Hiccup and Merida were almost at the restaurant and had been talking, laughing, and smiling the whole way. Neither one of them pulling away when their shoulders brushed up against each other. It was becoming a habit that niether one seemed to mind.

Merida could care less if they ever got to the restaurant. She loved how Hiccup eyes lit up when he talked about working in his uncle's shop or the fact he seemed to like her for her no matter how archery crazed she was with her unbelievable curly hair. Which only seemed to grow bigger every time she walked passed a store's window. The humidity was taking its toll, but Hiccup had said she looked beautiful. She had never felt so happy.

They'd been walking so close to each other and by this time guys would usually do their best at pawing at her, however Hiccup didn't give any indication of the sort. It was weird should she be the one to start it?

"I've never actually initiated it, so how would I go about do that?" Merida thought. "I mean I wouldn't mind holding his hand."

Merida took a mental pause.

"Oh goodness I sound like such a girl. I should just do it, just go for it. I mean when have I ever been shy around someone?"

In an instant Merida reached out to grab Hiccup's hand. Merida adjusted so their fingers were interlocked. In that moment she could see the redness of his cheeks spread all the way to his ears, and his goofy smile was showing as big as a billboard. When their eyes locked his face seemed to take on a new form of a red, and he started fumbling on his words.

"Cause…uh...I...I mean…well…so…yeah." Was all he could muster.

The incoherent words of Hiccup were stopped when they heard the roar of an engine pull up ahead of them and then stop.

Merida wanted to jump off a roof because she had actually recognized the car.

"Merida I thought that was you. Hey babe."

Colin Macintosh.

Hiding in this kind of situation wasn't an option. Merida quickly let go of Hiccup's hand and walked over to Colin.

"Yeah it's me but what are you doing here?"

"I just got through hanging with my friends. Although if I knew you were in the area we could've hung out just the two of us."

Hiccup didn't know who the guy beside Merida was, but he got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He couldn't hear the conversation very well, but after he saw the look the boy in the football jacket gave her he moved closer.

"I'm kind of busy Colin. If you hadn't noticed." Merida said gesturing to Hiccup.

"Is that one of your brothers?"

Merida had to pause.

"…You realize I have three younger triplet brothers."

"Is he not one of them?"

Hiccup could feel that he had been insulted. There was no way he actually believed he was related to her. Not only that but he could see Merida was also getting frustrated with his abrupt appearance.

"Excuse me but Merida and I were in the middle of something."

"Wait if this isn't your brother then who is this?"

"Colin, Hiccup. Hiccup, Colin." She quickly introduced.

Colin burst into a fit of laughter.

"Hiccup. Seriously? No really who is this?"

Merida opened her mouth to speak but Hiccup beat her to it.

"Well we're on a date."

"Merida's on a date with a Hiccup." Colin said turning to him with a smirk on his face.

"Yeah she is. I mean no. It...it's just a nickname. My real name's Henry." He said trying to justify his name. "And if you don't mind will be late for our dinner reservation at La Fantasia."

"La Fantasia, that's cute. Had some left over pocket change huh."

Hiccup felt at this moment he could really punch this guy.

"Look Colin, me and Hiccup have to leave." Merida said steering Hiccup away.

"Alright but Merida when you get tired of the hiccups, you have my number. Enjoy your date or whatever this is, although I have a feeling it'll be short lived." Colin said getting back into his car. "Call me if you need me to pick you up."

"I drove."

"Whatever. Bye Mess up." Colin waved before speeding off.

(0.0)

Colin parked on the side of the road. Making sure he was in the perfect spot so no one would hit his car. He loved his car, and normally he'd take all precautions to insure her safety, but this matter needed to be dealt with now.

I mean who did Merida think she was? Did they not just have a date? Girls are suppose to wait at home for him to call, not go out with someone else. Or whatever that shrimp was. Trading him out for that…that…mess. He was the star player for the football team, had amazing looks, and an awesome ride. Girls fell at the sight of his smile. There was no way that guy was better than him to get Merida.

Granted he had no real romantic interest in Merida. In fact he had been on a date moments before running into her himself.

Let's be honest she was a totally pain in the butt. Way to uptight and aggressive, and he found her hair annoying. Did she even own a comb? He himself owned several.

She didn't have any normal girl like qualities….But her body was unbelievable, curves in all the right places. Admittedly the hottest chick he'd been out with…this week. Not to mention her parents were loaded, and her dad had city power, and he also happened to be his dad's boss.

He'd be sitting on a gold mine getting with her, but now some string bean was in his way.

Like hell that was happening.

Colin walked into the building head held high smiling, flipping his hair out of his face.

"Hello welcome to La Fantasia." Came a girls voice.

"Hey beautiful." He said to the girl in front of him.

"Hi Colin." She said doughy eyed.

Crap. How did she know his name? Besides the obvious fact that every girl knew his name. Had he'd gone out with her. Man was he bad with faces. Oh well not like it mater in this case.

"I'm here to cancel a reservation."

"Alright no problem did you make the reservation."

"No. You see this guy, really aggressive dude, practically forced my friend to go out with him."

"Oh no."

"Right?" Colin said exaggerating his shock. "I heard he made a reservation here, so I was hoping to cancel it before they got here. It'd be awesome if you could help me out."

"You're such an amazing person Colin. Of course I'd help you. Do you have the name that the reservations under."

Crap what was that loser's name? Mess up? Throw up? It was something like a sneeze or a cough….hiccup.

"Hiccup."

The girl hesitated but typed the named into the computer, and looked up disappointed.

"It's not there, anything else."

Hiccup was just that guys nickname. Although Colin was pretty sure it also started with an 'H'.

"Harold? Harry?" Colin thought out loud.

"Henry maybe." The girl suggested.

"That's it. Thanks beautiful."

"Your welcome." She said shyly. "Henry Haddock, reservation for two, or at least it was. I cancelled it."

"Thanks gorgeous, and if we could keep this between you and me."

"No problem. I'll…I'll see you at school some time."

"Sure thanks again." Colin said walking away uninterested. That girl was helpful, but way below his standards. At least she helped him cut Merida's date short.

(0.0)

Hiccup had concluded that nothing could be more awkward then this moment right now.

Merida hadn't said much after that Colin guy had left.

Colin. That guy was tall with flowing hair, and acted like he was the Earth's core.

He wasn't good at dealing with people like that, he reminded him of cousin Snotlout, another headache. And Merida also seemed to be getting a case of the headaches from Colin.

She seemed one moment away from blowing a fuse, and he had no idea on what he should say.

He was piling all his hopes onto her having a nice time at the restaurant, which they were walking in right now.

"Hello welcome to La Fantasia." Said a cheerful and perky voice.

"Hi. Reservations under Henry Haddock."

Hiccup saw the girls face drop as she displayed a quick glare. It couldn't have been more than a hallucination because it disappeared so fast, he pushed it aside as nothing more than his mind playing tricks.

The girl took a look at an unhappy Merida standing next to him.

"Sorry no reservations under Henry Haddock."

"Are you sure, I made it yesterday."

"Positive." She said with a smile.

"Did you even check?"

"Sir this is my job I know the names of the people who have reservations." She looked at Merida. "Miss I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

Merida gave a slight nodd and her attention to Hiccup.

"Maybe we should call it a night".

Hiccup could feel his heart break a little inside,…and for heaven's sake was the hostess smiling?

"Alright, then let's go." Hiccup said.

Merida had already turn on her heels and headed out the door. It wasn't hard to keep up with her, but was this really how the night was going to end.

Merida was…is his dream girl. Not to sound totally sappy. She was outgoing, brave, friendly, passionate. She spoke her mind without resolve something he envied.

Hiccup hit a quick jog to position himself in beside Merida, stopping her in her tracks resting his hands on her shoulders. Merida immediately tensed up, and he quickly removed them realizing his mistake.

"Sorry." Hiccup said rubbing the back of his neck.

Merida let out a huge sigh.

"Don't be. Its just Colin showing up really made me mad. He can be such a…a…ughhh." She said in frustration. "Sorry really I am, its just…"

"Its fine and you have nothing to apologize for. I'd just hate to send you back hungry." Hiccup struggled unsure of the next words coming out of his mouth and how Merida would respond. "Are you sure you wouldn't want to go get something to eat."

"What did you have in mind?"

"It's probably not as elegant as La Fantasia, but there's a burger place if we head back to the theatre."

"Why not." Merida said with a sigh. She hadn't meant for it to come out so tired, but her mood had gone from elated to exhausted with one quick motion. Tonight seemed to be a bust, but it wasn't like anything else could go wrong.

So its been awhile I know. I've got headaches up my wazoo thanks to finals. But the next chapter will come sooner than this one xoxoxo. Thanks for the reads.