Snowflakes Fall and So Did I

~CHAPTER 72~

~Astrid~

So the senior math teacher is a predator. I didn't think that would be something I would learn today, but alas here I am with information that will hopefully be put to some use. And yes, while I am very good at keeping secrets, it does suck that I can't tell Merida. Not telling her about my crush on her cousin was one thing, and I'm lucky that she wasn't even all that betrayed, but something like this? She'll be furious to not be included.

Especially since Hiccup is going to be in on it soon.

I don't want her thinking that Hiccup is going to be my go-to person for everything just because he's my boyfriend now. She was my best friend first. Well technically, Hiccup had been my neighbor and classmate all my life, so he was first if one wanted to go by a timeline, but I didn't have a connection to him. Not until Merida. It's only because of her that I started associating with him more because of them being related, and even then the moments were brief. And with my Uncle Gobber being best friends with his dad, and of course my Aunt Tamora being Stoic's second in command, there were moments where I'd run into him outside of school and outside of Merida. The close connection from others sometimes makes me think we were just meant to be.

But that's so cringey to think about. And yet...I can't help but smile at the thought. Hiccup has got me whipped, but I'll never let him or anyone know that. Everyone knows I like him, obviously, that's why we're dating after all, but they can't know that I really really like him. That he's all I think about and how it's a struggle to do homework now because I can't fucking focus on anything but him. It's embarrassing actually, and it's not easy at all to stop.

Then again...I never really tried to.

Anyway, back to Merida; when Merida is mad or annoyed or jealous, she can't hide it to save her life. I can't either, according to some people. And Hiccup is such a bad liar, I'm scared he's gonna be the one to spill to her. I'm sure he won't, he's kept Toothless a secret for this long, but this piece of information is a much bigger deal than a secret dog.

Well, wolf actually.

Because of it being such a big deal, I sometimes feel that he would indeed take the secret to his grave if necessary. I like to think that he wouldn't crack for me. And maybe he won't. I need to have more faith in him. I actually don't have a choice since he's going to be the one to tell his dad.

"Alright, lassie," says Merida's mom Elenor, "Here we are."

She had pulled into my driveway, and much to my surprise, instead of being directly across the street at his own house, there was Hiccup on my porch swing, drawing on his notebook. He looks up, smiles, and waves. I smile back, while Merida groans.

"Look I'm glad you two are dating, I've wanted it for so long, for Hiccup to finally get the girl of his dreams, who just so happens to be my best friend, but bloody hell. You guys are so mushy. I don't even know who you are anymore." She winks at me, signifying that she's joking, but Elenor took it seriously.

"Oh hush, Merida," she says to her daughter, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Happy, healthy love changes people for the better. One day that will be you, and I doubt you'd want anyone to tease you about it."

Merida rolls her eyes. "Mum, I'm being playful, not malicious. Read the room."

"Well, technically, we're in a car." Elenor retorts and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. Otherwise, I'd face the wrath of my best friend.

I had sat directly behind Elenor, so I was able to talk to Merida and see her face on the ride home. We were showing each other tiktok videos instead of sending them to each other, and the whole time, in the back of my mind as I laughed and reacted to the videos, a voice kept saying: " You're a bad friend for not telling her."