It was silent between the two of them after Hiccup stated that Stoick the Vast, the famous wrestler was his father. Astrid couldn't find her words. Hiccup hadn't planned on saying anything about it but when he offered to bring Astrid to his place for a while, he forgot she knew nothing about who he was. Up until 6 hours ago, she didn't even know he existed. And here he was telling her that he was the son of a world famous wrestler. Astrid was quiet for about 15 minutes trying to process it all. "Okay, wait just a second! Hold on...You're the son of...He's your father!? H–How?!" Astrid asked him quickly.
"Well gee Astrid...I'm pretty sure the Sex Ed and how babies are made class was 3 years ago..." Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Don't get smart with me, Hiccup! This is monumental! Why in Odin's name would you keep this a secret? Do you have any idea how popular you'd be if everyone knew about this..." Astrid told him now. Hiccup sighed as he turned off the light, shut the door, re-locked it then started walking down the hall towards another door and opened it. "Is that another room of something huge in your life that I have to keep a secret?" Astrid asked, Hiccup rolled his eyes and flipped the light on.
"No, this is just my bedroom so I can make you those copies..." Hiccup stated as he walked inside of the room and tossed his backpack on the bed. Astrid slowly walked in and looked around. There were so many posters of Fire Storm, the band he and his friends had. Since they wore different outfits, and kept their faces covered, no one knew who they were. Hiccup wasn't worried about this secret getting out, or his dragon racing one since Toothless was kept out in the stables and it was to dark for her to see that far back.
"Woah, you like Fire Storm?!" Astrid asked now seeing everything in his room.
"Well yeah, who doesn't?" Hiccup asked as he pulled the papers out of his bag.
"You didn't seem the type to like that kind of music is all. You have...a lot of secrets don't you?" Astrid asked him as she looked over at him now. Hiccup sighed, if only she knew just how many.
"You can sit down you know...you're gonna be here for a few hours until after midnight. It's only 8:45..." Hiccup said now as he moved to his computer and powered it on, then his printer/scanner/copier.
"So...Are you gonna tell me why this all this...is a secret?" Astrid asked as she sat down on the edge of his bed watching him. Hiccup signed in to his computer and had instant messages popping up like crazy from Fishlegs and Tuffnut wondering where he was. They were trying to ask him about the next practice and he was typing back as fast as he could that Astrid was over and to shut up. He closed down the windows and started copying the papers for her, waiting for that he turned in his chair and looked at her.
"It's a secret because I don't want what you did tonight, to happen to everyone else." Hiccup said firmly.
"What do you mean? I was shocked, its...incredible. But wait...your last name is Borgeson...Stoick's last name is Haddock...you can't be his son." Astrid asked softer now. "You can tell me, I swore I'd keep it a secret.." Astrid added to him with a smile now.
"Okay...I'll tell you. My father was a full time wrestler before I was born, then one day a match got out of control and the other wrestler threw a chair into the crowd. My father stopped it and saved a woman, who ended up becoming his wife and having me. I was born a Haddock...and then after my mother died when I was 7, my father went back to wrestling full time. We moved here and when we did...I asked him if we could just act like I wasn't his son, because I didn't want to be made popular over who I was the son of...I wanted people to like me for me, not for who I was related to, or how much money my family has, or any of that...I just wanted to be me, a normal teenager with a normal life so we made it so our family friend was my legal guardian and I took his last name. My father is always traveling so it made sense to put someone else in charge of me." Hiccup explained to her.
Astrid only listened to him, she felt bad in a way. "But Hiccup, you should be proud of who you are. All parts of you." Astrid told him. Hiccup handed her the papers now and sat back.
"I am proud of who I am but its just not what I want, Astrid. I don't want to be made popular over the fact my dad is a wrestler...Besides, I don't want that popularity. People always hanging around, wanting me to be the leader, or following my trends and what not. I just want an average life. Only Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and now you know about this...They have kept this secret for the last 10 years, Astrid...and I'm asking you to do the same. Don't tell anyone about this...Please." Hiccup asked her.
"Okay...I promise I won't tell anyone. If it counts for anything, I was shocked but it doesn't change how I see you. You're still Hiccup Haddock-Borgeson or whatever. Still a kid in school who I'm paired up with for the next 6-7 months. Being popular just means having more people around." Astrid stated taking the papers from him.
"You are one out of 4 who think that way. I don't want a lot of people in my life, less of a chance to be used or hurt. But enough about all this...tomorrow is a school day. Here's my charger for your phone, I'm sure your mom must be worried about you." Hiccup said unplugging the red wire from the wall and handing it to her, she took it with a smile and plugged her phone in.
"Thanks. And I'm sorry I gave you so much attitude before...I just, this project is making my relationship worse and Eret and I fought about it earlier..that's why I was walking because he refused to drive me home." Astrid sighed looking down.
"I know. I was parked a few spots away when you two argued, I left to go to work and saw you walking. I figured it out on my own." Hiccup informed her calmly. Astrid gasped a bit but closed her eyes. "He's a jerk, Astrid and you deserve much better." Hiccup said.
"Its been like this for the last year...I have my suspicions he's been cheating on me but I guess...I don't know. I'm afraid to leave him." Astrid replied now. This got Hiccup curious, and even a little worried. "He doesn't hit me or anything but...his words are cold and harsh, always telling me that no one would want me, he's the best I'll ever get...It's stupid. I'm fine..." Astrid said, it seemed like she was trying to hold back from crying. As he was about to say something, Hiccup heard the instant message ding from his computer and looked over now. He groaned a bit and moved to the side motioning for Astrid to look at the screen, she got up and looked. "Really! He thinks I'm cheating on him!?" Astrid yelled suddenly. Hiccup winced a bit, she had a loud voice when she was mad.
"Want to call him or something?" Hiccup asked her.
"If I call from here, it'll just make it worse...But...you could. I can hide, you can tell him I'm not here? Please?" Astrid suggested with a bit of hope in her voice.
"Are you kidding me, he'll kick my ass if I talk to him!" Hiccup protested quickly. "Have you forgotten that I'm the loser? Loser and popular crowds don't mix, much less speak to one another..." Hiccup sighed.
"No he won't...Just tell him I came over to talk about the project and left with my mom to go out to dinner. In that time, I can charge my phone and when he asks where I am, I can say I was at the airport picking my dad up from his trip...It'll buy me time until tomorrow...Please Hiccup?...I'm keeping your secret for you...Just get him to go away..." Astrid pleaded softly. Hiccup sighed as he faced the computer.
"Fine. Go...stand by the door, the camera won't see you and be quiet..." Hiccup said as he pressed the camera button and it began to call Eret, Astrid's boyfriend.
"Yo! All of you ssh! Borgeson actually called me. Where's my girl?" Eret asked him in a mean tone.
"She isn't here." Hiccup answered simply.
"Liar, she said she was meeting up with you at 6 to talk about the damn project. Where is she?!" Eret asked again. Hiccup narrowed his eyes.
"Look, you got some nerve messaging me, and assuming she's here cheating on you. For your information, she hates my guts. She was never here, we talked about the project at the café by my job, her mom came to get her and they went out for dinner. That's all I know. Why not call her phone or something instead of pester me. I just got out of work and I'm not in the mood to deal with you, Eret." Hiccup stated coldly. Astrid was listening, she didn't think Hiccup could get such a mean tone but she didn't blame him. Her boyfriend was harassing him.
"Are you getting an tude with me, Borgeson? I'll put you in your place so fast your mother will feel it...Oh that's right. Your mom's dead so I guess she won't feel anything." Eret smirked. That did it, no one talked about his mother.
"Hey ass-face. Shut that hole in your face before I fucking shut it for you. You keep my mother out of this or I'll put you in your place..." Hiccup growled a bit. Astrid's eyes widened, he was threatening him, threatening to kick his ass if he didn't stop.
"O–oh ho ho ho! What's this? Hiccup has a pair does he? You think you have what it takes to step to me?!" Eret said angrily now, clearly he didn't like being talked back to.
"I don't think I do. I know I do but I'd rather save you the trouble making a fool out of yourself in front of all your little friends." Hiccup remarked.
"Watch it, Borgeson...You're testing the limits of my patience." Eret said back.
"And you're making empty threats over a computer screen. You got something to say, I'll gladly tell you where I live and you can say it to my face that way I can knock you on your ass when you do. We both know you won't fight me because you'll get suspended from the Fight Club and that would just brake your wittle heart." Hiccup said with a fake pout. "Now screw off. Your girlfriend isn't here. Oh...And the next time you bring my mother in to anything...You will regret it." Hiccup warned in a cold tone as he pressed the 'call end' button before Eret could answer again. Hiccup pushed out of his chair and stood up angrily. Astrid walked over to him now and put her hand on his.
"I'm sorry about him...He had no right to talk about your mom, Hiccup. Thank you for not telling him where I was..." Astrid said softly to him.
"Don't worry about it...One day, he'll get what's coming to him..." Hiccup said in a low tone.
"I've never heard you get so defensive before, not gonna lie. It was kind of hot. How often do you see the victim stand up for themselves with no fear?" Astrid smiled at him. Hiccup blushed a little, Astrid pretty much just called him hot for standing up for himself.
"It was nothing, Astrid. Seriously, you should lose him. That really what you want to deal with the rest of your life? I mean come on, you're smarter than that, better than that. He doesn't even trust you, he accused you of cheating on him, with me." Hiccup stated sitting back down.
"I know...it's just hard because well its how the ranks go..." Astrid told him.
"Ranks? You want to talk about ranks? My dad is the wrestling champion, look where I live, Astrid. Like you said, I'd have instant popularity, with everyone always wanting to be around me. The girls, the parties, the everything. I could have it all in one phone call. But I don't, because I don't want it. I don't choose to have it be that way. This, you being with him is a choice..." Hiccup told her as he looked back at the screen, Eret was typing to him again. Hiccup sighed as he put his hands on the keyboard buttons and started typing as well. Hiccup was an extremely fast typer, Astrid was surprised. She watched Hiccup write the message to him. ~Hey, douche bag let me save you some trouble. Let me ask ya something. Why would she hang with a loser like me? She thinks I'm invisible, trust me as soon as she found out we got paired she nearly broke my shoulder with the school building wall. We only met up to talk about the project. We met on my break at work, she wasn't even here. You're so concerned with her cheating on you, maybe you should look at yourself and make sure you don't suck. If your insecurities are that bad to think she'd cheat on someone like YOU with someone like ME, then you got some serious issues to address. Now fuck off and leave me alone.~ Hiccup sent it then turned off his messenger and laptop. He rubbed his temples now as Astrid pulled out a bottle of pain killers and handed him two with a water bottle that hadn't been used yet, he accepted it and took them.
"Being a woman, it helps to be prepared..." Astrid shrugged. "So it's only 9...what do you wanna do? Talk about the project more?" Astrid asked.
"Sure if you want." Hiccup replied.
"Cool, there's stuff I don't quite get anyway...So can we...listen to music while we talk about it?" Astrid asked him.
"You're a background music girl, aren't you?" Hiccup asked with a smile as he got up and reached for his phone and plugged it in to the docking station. "Fire Storm?" He asked scrolling through the music now.
"Please? Oh do you have their new song...Shit, I forget the name but I love the lyrics!" Astrid exclaimed. Hiccup only smiled now.
"Play It Again? Or Remind Me?" Hiccup asked her. Of course he knew them all, he did write them. Astrid arched a brow at him now.
"Play It Again? Is that one new? Huh, I follow their page on TunesPort and never saw that one. Do you have it, I wanna hear it!" Astrid asked him smiling wide now. Hiccup sighed in relief, Play It Again hadn't been released yet. Its debut was the upcoming show. Hiccup was going to need a lie to explain how he had it before everyone else did.
"It's their newest. But...you can't say anything because technically it hasn't been released yet. I only have it because my dad knows the band and sometimes I get to hear things early...It'll be released in about two weeks at the concert in the city. Are you...going?" Hiccup asked her.
"I want to so badly! But my mom didn't get the ticket in time..." Astrid's face fell, Hiccup leaned over to his night stand drawer and pulled out a ticket, and handed it to her. Her mouth dropped open in shock. "Hic–Hiccup, I can't take this! Do you know how much they are worth!" Astrid exclaimed pushing it away but Hiccup pushed it back in to her hands.
"I can't get the night off work. So go on, don't let it go to waste. My dad can get them for me anytime as long as I keep my grades up, have a good time." Hiccup said to her with a smile. Out of nowhere, Astrid swung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, she was almost crying.
"Oh my god, Hiccup...thank you so much. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She said happily. Hiccup chuckled, it was good to see her happy. "Can I hear the song now?..." Astrid asked calming down a bit. Hiccup nodded as he scrolled through them and picked the one she wanted to hear. It started easy with light strums on an acoustic guitar, Astrid sat down on the edge of his bed listening to the soft tune. Hiccup was tapping his fingers along with it, Astrid watched him as the lyrics began to play. Astrid loved it, literally she was swaying to the music with a wide smile. It took everything Hiccup had not to start singing it, if he did then she would of figured it out to easily. The song was over 3 ½ minutes later and Astrid was laughing happily. "That was an amazing song! And thank you again for the ticket...I've never seen them live. And this is front row! Hiccup, are you sure?" Astrid asked again.
"Yes, I'm sure, Astrid. Seriously. Take it and have a good time." Hiccup laughed now.
"Even without all this, Hiccup...I think people would think you're awesome. I do. Guess I just needed to get to know you a little." Astrid smiled to him.
"Eh, don't go spreading that around. People might get the wrong idea." Hiccup chuckled to her as the next song began.
"I wouldn't care. You're cool and I'm having fun. I wish there were two tickets, I'd definitely take you with me. Eret hates Fire Storm, he hates that I love them." Astrid laughed.
"S–so, about the project before we get side-tracked?" Hiccup reminded her.
"R–right um...I'll get my packet." Astrid replied going over to her purse and pulling it out. Hiccup grabbed his and looked over it. "So...I get the marriage thing but what about living arrangements, balancing a check book and everything? We aren't getting real money right?" Astrid asked.
"Definitely not. Looks like when we start the 'marriage', its assumed we were living apart beforehand, and both have jobs. I assume that is the math portion of this project. We have to select the job we want, figure out minimum wage there, average hours and what not. Then for the arrangements...I guess we have to make it seem like we're existing in one space? I'll check tomorrow." Hiccup said to her.
"So what kinds of things do you think they can throw our way to deal with?" Astrid asked setting the packet in her lap.
"Average stuff. Losing a job, possible eviction, pregnancy even?" Hiccup started listing things off.
"So question...where are we filming our so called place of residence? If you use your house then people will see it and your secret could be let out?" Astrid asked him now.
"There's an in-law unit off to the side of this house. We'll use that. It's a two bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, basement, small attic space. I can wire the camera's to be set on remote control and each time we go to do the project parts where we act, I can flip them on." Hiccup told her.
"Are we allowed to do that?" Astrid asked.
"Doesn't say we can't. Said anything we want as long as its not illegal..." Hiccup stated reading over the next page. "So what job would you want most?" Hiccup asked her now.
"I don't know...never gave it much thought." Astrid shrugged slightly.
"If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be?" Hiccup asked smiling. Astrid began to think now.
"Training dragons." Astrid smiled wide now, it took Hiccup a little by surprise.
"Really? I didn't see you as the type." Hiccup asked her.
"Yeah. I love them...I–I have one at home. A female Terrible Terror...she's red and pink with a little yellow." Astrid said as she started flipping through her phone which had finally powered on and showed him a picture. "I named her Pinky because when I got her she was so tiny." Astrid smiled now. Hiccup looked with a nod as he gave a whistle with his fingers and a small yellow and two different shades of green Terror charged in to the room and tackled him, licking his cheek. He laughed as it settled in his lap. "Oh my god, its adorable!" Astrid said reaching her hand forward slowly.
"This is Sharpshot. I rescued him..." Hiccup said as Sharpshot pressed his nose to Astrid's hand and then licked it, she giggled.
"He's precious...Hehe, I think he likes me." Astrid said as Sharpshot jumped on her lap and curled up comfortably there.
"Seems too." Hiccup smiled at her. Suddenly Astrid's phone rang and she looked at the screen with a sigh, she put her finger to her lips and Hiccup knew who it was, he lowered the music and nodded to her.
"Hey babe." Astrid greeted gently, she put it on speaker phone now.
"Where the hell have you been! I've been calling for hours!" Eret yelled out, Astrid winced a bit.
"I told you I had to meet up with my partner. My phone died, I just got it back on the charger..." Astrid lied quickly although she hated to do it.
"Were you at his place? Was he a good fuck?" Eret scoffed, Astrid glared at the phone now.
"How dare you! I would never cheat on you, Eret! We met in a public place for an hour! My mom came to get me and we went to dinner, now we're heading to the airport because my dad is flying in tonight." Astrid said angrily.
"Well your partner is going to be beaten for how he talked to me!" Eret scolded, as Astrid rolled her eyes.
"Are you kidding me? You sent him a message?!" Astrid sighed.
"You weren't answering your phone!" Eret stated.
"It was dead! Besides, if I don't fuck you, why would I fuck him? I told you, I'm not in to sex. Why the hell can't you respect that!" Astrid yelled at him. This took Hiccup by surprise, and made him rather uncomfortable. He got up, getting his phone and motioned to the door, mouthing he was going to step outside for now. Hiccup opened the door and walked in to the hallway with a sigh.
"Well that was awkward..." He said as he called Fishlegs after noticing there was a missed call from him. "Hey Legs, sorry I missed ya." Hiccup said quickly after he answered.
"No prob, let me get Tuff in, he's on the other line." Fishlegs said, there was a click and the call connected to a three-way. "Yo who is yelling on your side, Hic?" Fishlegs asked.
"Its Astrid, long story. Tell ya later. Anyway...what's going on guys?" Hiccup asked.
"Bored. So wait, she's actually at your house right now?!" Tuffnut replied.
"Yes, Tuff." Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Details!" Fishlegs demanded with a laugh. "And I thought you didn't want anyone knowing about where you live?"
"Later! And her mom had to work after we met up at the café, I wasn't thinking when I offered her my place to stay until her mom got off at midnight. Don't worry, she's gonna keep it a secret. I made her promise, like I did with you. Ugh...and as for practice...tomorrow. I have it off from work." Hiccup told them.
"Alright. Your house as usual?" Tuffnut asked.
"You know a bigger place where parents aren't around and a sound proof basement?" Hiccup questioned.
"No, good point..." Fishlegs chuckled. Hiccup took the phone down listening to Astrid continue to fight with Eret over the phone.
"I'll call you guys tomorrow. I got homework to finish..." Hiccup told them.
"See ya tomorrow, Hic." Fishlegs said.
"Bye, Hiccup!" Tuffnut called before Hiccup hung up and continued down the hall to the stairs and went in to the kitchen to get a soda for himself, he cracked it open and sipped it off the top. He was eating a piece of pie when Astrid came down the stairs sniffling a bit. Was she crying? Must of been a bad fight. Hiccup saw her walk in and move towards him.
"You don't have to pretend like you didn't hear all that..." Astrid said sadly. Hiccup went to the freezer and got her a small ice cream bar.
"I hear it helps." Hiccup winked as she smiled a bit and opened the wrapper.
"You're a pretty easy going guy, Hiccup. I like that about you." Astrid said taking a bite.
"Why be complicated? So when's he going to beat me?" Hiccup asked her taking another bite of his pie.
"He won't. But...my mom is home now, do you mind giving me a lift?" Astrid asked him softly.
"Nah. Got your stuff?" Hiccup asked as he reached for his keys on the hook and put his wallet in his pocket. Astrid held up her purse with a nod. "Let me finish my pie and we'll go." Hiccup smiled at her and continued to eat.
"Looks good, what kind?" Astrid asked him.
"Lemon." Hiccup replied as he put a small bite on his spoon with whip cream and held it out to her. "Want to try?" Hiccup asked.
"Oh no...That's okay!" Astrid said quickly.
"Come on. I won't get ya sick, I promise." Hiccup offered again. Astrid sighed as she leaned forward and took the bite from him, her eyes lit up.
"Oh Thor that is good!" Astrid gleamed.
"Homemade by yours truly mi'lady." Hiccup told her.
"By you?!" Astrid asked now. Hiccup nodded. "I need that recipe..." Astrid said as she took another bite of her ice cream. Hiccup smiled as he finished and cleaned the plate and spoon, resting them in the strainer to dry.
"Ready?" Hiccup asked her, she nodded and followed him outside and got in the car, he got in and started it up. As they were driving, Astrid kept looking at her phone now, Hiccup could tell she was remembering the fight with Eret. "You don't have to deal with him, Astrid. You'd be a lot happier." Hiccup said.
"I–I am happy..." Astrid said quickly.
"No you're not. Its in your eyes...You don't have to be afraid of him. You won't be alone if you leave him." Hiccup told her as he pulled on her street.
"Yeah I would..." Astrid sighed finally. Hiccup stopped at her house and parked the car.
"No you wouldn't. Because you're a beautiful, smart girl and you know you can do way better than sir jackass. If anything...he's the one who would lose." Hiccup told her softly. Astrid smiled at him.
"Thanks for everything tonight, Hiccup." Astrid said as she climbed out of the car. "Friends?" She asked him.
"Friends, Astrid. Good night." Hiccup told her. Astrid nodded.
"Night Hiccup." Astrid replied as she closed his door and she walked in to her house smiling. Hiccup returned home, he did his homework and finished it by 11:30, he took a quick shower then finally went to bed after making sure his phone wasn't on silent and set to get up at 6:30am.
