You Are Never Alone

Chapter 3: Reconsideration

Back in the little apartment of Astrid's, the two young ladies nestled comfortably on the couch with blankets. As Minden munched on a bowl of popcorn, Astrid scrolled through Netflix for their desired show. For a moment they sat in complete silence, that was until Minden broke it.

"So, what do you think of that Hiccup guy?" Minden piped up as she passed the bowl to Astrid once she had clicked on the show. Out of the corner of her eye, her friend seemed to stiffen a little at the thought of the interaction.

"He's... fine I guess," the blonde girl replied, her eyes not leaving the television screen.

Minden knew Astrid well enough to understand her true feelings, sometimes knowing her better than Snotlout through unspoken body language. At that moment, the idea of Hiccup and the knowledge of gradually opening up to the man stressed her out. It wouldn't be her first time accepting a stranger's company, yet it just felt inconvenient.

The dark haired girl sighed before scooting closer to Astrid, wrapping her blanket around both of them. Although she would never admit it, physical touch gave Astrid the greatest security and comfort, exclusively from someone she trusted. Even though Snotlout had been her friend long before Minden came into their lives, he wasn't a hugger. His love language with friends relied solely on back claps and food. His girlfriend, however, reached into the raw untouched emotions Astrid could never suppress with Snotlout's humour or encouragement. Sometimes, all she needed was for someone to hold her in silence, and Minden was all for that. The two girls shared an indescribable tight-knit bond, with Snotlout being the bridge allowing the beginnings of their friendship.

Astrid leaned into her friend's embrace, shutting her eyes as she released a long shaky sigh. She reached for the remote, pausing the show to allow herself to calm down as Minden stroked her hair gently. Not a sound was heard, other than Astrid's slow deep breaths. After a few minutes, she finally spoke up. "What do you think of him?"

"Sorry, what? Who?" Minden asked, not fully aware of the question from Astrid.

"Hiccup," her companion replied. "It was also your first time meeting him right?"

The brown haired girl nodded. So that's what concerned Astrid the most, the credibility of that Hiccup guy. Truthfully, she never had high expectations in the man himself solely based on how she judged his name. Then again, she was dating someone named Snotlout. Even so, the only other times she'd heard that name was when her boyfriend would talk about his childhood, Hiccup playing a major role in it as his best friend. Although he admitted to being extremely rough and reckless towards the boy with a thinner frame in their youth, it was clear to Minden that Snotlout deeply cared for Hiccup. What impressed her was how he stuck by Snotlout's side after all the disruption and annoyance, which she personally wouldn't have tolerated as a child.

"Well, I think he's a great person. Polite, sharp, and you can't deny that he's super charming," Minden added with a smirk. In an instant, her demeanour switched back to seriousness. "However, I can't be too quick to judge. A phone call can't give you the proper identity of a person after all. What do you think of him?"

The blonde turned to face the brunette, their blue eyes making contact. "Honestly, even though he seems really patient, I don't know for sure if I'd want to go on with this."

Her statement got Minden taken aback. "But Astrid, I thought you wanted this. If Snotlout actually forced you against your will I will most certainly make sure he's taken care of-"

"No no, I'm certain he never made me do it," Astrid interrupted. "Snotlout never threatened me or anything. It's just... now that I've seen him, I've come to realise the pressures of gradually opening up to him, trusting him. I don't know if I'm ready for that."

Minden sighed. Her assumptions were right. The thought of trusting someone and the possibilities of being betrayed forever clouded her social life, it was the very source of all her problems with communication, not to mention her existing anxiety which worsened her social issues. Her life was a hot mess, and, even if she never realised the urgency, Astrid needed help as soon as possible.

"Ash, I understand your concerns, and I also understand I don't have the right to force you to make a specific decision. I just need you to know that it's best to give Hiccup a chance. If it doesn't work out, then you can forget about it, forget about him. No matter what, Snotlout and I will be here to support you. I too am unable to interpret this man through a mere FaceTime, but I'd still give him a chance. He's going to help you, if you choose to accept it. I shouldn't be doing this, but I promise you it'll be alright. I'll be by your side."

Minden held one of Astrid's hands, rubbing it soothingly with her thumb. The blonde girl just stared into blank space, contemplating her decisions. Just then, her phone buzzed, a message from an unknown number appeared, followed by a text from Snotlout. Minden reached for the phone from the coffee table, handing it to its owner who took a look at her notifications.

"Unknown number: Hi Astrid! This is Hiccup from just now, I do hope I'm not interrupting your girls' night!
Anyway, if you are certain to meet with me, I have an open slot for you to drop by this Wednesday at 4pm. Do get back to me if you're free! Snotlout should know where my office is.
Also, if you want to you could also bring a friend along for your comfort, it's totally your choice!"

"Snotlout: So Hiccup just texted, don't be alarmed.
Do tell me of your next steps when I return. I'll be there if you need anything."

Astrid lowered her phone, turning back to Minden who just stared back with a puzzled look for she hadn't seen the messages. Hiccup seemed... approachable. His friendliness was absent from the other therapists she had gone to, making her doubt her choices. Yet, even with minimal familiarity with this new guy, maybe for once Astrid decided to give him a chance, just like what Minden had said.

Astrid knew the typical class timetables of her two best friends. Unfortunately for Snotlout, he would be having a lecture during Hiccup's recommended session, but not for the girl cozied up in her living room at that moment. "Wednesday afternoon, do you happen to have plans?"

"None... why?"