Mistake

Chapter 2

The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The leather jacket clung to my shoulders, fitting snugly in a way that felt... right. The pants were sleek, and the overall look was undeniably bold. It was a far cry from my usual worn-out jeans and t-shirts. The Dokken shirt I’d picked out the night before peeked from beneath the jacket, completing the retro rock vibe.

I ran a hand through my hair, still feeling unsure. Was this really me? Or was I just playing a part to shake things up? Either way, I couldn’t deny the rush of confidence as I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs.

Mom was in the kitchen, sipping her coffee as I made my way to the door. She gave me a once-over, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You look good, Hiccup,” she said. “Confident.”

I gave her a quick nod, not quite trusting myself to respond. It wasn’t often I felt this way—standing tall, actually believing I could own the day.

The drive to school felt different, too. The hum of the Impala’s engine blended with the music blasting through the speakers, a playlist of my favorite bands. I pulled into my usual spot, taking a deep breath before stepping out.

Immediately, I could feel eyes on me, and for once, I didn’t shrink under the attention. I spotted a few people whispering, others giving me quick glances before turning away, clearly unsure how to process this new version of me. But none of it bothered me. If anything, it fueled the sense that today was going to be different.

As I walked through the halls, the familiar buzz of conversation seemed louder than usual. I caught sight of John leaning casually against the lockers, a grin stretching across his face the moment he saw me.

“Damn, Hiccup!” he called, pushing off the lockers and giving me an exaggerated once-over. “You look like you’re about to hop on stage!”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smirk that crept onto my face. “Let’s not get carried away.”

John threw an arm around my shoulders. “Dude, trust me, this is exactly what you needed. Just look at everyone—they don’t know what hit them!”

As we walked to our first class, the tension I usually felt in these halls was gone. Maybe John was right. Maybe this was what I needed—something to shake up the routine, to remind myself that I could be more than the quiet guy who slipped through the cracks.

Throughout the day, the whispers followed me, but this time, I felt in control. Even Elsa gave me a curious look when we passed each other between classes. She didn’t say anything, but the brief glance and faint smile were enough to tell me that she noticed the change, too.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was actually feeling... good. John and I sat at our usual spot, but for once, I didn’t feel invisible. It was like the leather jacket had stripped away the version of me I used to hide behind.

As the afternoon classes wore on, though, the initial high started to fade. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was all just surface-level. Would things really change just because I dressed differently for a day? Or was I setting myself up for disappointment once the novelty wore off?

I shook off the doubts as the final bell rang. I grabbed my stuff, heading out to the parking lot where the Impala waited, gleaming under the afternoon sun. John was already there, leaning against the car with a grin.

“Well, how was your big debut?” he asked, clearly enjoying my conflicted expression.

“It wasn’t terrible,” I admitted, leaning on the hood of the car next to him. “But I don’t know if this whole thing is going to stick.”