In Another Lifetime

Chapter 25 - Swimming

They gathered their swimsuits and towels for their double swimming session. In the boy's dormitory, Hiccup and Jack were getting increasingly nervous, Hiccup particuarly. Jack knew he was flustered because a blush was creeping up his neck and into his cheeks as he got his stuff ready.

"What's up?"

Hiccup shook his head and rolled up his towel. Jack turned Hiccup to face him and gave him the just tell me look.

"Look!" Hiccup suddenly burst out, throwing his towel onto his bed, "I've never seen Merida in less than jeans! Now we're going straight to swimming costumes?"

"Bikinis actually," Jack corrected.

"Not helping!" Hiccup cried. "I'm just scared I'll screw up! Again!"

"It's going to be fine!" Jack patted his back, "You don't think I'm as nervous as you are? We're both in pretty bad situations here!"

"I see what you mean," Hiccup sighed, running his fingers through his hair, "but you're good with girls. You can talk to them. Have you seen me around Merida? She takes my breath away! She's just got this hair -"

"Fuzzball hair -"

"And those eyes -"

"Nothing on Rapunzel's -"

"And her smile!"

"Not as charming as my beautiful smolder." Jack pretented to pout over Hiccup's shoulder and Hiccup threw his towel at him, grinning.

"Not helping my current situation Jack!" Jack continued to pull faces and parade around their room, draping a towel over his head to resemble hair -

"Oh look at me Ah'm Merida an' Ah love yeh Hiccup Ah love yeh so very much and Ah hae the most AMAZIN' eyes and hair and Ah LOVE yeh -"

"Shut up!" Hiccup laughed at Jack's attempt to do a Scottish accent and threw a pillow at him. Jack caught it and chucked it back, hitting Hiccup squarely in the chest.

"And he's DOWN! It's ugly Jack versus Vikings, enemies again -"

They continued to whack each other round the head with their pillows until they heard a knock on their door. Hiccup ran to the door and opened it, still grinning widely. His jaw dropped.

Merida was standing there in a pair of pretty short shorts and a t shirt. She'd always worn hoodies and jeans - this was a pretty abrupt change. Her legs looked creamy and were sprinkled with freckles, her arms were long, graceful and were clutching her towel. He wasn't even aware he was staring until Merida snapped her fingers.

"Hiccup! We're late already! Get Jack, we're going now."

"Yeah - s, sure!"

Hiccup retreated hastily into the dormitory and looked at Jack in panic.

"What?"

"Merida! Just - Merida!"

"What now?"

"She - woah..."

"She's not even in her bikini yet!"

"I know! That's the problem! She's pretty enough to make me hyperventilate already - so what happens when -"

"HICCUP!" Jack silenced him quickly. "You are already going out with her! She likes you already. Get a grip!"

Hiccup picked up his swimwear quickly and they both left the dormitory, a flush creeping up Hiccup's neck and into his cheeks as they met the girls. Hiccup kept his eyes down and didn't look at Merida or Rapunzel or Jack's grinning face. He didn't even speak until they got to the pool to go and get changed.