CHAPTER 6: Conflicted

ASTRID POV

I couldn't eat. All I could do was stare at my mark. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. I couldn't think about anything but him. It was like there was no one else in the world but him. I kept on thinking back to his forest green eyes that would make my insides flutter and the light dusting of freckles on his face. I always seemed to love watching him bend over to reach something so I could look at his cute little b-

"Astrid!" my mother cried snapping me out of my daydreaming. "It's nearly 8. If you don't leave now then you're going to be late for school so hurry up and get your butt in your car, right now." I quickly got up and grabbed the poptart I hadn't finished and ran to grab my things before leaving the house. In my scrabble to get to my car, I left my keys in the house so I ran back inside to grab the keys.

"Bye Mother, I'll let you know when I get back!" I called, knowing that she would be worried if I didn't. I grabbed my keys off the counter and ran back outside and tossed all my stuff on the passenger seat of my car. Shoving the keys into the ignition, I turned it over and started the car while shoving the rest of the poptart into my mouth. I hurriedly backed out of the driveway and took off towards the school.

As I headed towards school, I started to think back to what had occurred yesterday. The Haddock Household seemed different. It looked mostly the same but that wasn't the thing that was off. Everything seemed fine but the atmosphere felt different. It felt off as if there was something going on in the house that no one talked about and it all came off of him. His aura seemed off. He's not the same person anymore I thought. I need to try and find out what's going on with him in that house.

When I pulled up to the school, I saw that there were not many people in the parking lot. I looked at the time only to realize that it was 7:55. "Shit, I'm going to be late!" I grabbed my bag and ran to the school. Running past the stranglers in the parking lot, I went for the front door and dashed for my first class. I entered, breathing heavily, thanking the gods that the bell hadn't rung yet and took my seat. I scanned the faces and realized that all of them were on me but one. The one boy with a mop of auburn hair and forest green eyes wasn't paying attention at all. He was staring into space, not caring at all about what went on around him. The only time he did pay attention was when the teacher walked in, after that, he would just go back to staring into space. Getting lost in whatever he was thinking about.

Most classes went on like that where he didn't even care. When lunch finally came around, I decided to investigate. I walked into the cafeteria looking for Heather, knowing that she would understand my situation. I didn't see her at first since she wasn't sitting at our normal table so I kept looking. I looked at every single table but one, the nerds table. I looked over and I saw her, sitting next to Fishlegs. She was being extremely friendly and then it hit me. Fishlegs was Hiccup's friend and Heather's crush was Fishlegs. My mind was doing two things. I was happy for Heather but I also needed information that I could get out of Fishlegs through Heather. As I walked over, I started feeling bad since I was using them to get to find out about what was wrong with Hiccup but I needed to do it. Something was wrong and I just need to know what.

"Hey Heather, Fishlegs," I greeted "Mind if I sit here?" pointing out the spot that was on Heather's left.

"Yeah, I'm cool with that. What about you Fishlegs?" Fishlegs, who was as red as a tomato, started stuttering. Not being able to form words. All he could do was nod so I sat down next to Heather. I listened to their random talking for a couple of minutes. I didn't really pay attention. All I really caught was Heather saying that she wanted to study with Fishlegs. Once I felt like it was safe, I started my plan.

"Hey Heather,I don't wanna be rude but can I borrow you for a second?" I asked. The raven haired girl looked over at me with a questioning look but nodded. Heather turned towards me looking at me expectantly since I interrupted Heather and Fishlegs' moment of bonding. I leaned forward and whispered, "When I mean can I borrow you, I meant alone. I don't wanna risk anything about what I'm about to talk about."

"Yeah. Alright, let me tell Fishlegs real quick," Heather responded. As she turned to tell Fishlegs, I finished my food and grabbed my backpack. A few minutes passed before she turned back and by then, I was already standing up. She stood up and I led her out the door and out towards the girls bathroom. When we got in there, Heather decided to bring up the oddball in the room. "Ok Astrid. Why are you acting so weird, you haven't acted like this ever. Not even for your own boyfriend."

SHIT I thought. I had forgotten about my own boyfriend all day whilst trying to figure Hiccup out. "Well he's not important right now," I said "What's important is what's going on with Hiccup. Something's wrong with him. He isn't himself anymore. The Hiccup I saw yesterday wasn't the Hiccup I remember growing up with and I want to find out why and I need your help to do that." I told her.

"Need my help? Astrid, what's going on? I don't understand why you're so obsessed with this all of a sudden." Heather replied, starting to pace back and forth. "You don't notice him and you sure as hell don't care about him so I don't get why you care now!" she growled. "So what help do you need?" she forced out, stopping her pacing and looking me straight in the eyes. Her gaze seemingly pierced into my soul. I held my ground as I responded, "I need you to talk with Fishlegs. I know you have something going on with him so please try. I need to find out what is going on with him and Fishlegs maybe my only lead. Besides sending the Twins after him. I wanna do this civilly so please ask."

"Fine," she responded. "But I don't guarantee anything. I'll let you know when I've found something and this better not ruin what I have established." With that said, she left the girls room with a very agitated look on her face.

Well that could have gone better but too late now, I thought. I followed Heather out of the bathroom and looked at my phone. It was nearly time for my next class so I headed over to Chemistry. When I got in the classroom, I walked to my seat and spaced out. Only listening to the stuff I needed and waited for the day to go by quicker.

As my classes came to an end, I started to think about reasons Hiccup wasn't Hiccup anymore. When classes were out, I hopped in my car and headed home. Dinner was ready when I got back so I ate quickly so I could get my work done and could think. While working, my thoughts drifted back to an auburn haired kid with vibrant forest green eyes. I felt conflicted since I was already dating someone but I also wanted to help an auburn haired kid and the more I helped, the more my feelings resurfaced. I finished up my work and got ready for bed. As I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts went back to that auburn haired kid from 10 years ago. The one I wanted back...