Dragon Paradise

Chapter 16

*Hicca's POV*

I woke up confused and disoriented. The last thing I remembered is speaking with Austen and him saying- Oh my gods

Austen has feelings for me? Me?! But why? Why would he? Is it just a joke? Was he dared to say that by Snotlout? Or maybe Ruffnut and Tuffnut?

He can't have feelings for me. I decided resolutely, noticing that even the thought of it sent a quick shock of pain throughout my body.

Deep in thought, I didn't hear the footsteps coming closer until they were right outside of the door. I quickly closed my eyes and evened out my breathing, to make it look like I was still asleep. The door creaked open and the footsteps came closer. I heard a quiet sigh right next to me then the sound of wood against wood. Then with a thump, which i'm guessing was the person sitting down on something, a voice I recognize as Austen's quietly spoke up.

"Hey Hicca. I don't know if you can hear me, being unconscious and all, but I just want to apologize." What?

"I know that I've been a horrible person to you in the past years. I flat out ignored and avoided you." Yea thanks for that reminder.

"Still, I didn't think you would react like that to my admission." He laughed bitterly, which caused me to feel guilty. After all, how would you feel if right after admitting your feelings to someone, they just fainted?

"Anyway, I guess it's justified since I have been so ignorant and oblivious in the past years." Okay I can't let him go on with this.

I opened my eyes just a teensy bit, barely noticeable, to see him looking down, head hung. So, matching his volume level, I spoke.

"It's not your fault." As soon as I spoke,, his head snapped up to my face. I opened my eyes more and turned to face him. He opened his mouth to speak, i'm guessing a protest, but I cut him off.

"It's. Not. Your. Fault." I said, pausing between the words in an attempt to have them sink in. He looked at me for a few seconds, mouth still open, before he sighs, nodding.

"Good! Now why don't you take me down stairs for food?" I asked, seeing his discomfort. He practically jumped at the opportunity and helped me out of the bed, which I now know was his, and down the stairs, pushing me down at a table where his dad was sitting. Once he got me settled, he went into the kitchen, where his mom was, and came back with a plate of food. At the sight, my stomach growled loudly and with a laugh, Austen placed the plate in front of me with the gesture of 'dig in'... which I did.

Once I finished stuffing my face, Austen took my plate to the kitchen then came back, looking like he wanted to say something but decided not to.

"What?" I asked, which drew his attention to me. At my voice, he seemed to make a decision and asked me what was on his mind.

"Can we talk?" I noticed that he would not look at me as he said this.

"Sure." I didn't see a problem with talking since his parents right next to us.

"Outside?"

"Oh" That could be a problem.

"Wha-Yeah." I tried to hide my hesitation but let me put it this way... it was so obvious even Bucket would have noticed.

I slowly got up, shifting my weight to see if I would be able to support my own weight. Feeling fine, I want outside with Austen following me. I led him over to the edge of the forest, for at least some privacy.

Once we were both settled, I looked at him, one eyebrow raised. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words came out. This is awkward...

Having enough of the silence, I speak. "Well? What did you want to talk about? I'm assuming it's about our conversation before..." I trailed off blushing at the thought of fainting in front of Austen.

Austen bites his lip and looks to the side. After a few seconds, he looks straight at me and speaks.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk about how I feel about you... and if you feel the same way about me." He says the last part staring right into my eyes.

"Okay then" I pause. "Talk." I gesture in a 'come on, hurry up' motion.

"Right! Ummm well as I told you before, I have feelings for you. I've actually had them for a while, since you almost hit Gobber with the catapult thing you invented a couple years ago. Anyway, I wanted to say something but I always feared the reactions from the other teens, and vikings in general. It's hard being the best young viking, a lot of weight is put on your shoulders. So I have feelings for you. what I want to know, is if you have feelings for me. Well I know you do thanks to Gobber, but I want to hear from your own mouth. Right now."

The first thing that comes to mind is SAY YES YOU DUMMY! but right before I can respond, I hear the tell tale sound of a wooden peg leg coming towards us and based on Austen's despaired look, I'm 99% sure who it is.

"Well lookie here. Two teens at the edge of the forest... alone." Gobber says, hinting at what he thinks is happening.

"Wha-No! That is NOT what was happening just now."

"I would hope not." Another, very recognizable voice says from behind me.

I whirl around and come face to face with not only Gobber, but my dad as well.

Well that explains Austen's look. I think to myself

"Hi dad! What are you doing here?" I ask

"Well we were-" Gobber cuts him off, explaining in a hurried tone.

"Looking for you! We need to discuss the other teens' punishments. Come along now." With that, grabs my wrist and starts pulling me away from Austen, with my father following behind us, chuckling.

"I'm sorry!" I call back to Austen, who is getting farther and farther away.

"We'll talk later." He calls back, his tone saying we would, whether or not I wanted to.

Then Gobber pulls me behind a house, hiding Austen from sight.