Alright, here it is- chapter two of my newest HTTYD story. Now, if you can't tell from some of my stories, I love music and love incorporating music wherever possible. This gif is heavily music based and so, you'll get to see a lot of my own musical interests here. So, without further ado, here's chapter 2. Enjoy!

"Hey, how's your signing going?" She asked as her hand waved off an oncoming make up artist, her emerald eyes locking with her reflection in the mirror.

"Great!" Hayden replied as he absentmindedly took his seat at the table once again, his eyes lingering on the fleeting form of the young woman whose (sister's) CD they'd just signed.

"That's great sweetie, I can't wait to see you guys in the studio." Heather said with a smile while applying her own eyeliner- a navy blue shade to match the navy blue tank top she wore currently.

"Me too. Say, after the studio do you wanna like..get something to eat?" He asked, trying to take his mind off what had just happened- and fight the conflicting feelings that were arising.

"I'd love to- I found this great place in downtown LA, you'll love it." She said while pulling a black leather jacket with rhinestones decorating the shoulders and chest onto her body, standing up from the chair and pushing it under the table. "Hey babe, I gotta go. Interview time." She said, Hayden jokingly giving a soft grumble in response.

"You better not be pouting." She said then with a picker of her lips as she chuckled to herself and made her way out of the dressing room.

"I'm not.." he replied with a smile while scribbling his signature onto another album cover.

"Good, I'll see you in a few days then."

"Yup, few more days. I'll y'all to you later, bye." He said, confirming what she'd said.

"Love you."

"Love you too!" He said, before moving to hang up the phone and turning his attention towards his band mates- each one seemingly making fun of his mushy little moment.

He shit them a glare while being handed a tee shirt and simply said "Shut up."

—-

Heather made her way to the main platform where Mala King, the world renowned television host, sat behind a desk with two leather chairs beside it. She listened as the crowd went wild at her intro, giving a smile and wave to everyone as she took her seat.

"Welcome to the show, Heather." Mala said with a bright smile. She was a blonde haired woman, who wore a black pantsuit and a yellow button up shirt with two golden earrings and a diamond wedding band on her left hand. Her eyes, while warm, we're also filled with interest. Heather felt genuinely wanted in the woman's presence.

"So thankful to be here." Heather says while offering a hand, which Mala took and shook with joy.

"So, this is our first time meeting, and I gotta say- you are far prettier in person." Mala said as Heather tucked a loose bit of hair behind her ear and smiled.

"Thanks, I have to say the same to you. And I am so glad to finally meet you- I've been watching since the beginning."

"Oof. That means you saw the Mark Whalberg episode then." Mala says with a soft sigh as Heather giggles.

"Hard to forget that one. Made the top ten awkward talkshow moments on YouTube." Was her response as she leaned back in her chair. Mala gave a chuckle in response before taking a sip from the coffee cup on the desk. Her gaze fixated on Heather shortly after.

"Enough about my embarrassment. Let's talk about you, Miss Gold Record." She said bringing a flush to Heather's cheeks.

"Who? Me?" She asked with a giggle. "It's just one. Though I'll admit, I was pretty hyped when I got it. I just never knew I'd get one with that song."

"Ah yes, that song being "What I Hate Most" ladies and gentlemen. It's the lead single from her new album "Sleeping"." Mala commented as an image of the album cover flashed on the large screen next to Heather- showing the raven haired beauty in a white nightgown, the red silk covers of her bed pulled up to her chest and her eyes wide awake as the moonlight reflected off of them.

"Well, is admit that is my favorite song from the album." Heather says as Mala drums her fingers against the desk for a moment and gives a curt nod.

"Care to explain why?" She asked, Heather pausing for a moment to actually give a proper explanation.

"Well…"

It seems as though Astrid barely even had time to step all the way into the house before she was tackled and pressed against the door by a tiny figure. She looked down to Freja with a glare and gently pushed the obviously excited tween back.

"Did you get it?! Did you actually do it?!?" She asked in an excited tone, her eyes glimmering with hope as she looked up to Astrid.

"Im afraid not." Astrid said with a soft frown. "Line had gotten too long, so I just went to the movies."

Freja's smile dropped almost immediately, her eyes daring to swell up with tears at any moment. Astrid took the chance then to scoop the younger Hofferson up onto her shoulder before pulling the CD from her bag and handing it to her. "Gotcha!" She said with a laugh as Freja stared at the silver ink on the CD casing before wrapping her arms around Astrid's neck.

"I knew you'd do it! You are the best big sister ever!!" She shouted as Astrid carried her into the kitchen and sat her down onto the counter, poking her nose gently and saying "And don't you forget it. Now come on, let's get something to eat. No thirteen year old should be as small as you."

"Hey!" Freja replied as she crossed her arms and cast her eyes aside, then looked back to Astrid. "Food does sound good though." She said as she slid onto the floor from the counter and rushed to the refrigerator, grabbing two cups of strawberry yogurt and two bottomed of fruit punch from the fridge, then closing it shut.

She sat the food items down onto the kitchen counter and sat in one of the stools there, Astrid doing the same and popping open one of the yogurt cups.

"So how was it? Did you record their performance?" Freja asked as Astrid's eyes went wide.

"Ooh, that's what I forgot." She said with a wince, preparing for the thirteen year old to explode. Instead, she found Freja merely shrugging while opening her yogurt.

"At least I got my autographed CD. I'll just find the video online later." She said, much to Astrid's surprise.

"Really? I'm surprised you're not hugging and puffing about me not recording for you." She said with a subtle smile as the younger girl merely shrugged.

"I am a young woman Astrid, not a child. I do not throw fits."

Astrid's eyes widened slightly as she heard this, a fist slamming gently against the counter in protest. "Yak shit! You just pestered me into going to the signing the other day." She exclaimed, watching as Freja shrugged.

"I was a child then. But now, I am a woman. A woman in possession of an autographed Race to The Edge album." She explained while popping a spoonful of the slightly frozen dairy into her mouth, leaving Astrid's mouth slightly agape.

"Wow…"

Haddock Household- Two Days Later

The sounds of Hiccup's Calironia Series Acoustic Guitar filled the silent halls of the large house, his eyes focusing on each string and every single movement they made as he tried to recall the lyrics to the song, while playing an acoustic cover for it.

"Coming out of my cage

And I've been doing just fine

Gotta gotta be down

Because I want it all

It started out with a kiss

How did it end up like this

It was only a kiss

It was only a kiss"

He picked up his rhythm ever so slightly, realizing he'd been a bit off beat at first.

"Now I'm falling asleep

And she's calling a cab

While he's having a smoke

And she's taking a drag

Now they're going to bed

And my stomach is sick

And it's all in my head

But she's touching his chest now

He takes off her dress now

Let me go

And I just can't look

It's killing me

And taking control"

So far so good- his eyes moved from the strings and over to the recording app on his phone, and he was ever so thankful for the silence in the house- made it perfect for recording.

"Jealousy

Turning saints into the sea

Swimming through sick lullabies

Choking on your alibis

But it's just the price I paid

Destiny is calling me

Open up my eager eyes

'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside"

The second verse led him to slow down his strumming once more- he released a breath silently and began to focus on the chords. Eb to AB to Db and so on.

"I'm coming out of my cage

And I've been doing just fine

Gotta gotta be down

Because I want it all

It started out with a kiss

How did it end up like this

It was only a kiss

It was only a kiss

Now I'm falling asleep

And she's calling a cab

While he's having a smoke

And she's taking a drag

Now they're going to bed

And my stomach is sick

And it's all in my head

But she's touching his chest now

He takes off her dress now

Let me go

'Cause I just can't look

It's killing me

And taking control"

That last part went off without a hitch- this far he hadn't stumbled in his performance, he'd made sure to practice the chords and tabs a few times before even setting the recorder. And now he was confident it would be an amazing cover.

"Jealousy

Turning saints into the sea

Swimming through sick lullabies

Choking on your alibis

But it's just the price I paid

Destiny is calling me

Open up my eager eyes

'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside.

I never

I never

I never

I never"

He concluded the song with one final strum of all the strings- an open chord to conclude the amazing song. The song was amazing because he simply loved the Killers, not because he was covering it.

And with that done- he hit the red stop button on his phone and began to play it back. After a quick listen over the audio, he took to editing out any white noise on the same app before sending it to Gobber and Eret- the two best people for opinions on all I'm songs.

With that done, he set the guitar down onto his burgundy covered bed and lay beside it, scrolling through his phone mindlessly and tapping whatever interested him. It was about four minutes into doing this that he received a text message from a familiar face- smiling he slid open and read it silently.

"Open mic night at Throk's Bar and Grill." - Fishlegs

He chuckled softly as he read the man's name, reminiscing on how they'd all gotten their nicknames in high school- Hiccup for his smaller size, Fishleg: for his large size and short legs.

Snotlout had been crudely named that after a horrible incident when he had a cold and was still sent to school. Travis had earned the name Tuffnut for the crazed and bizarre pranks he and his sister partook in those years back. His sister, Rydell being nicknamed Ruffnut in the midst of that.

Honestly the only one who hadn't gotten some odd nickname was Eret...probably because people feared the buff young man.

Casting aside the history of their nicknames, Hiccup kept up and moved to change- throwing on a black tee shirt and a pair of brown jeans and black vans with a green flannel unbuttoned over the shirt. He checked the time and smiled before heading down the stairs and giving a call of "Headin out!" To his large father who sat at the couch watching television.

He didn't wait for the man's response, though he knew it would be along the lines of "Stay safe" or "Be careful" or, if he was feeling hungry "Bring back a steak plate."

Hiccup journeyed through the kitchen and picked up a bag of dog food , before sliding open the back door and staggering out with the large bag- his eyes set on the large white and black tiled dog house in the back of the yard. He pulled a blue bowl over and filled it up with food, before putting two fingers to his lips and giving a sharp whistle.

He was soon met with a wagging tail and a blur of black rushing towards him and taking him to the ground before furiously licking at his face.

"Toothless!" He laughed/shouted while trying to get a grip on the Black furred Doberman. "You know that's hard to wash out!" He said while sitting up and running behind the dog's left ear.

Toothless panted slightly as he walked over to the bowl and stuck his nose into it, eating away at the food with glee. Hiccup smirked as he watched him and rolled his eyes as the dog looked to him for more.

"Seriously? More?" He asked before pouring another serving. "You're lucky you're cute." He said while scratching behind his ear again and moving to look at his phone. The time alerted him that he needed to go, the sun would be setting soon and the open mic night would be off to a start. He gave Toothless one last scratch and a hug before rushing out of the backyard. "I'll see ya later bud!" He said as he headed through the gate and into the driveway.

Hiccup considered himself as a car enthusiast- and being such he'd purchased and customized his car himself- with some help from his father. He and his father shared a knack for engineering and mechanics, though he had to admit the elder Haddock certainly knew more.

That being said, one of his best moments came when he purchased an old Black 1973 Dodge Challenger, he happily paid the 2,500 for it and got to work on all the rust and engine problems it had. The car had been his pride and joy since he was 16, and he didn't know what he'd do if he lost it.

The interior was mostly leather, red leather at that- with a Mechless Multimedia Car Stereo installed. He loved old cars, but God how he loved modern day radios even more. Connecting his bluetooth, he pulled out and allowed the sounds of Falling In Reverse's 'The Drug In Me Is You' carry him down the street leading into town.

—-

It was honestly more of her acting on a whim. When her best friends, Cami and Atali, asked her to join them for a night out- she'd expected something like a movie or heading to the beach to chill. Not being dragged into a random restaurant/pub for karaoke..or open mic night, whatever it was called. And just what the Helheim is the difference anyways?

She couldn't help but wonder that as she shrugged her denim jacket off of her shoulders and hung it up near the entrance, tugging at the bottom of her white tank top. She wore with that a pair of blue skinny jeans and some brown flats.

Her eyes glanced over to Cami, who had her usually wild blonde hair tied back tonight. She wore a red tee shirt and a pair of black jeans with some converse. Atali wore a black tank top, some black jeans and black flats. Her strawberry blonde hair was typed into its usual bun upon her head, a soft smile graced her features as the three made their way to an empty table. As they sat down, Astrid noticed a few familiar forms across the room at a larger table.

There were five people there- three of them blonde and two of them having black hair. A female with blonde braids draped over one shoulder sat next to a husky blonde haired fellow- the two of them conversing with a stocky black haired guy, a taller, buffer black haired guy, and a blonde male with dreadlocks who looked eerily similar to the female.

It clicked then who they were- or atleast who those three guys were. Race to The Edge, and they were seemingly chilling in a public restaurant as though it was just...normal. She supposed she'd read the whole fame thing wrong. But she couldn't help but to wonder where that other one is.

It was then her question was answered as the door opened up again, the tall form walking through and allowing his eyes to scan over half of the place before locking onto his friends and approaching with that same goofy smile he had at the signing.

Something about that smile...that damn smile. It seemed to draw her in somehow. But not that much. She turned her attention then to Cami, who'd been excitedly pointing towards the same area she was just looking at.

"Guys look! It's Race to The Edge!" She said, causing Atali to look over and her eyes to widen a bit.

"Wow. That's pretty cool. Hey Ast, isn't Freja a big fan of theirs?" She asked the blonde who simply nodded in response

"Little twerp annoyed me into going to their fan signing the other day too." She confirmed as she picked up a menu and began to look over it.

"So you've actually met them? That's awesome!" Dami said with a smile as Astrid gave a chuckle.

"Yeah I suppose so." She said, not quite returning the enthusiasm her friend had.

"Alright ladies and gents, it's Open Mic time." A man said as he stepped onto the stage. He had well trimmed brown hair and a beard, wearing a black polo shirt with the name "Throk" stitched over the left breast and a pair of blue jeans and boots.

"I'm your host, Throk King and tonight we've got quite a lineup for ya!" He said as he ushered the first person onto the stage.

"Welcoming first, Berk Central High school sophomore, Gustav Larson."

The room filled with claps as a black haired teenager took the stage, his eyes filling with fear for a moment as he took the mic. He then smiled and began to sing 'Welcome to the Black Parade'. While his voice made everyone cringe slightly, he went up there and did his best- that's all that mattered to anyone.

….

It had been about thirty minutes of watching other's performances- some good, some amazing and a few just plain bad- until Hiccup finally got the guts to go up. He didn't care much for the whole public cover thing that many other celebrities took up- this was Berk, his home. These people knew them all well, so this was just another regular visit for him.

"How you guys doing?" He asked with a smile as everyone cheered softly for the homegrown star. He chuckled at their enthusiastic response before tapping the mic.

"Alright, this songs called All Night. Hope you all enjoy." He says, listening as the instrumental began to play.

"We're stayin all night

Got blue jean baby playing in my mind

She gets me so high

Givin' me faith I gotta testify

And the way that she walks I can't hide it

If I said I don't like it I'm lyin'

Hold tight (Yeah)

A little bit of love will change your life"

As he sang, he did his usual task of mapping out the audience. He searched across the array of familiar and friendly faces and found one in particular, giving a smile as he spied her. It was her- the same blonde from the signing not too long ago. That was a good bit of motivation right there.

"She said I'm outta my head, I'm going outta my mind

And when I'm out on the edge will you save me, save me

Can we live for the moment, can you live for tonight

Can we forget what was broken and say say say we'll be

All right

'Cause even if we change we'll always be the same

All night

I promise if you stay we'll never fade away

All night"

It seemed most of the place was moving at this point, nodding or even dancing along with his song. He looked over to his friends and smiled upon seeing their joy. The song was cut for time- so he went into the final verse fairly early. Soon , everyone was clapping in sync as he sang.

"We'll be all right

We'll be all right

We'll be all right

We'll be all right"

He looked to the crowd and gave a quick gesture, thrusting his hand upwards and calling "Everyone!"

"We'll be alright

And we got nothing but time

(We'll be all right)

To make the most of this life

(We'll be all right)

Take on the wrongs and the rights

(We'll be all right)

Forget them all and just say say say

Ohh won't you say it now

We'll be all right"

Everyone seems to jump up at that last portion, simply lighting up Hiccup's eyes as he jumped along with them and landed off the stage with the mic still in hand, now standing before the first three tables closest to the stage.

"All right!!!!!!

'Cause even if we change we'll always be the same

All night

I promise if you stay we'll never fade away

All right

'Cause even if we change we'll always be the same

All night

I promise if you stay we'll never fade away

All night

All night."

As the song drew to its conclusion, the place gave a large applause and a few beers and shouts were thrown about. It wasn't outshining any of the other good performers, it was just about the same level they'd given them. And he honestly loved that- no signs of favoritism being shown. Though he'd admit, he did show off a bit there. That was on him.

As he handed the microphone back to Throk, he received a pat on the back from the restaurant owner and swiftly returned to his table- Ruff sending a soft punch to his left arm while saying "You killed it!"

He chuckled at that and said "Thanks. Though, I gotta stop putting on a show." He said as a skinny arm draped itself around his shoulder, Tuff pushing a bundle of French fries towards him and commenting.

"But we love your dramatic flare though."

Everyone seemed to get a laugh out of that as Hiccup shrugged and began to dig into the fries. Though his mind kept wandering back to that blonde sitting across the room.

It was following a short fit of laughter between the three girls after a strange joke about a yak that Cami made, when she decided to get another drink. Arising from the table, she'd let them know before walking towards the bar .

"Hey , can I get another root beer float to table seven?" She asked as someone moved next to her and spoke to the same worker.

"Make that two- one for table eleven. And I'll cover em both." He said, Astrid turning with her nose scrunched up slightly. It changed when she saw who it was , and she gave a soft smirk.

"Well if it isn't Mister Eyeliner himself." She said, drawing a fake gasp from the auburn haired man as he brought a hand to his chest- feigning insult.

"Who? Me?" He asked before chuckling. "And it's guyliner by the way- totally different." He said, this time making her laugh.

"Yeah, right. So what's a big shit band like Race to the Edge doing in a small Berk restaurant? And performing on open Mic nonetheless. What? Your sold out stadiums not enough?" She asks while casting a look his way. Hiccup merely shrugged and turned to face the patrons.

"I just love it. Being home is always a relaxer- especially after straining myself in all those sold out stadiums." He said with a chuckle, Astrid playfully rolling her eyes in response.

"Riiiight. Well atleast you're not as shallow as other stars." She commented while drawing her phone from her pocket.

"Shallow? Now what star do you know is shallow?" He asked, his interest being piqued by this comment. He'd met a good bit of stars in his time in Race, and he had to say they were mostly amazing people. They were like everyday people even.

"Like Heather Bezerk?" She replied as she received her drink , bringing the glass to her lips as Hiccup seemingly reeled back from her answer.

"Hey- she is an angel!" He replied, a bit too hastily.

Astrid's eyebrows knitted together in interest, causing her eyes to lock onto him. "Really? How do you know?" She asked as he crossed his arms and titled his head slightly.

"We've been dating for two years- so I'd hope i know." He says, getting a stunned reaction from Astrid. She coughed slightly and set her root beer down.

"Interesting.." she said, watching as he reached for his freshly prepared drink and took a sip from it. "Yup!"

"So, you guys ever do a song together?" She asked then, though she was quite as interested after hearing that.

"We've uh, got something in the world." He confirmed before taking another sip and sliding a bill across the counter to the cashier.

Astrid nodded as she lifted her root beer mug from the bar and turned away. "Well, I'll make sure to watch out for it then." She said- briskly walling back to her table.

Hiccup watched this odd motion and gave a shrug before turning and heading back to his friends.

Astrid rejoined her Blonde Squad and found their eyes fixated upon her- drawing her to glare at them and say "What?"

"Did you just talk to Hayden Haddock?" Cami asked.

"Yeah, why?" Astrid responded, disinterested.

"Why? Ast, you just conversed with a rockstar, that's like...kinda cool." Atali said, getting a finger pointed at her in agreement from Cami.

Astrid merely shrugged. "Nothing more than a talk."

"So what ddI you guys talk about?" Dami asked, much to Astrid's annoyance.

"Just stuff...his music...his girlfriend."

"Woah, Heather Bezerk?" Atali asked , Astrid nodding.

"That's the one…" {Sadly…}