Yay, next chapter! At first I was having a bit of trouble writing this part but then it all came pouring at in like 15 minutes. So here ya go *big, shiny smile* enjoy

Like always, Thanks for reading and please leave comments. They make me smile and give me inspiration!

Stay classy (have ai used this one already sorry I'm basically sleeping) \(^.^)/

~Mona

The air was cold and damp. It felt a lot colder than it did twenty-five hours ago when Jack snuck me out of my room. I can't believe that was twenty-five hours ago. I've been out a whole day. A whole day ago, Jack and I were best friends. A Whole day ago I actually felt that I could tell him anything.

Look what a whole day can do. Now I'm trudging my way home through the empty streets alone and mumbling to myself about nothing in particular.

I actually couldn't wait to get home. And that's unusual. I just wanted to be somewhere familiar. Somewhere that I know won't ever change. I'm always going to walk in and walk down the front hall. I'll always try to run past the kitchen door to get to the stairs before my dad sees me. But he always will and I'll have him look at me with a perfectly horrible mixture of distaste and disappointment.

None of that will ever change

I could now see my house up the street and I wasn't feeling the usual nervousness that I normally got right before I got home. The nervousness that I got when I knew that my dad was sitting behind that door fuming and getting ready to rip my head off. But for some reason I wasn't really feeling anything. I wasn't scared or nervous but I wasn't sad either. I wasn't feeling anything. Just numbness from the cold. That's it.

I hopped up my steps quickly, just wanting to get out of the cold. It was the kind of cold that chilled our skin all the way to the bone. Or maybe that was just the feeling that Jack left me.

I didn't even bother to slowly open the door or anything. I just swung it open and walked straight through.

"Hiccup" was all my dad growled as I passed the kitchen.

"Hi dad" I said in monotone, not even bothering to look as I headed for the stairs. My one gate way to a refuge

"It was that Jack, that little bastard" I stopped when he said that. Normally he would start to blame me first. He would tell me I was messed up and stupid and disobedient. But this time he went straight to Jack. Like all these years he was trying to find a reason. Someone else to blame for everything I did and now he found it. And it was in Jack, that little bastard. Part of me wanted to say something. To stop him from saying stuff like that about Jack. To fight back and argue how he wasn't a bastard, he was a good friend. A loyal friend. While it lasted anyways.

But I didn't, I just nodded "Don't worry he, he's gone and I don't think he's coming back anytime soon"

Suddenly I didn't feel like being home anymore. I felt no less broken and sad here as I did on the whole ride back here.

There was only one place I could hide. The place where broken things were fixed.

"You know what, I'm going to the shop" I told him.

At that I turned on my heel and walked back down the hall and out the door. Not another word. From me or my dad.

I trudged back out into the cold. Even though it was almost seven in the morning, the sun was still refusing to rise. Perfect. Now the sky matched my soul.

The question then again floated through my head. Why was I so upset? He was just Jack. Just an idiot with fakey white hair and a criminal record. He never thought anything through and only ever listened to his instincts. He was more sarcastic than I was and never took anything seriously. He was always smiling that stupid smile. With those obnoxious white teeth. And even his eyes were annoying. You almost couldn't help but stare at them because they were so in your face. Like, could he not have been born with a normal shade of blue eyes? It would have been a lot more convenient for me because I wouldn't always have to find myself staring at them trying to figure out what colour they were. Were they light navy or dark aquamarine? Who freaking knows!

Not that that's even the point. The point is that we aren't even a good match. Everything about us clashed, and the fact that I didn't realize this sooner was the real thing that confused me. His leaving should have been expected.

With all my inner ranting I almost missed the shop. I tripped a little bit as I tried to stop and turn around at the same time. Why do I fail at everything? I can't even do two things at once; I can't even keep a best friend.

I tried to swing the door open only to see that it was locked. Wow stupid, Gobber doesn't get here till nine.

I slipped my hand into the rusty old mailbox next to me and pulled out the spare key. Gobber always kept the spare key in the mailbox. Basically everyone in this town keeps their spare key in their mailbox.

Once I had the key in hand I unlocked the door and pushed it open. Finally some refuge from the world and all it's annoying people. I walked through the office and passed by the desk where Astrid would be sitting in a couple of hours. Tapping away at her computer and pretending to be all professional. Once I made it to the back where all the cars that were being worked on stayed I settled down at my station not even bothering to turn on the lights. The moon surprisingly gave off enough light through the big dusty windows on the far wall. All I really needed right now was a few ours with an old car motor and a screwdriver to poke at it with. Or maybe just a little nap. With the dark room and the sudden wash of peace, the thought of sleep didn't actually sound all that bad.

Dropping my tools before I even got started, I slumped over to my car door, slowly opening it and climbing inside. I'm sure who ever owns this car won't really mind if I get some rest in their front seat. With all the activity today I almost forgot about the necessity of rest and recharging. No wonder I've been feeling so weird and sad.

"I thought I'd find you here" said a voice in my head. Oh wait no, that's the real world. I slowly and grudgingly peeled my eyes open to see the toothy grin and blue eyes of my best friend. My other best friend. The one who didn't choose their old, rude, Australian ex-boyfriend over me. I'm talking abound Astrid. She stood at the door opposite me with her sweat pants on and her hair in a messy bun.

"Gobber's not gonna like you coming into work like that" I warned her, still half asleep.

"Well that's a nice way to greet your best friend, but I'll give you a pass because I heard what happened. " She said with a sympathetic tone.

"You know? About what?"

"About Jack, duh. What else. Nothing else goes on with you"

I opened my mouth to speak again when she continued as she climbed into the car and sat next to me, "Jack texted me and told me to see how you were doing, so see, he's not all bad"

I just grunted and narrowed my eyes. "He ditched me for his cruddy Australian ex" I countered.

"No, he left because he wanted to move back with his family. You can't take everything so personally"

"Whatever" I mumbled back

"But it was still kind of rude the way he totally dumped you for-"

"Astrid, he can't have dumped me if we were never an item" I told her. I didn't even bother giving the whole I'm straight speech. I was done fighting that battle. Not that I was gay or anything but I just wasn't going to get all worked up over it anymore. I mean it's not like being gay is a bad thing.

"I meant that in a totally platonic way!" she said defensively. "Like, you guys were a thing, a best friendship thing and then he just gets up and leaves with out even a 'let's keep it touch' Ya, that was kind of a dick move but anyways, I've got a little solution"

I turned my head to her and slightly scrunched my face, preparing for the worse.

"Okay all you really need is a girl friend!"

"A girlfriend. Astrid, I don't want a girl friend"

"Well I don't really care Hiccup. This is rule number one in break ups. You have to get a rebound and I found you the perfect girl" Her smile was growing by the minute.

She found me a girl? Me? A Girl? What girl could possibly be into me? I mean as far as I know, everyone in this town basically hates me.

"Camicazi!" she exclaimed. Camicazi was Astrid's less than girly cousin. She looked almost identical to Astrid except a little younger and she had crazy long hair. She was also two years younger than me.

"Astrid I'm not going to date your cousin. She sixteen for gods sake!"

She rolled her eyes at me "Hiccup please. She's been bugging me about you for the longest time and this is the perfect opportunity. Your sad and single and you need someone to hang out with. Cam is crazy about you so you could probably just sit there rambling on about whatever and she would just sit there in a daze, staring at your eyes. She says they're as green as evergreens" Astrid pleaded

"Since when has she even been 'crazy' over me?" I asked remembering how she used to torcher me as a kid. She was worse than Astrid or any of the other kids.

"Since you hit your growth spurt and got oddly attractive. About the same time I figured out that I liked girls" she explained "So please. If you don't wanna do it for her, at least do it for me. Do it for the hours of her begging for your number! Please Hic!" She was now grabbing onto my shirt and begging. Practically on top of me.

I pursed my lips together before reluctantly nodding. A grin spread across her face. "Thank you so much, Hic!"

"Whatever, when do you want me to meet her?"

"She's at the cafe across the street right now" Astrid replied quickly.

I glared at her, "Did you not even want to make sure I was going to say yes before you told her to come?"

"I knew you would say yes" She said with a sweet voice and a flutter of her eye lashes "Because you're my best friend"

I groaned. I really hated that word. Best friends sucked.

"Okay fine" I huffed as I opened the car door and pulled my self out. "I just need to brush my teeth or something" I said.

"Oh don't worry, I've got you covered" She said, handing me my toothbrush and toothpaste. "And if you want to change, which I advise you to do, then I've got a change of clothes for you in my bag"

I couldn't help but laugh. That was the first time in what felt like forever, "You really had this all planned out" I laughed.

"I'm always prepared"

I grabbed the clothes and made sure I had my toothbrush and toothpaste before going off to the little bathroom just off from the garage.

Ten minutes later I stepped out in a new pair of jeans and a hoodie. No dragons this time. I ruffled my hair a little and tried to make it look presentable. If I'm going to get a girlfriend I might as well try and look good, right?

I looked back once more just to see my self in the mirror. I didn't look bad. But I wasn't anything special. I was just me. Messy reddish hair, big teeth and freckles all over. I didn't really hate any of it but I wouldn't say I loved it. And I couldn't really see why any one else would either.

"Awe look at you" Astrid cooed. Why was she cooing? "Give me a smile"

I tried my best to give a not awkward smile but I felt it turn out lopsided.

Her face cocked a little to the side "Well I suppose she'll find it endearing or something" She sighed and shrugged. "Now let's go!" She rushed me, pushing me out of the garage, through the front office and all the way through the front door. "Go get em, tiger"

All of a sudden I felt something roll around in my stomach. I shouldn't be nervous. I mean, I've known her since she was a baby. Ew no, don't think about that, that's creepy. But I have known her for a very long time and if she's into me than why not give it a try. I mean I have yet to kiss a girl, maybe she'll be the one. I'll never know until I try. For all I known she could be my future with. Ew gross, don't think about that either.

I tried my best to pep talk myself as I made my way across the street to Vikings have their tea, a misnamed café that had some of the best coffee I've even had. Well until I went to Kensington that one time with Jack. Which reminded me, how were Ana and Astrid doing. I'll have to ask her about that some time.

Gah, anyways, back to the situation at hand. I've got a girl waiting for me in there. An actual girl who's in to me and stuff.

C'mon Hic, you can do this!

With one last deep breath I pushed the front door open.

"Hiccup" Said a soft voice. He voice was soft and sweet but a little bit scratchy. Like she had a nice voice but spent the last two nights screaming her head off.

"Uh, oh hi" I said, jumping out of my train of thought.

She was sitting in a booth near a window and waving shyly. Hm, maybe this won't be too bad.

I walked over and sat across from her.

'Uh hi hiccup" She said nervously

"Hi, again" I greeted, this time with a little smile. I felt like I was scaring her or something.

"Oh sorry"

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Oh I just, never mind"

"Okay then"

"Uh, ya"

"Do you maybe want to order something?" I suggested. Things were already getting awkward. This wasn't good. If I had been with Jack, he would have already cracked ten jokes and made fun of my hair. He would have already made me glare and smile and laugh and right now I would have been telling him about how crazy Astrid was when he was trying to set us up. And I mean us as in Camicazi and I. Because this wasn't Jack, it was Camicazi… that doesn't really make sense does it? Whatever.

"oh, ya. Do you want breakfast" She asked.

"Sure, whatever you want, we can share" I said and saw her cheeks redden. I honestly just can't eat a lot right now. Still feeling a little out of it. I hope they bring two plates.

For the first time in many years I actually got a good look at Camicazi. She looked really different. She still looked a bit like Astrid, which was weird, but she was a lot softer. She lips were a bit bigger and her eyes were a bit bluer. But not Jack blue. Whatever blue his eyes were. She didn't have freckles like I remember either. I'm pretty sure she used to have freckles. "What happened to your freckles?" I blurted out. Oops, that was rude.

Her head popped up from where she was staring on the table "Oh I, I still have them"

"Where?" I said, looking harder.

"I'm just wearing make up" Make up? She is definitely way different that Astrid. I'd like to see the day that Astrid picks up a mascara brush.

"Oh okay, cool"

We sat in an awkward silence before a waiter came around to take our orders.

"Oh hi Cami, and Hiccup?" She greeted, a little surprised to see me. "What would you two like today?"

"A plate of pancakes please. To share" She said the ending a little too excitedly.

"Uh, so, how's school" I asked, trying to start up any sort of conversation.

"Oh it's great" She said brightening up a little bit. "I'm in grade eleven right now and things are getting pretty crazy. Everyone wants me to think about my future now." She said as she rolled her eyes, "But honestly, what kind of future am I supposed to have here?" My eyes widened.

"I feel the same way. Back when I was sixteen I still had hope to move away to some big city and go to university but look at me, still here" I replied. I was starting to perk up a little.

"Of thank god I'm not the only one. It seems like everyone around here is brain washed"

"I know! Can they not see that their literally not going anywhere in life?" I added. Wow, who knew we would find our connection through the hatred of our town.

"I just can't wait to get out of here!" we both said in unison then smiled at each other.

Hey, maybe this won't be too bad after all.

Just a little side note, Camicazi is actually from the httyd books and she's the book version of Astrid because in the book there is no Astrid. So ya, just a little explanation. But of this, Cami doesn't really act like she does in the book because she's just so head over hells in love.

Thanks, loves. Have an amazing day!

~Mona (again...hai)