Biology

Chapter 14

Explaining where he had been and why he hadn't gone to school that day to his father had been difficult and more than a little full of awkwardness and lies. North hadn't believed pretty much anything he'd said, which mostly had to do with the multiple dark hickeys that marred his neck.

When asked about them, Jack had just shuffled and avoided North's eyes, and between his refusal to tell his dad anything about where he'd disappeared to and who he had been with—because he had obviously been with someone—North had eventually gotten angry.

Normally a cheerful, jolly man, his temper could be a little scary when it eventually did show itself. Jack counted himself lucky when, after some brief shouting, he was simply escorted to his room and grounded for the rest of the week. His father had headed down the stairs then, muttering to himself the entire time.

To say he wasn't used to Jack getting into trouble or being rebellious was an understatement.

Jack, for his part, just flopped on his bed and blew out a harsh breath. Then he sat back up and plucked his cell phone from the bedside table. Chewing on his lip, he considered for a long moment before scrolling through his contacts and opening up a text window.

[sent] My Dad grounded me.

He hesitated before hitting send. He had only just managed to finally get Hiccup's phone number before coming home an hour ago—which, really, was kind of pathetic considering how long they had known each other—and, really, was it stupid for him to be texting the other boy already? Eventually he sent the message anyway, cheeks flushing even though no one else was there to see.

It took a whole minute and a half before his phone chirped at him, vibrating in his hand.

[rec] But he didn't take your cell?

Jack frowned. [sent] I've never been grounded before. I don't think he even thought of my phone.

Hiccup's amusement was practically palpable in his response: [rec] Amateur.

[sent] Shut up. This is your fault.

[rec] You need to loosen up a little.

[sent] Do not.

[rec] Do too.

[sent] Do not.

There was a bit of a pause, then: [rec] I'm still coming over later.

Jack rolled his eyes. [sent] I just told you I'm grounded.

[rec] See you tonight.

A short hesitation before: [sent] See you tonight.

Had he really thought that him being grounded would keep Hiccup from climbing through his window every night? Jack set his cell down on the end table again and resolved to keep busy for the next couple hours until Hiccup showed up.

In the end he reorganized his bookcase, pulling everything out and stacking the books around the room, going through them carefully before deciding to set things up alphabetically by series and author. It took longer to do so than he had anticipated, the time passing without him noticing until it was late and dark outside.

He was concentrating so hard on replacing the books on the shelves that he didn't hear the scuffling sounds on the wall outside or the window opening quietly. In fact, he didn't even notice Hiccup approaching until arms slid around him from behind, making him jump and barely stifle a startled shout.

"Hey, shit, quiet!"

"S-sorry!" Jack had dropped the books in his hands and glanced toward the door, worried that his father had heard them hit the ground. But when a couple of minutes passed and North didn't knock on the door, he relaxed again.