Sooo, finally back! xD Took a little while longer to move in than anticipated, but here I am!
I thank everyone who's taking time to read, favourite, follow and review this story!
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Elsa
I still don't quite understand why Jack brought Hiccup over for lunch. Astrid's all freaked out over that guy! I quietly glance to my left, seeing Astrid and Hiccup talk awkwardly, due her own stubbornness and insecurity. Though, she's slightly gaining a genuine smile, she's still a bit uncomfortable, I can see.
"Jack, why did you bring Hiccup along, really? I never got that." I say and sign. Jack looks at me for a while before answering.
"Well, I had him over for some gaming yesterday afternoon, and he was zoned out completely. I asked if it was a girl or what, and it seems I was right. He's lost in Astrid, trust me." He snickers, signing every second or third word – or whatever his narrow vocabulary provides him. I laugh aloud, looking over at the couple once again.
"Astrid was also quite freaked out yesterday. She's never really interacted with hearing people like that. It was a whole new experience for her. She was… I wouldn't say nervous, but she was flushed. So of course I teased her, and she teased me back." I smile, looking back at Jack. His eyes ignite in a mischievous manner, and smirks.
"What did she tease you about, since it was a boy-talk? Who's Elsa smoochin'?" He laughs, winking his eyebrows exaggerated. I growl slightly, rolling my eyes.
"No one is smooching me! I'm the queen of singles. Always have, always will be, and I'm fine with that." I say, crossing my arms.
"You'll be single forever? You're gonna be some old cat-lady who lives in a tiny apartment while spending all your savings on more cats? Seriously? I did not think of you like that, Elsa. I could see you like some CEO, or royal architect. Maybe even a house wife, but not a cat-lady." He laughs aloud, looking at me. I smile gently at him. How did he know?
"Jack… How did you know what I wanted to do after school? The architect-thing." I say. His eyes calm down, getting a bit more serious.
"Well… I was at your place a few days ago. In your room. There were a lot of drawings here and there. A lot of designs, colour-schemes and plans. I kinda guessed." His smile gets gentle, as he acknowledges my dreams. My dad wants me to take over one day, but enterprises are just not my thing, really.
"Well, you're right in your assumptions." I am about to continue, but Jack perks to our left. Probably Hiccup saying something. I look over myself, and Astrid too is trying to get my attention.
"What's up, As?"
"Nothing. We just wanna be part of the conversation. Hiccup here needs to join the private class we've got. I'm still not sure with him being close to Hans and all. Though, he wants to talk more." She smiles. Hiccup holds up his hands, and my glance focuses on him.
"Okay, so… what did Astrid just say? It's a bit weird not knowing what's being said around you." he says, rolling his shoulders continuously. I smile at his goofiness up close. From afar, Hiccup 'McHandsome' has always been so streamlined, relaxed. I never knew he had a bit of an awkward and goofy persona when he's not swarmed by all his fans.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I usually speak for her. Sorry I missed on that one. She just said that you guys wanted to join in on our conversation. And just in time. We're just starting the lesson." Hiccup's eyebrows furrow a bit at what I say.
"Lesson? ASL-lesson? Cool! I'm in." He smiles, and just like Astrid said, he's got a tooth gap. Cute. Wait what? No, no, Hiccup's Astrid's. I've got Jack after all.
Wait WHAT?! Oh no…
Hiccup
I find Astrid by presumably her locker after my last class. She's smiling at me, as I approach her. She signs a greeting, and I reply, also signing. Though I'm still not really good at it, I think she understands what I just said. Don't wanna pull another "date/meet" on her or anything.
"You uh… You wanna hangout at my place, perhaps? I'm behind in ASL compared to Jack. I'd like to catch up, if it's okay with you." I say, over-articulating with my hands, I realize. She giggles at me, trying to hold her composure. She pulls out a little note pad and scribbles something down.
Uh… sure, why not? Just a couple of hours, then. I've got a few school stuff to do before a party tomorrow night.
I smile at the message, looking at her. "You're going to the party, too? So am I! Wanna go together or something? Oh… wait, you're surely going with someone else, never mind!" I mumble, while looking down. I hear her sigh slightly, and a pencil travel across the paper.
Remember one thing. When you're around deaf or hard of hearing people, look at the person, and please don't mumble. It's hard to read properly. I mentally slap myself for that one.
"Of, course, got that. But I was just saying – mostly to myself – that you'd probably had someone to go with, so I'll just meet you there." I say, smiling slightly at her. The pencil scribbles again.
So, your place is not happening?
"What? Oh, yes of course. I'm mean, sure. We'll just go now, and then I'll also see you tomorrow." I ramble, digging my hands in my pockets. I turn towards the doors, and she follows me out to my car. I can' help but notice her tiny smile that seems somehow genuine.
Astrid
Hiccup lives in a big house, I have to say. I mean, who needs three stories, probably with a pool in the basement? And for what, three people? Him, his mom and dad? I turn to look at him, as I exit the car.
You live here? I mouth, hoping he could catch it. He smiles sheepishly, nodding.
"Yeah. Me, my dog and my folks." He looks up at the stairs leading to the front door. I follow him up there, but he stops me on the last step.
"Uh, you might want to stay behind me for the first few minutes. Toothless is a bit… judging to new people. I'll warm him up for ya." He says, before opening the door. I take a step in, and I should not have done that. A giant black mass storm in from the right, starting to attack me. I shriek aloud, hiding behind Hiccup. First now, do I see how well trained his body is. His back and shoulders are strong, and the muscles show through his green t-shirt.
I hear the dog bark very bluntly, but I'm sure Hiccup's ears is about to bleed. He kneels down, patting him continuously on the snout and scratching him behind the long ears. The dog – Toothless? – settles down a bit, looking at me. His dark eyes suddenly get three times bigger, looking at me with a curious look. I focus on Hiccup, hoping he could tell me what to do.
"Just show him that he can trust you. Hold out your hand. He'll sniff it and either nestle in your palm, or bite off everything from below your wrist." My eyes widen and I gulp nervously.
"Kidding! He's a good boy, trust me." I reach out my hand slightly, stretching my fingers. He starts to sniff, and nears in on my fingertips. After a moment he presses his whole snout into my hand.
His snout is slightly wet, and his long fur is surprisingly smooth and soft. I smile slightly, kneeling down to his eye-level. His tail starts to swing, and his tongue sticks out. I giggle shortly, starting to scratch his neck. He nuzzles against my bodice, grinding his head on my chest. I look up at Hiccup, who has a big smile planted on his face.
"See? Told ya. Now let's go to my room. My dad can be home any minute." My eyebrow furrow a bit, as I get up.
"Yeah… my dad doesn't know who I'm hanging out with anymore. He's so caught up in work, that I barely see him." He starts to walk towards the stair case, and I follow close.
Your mom? I mouth, while signing for his learning. His look gets saddened, and he looks down.
"My mom… I don't have a mom. Not anymore at least." My eyes widen a bit, and I place a comforting hand on his shoulders. He doesn't move, only sniffs once.
"Yeah, she died when I was three months old I don't remember much, so please don't feel pity for me." I squeeze his shoulder once, lifting his head with a finger. Our eyes meet, and for the first time ever, I see genuine sadness in his eyes. Loss, ignorance of a life that could've been. I smile gently at him, pulling him upstairs. He smiles back, following me.
"So, this is my room." He introduces, as he opens up a door in the second floor.
His room is big. Not too crowded, so it feels even bigger. He has a double bed in one corner, and a huge desk up at the opposite wall. Everywhere – and I mean everywhere – drawings, plans, blueprints are hanging in one giant mess. French doors lead out to a balcony that has a view out over the surroundings, including an impressive forest. I nod approvingly, before turning back towards Hiccup. He'd placed himself in the bed, sitting upright. He's gently patting the blanket before him, inviting me to join in. I smile, before walking over.
"So… How do we start? Basic facts on language structure or just words that is put together randomly?" He jokes, smirking a bit. I smile widely at him, before punching him slightly on the arm.
"Ugh, you too? I seem to be the teams punch bag! Can we please limit the punches?" I stiffen a laugh, nodding. I dig out a tablet from my backpack, and open up the note pad app. My fingers are probably going to be sore tonight, but the heck.
Okay, so first thing to know is…
Hiccup
Astrid… how can I describe her?
Determinate? Stubborn, no… ambitious? Perhaps. I can't quite put my finger on it. One thing's for sure. Whatever she is, I like it. Definitely. She's… amazing.
At school, she's very self-conscious, unsure of herself, very secluded. But whenever she's out of school, not prejudged by the school's muttonheads, she's this whole other person. She laughs, she smiles she… everything.
Everything, but talk. And it still bugs me at bit.
I don't bring it up though. I still remember her very unsure look, the first time I asked her. I fully respect that she's a bit out of her comfort-zone, and I don't want to press her into doing anything she doesn't want to do.
So, we make the afternoon pass with casual chat and ASL lessons. She teaches me all kinds of stuff, either grammar – or the lack thereof – sentence structure and so on. I myself ask for a lot of sentences and words. I want to tell her something, and my habits take over a bit. I over-articulate with hands and shoulders, and it affects my signing a bit. So she teaches me the signs bit by bit as I'm looking for the word. My habit is driving her a bit crazy, but she doesn't seem to mind too much.
I'm stopped mid-sentence, as Astrid's pocket buzzes like crazy. She smiles sheepishly, pulling out her phone.
"Sorry. Time to go." She simply signs, reaching for her backpack slung by my bed. I pout a little.
"But it's so fun! I enjoy this." I sign back, a bit static in my movements, due to my inexperience in conversing fully.
"Sorry. It's been awesome, but school." She signs, zipping her bag. I sigh loudly, nodding.
I follow her down to the front door, watching as she scratches Toothless goodbye – or 'see you later' I hope. I stand in the open door frame, looking at her, while she's descending the stairs. She turns around to look at me once more.
"So… See ya tomorrow night? Save me a dance, perhaps?" I ask, while signing what I can. She smiles, laughing.
"Yeah. A dance sounds nice, Hiccup." I drop my jaw, afraid it might fall off.
She. Just. Spoke.
Spoke.
Sooo, I personally love this Chapter, though it's a bit short xD not as much Jelsa as there could be after a chapter like the prior, but they're returning. I think next chapter is going to be 50/50 on each ship. We'll see (: If not, then more Jelsa than Hiccstrid (;
Please let me know if you enjoyed it, and if so, what you enjoyed!
See ya!