A Chance Meeting

Chapter 14

"Merry Christmas!" Ruff said, pulling me into a hug. I was grateful for every interaction I had with Ruff now and this was no exception. You really didn't know what you had until you lost it; I was just lucky enough to be given a second chance.

"Merry Christmas to you too." I said cheerfully, "Come on in." Ruff and Tuff were wearing matching ugly Christmas sweaters that their parents had sent them as a gag joke. I hadn't heard anything from my dad since that last phone call, but at least my mother didn't hate me. I had been really hoping he'd call me last night, as sort of an early Christmas gift. But no, reality never goes the way you hope it would.

"You good there?" Ruff asked with furrowed brows.

"Yeah," I dismissed, "Just a little tired, that's all." She dropped the subject but I could feel her eyes where still on me when I turned my back to talk to her brother. I hadn't told her about my family problems yet; I didn't want to ruin the Christmas mood, especially on Christmas Day. I'd promised myself I would talk to her about it tomorrow so that she could give some advice and not feel replaced by Hiccup.

Fishlegs showed up about ten minutes later; something about having to finish some project or something. He brought a rectangular present that was about the length of my arm and about half as tall.

"Wow, that's one massive gift. It better be for me." Fishlegs laughed a littly awkwardly.

"It's actually mainly for Hiccup," He said and Hiccup's eyes bugged out, "But if all goes according to plan, everyone should be able to use it."

"Oh well," I sighed, "Put it with the others under the tree and we'll open after Breakfast." Yes, I caved and Hiccup and I got a real tree. Yes, there couldn't have been more than ten trees in the entire lot. And yes, Hiccup took an entire hour before finally deciding on the perfect tree. I still couldn't believe I caved.

Hiccup and I were making omelets when there was another knock at the door. Ruff yelled that she would get it, even though we could've heard her if she whispered it; it was an apartment not a mansion.

"You must be Hazel." I heard her say and I immediately dropped what I was doing to go say hi. Hazel was wearing blue jeans, a red and green pullover, and her warmest smile. She'd been ecstatic when I'd invited her over for this get together; her parents lived overseas and she couldn't afford to go home for the holidays.

"I'm so glad you could make it!" I pulled her into a hug, "It's so weird seeing you without an apron on."

"I almost left the bakery this morning with it on, actually," Hazel said before reaching into a little stuffsack that she'd brought with her and taking out tiny little presents. "I realize it's early in the morning, but I made you all miniature apple-pies."

Before I could even register what had happened, Tuffnut had swooped in, taken a pie, and shoved it down his throat.

"Oh wow," He said with his mouth full of food, "These are amazing!" Little chunks of crust flew everywhere as he spoke.

"You'll have to excuse my pig of a brother," Ruff said, smacking his brother upside the head before taking her own pie present.

"As my twin, that also makes you a pig," Tuff grumbled, rubbing his head.

Ruff smacked him again.

It was funny and a classic interaction between the twins, but something felt off. Just slightly. It wasn't Ruff or Tuff, though. It wasn't Hazel, either. she wasn't what felt off.

I glanced over into the kitchen, where Hiccup and Fishlegs where almost finished making breakfast for everyone. Fishlegs must've said something funny because Hiccup smiled, but it was off. it didn't quite reach his eyes. Something was on his shoulders, something he was trying to hide from the rest of us.