Touch My Heart

Chapter 42

Astrid found her way to Kristoff's house. She didn't even know how she got there, but after she had left Eret in anger, she had just walked on auto-walk. Her legs had taken her to the one place where she had always felt the safest, and that wasn't home.

Kristoff had always been a source of comfort and safety for Astrid. She needed the safety and comfort right now. She needed someone to tell her she was right to make the mistake she did. She couldn't go to Hiccup, he would only rub in her face. He did try and warn her, and she didn't listen.

Why didn't she listen to him?

Astrid sighed as she lightly knocked on the door to Kristoff's house. She hoped that he would open the door for her, there would be no reason for him to not though. Astrid smiled when she heard the muffled sound of his footfalls coming down the stairs inside his house. Kristoff opened the door quickly to reveal himself to Astrid.

"Hey Kristoff." Astrid greeted, but he looked less than pleased to see her right now. When his expression didn't change into a smile when he saw Astrid at his door, Astrid felt her heart drop. "I'm interrupting something, aren't I?" She asked guiltily.

"Yeah, yeah... But what's up? I can spare a couple of seconds for you..." Kristoff admitted, but his rugged hair and unbuttoned shirt told Astrid that he really didn't have a second to spare. He didn't have the time for her anymore.

"No... No, you don't..." Astrid whispered quietly as she stepped away from his door and away from his house.

"Astrid! Wait!" Kristoff tried calling out, but Astrid was already walking away.

"You're busy Kristoff... I'll just talk to someone who actually has time to spare for me!" Astrid yelled back, her anger and sadness now taking over her emotions. Kristoff's expression softened as Astrid disappeared down the street, away from his house.

He couldn't believe he had pushed away his friend away from him, but he had been waiting for this moment for years. His dream girl was waiting for him in his room, and for once he wanted to be selfish. But he didn't realise how guilty his selfishness would make him feel...

Astrid walked away from Kristoff's house, the tears she had held back were beginning to fall and Astrid tried her best to wipe them away and leave no evidence. But when one tear fell, more and more followed. She couldn't help it. The reality of the situation she was in hit her like a ton of bricks and she knew she couldn't turn back.

"I rejected Hiccup, I was objectified by Eret, my friend prefers his new girlfriend over me and... I was almost raped by Spitelout..." Astrid sobbed as she walked down the street, her whispers were lost in the wind as she continued to wipe her tears dry. "The world just hates me..." Her final words were stolen from her mouth as a sudden gust of wind silenced her words and soon she found herself standing in front of Hiccup's house.

But something wasn't right.

There, on the doorstep to his house, was Hiccup. His head was buried in his hands and his body clearly heaving as though he was crying. What was he doing?

"Hiccup?!" Astrid screamed over the strong breeze that had picked up. She was just thankful that it wasn't raining, as is the stereotype.

Hiccup looked up from his hands and wiped his face to see Astrid more clearly. He couldn't smile at her. Astrid approached and sat beside him, rubbing a hand on his back to calm him down. It appeared to work slightly.

"What's wrong? What are you doing out here in the freezing cold wind?" Astrid asked, worry clearly evident in her voice as she edged closer and felt his body shiver slightly from the cold, and the wind.

"It's m-my p-parents.... They..." Hiccup took a deep breath before he looked over towards Astrid, her face was full of sympathy and worry. It warmed Hiccup's heart to know that someone was there for him, in this moment. "There was an accident...." Hiccup managed to say, Astrid's expression softened, afraid of what she will hear next. "My mother, she.... She didn't... Make it...." Hiccup choked out. The tears in his eyes had over-whelmed him to the extent they had closed up his throat and caused his words to lodge themselves in his throat. Astrid felt her resolve crumble at his words.