Chapter 4:

It was quite a hot and sunny day, the sky was clear and the birds were singing in the trees as Jack and Hiccup were Walking home together.

"Hey um, so my uncle phoned me earlier today and said he's got me a surprise when I get home." Jack seemed excited but not sure what his uncle had in store for him. Jack lived alone with his uncle as his parents had passed away when he was a baby leaving his uncle North to raise and care for the boy. Jack didn't mind as him and his uncle were quite close and they did everything together. He was a lot like stoic in that he was huge and loud however he seemed somewhat approachable and kids seem to love him, some even mistaken him as santa around December.

"what do you think it is?" Hiccup asked him with the same excitement,

"I'm not sure but he seemed really pleased with himself i'd say.". Jack put one hand into his pocket as they walked, his other hand on his bag strap. They eventually got to the back of hiccups house when they stopped.

"well I guess ill see you in about two hours time for the party.." he gave a smile,

" You will, did you want me to come and get you? We could walk down together maybe.."

jack moved one of his hands that was now rubbed the back of his neck.

"sure, ill give you a text when I'm ready, you can come through the back gate."

"okay ill see then!" jack seemed to be at ease as he started to turn round and walk home.

"i'll see you later!"

" see ya jack." hiccup turned as well and went through the garden gate up the path and to the back door.

Jack only lived 10 minuets up the road from Hiccup, however Jack lived up the top of a hill that he always appreciated walking to hiccups but rather despised when it was time to go home. He got to the last corner where he lived and was puzzled when he saw his uncle outside who seemed to have washed and was now polishing an old ford pickup truck that looked like it had a rather hard life but still looking ready for duty.

" AHH JACK MY BOY!, COME! COME! WHAT DO YOU THNK?"

" umm.. you got a truck north?"

North laughed hard holding his belly in a very jolly way before walking over to jack and putting one of his massive arms around hid shoulders,

" YOU FUNNY JACK! BUT NO!"

jack looked even more confused giving north a look of confusion, north leaned down a little and held out the keys to jack.

"IT IS YOURS JACK! GIFT FOR YOU AS YOUR GRADUATION PRESENT! IT IS NOT MUCH BUT SHE GOOD CAR.. CHEAP TOO!"

North bellowed out in another jolly laugh, Jack couldn't believe it

" are you serious?"

north smiled at jack, jack smiled back and gave his uncle a big hug and they both began to laugh.

" Thank you so much!"

"JUST LOOK AFTER HER JACK AND SHE LOOK AFTER YOU! NOW GO CHECK HER OUT THEN GET YOURSELF READY FOR TONIGHT!"

he patted jack on the head and walked into the house leaving jack and the car alone.

Jack walked up to it with his still confused expression on his face, he ran his fingers along the paintwork until they touched the handle, a chrome and heavy handle that unlocked the door with a clunk as he opened the door to reveal the inside that was just as old but as beautiful as the outside.

He climbed in and sat in front of the giant mahogany steering wheel that sat affront of him. His fingers running down the wooden Finnish of the dash as his gaze caught the gear lever. Putting the clutch in he moved it into each gear feeling how they engaged with each one before moving it back to neutral, he brought his eyes to the key that was in his hands.

A ford key with a tiny Sheppard's crook on the keychain. Jack put the key in and cranked it over. A little stutter but she fired to life and jack's smile only grew wider as he opened up the throttle.

Meanwhile, Hiccup was in his room trying to find what he was going to wear to Astrid's party, All of his clothes were not what you would call 'party' material. Most of his shirts were tatted and old. He had an old suit that he would wear to weddings an funerals but it seemed a bit too over dressed knowing what astrid's parties were like.

Lots of cursing and clothing flung onto the bed later, hiccup managed to find something he redeemed etiquette to wear to the party. Checking his appearance in the bathroom mirror once more to make sure he looked presentable he walked out as he grabbed his keys and wallet before closing his bedroom door and proceeding to the kitchen.

He made his way over to the counter and saw a note that his father had left, it was what he had told him before he had left this morning except it was much harder to read as his handwriting was awful. He chuckled lightly to himself putting down the note and pulling out his phone to text jack that he was ready.

"yo... I'm ready"

"oki! ;-) i'll be 5 minuets"

"jack it takes a lot longer than 5 minuets to walk from your house to mine"

"so it does"

Hiccup looked at his phone with a slight puzzled yet amusing feeling.

5 minuets passed and hiccup saw the white tufts of hair bobbing along the back fence. The gate gently swung open to see the frosty haired boy with his charming smirk that seemed to be holding back a lot of excitement hiccup thought.

Hiccup opened the back door and smiled "hey, you look nice"

"right back at you" jack really was struggling to keep his excitement in.

"are you okay? You seem a bit weird, and how did you get here so fast?"

"oh mr haddock would't you like to know" a huge grin was now bursting out of jacks face.

"okay, how did you get here so fast." hiccup now smiling as he leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms,

jack looked down with a grin before looking up to meet hiccups eyes. " come with me" he beckoned.

His heart rate rose, hiccup slowly moved away from the door pulling it to and locked it before following jack up the path. exiting the garden gate hiccup could see the old ford truck that stood glistening in the sunlight next to the pavement.

"i- is this yours?" hiccup's eyes were wide with jealousy.

"ain't she beautiful!" jack was caressing one of the fenders as hiccup was scanning the perimeter of the car around the other side.

"ye... yes she is.." hiccup looked at jack.

"Where did you get it?" both boys opened the doors and climbed inside.

"uncle north got it me as a early graduation present."

"lucky bastard" hiccup said squinting his eyes playfully, jack chuckled.

Jack turned over the engine and it fired with a cough and a splutter but roared to life.

"she's gunna need some adjustment" hiccup said patting the dash, jack put her in gear and pulled away

"we'll get her puurrrin' " jack turned on the radio and wound down the window resting his elbow outside. Engaging first gear came with a little crunch that hiccup laughed and mocked at jack who just rolled his eyes.

Pulling out of the neighbourhood and onto the main road, the old truck gathered speed and cruised along nicely down the golden light road as the sun began to set, the two listening along to lakeshore drive.

As the music played, fingers drummed the door frame of the truck

as the warm summer air brushed past jack's arm, his other hand on the large wheel. "oh man i haven't heard this song in ages" hiccup turned up the volume more and they both began to sing along, jack smiling as his eyes reconnected with the road. With the old ford sitting at a steady 65 the two made it across to the small town of Burgess where Astrid's party was.

Jack turned off down a quiet street that didn't stay quiet for long, pulling up to a house that was swarmed with teenagers and music he parked a few cars down and cut the engine. " well this is it" jack turned to face hiccup who was looking a bit anxious.