Chapter 1 – Hiccup the Useless
Many people would say that Hayden 'Hiccup' Haddock had a good life because he was the son of the mayor of the town of Berk. But the people who would say that also didn't know him, nobody really knew him. He didn't have any friends, he was bullied at school, teachers treated him like he was stupid, and his father emotional abused him. How is that a good life? The only thing he could be grateful of in his life was that his bullies had yet to find out about Hiccup crush on Ashton 'Astrid' Hofferson. If they found out about that, then Hiccup would actually go through with killing himself.
It was a Monday, Hiccup hated those. They usually meant that he would get beat up extra bad because the bullies couldn't touch him at home. It had been a few years since it had begun, and Hiccup still wasn't sure why they hated him so much. Maybe it was because they thought he was privileged by being the mayor's son? Or maybe they knew that he was gay? Hiccup really hoped it wasn't the second one; that would be a secret that would die with him.
He slowly crawled out of bed, ignoring the protest that his injured legs made. Last night, had been a particularly bad night for him, and he might have cut a bit too deeply in some places. He had only cut his thighs because there wasn't much room left on his wrists. He was saving those few spaces left for when he actually gathered up enough courage to cut deep enough. It didn't really matter to Hiccup though, it's not like anyone was going to help him. Astrid would be crazy to even talk to hm.
Once he was standing, he slowly padded his way to the bathroom attached to his bedroom. It was probably the only thing that he liked about being the mayors son. He didn't have to deal with his father constantly telling him to grow up, or to stop acting like a child. Stoick had even said the reason that his mother wasn't here was because of Hiccup, he had told him that she decided that the reason that she decided to leave was because she didn't want a disappointment for a son. Hiccup could understand her reasoning, there was a reason that everyone called him Hiccup the Useless at school.
He turned the shower on to hot and slowly stripped ignoring the protest that every single one of his muscles made. He paused to look at his reflection in the mirror, if he looked passed all the scars he would almost consider himself attractive. He was tall, with auburn hair and green eyes, and he had a decent body. But who was he kidding; nobody would be able to look passed all those hideous scars that made up who he was.
Stepping under the hot spray made the fresh cuts from the night before sting, but he knew that it wouldn't hurt nearly as much later in the day. He had the old scars to prove it. He quickly washed himself, he wanted to be out of the house before his father woke up, it would be easier on the both of them if he was. He stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off as fast as he could without tearing off any of the scabs. Still naked he ran to his closet grabbing a black T-shirt, a black hoodie, grey jeans, and black shoes. He yanked the clothes on a fast as he could before grabbing his bag and quietly tip-toeing out the door. He grabbed a banana as he passed through the kitchen.
Once outside, he unlocked his car and tossed his backpack into the passenger seat. Starting his car he drove in silence to his school, Berk High School. He parked in the same place he always did, being one of the first ones to the school did have its advantages, though they were few and far between.
He walked to his locker a quickly as he could, desperate to rid himself of the weight of the text books. If he hadn't cut last night, he would have been fine, but what's done is done. Once at his locker, he dumped all the textbooks with the exception of the one that he needed for first period, Mythology.
Thankful, his first period wasn't too far away from his locker, as he felt as though his legs would give out at any time. Maybe he really did cut too deep, if he did, it's not like he would stop, he would just be a little more careful next time. Once he reached the classroom, he gratefully sat down in his seat. The teacher barely glanced up at him when he walked in; he had been coming in early for most of the year.
Hiccup glanced at his watch; there was fifteen minutes until class started, enough time to finish the math homework that he couldn't do last night due to the blood. As Hiccup worked, he thought, usually about pointless things like dragons. But sometimes more important things like his future, if he had one that is. Right now, he was thinking about Astrid or Ashton as he liked to refer to him as. He had no idea why the boy would want to go by such a strange name, but then again Hiccup couldn't judge there. The boy was tall, taller than Hiccup, and he was muscular, but not overly so. And he had sky blue eyes and long blonde hair that was usually worn in a braid. Hiccup thought he was really attractive. But he also nearly always had girls hanging off his arms, and rumors were always circulating about how great he was in bed. Needless to say, Hiccup was sure he was straight.
Speak of the devil, Hiccup mused as Astrid walked in taking his seat on the opposite side of the room from Hiccup. He sent a small smile his way when he noticed Hiccup watching. Hiccup turned back to his homework and pretended he didn't notice.
Checking his watch again, he saw that the fifteen minutes had passed and students would begin filing in. That must be why Astrid is here, he thought.
Five minutes later the entire class had arrived, or at least those cared to or were able to. Hiccup was grateful for his seat at the back corner, because it allowed him to see what everybody was doing without any risk of being caught.
Hiccup barely paid any attention to what the teacher was saying, at least until he heard the word partners. Hiccup hated working with a partner, they just slowed him down. When he heard her say that she would be choosing the partners alphabetically based on last names, his blood ran cold. As far as he knew the only other person with a last name beginning with the letter H was Astrid. And Hiccup really didn't want to work with Astrid. It's not that Hiccup didn't like Astrid, it's the fact that Hiccup would probably make a complete fool out of himself in front of him. At least he didn't have to pick his own partner; he didn't want to have to tell the teacher that he didn't have any friends.
Hiccup's suspicions were confirmed when the teacher started calling out the names of the partnerships, "Hayden Haddock and Ashton Hofferson."
After she had called out everybody's partners, she gave the order to move to sit next to them. Hiccup refused to move, and he kept his head down, Astrid was going to have to come over here. If the sound of a bag hitting the floor was anything to go by, then Astrid had walked over and was now sitting next to hm. This was the closest Hiccup had ever been to hm.
"So, since we'll be working on this project for six weeks together, then we might as well get to know each other. Let's start by introducing ourselves," Astrid had said, "I'm Ashton Hofferson, but you can call me Astrid if you want."
"Hiccup," he replied.
"That's a strange name," Astrid had tentatively replied.
"Nickname," Hiccup said, "My mom used to call me that before she left. Or at least that's what my dad told me, you now, when he used to talk to me."
Astrid didn't seem to know what to say to that, because he took a while to reply, "Isn't your dad the mayor?"
"Yes," Hiccup answered. He didn't like talking too much, "Do you know what this project is supposed to be about? I wasn't listening."
Astrid swallowed, "We're supposed to do a report on one of the Norse gods that she assigned us. She gave us Sif."
Hiccup nodded, "Where're we gonna do this project? And when do you want to start?"
"My place, and could we start today?"
"Sure," Hiccup would usually just go to the public library and stay as late as he could to avoid his dad, "Give me your address?"
"Could you just follow me home after school today?"
Hiccup nodded.
They spent the rest of the time until the bell rang in silence, neither knowing what to say to the other.