It was 4 hours in to the sleep over now making it 7:30pm and the girls were sitting around on the floor in Ruffnut's basement with music playing in the background and eating pizza. Astrid had her phone plugged in by her sleeping bag as she was ignoring Eret who kept trying to convince her to come back and he'd never treat her badly again. She was also texting Hiccup, talking about Fire Storm. Astrid was excited for the concert tomorrow night. She couldn't believe Hiccup had given her his ticket to go. "You who...Astrid? You there?" Heather asked waving her hand in front of Astrid's face.

"Huh, yeah sorry. Zoned out. What happened?" Astrid asked with a smile looking at them both.

"We asked if you were going to tell us what happened with you and Eret?" Ruffnut asked again. Astrid sighed looking away.

"I'd rather not talk about it..." Astrid said slowly.

"Come on. What happened, tell us! We're your best friends, and what's going on with you and Hiccup? You two seem to be hanging out a lot more often lately." Heather asked curiously.

"Not to mention you suddenly seem to say he's not a loser when a two weeks ago you forget he was even in our class." Ruffnut added. "Is that who you're texting?!" Ruffnut asked trying to swipe the phone from her, Astrid glared and grabbed Ruff's wrist and pushing it away. "Ow!...Okay, jeeze." Ruff said rubbing her wrist.

"Alright Astrid...start talking." Heather demanded now.

"About what? There's nothing to talk about. I don't want to talk about Eret, I hate him. And as for Hiccup, we're just partners for this stupid project. Nothing more." Astrid stated firmly, though it wasn't true. They were friends but she didn't want them to know that.

"It is a stupid project. I'm paired with Fishlegs...Ick." Ruffnut sighed heavily.

"And I'm with Tuffnut...We're gonna get a bad grade because he hasn't proposed yet. What was your proposal?" Heather asked looking at Ruffnut.

"He just ordered dinner, and proposed before I left. I forced myself to act and hugged him." Ruffnut explained. "How about you, Astrid?" Ruffnut asked as they both looked at her.

"It was...sweet. He'll make a girl happy one day." Astrid said not wanting to go in to detail about it.

"O.M.G! Is that the ring he got you!" Heather asked taking Astrid's hand to get a better look.

"Man! I didn't even get a ring." Ruffnut said. Astrid pulled her hand back now. "Come on, tell us! No way it was just simple with that thing!" Ruff smiled.

"Guys, come on. It's a cheap, fake metal set from the store. He proposed with the engagement ring and we're using the bands for the play wedding. We get more points for better acting and the more real it looks..." Astrid explained softly.

"Soo? You don't have to wear it still, only for the videos." Heather stated. Astrid's eyes widened, why was she still wearing it? She'd almost forgotten they didn't have to keep the rings on. She needed a lie, and quick.

"I–I only wear it to make Eret mad..." Astrid said smiling.

"Okay, what happened with you two anyway?" Ruffnut asked. Great, more explaining.

"Okay fine...Basically, Eret turned in to a jerk after the project was announced. He hated I had to work with Hiccup and was constantly saying I was cheating and shit...Couple nights ago, he did something I couldn't forgive. I broke up with him..." Astrid sighed.

"What did he do?" Heather asked now.

"He...tried to get me to have sex with him and I didn't want too. I kept saying no, he didn't stop so I pushed him off. I demanded he take me home, we got in the car and I fell asleep. When I woke up we were in bad part of town...He grabbed me and pushed me out of the car saying he hoped I got raped so I'd be broken in for him..." Astrid closed her eyes putting her hand over the bruise that had begun to fade on her arm. Heather and Ruffnut gasped in shock.

"Oh my God, how did you get home!?" Heather asked quickly leaning forward.

"I called everyone I knew to come get me but they were all at the party Eret was throwing...I even tried you guys...But...as a last ditch effort...I called Hiccup and he was there in 20 minutes." Astrid said looking down and then back at them seeing their opened mouths. "What?..." Astrid asked.

"You called...Hiccup? And he came to get you?" Ruffnut asked her now.

"Yeah...it's a long story..." Astrid sighed, there was no way she was getting out of this one.

"You're here all night..." Heather reminded her.

"It started the day Hiccup and I got paired up. I yelled at him saying I hated this, he wasn't in charge, and did nothing without running it by me first. He agreed and I told him to give me his phone so I could put my number in. I called myself so I'd have his. Later that day, Eret and I got in to a fight over the project, he didn't want me working with Hiccup. Eret left me there and went home. Cheer squad got cancelled and I started walking home. Hiccup pulled over and offered me a ride...okay he forced me so I wouldn't freeze. He said he'd call me on his break so we could meet up and talk about the project, he dropped me at home and left for work." Astrid explained.

"And that led to Eret trying to have sex with you?" Ruffnut asked arching a brow.

"No. Hiccup texted me at 6, told me to meet him at the café. My mom dropped me off on her way to work. We talked over dinner. When his break was over he paid for the meal and started to leave. I said I would wait for my mom. She had to work late, and my phone was nearly dead. Hiccup went back to work. At 8, he asked if I was still there and I said yes. He told me to come outside and he'd take me back home. I agreed but as soon as I got in the car I realize I didn't have my keys and my phone had died. We went to his place to keep talking about the project since my mom had work til midnight." Astrid paused seeing both girls stare at her waiting to hear more.

"You've been to his house! Does it suck?" Heather laughed. Astrid glared again and she stopped.

"No, it's a beautiful house actually...Anyway...we did our homework, talked about the project, he lied to Eret for me, ate ice cream and he took me home around 11." Astrid finished.

"Wait back up! He lied to Eret for you?" Ruffnut asked.

"Yes. Eret sent Hiccup a message asking where I was and if I was cheating on him with Hiccup, then he'd kick his ass. I asked Hiccup to lie and say I wasn't there. He did it too. He called Eret on the computer and explained I wasn't there, that my mom picked me up from the café after his break and went to dinner with her. Eret gave him hell but surprisingly...Hiccup didn't take it so well. Eret started talking about his mom and Hiccup got pissed and threatened to kick his ass. I've never seen him get so mad before, not even in school...Hiccup hung up on him and calmed down. I told him I was sorry...But then we listened to music, turns out he liked Fire Storm and we listened to some of their songs. Eret called once my phone was charged to yell at me...Hiccup left the room. 20 minutes later, I came downstairs and he was eating a piece of pie. I told him he didn't have to act like he didn't hear the fight. He only smiled and handed me an ice cream bar, saying 'I hear it helps'. I asked if he'd give me a ride home since my mom was back and he agreed." Astrid explained, smiling a bit.

"Okay so...this whole Eret leaving you by yourself thing, did that happen next?" Heather asked now.

"Yeah. It was before his party started a week later after the Hiccup thing. He wanted sex, I didn't. I fell asleep and woke up in that awful part of town, Eret pushed me out of his car and left me there. I was cold and alone, people always eyeing me while I tried to get a ride home. When no one answered, I called Hiccup. I didn't know where I was...but he found me, stayed on the phone with me until he got there. He took me home and that was it..." Astrid finished checking her phone.

"Wow. Guess you had a good reason to break things off with Eret. Sorry we didn't answer your call..." Heather said quietly.

"Its okay...I was safe, that's all the matters..." Astrid replied.

"Wait, you said you didn't know where you were...How did Hiccup find you then?" Ruffnut asked, Astrid stopped now. How did Hiccup find her that night?

"I have no idea...He just...said he was coming and he showed up." Astrid stated.

"Ask him! Call him and ask him!" Heather urged pushing Astrid's phone to her.

"Oh come on, I don't want to bug him...We only deal with each other if we have too." Astrid said looking down a bit.

"Fine, I'll get his number from my brother." Ruffnut said getting up and going to her brother's room, there was some fighting and Ruffnut came back, she had her brother's phone. Before Astrid could get it from her, Ruffnut was dialing Hiccup's number, she put it on speaker phone as it was ringing.

"What's up, Tuff?" Came Hiccup's voice on the second ring.

"Hey, Hiccup. It's actually Ruffnut. I stole my brother's phone to call you since Astrid wouldn't." Ruffnut smiled.

"What's wrong, is she okay!?" Hiccup asked quickly, perhaps a little more anxiously that he'd anticipated.

"Yeah yeah, she's great. We were just talking about the night you went to save her..." Heather said now. Astrid couldn't believe they were doing this to her.

"Oh yeah...um...what about it?" Hiccup asked now.

"Go on, Astrid, ask him." Ruffnut whispered. Astrid took the phone and sighed.

"H–hey, Hiccup...The girls a-and I just wanted to know umm...How you found me that night since I didn't know where I was?..." Astrid asked gently.

"Yeah, that...well my gps was installed with a cell phone tracker...it's my dad's car and he used it to find me sometimes. All I do is plug in my phone and it tracks the call, the gps locates the towers you use and gives me a location..." Hiccup explained to her.

"O–oh! Well...thanks for telling me..I mean us! Us...Sorry we bugged you." Astrid said quickly, Heather snatched the phone before she could hang it up. Astrid glared at her now.

"Wait! Why did you think something was wrong with her?! Were you worried?" Heather asked now.

"Uh..I...Well...–..." Hiccup was cut off by Astrid letting out a battle cry and charging at Heather.

"Ugh, I'm going to kill you!" Astrid grabbed the phone. "I'll call you back..." She said in a dangerous tone then hung up.

"Woah, geeze Astrid, what's the deal?" Ruffnut asked curiously. Tuffnut opened the basement door and took his phone which Astrid held out to him.

"I told you not to call him!" Astrid yelled out.

"We only wanted to know..." Heather winced a bit. No one liked when Astrid was mad.

"And you found out, then you kept pushing! Who cares if he was worried. I think he has the right to be when someone calls at 10:30 at night, crying and needing a ride desperately because she's in a part of town, notorious for muggings, rapes, and even murders! Not to mention my ex has been harassing me and he's worried that Eret will do something like this again!" Astrid seethed out.

"Well I guess but come on, its not like every time you call he'll freak out and worry..." Heather said now.

"Actually he would. If I called him right now and told him to come get me, he would in a heart beat." Astrid grumbled.

"Okay, relax girls..." Tuffnut said to them. Astrid looked mad, and upset. "You okay?" Tuffnut asked her.

"I'm fine..." Astrid stated sitting back down.

"He wouldn't just come get you if you asked him too. He's not your boyfriend, Astrid! Just a loser kid." Ruffnut said to her laughing.

"That's it. Want me to prove I'm not kidding?" Astrid asked getting her phone.

"No..." Heather and Ruffnut said together. Astrid stood up now as she tossed things in her bag, "What are you doing?..." Heather asked her now.

"Leaving. I'm not staying here where you two are going to give me shit. You two are supposed to be my best friends!... And Hiccup isn't a loser. He's a smart, kind, caring man who came running to save me when no one else would! Want to know the rest of the night, he didn't take me home. He wouldn't let me stay alone where Eret could find me! He made me stay at his house that night in a guest room. He kicked Eret's ass too." Astrid stated.

"He did!?" Ruffnut asked now. Astrid went on Ruffnut's computer and pulled up the video on one of her friends profiles who had her camera going during the fight.

"Watch for yourself." Astrid put her hands on her hips. Heather and Ruffnut watched Hiccup punch Snotlout, then give Eret the ass kicking of a life time. "That's why Eret won't mess with Hiccup anymore. Hiccup might be a loser to you two and everyone else but that night he was my hero and forever has my gratitude and my friendship for what he did for me." Astrid yelled angrily.

"A–Astrid, we're sorry..." Heather said sheepishly.

"Save it." Astrid snapped.

"I'll take you home if you want, I'm heading to Fishlegs's anyway." Tuffnut offered.

"Thanks but I think I'll call Hiccup just to prove a point..." Astrid said pulling out her phone and dial Hiccup's number, she put it on speaker as it connected.

"Astrid? You alright?" Hiccup asked her calmly.

"No, I'm not. I thought I'd have a good night with two friends but that's clearly not going to happen. Will you please come pick me up?" Astrid asked him.

"On my way. Be there in 10." Hiccup said.

"Thanks, Hiccup..." Astrid said as she pressed the end button and glared at the two girls now. "Any by the way...the way Hiccup proposed for the project...It was the most romantic thing I've ever seen." Astrid stated.

"She ain't lying. I got it, Hiccup showed me so I could get some ideas for my own. Just watch..." Tuffnut said as he pulled the video up on his phone and showed the girls. They watched it all and were in shock seeing Astrid even kiss Hiccup on the lips.

"That was beautiful! Astrid...we're sorry..." Heather said. Astrid heard a honk outside as she looked out the window.

"I don't care...That is my ride. See you in school on Monday...maybe. I'm going home to relax because tomorrow I'm going to my first Fire Storm concert and I want to enjoy it." Astrid stated to them.

"Y–you're going to that concert! It's been sold out for weeks!" Ruffnut said as Tuffnut returned, Hiccup beside him. He walked over to Astrid and took her bag from her with a smile.

"I gave her my ticket since I have to work tomorrow and couldn't get it off." Hiccup stated to them. Astrid turned around and hugged him gently. Their mouths dropped open in shock. "Ready to leave?" Hiccup asked her.

"Very." Astrid nodded.

"Evening ladies. Enjoy the rest of your...sleep over." Hiccup stated as he led Astrid out of the room and to his car, Heather and Ruffnut watched as they drove off. While driving, Hiccup looked over at Astrid. "You okay?" Hiccup asked her.

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it later..." Astrid replied with a soft smile, then sighing. Hiccup nodded and continued driving until they reached his house and entered it. Astrid unpacked her things and flopped on her bed with her eyes closed. Hiccup knocked on the door frame, she looked over at him and saw him standing there with a small bowl of ice cream and piece of pie, the lemon one she liked so much. Astrid smiled at him.

"I'll listen if you want to tell me what happened?" Hiccup offered her. Astrid nodded and he walked handing her the bowl with a spoon. He sat down in the desk chair with his. She started to tell him everything from when she arrived to when he showed up to get her. Hiccup was a little shocked at how much crap Heather and Ruffnut gave her about everything. When she was done she took a deep breath and sighed out before taking another bite of the pie and ice cream.

"And that's everything..." Astrid said to him.

"Wow, jeeze...sounds like they are jealous or something." Hiccup replied.

"You think? Over what though? Because I broke up with Eret, because you saved me, because I'm going to the concert tomorrow? I don't understand what would get them so worked up." Astrid huffed now. Heather and Ruffnut had been trying to call her since she left, but Astrid ignored it all.

"Seems like a little of everything honestly. I wouldn't worry about it. You don't have to submit to the status of following every rule just because your considered to be popular. I don't. I'm a loser remember?" Hiccup chuckled. Astrid punched his arm now. "Ow!" Hiccup rubbed his arm.

"You are not a loser! You're an amazing friend, Hiccup. And you know, you're right...I never wanted to be popular anyway. Just happened when I met Eret in Jr. High. I was easy going like you are then it just all changed. It was different but I got used to it." Astrid shrugged slightly with a smile.

"So why not just get out of it, tell all those people to leave you alone." Hiccup suggested to her.

"Eh, like I said I got used to it. But it won't last anyway, Eret's starting rumors about me already..." Astrid told him.

"Like what? I'll kick his ass again..." Hiccup offered.

"Don't worry about it. They are just rumors, Hiccup. I'm sure you deal with it all the time." Astrid replied.

"Well yes but still something I don't want. I only deal with it so people won't figure out the truth." Hiccup stated looking out the window now.

"I still think you should say something...Hell, I'm quitting the cheer squad on Monday." Astrid laughed.

"But you love cheer squad." Hiccup protested. She shook her head now.

"No, I hate it. I only did it because I wanted to be with Eret but because of all his practices we couldn't see one another...so I joined so we'd be after school together...stupid right?" Astrid chuckled a bit looking down.

"No, I don't think so." Hiccup replied now which made her look back at him with a bit of shock. "People do crazy things when their in love. Young or old love. Doesn't matter." Hiccup shrugged to her.

"Well I guess that lives up to the hype since Eret left me alone in the worst part of town...All because he 'loved' me or whatever..." Astrid closed her eyes not wanting to cry. Hiccup saw this and put his bowl down as he got up and went beside her and hugged her comfortingly. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't be crying right now..." Astrid sobbed.

"Hey, don't worry about it...You're only human Astrid. You loved the guy and he hurt you. You have the right to be upset, and you shouldn't hide how you feel. You said he's been trying to get you back?" Hiccup asked, she nodded to him. "Good. Means he knows he messed up and he lost you. Just like I said...He's the one who would lose out." Hiccup smiled at her. She laughed a little nodding again and wiping her eyes. "See, there's that smile." Hiccup teased gently.

"Thanks, Hiccup. You really are a good friend to me." Astrid told him softly as she kissed his cheek. Hiccup froze a moment and then got up nodding.

"No big deal. No woman should ever shed tears over a man unless she's happy." Hiccup said to her.

"I'll remember that." Astrid nodded smiling to him. Hiccup glanced at the clock, it was 9:30 now and he yawned.

"Well you have to sleep for a concert and I have work in the morning. Sleep well, Astrid." Hiccup told her as he picked up their dirty dishes and left her room. He washed them and put them in the strainer, then he got in to bed falling right to sleep. Tomorrow was a big day.