CHAPTER 2: How To Ask Her Out

I started to panic about 10 minutes before the final bell rang. I couldn't focus in class. All of the letters on the chalkboard just looked like gibberish. My heart was beating like a war drum preparing for a battle. I watched as the clock on the wall slowly but inevitably reached 3 O' clock. Finally, all that I heard was the final bell and the sound of my mind exploding.

"Alright class, just remember to bring your homework in tomorrow and you should be set. Good day." What did the teacher say? I was too worried about how Astrid would react when I asked her the ridiculous question I've had on my mind since what felt like ages. I picked up my books and headed to my locker. I opened it up and got my sack out and put everything I needed in it. Alright, I was ready to face her. I took a deep breath and left to find Astrid.

It didn't take too long. She was standing in the middle of a group of jocks, mostly Snotlout, what a dope. I waited until it was just her. After a few minutes, she said goodbye to the crowd and began to leave. That was when I made my approach.

I walked up to her and said as confidently and casually as I could, "So the Berk Ball is coming up soon. That should be fun, right?" I thought I heard myself squeak a bit at the end.

Astrid didn't notice and replied with an, "Eh. If you're into that sort of stuff, I guess." She didn't seem like she cared about the ball. Didn't every girl was to go?

I was curious, "Do you not want to go to the Ball? It's a huge social gathering. All your girlfriends will be there, the jocks too."

Astrid twirled a strand of hair between her fingers. "I guess I would go if anyone would balls up and ask me." I thought I saw her look back in the direction Snotlout used to stand.

This was the sign right? No one has asked her yet and here I am, single and ready to go to the Ball. "Well, listen. Both of us don't really have a date to the Ball and both of us would like to go. What would you think about," Astrid shot me a glare like she already knew what I was about to ask, "you and I going together. A-as friends." I added in a quick spark of inspiration.

She thought about it. "Hmm. Well I was thinking of going with Snotlout but he hasn't asked me yet." She looked extremely annoyed with him. "I don't know what he's waiting for." She weighed the options between going with me, who's ready, or to wait for Snotlout to ask her. "Just as friends, right?" I nodded.

I wanted to defend my case. "I mean we can walk in together and maybe dance a little but after that you can hang out with your girlfriends if you want." This idea started to sound good to Astrid.

She slowly began to nod and smile. "Okay," She said, "It sounds good. Just as friends." If Astrid really had a secret thing for me, she was hiding it well. Obviously she didn't want the whole school to think we would be a couple so she played it safe. In my mind, I high-fived myself. Yes! I got a date to the Ball, even if it was with Astrid.

But suddenly my attention fell only on Astrid, since she had the collar of my shirt in her fist. "But listen, I don't want the word to leak out that you and I are going together so Don't Tell Anyone. Okay?" I nodded again, one of my annoying traits, I nod too much. "Good." She let go of my collar and left.

As she turned to walk away, I could've sworn I saw a shimmer of light flicker in her eyes. I also thought I caught a little smile. So she really did like me huh? Well this dance should be fun.