Stupid Love - Chapter Ten
Pairing: Hijack
Word Count: 1850
Warnings: Mild language, illegal highway racing

I do not own the rights to any Dreamworks Animation characters.

Hiccup quietly leaned back on his couch, cell phone in one hand, remote in the other. He absentmindedly gnawed at his shirt collar with his eyes glued to the tiny screen in his hand as the television screen further behind it flickered with static for a moment before the channel came in clear again. A faint "sugar crush" sounded and Hiccup set his phone down to look up at the TV.
"I would have thought you'd be depressed without me."
Hiccup jumped up, turning around in his seat to find Astrid standing in the doorway to his apartment.
"Oh, hey," he cleared his throat and stood up. "Uhh, what're you doing here?"
Astrid frowned,
"I'm here to see how life's been treatin' you," she told him. "But you don't seem to be hopelessly suffering and wasting away like I expected…"
Hiccup laughed.
"Well, since you're actually talking to me again, I'd say I'm doing pretty great."
Astrid walked inside, shutting the door behind her.
"You deserved worse, you know," she added. Hiccup walked over to her, a pout on his face.
"Are you still mad at me?" He questioned. Astrid shot him a stern look, replying,
"Yes."
Hiccup sighed and shrunk back a bit, glancing around his tiny apartment before finally asking,
"How am I supposed to make it up to you?"
Astrid rolled her eyes,
"Hmm…" she responded, pulling her car keys out of her pocket. "Well, how about you treat me to lunch down at Gobber's?"
Hiccup smiled,
"Wanna cruise?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Astrid turned back to the door, nudging it open with her shoulder. "Of course! And don't you DARE let me win!"
Hiccup reached over the couch and grabbed his keys and wallet in one scoop.
"I won't hold back, I promise."

As soon as Toothless and Stormfly pulled onto the highway, Hiccup peeled out, zooming out in front of Stormfly in mere seconds. Astrid pushed on the gas, booking it until she was right behind Hiccup's Fiero. She quickly maneuvered into the passing lane, but Hiccup swerved over, blocking her path. She smirked, moving back and forth before smashing the gas pedal to the floor.
"Oh, shit—" Hiccup swerved back over into the right line as Stormfly nearly rear-ended his precious car.
"…the fuck, Astrid? Was that really necessary?"
Astrid laughed and sped ahead, but Hiccup pressed on the gas and shifted gears, gaining on her.
Up ahead, Astrid dodged around two cars and Hiccup followed her, copying her movements as Toothless continued to get closer and closer. Astrid glanced in her mirror and tried pressing on the gas some more, but it was already to the floor, and her digital odometer flashed a solid 90 MPH, though she knew she was going at least 110.
Hiccup shifted gears again, smacking the clutch before pushing on the gas and pulling right past Stormfly. He grinned when Astrid flipped him the bird as he sped on ahead again. He kept going until the turn-off ramp appeared. Just as he hit the brake, Stormfly's nose crept into his peripheral and it was on.
He slammed the gas again, but Astrid was already maneuvering in right beside Toothless. Hiccup shot her a competitive smile and she grinned right back. The stop sign for the turn was in sight, but the utter lack of cars meant that sign no longer existed to either of them.
Toothless drifted around the corner, Stormfly right on his tail, both zooming right toward the restaurant at the bottom of the hill.
Hiccup shifted gears, pulling back for only a second, and his engine roared as he pressed the gas to the floor, taking off and skidding to a stop in the restaurant parking lot. He backed Toothless into his regular spot and watched as a steaming Stormfly did the same.
Oh, he was about to get an earful, he just knew it…

"You're a jerk," Astrid remarked, slamming her car door. Hiccup hopped out of his own car, a big grin plastered across his face.
"I knew switching to a new fuel injector would do the trick," he commented, shutting the door and rushing over to catch up with Astrid. She ran ahead and pushed open the door to the restaurant, and then flipped around and held it closed. Hiccup smiled, walking up and trying to push it back open, but Astrid wouldn't let it budge. He stood back, folding his arms and giving a mock pout, but Astrid just stuck out her tongue at him in return.
"You know, I can't pay for your meal if you don't let me in," Hiccup told her through the glass. Astrid frowned and let go of the door handle, and Hiccup pushed his way inside.
"Just know I technically beat you in here," Astrid added as they walked in and found themselves a place to sit at the bar.
"No need to be jealous," Hiccup replied. "I've been practicing."
"I can tell," Astrid quipped, leaning forward on the bar.
"Hopefully, it'll be good enough to beat Jack's car next time…" Hiccup trailed off, leaning back on the stool.
Astrid let out a disapproving huff,
"You're still hanging out with that douchebag?"
Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"I haven't raced him with Toothless yet," he explained. "After I beat him and rub his face in it a little, I'll be done for good."
"Oh, I highly doubt that," Astrid laughed.
"What?" Hiccup turned to her, "Why?"
"You've been hanging out with the guy more than me this past week."
"That's only because you weren't even talking to me the last couple days!" Hiccup remarked.
"So, what?" Astrid glared. "You go and replace me with him? You two are practically best friends now, aren't you?"
"What? No!" Hiccup defended, "Jack is…Jack's nothing but a complete asshole…who happens to own a perfect car."
Astrid rested her chin in her palm, adding,
"And invited you to a race where you met The Guardians."
Hiccup bit his lip. That was true.
"And got a puppy that I swear I've seen a million pics of on your instagram," she continued.
Hiccup looked down at his hands. That was probably also true…
"And, according to your facebook, brought you over to his house to play video games…quite a few times now."
Hiccup cringed, finally replying,
"It does sound a little weird when you put it like that…"
Astrid placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Face it, Hiccup," she told him. "You two…"
"No!" He pleaded.
"Are…"
"Not the F-word! Please!"
"FRIENDS!" Astrid finished in a sing-song tone. Hiccup let his head fall to the counter, defeated.
"Augghhh…" He groaned. "Yeah, kinda. It sucks."
He turned his head to look up at Astrid as she pulled her hand away.
"But it's not my fault. Every time I try to leave, or something, he just…pulls me back in somehow," he continued. "It's weird."
"And creepy," Astrid shook her head. "I'm never betting you to do anything ever again."
"I don't blame you," Hiccup replied sorely.
A familiar laugh made him pick his head back up, and the one and only Gobber sauntered up to them from behind the bar. He set down their usual orders, burgers and fries, and showed off his toothy smile.
"Hey, Heccup, Astrid," he greeted them. "Good ta see ya!"
"Hey, Gobber," Astrid and Hiccup replied in unison. Hiccup's smile returned as he picked up a french fry and popped it in his mouth. Gobber stepped back and grabbed two, filled glasses before setting them down in front of him.
"Got yer usual for ya," he remarked. "This pathetic excuse fer a beverage fer the young lad," he said as he pushed the glass of Mountain Dew towards Hiccup. "And a cherry Coke with no ice fer the lady," he added with a smile, pushing the other glass toward Astrid.
She smiled, reaching for a straw from the dispenser across the counter.
"So, who won today?" Gobber grinned, glancing back and forth between the two.
Astrid shoved the straw in her glass and began to stir it around.
"Hiccup beat me by just a hair," she admitted.
Gobber let out a hearty laugh, replying,
"Ohh, well, don't ya let 'im live it down!"
Hiccup grinned, remarking,
"Oh, she hasn't."
Gobber laughed again and told them to enjoy the meal before turning back to help some other customers. Hiccup and Astrid both shouted their thanks out to him and he waved them off and walked away.
Hiccup grabbed his own straw and took a sip of his soda. Astrid grinned, turning to him to ask,
"So… Any chance your boyfriend's less of an asshole now? At least, since the bar?"
Hiccup coughed loudly, having choked as Astrid had obviously planned.
"You did that on purpose," he croaked before coughing again.
"Duh," she smiled triumphantly. "But answer the question."
Hiccup took a few more sips of his drink and leaned back on the stool.
"Uhh," he started. "I don't know, sort of, I guess…? Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason," Astrid told him nonchalantly, picking at her food. "Just curious if I'll be able to handle him being around, that's all."
Hiccup sighed irritably,
"I told you, once we race, it's over," he replied. "You won't have to deal with him ever again."
"Yeah, and I'm the Queen of England," Astrid retorted sarcastically. "Hiccup, there is no way that's gonna happen."
"And how would you know?" He tested.
"Because I know you," she replied matter-of-factually. "And I know you like this dude."
Hiccup held back a laugh.
"Please," he told her, "I like brussels sprouts more than I like him."
"For now," Astrid added.
She picked up her burger and took a big bite. Hiccup raised an eyebrow, slowly asking,
"…and what's that supposed to mean?"
Astrid just sat and silently chewed her food. Hiccup glared at her before she finally spoke up.
"It means I know you, you dolt," she remarked. "I know exactly what's happening here, so don't think I don't see it."
Hiccup's eyes narrowed.
"See what?" He asked, confused.
"You," she replied, "and him."
Hiccup stared at her like she had grown a second head.
"…what? Where is this coming from?" He asked, more concerned than confused this time.
"You LIKE him, Hiccup," she told him bluntly.
"Wha—Jack?!"
Hiccup glanced around frantically. Had his best friend gone completely insane and he was the only one noticing it.
"Not like that, I don't!" He protested.
"I beg to differ—"
"You can beg all you want," he cut her off, almost afraid to hear what else she might suggest, "you're still wrong!"
"I think I'm right," Astrid said knowingly and took another sip of her soda with a smile on her lips.
"Yeah, well," Hiccup huffed. "I—you—we'll just see about that!"
Astrid laughed.
"I guess we will."