It was 7:30 and Hiccup was in a frenzy. With all of the unwanted excitement the previous evening he had forgotten to finish his Math assignment. Luckily, he only had a few questions to finish. Hunched over his book and paper, he worked the problems carefully. Gods, it felt like a Math test from Valhalla. His head ached from the lack of sleep, and he couldn't keep focused to complete one problem without becoming distracted.

At first the thumping of footsteps increasing the hallway distracted him. Then, someone accidentally tripping over his crutches, nearly causing said person to fall right on top of him. Even after he murmured "Sorry" he had received a dirty look from the boyfriend of the girl who tripped over them. To be truthful, she wasn't watching where she was walking. And, Hiccup practically had himself and the crutches pinned against his supporting wall. Then, it was the booming voice of the assistant principal hollering at a few wayward teens who had apparent stolen a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom and started flinging it around the neighboring hallway.

"Uggg," escaped Hiccup's mouth when he completed the last problem. He didn't even care if they were right. He didn't go back and recheck it. For once in his life, he didn't care. Just as long as he deemed it 'done,' that would have to do for today.

His face buried in his hands, he welcomed the moment of darkness just to regroup himself. Even if he was in a busy hallway.

He felt movement beside him, and he smelled lavender. Astrid.

Blinking himself back into reality, he turned to his left and was met with her blue eyes. She gave a weak smile, but it left as soon as she registered his outward appearance.

"You- you look awful!"

"Gee, thanks," he said dryly.

"No - I mean - I am sorry," she stammered. He knew she was concerned that he'd been up all night dealing with the pain throbbing in his leg from the hike.

"No," he sighed. "I'm sorry - just a long night."

"How much sleep did you get?" she asked.

"Obviously, not enough," he said, cuddling his math book against his chest. He could feel himself crumbling suddenly, but blinked, snapping himself back to reality. He turned to her, and the smell of lavender crossed his nose again. Her hair was damp and pulled into a long braid over her shoulder. He was not used to seeing her wearing her glasses, but she looked pretty just the same. She was dressed in a nice blouse with a thin, spring sweater that did not button. She looked so pretty.

He wanted to tell her about his bombshell - but then was not the time. He knew this. He needed easily an hour of her time. It would have to wait until later that evening. That is, if they had time that evening to spend together.

While he helped himself up to stand, without he asking, she packed his math book up into his backpack for him. Silently, they walked down the hallway towards his first class. The students were buzzing around, unusually more active than they had been as of late for a Monday. Hiccup decided it had to be because the weather was getting nicer, and perhaps everyone else was going stir-crazy just as much as he felt.

Astrid stopped just outside the doorway of his classroom and turned to look at him. She sighed, and reached her hand up to smooth his unruly banks to the side a bit. Gods, her touch felt amazing. He felt himself leaning into the palm of her hand, and for a moment he could feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

"Hiccup - "

He'd bee caught, and he blinked them back a bit. Astrid eyes looked at him intently.

"What's wrong?" she asked him.

He gave a weak smile, and went to speak, but his breath caught in his throat. He recovered.

"Can - Can we talk later today?"

"You know this - lunch - "

"No," he breathed. "Can we go for a drive?"

She eyed him curiously. "I have track practice after school."

He knew this. After-all, he'd been on the team once before. Since sixth grade up until this year. Their teammates asked him to come back but he knew it wouldn't be any good right now. His stump still wasn't strong enough to withstand that kind of intensity.

"Afterwards then?" He thought he managed to blink the water away finally.

She nodded. "Want me to come pick you up from home?"

He shook his head. "No - " The bell rang in their ears, indicating it was time to head towards classrooms. " - I'll wait around."

She nodded to him, and turned away, the look on her face told him she didn't want to leave him alone like this.

"I'll see you at lunch," he breathed. He leaned in, kissed her cheek, and turned away before he could hold her up more.

...

The morning dragged on. Each period seemed to feel as though the time had doubled. Hiccup mentally cursed himself for his lack of sleep, wishing his mind would have shut down. He was having a difficult time paying attention in his classes. He felt the teachers eyeing him more-so than usual. Of course, there were days he felt that they were simply because of what had happened to him the previous summer. His therapist had told him before that most of it was in his imagination, his overthinking mind playing tricks on him. But - he couldn't help it.

The students still stared. They did less after the first few weeks he'd been able to wear his prosthetic to school. He'd been able to blend in easier once he'd been cleared to wear it more. Days like today, when the leg was not attached and replaced with a set of crutches, he received curious stares. He'd let everyone make their own thoughts about him. He'd tried to train himself to block out their stares, and also not think about their illusive thoughts about his situation. Depending on how good of a day he was having, this had gotten easier over time.

He'd caught his mind wondering more than once during class. He'd muffled out the voice of his teachers as they lectured, hearing the "Wha-wha-wha" like the adults in Charlie Brown. Blinking rapidly a few times, he forced himself to stay awake.

During lunch, he and Astrid met in the art room. Surprisingly, Fish hadn't come sit at their table with them. A text to him and a response back proved he'd stayed at home from school that day, apparently fighting the flu bug that had been going around.

After they laid out their lunch, Astrid sliding him a piece of her grandmother's homemade chocolate cake, she sighed and said, "Now, what's troubling you?"

Hiccup sighed, and shook his head. He was expecting this.

"Not here, please." At this, he was unable to meet her eyes.

She rolled her eyes, annoyed he wouldn't talk about it, but dropped the subject.

By the time he made it to his final class, English, he was an internal basket case. Eventually, he registered his knee bouncing up and down, a visual of how he was feeling inside. Finally, the bell rang, and he moved to put his books away into his book bag. He heard someone approach, and he looked up to see who it was.

Snotlout was standing there, giving him an awkward smile.

"Hi, Hiccup," he said.

"Um - hey, Snotlout," he said, faking a smile. The guy has been Hiccup's biggest bully. Lately, he'd been friendlier towards Hiccup, but not exactly his best friend at all. They nodded to each other when they'd pass in the hallways now, Astrid would wave at him when they were passing to be friendly. The guy was still doing community service from the accident a few months ago that he'd had with Astrid.

In all honesty, he really needed to appreciate Snotlout a little bit more. After all, because of his stupidity, the event was the full reason why Astrid and he were even dating. The one, mess-filled night had brought she and him together. The last few months had been the best days for Hiccup.

"Can I get your bag for you?" Snoutlout asked him. Immediately the words clearly pained the boy's face, and Hiccup couldn't help but laugh a little. "Stop it!"

"I'm sorry, Snotlout," Hiccup said. "Came across to me a little too nice. Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

Mr. Bryce had looked up from his stack of papers on his desk. The man knew Snotlout and Hiccup had a history together.

"Um - no. I was wondering - could you tutor me on the lesson a bit?"

Hiccup felt surprise wash over him. The adrenaline rush felt as though it sucked out a large chunk of his internally battery.

"Come again?"

"Here - " Snotlout said, and he grabbed the top of Hiccup's bag and motioned towards the door. "Let's walk and talk, I know you need to catch your bus."

Even Mr. Bryce glanced over at Hiccup at this gesture, and Hiccup nodded to him, indicating he was all right. The man always looked as though the wolves had beaten him up prior to chewing him and spitting him out by the end of the day. His glasses were a little eschew, and Hiccup felt a little guilty seeing the little bits of the teacher's own energy waiting at the sidelines for possibly being tapped in to a fight.

"Have a good evening, Mr. Bryce," Hiccup said to him as he positioned himself on his crutches.

"You boys do the same," Mr. Bryce replied, his tone somewhat low. Hiccup could tell he was keeping his eye on Snotlout.

Hiccup followed Snotlout down the hallway before finally catching up to him towards the end.

"So - what do you need help with regarding 'Wuthering Heights?" Hiccup asked him gently.

Snotlout turned to him and grunted.

"I don't need help," he said coldly.

Hiccup felt his face scrunch up in misunderstanding. "Wait, then why -"

"I was asked to give this to you," he said gently, holding out an envelope towards him. "Please, don't read it here."

Hiccup felt absolutely confused. "Um - "

"Just take it!" Snotlout said urgently, shoving it towards him. With that, he dropped the back pack onto the floor, and slumped away.

Hiccup blinked multiple times in shock. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Glancing down at the envelope in his hand, the outside of it said "Hiccup Vast" in pretty, loopy cursive. Hiccup wanted to open the mystery envelope then, but thought better of it. He needed to go to his locker and exchange his books. Situating himself with his backpack, he headed towards his locker.

The mystery envelope burned in the corner of his mouth as he headed towards the exit. Astrid had slipped him the keys to her SUV at lunch so that he could make himself comfortable inside the car while he waited for her to get done with track practice. He decided to throw his crutches and bag into the back while he climbed into the passenger side.

He felt as though he'd been holding his breath. Letting it out slowly, he stuck his finger into the fold and ripped the top off. He could see a paper folded up inside. Pulling it out gently, he realized that a photograph had been enclosed as it slipped from the paper back into the envelope.

The photograph became more important to see suddenly, and he pulled it from the envelope to see what it was.

The photograph was older, and the edges were a little worn from being handled, perhaps shuffled around inside someone's drawer...or a suitcase. Hiccup recognized a younger version of his father, his red hair cut short, his tie loosely hanging over his shoulders. He was leaning over a hospital bed, smiling from ear to ear at the camera. A woman was sitting upright, holding a small bundle wrapped in a blanket. Her hair was a little frizzy, and her braid was untidy. The little bundle she was holding was that of a small baby, tubes leading from the small bundle.

Hiccup studied the picture, and could sense his heart was racing. The small bundle was him. He'd spend weeks in the hospital after his birth. He hadn't exactly known the details, but he could see that he'd been on oxygen and an apparent IV or a feeding tube since there was another tube leading from the bundle that led to another machine.

Hiccup's eyes went to rest on the imagine of his mother. She had a very kind smile, and even friendlier eyes.

Why would Snotlout have this in his possession?

His attention was drawn back to the envelope letter in his hands. With shaky fingers, he opened the letter up to read:

To Hiccup:

I've started hundreds of letters over the past several years. But, I was too much of a coward send them to home. The ones I did finish I have kept selfishly to myself. The ones that went unfinished hoard my guilty tears and have disappeared into the mysteries of this world.

I am sure you have questions that your father cannot answer, that you cannot wrap your head around. My son, I never meant to leave you this long. Over the years, it was easier to know you were safe and happy than to come back and start down the already beaten path. I dreamed to come down that pathway towards you, hoping to fix those bumps over the years that I have created, that life threw at you over the years. Whether it be because of a bully at school, or the thought of your father working too hard that he missed out on one of your baseball games...I don't even know if you enjoy baseball...or growing up without your mother that you may or may not care to be there for you.

I was the weak one, Hiccup. I couldn't fight my way through the depression to properly take care of you. I wanted to, but I simply couldn't. Nothing I do now will take back the past. And, by this point I am sure you are aware that I have come back to Berk. If you are not, well - I am sorry you are finding out this way.

I have been back for roughly a week at this point. I have driven past the house hoping to get a glimps of the young man I carried. I know I shouldn't have been that close to the house - but I have longed to see you.

The last thing I want to do is take your father to court - and drag you into the court room in a feeble attempt to force my way into your life. Your father may or may not know this yet, but I am backing away. I realize that right now, again, it is easier to stay away than to start down the broken road towards you.

I want you to know that I love you. I always will. Someday, honey, I hope that we will be able to see each other. There is nothing in this world that I want more than to catch up with you, see how you've groan, and

Hiccup turned the letter over, but there was no more. He narrowed his eyes in confusion, and check the envelope again for the next page. But, there was no more.

More questions than answers came to Hiccup's mind. Suddenly, he felt the tears coming to his eyes. He was at his breaking point. The lack of sleep and confusion was catching up on him. His fuse was growing a little short, and he needed to force himself to calm down before he could continue to think clearly.

With shaking hands, he reached into his pocket for his cell phone and called his father, hoping he would answer.

Surprisingly, he did.

"Hey, kiddo - "

"Dad - "

He knew his father picked up on the shakiness in his voice simply hearing that one word. Hiccup suddenly remembered how he sounded when he was talking to his father when he was in the hospital - all doped up on Morphine to help with the pain, wanting his father to be there when he felt scared and alone.

"Hiccup - what's wrong?"

"Well - " Hiccup was squeezing the letter in his sweaty hand tightly. "I - I think Mom was writing me a letter."

"Wait - you think she was?"

"Yeah - Snotlout gave it to me at school and - "

"Hold on, hold on - did I hear you say Snotlout gave you the letter?"

"Yes."

"And - wait, Hiccup, what sort of letter?"

"It's just - my mother, I guess. She started a letter to me, apologizing for her being gone - and - it's not even a full letter. There's this picture that she had in it and - "

"What picture?"

Hiccup could hear the desperation in his father's voice now.

"A picture of - of our family at the hospital. Maybe - the day I was born - I don't know." This prompted Hiccup to turn the photograph over to see if there was a date on it. Sure enough, the date just days after Hiccup was born. "Yeah - it's when I was born."

"Hiccup, where are you?" Mr. Vast asked.

"Sitting in Astrid's car, and - "

"You aren't at home?"

"No - I'm at the school."

"Why are you at the school?" The rise in his father's voice was noted.

"I'm waiting on Astrid to get done with track."

"Did you miss your bus?"

Hiccup felt somewhat angry. He'd text his father shortly after asking Astrid if they could meet up after school. His father hadn't responded, but had read the text. And, at least he did tell his father what he was doing.

"I told you what I was going after school - "

"Hiccup, I want you to go home after school unless we discuss this prior. Now, you wait wherever you are - I am coming to pick you up."

"Dad - "

"No!" Mr. Vast said. "Don't move. I am on my way to get you."

With that, Hiccup hung up the phone and tossed it to the neighboring seat. He felt angry, hurt, and more alone than he had in the last several months.