A/N: Hey all, here is the next chapter I promised! I have made a decision that I am just going to write from Astrid's POV, I just find the words flow more and I can connect to her a better. Also, I have been getting quite a few requests to update more often. I have school and sport and other things on, but I have decided to try something new. From now on, I won't be updating every Sunday, rather whenever I have time. This could mean two or three updates per week or none at all. If you follow or favourite my story or profile then you will get an email to tell you when I have uploaded the next chapter.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Dreamworks and Cressida Cowell.

Chapter 7:

Astrid

When lunch finally came, Ruffnut and I met Heather at our usual spot next to the canteen. We were joined by Tuffnut and Fishlegs as we collected our food. When we walked toward the table, we found Jay already sitting there, eating his food quietly and seeming oblivious to the hundreds of eyes fixed on him from all around the cafeteria. I approached first and quietly sat down on the bench opposite him. The rest of the group followed my example, and I glared until the spectators averted their eyes and the chatter started again. When I looked back at Jay, with a jolt I found his eyes already fixed on me. I had never noticed all the colours in them; the dark green around the pupil that pooled outwards into a brighter, forest green; the flecks of brown that speckled the iris. The corners of the eyes turned upwards and I found Jay smirking at me, as if he could guess the thoughts circling inside my head.

"Um… Mr Haddock, er, I w-was wondering um, h-how," Fishlegs gave a squeak as Jay turned to fix his stare on the larger boy. Jay's mouth twitched.

"Mr Haddock?" Suddenly, he let out a loud laugh and I almost swooned at the sound. "My, how the tables have turned. Call me Jay! It's my name after all!"

"O-okay Jay. Um, how-" Fishlegs started to say but was quickly interrupted by Tuffnut, who jumped out of his chair.

"Oh my God, man! I saw you in PE! That was awesome dude!"

Jay chuckled again and Fishlegs gave a grunt of annoyance.

"As I was saying, TUFFNUT," Fishlegs hot the offender a glare, which was ignored. "How can you do the stuff you can do? I analysed your fighting skills and they're not anything I've ever seen before! You used moves that are unrecorded everywhere! A-and how did you move so fast? Your reflexes are amazing, how did you refine them so well? How do you know all of our names? Also-" Fishlegs started rambling. Jay held up a hand to stop the flow of words.

"Fishlegs. I'm not going to answer some of those questions, for… personal reasons. However, I'll just say that circumstances forced me to change." As Fishlegs opened his mouth again, Jay interrupted, "I'll not say any more on that topic, so there is no use asking."

There was silence for a second, and I wondered what 'desperate circumstances' he was talking about. What had happened to him that had changed Hiccup into Jay, and why did he keep his real identity hidden? I was extracted from my thoughts when Jay turned and froze me with his stare again. I mustered enough energy to pull my chin up and meet his stare. I was the most popular, fiercest girl in the school, after all.

Jay smiled, and while some might have found it condescending, something told me to look deeper, and I found there was a certain warmth within it. Suddenly, a shadow passed over his eyes and he tensed, then relaxed. It all happened so suddenly I could have imagined it.

"Astrid. You look as lovely as when I first met you," he said. I started. When he first met me? Did he mean yesterday, or when Hiccup first met me, back in junior school. Jay smiled at me again, and this time it was a knowing smile. Somehow, he knew I had recognised him. Then I realised; it was the question. A seemingly polite question to anyone who didn't know who he was and thought he was referring to yesterday, but my reaction had given me away. I cursed silently. No one else seemed to notice the unusual phrasing of the question, apart from Fishlegs who gave Jay a curious look and some girls with jealous expressions who quickly looked away when they noticed me glaring at them.

"Would you be so kind as to meet me after school? Outside the gym would be fine," Jay said. I nodded slowly. I had nothing to hide, after all. It wasn't a crime to know who he really was, was it? Then why did I feel anticipation and guilt?

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure walking up to our table. I was about to open my mouth to warn Jay, when I caught his eye and realised, he already knew. Just as they were almost next to us, Jay said, "Snotlout."

The boy froze, then quickly closed the distance between us.

"Jay. Um, well, I was, erm, wondering if-," started Snotlout when Jay interrupted.

"Sit down. I don't mind having you at the table. It doesn't belong to me, after all."

My jaw dropped open, an expression mirrored by Fishlegs, Heather, Ruff and Tuff. I quickly closed it. He fought Snotlout, then just let him sit and talk? Hesitantly, Snotlout sat down.

"You know, I didn't want to fight you. Eret told me to, though, but now he's no longer the, um…" Snotlout trailed off. He looked Jay up and seemed to cast around for something to talk about. Finally, he proclaimed, "You look good. Better than before, at least." Right. Snotlout knew who Jay was. Slowly, the conversation started up again and soon Ruff and Tuff were arguing about who could fit the most dirt in their mouths. Fishlegs started explaining to Heather how some video game worked and slowly, Snotlout grew more comfortable until he was as cocky as before.

The smell of sweat assaulted my nostrils as he draped his arm across my shoulders. Angrily, I turned around to punch him in the face when he abruptly withdrew the offending limb. Confused, I turned around and found Jay glaring at Snotlout. The sheer possessiveness and wrath in the gaze made me shudder. He let out a low animalistic growl at the back of his throat and I almost melted at the sound.

A harsh clanging filled the air as the bell rang signalling the end of lunch, making me jump. I got up in a daze and slowly started walking away. My mouth curved into a smile as an unidentifiable feeling left me warm and fuzzy. Then I remembered; I was going to see him after school.

A/N: I hope you liked it. Sorry if I had too many mistakes, I didn't proof-read this one. Feel free to review with anything you want/need. If anyone was wondering Snotlout knows that Jay is Hiccup because he whispered it in his ear during the fight. IMPORTANT: please read the A/N at the beginning. Also, I have chosen to add two little challenges at the end of each chapter. I will put the challenges/ question/ inquiry in the bottom A/N and the answer in the next chapter's at the top. Just write your answer in the review, and try to answer both of them!

Challenge #1: What is the best HTTYD fic you've read?

Challenge #2: What is the name of the dragon that releases a concussive sound wave instead of fire?

Have a great week,

DeathlyGummyAlpha