Snowflakes Fall and So Did I

~CHAPTER 89~

~Astrid~

"I still can't believe that this whole time, Hiccup's big bad secret, was just a wolf," Merida says as she and I walk to our lockers.

"I'm so glad he finally told you," I say as the memory fills my mind. "I hated keeping it a secret and lying about my whereabouts."

You still are, though. About the situation, my annoying inner voice says to me. I ignored it and continued: "If it were reversed, I would have pestered you so hard to the point where we probably would end up fighting. Thank gods you're not like me."

"Yeah," Merida smirks, "Everyone knows I'm more laid back. I know attitude-wise, I be going at it with Jack and Flynn from time to time, but we all know you're more fiery than my red hair."

I roll my eyes. "Hey, man, Flynn and Jack can be too much sometimes. Jack with his pranks and Flynn with his arrogance. They both know they're attractive too, so we always get constant comments about how they look--more so from Flynn, though. And there's nothing wrong with self-love and confidence, but it does get to a point where it makes people come off as vain. It's one of the reasons why I formed a crush on Hiccup. He didn't care about his looks."

"He's definitely going to Neville Longbottom, though," Merida says with a laugh. "Give it a year or two when puberty finally starts to be nice to him. He's going to give the guys a run for their money. That's including Kristoff and Bunny. But genuinely, I don't see Flynn being insecure about it. He's still going to think he's hotter. He's going to think he's the hot shit regardless of anyone being clearly more hotter than him. I mean, you've heard how much he admires Maui's beauty. He knows damn well that Maui is more attractive, but he's always going to act like he is instead. It'll be our cousin Snotlout, though, that will take it the hardest."

I couldn't help the laugh that burst out of me. "Oh, my gods, that will probably kill him."

Merida chuckles. "I'm surprised the news of you dating Hiccup didn't do it."

"That's because he thinks I'm going through a loser phase and will eventually snap outta it," I roll my eyes at the memory of that interaction. "I straight up told him that if I was going to be dating losers, he'd be on the list, but as the very, very last choice."

Merida sighs and shakes her head. "Yep, I remember you telling me that. I also remember telling you that you really shouldn't have put him on this imaginary list at all. Knowing him, he'll think he still has a chance."

"I needed him to know that he's a loser in my eyes," I say with a shrug. "But luckily, he hasn't bothered me in a while. And thank gods for that. He'd honestly be my last fucking straw."

"I don't know why you're so stressed out lately." Merida's gaze turns concerned, "This year hasn't really been much different from last year. The only difference is Elsa, Anna, and you dating my cousin."

I held back a crazed laugh. Elsa--though it's not her fault--is the sole reason everything is happening. But of course...I can't tell Merida that. Gods, I miss when Toothless and having a crush on Hiccup were the only 'serious' things I was keeping from her. And now both of those things are resolved.

Hiccup and I had taken her to see Toothless on his birthday, and while Merida loves being out in the woods and exploring, she was a bit weirded out that Hiccup and I were escorting her with a blindfold on. She didn't need to be blindfolded, but it would be best in case she freaked out at the sight of Toothless. He's a massive wolf. Of course, Merida would have lost her shit, which would have made Toothless lose his shit as well.

Her being blindfolded and Toothless sniffing her before she could see him was the safest way, and it worked out wonderfully.

"Oi," she had said when she felt Toothless's wet, cold nose on her hand. "Is this a dog? Hiccup, do you have a pet dog that your dad doesn't know about? Is that why he's a secret and living out here in the woods?"