. "Toothless, you know that doesn't wash out. Ohh, I-I'm so sorry. I promise he doesn't usually jump on random strangers." The now calmer but still nasally voice sounded much closer now. She looked up and saw a guy close to her age with messy auburn hair trying to calm the dog down as well.

When he looked up she didn't expect his eyes to be so bright. She was suddenly very aware of her messy ponytail and sweaty tank top wishing she had taken the time to at least braid her hair this morning. Or mascara. They stayed looking at each other for a bear longer until a loud bark interrupted them.

"Dah-ah I'm really very sorry about this. He just has a lot of energy, he's really a very good dog. And he's really good at embarrassing me." Auburn said slightly too fast, like he was afraid she would cut him off.

"It's okay, really. Just startled me that's all." Toothless was panting and looking at her now on all fours. She reached over and scratched behind his ears, and he gave an amused bark.

"Yeah, he's good at that too. Startling people, I mean. Not that he makes a habit of it-just he's a bigger dog. People usually are nervous when he's around." Auburn stammered.

"I promise, it's no issue. No harm done." Astrid smiled at him and he returned a slightly crooked smile in return and her heart lurched to her throat.

"Ah, yes well.. we'll be headed off now, sorry about everything, again." He latched a collar on the lab and stated leading him down the stairs. "Well, bud. We know how to make a first impression, huh?" She heard him say under his breath once he thought they were out of earshot.

Realizing she didn't even get his name she had a feeling she would be thinking of auburn and green for the rest of the day.