=Astrid's POV=

A lot has happened since the evening that Thuggory and I broke up in May 2011. I didn't make the team for the Archian State Racing League, so now, I was training harder than ever before while also working my butt off at a fancy restaurant in the city. After graduating High School, I knew I'd need a more stable job. My Uncle Finn told me about a place right by him that was hiring. I decided to move out of my parent's home, and in with my uncle so I'd be closer to work after I had been given the job. I worked five nights a week from 3 pm to 10 pm, I was usually back to my uncle's by 11 pm, sometimes a bit later depending on how busy it got. My duties ranged from waitressing, bussing, and hostess; I didn't care because I loved it. Occasionally, I would work the sixth night if they needed me. I certainly didn't mind the extra hours. I spent my days cleaning up my uncle's house, or running errands for him. I always got a flight in with Stormfly, and we worked on some training too. I wanted to be ready for the next tryouts session. I didn't know when it would be, so I had to be prepared for anything. The first time I learned of when the day would be by e-mail, but that was because I was on a list.

This document I filled out had your necessary information, then address, e-mail, phone number, and even social media because they posted information on their page. So I guess I would get informed by one of those methods of contact. Thuggory and I still talked every day, and if not that, always twice a week just to see how things were going in each other's lives. Thuggory tells me how his relationship with Brittany is, or sometimes work-related subjects. I knew that Thuggory, Eret, Cody, and Hiccup were home from their tour; Thuggory texted me on the 21st of February with; We're finally back on the island! -Thug. I replied that I was happy they were home, and to enjoy the time off. It was April 2012 now; I knew Hiccup was twenty, and so was I because my birthday was last month. Hiccup's was nine days after he got home from Afghanistan; that must have been a sweet treat for him. I assumed Camicazi was always with him now since my friends and I barely heard from her. I couldn't blame the girl, she hadn't seen her boyfriend in eighteen months minus the two weeks he was home on leave in September 2011. I ran into him a few times, it was good to see him, but I still worried if he was okay.

I couldn't explain why I felt like something was wrong, but it ran strong through me. Hiccup was smiling, laughing, happy. And yet, I felt as if Hiccup was wearing a mask that only I was able to see through. Thuggory told me about some of the situations that happened overseas; never anything in explicit detail, but enough to get the message across. I knew that the Marines had seen their fellow comrades die in battle, or even in their arms. Thuggory mentioned one death being particularly hard for Hiccup because his friend passed away in his arms when they were only ten minutes from the Nox base. I couldn't imagine what that pain felt like, and I didn't want to either. Gods bless those warriors for being as strong as they are. Among other updates; Heather and Fishlegs were getting married July 28th, 2012. Only three months away, and I was Heather's Maid of Honor. I would be wearing a silver one shoulder strap knee-high dress with high heel sandals to match. It was to be a tiny wedding with the immediate family of the bride and groom, then friends.

Tuffnut was in a serious relationship with a woman named Stilsta Ostberg; she had long brown hair and hazel eyes. The two of them have been dating since Valentines Day this year, 2012. Snotlout was dating a woman named Asta Holgerson; blonde hair and green eyes, and as I've come to discover recently; this woman is Alvin Ogglebert's niece. In case you don't remember, Alvin Ogglebert is the headmaster of Berkian Dragon Academy. I know they got together in September 2011. Throk and Ruffnut were doing great; they had their own apartment now, and got engaged over Christmas 2011. As far as I knew they were planning their wedding for sometime in the Spring of 2013, so perhaps around this time next year. Currently, it was the month of April in the year 2012. For Adelaide, Snotlout's little sister; she was now seventeen and going to be a Senior come September this year. I believe she has a crush, but nothing more than that on this one guy in her dragon training class.

I wasn't dating anyone because I still yearned for Hiccup, and I couldn't get him out of my head. I didn't know why either! Hiccup was with Cami, and I would never get to be with him. I needed to get over this crush on him; for Odin's sake I've had it since November 2009 when I met him in person! Ever since our hands touched, it was like lightning through my body. Now, just the thought of him gives me butterflies. There had to be a reason I was still holding onto the idea of this guy; I just didn't know what it was or why. However, I know today, I was finally meeting up with my friends! We hadn't seen one another since March for my birthday; the rest of the time was us texting. Our agreed upon place was the park, and why not? It was beautiful outside!

"Astrid!" I heard Ruffnut call me over while I was walking down the path.

"Hey!" I ran over with Stormfly following me. I hugged Ruffnut first, then the others before sitting down in the grass.

"I wonder where Cami is; we invited her," Heather mentioned.

"Well, Hiccup got home two months ago; she's probably with him," Throk chuckled. I did too, then sighed.

"Hey, you okay?" Snotlout asked.

"Hm? Yeah," I nodded to him.

"You miss him, don't you?" Ruffnut asked. I blinked quickly. "Thuggory," Okay, that made much more sense. I was worried they figured out that I like Hiccup.

"Nah. We're still good friends even though we broke up," I replied.

"Oh, look! It's Cami and Mimic!" Fishlegs pointed out. I watch Camicazi's Changewing land, then the nineteen-year-old hurried over in a panic.

"Have any of you seen Hiccup?" Camicazi asked quickly, panting.

"No, we thought he was with you," Tuffnut mentioned.

"I know the tour is over and he's back, but…I haven't seen him. Stoick and Gobber say he checks in once or twice a week, but they don't know where he is either," Camicazi cried a little.

"Have you tried any of his friends?" Heather inquired.

"I don't have their numbers," Camicazi looked down. "I'm worried about him; h-he didn't have an easy time while deployed, and I'm scared he could be hurt or upset. Like that…PTSD stuff that military people get after the war," she panicked.

"Yeah, that's some pretty serious stuff if left untreated," Snotlout mentioned as Adelaide frowned with a nod. Of course, this only made Camicazi worry more as she began to cry.

"I'll call Thuggory and see if he's seen him," I said while getting my phone.

"Oh, thank you, Astrid. You're the best friend ever," Camicazi stated as I dialed Thuggory, and hoped he could answer. "Thuggory, hi," I greeted after he picked up.

"Astrid? To what do I owe the pleasure of the call on this Friday afternoon?" Thuggory inquired to me after I put him on speakerphone.

"Well, to be honest; I'm looking for Hiccup. You're on the speaker by the way. Have you seen him?" I wondered.

"Uh, every day I do. He's sitting right next to me; we're at work. Well, lunch break anyway. Why you looking for him?" Thuggory questioned.

"Um, Camicazi is at the park with our friends right now. She said that she knows the tour is over, but hasn't seen Hiccup at all. Also that his dad and godfather say he's checked in but they don't know where he is either. Cami said she's worried that's suffering from PTSD because of things that happened overseas," I informed. The line suddenly went quiet.

"Astrid, take me off speakerphone," Thuggory stated in a firm tone. I blinked a little, then did as he asked.

"Okay, you're off now. What's…going on?" I mentioned curiously. At that moment, Thuggory began to explain to me that Hiccup hasn't talked to Camicazi since the day he got home from the tour because they were broken up and due to the fact that Camicazi cheated on Hiccup with someone else. I was appalled! Why was Cami coming here and lying to us about Hiccup's whereabouts when she damn well knew why Hiccup wouldn't speak to her?! When Thuggory finished, I took a moment before speaking. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," I said, and then hung up the phone.

"Thank you so mu-," Camicazi started, but I glared at her.

"Save it, Cami," I retorted coldly as she stopped quickly, looking shocked at my tone. "How dare you come here and lie to my friends and me about the situation?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, Astrid," Camicazi stammered a but.

"That's dragon dung! I know what you did to Hiccup," I sneered angrily.

"What is going on?" Throk asked.

"Camicazi and Hiccup are broken up, and have been since February 20th this year when Hiccup came home from war and found in bed with another guy!" I told them as their eyes widened and looked at her. "Hiccup won't talk to her because they aren't together anymore; she broke his heart all because she didn't like the fact that Hiccup was busy on deployment, and couldn't talk to her a lot,"

"Cami, is this…true?" Heather wondered.

"I-I only cheated on him once. I-I was drunk at a party, and not thinking right," Camicazi said quickly. I refused to let her lie to my friends, and I didn't care if I got into trouble for this either. I stared her down, then slapped her across the face. Camicazi brought a hand to her cheek as she looked at me slowly, and in shock.

"Don't you dare lie to my friends like you lied to Hiccup, either! You got mad that Hiccup was sick, and wouldn't tell you about losing his friends in war; that he didn't want to burden you with all he had to see, and you went off and slept with someone else on your birthday, and what was your four-year anniversary with Hiccup! Even after he went back when leave was over, you continued to be unfaithful to him! Hiccup went to your house to propose to you! To ask you to be his wife, and even though he JUST came home from war, he walked in on the sight of you fucking someone else!" I screamed at her.

Camicazi bit back with tears in her eyes. "Hiccup didn't vanish; he went somewhere you couldn't find him. Places you can't access to see him. You know what you did, and why you can't contact him. Yet, you insisted on coming here to use us to get information! Some friend you are, and right now, I think I'm gonna go. You all can hang with her if you want, but I won't be lied to or used because she fucked up," I stated coldly as I whistled for Stormfly, then jumped on her back before taking off. I couldn't believe the nerve of Camicazi. However, as angry as I was; my concern was Hiccup. It made sense now, or at least, it was starting to. The reason I couldn't stop thinking about Hiccup was because I felt like something was wrong, and I was right all this time. Hiccup had been deeply hurt by Camicazi, and his sudden disappearance from everyone's lives was because he needed time to heal. My heart went out to him; fresh home from war and having to see the woman you love with another man? How could anything just recover from that. I didn't blame Hiccup for ghosting on everyone, and all I was doing now was praying for the chance to get to see him and make sure he was doing alright.