{Courtney's POV}
I knew I hurt Harvey a lot when I walked out on him and Karina two years ago. I knew we could have worked things out, talked through the argument when he returned from the hospital with our daughter. But as I was cleaning up the trailer, I started feeling like I gave up my perfect life to have a this illusion life thinking I was happy. I loved Harvey and my daughter but I was sick of struggling week after week, and I hated being trapped in the trailer with Karina who was teething and always miserable when her father wasn't around. I got lazy after while, stopped caring so much because I honestly lost interest in being there and living the life I chose to live. I knew it wasn't fair to Harvey, he worked so hard to provide a good life for us and he did a lot so we could have Karina together and not face our parents about the drunken night we shared that landed me pregnant in the first place.
I was selfish that day Karina was sick. I got tired of her crying so I put her in her room and locked the door, then I laid on the couch and fell asleep until Harvey came home and yelled at me about what I had done. It was the first big argument we ever got into and I knew he was furious with how dirty the house got and that I neglected our daughter, I did feel bad that he worked so hard and had to come home to that. After he left for the hospital, I felt like he would be better off without me around. I wasn't contributing nothing to the household except cleaning and that isn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my life, living in a trailer park as a stay at home mom. It hurt me to do, but I took off the ring and left it with Sharshot, then wrote a note and left it on the table. I took $50 from Harvey's and mine's savings, went to DSS and grabbed Mirage then took the train back to Berk.
When I got there, it was everything I expected. My parents were overjoyed that I was home, crying and hugging me. All my friends were relieved I was okay. After all the welcoming back, they asked the inevitable question of why I took off and where I was for a year and eight months. As I promised to Harvey, I did not tell them the truth. I lied and told them I just wanted adventure and to see more than just Berk so I was traveling under a fake name with a wig to hide who I was. Everyone bought it. Since then, it has been two years and not a day passes that I don't wonder if Harvey and Karina are alright. After things settled with me returning, my friends had graduated high school and made the decision to go back to school, problem is that because I didn't graduate high school or take the dragon bonding in senior year, I had to go through other channels.
I ended up taking the GED and passed with B's and C's, then with my Dad's help, I was able to show proof of bonding with Mirage and get her registered at my dragon. With all that, I was able to get accepted into Berktown University with my friends. Now, two years later, something had changed among the group. Harvey's old friend, Tyler was dating a girl named Sydney Ostbarg, she came to B.U during the first year. Another new addition was Andrew Kingston, who came the second year and was Ashlyn's boyfriend. Dominic was still pining for me, but I still loved Harvey, and I felt horrible for leaving him. We might not have had a lot due to financial problems but Harvey gave me his love and loyalty, we were going to get married, and I threw it all away on a selfish whim to want my old life back. And Gods, I walked out on my daughter. I was the worst kind of person ever.
What could I do now? Harvey wouldn't want me to come back; he would tell me to get lost. I gave him full custody of our daughter, who probably didn't even remember me. I knew for sure that I got what I had wanted two years ago, I got my old life back, and I hated it because the life I had chosen to live was perfect the way it was and now I had lost that forever because I was stupid. I had to live with the life I came back to, one involving school, friends, and family. The university wasn't bad, we got to see our dragons every day, sit on the field with them or take walks, and that was it. Anyone caught breaking the rules, would be expelled from the school and risk losing their dragon forever.
There was a new girl joining this year, and she would be in most of my classes, her name is Ellie Agoarsen, and from what I've heard so far, she has a four-year-old son named Owen who was attending the university's daycare center. Ellie had almost pale blond hair that she wore in a long braid down her back and then deep blue eyes and from the state of Arendelle and transferring to Berktown to start a new life away from her ex-boyfriend who didn't want to be a father anymore. Gods, the story sounded so familiar to mine involving Harvey and Karina. Regardless, Ellie was bonded to a female Razorwhip she called Silverwing.
My friends and I were all going out for different career fields, so our classes varied. I wanted to be a dragon trainer, so did Ellie and Sydney, so classes we took for that was Bonding Traits, Draconic Psychology, Tactical Training, and Permitted Trainer Regulations. Harvey's old friend Ford Ingerman and Andrew were set on becoming dragon doctors and had to take Drake Pathology and Dragon Therapeutics. Ashlyn, Rylee, Tyler, Dominic and Syrus were going out for dragon racers, and their classes included Racing 101, Race History and Physical Education. Those were just career classes; there were some we had separate and some we would all do together.
Individual courses were based on what type of dragon we had. For me, I had a Mystery class dragon, so I took Mystery Class with Rylee and Tyler Thorston who shared a Hideous Zippleback and gave the name of Barf and Belch too. Rylee bonded with the right head, Barf and Tyler had the left head, Belch. Syrus had Hookfang and Andrew had Phoenix, both male Monstrous Nightmares and as such, they took Stoker Class. Ford and Dominic had male Gronckles. Ford's was a female named Meatlug and Dominic had a male called Shattermaster, they took Boulder Class. Ashlyn and Sydney had Deadly Nadders, both females. Ashlyn called her dragon Stormfly, and Sydney's was Flarestrike, so they took Tracker Class. Finally, Ellie had her Razorwhip, Silverwing and took the Sharp Class.
Classes that us eleven third year students took were Rules of the Sky 1, which was a two-year class. This one was for juniors to cover the rules for being a permitted dragon rider. Next year as seniors, we would take Rules of the Sky 2 for licensed riders. Both involved a flying test in order to become a permitted or licensed flier. The other class all of us took was the big one, the only class that was two hours long; Dragon Training. This is the class we would get to learn how to train our dragon fly them. I couldn't wait, Harvey had taught me how to ride Mirage even though I wasn't allowed to without a permit or license. At DSS, it was considered and outside school to learn those things and Harvey earned his when he mastered Toothless's tail fin.
I missed him a lot; I missed Harvey and Karina. I wanted my little family back, and it upset me to know I threw it all away.
"COURTNEY!" I heard my name get yelled as I snapped from my thoughts about Harvey and Karina to see Ashlyn with her hand on my shoulder.
"Hm? Sorry, Ash. I didn't sleep well last night," I replied with a small smile.
"All the excitement of what today is?" Syrus laughed.
"What's today again?" I asked having temporarily forgotten.
"Uh, we're starting Dragon Training after lunch! How could you forget?" Rylee stated. "Anyway, we were just telling Ellie here about Harvey and how he vanished during junior year of high school," she added as I stiffened a little.
"Yeah, didn't you say you say him the day you left?" Dominic retorted.
"Sort of. We passed each other on the monorail to Arc City." I lied, "After arriving, he went one way, and I went the other. Didn't see him again,"
"So, he just up and left one day?" Ellie inquired.
"Yep. No one saw him except, Court, but she said they never talked on the ride to the city. We assume he's still there doing Thor only knows what," Ashlyn informed Ellie calmly.
"His parents must have been worried for him. You mentioned there are famous is the dragon community?" Ellie asked looking around the table she sat at with them.
"Absolutely. Veronica and Stuart Haddock. Harvey's Mom is an amazing dragon doctor, and his father is a lead researcher. Harvey always wanted to be a dragon trainer, wonder if he ever got to do that. Harvey was top of the Terrible Terror training. I forget what his dragon's name was," Ford interjected.
"Sharpshot, male and different shades of green." I replied as they all looked over at me "I saw Sharpshot with him on the monorail," I added.
"Harvey's parents looked for him every where but came up with nothing; I guess he doesn't want to be found." Tyler sighed, "I miss my best friend,"
"I miss him too, Ty," Ford looked down.
I missed him more than anyone, and my friends didn't even know the truth of what transpired between Harvey and I. I knew where Harvey was, living as a single father to Karina in the trailer park while working at DSS to take care of her. Could I tell them that? Gods, they would hate me if they found out I knew the truth this whole time. When I came back to Berk, Harvey's parents asked me if I saw him and I lied telling them I only saw him on the monorail to Arc City. I know his parents left right away to try and find him but returned two months later with nothing, there was no record of a Harvey Haddock residing in Arc City.
I knew of course, that if they looked for a Harris Andarsen, they would find him living at Happy Homes on Bolter Lane in trailer A-29 and working as the Strike-class trainer for Dreki Souls Sanctuary. Also that he owned a Night Fury named Toothless. I had everything they needed to find him and yet, I couldn't bring myself to reveal it because I knew that Harvey gave up everything to be able to have Karina in his life, I wouldn't take that away from him. I couldn't, I loved him. I wanted Harvey back, to be his fiance again and then become his wife. I wanted Karina back and be in her life, be the mother I should have been to her. Alas, Harvey would probably never let me near her and tell me to leave since that's what I chose to do anyway.
"So who is our teacher for Dragon Training. I just started today, and Headmaster Trechdon said the printers were down so he couldn't give me a piece of paper with my schedule on it, I can't remember the trainer's name," Ellie admitted.
"Um, his name is Blake Crawford," Sydney said with a smile. "Only third and fourth years get to take dragon training, we're in the 1 pm to 3 pm slot for his class," she added afterward.
"And it's almost 1 pm now, we should get moving to the field," Ashlyn pointed out after checking her phone.
"Agreed, wouldn't want to be late on the first day," Ford nodded, and they all got up to empty their trash and leave the cafeteria to get to the dragon training field and stables. I sighed heavily; this was our first day of the third year at Berktown University. We had arrived a week ago to get settled in dorms again; they were set up according to what year the students were in. I was rooming with Ashlyn, Rylee with Sydney, and Ellie had her own to have her son with her. Ford and Tyler shared, Dominic and Syrus roomed as well. It was two per room which consisted of two beds, desks, dressers and one closet to share. There were also some shelves for each person. They were nice dorms, I liked them but I didn't put up any pictures of Harvey, Karina, and I even though I had a few ot them. I kept them in my wallet where no one but me could see them.
(Dragon Training Feild)
"Greetings lads and lasses," Gobber waved as he was coming out of the student stables.
"Hi, Gobber. Where's our teacher?" Rylee inquired.
"He should be here soon; he had to take an urgent phone call. Just sit tight," Gobber smiled.
"Can we get our dragons?" I asked.
"That's a no go, lass. Your teacher will let you know when they can come out," Gobber informed as we just nodded and sat in the grass to wait, it was still a few minutes until 1 pm so might as well enjoy the quiet time.
"What do you guys think our teacher will be like?" Syrus asked in the silence.
"Not sure, maybe Gobber knows? He has been the stable manager for years here," Ford offered. "Gobber, what is Mr. Crawford like?"
"Well, when he was here, the guy was friendly as ever. Real easy goin'." Gobber replied which made us confused, what did Gobber mean by 'when he was here'? "Crawford left before the start of this year, there was a rush to find a new trainer, but the headmaster managed. Not sure how he'll be for you, I forget his name. Only saw him once when he came here three weeks ago," he added.
"Where is he from?" Ellie questioned curiously.
"I want to say that Trechdon sent word to a colleague of his who could spare a trainer for him. Name of the place was Dreki Souls Sanctuary in Arc City and the teacher coming was highly recommended," Gobber said as my eyes widened. Our trainer was someone from DSS?! Gods, everyone who worked there knew me. Who would have taken the job as the head trainer? I felt myself get nervous suddenly. There was a whistling sound overhead, "Ah, here he comes now," Gobber pointed up towards the sky. I knew there one dragon that made that whistling sound.
I bit my bottom lip as I looked up and saw a black dragon, a Night Fury. Our eyes followed slowly as the dragon whipped around and landed in front of us with a masked rider on it's back. I watched as the male got off and put his hands on the mask. I noticed the dragon had a familiar rig on it, one that let the rider control the left tail fin. My eyes widened, it couldn't be him. Gods, please don't let it be who I think it is. The rider pulled off the mask as the auburn hair and green eyes were revealed. At that moment, I wasn't the only one who was surprised.
"Welcome to Dragon Training. My name is Mr. Haddock, and I'll be your trainer for the next two years," the man introduced. It was him. Harvey was the dragon trainer. I couldn't believe he was here, that meant Karina was too. For only a moment, his eyes locked with mine, I wanted to cry and hurry over to hug him. Just throw my arms around his neck, apologize and beg him to forgive me, but I didn't. When Harvey looked at me, I didn't see joy. I saw pain and disappointment.
{Regular POV}
"HARVEY!?" the group shouted minus Andrew, Sydney, and Ellie who had only heard stories about Harvey Haddock and the fact he left when he was seventeen years old. Harvey tucked the mask under his arm and leaned against Toothless casually, not seeming to care to see any of them of them again. Harvey knew who would be in his class; he expected such a reaction when he revealed who he was.
"Let's not waste time, I have until the end of May to prepare you for your permit to ride and fly, and I believe three of you for the trainer permits," Harvey said.
"Now wait just a damn second!" Dominic interrupted.
"How can you be our trainer, you're our age!" Ashlyn exclaimed.
"Where have you been, Harvey?" Tyler asked calmly.
"You have been gone for three years and eight months," Ford mentioned as Harvey sighed and then another dragon landed, a Razorwhip with green eyes and a hooded rider that only showed green eyes.
"Mr. Haddock doesn't have to answer to you. He is the teacher; you are the students. You will respect him or face disciplinary action by the headmaster," the rider said as she removed her hood revealing a brown-haired young woman and her eyes locked on Courtney and gave her a look that said; You better leave Harvey alone or deal with me. Courtney bit her bottom lip and looking down a little. Harvey knew something like this would happen, his first day on the job and all the unanswered questions coming in to find out what happened. What a great start to the class. Not.
