Troublemaker

Part 7: Homework

Hiccup stepped out of the car, looking back at the slick silver vehicle behind him as he followed Jack around to the front of the building. "We live on the second floor," Jack explained dryly as he made his way along the short cobblestone path and through the black iron fence that separated the tiny want-to-be backyard and garden from the line of shops that ran down main street.

The snowy-haired boy paused for a moment, his crystal eyes glancing back at Hiccup as he pulled out a key to unlock the gate and let the taller boy past him. Once past, Hiccup looked up at the shop. His eyes met a relatively ordinary, red brick building.The store appeared diminutive on the outside, especially when Hiccup noticed how crammed with stuff it looked through the tall arching windows that faced the street. It was an older store, and was tightly fitted between two other just as ancient brick buildings. The only thing separating them was the alleyway the boys had come from, which appeared like a crack between the wall of buildings dividing the streets. Without a reason to enter the shop, Hiccup would have assumed it to be exceptionally unexceptional.

"C',mon Hiccup," Jack said as he grabbed the sleeve of Hiccup's earthy-green sweater and tugged the beanpole of a boy along as they entered the shop.

For how utterly unimpressive the outside was, the inside of the store was something else entirely. The walls were wooden, with the age of the structure resonating in their presence. They were fixed with a red finish that made the space glow with a warm hue. The tiled ceiling reflected the color from the golden carpet that ran the span of the space, except for a section of floor that was raised with equally warm wooden panels towards the back of the structure. The small rise lead to what Hiccup assumed to be one or two office spaces, hidden behind blurred glass.

In any other place Hiccup might have thought the colors were ill-planned, but in the store they felt almost homey. The shop's interior was cozy, and gave off a strange aura of mysticism along with comfort. Hiccup thought it curious how cluttered the place had appeared from the street.

"Hey Haddock," Jack sighed, knocking the boy lightly to regain his attention. "We can work upstairs if you want, or do you want to meander?" Jack spoke with a smirk plastered across his thin lips, although Hiccup wondered if the offer was serious. He could tell from Jack's demeanor toward the store, that this was a soft-spot for the otherwise ostentatious boy.

"It's a nice place." Hiccup shrugged, glancing down towards the other boy before turning his attention back to the store.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to tell North." Jack replied with a laugh, trying to brush away the compliment.

"North?"

"Oh. Yeah, sorry. North is my Dad -Well, adopted dad I guess- He took me in after... When I was really young."

"Oh," Hiccup repeated. The brunette ran a hand through his hair awkwardly, not sure how to continue.

"It's alright Hiccup," Jack said, raising his brow. "Really, it is. Don't worry about it." Hiccup suddenly felt a hand on his own. Jack had taken it and began pulling the younger boy along behind him, leaving the conversation where they'd stood. "Now," Jack sighed. "Can we finally do your stupid homework?"

"Right," Hiccup sighed with a smirked. That is why we're here, right? He quizzed silently.

The pair were almost to the twisting staircase that led upstairs, when Jack stopped. Turning slightly when he saw something from the corner of his eye.

"Jamie, Sophie?" Jack hollard, as he searched and quickly met the eyes of two younger kids. A smile lit up Jack's face upon seeing them. Jamie -a brown-haired, easily excitable middle-school aged boy- and his sister Sophie -a much younger, but more outgoing small blonde-haired girl- sat behind the counter. Jamie held a book which was no doubt something about the supernatural.