CHAPTER 6: How To Control Yourself

Next thing I knew, I had my hands on Verona's waist and we were slow dancing together. My heart was racing and my mind was about to blow. Yes, it was great to be dancing with the girl I had a crush on since 5th grade, but I had a new appreciation to Astrid and I didn't want to betray her by doing anything stupid that I would regret.

Verona's fingers were playing with my hair as she held her hands behind my neck, her fingers locked within each other. "This is a great song," She said.

"Yeah," I blankly agreed. "It's an okay song." I couldn't focus well. I was just trying to control myself. I was finally dancing with my dream girl, but I was with Astrid, and I needed to respect that.

"Hiccup, don't pretend that you don't have a crush on me. We both know that you have longed for me since 6th grade."

"Actually it was 5th," I corrected.

"This thing with Astrid," She continued, "Is just a phase. You know it's me you really want to be with." I couldn't argue that. Yes I did want to be with her. But I wanted to be loyal to Astrid and thought that Verona should be loyal to Tuffnut. I made this point to her.

"W-w-well what about Tuffnut," I stammered, "Your boyfriend." At this she leaned her head in close to mine.

"I won't tell if you don't." Then the unthinkable happened. She kissed me. Her lips were pressed hard against mine. Caterpillars erupted into butterflies in my stomach and were fluttering all around. It was the most intense and wonderful kiss in the world. But I had to break it. I stepped back, looking at her with wide eyes.

"No, no no no." I stammered again. "We can't do this. Even if I do love you, it's wrong. I can't betray Astrid and… and you can't betray Tuffnut."

"I don't have to betray Tuffnut," she was almost about to cry, "because he already betrayed me." My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe that Tuffnut would do something like that.

"No, not Tuffnut," I said, "I've known him forever. He wouldn't do that."

"He would. I caught him a couple of nights ago, kissing another girl. He doesn't know I know." She did start to cry now. I wrapped my arm around her and she buried her head into my chest.

"So if he cheated on you why did you still go to the Ball with him?" I asked her.

"Come on," She said, "It's the Ball. I didn't want to miss this. But I will tell him tonight, after we leave." She buried her head back into mine, just enjoying the comfort. I rested my head on top of hers (her hair smelled amazing) and closed my eyes. I was still swaying to the music. I was almost lost in the moment when I heard a grunt. "Ehem."

I look up to see Astrid standing there with her arms crossed glaring at us. I push Verona away, softly, and start to explain.

"No, Astrid it's not was it seems. She just needed a hug. She's had a rough time with Tuffnut and…"

"I know," she said.

"You know?" I asked. Verona was starting to fix her hair.

"Yes," Astrid said, "You know when we were outside and you and Tuffnut were talking, Verona was telling me the whole story." Verona nodded in agreement. Hm. I guess I'm not the only one who nods.

"But," I said, "Tuffnut said he loves Verona. He bought a 20 gold coin suit just for you."

"Well," Astrid said, "While I was dancing with Tuffnut, we kind of brushed on that subject. He said that he was sorry and that was his way of showing that he still cared about you. Verona." She turned her attention on Verona. She was listening. "He really is sorry. You don't know the whole story. She kissed him. That's what you saw. But what you didn't see was him pushing her away. He really does love you Verona."

Tears filled up in Verona's eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy. "Oh wow," she said. "I'm so happy. He really does love me! He's not just a two timing cheat! I'm going to go back to him." And then Verona was off. Astrid and I returned to our dancing position.

"In full disclosure," I said to my dancing partner, "Verona kissed me earlier." Astrid looked like she was getting mad, "But," I recovered, "I pushed her away. She just wanted to get back at Tuffnut. It meant nothing." Maybe not to her, but to me it was the most amazing kiss ever. I was really sorry I head to break it.

"Well," Astrid started to smile again, "Thank you for being so honest. You are the cutest guy ever." I smiled back. It meant a lot to me to hear that. I never thought that I would get a girl like Astrid to dance with me, and then, there she was.

"Um," I started to say, "After the Ball, can we still…" Astrid's eyes started to look more beautiful than ever, "Can we still be a couple?" I waited for her reply. She didn't seem disgusted by the idea so that must be a good sign. After a while, she nodded. Great, she does it too.

"Yes. Yes, I would love that." She lean in closer and gave me a kiss. "That's for taking me to the Ball and for being the cutest boyfriend I ever had." Well I wasn't the hottest or the strongest or the most handsome, but I was the cutest, and that was better than the rest to me.

The End