=Astrid's POV=
{Tuesday, November 9, 2021-12:20 pm}
(Archian Preparatory Cafeteria)
It's been about three weeks since that blizzard; the one where my friends and I got stuck at Hiccup's house for two days. I couldn't say they were terrible; Hiccup was a very generous host when we didn't deserve his kindness. Hiccup helped us understand more of the dragons in Boulder Class since we had all of Saturday night while he was either making dinner, sitting around, or caring for Runa. Hiccup had his friends on Skype to learn with us that way they wouldn't be behind upon returning to school Monday morning the 18th of October. Boulder Class only has twelve dragons in it, and in the time we had with Hiccup to learn more; we covered about five of them through the night and to Sunday morning when we were released to leave his house when the driving and flying ban got lifted. This happened around 10:45 am on Sunday the 17th. Hiccup had our cars brought out of the Motor Court, then we thanked him for his forced hospitality, and left Haddock Manor. My friends couldn't have been more grateful to go, but my mind was still on what happened Saturday afternoon.
By accident, Hiccup let a slideshow play of pictures between Olivia, Runa, and himself while singing a fascinating song that I'd never heard before. From what I gathered about the lyrics; it was a song about how someone goes on with life if the other were to leave. And that the person left behind was willing to do anything to get back what was lost. I didn't understand why such a song would play for what appeared to be a very happy and stable relationship between the three who were shown on the video. I suppose I shouldn't worry about it because it's none of my business. However, something that didn't seem right to me was that Hiccup had been absent from school since Wednesday of last week. During Dragon Training on Wednesday, November 3rd, Hiccup got a phone call and left on Stormfly instantly afterward. Dagur took over, and Hiccup's friends didn't seem all that curious about why their leader took off without a word as to why.
Hiccup missed yesterday, but he appeared to be here today. I saw him in Language Arts for the Second Period. Gruffnut said that Hiccup wasn't in First Period History. I guess Hiccup must have had a doctor's appointment for himself, or possibly Runa. Hiccup didn't appear to look very happy; his eyes were distant, and it seemed like he wasn't paying attention through LA or Health, which were two classes we shared. However, if the teacher called on Hiccup; he knew precisely where the lesson was and could answer. Now we're in lunch, and once again; I'm seeing Hiccup looking miserable because he's not joining in on the talking or laughing with his friends. Hiccup just sat in his chair silently eating.
"I wonder what's got him so quiet," Thuggory stated, bringing my attention back to my friends who were talking.
"Who cares?" Gruffnut shrugged.
"You don't think it's a little odd that Hiccup just took off last Wednesday, missed Thursday, Friday, Monday, and the first period today?" Ragna looked at us.
"Oh, my Gods…One weekend at the loser's place and you all want to know more about his life when we agreed weeks ago that we wanted nothing to do with him," I rolled my eyes. I know I shouldn't call Hiccup a loser, but did we have to talk about him?
"We're nosy, babe," Eret chuckled. "Come on…Aren't you the least bit curious?"
"Perhaps, but it's not like he'll tell us about whatever happened," I sighed, going back to eating a bite of my salad.
"You go ask him," Camicazi suggested.
"Excuse me?" I blinked.
"Go ask Hiccup why he left last week and was out. He'll probably tell you," Ragna urged. I highly doubted it, but if it got them to shut up, then fine. I turned around in my chair and looked at Hiccup.
"Hey, Hiccup," I said as he glanced up at me. "What happened last week?"
"None of your business," Hiccup responded coldly. Okay, wow. I've never heard him take such a tone before, and I've known this guy for years.
"Well, you're or Dragon Training teacher, and kind of just bailed mid-lesson," I reminded.
"Family emergency now lay off," Hiccup huffed, arms crossed over one another.
"Did something happen to your parents, uncle, or Runa?" Camicazi tried.
"I said it was none of your damn business, now fuck off and leave me alone," Hiccup remarked.
"Yo, not cool, Hic," Gruffnut stated.
"It's Hiccup, not Hic, Gruffnut. You don't have the right to use a nickname my friends gave me," Hiccup retorted.
"Awe, come on…We're all friends now, aren't we?" Thuggory shrugged casually.
"No. No, we're not," Hiccup responded. "You spent two days at my house because of a storm and were only there to apologize, forced by your parents because your jealousy made you piss off a Monstrous Nightmare that I got hurt calming down to protect you,"
"You said you forgave us…" I mentioned softly.
"That doesn't mean I've forgotten…" Hiccup huffed angrily. "We are not friends, and we likely never will be because of the way you all base your friendships, which is on money and who has a lot of it," he added, eyes closed. "My friends can call me Hic, none of you can,"
"Psh…Maybe we should just call him Horrendous," Ragna smirked.
"Yeah, that's part of your real name, isn't it?" Gruffnut teased. Hiccup only rolled his eyes, apparently not in the mood for these childish antics.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, wasn't it? That's what Olivia called you," Eret continued. Hiccup tensed a little at the mention of Olivia's name.
"Hey, leave my cousin alone, alright?" Snotlout remarked now.
"No one was talking to you," Thuggory shot back.
"And Hiccup said it wasn't any of your business why he was out," Heather huffed. "It was personal, so leave it alone," she added.
"Well, he looks miserable…So maybe he lost everything? No place to go. Wonder what happens now that Haddock Manor, or Berkian Estates as everyone know it is up for grabs…" Thuggory grinned. Hiccup's brows twitched, and I could tell he was getting ticked off. Hiccup told us not to say anything about where he lived. The people around us got quieter, beginning to whisper about Hiccup having resided at Berkian Estates.
"Maybe his girlfriend realized what a loser she was with and left him?" Gruffnut joked. Hiccup clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking for the force.
"Shut up," Hiccup said.
"G-Guys…Stop…" I tried. I've never seen Hiccup actually get mad, but it looks like he was now. "I doubt Olivia would leave Hiccup when they have a baby together," I said. Only I think I made it worse because now, everyone was whispering about Hiccup having a child. People were talking about that; Hiccup's eyes were closed, showing that he was annoyed, though.
"Pfft! Yeah…Right, Astrid. I don't even think that baby is his, bet you Olivia cheated on him and didn't have the heart to say the baby wasn't his. Come on, the kid doesn't even look like Hiccup," Camicazi snickered with the others. My eyes glanced at Hiccup, seeing him start shaking a little.
"Hiccup has auburn hair and green eyes. Olivia has blue eyes and black hair. If Runa were their child, they would have some of the same traits, and Runa doesn't look anything like Hiccup. The kid has wicked light brown hair and hazel eyes, definitely seem more on the brown side, though," Ragna pointed out.
"Leave my daughter out of this," Hiccup warned. I could see it; he was trying to control his anger, something we knew he got from his father. Stoick Haddock was a scary individual when mad, and I didn't want to find out what happened if Hiccup flipped his lid.
"Bet you Runa isn't Hiccup's, but Olivia won't tell Hiccup the truth and lets him take care of Runa so she can go off and fuck her baby daddy," Thuggory laughed.
"Olivia probably realized what a loser Hiccup is, left him and took the baby with her," Eret said, getting up and moving near Hiccup now.
"Eret! Get over here," I demanded.
"Is that what happened, Hic? Your girl left with the kid you thought was yours? Did you find out Runa isn't your baby, that Olivia's a horny little slut who li-," Eret never finished because Hiccup got up, drew his fist back and punched Eret right in the face. The room fell utterly silent as Eret fell back on his ass, and took a minute to recover. As Eret sat up, I saw that his nose had begun to bleed. Hiccup stood over him, an unmistakable glare of fury in his green eyes. "Why you-," Eret started.
"Shut the fuck up!" Hiccup yelled. I bit back. My friends were aiming to piss Hiccup off, and I didn't think they were prepared for the outcome if they'd managed to succeed. "For all the shit you've given me over the years, Eret; you fucking had that coming to you. Gods, I've been dying to put you on your ass since the eighth grade! I'm typically not someone who resorts to violence to solve my problems, but goddamn it…You just don't know when to fucking quit. I warned you and them twice to zip it, and you refused to listen. I feel me punching you was totally justified, and if I get in trouble for it, then whatever. I don't care anymore; I've fucking had it with the bullshit you and your friends give me and mine day in and day out!"
"Who the hell do you think you are to say anything about my life when up until the start of frigging October; you knew nothing about it! You labeled me a third-class citizen when Lord knows I have the same if not more than you and your little group of bitches and assholes!" Hiccup continued. "You're just fucking jealous that my family owns Berkian Estates and has for CENTURIES!" he went on. "And how dare you bring my daughter into this! Yeah, maybe Runa doesn't look like me, but not every child has to resemble their parents you fucking dickhead. You look nothing like your mother. Astrid looks nothing like her father. Who cares! Looking like doesn't change who your parents are. Are you fucking retarded or something? I was there for and definitely a part of Runa's conception, I went to all the appointments, and I was there when my little girl was born! It's my name that sits on that birth certificate in the place of dad. I am her fucking father, and Odin knows I will go to the ends of this Earth to protect her. You keep my daughter out of your mouth!"
"I knew I'd regret forgiving the lot of you, and I should have thrown your asses out in that blizzard as payback for trying to get me killed over jealous and pitiful anger that I wouldn't join your stupid group! Why would I ditch my real friends for fake ones like you? Why would I associate myself with three snobby, bitches and four overprivileged assholes who do nothing but bully others for their own amusement? Because secretly, they hate their own fucking lives, and Gods know it wouldn't be right if some people were actually happy, so you make them miserable like you are," Hiccup accused.
"That's not tr-," I got up now, standing between Hiccup and Eret.
"You better back the fuck up, Astrid," Hiccup warned as I nervously stood my ground. "You know something; it's pretty funny how fast you changed in Middle School," I stared at him not understanding. "Heh, so you really don't remember, do you?"
"Re-Remember…what?" I asked. "I haven't changed…"
"Oh, yeah…Never changed. What a load of shit…Gods, it's infuriating. And sad, Astrid. Really frigging sad actually. I don't know whats worse…That you don't remember, or that you changed and turned into such a conniving little bitch after daddy got made the mayor job and dropped every good quality you ever had. You let the money go to your head, hair, skin, nails…You forgot everything about who you are, or used to be. You let these pricks get in your head, and you decided that you couldn't hang with losers anymore. I'm disgusted and ashamed to have ever called you my best friend," Hiccup said as my eyes widened.
"I-I don't…I was…" I began, unsure of how to respond.
Hiccup began again, cutting me off. However, I felt like he was about to be in a lot of trouble because Headmaster Meatsen was coming into the room. "But you know something, whatever. You do you, Astrid. I'm not worried about it because I know that Karma comes around, and I can't wait to see what it has in store for all of you who have wronged others. I don't care what you do to or say about me, but don't you ever bring Olivia or Runa into it again, or so help me, Odin…You will regret the day you ever met me…" he pointed his finger in my face as I flinched with every word he emphasized. And with that said, Hiccup turned to see Mogadon Meatsen. Hiccup's hateful, almost hurt look never faded. "I know; I'm in trouble, so I'll just report myself to your office," he walked by him without another word.
Thuggory moved over to Eret to help him up. "Man, what the hell crawled up his ass?" Gruffnut remarked.
"As he began with; it's none of your business…But I can tell all seven of you that you went too far this time," Snotlout stated calmly, then turned to finish lunch with his friends and leaving the seven of us to wonder what he meant by we went too far.
. . .
{Saturday, November 13, 2021-11:30 pm}
(Home of Eret Trapp)
Hiccup ended up with three days of detention for punching Eret and swearing as much as he did. These past three days since the incident in the cafeteria; I haven't been able to stop thinking about what Hiccup said to me in his fury. That I changed during Middle School? That I turned into a bitch? He and I used to be best friends? Why couldn't I remember any of that? Sure, my dad won Mayorship during my fifth-grade year, and he has every year since. But when did I change? I didn't. I've always been this way. Hiccup didn't know what he was talking about. And once more, my friends were my real ones. Eret loved me, and my friends were genuine. I knew they'd have my back if something happened. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going down soon because Hiccup said Karma would come back around to get my friends and me for all the trouble we've caused to others.
Right now, I'm at Eret's for a party. My parents think I'm at home, in bed, sleeping because I put myself to bed at 8:30, using the excuse that I didn't feel well and wanted to get a good night's sleep. At 9 pm, I snuck out and was picked up a block down the street by Ragna. We didn't live far from one another anyway, Eret and me at least. It was a fifteen-minute walk at best, but Ragna lived farther, so she offered to come get me on her way there. I guess Eret's parents were going away on vacation for a week, and their plane didn't leave until 10 pm, so he waited until nine to throw the party, which worked for everyone sneaking out after their parents thought they were in bed.
Eret and I started our night by having sex before everyone showed up. After that, it was a late night pizza delivery, chips, soda, maybe a little alcohol, but I didn't drink any. My parents knew I was out because they'd been trying to message me, but I didn't open the text, so it didn't show I had read it. Right now, I'm sitting on Eret's lap with the TV on, music playing, and life was good.
"So, I'll address the dragon in the room…What do you think Snotlout meant on Tuesday when he said we went too far?" Gruffnut asked.
"Who knows?" Camicazi shrugged as she was on Thuggory's lap and he was feeling up and down her thighs and sides.
"It was kind of weird to actually see him get mad. We've been trying to get him pissed off enough to do something where he'd get into trouble for years, and talking about Olivia and Runa is the one that set him off?" Nadia shrugged.
"In fairness…He warned you guys to stop," Thuggory mentioned. "But I do agree with you," he added.
"What's your take on it, Astrid?" Eret asked.
"Honestly, we never knew about where he lived, his middle name, that he has a girlfriend of two years, and five-month-old daughter before the beginning of October. So it stands to reason that maybe anything else we did, such as calling him a loser, and know-it-all…Whatever it was, didn't bother him because he's known all along he has what he does. He knew everything we said about him wasn't true, maybe making fun of things he knew were accurate was enough to set him off. But accusing Olivia of cheating, or that Runa wasn't his…things he knows are lies…I guess that was all it took," I shrugged, unsure. Hiccup's words were still racing through my mind.
"Hiccup said family emergency was the cause of him leaving, so maybe something happened to Runa?" Ragna theorized.
"It's possible. Either way; I think it might be best to back off him for a while," I suggested. "Just until this blows over, and he looks less annoyed,"
"We'll see how it is on Monday," Eret huffed.
"We interrupt this show to bring you an exclusive news report. We go live now to the home of the Mayor."
Instantly, I reached for Eret's surround sound remote, then turned off the music before turning up the TV as the scene changed to reveal my parent's home with police cars, an ambulance or two, and…firetrucks? What was going on? I felt my heart racing in my chest as my eyes were glued to the screen. A reporter stood off to the side holding her microphone.
"I'm here at the home of Mayor Colden Hofferson where I just received word that an out of control fire has broken out only ten minutes ago according to rescue crews. Firefighters work to put out the flames, but all we know for the time being is that the mayor's family is still trapped inside on the second level,"
I rushed off of Eret's lap, grabbing my phone and purse, then hurrying out the door. I didn't care about anything else right now. My parents were trapped inside of our home, which is on fire. And I only knew because of a news report. I needed to get home, and make sure my parents were okay! That's all that mattered to me.
