Chapter 5: he's gunna be left behind

"this is it…" The look of dread on hiccup's face told jack loud and clear that he didn't want to go in.

"are you okay?"

"I'm fine jack, its just its been a while since I've been to a high school party"

"I know, but Astrid is inside and I'm here so there's nothing to worry about. Heck give it an hour and we'll leave these party animals and have our own fun".

Hiccup froze at the last part momentarily before brushing it off,

"come on" jack unbuckled his seat belt and opened his door. The faint chime emitting the truck as the door was ajar before a gentle slam was given to shut it properly, hiccup followed suit.

The two boys made their way up the driveway where people were chilling out and dancing with booze in their hands. Hiccup followed behind jack as they snaked their way through the thickening crowed to get to where Astrid and the rest of the gang were.

"Guys! They're here!" Astrid put down her jd and coke and walked over to jack and hiccup who entered the kitchen. " hey guys I can't believe you're here! And on time!" Astrid laughed as it was purposely aimed at jack particularly.

"we're here!" jack said going in for a hug that Astrid welcomed, Astrid squeezing him and giggling as the alcohol was getting to her head. She moved on to hiccup while jack let go and proceeded to the rest of the gang.

"hey guys" he gave everyone a halve salute and a smile.

"yo wad up man" snot said with his face in the snack bowl and beer in his hand.

"hey Jacky!" a small petite lady said with long blonde hair.

"hey punzi how's it going?" jack took a spot leaning against the countertop while crossing his arms. "I'm good, just enjoying the vibes" her arm rose above her head making the rock on gesture with her hand. Jack chuckled

"so, how's the mr2 coming along?" jack picked up a can of cola.

"pretty good, still needs some adjustments in the ignition packs but at least she's finally running."

"so up for a drag race soon?" jack threw back a swig of the fizzy drink giving the girl a grin of intimidation.

"Ha! You and what car jack? You don't even have one and I know north wouldn't let you take his Camaro again" both punzi and snotlout laughed and so did jack as he pulled out the keys to his truck and dangled them in front of the two. "that's true" he replied.

"woah dude! You got a car?" snot almost spat out his beer. Jack interrupted "truck may I add"

"you got a truck?" punzi stared at the keys as jack moved them closer to them.

"yup an old f150. Now, she needs a little work but she's sweet. And mine."

"dude we need to see this!" snot took the keys and examined them closer. "where did you get it?" he gave it back to jack.

"I don't know, North gave it me as an early graduation present."

"awesome! Now we can all go out together this summer" punzi cracked open another beer.

"well... almost all of us." Jack chuckled as he downed the last of his drink. "Hiccup needs to pull his finger out and get a car, I mean he's got a licence but he says he just doesn't like what's for sale in town."

Punzi took a sip of her beer and halve raised her finger at jack "that boy needs to hurry up else he's gunna be left behind."

"well I mean he can always ride with me until he gets a car" jack's smirk was too much for punzi and she pushed him playfully out of the way. "you know you should just ask him out already" and walked off to go see her other friends that had just arrived.

"she's got a point bro" snot shrugged his shoulders before following in punzie's footsteps. Jack smiled, put down the empty can and exited the kitchen. The night went on for a couple of hours jack, punzi and her friends had a dance off with some of Astrids friends and snotlout was in the dining room having arm wrestles with members of the football team.

Astrid was standing with hiccup in the hallway, she had given hiccup a beer from the cool box that was slowly starting to melt and seep water onto the floor that people were nearly slipping over. "so, I hear Jacks got a truck now?"

Astrid was swaying a little but still managing to communicate well with hiccup and drink at the same time. "oh, you heard already. Yea he said North brought it him. It's pretty sweet! I'd love to get my hands on it and work on it sometime"

"well why don't you get your own to work on? I'm sure there must be at least one you've seen that you like?"

"what? Like those Priuses and beat up corollas downtown? Yea no thanks" hiccup chugged back the bitter drink. "I want something decent, something that I can make my own and enjoy not just some weird and ugly looking thing that'll just get me from A to B."

"g-good point, but you" Astrid's words were starting to get effected by the alcohol at this point. "you do really really need, need to get something s-soon"

"Astrid are you alright?"

"i-im fine hic-cup I'm just a little tipsy…"

"shall we get you some fresh air?" Astrid was leaning against hiccup with a thinking expression. "okay let's go" Astrid began to walk to the kitchen, hiccup grabbed her by the arm, "this way Astrid" and escorted her out to the front door.

As they made their way through the door and out to the drive, they could see the rest of the gang near the driveway entrance. Hiccup could start to feel himself swaying a little which didn't help with Astrid being attached to him.

"Hiccup thank you for coming to my party tonight." She looked up at him with a drunken smile. "thank you for having me" he smiled back. "you know you don't have to s-stay all night if you don't want to," hiccup looked down at her but carried on walking. "I know jackass down there wanted to spend time with you tonight so go and have some fun with him." "you do know he's staying at mine tonight right? So there's no rush you muppet." Astrid let out a small giggle as she staggered with hiccup.

"Here she is! The birthday bitch that's already wasted out her mind." Punzi chuckled as went to support Astrid's other arm. "hey you guys! H-how's the party" Astrid looked at everyone who were now helping her sit down on the wall. "looks like someone is enjoying herself," jack patted her back lightly, "Jesus fuck! Astrid how much did you drink?" snotlout bent down and studied her with his beer still in his grasp. "oh, just a little" she giggled like a 5-year-old.

"oh just a little? You drank the entire fucking football team under the table by the looks of it" snotlout put his jacket around her and sat beside her. "I think someone needs to ease off a little." Jack looked at Hiccup who was finding the situation rather amusing.

Jack pulled out a pack of cigarettes and popped one into his mouth, he lit it taking a drag and then placed it In front of Astrid. "here, it'll sober you up."

He then pulled out another one and lit it for himself. "hey, are you gunna share?" snotlout put down his beer for the first time that evening and jack gave him one lighting it up for him. "much obliged" he said picking up his beer and returning next to Astrid.

Hiccup watched the smoke as it gracefully fell out of Jack's mouth and dissipated into the cool night air. They all watched as people were still dancing and drinking in the distance. "suppose I should get this one inside before she freezes." Punzi helped up Astrid who had finished her cigarette. "I feel a lot better now, I should call it a night though it is 2:15am". "yea we should start heading home too." Hiccup looked at the others and then at Jack who nodded back. "thank you all for coming tonight, best party ever!". Astrid got up and began to waddle up the path with punzi waving blindly as she walked.

"I'll see you guy's tomorrow maybe" snotlout raised to his feet cheering the two with his beer as he downed the last bit. "take it easy snot." Jack patted his back and snotlout began to head up the street. Jack then turned his attention to a slightly tipsy and now shivering Hiccup who had crossed his arms for warmth. "come on you, lets go. I'll put the heater on". They both walked down to where Jack's truck was and climbed inside, the trucks lights illuminated and pulled out onto the road heading back to the small town of Berk.