A Chance Meeting

Chapter 8

"Hiccup?"

No one spoke for a solid minute. Hiccup was staring at 'Fishlegs', and he was staring right back. I was going back and forth, not fully comprehending how they could possibly know each other. This city wasn't massive, but there are thousands and thousands of people here.

Finnian basically shoved right by me and threw his arms around an astonished Hiccup. His mouth was slightly open before he gingerly put his arms around Finnian as well.

"What, are you friends with Astrid's buddy as well?" Ruff came down from one of the side hallways. She was wearing a moss-green cotton long sleeve with a deep purple cardigan that rested just below her hips. Her hair was tied up in her

When neither of them answered, Ruff stomped her foot. "This is ridiculous, now he's stolen my boyfriend, too."

Finnian snapped out of the trance at Ruff's outburst, although his words lacked the same energy.

"We-we went to high school together." Finnian spoke softly, like he'd just come in contact with a ghost. "I haven't seen him in years."

"I can't believe this." Ruff groaned. "Why don't you just replace me entirely, Hiccup was it?"

Hiccup finally tore his eyes off of his childhood friend and looked at the other person in the room. "I'm so sorry about ignoring you, I just didn't expect to see..." He pointed towards Finnian. "Him here. My name is Hiccup, which you already knew... umm, it's nice to meet you."

This was the first time I'd ever seen Hiccup fumble with his words. I could see the gears turning in his head, but all he could seem to focus on was Finnian. Deciding that it'd be best if I helped him out, I very gently smacked him on the back of his head.

Hiccup let out a little yelp, but held out his hand as a peace offering. Ruff looked at like she was considering biting it, but thankfully she ended up just shaking it.

"Now that everyone knows each other, can we come in?" Finnian motioned for Hiccup and I to come in and there was a slight tingling in my spine as I crossed the threshold. Whatever happened in here would change everything.

It took everything I had in me not to figure out just how much Hiccup and Finnian knew each other. Why weren't they still in contact? Why didn't Hiccup try and stay at Finnian's apartment when he was homeless? Or did he, only for Finnian to reject him?

Focus, I told myself. One messed up relationship at a time.

"Alright Finnian, spill." Ruff, on the other hand, had no such restraint. Her arms were crossed and there was a hard edge to her eyes.

He tried to start, but fumbled with his words every time. His hands were waving all over the place to try and convey what his brain could not.

"He and I went to high school together." He finally said. Ruff huffed and nodded impatiently.

"Yes, you said that earlier. What else?"

"Hiccup was the person I was talking about when I tried to get you guys to agree to meet up. We used to be inseparable, the two of us. I still can't believe I'm seeing again, and that apparently he was homeless?" He turned towards Hiccup. "What happened?"

Hiccup shrugged shyly. "It just kind of happened. I couldn't find a job and then I couldn't afford my apartment."

"But what about Val? Surely your mom would never turn you down if you needed somewhere to stay while you tried to get back on your feet?"

"She's in the hospital. Most of my money has gone into making sure that she's as comfortable as she can be." Finnian's jaw dropped, like it literally hung open. I could see his uvula.