Seasons of Youth (RotBTFD)

Fall ☁ Part 2

"Finally!", Merida groans, sitting down at the table with her tray, "This week could not've gone any slower"

"Thank heavens for Friday", Rapunzel agrees, pushing her vegetables to a corner in her plate.

"What are we doing this weekend?", Moana asks.

"I'm going home tomorrow morning.", Jack states with a bored voice. At the sight of everyone turning their heads in his direction with questioning looks, he continues "It's... It's my birthday. My family wants me to celebrate it with them. But I'll be back tomorrow night. Punzie, stop looking at me like that."

Rapunzel, whose face lit up at the mention of the word 'birthday', opens up her mouth to say something, but Hiccup interrupts her.

"What about you, Hiro, what are you doing this weekend?"

"I, uh... Dunno"

Rapunzel looks at Hiccup and he shakes his head slightly, hoping that she would catch his drift. Do not ask him about his birthday, just change the subject.

"Well," Rapunzel fills in the silence, forcing a fake smile "I think I'm going to the drive in with Eu- with Flynn. Anyone wanna come with? I think they'll be screening one of those old horror movies"

"Sounds fun", Merida says with her mouth full, "But I don't wanna be a third wheel. Anyone else coming?"

Moana, Astrid and Anna say something like "It could be fun" and "Yeah, I could come", meanwhile, Jack stares at his plate without eating anything, detached from the conversation around him.

"I should go pack", he gets up, abruptly.

"See you tomorrow, dude", Hiro calls after him, with a look of concern in his eyes.

The three girls continue some parallel conversation while Rapunzel, Hiro and Hiccup watch as Jack leaves the cafeteria, head hanging low.

"Okay", Rapunzel starts immediately after Jack is gone, "we should throw a surprise party for Jack."

"What?", Hiccup stares at her like she's from another planet.

Moana, Anna and Astrid stop mid conversation and turn to the others.

"Are you insane? Jack hates his birthday.", Hiccup continues.

"Why?", Hiro asks.

"He says growing old is not a reason to commemorate."

"Which is silly", Rapunzel counter, "and that's why we should do something nice."

"I think I'm with Hiccup on this one", Merida says from the other side of the table.

"Oh, come on, guys!", Rapunzel pleads, "Our friend is sad, he's going to have a bad day tomorrow, and, as friends, we should try to make him feel better."

"It's a nice thought, Punzie", Moana puts a hand on her roommate's shoulder. "I think it's always nice when people show us we are loved."

"We can tell him we aren't celebrating him getting older", Hiro suggests, "we're celebrating him being our friend."

The others seem to agree, and as much as Hiccup still feels like it might all go wrong, he too, admits it was a nice thought.

"Fine. Where and when are we throwing this party?"

- ☁ -

"Mrs Maudie!", Anna calls after her.

Mrs Maudie turns to see her rushing through the corridor.