Heart of a Dragon (A Hiccup x Astrid HTTYD AU Fanfic)

Chapter 33: The Obsessive Self - Entitled Jerk

I was on my bed, letting the food digest a little before I sleep. I was watching some videos when I felt my phone ringing, it was a call from Astrid. 

I answered, "Hello..." I greeted, "Sorry about my parents." Astrid said, "There's nothing to be sorry about. The dinner was fun." I replied, "Fun for you... The whole night was a nightmare for me, seeing my parents act like a wingman and wing woman.", "What can I say? I'm a catch.", "Someone's head has gotten big." she remarked which made me laugh, "I almost slipped up a couple of times earlier." I told her, "You really did. You almost called me 'milady' in the car." she chuckled, "I'll let you sleep early since we still have school tomorrow. Goodnight milady." I told her, "Goodnight babe." she replied as we ended the call and I fell asleep.

 - - - - - 

It was already lunch and I was chilling under a shade of a tree while enjoying the food I bought from the Mess Hall.

I was cleaning up the wrappers and soda can I used when I saw a group of some familiar figures trekking in the middle of the field.

"I have seen these guys before." I thought, trying to remember where and when then it hit me, "Self-entitled douchebag and his goons." I muttered but then I saw one of the goons pointed at my direction. 

I noticed Snotlout started walking towards me and I immediately knew this have to do something with Astrid. 

Even though I wanted to run away, I steeled myself and stood my ground as I waited them to reach me. 

Snotlout suddenly charged in and pinned me to a tree, "So you're the one who has been hanging around my Astrid." he declared, "Your Astrid? Last time, I checked she never belonged to you now or ever." I rebutted which was not a really great idea when your opponent is thrice as big as you, he threw me to the ground.

"You still got that annoying mouth of yours, Hiccup." Snotlout said, "I could say the same thing about your face." I replied, I  should have stopped but talking was my defense mechanism, I saw his face turn red as he picked me up by the collar of my shirt and punched me across the face, I think I blacked out for a second since when I came to, I was on the ground again. 

Then I heard a shout from behind me, "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?", "We're not finished here, pipsqueak." Snotlout said as he and his loyal goons left me lying on the ground, I could taste blood, "Oh man... I busted my lip again." I thought, I felt a hand helped me up when I looked it was Fishlegs. "Thanks for the assist, dude." I told him, "Luckily, I got them to back off." he replied, "I told you,  didn't I?" he followed, "I know. I learned it the hard way." I touched the cut on my lip which made me wince.

"Should we head to the infirmary to have someone check on your lip?" Fishlegs asked, "No need. Ice would be good enough."  I responded, "By the way, how did you found me?" I asked him, "I was looking for you actually." he replied, "Why were you looking for me?" I remarked, "Oh yeah. The start of the qualifiers has been moved tomorrow instead of Monday next week." he told me, my eyes widened from the news, "Woah! Wait! We still don't have our jerseys yet?", "You're right! Maybe Coach E will tell as later at training.", "I can't wait to see the other teams that we will play against." I smiled but immediately regretted it. 

We passed through the Mess Hall to get some ice for my lip that started to swell before going back to class. I didn't talk much on the remaining classes of the afternoon since it hurts every time I tried to talk.

As soon as the class ended, Fishlegs and I were on our way to the gym when I heard someone calling our names, I turned around and saw Dominic together with Melvin, Erasmus, and Chandler.

"Hey guys." I greeted them, "Ow." I followed, "What happened to you?" Dominic asked, "It's nothing." I replied, "He got into it with Scott." Fishlegs told them, "Oh. It's because of the 'Astrid' thing." Dominic responded, "Wait. You know about Sno-... that entitled douchebag's obsession with Astrid?" I asked, "Who doesn't?" Dominic stated, "Everyone knows because Scott openly asked Astrid out numerous times back in middle school even after being rejected repeatedly." Melvin joined in, "I was even classmates with one dude that fancied Astrid but then he stopped coming in class. Rumors has it that Scott and his friends beat him so bad that he transferred schools." Erasmus chimed, "But there was one dude that Scott feared which eventually became Astrid's boyfriend." Chandler spoke, "Oh yeah. That dude was scary." Dominic said, " What was his name?" Melvin asked, "Dagur..."Erasmus whispered, "Right. Dagur the Deranged." Fishlegs declared, "Who's that?" I asked, "He was a basketball player in middle school for Berk. He and Astrid hit it off because of their love for the game. Scott, doing Scott things, tried scaring him away from Astrid but it backfired for him. Dagur beat up Scott and his friends to the point that one of them was hospitalized. Scott never messed with him again. But Dagur transferred schools just before the last year's middle school season started, he broke up with Astrid with a smile in front of the crowd." Fishlegs explained, "So deranged is really the perfect word to describe him." I told them, "Yep. We might face him and his team if we survive this year's qualifiers." Dominic said, "We will." I declared and the other started laughing and cheering. 

"I heard that the qualifiers will start tomorrow, is that true?" Melvin asked, "We'll know when we go to the gym." I replied so we all started running towards our gym. 

Basketballs were flying on our side of the court, I was hit a couple of times of a stray ball bouncing of the rim.

I managed to get a free ball so I dribbled my way to the three point line when Coach E came with the seniors carrying two large baskets, I shot a quick three before turning around and running with the others towards to Coach E, I heard it swished.

"Everyone seems to be here so let's start the meeting." Coach E announced, "First things first, the schedule of the start of the qualifiers has been moved tomorrow." he continued, "You don't care about that since all of you are staring at the boxes behind me." the seniors moved the boxes in front of us and Coach E opened the two boxes and pulled out the content from each box, "It's our jerseys for this year." it was a black and blue colored scheme jersey and a white and blue colored scheme jersey, we all erupted in cheers.

The seniors started handing the jerseys to each of the members of the team. When I got mine in my hands, joy started filling up my body. Everyone was already trying on their jerseys which I did too, I wore the black and blue one "Looking good." Fishlegs was walking towards me wearing his home jersey as well, "The same goes to you." I replied, "It's really true, I am actually a 'Dragon'.", "Yeah, it's official." we fist bumped each other.

"You all seem happy seeing your jerseys." Coach E told all of us, "Let's get back on track. Tomorrow, the meeting place will be here at 7 am. Being late is not an option, we need to be at the Berkian Arena at exactly 8 am, wear the away jersey and your team jacket and bring the home jersey as well. Since the first games will be handpicked tomorrow, we don't exactly know when we might play; it can be in the morning or in the afternoon, just be prepared. The starting five will be announced tomorrow on our first game, I want it to be a surprised. I know you all were waiting for that." he smiled, "We will not have any training today, just rest up and be your best selves tomorrow." Coach E finished his announcements and one of the seniors, Cedrick, the captain, came forward and put his hand out and the other seniors followed and one by one, all of our hands were stacked on the middle.

"BURN THEM UP ON THREE! ONE! TWO! THREE!" the captain shouted the words full of power, "BURN THEM UP!" all of us reciprocated and the loud roar echoed inside the gym.