HTTYD: You Don't Know the Meaning of "Nice"? (Hiccstrid)

Chapter 8

Astrid's P.O.V.

"She lives in my building. She was living alone, told me she was living with her boyfriend but I have yet to meet him," Hiccup says and I shrink back into the chair.

"And the jobs?" Principal asks.

"Do I have to answer that honestly?" Hiccup asks and the adult nods. He then mumbles something before Principal asks him to repeat himself. "I've been following her since her first day at school," Hiccup says more clearly. My eyes widen as I slowly turn my head toward him to stare.

"Explain yourself," Principal orders.

"I really only followed her in case something happened. This might be a fairly small town but we still have muggers. I only followed her to her job interviews, the store, and the vet. She didn't really go anywhere else," Hiccup says and I scoff. He didn't know about the beer, so that was good. So he really was a stalker.

"Astrid, your turn," Principal says.

"To leave?" I ask and he looks at me with the "Really?" look.

"Who was the woman that moved in with you," he asks. I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

"Sir, no offense, but I really don't think that's anyone's business, but my own," I tell him.

"And the jobs? How many do you have?"

"Again, that's my business," I say. He looks at Hiccup for the answer but he shrugs, meaning he had no idea. That had better be true.

"Are you unwilling to let us help you?"

"Yes, because it would be wasted on me. Use it on someone like Heather, I think her parents are going through a rough patch," I tell them.

"Astrid, when a student snaps at a teacher for asking about a note, we tend to think there is something going on," Principal says.

"Okay," I say, nodding.

"Would it make you feel better if Hiccup wasn't here?" he asks after a pause.

"Nope. Because you can't make me tell you anything. You can't make me do anything. Really the only thing you can do is suspend or expel me, and all that's gonna do is let me take on more shifts, and let me earn more money to help support my family," I tell him.

"Who are you trying to support?" he asks, "Your parents should be the ones doing the supporting."

"Okay, okay, fine. I had a child with my boyfriend and my dad gave us a year to get on our own feet. I'm taking so many jobs so that when the year is up, Lance and I can take care of Juli and give her the best life she could hope for. The woman that Hiccup saw move in with us was our babysitter...well, more like nanny. Until we can afford for me to take leave and care for Juli while Lance works," I lie, making up the story on the spot and impressing myself.

"You said your boyfriends name was Derek," Hiccup says.

"What does that tell you?" I ask, not looking at him.

"That you're a compulsive lier," he says.

"Aren't we all," I say, a small smile creeping on my face. That should tell them how much I don't want their help.

"Astrid, we will stay here as long as it takes-" I cut Principal off.

"Can't do that, I'm already late for work!" I snap, pointing my thumb at the door.

"Then you better hurry and provide some explanations," Hiccup says.

"She's my mother!" I shout, hitting my hands on Principal's desk. As he looks at me in shock at my outburst, I storm out of the office and jog down the steps of the school. I run to the Starbucks Cafe and put on my apron before my boss realizes I just got here. I turn around after tying it around my waist and freeze as I see my boss standing there, staring at me with crossed arms.

"Mind telling me why you're late?" he asks. He didn't look mad, but he didn't look happy either.

"M-My principal held me up at school," I tell him.

"Yeah, that guy can be stubborn," he chuckles, a smile creeping onto his face.

"Uh," I mumble, confused.

"Don't worry, I've been there. Just tell him what he wants to know, and you'll be on time next time," he tells me, patting my shoulder as he walks away.

Time Skip

Well, I finished my shifts at Starbucks and the engineer's and was now on my way to City Hall to hand in the paper work I was assigned to fill out. I hand it in at the reception desk and do a check in with the mayor, my boss, before walking back out, realizing that he knew an unusual amount of stuff about me. I storm into my apartment building when I see that Hiccup was in his car, parked outside, and staring at me. He gets out and runs after me.

"Astrid!" he calls and I walk faster up the stairs. "Astrid wait!" he says as I draw near my door. I'm about to put my key in the door but he blocks it with his hand before standing in front of me. I try to walk back down the hall but he grabs my beanie and pulls it off. My hand snaps toward my ear and covers it as I spin around to face him. I hold my other hand out for the hat.

"Gimme my hat please," I say, irritably.

"Why are you covering your ear?" he asks, pointing at my hand.

"It's cold," I tell him. He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me.

"Then how come when ever you fix it, you pull it down over just that ear?" he asks, pointing at my left ear that was covered by my hand.

"It's none of your business," I tell him and try to push past him to my apartment but he steps in front of me again. Before I can react, Hiccup's hand shoots toward my wrist and rips my hand from my ear, then he pins me to the wall. I turn my ear away from him, determined to not let him see. He looks at me with danger in his eye before slowly reaching for my cheek that was against the wall, making me close my eyes in fear. He places his index and middle finger tips on my away cheek and I try to fight him when he attempts to turn my head, but he was too strong. I hear him gasp quietly as he sees my hair weaving through the hole in my ear before joining the braid on my shoulder. He releases my cheek but doesn't let me move from the wall. Tears of anger and embarrassment sneak out of my closed eyes as I feel him staring at me. Memories were now flashing through my mind, reminding me that almost everything I've ever been told was a lye. Don't ask me why I had those memories, 'cause I have no idea. Hiccup's gaze was still boring into the top of my ear and I wished he would just let me go. I pull up my hood and stuff my hands in my pockets before tilting my head down, indicating that I won't talk and don't want to. But I guess he wouldn't have it because he tilted my chin back up to meet his eye.

"Get inside," he orders.

"W-what?" I ask.

"Get, inside," he repeats, his voice slightly rough.