Chapter 9: Exposed

Astrid's POV

There is only one word to describe me after I came home from my shift. 'Exhausted'. The whole thing with Snotlout has me on edge, yet Henry's assurances have calmed me down somewhat. I never told anyone that I have had a slight (huge) crush on Henry ever since the 6th grade, when he was the only one in class who wouldn't put up with Snotlout's boasting. That's also why I don't like seeing him being picked on.

I was flopped on the couch when mom came home from work. She immediately noticed that something was wrong.

"Honey, what's wrong? You don't usually just stare at a wall." She asked.

'Was I really staring at the wall the entire time?' I thought. 'Yes, I was.'

"Mom, we may have a problem." I say, and proceed to tell her about school.

"Well I ever. The nerve of that boy." Mom said angrily. "I might just go down to your school, and give that boy a piece of my mind."

"Mom, that will probably make it worse." I say desperately trying to calm her down. "Henry told me everything would work out, and I believe him."

"This Henry was one of the boys who visited you in the hospital right. The one you have a crush on." She ask.

"Mom! I don't…." I begin.

"Honey, I wouldn't be much of a mother if I didn't know which boy my daughter was crushing on." I hear mom state.

"Now that young man I wouldn't mind having as a son in-law."

"MOM! Oh my gosh!" I yell, desperately trying to hide the red tint on my cheeks.

"Well honey, I do want some grandkids." Mom simply states.

"Mom, I'm going to play fetch with Stormfly." I inform her, and hurry away from that awkward situation.

-Time skip-

The following morning I wearily go to school. Winter is approaching, as the trees have almost no leaves left, and the air is getting colder. When I get to school, Snotlout comes to stand beside me with his arm around my waist. He is bragging again about some winter retreat he will bring his friends to. I see Heather, and Camicazi out of the corner of my eye. They look as if they wanted to throttle Snotlout. I guess they figured out that something is wrong. Henry, Fishlegs, and the twins have walked up next to them. I quickly shake my head at them telling them not to interfere, and I see Henry giving me a reassuring smile. Something tells me this day may not end so bad.

-Time skip-

Lunch time rolled around, and I am once again seated at Snotlout's table. He actually tried to kiss me between periods this morning. That ended up with my math book shoved in his face. What catches my attention is seeing Cami, and Heather in their cheerleading outfits sitting with my other friends. The doors to the cafeteria burst open just as lunch was halfway through.

"SNOTLOUT HILBERT JORGENSON YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!" Was yelled by one of the large men that entered the cafeteria.

"Dad, Uncle, what are…. Eh… both of you doing here?" Snotlout asks timidly after almost choking on his sandwich.

By now everyone's attention was on the developing scene, when I noticed a woman holding a frying pan behind the two men.

"MOM!"

Hiccup's POV

After school I ended up heading straight to my dad's office. I had the car park in the underground parking lot, and took the executive elevator, which directly goes to the top floors. Matilda, dad's secretary spotted me when I neared the office. "Good afternoon Hiccup, your dad is still in a meeting." She tells me. "maybe for another two hours. Can I get you anything."

"I think a light lunch would do. Also dad may need some aspirin for after our conversation." I tell her.

Matilda nods. "It must be a serious conversation then. Don't worry. I'll make sure no one will disturb you two."

I head into dad's office to wait. Soon Matilda come in with a take-out bag. "I ordered steak. You need some meat on those bones." She says while pointing to my arms which I hide with long sleeved shirts.

"Matilda don't let these clothes fool you. I'm actually not so skinny anymore." I tell her.

"Then why wear those long sleeved shirts, and baggy khakis?" I hear her ask.

"I just don't want to draw any attention to myself. I like the quiet school life." I simply state.

"Maybe you should try to wear something a bit more form-fitting. You might just catch the eye of that girl you've been pining for."

"Matilda! How did you know about that?!"

"I heard it from your father, after he heard it from Daniel a few years ago." She states with a smirk. "Your dad almost had coronary when he found out about your first crush, then he cried that his little boy was growing up so fast, then he started making plans for grandchildren, and then he started an office betting pool to see when you would ask the girl out."

"WAIT! THE WHOLE OFFICE KNOWS!" I shout.

"Of course. Now I got to get back to work. I'll see you later." She tells me, and heads out the door.

-Time skip-

An hour and a half passed before dad came back to the office. I had finished most of my homework during that time.

"Son, Matilda said you were waiting for me. Is there some sort of problem." He asks.

"Yeah, there is one." I start when Matilda comes into the office, and puts a glass of water with a strip of aspirins on the desk."

"Matilda…" Dad starts.

"Don't worry boss, no one will bother you." She chirps already out the door.

"I swear that woman can read minds" Dad grumbles looking at the aspirins.

"If Matilda brought these it's serious. What happened son." He asked genuinely curious.

"Well the problem involves Snotlout, and Astrid." I then proceed to tell dad what happened at school, and what Astrid told me. By the end of my story dad had already taken two aspirin.

"So my nephew is using blackmail to get his way?" To that I could only nod.

"I'll contact my brother, and inform him of the situation. This can't go on." He states. "I'm assuming with all the commotion you haven't asked your friends about the dinner, and sleepover?"

I shake my head negatively.

"Well don't worry son, I'll take care of it."

-Time skip-

I saw Fishlegs when I arrived at school. The twins joined us 5 minutes later. We see Astrid come through the gates, and make a beeline for her. Unfortunately Snotlout beat us to her. Astrid gave us a gesture that clearly said not to interfere, which made us stop walking. From our right I hear two girls mumbling some very unpleasant things about Snotlout's behavior. I turn, and notice that it's Heather, and Camicazi. I guess they too noticed that something isn't right. For a moment I managed to catch Astrid's eye, and give her what I hope is a reassuring smile.

-Time skip-

As lunch started we were seated at our table, when Heather, and Camicazi approached still in their cheerleading uniforms.

"Excuse me can we sit with you guys?" Heather asked a little unsure.

I look at the others at the table. They simply shrugged, and made some space.

"Eh, I'm not trying to be nosy, but Astrid told us about your situation. Is everything alright?" I can't help but ask.

"To put it simply. We have had enough from those air-headed bimbos. They've been saying a lot of mean stuff about Astrid ever since she was turned, and now that Snotlout is all over her." Cami stated. "Heather almost punched some of them today at practice."

"We've known Astrid since kindergarden, and she sacrificed our friendship just so we could keep our scholarships. Now that's a true friend." Heather says as she looks over to Astrid.

"But we can finally be away from those obnoxious bimbos, because our scholarships can't be revoked. The History teacher passed by the gym, and overheard the commotion. Let's just say the principal was called to deal with the matter after the other cheerleaders threatened us. The principal told us our scholarships will stand, even if we aren't on the team anymore, and he gave the others a month of detention." Cami laughed as she explained.

We were halfway through lunch, when the cafeteria doors bursted open revealing dad, and uncle Spitelout who yelled "SNOTLOUT HILBERT JORGENSON YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!"

"Dad, Uncle, what are…. Eh… both of you doing here?" I see Snotlout ask timidly.

As everyone's attention was on the developing scene, I noticed Astrid seemed to recognize the woman who also entered the cafeteria holding a frying pan behind the two men.

"MOM!" She exclaims.

"Hi honey." Her mom says cheerfully.

Uncle Spitelout steps towards Snotlout, and asks "Snotlout, I've been hearing that you've been blackmailing Miss Hofferson over there."

"Dad I can explain." Snotlout says desperately.

"Snotlout I want A simple yes or no." Snotlout could only nod.

"Now, did you coerce this girl to be your girlfriend by threatening to kick her, and her mother out of their home?"

Snotlout could be seen panicking. "Y..Ye.. Yes, dad."

"I should let Mrs. Hofferson tan your behind for what you have done, but my brother, and I have come up with a more fitting punishment." Uncle Spitelout says. "For your actions, and behavior you will be grounded until the winter holidays, that means no privileges, and you will be put on an allowance."

"Mrs. Hofferson I can't tell you how deeply sorry I am for these events, and I will personally see to it that my son learns to treat women with respect." Uncle Spitelout tells Astrid's mom who is clearly pleased with the situation. "I certainly didn't raise you like that." Spitelout said to his son.

"Will you come off your high horse dad! You didn't raise me at all." Snotlout suddenly yelled.

"Snotlout how dare you speak to me like that!" Spitelout yelled.

"Maybe it's time someone did. I know for a fact that you don't care about me, and don't go blaming this entire thing on me either. You were the one who told me to do this." Snotlout kept yelling at his father.

"What!" Mrs. Hofferson shouted, and directed her glare at uncle Spitelout.

"Snotlout, I think you should explain." Dad tells him.

"Stoick I hardly think…" Spitelout began, but was cut off.

"I wish to hear what the boy has to say." I hear dad tell him, and gestures for Snotlout to begin.

"Dad usually stays at the office till late, so I hardly see him at home. One afternoon I went there to ask him for some advice. I don't even know if he listened. He simply stated 'A Jorgenson gets what he wants, otherwise he takes it.'" Snotlout did an almost perfect impression of his dad. "He then told me to get out, because he had work to do."

At this point the cafeteria was deathly silent.

"Mister Jorgenson, that is no way to treat your son!" Mrs. Hofferson told him, clearly not impressed with his behavior towards Snotlout.

"I have to agree with Mrs. Hofferson Spitelout. That was no way to treat your son." Dad is heard admonishing his brother.

"Snotlout, you are family, and always welcome to come talk to me if anything is bothering you." Dad turns to Snotlout as he says this. "We will continue this discussion after school."

I see dad turn to Astrid. "Miss Hofferson, may I speak to you privately for a minute?"

"S..Sure" Mr. Haddock.

Astrid's POV

I lead Mr. Haddock to an empty classroom, and shut the door.

"Mr. Haddock, what did you want to talk about?" I ask.

"First I would like to offer my apologies for the way my nephew acted." I hear him state.

"Sir, you have nothing to apologize for." I tell him.

"I am still very sorry about these events, but secondly I'd like to thank you for saving my, and my son's lives." He states.

My eyes widen at this, and I hear him continue.

"Your tip turned out to be genuine. The authorities are still investigating but if it weren't for you warning our butler about what you overheard, we might have been the victims of a car bomb."

"Sir, the twins, and I only did what we thought was right."

"Aye, lass I know. I also want to invite you, and your friends that were sitting at your table for dinner, and a sleepover with my son. Your mother is invited as well, and she has already given her consent."

"But sir, I don't know your son." I can't help but say.

"Oh but ya do lass, and you and your friends are trustworthy enough to keep his identity a secret. He just doesn't want to keep you all in the dark anymore." I hear Mister Haddock say.

The surprise must have shown on my face, because he chuckled. "A car will pick you, and your friends up on Saturday. You may also bring your familiars if you like."

"I'll inform the others, and don't worry sir, we can definitely keep a secret." I tell him.

"Of that I have no doubt lass." He says, as we exit the classroom.

Mom, and Mister Jorgenson are waiting for him. 'Did I just see him wink at my mom?'

I wave goodbye, and hurry to tell my friends the news.