When We Meet Again

Chapter 26: Realisation

A week later, Heather had been moved to a room of her own and didn't require her gas mask or wires anymore. Slowly, she made progress in her physical and mental health, becoming more and more lively although she remained confined within white walls. Seeing her friends and brother everyday kept her spirits high as they constantly showered her with affection and words of encouragement whenever she felt down or lacking confidence in herself. Dagur being the most caring brother stayed by her side all through the day and only left when doctors or nurses told him to step out of the room so they could perform the regular checkups.

The best part was having Ruffnut and Fishlegs spill everything about Hiccup and Astrid's interactions each day whenever the auburn boy was engaged in a distracting conversation with Dagur and Astrid checked on Heather's progress with Dr Mala. She couldn't help but smirk even when they just shared a greeting each day. Watching them hug when she first woke up was all she needed to know that her ship was getting ready to leave the docks. Heather wanted to confront Astrid so badly, but whenever she was about to, Hiccup would show up. She didn't want to say anything in front of him in case either of them overreact.

Her moment finally came when Astrid arrived early on a Thursday, meaning the two girls had more than an hour of alone (with Dagur) time. She watched as the blonde girl dumped her bag on the ground and pulled out her laptop before taking a seat right next to her and placing the laptop as if the bed were a table. She huffed in annoyance as she brushed strands of hair from her face and pushed up her glasses. Ever since the museum trip, Astrid occasionally wore her glasses to school, which Heather suspected was for a certain someone.

"Butowski is a literal pain in the ass," Astrid wailed as she slammed her face into Heather's mattress with a 'ugh' growling out her throat. Dagur who was sitting on a small couch reading a book glanced at her for a moment and turned back before snorting to himself.

"Have you even learnt her first name?" Heather asked as she laughed.

Astrid merely shrugged. "Like as if I care. If you want to know go ask Hiccup. You know, now that I'm talking to him she seriously won't leave me alone without threats. I'm not afraid of her anyway, she just scares people with her words, like as if those noodle arms of hers are going to drill my head into a brick wall," she stated factually.

Heather continued laughing at Astrid's displeased expression as the girl grumbled while typing her homework. She watched her best friend slump over the keyboard and groan in frustration occasionally as she complained about being tired. Heather just giggled while Dagur shook his head with a smile, knowing Astrid hadn't changed ever since they he first met her as a little girl.

"So Astrid," he started as he flipped a page. Both girls across the room turned to face him. "How are you and Hiccup?"

Dagur's question caught her by surprise as her eyes widened and cheeks flushed bright pink. "F-fine," she stuttered before clearing her throat. "Why?"

"Oh no reason, just happy to see you two getting together again."

"Uhm excuse me but we aren't won't be together. Just friends," Astrid stated firmly as Dagur rose a brow. "We broke up and nothing will ever occur between us again."

"Oh really? It seems you still have an eye for him though, I can tell and compare your body language to that of when you guys were dating in high school. Yup, I'd say you're very much in love," Dagur grinned to himself as Heather suppressed a giggle behind Astrid.

"Oh? What about your thing for your sister's doctor, what's her name... Mala?" Astrid snapped, making Dagur freeze and grumble as he focused all his attention back on his book.

Heather rolled her eyes. "Come on Ast! We all know you do love Hiccup, and Dagur is right."

"Don't make me comment about you and Fred now," Astrid growled.

"And I'm not afraid of that, unlike that big chicken who seems to know how to read." Heather sat up and scooted nearer to Astrid. "Girl, stop living in denial to this. Everyone knows you two are made for each other ever since you were a couple in high school, even some teachers shipped you guys."

"He broke us up Heather, you were there. Clearly he doesn't have feelings for me anymore and I don't in return, you're just reading both him and me wrongly."

"Oh boy we know we aren't," Dagur piped up but immediately held in his next statement when Astrid glared.

Heather sighed. "Just... think about it. We know you better than anyone else, sometimes better than yourself."

At that moment, Hiccup entered the room with his sling bag and a box in his arms, grinning at everyone. His eyes settled on Astrid slumped over Heather's bed and smiled to himself, not noticing Dagur and Heather's shared smirk, with all his focus on the blonde beauty in the room. He walked over to her side and tapped her shoulder, making her look up with a face that showed she had been in deep thought.

"Hey Ast," Hiccup said excitedly. "Look what I got, your favourite doughnuts."

Astrid glanced at the doughnuts and then back at him who had the dorky grin she knew he only had when he was in love, the grin he gave her whenever they went on dates or just had fun in middle and high school. Never to anyone else, not even Heather, his only other friend. She melted at the sight of his genuine happiness, his eyes shimmering as he gazed at her. Astrid felt a smile and blush slowly creep onto her face before she stopped herself. She started panicking. Swiftly she packed her laptop and notes back into her bag while a now confused Hiccup watched.

"I... I just realised I had something to attend to," she blurted out quickly as she made her way to the door.

"Wait, Astrid, have some doughnuts!" Hiccup called out.

"It's fine, you guys can have them all. I'm sorry."

As she slammed the door, Hiccup quickly turned to the redhead on the couch with fear in his eyes and his fingers turning cold. "Was it something I did or said?"

Astrid ran a few blocks away from the hospital before stopping to catch her breath. Her mind was whirling from thoughts, particularly all her recent interactions with her lanky and undeniably adorable ex-boyfriend. She was afraid of herself, afraid of him. She was afraid of loving him and didn't want to experience a déjà vu of their breakup. But she knew it was too late.

That dorky idiot was in love with her, again, and she too had fallen for him, again.