Hiccstrid: An American Love Story

Chapter 53: Aftermath

"But I hate you" a tear ran down Hiccup's cheek as I said those 4 words. Saying it had made my heart break, it broke like glass hitting the floor. Everything inside me hurt as I shattered.

"Astrid please" I couldn't hold it back anymore. I cried like a glass overflowing.

"Hiccup" My voice was trembling as I couldn't control my feelings anymore.

"Please Astrid I love you" but those words meant nothing anymore. There was no more love between us anymore only pain.

The memory hunted me like a ghost from the past. Everywhere I turned I saw his face. I saw it at my parent's church, at the airport but worst of all his face was everywhere in Los Angeles. All the memories we had created in these streets felt like a novel. A novel about love and happy days, but the ending wasn't happy. The last chapter ripped my heart apart and left those memories blue and far away.

As I reached my apartment I didn't want to go inside. I couldn't walk into my kitchen without thinking about the bad food Hiccup and I cooked there. I couldn't look at my bed without thinking of the endless, sleepless nights we've had, talking about everything and nothing. I stand there for a second in my blue mom jeans and white sneakers collecting courage to go inside.

I unlocked the door only to be met with a flood of sadness. My bed looked empty, my kitchen felt blue the entire apartment was missing something. I put my bag down only to close the door behind me. I needed out.

I almost ran outside and it was only when I felt the air I could properly breathe. But I didn't cry. My eyes felt heavy and moist but I couldn't cry over something that wasn't real.

I begin to walk. Not quite sure where my legs are taking me but I know I have to keep moving otherwise I'll think of him.

My legs doesn't stop. I walk under the big oak trees that gives me a bit of shadow from the sun. There's almost no wind but it's not too hot. The sun's radiating heat is blocked by a few clouds. The weather is nice, perfect for a walk around the block. My feet move like they're programmed to do it. One foot in front of the other. I look down on the sidewalk, it moves under me as I walk.

When I look up again I notice I'm at the street I love the most. Maria St. The memories comes flushing in like a waterfall. All around I can see Hiccup and I dancing with the Maria street boys. We ran around like silhouettes laughing, talking and dancing. The memories moved around like a movie as I entered Maria St.

The image of us walking down the cobblestone road with the red houses and shops surrounding us. Like the Spanish version of a farmers market. As I walk I notice the bench we sat down on after buying ice cream. The outsiders call it the flower bench but the locals call it el banco del amor. I can only imagen us sitting there together enjoying a quiet moment before everything got so messy.

"Wait, what was the full name again?" Hiccup almost choked on his ice cream as I was giving him a history lesson.

"El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de los Angeles sobre el Rio Porciuncula." I said trying my best not to laugh.

"That was Los Angeles' full name?" I nodded as Hiccup looked surprised.

"Do you know what it means?" He asked curiously.

"The town of our lady queen of the angels on the Porciuncula River"  I said giving it my best royal Spanish accent. Hiccup chuckled before taking another lick of his ice cream.

"Good name for a city" he said. That was the full name of Los Angeles when it was first founded it's a little fun fact not many people know.

"I think it's a little short" I joked and Hiccup laughed.

"Los Angeles the city of Angels" Hiccup mumbles.

"You know, Astrid, a lot of people come to New York to pursue their dreams but there's even more here in LA" I looked at Hiccup's face as he gazed off looking at the life around us.

"Yeah and you hear about all the success stories but not about the fails. That's what keeps the spark alive" I responded and got Hiccup's attention.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well you know there's stories like Stoick Haddock's" the mention of that name made him almost choke on his ice cream.

"You know a Scottish young man with a dream that moves to LA and creates America's most successful company" I continued not noticing Hiccup's discomfort. He hid his face behind the blue scoop of ice cream as I kept on talking.

"Take Carlos as an example" I said. Carlos is a part of the Maria street singing group. That has claimed this street at their personal stage.

"He dreamt of being the next Daddy Yankee, but instead he ended up here a street singer. And yes he's happy and very talented, he's just not Daddy Yankee" I explained and Hiccup came out of hiding. He reflected for a moment before asking.

"But as long as you're happy it's okay to dream" he finally said after a few minutes.

"That's something us from Los Angeles is good at" I explained "everybody here has a job and a dream".

We sat in silence for a few more minutes but it wasn't awkward, it was nice. It was like the bench had intoxicated us and spread its love. Because we both, in that moment, felt bubbles of love floating around us like soap bubbles.
And the bench lived up to its name: el banco del amor.

I was now standing right infront of the bench but I didn't want to sit down. Because for me it wasn't a love bench anymore. Now it was just a memory. A memory that made a tear roll down my cheek.

The last two chapters has been filled with a lot of sorrow. A broken heart hurts and that's alright we're allowed to mourn and let the pain out. But the next chapter will be a bit more upbeat😉

Fun fact: this bench moment was supposed to be a part of their Maria Street date when they first met. Sadly, it made the chapter too long so I had to cut it out and now I finally had the opportunity to share it.

So now I have a question for you:
When should I release the next chapter?

Spoiler for next chapter:

"Babes My heels are on, makeup and I'm high as a kite. I am ready!"