=Camicazi's POV=
{April 2011}
~Flashback; September 2010~
I just started at Archian State University two weeks ago, and have already been invited to my first party which was being thrown by one of the top sorority houses. I was told it was some Freshman welcoming something or other, and after asking around, I learned that this house does it every year. I figured why not go and see if I can't make some friends at college. Heather and Fishlegs were attending, but had their own apartment off campus. I knew that Astrid was working in the city, and living with her uncle Finn so she wouldn't have such a long travel each day, and also, she was training for tryouts to the Archian State Racing League. The twins were attending the Berkville Community College for design; I know they wanted to work on decorating for indoor and outdoor. Throk was working with his mother at The Sanctuary Preserve. Everyone was doing good after High School. Of course, for me, I missed my boyfriend who left for Afghanistan about two weeks ago. It was a hard goodbye because I wouldn't see him again until he got his two-week leave time. Thankfully, we had letters, e-mail, Skype, and instant message to stay in contact with.
I reached the sorority house around 8 pm, and was brought in by the residents there, then introduced as Cami because I'd told them I preferred to be called that. By 9:30 pm, I was sitting off to the side while hoping to hear from Hiccup. However, I knew it was 2 am in Afghanistan because of the fact, they were four hours and thirty minutes ahead of Archian State time. I highly suspected my boyfriend was asleep or working; Hiccup warned me of what things would be like with him deployed. I wasn't fond of it, but I promised to support his decisions as long as he vowed to come home to me. It hurt to hear, but Hiccup swore that whether he was alive or dead; he would return home. It offered little comfort to me, but I understood he couldn't make a promise to come back alive when everyone lived by the words of 'Tomorrow is promised to no one.' I didn't like it one bit, and I couldn't lie about that.
"What's a pretty thing like you sitting over here alone for?" came a male voice. I looked up quickly to see a male with short, light brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Oh! I, uh, was hoping to hear from my boyfriend, but I guess he's already asleep or doing something else," I replied.
"At this hour? Kind'a lame," the boy said.
"I'll have you know that my boyfriend is an A.S. Marine, and currently deployed to Afghanistan for the next eighteen months," I remarked.
"My bad. So you got a name?" the male asked me.
"Cami," I answered.
"I'm Harald," the man, Harald introduced. "Well, since your boyfriend is busy, want to join the party?" he asked.
"I'm good here, thank you," I said.
"Your choice, I suppose. But hey, if I can offer some advice?" Harald informed as I glanced at him. "You don't have to just sit around waiting on him when you got your own life; you shouldn't put yourself on hold to live by his schedule. Experience your life, and let him live his. You two will talk when you're both available. Right now, he's working or sleeping, and you're here doing nothing. Just because you have a boyfriend doesn't mean you can't have any fun. If you're ever looking for a good time to enjoy the college years, hit me up. Harald Hendersen; Dorm #107 in building D,"After that, he walked away as I sat there looking at my phone. Who was I kidding? I wouldn't hear from Hiccup tonight, so why was I waiting around for him to contact me.
~End Flashback~
It's been eight months total now that Hiccup has been deployed, and something is different about him. I couldn't put my finger on what exactly, but I've been with Hiccup for three years, so I knew something was off recently. It started a few months back at the five-month mark; every time Hiccup and I get time to talk to one another, it seems like he uninterested and doesn't speak much. I asked if he was okay, and he insists he's fine; just tired. I knew the work he did, and that it was tiring, but all the time? I didn't like it, and it concerned me to be truthful. Stoick and Gobber seemed to think Hiccup was perfectly fine, but to me, no. Hiccup had changed, or he still was slowly, and I wanted to get to the bottom of why.
My schooling was going fantastically; I was going out to be a social worker. I wanted to work with kids, getting them adopted by loving families, and also counseling them if they had problems. I love ASU; it was a phenomenal college, and I'd made a lot of new friends, but still kept in contact with the ones I'd met at BDA. We tried to meet up at least twice a month to hang out and catch up, but lately, I'd been going to more parties because it took my mind off wondering if Hiccup was alright or not. I never drank a lot, but I'd enjoy the music, and dance a little. I loved Hiccup, I really did, but it was times like these where I've only seen him through a screen for the last eight months that I disliked his military career. Sometimes Hiccup would just call to tell me he's alright and wanted to say goodnight or that he was going on a mission and wouldn't be able to talk later.
Truthfully, it felt like we were falling apart because of the distance. Even this far into the tour, almost half-way done with, and Hiccup still didn't know when he was getting his leave. I knew something was bothering Hiccup, and it hurt a little to know that he wouldn't tell me whatever it was. I felt like he was keeping secrets, and I didn't like that at all. Yet, as much as I tried; Hiccup would talk about anything regarding Afghanistan, just that it was one day after another of living the military life while fighting a war. As much as I wanted to hear from him; I had to face facts that Hiccup was too busy for me sometimes. That Harald guy was right. Why should I put everything on my life second to Hiccup when he didn't do the same for me? I knew he was in a war, but I barely got to hear from him once a week, and even then, I could hardly hear him or he was tired. I'm in college, and I should be enjoying it, so, I'm going to. When Hiccup made time for me, I'd make it for him, until then, I'm not waiting around to live my life according to his.
=Astrid's POV=
Well, I'm a High School graduate now and living with my uncle Finn in the city to work while training for the next tryouts to the racing league. Thuggory and I are still together, and have been dating a year last November. It's been a year and five months now, six come May when Thuggory hits the half-way mark of being deployed. So far, it's been eight months, and surprisingly; it's not too hard for us to stay in contact. We have Skype, instant messages, and e-mail. Granted, it's not an every day reply since he's working or sleeping, and I'm working, but we always talk. Thuggory told me about some of the deaths within the company he's apart of, nothing with details; just that there had been some men and women who passed away. My heart went out to him; it couldn't be easy to lose a friend to war. I consoled the best I could, but it was easy when we're this far away from one another.
There have been some updates among my friends. Heather and Fishlegs were engaged now; he proposed last Christmas after living together since August when Thuggory and Hiccup left for deployment. I believed their wedding was sometime in the summer of 2012. Throk and Ruffnut had been recently discussing to live together, but nothing official just yet. Tuffnut was seeing someone, and as far as I knew it was nothing serious. Snotlout on the other hand was still single; I heard he'd been with one girl, but it didn't last because she lived on her phone. That's what Snotlout said at least. Things were going well for everyone, though, I found myself thinking about Hiccup more. I know that's wrong because I'm taken, and I shouldn't be concerned with my best friend's boyfriend, yet I was.
All the times I spoke to Camicazi, she would be complaining about the fact she barely got to talk to Hiccup, and actually got a little upset after I told her that Thuggory and I spoke every day, or tried to. Camicazi didn't like it because Hiccup and Thuggory were teammates with Eret and Cody, so why couldn't Hiccup talk to her more. I didn't know, but I suggested she speak to Hiccup about it. The next time I asked how things went, Camicazi said Hiccup didn't want to tell what was bothering him. It got me wondering the same thing; why wouldn't Hiccup talk about what was wrong, and I could sense that there was something; I just didn't know what exactly. I tried asking Thuggory, and he said that Hiccup did a lot of missions, guards, and patrols during different hours of the day and night because of Toothless blending in with the night sky, and being silent almost. I understood that; nothing held a candle to a Night Fury. However, even with all that, I still felt like something wasn't right. And truthfully, my feelings for Hiccup never faded. If anything now, they were developing more because I was concerned for Hiccup, and wanted to know if he was alright.
This situation I was faced with made me consider more to the equation because it wasn't just me that I had to think about. There was also Thuggory too. Now, I knew he was alright except for missing some terrific friends who passed away to the war. However, I had to consider my place with him. Thuggory and I made an incredible couple, and I did like him a lot, but my love for him was more friendship side rather than lovers. I felt romantic feelings for Hiccup, and I could no longer deny it. Yes, I knew that Hiccup was my best friend's boyfriend, but I couldn't help but feel like something was going to happen, and it would be life-changing that involved several people at once. Mind you, I wouldn't ever step in between Camicazi and Hiccup's relationship; I wasn't that kind of girl. In all this, I had to think about my future, and sadly, I don't believe it includes Thuggory as my boyfriend anymore. I couldn't love him when my heart went out to someone else, and it wasn't fair to tell Thuggory I loved him when I didn't. I didn't want to hurt him, but I felt that it was best if we broke up. I started considering this option a few weeks back when I heard a song on the radio; O-Town's Nothing At All.
This was a song talking about a couple together, but the male felt like the woman wasn't all there with her feelings for him. The boyfriend loved the girl, but if she didn't love him back fully, then he didn't want to be with her at all. I understood the message of the lyrics, to not be with someone if you couldn't give them your all. I cared about Thuggory, and would remain his friend if he desired, but I couldn't be with him anymore because I can't give him all my love, when my heart yearns for another. As I said, I wouldn't step between Hiccup and Cami, but I wouldn't lie to myself or to Thuggory anymore. It was evident now that while I may never stand a chance in Valhalla of being with Hiccup; Thuggory and I were not meant to be because if we were then being with him would erase Hiccup from my thoughts and heart, and that is not the case. When Thuggory came home on his leave time; I was going to break up with him for the good of both of us.
