Behind the mask

Unintended friend

Astrid stared through the window as her father drove her home. The wiper was smearing sleet across the windshield and the evening was looking dark and miserable. Really, she would have wanted to stay but Snotlout was incredibly irritating and she knew her parents would get mad if they found out. She had dodged enough trouble with the party and she had learned to choose her battles: an evening being pestered by Snotlout just wasn't worth the effort.

Her father had been quietly pleased she had been responsible and she smiled. She loved her parents, despite their unrealistic expectations and she wondered how Hiccup had gotten on visiting his Mom. It struck her as weird that his mother wouldn't even worry that he had gone missing...and then she reminded herself that she knew nothing really about his home life. She could only judge him on how he behaved with her parents-and it was very different to the sarcastic boy from school.

Clambering out of the car, she grinned at her Mom and dumped her bag. "Sorry-its me," she said with a smile. "Guess I've ruined your plans for this evening..." Ingrid looked at her husband.

"We were going to go out but we were waiting for Hiccup to come back," she admitted. Astrid started.

"He's not back?" she asked, her blue eyes worried. "He went out early..." Martin Hofferson scowled. He wanted to know the outcome of the visit because he wasn't at all keen on keeping the boy in his home. He was hoping the absence was because Hiccup was safely home with his family...but he accepted the boy would probably let his daughter know if he wasn't coming back.

"I'm sure he'll turn up," he said, casting his wife a look.

"You guys go out," Astrid said. "I'll feed the dogs and relax in front of the TV..."

"Don't forget the tests coming up in a week!" Martin said sternly. "You can't slacken off now..."

"Martin!" Ingrid said reprovingly. "For Thor's sake. It's Saturday night!"

"Harvard Law won't drop their standards because my daughter wants a night off..."

"Even though I was at a sleep-over?" Astrid sighed. He kissed her cheek.

"I just want what's best for you," he said, handing Ingrid her coat. "We'll be back by eleven!"

"Have a good time!" she called, frustrated but forcing a smile. She waved as their car pulled out and groaned once she had closed the door. After dumping her bag in her room, she heard her phone ring: it was Cami and she opened Skype.

"Hey, sister...look what we're up to!" the girl grinned, panning her phone round to show the others entwined in s game of Twister.

"That had to be Ruff's idea!" Astrid smirked.

"Actually, it was Heather's...you know those blue eyes she likes...they belong to Fishlegs!"

"No way!"

"Very much way!" Cami winked. "Snotlout is consoling himself by drinking and trying to win. Eret's totally thrashing him as well."

"Poor Snottykins! Not his day!" Astrid smiled.

"Can I quote you on that?" Cami teased her.

"You're a dead woman if you do!" Astrid threatened her and Cami burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay...I could see you really weren't happy when he turned up...I am actually sorry," she admitted with a sigh. "You know if never do anything to hurt you."