Behind the mask

Going soft?

Astrid found herself looking out for Hiccup on Monday morning-while, of course, trying not to look as if she was watching for him. Cami, Ruff and Heather were full of tales from the party and Heather was profusely apologetic that she had left Astrid alone to go to the bathroom. Cami had almost got off with Dagur but he had upped and left shortly after Astrid left, apparently in a bad mood...and Ruff was absolutely furious that one of her friends had been attacked at the party. She was looking out for Dogsbreath to give him a piece of her mind...though Astrid had wryly noted he wouldn't know what to do with it.

"So how did you get away?" Cami asked carefully and Astrid huffed. She didn't really want to think back to that terrifying experience but she nodded.

"Not much to say," she shrugged. "I was being dragged into Tuff's bedroom by Dogsbreath and I was completely unable to get free. And then a student burst into the room and hit him with a chair. He grabbed me and we climbed out the bathroom window and he...he walked me home."

"Details, sis," Ruff urged her. "Though that explains why the bathroom door was kicked in! Who was this hero?"

"I-I...didn't recognise him," Astrid murmured coyly. "Maybe he was a junior?"

"No, details!" Ruff insisted. "Descriptions! Names! Was he hot?" Astrid blushed, recalling her brief inspection of Hiccup in her bedroom. "Ohhh..." Ruff teased her and the embarrassed blonde swatted at her.

"He was...well, a bit skinny but pretty light on his feet, brownish hair, kinda cute..." she muttered. Cami and Heather shared a look.

"Oh. My. Gods!" Cami giggled. "Astrid is blushing. I do believing she's crushing on her hero!"

"AM NOT!" she snapped, her eyes sparkling. "Look, it was really horrible and frightening and this guy bursts in and saves me! And I'm just...grateful because he came when no one else did..." Her glare silenced the others and there were mumbled apologies, but she could see Cami and Ruff sharing a look and knew she wouldn't hear the end of this...

...and then Hiccup walked past, his head down and shoulders hunched, bag slung over one casually. HIs dark auburn hair was ruffled from the fairly strong breeze and his cheeks were reddened. His emerald eyes flicked up...to meet Astrid's and for a second she considered what to do...

...and then she smiled and nodded to him. He gave a tiny nod in reply and then looked away, continuing on his way to whispers and sneers. Heather stared at her in astonishment.

"Did you just smile at Hiccup Haddock?" she asked and Astrid started. She nodded. "Why?" her friend asked her. Astrid turned to her locker, fished out what she needed for her first couple of classes and slammed it closed.

"Because of something my Mom said to me which I think is very true," she said thoughtfully. "He's a human being and no one is all bad!"

"Uh, hello? Hiccup Haddock we're speaking about?" Ruff reminded her snarkily. "I think he may be totally completely all bad!" Astrid sighed.

"Or he may have things going on in his life the we don't know anything about," she added.

"Wait...are you going soft on us, sister?" Cami asked her fiercely.

"No, I'm acting like an adult," she retorted. "There are more than enough idiots who are shouting at and gossiping about him. Even his friends think he's rolled on him. When he looked at me, it cost nothing to smile...but it might make his day better." Heather stared at her...and then nodded.

"That's why you're President," she murmured with a mildly impressed look, staring after the tall, hunched shape. "But I seriously doubt a smile will make his day any better..."