Escaping to You -Book I of the Journey Series

Chapter 21

===Hiccup===

Heather making dinner for us only meant one thing: Yak Chops!

My mouth was already watering the walk back to the house. But, food wasn't the only thing on my mind.

As I was competing earlier, all I saw were the worried faces of my girlfriend and best friends. They all held hands as they watched me compete and win event after event. I knew what they were thinking and I held my ground. I kept my mind focused and remembered Heather and the guys worried about me losing it. I held out with the thought that if I lost myself, I lose them. And it did the trick. I didn't get a big head and stayed myself.

Though it didn't stop me from putting Snotlout in his place and making him eat his words. A big ego won't get you anywhere, and I just proved it to him today. And that was enough to make me feel good and not gloat like I did years ago.

"How'd you do it: stay.... you?" Gobber asked me as we ate around the fire that night.

"I told myself that if lost myself if I let this feeling of winning and besting Snotlout get to me, I'd lose Heather and my best friends. And I'll continue to have that mindset tomorrow when I win the dragon games." I told him.

"And yet you still managed to best Snotlout in every banter he could throw at you?" Aaron asked.

"The guy was getting on my nerves. When it comes to competition, he has no sense of sportsmanship or humility. He keeps on boasting and gloating even when he lost. And what happened back there, that was me showinh restraint." I just said.

"That's good. And, I agree that Snotlout could be taken down a few notches earlier. We're just glad you're not a winning-hungry psycho like three years ago this time." Skylar said and everyone, including me, wholly agreed.

"Still, I'm a little worried that I'll snap tomorrow. Me and Toothless won the Dragon Games three years ago without even trying. There's no doubt that we'll win again, and I'm afraid I'll snap and it'll get to me and I'll lose myself again." I confessed to them.

"I understand your troubles, son. Just keep your mind at ease, clear your thoughts and focus on the competition." Stoick advised him.

"And if you ever need support, just look up to us. We'll all be there for you." Heather added with a hand on my shoulder and a kiss on my cheek.

"She's right, bro. We won't let you lose your cool to the feeling of winning." Nikolai agreed and Skylar and Aaron nodded.

"But, remember not to let Snotlout get to you. Take him down a few notches like you did earlier, but don't pummel him to the ground. Otherwise you'll end up just like him." Gobber warned me.

And I nodded, determined to keep my head on straight. Besides, Gobber's words about me turning into Snotlout if I let my head get too big is a good thing to remember tomorrow since it's one of my worst nightmares.

"Now, get some rest. You still have a big day ahead of you tomorrow." My dad said, and the five of us went to my room, bidding my dad and Gobber a quick goodnight.

A large fur mat replaced my bed so we can all sleep comfortably together. Heather lay next to me, Aaron on my other side, then Skylar, then Nikolai. All our dragons were outside, snuggled up together.

And I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, only feeling the exhaustion in my body from the competition then.

The next morning, I woke up before anyone else and decided to go for an early morning flight with Toothless. To try and clear my head and just enjoy the wind brushing past my face. To try and clear my head of this part of me that is aching to come out ever since Thawfest began.