Our Night On Valentine's Day

Black Eye

A boy frowned curiously at the sight of Hiccup. In fact anyone who saw him did. Some laughed and some uttered something unclear.

Hiccup watched the video after Tuff texted him. It was all over the school website. It was what's trending. But he knew they weren't looking at him because of his fading love. It was because of one thing only - the eyepatch.

The black eye Astrid gave him yesterday still stung like a bee sting. It felt like tiny needles poking his eyeball and eyelid. His sight would be still fine if it weren't for his watery eyes but according to the doctor, his eyes would be fine in a couple of days if he stays out of dust particles, eye-contact with the Sun and even onions. He wasn't even allowed to touch it. Which is hard.

"Hiccup, woah." Kristoff patted his back gently, joining Hiccup by his side as they walk towards their locker. "You okay?"

"It got worse."

Both of them were dressed in casuals - a plain shirt, long denim jeans and high-cut sneakers.

"Hiccup!" Eugene joined them two beside Hiccup, making him walk in between.

"Is the eye alright?" He glared at the black eye-patch, making a pity face.

"Uhh it got worse." He replied in his usual wimpy voice, repeating.

"So you've seen it." Kristoff asked, well more to stating for confirmation.

"Yes." Hiccup nodded, still ignoring eye-contact from both guys.

"So how are you feeling?" Eugene caught up with him. So did Kristoff. Hiccup was walking very fast like he was late or something.

"I don't know." Hiccup too wasn't sure. It was just a video. Typical boys.

"That eye looks sick." A boy clicked his tongue after he said that, and skated away. Turning his head back in front made his bangs flap.

"Look I don't have time for this," Hiccup said to his two friends and left them behind.

****

'Why does it feel so early?' Hiccup thought and looked at the bell which still wasn't ringing. School hasn't started yet and it felt like two hours already.

He then saw a blonde girl walking further past in front of him. She saw him too and they shared a little moment gazing at each other before two girls distracted Hiccup.

"Hiccup that eye-patch is totally adorable! Do you maybe wanna hang out some time?" One of the girls said.

"Hiccup! Remember Professor Callaghan's assignment? Where we had to do some testing on plants? Can you, maybe, be my partner?" The other one smiled at him, lips wide from ear to ear.

"Uh, I'll think about it." He said to the first girl before moving to the next. "I'm sorry Alexa, but I already have Astrid as my partner." Hiccup apologised. Now, the mention of her name, yesterday's memory came floating back.

"Oh, okay. Nevermind then." Alexa had a dissappointed look on her face but she understood this. She didn't want to bother this. She shouldn't have approached him. It was wrong especially at a time like this. Both of them left him, feeling embarrassed.

Hiccup went to his locker which is about six lockers away from Astrid's. Astrid was unpacking her books from her baby blue bag and stuffed them into her locker when he arrived. They made eye-contact for only half a second then Hiccup opened the lock on his locker.

He had some textbooks, files and notes arranged properly on the top shelf. A varsity top was folded neatly and stuffed on the second locker next to some notepads. His mini man perfume was there and last week's sandwich he forgot to eat was there too.

He took his chemistry textbook and notes, and put them into his red backpack. Just before he grab his dead sandwich to be thrown away, his locker was slammed shut and a redhead appeared. "Hey Hiccup!" He was startled by this greeting.

"Hey Merida. What brings you here?" Hiccup said in his nervous, awkward voice. He leaned against his locker on his side, hugging his tespad with one arm.

"I was just wondering- do you know that dance they're having?" Merida held her purple pen, pointing it to Hiccup's face as she asked.

"Uhh, the one on Valentine's Day?" He asked slowly, dragging his words. His face tilted sideways a bit.

"Yeah, I was just thinking if you wanna go together?" Merida tipped on her toe then return back to her normal position in a millisecond. She smiled prettily but obviously Hiccup doesn't have the answer right now.

"Uhh.." Hiccup could feel his armpits sweating as he glance at Astrid who was hiding behind her locker, eavesdropping.

Merida saw him looking at Astrid and quickly apologised. "I'm sorry. Uhh. I shouldn't have- I - I'm truly sorry," she stuttered as Hiccup said, " it's okay" and trying to comfort her with nice words. "I'll just go now. I'm sorry," Merida said in a sweet voice. She frowned sadly, embarrasedly, guiltily. She walked away quickly like she can't hold her pee.

Hiccup on the other hand didn't know what just happened. He never saw this side of Merida he's whole life. Or he just didn't realize it.

Hiccup looked back towards Astrid to find that she was already gone. He went to Proffesor Callaghan's chemistry lab casually but emotionally uncomfortable.