As Hiccup reached his job, he parked in the back and turned off the car. He only picked up his cell phone and walked inside after locking the car. "There you are, Hiccup. I was startin to get worried." Said Gobber as he walked over and patted him on the back.
"Sorry boss. Some girl at school got in to a fight with her boyfriend and I guess he left without her. I took her home so she wouldn't freeze." Hiccup explained gently as he punched in and put on his mechanic suit. He lifted the clipboard and began looking over the orders they had to do. Selecting the one of the top of the list he put it down and got to work. Hiccup had earlier told Astrid he'd been working for his this family friend since he was 13, Hiccup knew almost as much as Gobber did about the business now. Hiccup could fix a car, he could build one if he honestly wanted too. He could also fix small household items, Gobber's shop was kind of an all around general fix it like store.
They fixed cars, watches, phones, and more. The hours ticked away for him, they always did at work. As 6pm rolled around on the clock, Gobber came in wiping the grease off his forehead and looked at Hiccup who was working on a watch battery, and fixing it's clasp. "Lad, working on the watch you forgot to check the time. Go take your lunch." Gobber reminded him. Hiccup looked up seeing it was 20 minutes past 5:30 now, he grabbed his phone and punched out for his lunch hour, then he pulled up Astrid's number and typed out a text message to her.
::On lunch, well dinner. Want to meet me at the burger café on the corner of Forest Dr. and River St.?:: Hiccup pressed send and began walking down the street towards the café. It wasn't far for him, a 5 minute walk. Hiccup opened the door and went inside, he sat down at a booth by the window as his phone vibrated, he unlocked the screen and saw a reply from Astrid.
::B there in 10 mins. Mom droppin me off.:: Hiccup read silently. He typed back a quick response of, ::See you soon. I'm sitting by the window.:: Hiccup hit send and put his phone down as the waitress came over with a bright smile holding her order pad with a pink pen.
"Welcome. My name is Alvina. Can I start you with something to drink?" Alvina asked softly.
"Ice coffee, please." Hiccup asked smiling.
"And how would you like it?" Alvina asked now.
"Light and sweet." Hiccup replied.
"Right. I'll get that right now for you." Alvina then walked off behind the counter. Hiccup sat back and checked his phone again. There was another text, this time from Fishlegs. ::Hic! What's up?:: It read. Hiccup chuckled as he began to reply.
::Sittin at the café, Dinner break. You?:: Hiccup typed back and pressed send. Hearing the bell on the door to the café he looked up and saw Astrid walk in, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a red top, long sleeved this time. Hiccup waved his hand to her to show her where he was. Astrid came over and sat down now just as the waitress returned with his ice coffee and place it on the table.
"My apologies, I should of asked if you had anyone joining you. Can I get you something drink miss?" Asked Alvina looking at her.
"Hot chocolate please." Astrid requested softly. Alvina nodded and headed off to get it quickly. "Did you walk here? I didn't see your car in the parking lot." Astrid asked him, least she was far more pleasant this time.
"I walked from work, its only 5 minutes. Glad you made it." Hiccup told her as he stirred his coffee and dropped the straw in taking a sip.
"I also didn't take you for a coffee guy." Astrid chuckled a bit.
"I had school from 7:30-2:15. Work from 2:30-9:00, then home to do homework, before I shower and go to sleep and do it all over again. I need coffee to function properly." Hiccup laughed slightly as Alvina returned with Astrid's hot chocolate, it even had some whipped cream and chocolate sauce drizzled on top.
"Thank you." Astrid said gently.
"My pleasure. Do we know what we're having this evening?" Alvina asked then raising her order pad again.
"Ladies first." Hiccup said motioning to Astrid. She blinked a bit.
"O–oh, I've never eaten hear before..." Astrid replied blushing a bit. "C–could I see a menu please?" Astrid asked, Alvina reached to the small stand beside her and handed Astrid a menu, she began to look at it instantly.
Hiccup smiled as he looked to Alvina now. "I'll do the medium bacon cheeseburger. Lettuce, cheese, mayo, ketchup please." Hiccup said.
"Fries?" Alvina asked him.
"Of course. Decide on what you want, Astrid?" Hiccup asked her.
"Actually what you ordered sounds good. I'll have the same please." Astrid replied with a smile as she put the menu down. Hiccup blinked at her slightly as Alvina took the menu and smiled with a nod walking away. "What's that look for?" Astrid asked him now.
"You haven't seen the burgers here. I just figured as the cheer captain, you stuck to salads." Hiccup chuckled a bit as he drank more of his coffee.
"One burger isn't going to hurt me. Anyway...I met you here to talk about the project...so lets figure it out." Astrid stated as she pulled out her packet. Hiccup took his out of his back pocket and laid it out on the table. "Why do they even expect this of us...not everyone is going to just get married and crap after high school..." Astrid sighed looking over just the front page.
"I think its to test how we handle life after high school since that whole incident where people were making pregnancy pacts, and having kids in high school, then complaining school never prepared them for such. Happened a few years ago, then more and more people started doing it because they though it was cool." Hiccup sat back now.
"We shouldn't all have to suffer...But I guess in order to graduate, we have no choice." Astrid looked at him now. "I don't even know where to start..." Astrid mumbled a bit closing her eyes.
"Well it looks like we have to place ourselves in the mind set that we've been dating for a few years. The first phase of the project is proposal so safe to say, that my part is to plan a proposal and you're supposed to accept it. That has to be on camera and once that it accepted, we start planning a wedding I guess with the $3,000 budget." Hiccup stated.
"Then how does the wedding work? I mean...we're teenagers. Surely they aren't suggesting what we assume they are?" Astrid asked.
"Looks like once the engagement videos are in, the wedding planning starts. We have two months on it, whenever we finish that I guess a small ceremony gets held at either of our houses. It says we have to invite at least 10 people, and it has to be on camera. Then after that is when the teachers will start throwing random problems our way to see if we can handle it. Everything we do as a 'married couple' has to be documented on camera, to show we're working together." Hiccup explained.
"Ugh, this is way to much they expect of us..." Astrid sighed out heavily. "What are the rules? Like...we have to act married but how far does the acting have to go?..." Astrid asked now.
"Says here we can do whatever we want provided its not against school policy or the law. So my guess is, you can't kill each other, no sex, no pregnancy, nothing crazy. Says we can hold hands, kiss on the cheek, hug, dance, whatever we want. The more acting, the better the grade." Hiccup said.
"So basically...the more believable we make it, the better we do?" Astrid stated.
"That sums it up." Hiccup shrugged as their food was brought over to them by Alvina. "Thanks." Hiccup told her as she walked away again to take care of other tables.
"Seems easy enough but a lot of work. Makes sense why they gave us up until the last month of school. A 6 month project...well I'd say first we should figure out each other's schedules...so we can find times to meet up and do this..." Astrid stated as she pulled out a napkin and a pen from her purse and began writing it down. After 5 minutes, she slid it over to him. "That's my class and cheer schedule. I'm not working so I'm free usually after 5 every day. Unless I go to my boyfriend's or the mall with friends." Astrid told him.
"Right. I work 5 days a week. I'll let you know mine when I get back to work, didn't write it down yet. I'll text it to you every week I get it. Always different days. Um...so proposal is first so...I guess I'll start on that part..." Hiccup said as he ate one of his fries.
"You gonna tell me what you're doing?" Astrid asked him.
"I'm going to propose to you, obviously." Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"That's not what I mean, Hiccup and you know it." Astrid remarked to him.
"Oh you think I'm going to tell you what I'm doing? No way. Proposals are supposed to be a surprise..." Hiccup chuckled slightly. He checked his phone again, he still had 30 minutes of his break left.
"Yeah but...I have to know so we can meet up right?" Astrid argued.
"Astrid. Just eat your food and leave the proposal to me, kay?" Hiccup chuckled now as he started to eat his food. Astrid sighed as she started to eat as well. After a few minutes, Astrid looked at him again.
"So what kind of music do you like?" Astrid asked him, he looked up at her.
"Uh, what?" Hiccup asked a little confused.
"Look if we're supposed to be 'dating' by school standards, I figured we may as well get to know one another better..." Astrid said now. "So what kind of music do you like? Or...I mean, if you listen to any at all?" Astrid asked him.
"I don't really have a kind. I listen to a little of everything. Except opera." Hiccup replied as he got through half his burger, and all the fries, his coffee was gone too. "How about you?" Hiccup asked now.
"Same I guess. Do you have a favorite sport?" Astrid replied to him.
"Dragon racing." Hiccup answered.
"Cool, me too! Who is your favorite rider, mine is Fury. He's amazing." Astrid exclaimed, this was the first time Hiccup ever saw her so happy and excited. Of course Fury had to be her favorite, Fury was everyone's favorite. Hiccup sat back crossing his arms over his chest now.
"Of course, he's every teenage girl's dream guy. I don't see what's so great about him." Hiccup remarked closing his eyes.
"Oh my God, are you kidding!? He's rides a Night Fury, the fastest and rarest dragon around! He never loses a race! I'd kill to be able to go to one and meet him in person!" Astrid said happily, Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Eh, not my cup of tea. I guess he's alright. Why not tell your boyfriend to take you?" Hiccup asked her, he noticed right away that Astrid's mood dropped.
"Can we just...not talk about him right now, I'm still mad at him for abandoning me at the school...And thank you again for taking me home." Astrid mumbled looking out the window.
"Sorry. And you're welcome." Hiccup told her.
"Its not your fault. He and I have been having a lot of issues lately and fighting." Astrid sighed. "Oh here's your sweater back..." She said handing him the folded clothing. Hiccup took it from her then heard his phone ding meaning he had 5 minutes to get back to work. Hiccup stood up as he pulled his wallet, then she took hers out as well but he put his hand out to stop her making her look up at him confused.
"It's on me. Don't worry about it." Hiccup told her and dropped a twenty on the table and picked up his phone.
"Oh, thank you. Is your break over already?" Astrid asked him.
"Yeah. You got someone coming to get you?" Hiccup asked her. Astrid checked her phone, there was a text there from her mom saying she got called into work and Astrid would have to get a ride from someone. And her phone was almost dead. Hiccup could see the battery dipping in to the red zone.
"I guess not. Its okay, I'll just sit here a while until my mom gets out of work..." Astrid told him.
"Are you sure?..." Hiccup asked her now, he never agreed with leaving alone, especially when she wouldn't have a way to contact someone. He felt very uneasy about it.
"Yeah I'm okay...Just text me when you get your schedule." Astrid told him.
"I will. See ya around Astrid." Hiccup told her as he walked away from the table and left the café. Astrid sighed as she watched him walk down the street. Hiccup got back to his job and began working. It was now 7pm, and he had two hours to go. Hiccup's eyes glanced towards the café and wondered if Astrid was still there, he picked up his phone and unlocked it. A text from Fishlegs, and Tuffnut. Hiccup ignored them for now and pulled up Astrid's name, sending a text to her. ::You still at the café?:: Hiccup pressed send and got back to work.
::Yeah. Trying to get a ride from a friend.:: Came Astrid's reply across his screen. Hiccup sighed as he went to reply but Gobber came in and Hiccup hid his phone in his pocket. "Why don't you head home lad. You've done enough for today. See you on Thursday. Come in around 5." Gobber told him.
"You sure?" Hiccup asked him now. Gobber nodded and Hiccup jumped to his feet as he clocked out and headed to his car. He pulled out his phone again and went to reply to Astrid. ::Come outside. I'll be there in a minute.:: He sent it and started his car then headed back to cafe. Astrid saw this text and looked outside seeing Hiccup pull up in his car, she got her purse and went outside. "Need a ride? Boss let me off an hour early because it's slow." Hiccup asked her. Astrid climbed in the passenger's side and closed the door. The sound of a phone beeping and powering down was heard, Astrid looked at hers and closed her eyes now. "Something wrong?" Hiccup asked her.
"My phone just died, and I realized I don't have the key to my house...My mom doesn't get off until midnight...My dad is away on business." Astrid stated to him.
"Its not a problem, Astrid. Why don't you come back to my house with me? I have a charger you can use and wait til your mom gets done with work." Hiccup offered to her.
"Go to your house? Its so late already and what about homework. I'll get kicked off the cheer squad if I fail anything else..." Astrid sighed.
"Astrid, we have the same classes. You can just look on with me. Or I can make a copy of the papers for you to do." Hiccup told her.
"Alright fine..." Astrid agreed. Hiccup nodded and turned around heading up the street towards his house. They arrived 20 minutes later and Hiccup pulled in to the gate, he saw the look on Astrid's face. "This is your house?!" She exclaimed. Hiccup sighed, of course...No one knew about his house or anything about him really except Fishlegs and Tuffnut. And he'd just completely let the fact slip his mind and brought Astrid to his house. Great. To late to turn back now.
Hiccup nodded as he opened his window and pressed the button on the speaker box. "Name and business?" Came a voice on the speaker. Hiccup chuckled. "Turn on the camera and see for yourself, Hakon..." Hiccup stated gently. "Oh! Master Hiccup, I'm so sorry sir. I'll open the gate straight away!" Said the voice. Hiccup looked over at Astrid now who had her blue eyes wide with shock. Hiccup drove in and parked his car, he shut it off and got out. Astrid got out and looked around in disbelief.
"I–I can't believe you live here! Wow Hiccup...you must be loaded!" Astrid exclaimed as Hiccup led her in through the garage door. Hiccup chuckled nervously as he closed the door and flipped the light on to see the maid there.
"Welcome home young master. Can I get you anything?" She asked.
"No thanks. Astrid?" Hiccup offered her.
"I just...want to understand. Wow...Wait til everyone hears about this tomorrow." Astrid exclaimed. Hiccup's eyes widened as he whipped around and faced her.
"No! No...You can't tell anyone, Astrid...Please..." Hiccup asked her, she was slightly shocked at his response.
"What?...Why not? Hiccup this is huge! This is a big deal..." Astrid said smiling to him. This is what Hiccup had been afraid of, people only liking him for what he had. Hiccup sighed turning from her now and closing his eyes, Astrid's smile faded as she moved around to look at him now with a hand on his shoulder. "Alright Hiccup, tell me what the big deal is...Why don't you want people knowing about this?" Astrid asked softly.
"Come with me..." Hiccup told her quietly. Astrid nodded and followed him up the stairs and to a room off to the left. "Astrid...what I show you...You have to promise you will never say another word, to anyone." Hiccup told her in a serious tone. Astrid looked at him and nodded. "Say it..." Hiccup told her.
"I promise I won't breathe a word to anyone, Hiccup..." Astrid told him calmly. "I swear it." Astrid added. Hiccup sighed as he pulled a key out from under his shirt and unlocked the door opening it and bringing her inside.
"Ever heard of the wrestler Stoick the Vast?" Hiccup asked her now.
"Who hasn't? What does this have to do with anything?" Astrid asked him. Hiccup flipped on the light now and her eyes widened instantly as she saw the room, it was filled with trophies, pictures, and all sorts of other wrestling things. "Hiccup...what is all this...I don't understand?" Astrid asked looking around at everything.
"Stoick 'the Vast' Haddock is my father." Hiccup finally said, Astrid slowly turned her head and looked at him with utter shock.
