=Normal POV=
(Monday, 10/9/2017-12:00 pm)
(Archian Island, Berk)
(Berkian Academy)

Nicole had originally not wanted to move or go to public school, but now, at month into her final year at Berkian Academy, and she was overjoyed that her family moved to Berk and she was attending the school Heather was. Also that she got to meet all of Heather's friends, who had become hers. It was awkward at first, Nicole was glad they accepted her into their group but she didn't quite feel like she'd fit in with them as the new girl. However, all that really faded away after that first time they hung out at Hunter's place for Adelaide's sixteenth birthday and a private homecoming party. Nicole actually felt like one of them now, and she loved it. School was normal for all of them; lessons and classwork by day, homework at night. Nicole hadn't really hung out with anyone since the party, not because she wasn't invited, but because nothing had really been happening. The friends all talked on Skype or text messages, and Nicole was sure that the couples of the group were going on dates or whatever. Nicole honestly texted Heather and Hunter the most out of the others; she talked to all of them in the big group on Skype, but that wasn't too often as she was usually doing her homework while they chatted or did a big voice call.

Nicole didn't take part in those after the first one because it was madness. Too many people on at once and trying to talk made the computer lag, cut out, and people talked over one another; it was hard to follow. So while they did voice chat, Nicole would usually just pop in the chat if anything was directed towards her. Hunter and Nicole made good friends; they were always talking about something new in their lives, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and more. And they seemed to genuinely enjoy being in each other's presences, and it worked out that they were in all the same classes. Right now, the friends were at lunch, with twenty-five minutes to go.

"Yo, Hunter. You see the bulletin board on your way to lunch?" Shane asked as Hunter glanced up from his phone.

"No," Hunter replied.

"Basketball tryouts next Friday," Shane informed.

"Yeah? Nice," Hunter smiled.

"They are from 3 pm to 6 pm," Travis mentioned. "You going out again this year?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Hunter arched a brow.

"Good point," Shane laughed with Travis.

"All three of you are trying out?" Nicole decided to ask.

"Always," Hunter nodded.

"What about you, Fisher?" Nicole looked to the other male in the friends group.

"Me? Oh, no-no. I'm not built for sports," Fisher nervously laughed. "I always show up for the games to give my support, though," he added.

"You'll have to come with us when the games start, Nikki," Heather smiled.

"Absolutely. And every time they win; we go out to celebrate for a meal, or sometimes just ice cream," Ashley interjected.

"I know, Hunter told me; he's already invited me to come see the games at home court," Nicole nodded gently.

"We do sometimes go to away games, if they aren't too far," Raelyn mentioned calmly.

"Sounds like a good time. I'm down," Nicole replied before looking back to her book, Hunter noticed she was still reading the first Harry Potter book and eating at the same time.

"How much more of that you have to read?" Hunter inquired.

"Uh…Probably be done with it at the end of the week," Nicole responded. "Couple more chapters,"

"Sweet. We still on for movie night when you finish it?" Hunter questioned.

"Hold up," Ashley blinked.

"Movie night?" Heather arched a brow.

"Uh, yeah. We were texting last month after I dropped her at home and decided that every time she'd finish one of the books; we'd watch the movie that corresponds to it. Since she's never seen the movies," Hunter informed his friends.

"How have you not?" Shane asked.

"Just never got around to it," Nicole shrugged. "I have all the books, never read them. Started to after the move," she added. "And yes, Hunter; we're still on for movie night when I finish it. What's your Basketball schedule look like?"

"I'll have time this weekend," Hunter responded. "Tryouts will be Friday night for three hours. We could do it around 7? Or I'm free on Sunday? Maybe we could make it lunch movie or something. I gotta work Saturday, Uncle Glenn needs a little extra help while two of his mechanics are on vacation,"

"I'll see what's okay with my parents first and let you know," Nicole stated.

"No problem. I can also give you a ride if they are busy working," Hunter offered.

"I'll bring it up to them. And need to start giving you gas money," Nicole laughed a bit.

"Don't worry about it, Nikki. At least you live close," Hunter reminded.

"Nikki? Aren't you the only one that calls her that, Heather?" Mindy questioned quietly.

"I thought I was," Heather muttered.

"True as they may be, I still feel bad, Hunty," Nicole countered.

"Hunty?" Raelyn blinked in surprise. "No one has ever called you that,"

"I guess Nikki is the first, then. I told her she could," Hunter remarked. "She called dibs on it," he laughed.

"It's a deal we made; he could call me Nikki if I can call him Hunty," Nicole chuckled. "I honestly don't care who calls me Nikki, it's just a nickname that Heather started when she was my only friend on Berserker. You guys are my friends too, so use freely," she explained with a smile.

"So, you check with your parents on what day is good for them and you, then let me know. We can do Friday night or Sunday afternoon/night. If you're get permission for Friday, I could grab you on my way home from tryouts?" Hunter suggested.

"Alright," Nicole nodded as she checked the time, set her bookmarker, and started packing up her stuff. The bell would be ringing in five minutes.

"I'll take the hit if I get punched for this, but…Is there something going on between you two?" Travis wondered, pointing to Hunter and Nicole, who happened to be sitting next to one another. Travis's question caused a pause at the lunch table, leaving them all surprised but then looking at Hunter and Nicole.

Hunter's and Nicole's eyes widened; they looked at one another before looking back to the others and laughed. "Wow," Nicole said.

"Gods," Hunter laughed. The two of them calmed down after a few moments. "I can't believe you think something is going on,"

"You two seem really close for only knowing one another for a month," Fishlegs mentioned.

"You've already invited her to your games, and movie nights?" Ashley added in.

"So?" Nicole looked at them. "That doesn't mean anything is happening between us,"

"Yeah, we're just friends," Hunter agreed.

"And we get along really well. Are we not allowed to hangout as friends without it being considered a couple's activity? Because if that's the case; the same logic could be used to say that Heather and I have something going on. We hung out all the time at each other's houses, sleepovers, and random movie nights," Nicole remarked.

"Yeah, but we're just friends," Heather defended quickly.

"So are me and Nicole. You don't have to be dating to hangout with someone of the opposite gender," Hunter informed. The bell rang.

"Can't believe you guys assumed there's something between us just because we plans to hangout," Nicole shook her head. "I gotta get to class," she added while walking for the exit of the cafeteria.

"Wait up, I'll walk with you. We're going to the same place anyway," Hunter tossed his trash and walked up beside her and then they continued on to their next class, which was Science with Asher Ogglebert. The others didn't say anything, but they shrugged it off and left the lunchroom, heading to their next period.

. . .

(2:30 pm)

As the bell rang to signal the end of the day; a flood of students exited the classroom and made their way into the hallway to get to their lockers and leave for the day. Nicole and Hunter were the last two in their math room, C12 with Hannah Grimborn, the principal's sister in law. Hunter and Nicole weren't in trouble with their teacher; they just didn't feel like rushing into the hallway because they had fifteen minutes until the buses started leaving the lot. And Hiccup didn't need to worry about a bus ride because he had his jeep in the student lot.

"So, I feel like I should apologize for our friends earlier at lunch," Hunter stated, finishing putting things in his backpack.

"Huh?" Nicole asked, then it hit her. "Oh! That. It's fine," she laughed a little.

"Still. They shouldn't have done that," Hunter sighed.

"It's an easy assumption to make, Hunter. Don't sweat it," Nicole informed. "Look at it from their point of view, okay. We just met last month, and the information came out today that you've already invited me to your games and also, we planned movie nights. It's easy to assume because they didn't think we were…Close enough after just a month to make those kinds of plans," she explained.

"Yeah, I guess," Hunter nodded. "And I guess it wasn't really an assumption, Trav did ask,"

"Exactly, so not even all of them were thinking it until Travis said something," Nicole smiled. "Really, it's alright. We cleared things up for them, and I'm sure it won't be an issue again,"

"Good point," Hunter replied. "Ready to head out to the breezeway and see everyone?"

"I just gotta stop at the restroom first. You go ahead and I'll meet you there," Nicole told him.

"Nah, it's okay. I can wait for you; I might as well go before I get in the jeep. Dad needs to me to pick a few things up and bring them to the office, then I gotta see Glenn about something; then I get to go home," Hunter chuckled.

"And then you probably get to do homework, eat dinner, shower, and go to sleep?" Nicole asked.

"In that order too," Hunter nodded as they walked down C-Hall after leaving the classroom, trying their best to stay together and get to the corner of D and C where the nearest bathrooms were. "Meet you in the middle?" he asked. Nicole nodded to him as they both split and entered their respected bathrooms. Less than two minutes later, Nicole came out to find Hunter already there and leaning against the wall. "Onward?"

"Onward," Nicole smiled as they made their way out the C & D hall doors and walking around to the grassy area along C-Hall where their friends were waiting for them.

"There you two are," Fisher informed.

"Sorry," Hunter walked up with Nicole. "Stopped at the bathroom. Won't be home for another hour, so figured might as well go before I leave,"

"I went too. Bus ride is long even though my house is the third or fourth stop before we arrive at school; it's one of the lasts going home," Nicole mumbled.

"That's because they start the route at the last stop farthest away, both ways," Mindy sighed. "I'm in the middle,"

"I ride with Shane," Addilyn beamed.

"I take the bus," Ashley smiled.

"Us too," Raelyn and Travis nodded.

"Devon usually picks up Myra and I, unless she stays after," Heather said.

"What happens when Devon and Eli both are staying for practices?" Hunter inquired.

"I stay too," Heather shrugged.

"I hate taking the bus. It's got way too many people on it, we're always sitting three to a seat," Nicole sighed heavily.

"Ouch," Heather winced for her friend's dismay.

"Your parents won't let you get a car?" Addilyn inquired.

"My parents won't even let me get my license," Nicole muttered.

"Why not?" Hunter wondered.

"They're too busy to teach me how to drive," Nicole admitted. "I suggested Driver's Education, but they said that's just book learning and doesn't count on the road because you can't read and drive," she rolled her eyes.

"Harsh," Shane remarked. "My dad taught me and Addy, not that she can legally drive yet, but he didn't trust Driver's Ed either. He's Chief of Police, felt better doing it himself,"

"My parents are letting me take it out of the school this year, so starting in January, I get to stay after school on Tuesdays and Thursday from 3 pm to 5 pm until…I think it's March?" Ashley tapped her chin.

"Sounds right," Hunter nodded. "You take your written permit test at the end of the course, then you get your permit and have to practice driving with a licensed adult of at least two years for…I think it's three months, then you can take your road test and get your license,"

"I'm taking Driver's Ed too, so I'll see you there, Ash," Mindy beamed.

"I might take it; I'll need to be able to drive after high school is over," Heather shrugged, obviously still deciding on the idea.

"I think Rae and I are signing up too," Travis stated.

"I already know my parents won't let me," Nicole sighed heavily. "So I guess I have to wait until I'm eighteen, and do the steps that way. Until then; I'm stuck on the bus," she gave a half smile.

"Is it that bad?" Shane questioned.

"Would you enjoy Being squished three to a seat? Sitting on the edge where you get rammed into?" Nicole huffed.

"Nope," Shane shook his head.

"Yes, it's that bad," Nicole mumbled, closing her eyes. "Guess I better go get on my bus,"

"Do you want a ride home?" Hunter suddenly asked as Nicole blinked a little.

"What?" Nicole looked at him.

"I mean, I'm going right by it to get the stuff for my dad. I could drop you off, if you wanted," Hunter offered.

"I definitely want it, but are you sure?" Nicole questioned.

"If I wasn't, would I be offering?" Hunter smiled.

"No, I suppose not. Alright, thanks, Hunter," Nicole beamed. It was a super nice thing for him to do; she needed to give him gas money for it. As soon as he dropped her off; she'd have him waist and she could bring it out to him. Hunter really didn't have to do this, but Nicole appreciated it. "When are we leaving?"

"Whenever you're ready, buses start pulling out at 2:45, I usually leave at 2:40 to get ahead of them. Which is in about three minutes," Hunter informed.

"Well, let's go now then. Takes a few minutes to get to the Student Lot, doesn't it?" Nicole wondered.

"Not too long, it's just past the middle school gymnasium. You can see it from here," Hunter pointed to the lot off to their left.

"Convenient," Nicole chuckled. "Guess I'll see you all tomorrow," she waved as Hunter did while they headed off to the lot together. Hunter was feeling a little weird, though; he suddenly felt a bit dizzy and slowed his steps to a stop while putting a head to his head and closing his eyes. "Hunter?" Nicole asked. "Are you okay?"

Hunter shook it off and smiled. "Yeah, fine. Getting a headache is all. Always do after school," he told her as they kept walking. Reaching the lot, Hunter unlocked the jeep and opened the door for her.

"Thank you," Nicole smiled, getting in, setting her bag at her feet and buckling up.

"You're welcome," Hunter tossed his bag in the back and strapped himself into his seat. Hunter leaned forward and started the jeep up. Hunter backed out of his spot, changed gears and headed out of the lot with the other students who drove. It took a few minutes, but they finally got off campus and were headed down the road towards Nicole's house.

After five minutes of driving, Hunter glanced over to Nicole and smiled. It didn't mean anything was going on between them, but Hunter found Nicole to be beautiful and he loved how straightforward she was. They were only friends, but Hunter thought that friends could think about how good looking another friend was, so he didn't feel awkward about it. And Hunter was happy to be able to help her out; he knew taking the bus sucked and that's why he offered to do it. The ride was mostly quiet, but the talked a bit about the plans for the first Harry Potter movie night they were going to have. All that needed to happen was Nicole getting permission from her parents, and deciding which day to hold the event on.

. . .

(3:00 pm)
(Strondsen Home)

Hunter pulled into Nicole's driveway and parked the jeep. "And here we are,"

"Thank you, Hunter. I owe you," Nicole smiled.

"It's fine, Nikki. Really, like I said; it was on the way. Your house is one I pass when I drive home anyway," Hunter explained.

"Still," Nicole took her seat belt off. "So, I'll hit you up when I hear from my parents about the movie night?"

"I just a call or text away. And if you want to be technical, short-ass drive," Hunter laughed a little. "I'm never far,"

"Good to know," Nicole nodded as she got out of the jeep, and got her bag. "Oh, stay right there a second,"

"Um, alright?" Hunter replied as Nicole hurried to the front door, and got inside once it was unlocked. Hunter sat in the jeep, waiting for her to return and feeling the slight dizziness creep back up. Hunter took a few breaths to shake it off and then reached for his water bottle in the cup holder; he took a few small sips and then a longer one. When he was certain the dizziness had left him; he saw Nicole coming back out and walking to the driver's side of the jeep.

"Here," Nicole handed him a $10 bill.

"Nikki, I told you that you didn't need to pay me," Hunter sighed some and pushed it back.

"No, take it. Please? You took me home late last Saturday, and brought me home today too. Please? I'd feel better if you took it," Nicole shoved it back his way gently. Hunter couldn't argue with her as he accepted the money and stuffed it in his pocket. Nicole smiled. "Thank you,"

"You're welcome. Now I gotta get going to do all these errands. I'll message you once I'm home? Maybe we can chat a bit while doing our homework?" Hunter asked.

"I'm…Sure we can arrange that. But no group that with the others; it gets crazy," Nicole said.

"I never join the big voice chats, so don't worry about that. I was thinking just a chat between us? Voice or video, whatever you're comfortable with," Hunter replied.

"I can do either," Nicole responded. "I'll be waiting for you then,"

"Talk to you soon," Hunter nodded as Nicole backed up and stood near the front door. Hunter shifted the gear to back out and then drive off, giving a wave to her.

Nicole gave one back, and then she giggled a little before entering the house, and closing the door. Nicole flipped it to lock, knowing her parents would just use their keys when they got home. Nicole went to get a snack, then head to her room and get things out to start her homework. Hunter was a nice guy, a little shy sometimes, but he was funny, smart, talented, and good looking. Nicole felt like they were close, and definitely considered him a friend. It was a little interesting to her that she was very much looking forward to having the movie nights with him, and watching the Basketball games. It all sounded like a fun time, so she couldn't wait for it to all start.