Starting Over [Book 2]

~12~

When he opened the door, Hiccup didn't expect to see Snotlout.

"Hey baby cousin."

"Dude, I'm older than you."

"Yes, sorta. But you born on leap year."

"This again?" Hiccup mumbles.

"Are you going to ask why I am here?"

"What are you here for?"

"You, me, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs are sleeping over at my house tonight."

"Do I have a say in this?"

"No."

"Just like everything else. This conversation is starting to feel one-sided."

"So you coming?"

"I don't have a choice."

"No. No you don't."

"Okay. Then go pack."

"Wait, now?"

"Yes now. C'mon." He walks past Hiccup and starts to walk up the stairs. Hiccup has no choice but to follow. When he gets into his room, he gets an itching sensation from his stump. But he just shrugs it off.

He sees Snotlout looking at the large pin board where Hiccup has pinned his many drawings.

"I never knew you could draw." He says astonished.

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"Good, then tonight won't go to waste." Hiccup rolls his eyes. He walks over to his closet and throws a bag at Snotlout. He catches the bag and sits on Hiccup's bed.

"Wait, why did you give the bag to me?"

"Because, I am going to get my clothes and you are going to put them in the bag."

"Why can't you?"

"Don't make the more difficult then it has to be."

"Whatever." Snotlout mumbles.

After packing the bag, they walk downstairs. Hiccup feels the sensation come back, but it feels stronger and more painful. He stops on the stairs, almost making Snotlout crash into him.

He grips the rail and takes deep breaths.

This is what Fishlegs had been talking about.

Phantom Pains.

It wasn't the first time though.

He didn't realize Snotlout calling his name.

"Hiccup. You okay?" Hiccup lifts his head, takes another deep breath, nods, and continues down the last few steps. He writes a note to his dad saying he was at Snotlout's for the night, and the two teens head out to Snotlout's car.

They sit in the car, quietly. It was awkward. Hiccup can tell Snotlout was worried about him-that's a first-and thinking about what had happened on the stairs. But Hiccup isn't ready to tell anyone. They would call him weak for not being able to handle the pain. And would anyone listen?

Of course they would.

He doesn't want to think that they wouldn't. Just not sure what to think. His gut says to talk about it, but the broken part says not to bother them with his problems.

And of course, he listens to the broken part of him.

He has been doing it for years now. He just isn't ready yet.

Yet again, he was to busy in his thoughts to realize that Snotlout had been talking to him.

"What?"