Things Do Get Better (HTTYD Modern AU)

The Love of My Life

I think it's about time we go forward in time, to about two years when I was 18 years old. I was now in sixth form, studying Physics, Maths and Further Maths since, like I said before, I wanted to become an engineer. At this point, my dad was slowly but surely accepting the fact that this was the career path I wanted. (he would still try to convince me occasionally).

I was in year 13, the year where you had to start applying for university. Honestly, that day was something I feared coming. Not because I didn't know what to choose (take a guess). But because I was afraid to be separated from Astrid.

For the past two years, out of all my friends, I definitely hanged out with Astrid the most. Before school, during break, during lunch, after school. Not a day went by where I wasn't with her. Because of this, my feelings for her changed. I no longer had a crush on her; I felt like I'd actually started to... fall in love with her. That I wanted to be with her. Which was why I was worried about us choosing our universities.

What if she chose a university that was far away from mine? What if she had to leave Berk to a different place to attend it? What if... she forgets about me? I might be sounding paranoid, but when you start to fall in love with someone for the first time, it seems like logic goes out the window. Plus, you have to understand where I was coming from.

Astrid was my first real friend. She didn't make fun of me; she didn't make me feel like nothing. She was there for me. But I was afraid she would forget about me and I didn't want that. I didn't want to lose her like that. And I wasn't going to let that happen.

So, this is what I did (and this will sound stupid). I would find out what universities she was thinking about applying. Then, I would search it to see if they offered engineering and add it to my choices. I'd visit the university, find out everything I could about it. I know it sounded desperate, and I'll admit, I was. I just didn't want to leave her, and I was willing; I was ready to submit them. I was willing to take this path.

Until she found out.

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

It was the weekend and I was in my room, sitting on my bed and doing some work on my laptop. Toothless was sleeping in his dog bed. I could hear him snoring, which made me smile as I worked. I then heard a knock on the main door. I didn't get up because I knew my dad, who was also in the house, would open the door. Which he did.

"Hello, Astrid. Nice to see you again." I froze when I heard my dad say that. I was surprised that she came over since she said the other day that she wouldn't be able to.

"Hiccup?!" my dad shouted.

"Still here!" I answered. Not long after, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." The door opened and I saw Astrid enter.

"Hey, Hiccup" she greeted before closing the door behind her.

"Hey, what's up?" I said. I moved up a bit, so that she could sit on the edge of my bed.

"Hey, where's your leg?" she asked. I looked at where she was pointing, seeing my left leg missing the prosthetic leg.

"Got cut off two years ago." I joked. She raised an eyebrow at me before we both laughed. At this point, I could joke about the experience with her and everyone else. Honestly, it helped me.

"Toothless took it to play with it. Now, he's asleep and I can't get it. So, I'm stuck here for a while." I explained.

"I can get it for you." she offered.

"No, it's OK. I don't want to wake him up." I assured her.

"OK, if you say so." she smiled.

"Anyway, how come you're here? I thought you couldn't." I asked. She then looked away from me, looking straight at the door. I was worried, so I put the laptop away.