Things Do Get Better (HTTYD Modern AU)

A New Friendship

Throughout the rest of the school week, I couldn't stop thinking about my talk with Astrid, especially with her inviting me for some revision. I started to have doubts. Like, I felt like it was all a joke. There was no way a girl like her would actually do that to me. Me, of all people! She was fine with Fishlegs, why add me to the equation?! I was so panicking that I even thought about not going.

But if it was real, that she wasn't joking, do I really want to throw that away? A chance to actually hang with other people? A chance... to have friends? (outside of Toothless, of course). It was a risk and I knew it was. Events, gossip and rumours spread like wildfire at school if it went wrong.

But... one of the most important advice that I was giving was 'if you have the opportunity to do something incredible, do it. Because you'll never know if that same opportunity will happen again.' Therefore, with that advice in my head, I decided I would join Astrid and Fishlegs with their revision.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So, Saturday came by and I was walking down the street with a phone in my right hand, looking at the notes I made to get to Astrid's house, and a leash in my left hand, with a happy Toothless on it. By this time, I had him for about 3 months, and he was already getting big enough that my dad was considering moving to a bigger house, but I told him it would be fine.

Anyway, with a few wrong turns, we finally arrived at her front door. I was surprised to find out that her house was only a few streets away from mine.

I then crouched down to get to Toothless' level. "OK, bud. Now, like I said, this is someone else's house and you have to be on your best behaviour. Got it?"

Toothless sat down and gave a bark at me. I smiled and rubbed his head (that meant he understood me). I got up and was now facing the door. This was it. No turning back.

"Don't embarrass yourself, Hiccup." I said to myself before taking a deep breath and pressing the doorbell. I stood there for about 30 seconds before the door opened.

"Hey! You made it." greeted Astrid. It was the first time I saw her wearing something other than her uniform, wearing a light blue t-shirt, red skirt and dark blue leggings. I felt like time had stopped when I saw her. But luckily, I didn't look like an idiot (I hope).

"Hi, Astrid." I greeted back. Just as I did, Toothless barked as well, which made me laugh.

"Oh yeah. Astrid, this is Toothless." I introduced him to her. She waved at him, but he just looked at her, unsure about what to make of her. "He's still getting used to things."

She chuckled. "I understand, don't worry. Anyway, come in." She led me inside, along with Toothless.

"So, where are your parents?" I asked, weirdly afraid to ask, just in case it was a sensitive subject.

"My mum is in the living room and my dad went to work." she explained.

"Ah, so she knows about... this?"

"Of course! I'm not going to go behind their backs." she proclaimed. After I took off my shoes and Toothless' leach, she led us upstairs, reaching the top. We then went into her room, where I met Fishlegs.

He is a pretty big guy, with short blonde hair, black glasses and being about a year younger than me. He was sitting at her desk, wearing a brown hoodie and playing his pug dog.

"Oh, hey Astrid." he greeted. He saw me and waved at me. "Hi. You're Hiccup, right?"

"Umm... yeah, that's me." This was the first time we spoke to each other, so after that initial greeting, we didn't say anything else. Astrid then processed to sit on her bed, where all her books and work were located. After much thinking, I decided to sit on the floor. However, Toothless seemed to really like the bed, for he jumped on it.