For what had to be the hundredth time, Astrid opened An Imperial Affliction and began to read. It was maddening that the book ended in mid-sentence. The book was about a girl named Abby, who like her, was suffering from cancer. Abby either dies or becomes too sick to continue in the book, but the abrupt ending leaves the fate of the other characters, like Abby's mother, undetermined. Astrid had emailed the author, Gobber Van Houten, dozens of times, but had never gotten a response.
As Astrid read the words that fascinated her, she couldn't help but wonder if Hiccup was reading them as well and if he had conceived an opinion about it yet. She was almost done with Legend of the Night Fury, in fact, she only had a couple pages left. Only the ending wasn't the only thing waiting for her when she read that last page, Hiccup's number was waiting for her as well, with her promise to call him after she finished the book.
She couldn't define the reason of her apprehension. Instead of staying up to dwell on it, she turned out the light to slowly fall asleep.
Astrid turned the last page of The Legend of the Night Fury and saw Hiccup's number, patiently waiting to be dialed into a phone, her phone. Ignoring her trepidation, she picked up her phone and punched in the numbers that would contact Hiccup.
After two rings, Hiccup's distinctive voice came through the phone, "Afternoon Astrid Skye! I trust you have read my book and are now following up with your promise?"
"As a matter of fact I am, have you read my recommendation?" Astrid questioned, not realizing his voice brought an automatic smile.
"Please tell me my book is missing pages, or there's a sequel or even an AIA pamphlet?"
"I'm very sorry to say no to your options. But you liked the book?"
"I loved it! But the ending-"
"I know the ending is rather abrupt-" Astrid cut him off, but he returned the favor.
"Abrupt does not even begin to analyze the agony Van Houten has caused. He has committed a dangerous crime, cutting off an astounding book in mid-sentence… leaving its dedicated readers to suffer and endure the pain of uncertainty of the fate of their beloved fictional characters?! There will be consequences!"
"I think Van Houten has already taken his chances, Hiccup." Astrid laughed at Hiccup's dramatic statement. Over the phone, Astrid heard loud sobbing.
"Are you okay?" She asked shocked that their conversation had taken a quick turn to despair.
"Oh! I am excellent! However, our friend Snotlout has decelerated into a psychotic state of heartbreak and betrayal. How soon can you get here?"
"I'll be there in 15 minutes." Astrid said and they hung up.
After saying hello to Hiccup's parents, Astrid made her way down the stairs to Hiccup's room, where more wailing could be heard from the basement. The wailing gave Astrid a feeling of uneasiness, as she was not sure how to handle whatever heartbreak Snotlout could be facing, he hadn't had his surgery yet, so what was wrong?
"Astrid Skye?" Hiccup called out as she set foot on the floor. "Snotlout, does Astrid Skye make this better?" No response came from Snotlout. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," she answered looking at Snotlout, who was playing a video game with tears on his face.
"I like that color on you, it suits you more than pink." Hiccup said brushing her shoulder looking at her red t shirt. Seeing Astrid notice the tears, he sighed.
"Snotlout and Heather… are no longer considered a pair of two young lovers." Hiccup explained remorsefully.
"Oh Snotlout, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too. It's unacceptable. I'm about to lose my sight and she breaks up with me cause she can't handle it. But we all know the real reason…" Snotlout didn't want to continue, so Astrid did for him.
"She didn't want to dump a blind guy." Astrid finished sadly. Snotlout nodded.
"And after she promised me always! What happened to that promise?! Doesn't anyone believe in true love anymore?" He asked, for some reason looking at Astrid for the last question.
"I don't know about true love, but I do know that sometimes people don't understand their promises when they make them. Only when they try to keep them, do they realize the commitment."
Snotlout jumped up and started violently kicking and punching the bean bag chair he was sitting in. Letting out shouts of rage with each punch until Hiccup stepped in.
"That's not helping. You need something that breaks and that won't break." He stated rushing over to his trophy shelf. Picking a large blue one he handed it to his cousin.
"Have at it."
"You sure?"
"I've been searching for a way to tell my dad I hate basketball, I think this is the best way. I get a message out and help a friend get through his emotions in the process."
Throwing the trophy to the floor, Snotlout brought his foot down on the small statue of a person holding a basketball. Once he finished off one trophy, he took another one down from the shelf and finished that one as well. Soon he was standing in a mess of trophy remains breathing heavily.
"Feel better?" Hiccup asked hopefully.
"Not really." Snotlout answered sadly.
"Physical or mental, pain demands to be felt." Hiccup declared. Astrid couldn't agree more with him.