Hey there guys! As you might have noticed, I've changed the summary of this story a bit. (okay a lot ) But I just… After incorporating Astrid… I just felt that I could have these four characters paired up according to my two OTP's (Major Hiccstrid shipper too) So… yeah. If you don't like Hiccstrid, then perhaps this story isn't for you. I don't hope I've disappointed anyone by incorporating another semi-major ship.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Elsa

I have jitters all over my stomach. Since I woke, I haven't been thinking about anything but the fact that Astrid's starting in my class today! I hope she's just as I remember her. All the way to school, I'm twisting my fingers in excitement. Mom catches my attention and smiles

"Relax! If you continue like that, you'll just feint from excitement." She jokes. I smile at her, looking back out the window.

"I just can't help it, mom. It's Astrid!" The car continues into the school's parking lots.

I skip through the halls, hoping to catch her at the principal's office before class. As I turn the last corner, I stop for a moment, taking a good look. And there she was, standing by the door talking with Punzie.

She looked completely like herself. Pale, golden blonde hair pulled into her signature Celtic side braid – I wonder how she does that – with a thin bohemian-like head piece woven in between it and her side swept bangs. She's in a blood red top with a sand pullover, along with bright blue tights and a pair of black flats. I calm myself, before walking towards them.

I tap her on the shoulder, making her turn around. Her eyes blow up in joy.

"My gods, Elsa!" She signs, before hugging me. I smile at her, wanting to squeal so bad. After the long embrace, I let go.

"It's been way to long, Astrid. Was it awesome in Scotland?" I sign so fast, my fingers get tangled. I giggle silenced, looking at her. She laugh – also silenced. She's not comfortable with her voice, just like me.

"Slow down, girl! You're getting a bit hard to understand. Now, Scotland was great. I saw my crazy twin cousins, which was as hilarious as always, and my grandparents were glad to see me again." She smiles as her hands unfold the story. She is about to continue, but Punzie cuts in.

"Now girls, I know you've got a lot of catching up to do, but you've classes! I'm glad you have all your classes together, so I can keep an eye on you!" She laughs, as she motions for us to get going. Looks like we share an interpreter, while being in class. We both suppress a laugh, before skipping off to our first class, together after two years.

Astrid

By the time Elsa and I get into third period, the boys seemed to have registered that a new girl has started in their class, for they swarm around me the second I enter the class room. Elsa and Punzie's a bit behind me, so I panic a little. All the boys' lips are moving simultaneously, like constant buzzing around me. Here and there I'm able to comprehend small words, "love" "hair" "you" "pretty" "like" "outfit" "you workout?"

. As Punzie and Elsa join me, they suddenly disperse and get bored, disappointed and some disgusted looks. I focus on the closest pair of lips, comprehending the situation to the fullest.

"Can't believe that hottie is part of the freak-club." I'm deeply offended, and as per reflex, grabs out for Elsa's hand. She has a face just like mine; saddened, not feeling like she belonged here. From the first day my reputation and future is set by the outcome of a stupid choice. Not made by me, though. My mother was seven months pregnant at the time, the doctors said. She exposed me to too much noise, and therefore I got hearing loss as a baby. I don't remember anything different than my current hearing, but it's still unbelievable for some people, so they judge me. Which is far from fair.

Elsa leads us down towards the back, where we would be seen by no one. Punzie joined Ms. Giselle at the teacher's desk, conversing about something.

Halfway through the class, Ms. Giselle's lips move, while looking at me, but I was too zoned out for a moment to look at Punzie for a translation, though she did one. So I sit on my chair twisting my fingers, trying to come up with something. Someone in the front says something, though my ears receive it as a mumble. My immediate answer was,

"Sorry, would you repeat that?" The whole class gasped, before bursting into laughter so high, that even my numb ears can hear it loud and clear. All faces are turned towards me, all reddened by their emotions.

"Hear…? Sh… talk…!" My left ear catches a deep sounding voice. Right now I want to shrink into nothing but air that disperses quickly. I crouch low behind my desk, wanting to disappear so badly. I look to my right, seeing Elsa sitting and staring at me with pity. She could not hear what I said, but she saw that I spoke. Alone at that, she knew what was going to happen to me.

Punzie gets to me within a heartbeat, and looks straight at me.

"Are you okay, Astrid?" Her signing is faint and as discrete as possible. I shake my head for an answer, snapping for breath. I need to get out of here.

Elsa

I tap Punzie gently on the shoulder, while she's trying to calm Astrid down. What she needs, is to get out of here. She turns towards me.

"I need to take her out of here, Punz. She needs some air. Could you ask Ms. Giselle if it's alright? And that I go with her?" She nods quickly, turning towards the board. Her lips are moving shortly, before she looks back at me.

"You go with her now, and take the time you need. Ms. Giselle will get hold of this class, don't worry." I smile, and rise from my seat.

"Come on, girl. We need to get away from here. I know just the spot." I grab her around the shoulders, leading her outside towards my favourite place on the whole school; my tree.

-X-

I sit her down on one of the out sticking roots, making her take a deep breath once or twice, before letting her shaking body do the talking. I leaned against a low branch, preparing for an outbreak.

"Why…. why did I do that? Of all the worst possibilities, I end up with the biggest screw-up, I could ever do! Elsa, what's wrong with me? Tell me I'm stupid!" I drop my jaw, looking at her for a moment.

"What the… This isn't the Astrid Hofferson I know! The Astrid I know is strong, clear minded, and does not let others come in her way. She makes her own way among people, and they respect her for that! She rocks at socializing better than anyone I know! Well besides my sister, but that's not the point. She's never let such things get her down! Her spine is carved of pure rock. A laugh and a few comments wouldn't get her this far down. What has happened to that Astrid?" I ask, making sure the eye contact is intact all the time.

"I… I am that girl, and you know that! It's just… I guess I'm just nervous… Elsa, you and I both know that I'm good at socializing and stuff. With people in the Deaf Culture. People like us that understand us from the very moment we're introduced to one another. I really hoped it would work out for at least one day among the hearing people, and I was really holding back this morning when I saw you at the principal's office. I really thought I could do it, and then I make the one fatal screw-up that now has the rest of my days in this school ruined! I sort expected a reputation as 'DeafGirl' or 'DumbGirl' because I ask for repetition so often. But this one's all on me, and I'm to blame! I hate that people now know that I talk. They're gonna mock me every single time they see me in the hallways, and by the end of the day, every person on the school will know that the new DeafGirl actually speaks, and that it sounds so weird and freaky. " Her hands seems to disappear in a blur as fast she's letting all her thoughts pour out, but she needs it. I'm just able to keep up with her, and nod in the end. She stretches her fingers, wanting to continue.

"And the worst part is that now they're gonna mock you with it too. They know I can talk, so they're probably gonna beg you for speaking too, seeing if every deafie or hard of hearing can talk just as weird as I do. I don't want your life to be harder than it already is. I'm the cause to more suffering for you! Please forgive me, Elsa… I never want stuff like that to happen for you, you know that, right?" I smile weakly joining her in the root.

"You're overreacting way too much, Astrid. I've been avoided, mocked, bullied and picked for two years. I'm used to it by know. I know when to just shrug it off. I will admit that sometimes it's really tough to get through the day, but you know what? I always do. I think of a greater life on the other side of high school. I dream of a future, just like everybody else, even though I'm bullied with not having one. So many times people's sent me notes in class about how I even can learn anything, because I can't hear what everyone says, or that I'll never get anywhere, because I'll never hear what I'm being told, but so what? I'm proud to be who I am, no matter where I am, and you should be too! Let the Astrid know shine through, also when you're out of your comfort zone. Let the hearing world know the Astrid I do, and boom! Everyone will love you! I'm sure they will! And if they don't, then you're not alone. You always have me, right by your side. Back when I tried to open up to the hearing world and they crushed me, I had no one to go to, while being here. Punzie was there of course, but there were just some things that I could never say to her, afraid that she would go to the principal with a list of names, that then later on would return and do horrible things. I've always been afraid of that, and for that I've shut myself from this world. And someday, I know I'll regret it. I actually did regret it yesterday, when I met Jack, the guy told you about. He wasn't a judgemental ass like everyone else. He was willing to understand, and we'll meet many like that throughout out our lives." I lift her head slightly, looking straight into her eyes.

"We just gotta have faith that that day will come. Until then, we mustn't give up." I smile gently, grabbing her hand. Suddenly she smirks at me.

"You just got a boost of self-confidence, when you met Jack, didn't you?" I immediately blush, looking away.

"Perhaps I did. So what?" She laughs, tightening the grip on my hand.

"All this sentimental talk about self-esteem because of a boy? Who would've thought it would take nothing more than a pair of blue eyes to melt you like that?" She tries to suppress her giggles, while looking back into my eyes.

"Yeah, laugh all you want. But trust me, the moment you're suddenly accepted, even just acknowledged by a hearing person, you'll be exactly like me about this."

"Wanna bet?"

"I'm serious!"

"Yeah, whatever. But thanks anyway. It felt really good to get it all out. I've been so stressed about getting into a hearing school the last couple of the days. Thanks for helping me out." I smile at her last comment, before pulling her in for a hug.

"Always," I whisper, hoping she could hear it.

Jack

The lunch bell screeches through the halls, calling all students towards the cafeteria. I skip towards Ms. Tiana and her delicious beignets, before the got stripped from the shelf.

As the last part of my lunch was sat upon my tray, I wandered off out of to the outdoor sitting areas. In this warm spring weather, I hope that Elsa might sit outside by that tree again.

I eventually find not only one blonde sitting by the tree, but two. In outline shape, they could be cousins for all I know. The blond hair was pretty similar, one being slightly paler, and even the hairdo was similar. Guess she has relatives here, who knew?

I approach them walking straight towards them. As one blonde head turns up, I see Elsa's familiar set of cerulean eyes. I smile at her, stopping slightly. She smiles even wider, and winks me over. I give her a toothy smile, and skips over to the two of them. By that time, the other blonde head looked up, locking her eyes on my face.

"Well, hello there. Elsa, I didn't know you had a cousin here?" I ask, pronouncing everything a bit slow. She smiles, opening her mouth to speak, while stretching her fingers.

"She's not my cousin, Jack. Astrid here, is my best friend, back from my old school. Astrid, meet Jack. Jack, meet Astrid." It was a bit weird hearing her talk, while signing. I look at Astrid who nervously smiled at me. She waves at me, before making a series of hand motions towards me. I smile weakly at her, understanding that she was like Elsa.

"Oh, I see you're like Elsa. Cool." I smile, while sitting down on a root opposite of them. Elsa smiles, while looking at me.

"Yeah. Astrid just got back from her long trip to Scotland. She started today." She says, continuing to sign, while speaking for the sake of Astrid's comprehension of the conversation. I hold up my hands, looking at Astrid.

"A-s-t-r-i-d… you… deaf, hard of hearing…?" I try to remember whatever little sign language Sandy taught me back at summer camp, but man, was that a long time ago. She giggles silenced.

"Hard of hearing." She mimics my last sign, making me nod.

"Cool. So we've got a deafie and a hard of hearing. It's nice to know that there are other people around than the usual stereotypes of the typical high school. As you know, I'm Jack" I fingerspell my name, just for repetition "And ehm… yeah. If you need anything, I'll be there. It's always nice to meet new people, from which I can learn new stuff." I smile, trying not to sound too engaged, but I want her to feel welcome here. Everybody should have a chance at a new place. Shouldn't they?

That wraps this chapter! Please tell me what you think about it, and gladly give suggestions to what could happen! I'd love to hear some ideas from you (:

Also, it'll really help, if I know how many is okay with the extra ship. I know a lot of Jelsa shippers has followed and favorited this story already, but I don't know if you're a fan of Hiccstrid as well. So let me know if you are, please! (: Until next time,

See ya!