Everyone understands how high school works. Everyone fits into a clique; Queen Bees, Jocks, Theatre Kids, Nerds... the list goes on, and Berk high was no exception to the hierarchy. Everyone knew that Astrid Hofferson was the Queen of Queen Bees. She hadn't worked very hard for the role. In fact, she didn't actually do much of anything. But her angelic looks alone were enough for those girls. Her dad being CEO of a major tech company was a bonus.
Everyone was gathered in the courtyard. Today was the day they handed out partners for the drama exam. The teacher came and pinned up a sheet of paper and barely made it out with her life as everyone rushed to see. They were soon pushed apart by Gary 'Snotlout' Jorgensen, who was practically a butler to the Queen Bees. He worshipped them as Goddesses. He finally emerged from the crowd, holding back his laughter.
"Well?" Kari asked. Kari was in the year above Astrid and former Queen Bee.
"You and Eric are doing twelfth night." Snotlout explained. Kari was okay with that. Eric was the captain of the basketball team, as head cheerleader, she was sure they were destined to be.
"Ruff, you're with me. Midnight escape." She loved that play so much, she didn't even care she had been partnered with Snotlout. He continued listing their partners until he reached Astrid and could no longer contain his laughter.
"Snotlout, just tell me!" She glared at him. He knew that glare anywhere. Astrid was the champion of their local boxing club, and Snotlout really didn't want to unleash the beast today.
"Romeo and... Juliet." He rasped out. That alone was enough to make Astrid cringe. Astrid Hofferson was not a romantic person, not even close. The girls all began laughing. "Wait... It... gets better." Snotlout added. "With Hayden." She froze. Not Hiccup. Anyone but Hiccup. He and Astrid were inseparable once. The best of friends. But the day they started high school, everything changed. Astrid got popular overnight and Hayden became the schools punching bag. The smartest kid in school. Captain of the Nerd Squad. They had barely said two words to one another since they started high school, two years ago. How was she supposed to talk to him? After all this time? And performing Romeo and Juliet, her friends would never let her live it down.
Astrid was soon shaken out of her thoughts when Heather grabbed her shoulder. Heather was the only Queen Bee that she could stand. She wasn't as obnoxious as the other girls. She understood Astrid, not as well as Hayden of course. But the girls had bonded at boxing club over the years.
***
It was the end of the day and Astrid headed to her locker. Thanks to her last name, it was stationed right beside Hayden's. She had been rather fortunate to not run into him for the last two years. She couldn't help the millions of thoughts rushing through her head.
They were completely different people now. What if he was mad at her? What if he didn't remember her? No that's ridiculous, of course he did. But, what if...
She suddenly snapped back to her senses when Hayden's locker flew open. She knew she would have to talk to him, she just hoped it wouldn't come so soon.
"Hey..." She said softly. His eyes opened wide in shock.
"Uh...Hi." He stuttered. "I Uh... I guess you saw the roster?"
She nodded gently. The guilt was overbearing. Her best friend, the person she once told everything to, the person who was by her side from the start, and she was only talking to him because of a project. She never wanted them to drift apart. But, high school is a confusing place and that's the way things went.
"So, Uh... D-Did you ... maybe wanna come over tomorrow night? Uh... to rehearse." He never stuttered this much, at least not around Astrid. He was clearly as nervous as she was, and she couldn't blame him.
"I don't know Hic-" She paused. She had never used his real name. Not to his face. But, they were practically strangers now. "Hayden" He looked at her with that sad lopsided smile that she missed so much. She smiled back and nodded. "Okay."
"Great, I'll pick you up after school. Don't worry, I'll meet you round back. Your friends will never know." He closed his locker and smiled once more before heading home.
That was the one thing she loved the most about her old friend. He was so thoughtful, but why did she feel so guilty.
***
The next day, as promised, he waited by the back door. His nose stuck in a book. He was so focused on what he was reading, he hadn't noticed the blonde approaching until her fist collided with his arm. A gesture that was all too familiar.
"Ow! Astrid?! Hi, Astrid!" He yelped. She chuckled at him, and for a single moment, it felt as though nothing had changed.
"Come on, Nerd. Let's go." She teased. He tucked his book into his backpack and handed her a helmet. Confusion stuck across her face until she saw him mounting a matte black motorcycle. "You ride a Night Fury?" A Night Fury. The greatest motorcycle on earth. Also the most expensive.
"What can I say? This Nerd has style." He gestured for her to hop on and after a quick giggle, she put on the helmet and did as told.
***
Okay can we please talk about how cute this art is? X
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