Seasons of Youth (RotBTFD)

Winter ❆ Part 2

The cafeteria buzzes like it always does during lunch, only this time, more. The school is very excited about the upcoming ball and people just can't stop talking about it.

Hiccup, Jack, Merida, Rapunzel, Hiro and Kristoff are at their usual table when a couple of girls pass by, whispering and giggling among themselves, glancing Jack's way. Rapunzel notices the girl's little waves and promptly questions her friend:

"Who are you asking?"

"What?", Jack turns back to her, clearly lost.

"To the ball", she rolls her eyes, "Every girl in school wants to know who you're asking to the ball"

"Oh", he distractedly chews on his gooey lunch. The ladies from the kitchen had prepared a specially chewy menu for today.

"I wouldn't say every girl", Merida chuckles, "But still, I'd say this is a big question that has been asked around lately"

"No one."

Everyone at the table turns to him.

"What?", he stares back at them, "I have other plans."

Shaking heads and laughing lightly, they each turn to their lunch. Jack would always be Jack.

Soon after, Moana and Anna join them, carrying their own traits and looking suspiciously at the food. Kristoff stiffens in his seat when Anna sits by his side.

"I'm not asking anyone either", Hiro shrugged, "This ball thing is silly"

"Well, I can't wait for it." Rapunzel states even though everyone already knew that, since she's always bringing it up.

"I think the whole asking someone thing is outdated", Moana says, "Why can't people just go and have fun? What's the deal with pairing and having to be someone's date...?"

"Finally someone said it!", Merida agrees, across from her, on the other side of the table. "Us girls need no man to have fun."

"Absolutely!", Moana fists the table top, "Hey, Meri, we should go together!"

"Heck yeah", Merida raises her hand and Moana high fives her.

"Well, I might tag along with you, girls", Anna smiles, but Rapunzel thinks she sees a bit of sadness in her eyes.

"No one has asked you yet?", Rapunzel asks carefully, shooting an angry look at Kristoff - who was staring at his lunch - from the corner of her eyes.

"Nope", Anna smiles again, trying to hide her disappointment.

Rapunzel kicks Kristoff under the table and he jumps.

"Do you wanna go with me?", he blurts out.

Anna blinks at him for a moment and, then, beams.

"Sure, that'd be nice"

"You're going with your college boyfriend?" Merida asks Rapunzel.

"Yes", she grins, "Since the ball is opened for family members and friends, Flynn's allowed to come"

Hiccup shifts his attention from the conversation to the cafeteria entrance, where he sees Astrid coming in. He really wants to ask her, but he's sure she shares the same opinion as Merida and Hiro, about the ball being a stupid thing. Would she get mad if I asked her?

The line of thought dies as soon as he sees Jorgenson standing in front of her. Out of Hiccup's earshot, Jorgenson asks her something. Hiccup is pretty sure he knows what the question is. Jorgenson didn't hide well the fact that he crushed hard on Astrid.