Fate~ Hiccstrid Modern

Chapter 5: Caring

When I finally came to, all I could see was white. For a moment I thought that I was in empty space, but someone else was with me.

"Astrid," Hiccup called. "come here."

Hiccup was wearing a white dress shirt that was rolled up to the elbows, dress pants neatly pressed, and black, newly polished, dress shoes.

I walked over to him where I was standing in front of him. Hiccup took my waist and pulled me forward to where our bodies touched.

"You look beautiful, Astrid. Like always," Hiccup whispered to me, even though no one was around us.

I looked down with a deep blush when I realized I was wearing a light blue dress that went to the floor.

Hiccup took my left cheek in his right hand and my face to look at his. Icy blue met forest green with an explosion. The emotion within those green irises could not be properly defined. The way he was looking at me, made me feel as though I was the most important person in the world to him. That Hiccup Haddock loves me. Without realizing it, both Hiccup and I have been leaning in for something more intimate than what friends should do. But before our lips met for that sweet kiss, everything was taken by a white light.

I awake in a white room lying on an uncomfortable bed. The hospital. I looked around me and noticed a certain auburn hair boy asleep on a chair next to my bed with his head on the bed next to my hand.

I giggle and run my fingers through his hair. Hiccup takes a deep breath and faces his face towards me with his eyes still closed. I hold back a giggle by biting my lip. While I was running my hands through his hair, I took in my surroundings. Next to Hiccup was a table full of his homework and mine on the side. How long have I been here?

While I was trying to figure out my 'time' problem, Hiccup stirs next to me and opens his eyes. His forest green eyes. When he notices that I'm awake, his eyes widen and he calls for the doctor. The doctor comes in with a clipboard in his hands.

"Miss Hofferson, how are you feeling today?" the doctor asks.

"Fine except my head hurts a little."

He smiles. "That's good. It's only natural that you have a headache after a major bone injury."

My brain waves jumped. "A major injury?!"

"Yes, Miss Hofferson."

I was so confused. "How did that happen?" I asked.

"Astrid," Hiccup spoke up. "what do you remember last?"

I think for a little while. "We were in practice and getting ready to scrimmage," I answered.

Hiccup and Dr. Jackson, as I can see from his name tag, shared a look. Soon, Dr. Jackson left the room with Hiccup and I alone.

Hiccup took his original seat and rubbed the back of his neck. "While the scrimmage was in play, you went up for a spike. While you were in the air, Drew pushed you out of the way to hit the ball herself. You fell and broke your ankle which caused you to fall and shatter your knee."

I can remember now. The pain, the tears on my face, the gentle hand that held mine; I could remember it all like it happened two seconds ago. I stayed quiet.

"If it makes you feel better, Drew got kicked out of school. She won't be the class flirt anymore. Who do you think it might be next?" Hiccup said, trying to cheer me up. And I can't say that it wasn't working.

I smiled. "Oh, I don't know, but I placed my bet on Rachel in your art class."

Hiccup faked a surprised look. "What makes you think that?" he says sarcastically.

Rachel, being a redhead with a nice figure and surprisingly well with a steady hand, would constantly find a way to get close to Hiccup. She used to be grabby with him before I came and put her in her place. AKA told her off and threatened her to tell her strict, rich parents.

I let out a laugh. "I don't know," I teased back. "Why would I?"

Hiccup snorted. "Yeah, I think you're right."

After a while, Hiccup and I laughed so hard it hurt to breathe. By that time, I learned I was in the hospital for three days and would have to be in a wheelchair until my leg healed, through physical therapy, and was able to walk again. Oh, and I learned that there are metal pins in my ankle that would have to stay there forever because of the compound fracture.

So, here I am. Rolling down the parking lot with Hiccup by my side to take me home. Then a question occurred to me. "Hey, Hiccup?"

"Yes, Astrid?" Hiccup asks from behind me.

"How am I going to fit in your car?" I asked.

"Don't worry," he says mischievously. "I know what to do."

I am down on my left leg that has a shattered knee and a compound fractured ankle.

"Don't get all gloomy because you can't play anymore. You'll find something better," Hiccup says with an encouraging tone.

"No, that's not what I was thinking."

Hiccup frowned. "Then what is it?"

I sighed. " I have always taken care of myself. Now, I have to ask for help to get a bowl of cereal."

He laughed. "It won't be like that for your whole life. Just eighteen months and then you can walk and run to your heart's desires."

I laughed. "Yeah, but I can't jump and do volleyball ever again. Which is kind of funny because I asked for that." While checking out of the hospital, the doctor told us that I would never be able to play volleyball again because of my injuries.

"Really?" Hiccup asked. "Why?"

"I didn't want to be on that snobby team anymore," I replied. "I didn't want to be one of those jocks. I wanted to sit on the sidelines with you."

When I said that, we had just gotten to Hiccup's black truck. Hiccup turned the chair around so that I could face him. "I'm glad that you and I can be together on the sidelines while cracking up on one of my stupid jokes or what dumb thing the twins do at lunch. But you should also know that you'll have to get used to people taking care of you because I am going to be doing that for the next six months because your parents are gone on their business trip that you forgot to tell me about."

I blushed from embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry about that. And what do you mean by 'you're going to take care of me?'"

Hiccup gave me his famous lop-sided grin. "Guess who's your housemate for six months."

My jaw dropped.

~

Cover Art: by wild_turtle_art on Instagram

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