=Astrid's POV=
Well, I had to admit that I was kind of glad Camicazi asked me to come to the Marine Ball with her as Hiccup's friend's date. Everything was set up so beautifully. The music was a mash-up between slow and fast, then there were some meant for large groups to do together. I had only been here fifteen minutes, and as of right now, I wasn't regretting my choice. Thuggory was nervous, and shy, but it seemed to be fading as the night continued through. I hadn't been sure what to wear for this occasion, and at the start of the afternoon once I got home from school, I contemplated not coming. Cami is the one to suggest wearing a black dress with red or gray since that is what the Marine's formal attire consisted of. At first, I couldn't find anything in my wardrobe matching those colors, and then my mom gave me the idea to wear the bridesmaid dress I used when my cousin got married last year. Thank the Gods that mom thought of it, because it was a perfect mix of what Cami told me would be good.
I wore very little makeup, and my mom did my hair for me before Hiccup and Cami came to pick me up. I rode on Stormfly beside them, and kept the dress in the bag while flying. It looked like Cami and Hiccup had the same idea because no one wanted to fly in something fancy. Upon meeting Thuggory, I could say he was handsome. Thuggory had chocolate brown hair with blue-gray eyes. The man stood at five feet and nine inches, looking to weigh somewhere between one forty-five and one fifty pounds. Thuggory and talked a bit after sitting down because Hiccup took Cami to meet some of his friends; I learned that Thuggory had a Monstrous Nightmare, male, named Killer who was black and gray with red eyes. Also, that Thuggory was eighteen, turning nineteen in June 2010. I told him about Stormfly, and that I'd been eighteen in March 2010, on the 15th.
"So what made you join the Marines?" I asked him.
"Well, I'm not really sure. I wanted to do something amazing with my life, and one day, I just decided that what could be better than joining the military and protecting my home," Thuggory responded.
"I have to agree, nothing is better than knowing the people you care about are safe, and that you're the one helping to make it happen," I smiled now.
"What about you? What do you want to do after High School?" Thuggory questioned.
"I was hoping to go to Dragon Racing; I'm on the school team right now. I actually missed tonight's practice, they run from 2:30 to 5:30 pm," I replied gently.
"I'm sorry I took you away from it," Thuggory apologized.
"Oh, no, no. It's alright. You have to let loose and have fun sometimes right? It can't be all work," I put my hand on his arm.
"Tell the military that," Thuggory joked a bit.
"Seems like they know how to have fun," I motioned around the room.
"Yeah, but this is only one night after boot camp, and just for the graduating Marines of said three-month training," Thuggory laughed a bit.
"Aw, come on. I've watched videos online about all sorts of military personnel making the best out of their situations. For me; I have school from 7:30 to 2:15 Monday through Friday. And then I have racing practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but I also have work Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Sunday is my only free day, and I spend it trying to let my body recover," Astrid explained.
"What do you do for your job?" Thuggory inquired.
"I waitress at the Berkville Café, usually from 4 to 10 pm," I informed as I looked at the dance floor to see Hiccup and Camicazi dancing to the music. Thuggory was a sweetheart, and I liked talking to and spending time with him. Oddly enough, I hadn't thought about Hiccup a lot since being in Thuggory's presence.
"I, uh, don't suppose you want to dance, do you?" Thuggory asked as I looked back at him to see him offering his hand. I smiled and placed my hand in it.
"I'd love to," I said as Thuggory pulled me up from my seat, then we walked to the open area, and began dancing to a slow song that came on.
=Normal POV=
The ball was definitely a fun time. After starting at 6:30 pm, most everyone arrived by 6:45 at the latest. Astrid enjoyed dancing with Thuggory through the slow song, then a faster one afterward. Thuggory led Astrid back to the table where Hiccup and Camicazi were, but also four newcomers.
"Oh, good, you're back. I was just about to introduce Cami to the rest of the team," Hiccup told Thuggory, who pulled Astrid's chair out for her to sit down. Once she was pushed in, Thuggory sat beside her. "This is Eret Erikson with his girlfriend Dahlia and Cody Grayson and his girl, Kirsten," he said while motioning to the people he named.
"Babe, this Hiccup Haddock, and his girlfriend, Camicazi," Cody introduced.
"And this guy over here is Thuggory Hedsen," Eret informed.
"It's lovely to meet you both," Dahlia stated with a smile.
"You as well. This is my date, Astrid," Thuggory motioned to Astrid now.
"How long have you two been together?" Kirsten wondered now.
"O-Oh, no. Thuggory and I aren't…dating. I, uh, I'm Cami's best friend and she wanted me to come with her tonight so Hiccup arranged for Thuggory to be my date," Astrid explained softly.
"Yeah, I had someone, but then we had a falling out and haven't spoken in two weeks. I called Hiccup to tell him I wouldn't be going, and then he found me Astrid. Well, more like Camicazi begged Astrid to come, and I'm thankful she agreed. I quite enjoy her company," Thuggory continued as Astrid smiled at him.
"Hey, as long as everyone is having fun then it doesn't matter how we all got here," Hiccup stated. After that, everyone was talking about life, training, the past, how they met their lover, what kind of dragon they had if one was owned, then how the bonding happened. Dinner was served at 7:15. The meal was spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread; there was a choice to have sauce on or off of the dish. At 7:50, everyone had just about finished their meal, and have moved back to the floor to keep dancing, or stayed at their tables to talk. The Strike Team, as Astrid, Cami, Dahlia, and Kirsten learned was named by Thuggory, Hiccup, Eret, and Cody, all ended up on the dance floor doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe, then Cupid Shuffle, and lastly before having to sit down for a break was the Macarena.
By the time they reached their table, cake pieces had been brought to each of their places. The group enjoyed that, and watched others dance to the music. Astrid loved it, and she did not regret her choice to come as Thuggory's date one bit, and she had fun as Hiccup promised she would. At 10:15 pm, though, Camicazi and Astrid were exhausted, so Thuggory and Hiccup decided it was best to get them home. Standing outside the hotel and saddling their dragons, Thuggory made his way towards Astrid.
"Would you like me to fly you home, Astrid?" Thuggory asked. "You mentioned living in Berkville, I live one town over in Meatsfield," Camicazi motioned for her to say yes because she'd get more time with him.
"Um, sure. That'd be great, thank you," Astrid replied to him as she pulled herself up on Stormfly, then Thuggory got on Killer. "Bye Hiccup. See you in school on Monday, Cami,"
"Bye, Astrid!" Camicazi said happily.
"Have a good night," Hiccup waved as Stormfly and Killer took to the sky.
"Think anything will develop out of tonight for them?" Camicazi wondered as Hiccup got on Toothless.
"Who knows. You find love in the strangest places and at the most unexpected times. I can't say they love one another, but Thug was into her," Hiccup shrugged as he pulled Cami up behind him, and then she held tightly around his waist.
"Astrid looked like she was enjoying her time with him. Either way, it'd be nice to see her with someone. From what the others have mentioned; she's never had a boyfriend," Camicazi stated.
"It'll happen one day. It's best not to rush these kinds of things. Come on, we should be getting to my house. I am still seventeen, and so are you. Unfortunately, I still have a curfew to abide by. Training didn't count because that was a military base and the commanding officers had us all accounted for," Hiccup said. Camicazi nodded as Toothless took to the sky and headed for Stoick and Hiccup's house in Berkville.
{11:00 pm-Hofferson Residence}
Thuggory and Astrid picked up speed with their dragons to make it home in time, not that it mattered because Thuggory was an adult, and as long as Astrid was flying with an adult then she couldn't get in trouble for being out past curfew or riding her dragon. Touching down on the ground, Thuggory got off Killer, then helped Astrid as he walked her to the front door of her home. Standing on the porch, they faced one another.
"Thank you for agreeing to come tonight, Astrid. I had a lot of fun," Thuggory said.
"Well, thank you for needing a date then or I wouldn't have been able to. You kept your word; I certainly did not regret my choice, Thuggory. I had a great time," Astrid giggled a bit as Thuggory laughed. "I should get inside,"
"Oh, um, before you do; I-I was wondering if maybe you'd like to stay in contact? Perhaps we could hook up-Hang out. Hang out is what I meant to say!" Thuggory corrected himself quickly. "And I've screwed this up," he sighed.
Astrid smiled seeing him look down. Astrid got a pen and small piece of paper out of her purse, she wrote her number down and put it in his hand with her own. "I'd really like it if we could hang out again, Thuggory," Astrid said.
"Re-Really?" Thuggory asked as Astrid nodded. "Gr-Great! I'll, uh, I'll message you when I get home, that way you can have my number?"
"I'll be waiting," Astrid replied. Thuggory smiled, and she returned it. After that, Thuggory leaned in and kissed her cheek before stepping back to see her shocked and blushing face.
"Have a good night, Astrid," Thuggory said.
Recovering from her shock, Astrid nodded to him while putting her hand on the handle to enter her house. "With what you just did, my night is perfect now," Astrid winked as she walked in her home, then shut the door. Astrid watched from the window as Thuggory threw his fist in the air, cheering that she didn't slap him for kissing her cheek. Astrid had been surprised, but didn't mind. Astrid didn't know if anything would spark between them into more than what they were now, which was friends. However, she wasn't going to stop it if something did start. Thuggory got on Killer, and left as Astrid went to her room to put away the dress, purse, and shoes, then she undid her hair before laying in bed and thinking about everything from tonight. Astrid meant what she said, it was perfect.
Around 11:30 pm, just twenty minutes after Thuggory left, Astrid's cell phone vibrated on the nightstand. Astrid reached over and grabbed it, she smiled seeing a text from a number not in her contacts. The message read;
[Hi, Astrid! It's Thuggory. I'm sure you're probably tired, I know I am. I just wanted to let you know that tonight was terrific, and one I will never forget.]
Astrid giggled a little before typing out her reply.
[Neither will I. Rest well, Thuggory. I know I will.]
Astrid pressed send, then added his number to a new contact, labeling it as; Thuggory H's Cell. Afterward, she turned the phone screen over as she got comfortable in bed. Astrid smiled as she let sleep take her away for the remainder of the evening.
