And we come back to Hiccup and Lindsay! I hope this chapter is still up to snuff. I feel like Hiccup might be OOC, but you guys can judge that. if you think so, please tell me so I can fix it! Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Yes, I own the amazingness that is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III and I'm writing fanfiction. Oh, yes, amkes so much sense. And I own Firework too, so that must mean I'm Katy Perry. Um, no. (I wish I owned Hiccup and Firework!)
"Partner up, we're playing badminton," Vandy says.
Hiccup feels a thrill of surprise as Lindsay edges next to him. Someone actually wants him on their team. He's not used to that. "I warn you, I'm amazing at this game."
"Hmm, like you are with volleyball?" he whispers back.
She scowls. Since the "Astrid Incident" as they refer to it, Vandy has been trying to convince her to join the volleyball team, certain she's a secret sports prodigy. One, she's completely not, and two, Astrid captains that team and Lindsay isn't stupid enough to sign up for an hour of hell each day. Hiccup makes fun of her for it constantly, especially after she swore she'd never even try out and called the girls on the team unoriginal cretins. "Oh, so since you're destined to play with them, you're an unoriginal cretin?"
"I'm super original! You know that! And since when was I destined to play volleyball?"
He just smirked, which was more annoying than him using his trademark sarcasm.
She comes back with the highly original "Shut up!" Hiccup snickers.
They go to get their rackets and Lindsay serves. Hiccup manages to return it and she gives him a teasing thumbs-up. "You actually hit it!"
"Show-off," He yells back as she rams it back over the net and over his head. Their friendship is still in infancy but surprisingly close, held together by good-natured teasing, similarities in their personalities they'd never noticed before, and lots of time hanging out in the library. Lindsay helps him with English; he explains Algebra 2 to her as easily as the times tables. He's even been over to her house once, a large Colonial that seems smaller because of all the noise and the love and the laughter and the people and the pets crowding in it. She has three sisters and at least five dogs and cats running underfoot…that he saw.
"My mom loved you, by the way," She tells him now, smiling. "Said you were the kind of guy I should marry. Interpret that any way you want."
He reddens; she does a little too. "Don't worry, I told her you weren't looking….that is, you aren't unless my name's Astrid."
If he teases her about the volleyball incident a lot, she jokes on him all the time about Astrid. He doesn't mind; it's something that he weren't feeling it, he'd joke about it too. "It's such a stereotype," she says, shaking her head. "Popular girl ignores sweet nerd who's loved her since birth."
"At least you gave me sweet. And it was not since birth. Second grade. There's such a difference."
"You are sweet. You're also very smart, funny, all that. And you're not bad to look at at all, Hiccup. Who wouldn't want all of this?" She gestures to him. "She'd be lucky to have you; she's the loser here, not you." She sends a soft, easy hit his way, one he can easily return, as if to add to the kindness of her words.
It almost makes him cry, her earnestness. She really means it. No one has ever really complimented Hiccup. Not his dad: "You'll get big and strong one day." And I won't be happy until you do. Not the other Vikings: "You're so weird!" He remembers Astrid saying to him in third grade before she pushed him down into the mud, and he stayed on the ground for a long, lonely moment while no one offered to help him up again. He wants to wrap his bony arms around her, thank her, but is that weird? Thank you for making me actually feel like I'm not a complete and utter loser for a minute! Can you follow me around and do this all the time?
"Hey, Hiccup?" She says, looking him straight in the eye. "The popular girl always figures out the sweet nerd's right for her in the end."
"You really think that?" The question's more than he meant it as. Do you believe I'll get that happily-ever-after? Do you believe happily-ever-after is real? Do you believe in me? That I can? He's asking all of that with four words, and he's tense anticipating her answer.
"Yeah, I do." She says it simply and clearly. It requires no thought. "Hey, promise I'm the Best Woman at your wedding, okay? So I can say in my toast how I predicted this whole thing."
Hiccup promises. It requires no thought. She's best friend. Well, his only friend. The only human in this world he can call his friend.
They eat lunch together now, instead of Hiccup munching on a sandwich while doing his homework in the school's library. Lindsay has two full tables of people she likes, is friends with, around her, but she moved them so there's a spot beside her for Hiccup. They're all nice to him, which is a change. He doesn't say much during those thirty minutes, but he eats and he listens and he absorbs the conversations around him.
He likes how easily and loudly Lindsay laughs with her buddies. He likes how they make an effort to include him. He likes that she treats him the same when they're with a group as when they're alone; she's not ashamed to be his friend.
He's actually started looking forward to lunch like a normal person.
They spend almost every afternoon at the library, doing homework and goofing off; it's also when they have their most deep, serious conversations. Maybe it's just the quiet. Then again, it's also where they have their typical sarcastic, crazy ones.
They're silent right now. Hiccup's doodling sketches of prototypes on his sheet of paper, and towards the side writing his initials with Astrid's. Embarrassing, he knows. That's why he's shielding his paper from Lindsay with his science textbook.
"Hiccup! Earth to Hiccup! Hiccup— look, Astrid Hofferson!"
"Huh?"
"I knew that'd get you," Lindsay grins.
"Shut up," he mutters.
"I just wanted to inform you that we'll be spending the night in library if we aren't out of here in two minutes," she says matter-of-factly.
Hiccup moves slowly on purpose, just to annoy her.
"Okay, fine, I have no problem with a little extra fiction-time."
She sits back down, opening the 1st Harry Potter deliberately. "You know, I can quote the entire first page of this book verbatim," she tells him.
Hiccup shakes his head incredulously. "No way."
She hands him the book. "Test me!"
He reads the first paragraph and nods at her. "Go."
"'Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of Number 4, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much…'"
Finally, she stops her spiel, breathless. "Okay, that's all I know."
He raises his eyebrows. "I'm sorry for doubting you."
"We should've bet on it," she grumbles. "I need the money."
He giggles; she makes a face at him that only makes him laugh harder.
He's still chuckling when the librarian kicks them out. "See you tomorrow, children," she says stiffly.
They wait until she shuffles into her car and backs out before they look at each and laugh. "Children?" They choke out in unison.
"What, Hiccup, we're only 16!" Lindsay mocks. "We've barely even lived!"
"Oh, of course we're children! Gosh, I can't even cross a street by myself!"
They clamber into Lindsay's 2001 Taurus; it's another part of their routine. Since she's got a birthday so early in the year, she's already got her license. She always takes him home,
and they fight for control of the radio. Hiccup likes the oldies his mom use to blast and sing along to, and Lindsay is a music enigma. She likes country, most of Hiccup's oldies (though he prefers the soul stuff and she's more classic rock,) and some of the pop stuff, particularly Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. It all depends on what mood they're in what they listen to; if they disagree the person who can say "The gods be with you," in Norse (correctly) first, wins. They both had to learn it for their World History class; Hiccup in particular enjoyed that unit, with his ancestors being Old Norse Vikings. However, if you can switch the music without being chased off, it's fair game. It leads to a lot of trickery, which they are both very good at.
Lindsay slips in a CD. "I got Teenage Dream," she tells him, "and we're listening to it." He doesn't feel like fighting her; besides, though he'd never admit it (he has enough problems being called girly) he actually likes Katy Perry. Lindsay skips until she hits a particular song and lets it begin. She's humming to the beat, singing along; she knows every word.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper-thin
like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
do you know that there's still a chance for you? 'cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
just own the night like the fourth of July….
"Did you pick this song for a reason?" Hiccup asks suspiciously.
She snorts. "Yes. Because I wanted to listen to it." She launches into the chorus, blending her voice with the music. He feels an abrupt warmth when he realizes she's never sung in front of him until now. She must really trust him… He leans back against the seat and smiles as his heart glows with the thought.
You don't have to feel like a waste of space
you're original, cannot be replaced
if you only knew what the future holds
after a hurricane, comes a rainbow...
He swears she's looking right at him now. Her eyes are soft, and he knows while she might have picked this song because she likes it, she's also giving him something to cling to.
Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed
so you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
and when it's time you know…
"Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon," Lindsay finishes. She locks eyes with him for a full second before she squeezes the hand resting on the seat between them.
It's amazing that one person can give so much back the rest of the world has taken from you.
It's time to tell her.
To my lovely reviewers:
Ouma kugo: thanks :) I hope you like the second chapter.
Gilligan: Yep! Astrid is hurls volleyballs because, well, Hiccup's been hers (even if she deosn't want him) forever. She doesn't like sharing!
Kazuki: Your wish is my command: new chapter for you!
jack o lantern: This chapter took place in a couple settings. The next ones will probably be the same.
billy kido: Here's my next chapter! Enjoy!
sora nii: thanks :) right now my Hiccupx Astrid is very one-sided. But we know how Astrid hates Lindsay for TALKING to Hiccup, so how will she react with them hanging out everyday? :)
mks 12 98: Your review made me smile! I hope you still like Lindsay evn when she's not throwing volleyballs, lol.
Beastial Moon: the Toothless thing you suggested was genius! and I really considered it. I'm not telling you what my choice was, you'll find out soon enough! :D
disneyisbeautiful: I love your reviews, they always inspire me! thanks for telling me what I'm doing right, and I'll try to keep it going. And thanks for my cookie!
Hunternite: you're so great on my reviews! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it.
Thanks those who added me to their story alerts: HunterNite, xol225, disneyisbeautiful, Beastial Moon, I am Number5, and fairygirl2468 their favorite stories: HunterNite, xol225, TheNocturnalChandelier, and fairygirl2468 their author alerts:TheNocturnalChandelier and HunterNite; and favorite author: HunterNite. HunterNite, you are my favorite reviewer right now!
Someone we all love is coming next chapter. I promise entertainment! XD And if you review, I'll work faster on it. so GO GO GO! what are you waiting for?