I decided I wanted to update this one pretty quick considering where I left it. I still have a lot more stories to update but I felt this one really needed to be. So thank you for reading! I don't really have much to say about this one. xD

Disclaimer: ...Not mine.

-Ash

"What're you drawing, Hiccup? That's not what I assigned you..."

I nearly jumped out of my skin and looked up to see a brunette haired woman in front of me, "Gah! Ms. Abby! Um, I uh... I was distracted, sorry."

"And so you doodle a...is that a dragon?" My art teacher asked.

I nodded, "Um, yes ma'am. I'm sorry; I'll get back on task."

She quirked a brow, "Yeah, that'd be nice."

As class passed I went back to the painting Ms. Abby had assigned me, though in the back of my mind I couldn't stop thinking about that dragon. I had to go back and see it again if it was there. What did dragons eat? Fish? Would that work?

I then heard Ms. Abby with her voice raised, "Maybe if you tried you wouldn't have such terrible grades."

I spun around and gazed over at her to see Astrid Hofferson with her arms crossed irritably. "It's just art class! You just do the assignment whether it's good or not! Some people don't have any artistic abilities!"

"You don't have to have artistic abilities to pass this class, Astrid, you just have to try! Which, obviously, you don't do that! You turn in scribbles of nothing. Everything you do looks like a three-year-old could've done better. I know you have more potential than this, therefore, I'm giving you a different assignment. I'm going to give you a tutor."

Astrid scoffed, "A tutor? In art class? You're joking right?"

"Well... that depends. Do you want to stay on the softball team? Because to stay on that you have to have As and Bs which you don't in my class."

The young blonde groaned, "Fine."

"I'll give you the best student in my class."

I turned my head away immediately. Best student? Didn't that mean-

"Hey, Hiccup! Can you come here please?"

I flinched and the brush slipped out between my fingers. I panicked and quickly regained the brushed after a few times of it slipping as I tried to grab it. I then set it in my cup of water on the table and made my way to them, "Yes, Ms. Abby?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. I'm guessing because of the fact I called her by her first name.

"It seems Ms. Hofferson here is failing my class."

"Failing art class?" I asked trying to sound stunned.

I heard Astrid growl before Ms. Abby continued, "So, I figured that she could use a little help from you."

"Sure, what do you want me to do?"

"You're going to at least teach her the basics. And I want this done here, in my room, after school."

Astrid screeched, "What! But I have a life after school!"

I shrugged, "I don't."

"Plus, how is this guy your best student? He has no talent at all!" Astrid cried.

"Um, actually, I've won five art awards this year, last year Ms. Abby picked me as 'Best In Class', and my artwork has been out in the hall every assignment she's given us. I think you just haven't been paying attention." I retorted.

Her eyes burned with anger as she got right in my face, "You know what, Haddock! I outta-"

Ms. Abby yanked her away from me, "I think that's enough out of you Astrid. I expect this tutoring to start today. You'll both report here at 3:00. Understood?"

I nodded, "Yes ma'am, but can I get my cell phone out really quick so I can call my dad to ask him how I should get home?"

Astrid cocked a brow at me, "You don't have a car?"

"My dad doesn't trust me behind the wheel yet..."

Ms. Abby placed a hand on my shoulder, "I'll take you home Hiccup, just let Gobber know."

I nodded again, "Alright."

Once our art teacher walked around the corner, Astrid grabbed my shoulder and spun me around violently. She sneered, "Listen Hiccup, Harold, whatever you want to be called, I'm not very happy about this."

I rolled my eyes, "Obviously. And just call me Hiccup."

She gritted her teeth, "But I have to pass this class so I can stay on the softball team. So just help me get good at art and then I'll pretend you don't exist ever again. Got it?"

"Got it..."

"Good. Now I'll see you at 3:00. And if you're late and make me have to stay at this stupid school longer than necessary, your little 'friend' down there won't be thrilled with what I do to it."

That one actually scared me a bit, "Great. I'll be sure to let him know."

She pushed me away and stomped back over to her best friend Ramona Thorson, AKA Ruffnut, in a huff. (Remember what I said about nicknames? Yeah.)

I went back over to my painted and began to let my brush run over the canvas simply. My best art was usually done when I was unfocused, so maybe this one would be great. Considering the dragon and now this entire Astrid deal, I was as unfocused as I possibly could be. It was then Ms. Abby was behind me again, "I know that you don't have the greatest social life, Hiccup, but you never know. In the end you and Astrid could end up friends."

I scoffed, "Astrid and I? Friends? Yeah... That wouldn't even happen if we were the last two people on Earth."

She ruffled my hair affectionately, "Don't say that. You're one of the sweetest and most intelligent kids I know. Not all girls fall for the strong football players."

"Not all, but most do." I grumbled.

"Stop being so negative, you'll make friend soon. Everyone will see your talents and personality for what they are soon, Hiccup. I can feel it. I just know it."

"If you say so... I'll go call Gobber now." I replied dreadfully as I dragged myself over to my backpack to pull out my phone.

I sat in the art classroom uncomfortably waiting for Astrid to get there. I knew she had softball last period, and girls were all obsessed with getting clean afterwards. After a few more moments the doorknob twisted and Astrid stepped inside.

She shrugged her shoulders and grimaced, "Sorry I'm late."

"Don't be. It's not like I have anything important to do with my life." Except find that dragon...

The blonde turned her gaze to the floor and rubbed her arm uncomfortably, "Right." She then looked back up at me, "So, where do we start so I can get this over with?"

"How about just painting a canvas?"

"Yeah sounds good."

I began to show her how to hold a paint brush correctly. I came up behind her and grabbed her hand in mine, she flinched immediately. I then began moving her hand with my own making small wavy lines across the canvas. I backed off quickly and went back over to my own easel, "Now you try."

Astrid nodded and repeated the movements I just showed her. Even though she was really pissed off about having to do this, she was at least trying. She then paused and cocked a brow at me, "You've really won five art awards?"

Where'd that come from...? I shifted uneasily, "Um, yeah. Why?"

She turned her attention back to the painting giving the brush small baby strokes, "I just never expected you to be good at anything."

I turned my gaze back to my own painting, "Yeah. I invent things too. I also occasionally write small stories and comics."

Astrid glanced at me, "No kidding?"

I shook my head, "Nope. I'm also good in other classes, like science. I'm overall your typical nerd."

"I've never met a nerd that's as much of a smartass as you."

I cleared my throat, "I'll take that as a compliment." I glanced over at her canvas, now covered in wavy lines, "You done with that?"

"Oh." She paused, "Yeah."

"Okay well now you'll need to start with-"

"Can I see some of your artwork, Hiccup?"

I was taken aback as I turned my gaze to her, "What?"

Astrid sneered, "Did I stutter? Let me see some of your artwork, oh Hiccup Haddock the greatest artist of us all."

"You won't like it; it's all dragons and weird crap like that."

"Just let me see!" She growled.

"Okay, okay, yeesh." I grabbed my sketchpad from the table and handed it to her, "You happy now?"

"Wow, you are really good."

"Um, thanks I'm flattered, we should really get back to work now." I told her.

"Right." She said taking the paint brush back in her hand.

The rest of the time with Astrid was pretty boring. It was just me telling her how to paint circles and other designs. I told her that tomorrow we'd start moving on to higher basics. She actually seemed interested, but I knew she actually wasn't. Ms. Abby was in the back of the room organizing supplies the entire time Astrid and I were there. She was most likely trying to stay out of the way. But Astrid was only trying to look good in front of her even though Ms. Abby paid no mind the entire time.

Afterwards I got in the car with said teacher and she drove off to my house.

"So, how'd things go?" She asked.

I sighed, "Fine, I guess, but I don't think I have a new best friend."

"Well, just keep working with her, who knows what could happen."

"Thanks I'll keep trying."

There wasn't really much conversation after that. Once we arrived at my house I got a "Goodbye Hiccup" and she drove away. I stepped inside my house and immediately went to the fridge. I grabbed a fresh fish then stormed out the backdoor. Once again my father wasn't home, thank goodness. I wandered through the woods attempting to find the trail that led me to the dragon. I found the large broken tree and grinned, "Bingo." I murmured to myself.

Ready or not, dragon, here I come.