Hiccup heard the front door open and close in his drowsy state. He'd fallen asleep a little while ago, hoping when he'd woken up he'd somehow miraculously have made some type of recovery. He could tell, as he took in a breath, that his ribs were still going to plague him. Holding back a wince, he opened his eyes to see Astrid slowly approaching him. He caught sight of his father ducking out of the entryway and over towards the kitchen.
"Hey," she said quietly, as though if she spoke too loudly he'd begin to fracture.
"Hi," he said just as quietly, although this was because his voice had cracked from non-use.
She took a seat on the footrest to the love-seat just across from him. He could see her practically sizing up his physical state.
"Astrid, I have been through worse," he informed her, attempting to push himself up a little bit in the chair.
"I know," she breathed. "I still feel bad, though."
He breathed a chuckle. "You didn't do this."
"I don't particularly think you deserved this yourself," she replied.
Struggling, he reached over towards his cell phone to glance at the time. He'd somehow found sleep for the last few hours. It was close to seven in the evening. Darkness was almost completely present outside. He narrowed his eyes at the large window.
"Have you eaten?" he asked her.
"Y-yeah," she said quietly. "Dad and I went out to dinner at Applebee's. Mom is with Grandma. And, he asked if I wanted to stop by while he ran an errand. We might have an hour or so…"
He realized she'd text him twice since he'd fallen asleep. One, asking how he was, and two, to see if he was up for company. He assumed either she or her father had gotten a hold of his to confirm it was all right.
He studied her more, now that he was awake. He looked for any bumps and bruises, or scratches along her exposed skin, which was not much at all considering she was wearing a hoodie and a pair of jeans.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Making sure you are all right," he said, leaning his head back, concluding this.
"I'm not hurt if that is what you are wondering," she said, pulling her braid over her shoulder.
"Yeah - that is what I was making sure of."
"I promise you, I have been through worse - "
"Astrid - " he breathed. She chuckled slightly, and he couldn't help but give her a small grin.
Now, another concerned came to mind. He bit the inside of his cheek, but decided to ask.
"Astrid, can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"Did - did you get suspended from school - "
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I - I don't think so. Why?…" Realization dawned on her face. "No!?"
"Shhhhh - " he said, placing a hand up to her. He was relieved when she grasped it tightly.
"That wasn't even on school grounds - "
"I know, I know - " Hiccup said, interrupting her. "Dad is going to go to the school and try to figure out. I am trying not to worry too much."
"That is so unfair," Astrid said. "You didn't start that fight - "
"It'll work out," Hiccup said. "I don't honestly think I would be as worried if I knew exactly where I am going to end up. I still am waiting to hear from the schools…" Even though Hiccup had applied to three different colleges, and had a few schools on his list to try to fall back on, he still had not heard from any of them. The only issue he could honestly think of as to why he hadn't heard from anyone, was because of his lack of extracurriculars the last two years. Astrid had already heard from at least one school on her list, which wasn't her top choice. But, she was holding out for her top choice…which was where Hiccup had wanted to go as well.
Suddenly, Hiccup's father appeared around the corner from the kitchen. "Katherine brought over some ice cream earlier. Would you two like a bowl?"
Astrid turned to Hiccup, and he nodded. "I'd love some. It's mint chip."
"That sounds good," she responded.
"Would you like some hot fudge, too?" Mr. Vast asked. He knew Hiccup did.
She smiled. "That sounds good."
"Hiccup, do you need anything else before I go scoop?"
Hiccup nodded. "I'd like to go sit on the couch." He eyed Astrid for a second. He wanted to sit close to her. His father probably already figured this out as well.
"Do you want me to help you?" Astrid asked.
"Uh, let Dad." It wasn't that Hiccup didn't trust Astrid to help him. But, he knew with the rib pain he'd been a little more edgy than normal. And, without the prosthetic or a crutch, if Hiccup needed a little more help his father could support him better.
After Hiccup was settled on the couch, Astrid sat down to join him, and Mr. Vast left and returned with ice cream. They spooned themselves some, and sat together for a few minutes.
"Where did you end up at last night?" Hiccup asked her, swallowing his second bite. "I turned to check on you, and you were gone."
She swallowed her spoonful. "After we were separated, my father showed up at the scene, and you'd just left in the ambulance. Dad took my phone for a few hours - "
"Dad just gave mine back a few hours ago, too."
She nodded. "He asked about what happened, and - well, um - "
Hiccup could see her hesitate. "You couldn't really tell him, could you?"
She shook her head. "Hiccup - what exactly happened? Like - "
Silence separated them for a moment, and Hiccup abandoned the ice cream he was eating. He knew now he could have prevented anyone else getting tied up in the middle.
"I should have told Heather what Brock was doing last week - but I didn't…"
"Brock was the reason why you have that black eye, right? I mean, I could only assume it was he or Rudy."
"Brock's the one that hit me…" He told her about the previous week, how he'd wanted to protect Heather and keep Sage out of the mix with he and Brock as much as he could.
"Why didn't you tell me it was Brock?" Astrid asked. "It would have been easier to tell me and we could have dealt with it together."
"Astrid, what would you have done? If I had told you who actually hurt me in the school bathroom, what would you have done?"
The look on her face, realization hitting her, he could see she had no idea.
"I appreciate you wanting to defend me," he said. He gave her a small smile. "You tried, but Brock - he's like a wall. Add Rudy, it's just hard to play defense."
She nodded, understanding.
"I'll heal up. I just don't want my grades to suffer. I need to stay in school."
"Hiccup, how are you going to get around your classes?" she asked.
"There's always a wheelchair and the elevator." He sighed. "But, I think, if they let me still work on my assignments and don't actually suspend me, I might see if I can stay home until I get a little more stable. Let the ribs heal, then get back to school. I can't go on my crutches, and…." He trailed off. Truth was, he was realizing going back to school and attending physically was not going to be a wise choice.
They sat together for another thirty minutes or so, before Mr. Hofferson knocked on the door to collect his daughter. Hiccup had to force himself to make eye contact with him, feeling equally embarrassed about his condition and also feeling as though Astrid was always in the middle of trouble when he was around. However, Mr. Hofferson came in and sat down for few minutes with him, asked him how he was feeling, and wanted to know who'd actually made contact with Brock's nose again.
"That was Sage," Hiccup said. "Definitely not myself."
"I owe that kid a burger," Mr. Hofferson said with a wink. "I don't tolerate someone picking on or attacking someone else…self defense, however…" He trailed off. And, gave Hiccup another wink again.
"Dad, enough," Astrid said, and they heard both their fathers share a laugh.
"Stoick, do you remember when Spitelout Jorgenson started throwing his open chew bottles at groups of people, and they'd explode all over everyone?"
"I do, actually," Mr. Vast said, leaning against the doorway and crossing his arms. "I remember when one landed on Val. I was pretty hot."
Hiccup was surprised his father mentioned his mother at all. This caught his attention for a moment while the fathers continued on.
"Yeah, but when another was tossed, it actually hit my car. I'd just detailed it. It took me four hours to do it. I was pretty heated. I said some pretty bad things. Next thing I knew, he jumped me. Looking back at it, he and I were both in the wrong."
"We were teenagers," Mr. Vast replied to him. "Anyways…" He turned to Hiccup. "I think we'd better get you cleaned up a bit. Meds, too."
Hiccup nodded. He could see the sadness come to Astrid's face hearing that it was about time to part. She hid it quickly with a smile to him.
"Text me later?" she asked quietly.
He nodded. "You bet." Feeling his cheeks grow scarlet, he said, "I'd normally walk you out - "
Giving him a half grin, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too," he replied back. "Thanks for coming and visiting."
"Anytime," she replied, and went towards the door to join her father.
"Thanks, Astrid," Mr. Vast said to her, giving her a nod.
….
The remainder of the weekend didn't breeze by very quickly with the anxiety of the current suspension weighing on Hiccup's shoulders. He heard his father leave early on Monday morning to go speak with the principal. His father had cancelled a meeting with his client, not knowing how long it would take.
"Dad, you could just go talk to the principal after your meeting, really."
"I'd rather get us past this than have that shadow over your head," his father informed him.
In the mean-time, Hiccup was busying himself with school work he could work on currently in the recliner. There were math videos he could watch for extra credit, a Government crossword puzzle he could fill in, and a small report that was due by the end of the week for Mr. Bryce. There were other things he could have done, but those were the three things that stood out the most to him that needed completed.
"Why do you do extra credit when you already have an A?" he remembered Tuffnut asking him one day at a track meet during sophomore year.
"Just in case," Hiccup had told him. "You never know when you might have an off day and need that extra bit of work."
This was one of those incidents. Even an extra twenty points on an extra credit assignment could bring a B minus up to an A. And, if he wasn't able to be in school and do some of the assignments, then the extra credit assignments he could do.
His father arrived home just after ten, bringing with him a McDonald's bag and a cup holder with two large orange juices. Hiccup noticed the bag, but met his father's eyes with hope.
"Well?" Hiccup asked.
His father smiled. "It wasn't you that was suspended." Hiccup felt relief wash over him. "Your principal apparently had the wrong facts. And, he had been informed that students were originally fighting on school property…."
Hiccup suddenly felt panicked. "That means Brock and Rudy are currently at school."
Mr. Vast nodded. "Now, don't you worry about that. You aren't there, and I have informed your school that until you are cleared to return by your doctor, you will be doing your studies at home…" He watched his father disappear towards the kitchen, and return back to help Hiccup out of the chair.
"What did they say?" Hiccup asked him.
"I will have to make a telephone call to your prosthetist, and your general doctor. That is on my list for this afternoon."
Hiccup was placed into a kitchen chair. In front of him sat a platter of eggs, bacon, and pancakes from McDonald's. His father had two McGriddles sitting in his spot.
"That doesn't answer my question," Hiccup said.
"I just need two have notes from those two, and give them to your school. The prosthetist needs to refit you, and your doctor needs to sign a paper stating that she agrees you should stay home until your ribs or better, and-or you have the means to get around the school comfortably and safely."
Hiccup nodded. "Dad, what about work for you?"
"Son, I have a perfectly functioning office right here at the house. If I need to meet with a client, I will make arrangements. I have partners that can help in that event."
Hiccup narrowed his eyes. "I am keeping you from working, though. Instead of working you are babysitting me."
"Enough, Hiccup." Mr. Vast reached across the table and placed his hand onto his son's arm. "If you are holding onto guilt of not telling us about Brock, let it go. Please."
Hiccup returned his stare with a glare.
"Stubborn child," Mr. Vast said. "It'll all work out, Hiccup. I need you to relax and just get better. Now, eat, okay?" Mr. Vast said.
As his father unwrapped his sandwich, and Hiccup took off the clear plastic from the platter, he twirled the fork around between his fingers in thought. Something wasn't sitting well with him.
"Dad, are you sure everything is all right?"
"Yesh," his father said, trying to adjust the large bite in his mouth. "You need not worry."
"You say that, but you are missing work because of me."
"Hiccup, I promise you everything is fine. Please don't worry."
Hiccup sighed, and did his best to push the remaining anxiety from his mind.
….
I knock came at Hiccup's bedroom door hours later. He'd fallen asleep in his own bed, feeling somewhat comfortable enough to lay down and attempt to get some proper rest. He opened his eyes from where he was propped up on multiple pillows to see Astrid leaning on the door frame. Worry instantly washed over him. She'd been holding back tears, he could see.
"What's wrong?" he asked her in an attempt to get closer to her sooner. She eased him back against his pillows and forced him to relax.
"Take it easy, champ," she replied to him. "Nothing I cannot handle."
He glared at her. "Tell me what happened, please."
She reached for a pillow beside him, and hugged it close. Thought mulled over her face. "Just a bad day, honestly."
"What happened?" he asked.
She shrugged, and forced a smile at him. "People found out about the fight, of course. Wanted to know what happened, who started it, who was hurt…you get the idea. Of course, rumors started over the weekend about it. Other kids saw it…and, recorded some of it."
Hiccup felt mortified. His stomach immediately turned into one large knot. "And?"
She sighed. "I'd gotten texts over the weekend, private messages on Facebook, but just let them go unread. I was asked if you were all right, what started it all…who all really was involved…Just, kinda got old after a while today. Probably after the eighth or ninth person to ask I was getting irked pretty hard."
"I am sorry."
She shrugged. "I've honestly been through worse." She gave him a sharp grin, thinking he would take the sly remark back. However, he didn't find it amusing. Other thoughts consumed his mind for a few minutes, allowing time to pass between them.
He had been so worried about going to school in a wheelchair and being stared at that he had never stopped to think about the rumors, the questions and the drama centered around the whole situation. Heather and Sage could escape it to an extent. He didn't figure Rudy and Brock would really care about what was being said. More than likely he figured they would end up shoving a few heads around to get their own points across. At the end of the day Astrid had dealt with the whole thing alone. And, for that he felt guilt wash over him.
"I'm sorry," he said to her. "I didn't stop to think with my absence what you would have to deal with alone."
She gave him a weak smile. "Eventually it'll pass. These things always do. I just - " She swallowed before she continued on. "I honestly just wish everyone would let it go. It's bad enough that you ended up at the hospital and can't walk."
"I'll be all right," he said. Using his good leg, he reached his foot around her and nudged her a little. She rolled her eyes at him and laughed. "I take it Dad let you in and told you I was back here?"
"Yeah, I was glad to hear you made it back to your bed. I figured two days in that chair would get old quickly."
"It did," he responded. "I did some homework and decided to try sleeping back here since I didn't have to worry about needing to make an appearance at the school."
She sighed. "Dad and Mom asked how you were doing…"
The thought of Darcy Hofferson asking Astrid how he was doing made him bite the inside of his cheek. The woman always made him edgy. He really needed to go over for a visit. He'd noticed over the last year that if he made an attempt to stop by even for an hour every few weeks to say hello, the small exchanges between she and him were less tense. She attempted to engage in conversation with him more, made eye contact, and didn't try to brush him off like she'd done initially.
"Hiccup, Mom is fine with everything," Astrid said. She laid a hand on his bad leg, and Hiccup nodded to her. She repositioned herself, and placed her hand on his nub, starting the massage of the limb. Even to this day, he was surprised she never shied away from it. He'd fully expected her to when she first saw it raw for the first time but she hadn't. Outside of his father, she was the only one he allowed to see the spot that made him feel most vulnerable.
"I still feel bad," he responded, letting his head sink back into a pillow. His eyes stared off into the ceiling fan as thoughts rolled through his mind as she did her best to help him relax a little bit.
"You shouldn't."
"Astrid, perhaps if I'd said something sooner to everyone, and actually told everyone what really was going on, I wouldn't be stuck in this bed. I'd still be able to walk - "
"Hiccup, I personally do believe that if you'd said something sooner, it could have been much worse. Maybe you would still be able to walk, but I really think it would have been worse in school, or something. At least in the parking lot you had space and an option to duck and play a little defense."
He sighed. He remembered when Snotlout cornered him against a locker in the hallway their Sophomore year. He couldn't move. Even inside the bathroom with Brock, it was true he was trapped, and the message was a punch across the jaw and the mark was a black eye. A reminder. Every time he'd check on it it would serve as a reminder of what Brock was asking of him.
"Maybe you are right. Still, it put you and Heather in the line."
"And, we are fine," she responded, moving up his calf a little bit more and smoothing the skin back downwards. The motion always made him tense but the final resort was relaxing. "Hiccup, what's done is done. You aren't suspended. And, as much as I don't like seeing you stuck in bed, or confined to a chair, you will heal. Personally, I think that hardest part for you is going to get adjusted to a new prosthetic."
"I'm assuming they will try to manage the suction and just fix the bottom part - "
"Hiccup, if they can, it'll be a miracle," Astrid said. "That thing is torn apart. Although - " A small giggle tickled her chest. "Dad did say that they had to send that car to the shop. Busted some of the under carriage a bit."
"It was a good one." Hiccup breathed a bit. "I just want to get back to school, and hope things go back to normal."
"Things tend to calm down, honestly. Knowing that is what is keeping me going."
Hiccup sighed, remembering a few of the intense stories Heather had told their parents and he on Saturday. For a strange reason, he didn't think this was truly over with.
….
I was trying to make this chapter longer like the rest, but it just was not happening. It's a blah chapter. I am hoping the next one will lead up to another climatic event with Hiccup dealing with this bully. Until next time….
