The runaway Valedictorian(HICCSTRID)

9 Dinner Date

A few moments earlier:
Astrid POV:

    I stared at the oak house in front of me. It looked quite impressive, but I couldn't really see, because the only source of light was the car's headlights. But it was nothing compared to the pass we just went through.
    Not that was beyond words. There was always something amazing for me to drive through the rain, but that drive with Hiccup was on a whole new level of amazing. And I couldn’t stop staring at it. Each time the raindrop splashed on the roof was amazing and then the next moment to be washed off by another drop. I could probably look at it forever.
    And then it was replaced by the night sky. And I don’t think I ever saw so many stars ever. It was really incredible. When Hiccup turned off from the main route, I was doubtful that something could be so amazing that a person would ever drive further to get home. We weren’t on a sightseeing trip anyway. But now that I drove through it all, I would definitely say that it was worth it.
    I looked at Hiccup and asked, “Is this where we would be staying?”
    He grinned and nodded and replied, “Yip,” while he popped the ‘p’, “It’s a property I bought and refurnitured five years ago.” He kept the lights on of the car, so that it kept producing some light and opened his car door and climbed out of the car. I followed him and climbed out of the car and he then opened the door for the dogs.
    “So why did you buy it?” I asked, curiously as we both walked to the front door.
    He pulled his keychain out and put a key in the door and replied, “Well, I sometimes want to get away from the company to relax and it was either always staying in a fancy hotel, where people can recognise me or a private place that is away from everyone. So I took the second option.”
    I nodded in understanding. It made sense. He didn’t like to be a billionaire so he wanted some privacy. It was one of the reasons I admired him so much. Even though he was one of the richest people on the planet, he was still the same kind person I had as a best friend. And lost.
    But I promised myself that I will never lose my Hiccup ever again.
    The door opened and he quickly rushed in, to do something. I could hear him typing on a keypad, so I just assumed that he was typing some security code. After a second there was a beep and the dogs happily galloped into the house. I followed them and Hiccup turned the lights on…
    And my mouth fell to the ground because of this place. It was beautiful. It looked like a modern vintage home. The flooring was all wood and all the walls were wood logs too. The one wall was a glass door that led to a balcony on the far side of the room. There were three big leather couches for people to sit and then in the middle was a marble fireplace, but it looked like it was floating.
    Then to the right there was a kitchen. It had a whitish brown tile floor and alot of wood cabinets that were painted red and green colours. There were a few basic utensils like a large oven, double door fridge and a dishwasher.
    Now if I said it like that it would sound pretty average. But it was small details that made it spectacular. Small carvings in the wood, the thousand strings lights that hung from the roof beams and then there was...was ...was. There were so many details it was amazing, but not really overwhelming.
    Hiccup smiled at me and said, “You can take a look around if you want. I’m going to get everything out of the car.”
    I couldn’t reply, so I just nodded. He smiled a bit and then walked out of the house. I stood there for a moment, before I slowly started to walk forward. I kept turning around to make sure that I got every single detail in and I started to familiarize myself with the area. Because it was truly amazing.
    I then walked up to the glass door and saw that there was a lake in front of the house. I unlocked the door and then silently started to walk up to the railing. Once I got there I stared into its reflection. It was reflecting the woods that were around it and the full moon that was high in the air. It looked so much like a fairy tale scene from the movies.
    I sighed, happily, and put my elbows on the railings and stared into the clear water. I don’t think I could never stop staring at it. Even the slight cool winter breeze won’t stop me.
    I stood in the same position for almost 1? 2? 5? 10 minutes, until a blanket is gently put over my shoulders. I tensed at the sudden touch but soon pulled the blanket in for a hug.I looked up at Hiccup and gave him a thankful smile. He smiled back at me and then leaned onto the railing just like me and stared over the water.
    I looked at him for a moment, before I realised that he just unpacked everything without my help. “Oh, gods,” I said suddenly, “Did you just unpack everything and I didn’t even help?”
    He chuckled a bit as if he knew I was going to say it. “Yeah, I did,” He replied, “But don’t worry. I did the same thing you did when I got this place.”
    I looked at him and asked, “And what was that?”
    He smiled and said, “Just stared at the place's beauty.”
    I nodded and stared back into the mirror lake. We stood there for a moment in a complete silence, but a comfortable silence. Until I commented, “It is really beautiful, Hiccup.”
    He smiled and said, “Yeah, it really is.” He then mumbled something under his breath, something in the line of, “‘ust lik’ ‘u.”
    I couldn’t really hear, so I asked, “What?”
    I couldn’t really be sure, but I guess he was blushing and replied, “Nothing.”
    I could tell that it was nothing, but decided that I should just drop it. I nodded and we both looked over the lake again. We stood there in silence for a couple of seconds and my mind started to think random things. And things especially concerning Hiccup, because I don’t if he knows, but our arms are touching. And it was making me feel like there were butterflies in my whole body.
     “How many?” I asked, all of the sudden.
     He looked at me confused and asked, “What do you mean ‘how many?’”
     I looked at him and asked, “How many girls have you brought here?”
     He smiled and said, sarcastically, “Too much to even bother to count.”
     I shook my head and asked, “Now, seriously. How many have you brought here.”
     He looked at me and replied, “Just one.”
     I was a bit taken back. He just brought one girl here all these years. That was strange for me, because I thought he would bring a lot of girls to treat him. I would know, because Eret did it alot. And then he just used a cheap motel room. But then Hiccup was different. I couldn’t even believe that I would believe that he would even think to do something like that. Hiccup is too good and too sweet of a person to do it.
     “She must have been special,” I commented.
     He smiled and said, “Yes, you are.”
     I looked at him confused, until my eyes widened in realisation. I was the first girl he ever brought here. Wow. I nodded nonetheless and said, “Oh, um thank you. Uhh why?”
    He looked at the lake and stared at it for a second as if he was thinking of an answer and answered me, “This place is a really special place to me. I don’t want to share it with any random person, but only with people that are really special to me, like Toothless and you. My best friend forever.”
    I smiled and said, “You are my best friend too, Hiccup.” I then placed my hand on his hand and said, “And there will always be a Hiccup and Astrid. Whatever it might be or you want it to be, there will always be a Hiccup and Astrid. Always.”
    He looked at my hand and then up at me and smiled. “Always,” he replied. He then took my hand, gently, and led me into the house and I, happily, let him drag me. Once we were inside, he let go of my hand, and I was immediately missing his warm touch, and closed the door. I looked across the room and saw that a fire was lit and our huskies were chewing on two large bones in front of the fireplace.
    Hiccup popped next to me and said, “I am going to start making food, if that’s alright. You can take a shower if you want to or do whatever you want to. And I put all of your things on your bed in your room.”
    I smiled and said, “Thanks Hiccup. And I think I might need a shower anyways.” I don’t know why I did it, like all the times I did it before, but I leaned over and kissed his cheek. We both blushed like always and I left the living room with a smile on my face. I walked down the hallway and traced my hands over the carving, until I came up to a few photos that were on the walls.
    It was mostly photos of Toothless and Hiccup. There were a few photos of Toothless as a pup and Hiccup nursing him. He looked so young in the photo and I could see the same sparkle in his eyes.
    I smiled when I saw the photo. Hiccup still looked the sweet guy he always was in the photo’s. I looked down the hallway to where Hiccup was cooking. I couldn’t really see him, but guess he was busy cooking. I then looked back at the photo and smiled and walked into the first room.
    And luckily it was mine. My suitcase was carefully placed on my bed, with a few towels next to it. My room looked just amazing as all the other rooms. A king size bed with blue silk sheets. There was also a study table and two doors. The one I guessed was the bathroom and the other was the walk-in closet. I walked over to the first door and opened it to find a big bathroom.
    I smiled and grabbed a towel and my shampoo and walked into the bathroom. I quickly stripped all my clothes off and then jumped into the shower and turned the water on. I was instantly spread with the right temperature water and I smiled and started to wash me. It really was the best.
    I started to wash my hair, with lemon scent shampoo, and the rest of my body. And after a while I was done and climbed out of the water. I quickly dried myself, but let my hair air dry. I then got into some fresh clothes. Just some shorts, a T-shirt, some socks and a blue hoodie.
    I smiled and walked out of the room towards the living room and kitchen. And what I saw made me smile. Toothless and Stormfly were both still biting in their bones happily next to the fire. But in the kitchen was Hiccup, happily, cooking all our food. And it smelled incredible.
    I walked up to him and hugged him from behind and asked, “What are we eating?” Now this would seem really weird for any random person to hug another person like this, but when Hiccup and I were younger, we didn’t mind and did loads of things together. And never minded to hug the other person or not.
    He smiled and said, “Chicken schnitzel with a mushroom sauce and some fresh salad. How was your shower?”
    “Great,” I replied and let go of him and stood more to the side. We started to talk a little bit and after a while he finished. He served the plates and my mouth water when I started to eat the food. “Gods, Hiccup. This is so good,” I commented to him.
    He smiled and said, “I’m glad you like it.” I smiled and shook my head. I didn’t like it, I loved it. We continued to eat and after a few minutes, we finished and then washed the dishes. After that we sat by the fire and started to roast some marshmallows.
    And don’t ask how, but after two minutes we were both in a heated chubby bunny challenge. And not one of us wanted to give in, so we were both at our 8th chubby bunny.
    “Chubby bunn’,'' He said as he inserted the 8th marshmallow. I smiled and shook my head. I didn’t talk because I was afraid that everything might come out if I spoke up. He rolled his eyes, dramatically. He then took a deep breath through his nose and repeated, “Chubby bunny.”
    I narrowed my eyes. When did he get so good? When we were kids he could only do like four and I always won. But now, I don’t think I could do another. I nodded slightly in approval and he smiled the best triumph smile he could and pumped his fist to the air. He then happily grabbed another marshmallow and handed it to me.
    I looked at him and then grabbed the marshmallow. I looked at it for a moment before I reluctantly put it in my already full mouth. Oh Gods. I was scared to do anything because the food will go out.
    Hiccup saw my expression, wide eyes, cheeks as big as a chipmunk, and a little bit of drool coming out of my mouth, and couldn’t contain himself and started to laugh. He spit all of the moist marshmallows into a bowl and fell down, crying from laughter.
    I almost started to laugh too, because his was contagious, but luckily I managed to swallow the marshmallows and started to laugh also. After a while we both calmed down and we both took at the same moment a deep breath, both laying on the leather couch.
    I glanced down at him and smiled. I sat up and said, “Well, looks like I win.”
    He immediately shot up and said, “Now, wait a moment. I have done 8 chubby bunnies and you only did 7. I spit all of my marshmallows because I could see you couldn’t do it. And your expression was hilarious.”
    “Now, wait,” I shot back, “I could have done 8 chubby bunnies.”
    “Yeah, right,” he replied sarcastically.
    “I could have.”
    “Could not.”
    “Could.”
    “Could not.”
    “Could.”
    “Not.”
    “Could.”
    “Could.”
    “Not.”
    …. “Wait, a second,” I replied and he laughed. I smacked his arm and said, “You’re so mean.”
    He smiled and said, “Am not.”
    I narrowed my eyes and said, “Fine, we’ll call it a draw.”
    He looked at me in disbelief and replied, sarcastically, “Sure, we’ll call it a draw.”
    We both stared down at each other before we slowly smiled. We continued to talk and after a few minutes it hit eleven o’clock. And even though we both seemed reluctant to go to sleep, we both knew we needed it, because the reunion tomorrow night would probably end at twelve o’clock.
    So after saying goodnight to Stormfly and Toothless, who were both cuddled on a sleeping mat next to the dying fire, we walked towards our rooms. They were both across from each other so we stopped in front of each other and looked at each other.
    “I will wake you up tomorrow morning for the run,” Hiccup explained.
    I smiled and said, “Thanks, Hiccup. And I might be hard to wake up so just use Stormfly.”
    He smiled and said, “Oh, I will.”
    I shook my head and said, “Well, goodnight Hiccup.” I then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek again. What is wrong with me? I immediately blushed and he blushed too. We locked eyes and I couldn’t help but be in awe because of them. Those forest green eyes. They looked so magical as if they were enchanted. I smiled softly and said, “See you tomorrow morning.”
    He smiled back and said, “See you tomorrow.”
    I then reluctantly turned around and opened my door and walked in. But just before I closed them I got one last look at his eyes. And they were probably the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Even more than the drive through the rain or the lake in front of his house. They were beyond perfect.
     And then they were replaced by the wood door. I sighed and walked backwards until my legs hit the bed. I then fell flat backwards and stared dreamily up to the roof.
     There were a lot of things going on in my mind, but one thing I was sure of. I was in love with my boss. I was in love with my best friend. I was in love with Hiccup.
A/N Thank You for all of the support. It means a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I will update soon.
P.S. Thank you Marianne and Nel. Hope you enjoyed it.