Astrid had made it to school on her own, she parked in Hiccup's spot and got out of the car after turning it off. Astrid wasted no time as she entered the school and went to the first class, turned the tape in to Mr. Bludvist and took her seat. Astrid sighed as she pulled out her phone to text Hiccup, ::Hey, how are you feeling? Handed the tape in.:: Astrid pressed send as she closed her eyes, there was still another 10 minutes until class started. Mr. Bludvist walked over to her with his grade book and sat in the seat beside her. "No Hiccup today?" He asked.
"No sir, he wasn't feeling good and decided to stay home." Astrid replied softly looking at him.
"Shame. Its rare he misses school, especially when there's a field trip. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about your grade." Mr. Bludvist stated. "Not doing as well as you were last year. If you fail one more assignment, Astrid, I will have to tell your coach and you will be removed as cheer captain." He added. Astrid sighed now.
"Tell him now. I'm planning on quitting anyway..." Astrid stated.
"But you love cheer squad. There are ways to bring up your grade." Mr. Bludvist stated to her.
"I don't love it as much as I used too. It's...taking up my time I could be using to study sir." Astrid lied quickly. It wasn't because of that she was quitting, it was because she didn't want to be anywhere near Eret. The break up was hurting her, she had loved him but what he did was unacceptable and downright scary, and if Hiccup hadn't come to get her that night, far worse could of happened. Astrid didn't want to see him, be near him, anything unless she absolutely had too.
"Well, I was thinking of assigning to a tutor...I have a few you could choose from but I think your best option would be Hiccup, he's already in all of your classes. He's top of his class and you two are already paired up for the project. What do you say? You two would get extra time at the end of class to go to the library, in one of the meeting rooms and work in peace." Mr. Bludvist offered to her.
"Sure..." Astrid replied finally.
"Good, I'll let your other teachers know. On Monday, we'll be viewing all the tapes of the proposals. I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing your's and Hiccup's." Mr. Bludvist smiled as he got up and walked back to his desk as more students began to come in to the classroom. Astrid checked her phone again, getting ready to send another text to Hiccup. ::So...I guess you're my new tutor. Teacher said my grades are bad...Hope you're alright.:: Astrid put her phone back in her pocket as class began, they wouldn't be leaving for the race until 9:30, and it didn't start until 10.
(With Hiccup & Toothless)
They'd reached the track for a few practice laps when Hiccup checked his phone, seeing two from Astrid, 1 from Fishlegs, and 1 from his father, that was random. He checked the one from his father first, 'Good luck in the race today son. I'll be watching from here. Love, Dad.' Hiccup read to himself, chuckling as he did. Hiccup typed back a quick reply. ::Thanks dad. Miss you, hope you come home for a visit soon. So much to tell you. -Hiccup:: Hiccup pressed send and moved on to the one from Fishlegs. 'Dude! Where are you? Don't tell me your ditching, the race is today!' Hiccup laughed a little, Toothless crooned softly as Hiccup rubbed his head. ::Sorry man, came down with something. Stuck in bed all day, let me know how it goes.:: Hiccup sent it off and moved to the two from Astrid. He smiled, was she worried about him? He was worried about her being there alone. ::If that ass-hat Eret gives you any trouble, call me. I'll come down, sick or not. Good thing you're staying with me, tutoring shouldn't be so hard and yes, I'm okay. Just laying in bed with Sharpshot. Have fun at the race!:: Hiccup replied as he turned his phone off and put it in his pocket, zipping it shut so it wouldn't fall.
The person who handled all the race aspects came over to talk to them about the race. "Alright racers! I've come up with some new ideas. Today we'll have a class here from Berk High, they will be making up a majority of the crowd." The man said.
"You already told us this in the e-mail, Sven." One of the other racer's sighed.
"Ah, but today after the race, we'll be calling a ticket number and whoever has that ticket will get to have their picture taken with today's winner, an autograph, and a ride on the dragon." Sven chuckled. Hiccup rolled his eyes, sure make it harder for him to keep his identity a secret. Sven walked away and Hiccup knelt beside Toothless and scratched under his chin making him coo happily.
"Alright bud, lets check on the tail. The new parts came in." Hiccup told him. Toothless warbled with a screech of delight as Hiccup began adjusting his tail and putting the new parts on the saddle. Toothless had crashed in to his yard 6 years ago and his left tail fin was torn off. Hiccup got close to him and they became friends instantly, Hiccup even built him a new tail fin and that is how he started in dragon racing because he controlled the tail so Toothless could fly. Before every race, Hiccup made sure the tail was all set to go. Hiccup looked to the clock, it was almost 9:30. Hearing the sound of a bus he looked to the parking lot and sure enough there were 4 busses from Berk high there.
Hiccup mounted on Toothless, "Lets take a few practice laps bud..." Hiccup told him. Toothless gave a roar and sped off in to the air. The students from Berk watched in awe.
"Wow, he's so fast!" Ruffnut exclaimed as she stood with Heather and Astrid.
"Man, Hiccup would of loved this...I wonder if he replied to me yet..." Astrid said pulling out her phone, sure enough his name was on her screen. She smiled and opened it as they were moving to the stands and read it over. She giggled reading that Hiccup called Eret an ass-hat. She put her phone away and sat down in her seat to watch Fury practice. From the sky, Hiccup saw her and smiled under his mask as they landed.
"Since when do you care what that loser thinks!" Heather remarked.
"He's not a loser, he's a good guy..." Astrid replied calmly.
"That dork is going to get what's coming to him for what he did to me..." Eret remarked as he sat near Astrid, she got up and scooted away, he tried again.
"Will you leave me alone!" Astrid yelled, this got Hiccup's attention as he watched from the track. "You can't touch Hiccup, he kicked your butt in 15 minutes flat at your own house after what you did to me." Astrid reminded him as she moved up beside Fishlegs and Tuffnut now. Hiccup sighed under the mask, Eret never learned did he? "Stay away from me or I'll tell your coach what you did..." Astrid warned angrily. The speaker system sounded as Sven's voice was heard clearing his throat.
"Welcome to Dragon Racing, folks! We got a special treat for one lucky person today! After the race, we will be picking a number and if your number gets read off your ticket then you will be getting an autograph, a picture, and a ride with the winner of today's race on their dragon! So sit back and enjoy. We'll be starting soon!" The announcer said, the speaker clicked off.
"Wow, that'd be so cool. Whoever wins gets all that stuff with Fury!" Ruffnut exclaimed.
"Psh, you don't know he'll win..." Eret said with a grin.
"Fury has never lost a race and he's the only one who rides a Night Fury... ya know?...The fastest dragon around." Astrid remarked. The clock chimed 10 as the racers got ready. "Yes, its starting!" Astrid smiled.
"Ready for this Toothless...Just like we practiced bud..." Hiccup whispered to him. Toothless nodded as he got ready to launch.
"Alright racers! Today will be 10 times around the track and all its obstacles. First one to cross the finish line wins!" The announcer said.
"Psh...Easy." Hiccup rolled his eyes now.
"And the dragons will be blindfolded!" The announcer added, Hiccup's head snapped up now.
"Are you kidding me?! Oh well, we got this." Hiccup shrugged as the helper ran out and handed all the racers a blindfold. "Do you trust me bud?" Hiccup asked. Toothless warbled in response as Hiccup tied the cloth over his dragon's eyes and pressed his forehead to Toothless's. "We can do this...as one." Hiccup whispered. Toothless crooned and licked Hiccup's cheek. "Ugh Toothless, you know that doesn't wash out!" Hiccup laughed out as he jumped on Toothless's back.
"Ah the bond between rider and dragon. Racers! To your marks!" The announcer stated. "Ready...annnd...GO!" The horn sounded as Hiccup flicked open Toothless's tail and they launched in to the sky at top speed. Hiccup and Toothless flew together, doing the 10 laps and then they came to the obstacles. Leaps, jumps, dodging, blasting targets, and more dangerous like tricks. First was flying under a set of bars that got lower and lower to the ground and then have to fly directly upwards, then back down to fly through rings of fire. The final obstacle was hitting multiple moving targets at once. Hiccup and Toothless moved as one together.
"Alright Toothless...Ready to try the new move?" Hiccup asked him, he crooned out. Before the targets was the only moment in the race that the rider could leave the dragon's back. It was s trick where the dragon flew under and the rider ran across the arch and landed on their dragon's back. It was hard for Toothless since Hiccup controlled his tail but that wouldn't be a problem today with the new parts that allowed Hiccup to auto lock Toothless's tail open to fly. "Ready...and...NOW!" Hiccup called out as he pulled the lever and locked the tail in place, Hiccup stood in a crouch as Toothless bumped him up and he landed in a run to the edge as Toothless flew under. Hiccup jumped off the edge and stayed in the air as Toothless zoomed through and Hiccup landed on his back perfectly. The crowd cheered happily.
"Woohoo! Yeah! Go Fury!" Astrid screamed out. Hiccup chuckled as the neared the targets.
"Now Toothless, barrel roll! Multiple shots!" Hiccup called. Toothless tucked his wings and rolled in the air firing at the targets. Every shot hit the target as the whipped around and Toothless shot one more to light the finish sign on fire as they zipped through and landed.
"Fury and Toothless win!" The announcer yelled. The crowd erupted in to applause for him.
"Another win bud. Good job." Hiccup told him softly as Toothless fired off 4 more shots in to the air, making them explode like fireworks.
"Told you'd he'd win." Astrid teased sticking her tongue out at Eret, he huffed crossing his arms over his chest now.
"Alright racing fans, pull out your tickets and listen if you're number is called...The winner is...ticket number, 651893!" The announcer called out.
"Awe, I didn't win!" Ruffnut whined. Heather frowned too but Astrid was sitting with her mouth wide open, eyes wide with shock as well.
"Oh my god, I–I won! I won!" Astrid exclaimed jumping out of her seat with a triumphant fist in the air. Hiccup saw her and began walking up the stairs to the stands, he offered his hand to her.
"Congratulations. If you'd come with me." Hiccup said, his tone was deeper under the mask so he knew she wouldn't recognize him. Astrid took his hand and Hiccup led her down the stairs and to the winner's circle where Toothless was waiting for him.
"Oh my god...oh my god, I can't believe this. I'm actually standing with you! Wow...Hiccup is never going to believe this! I–I'm sorry..." Astrid said seeing Fury with his arms crossed now as the news crew was coming over to take their picture.
"It's fine. Many get excited to meet their favorite racer. Which pose would you like?" Hiccup asked her now.
"O–Oh, I don't know. Maybe just one where you've got your arm around my shoulders and um...Toothless next to us?" Astrid asked shyly. Hiccup nodded as he put his arm over her and Toothless sat like a cat with his wing over both of them.
"Toothless, smile." Hiccup told him, Toothless gave the biggest gummy smile he could as the picture was taken and Fury put his arm down facing her. "Did you bring something to for me to autograph?" Hiccup asked her.
"Only my Fury and Toothless T-shirt and a sharpie..." Astrid said holding it up to him. Hiccup took the marker and motioned for Astrid to turn around as he signed the name 'Fury' on her back in a fancy handwriting. Toothless pressed his paw into a thing of ink and pressed it in the middle of her back. "Wow...thanks." Astrid breathed out.
"You're welcome. So, about that ride, you ready?" Hiccup asked her. Astrid nodded her head. "Well, before anyone rides Toothless, they have to earn his trust first." Hiccup said to her.
"O–Okay...what do I have to do?" Astrid asked him.
"First, you have to show him he can trust you." Hiccup said as he reached in to a bucket and pulled out a fish and handed it to her. Toothless licked his lips. "Just hold it out in your hand to him." Hiccup stated. Astrid nervously held out the fish as Toothless neared it with his mouth open, and snatched it quickly swallowing it in one two bites. Astrid had pulled her hands back quickly, Hiccup laughed. "Its okay, he won't hurt you. So I have a question, do you like fish?" Hiccup asked her now.
"U–Uh yes?" Astrid replied.
"Good because the second part of this is that you show Toothless you can be like him." Hiccup said he handed her another fish which was cooked already and handed it to her. "You have to eat it." Hiccup whispered. Astrid blinked a bit as she bit in to the fish, chewed and swallowed it. Toothless smiled a gummy smile again.
"I–is that all?" Astrid asked slowly.
"Nope there is one more thing and it's the most important. Try to touch him." Hiccup told her, Astrid did and Toothless growled a bit. "Now...close your eyes, turn your head and hold your hand out to him. Palm up." Hiccup said. Astrid eyed him nervously. "Trust me." Hiccup told her gently. Astrid sighed as she did what she was told, it was silent in the ring now as Toothless pressed his nose to her palm softly. Astrid looked and smiled wide now happily. Toothless pulled his nose away as Hiccup jumped on his back and opened his tail, offering his hand to Astrid again.
"C–can I get on him?" Astrid asked. Hiccup gave a nod as Astrid took his hand softly and he pulled her up behind him.
"Hold on." Hiccup told her, Astrid's arms wrapped around his waist as Toothless took off, her eyes closed tightly now. "Open your eyes..." Hiccup said, Astrid slowly looked and saw they were just near the clouds. Astrid held on with one hand as she reached up and touched them as they flew around.
"This is...amazing...he's amazing. I wonder if Hiccup is watching right now..." Astrid smiled wide. Hiccup smiled under the mask.
'You have no idea...' Hiccup thought, after 20 minutes they landed and Hiccup helped Astrid down.
"U–um, thank you...That was...I don't have the words for it..." Astrid said as she rubbed Toothless's head slowly, this made him croon happily.
"You're welcome. Better get back to your bus, looks like they are loading up." Hiccup said motioning to the bus as someone came up beside him and handed him an envelope, which he gave to her. "Here is your picture." He said, Astrid took it smiling to him. Astrid then rushed off to the bus, getting on it. Hiccup waited until they had left before he jumped on Toothless and they headed back home. Hiccup put Toothless in his stable and quickly took off his gear, he ran back in to house and crawled in to bed. He couldn't believe this day so far, he wondered if Astrid was doing okay. He pulled out his phone and saw a message from her. 'Oh my God! Wait until I tell you what happened today, you won't believe it!' Hiccup chuckled, he was now very happy to hear the excitement. ::Call me on lunch and tell me all about it. I'm feeling a bit better actually.:: Hiccup sent it and closed his eyes.
On the bus, Astrid was admiring her picture with Fury and Toothless the flight still fresh on her mind. "Ooh someone's falling in love." Ruffnut teased with a laugh.
"Shut up Ruff, come on be real. Like I stand a chance with Fury." Astrid remarked as she put the picture away and pulled her phone out to check it.
"Never know, he looks like our age. Anyway, so its Friday, can we have that sleep over?" Heather asked smiling.
"Sorry guys. My parents are out of town for two weeks. You know their rule..." Astrid replied. Actually that wasn't the rule, she could have people over as long as there were no boys and the house was clean but she was staying at Hiccup's and she knew he wouldn't like that.
"You've been avoiding us for two days, Astrid. What's the deal. We always hang out." Ruffnut said. "We can stay at my house!" Ruffnut offered smiling wide.
"Look, I just...have a lot going on okay. I don't want to sleep over, and I don't want to hang out..." Astrid said, she saw a text from Hiccup and read it over before starting the reply. ::Glad u feelin bettr. Ruff and Heather are bugging me for a sleep over...:: Astrid sent it and leaned against the window on the bus as she felt a headache forming. Her phone vibrated again.
::If you want to stay at one of their houses, go ahead but you better stay in contact...-Hiccup.::
::But you said you didn't want me out of your sight. -Astrid.::
::Not at your house where that asshole can find you. Go to Ruffnut's. Tuffnut will be there and he can let me know if there is a problem. -Hiccup.::
::Are u sure? -Astrid.::
::Yes. Have fun. And sleep well, the concert is tomorrow. :p -Hiccup.:: Astrid read the last one and looked at Ruffnut now. "But I guess I can take a night off. Sure, we'll have a sleep over tonight." Astrid said with a smile. Heather and Ruffnut cheered happily.
"Great, come over at 4!" Ruffnut told the two girls. Astrid nodded as she started a reply to Hiccup, ::Guess I'm goin at 4. -Astrid.::
Hiccup smiled as he read her reply and yawned a little, he had the rest of the day off he may as well take a nap. 3 hours later and he heard a car door shut and the door open, then footsteps on the stairs, finally a knock on his door. He opened his eye and looked at the door as Astrid poked her head in. "Hey, welcome back." Hiccup said tiredly.
"Thanks...I came to get my sleep over stuff but I wanted to make sure you were okay before I did." Astrid said as she walked in to the room and felt his forehead now. "Fever is gone, that's good." She smiled.
"Yeah, guess the sleep helped. So what had you so excited, how was the race?" Hiccup asked her smiling.
"Oh yeah! Check it out, they picked a ticket number from the crowd to meet the winner! I won! I got to meet Fury and Toothless. We got a picture, he signed my shirt, and I got to fly on his dragon. It was incredible!" Astrid exclaimed showing him everything.
"Wow, that's pretty amazing, Astrid. Good for you. Sucks I was sick." Hiccup smiled at her.
"You sure you're feeling better. I can stay here if you're not?" Astrid asked him.
"I'm fine, Astrid. Go have a good time. I have work tomorrow so I'm just going to be here resting and getting the homework from Legs or Tuff." Hiccup said.
"Oh, I brought it home for you!" Astrid said as she pulled the folder from her purse and handed it to him.
"Thanks. Now go on...You can text me if you get lonely." Hiccup snickered at her. Astrid laughed as she nodded and left the room to start packing a bag. At 3:30 she came back in. "Heading out?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, Ruff said that Tuff was on his way since her car is broken." Astrid smiled.
"Good...Have a good night." Hiccup told her calmly. Astrid nodded to him as she headed out of the room and outside. Hiccup saw from his window that Tuff pulled up and Astrid got in his car then they drove away. "Now what do I do with my night?" Hiccup asked himself, what else did he do when he had nothing to do. He flew his dragon. Hiccup jumped out of bed and rushed to the stable and changed in to his gear again, as soon as Toothless was saddled the two took off in to the night sky.
