The blonde swung around on her desk, he braided hair flicking every so casually over her shoulder as she did so. Hiccup just stared. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and he'd seen some stunning dragons in his time. She turned and glanced in his direction and Hiccup quickly tried to make it appear as if he hadn't been staring at her... again.

"Eeww! Astrid! I think Hiccup was staring at you again!" The blonde next to her said laughing at Hiccup. Astrid smiled slightly and turned back to the other girls sat with her.

"Please, Astrid wouldn't go for that." The ebony haired Heather said smirking. Hiccup sighed, it was true. Astrid was the most popular girl in the school and boys had been chasing her since they were seven, including Hiccup's cousin Snotlout, who was far better looking than Hiccup according to everyone. Astrid had never paid Snotlout or any other boy much attention. But if she wasn't interested in any of the 'real men-like boys' why would she be into Hiccup? Sure Hiccup was the son of their leader... and sure he trained dragons... but he was a scrawny little nerd and no one liked that. Fishlegs, one of Snotlout's friends was the only nerd that group accepted. The group was divided into male and females as well but they all hung out together and made Hiccup's life a living hell. It consisted of his cousin, Snotlout, Fishlegs, the resident nerd, Tuffnut, the joker and his sister Ruffnut, who was Astrid's best friend, Astrid, a stunning beauty with a fiery personality and Heather, she was a bit sneaky but no one could deny she was stunning. And then you had Hiccup.

He stared down at his desk and tried to pretend he couldn't hear what was being said.

"Hey babe, what's happening?" Snotlout said snaking an arm around Astrid. She glared and shoved his arm away.

"What have I told you about calling me that? No one calls me 'babe' and no one ever will."

"Yeah, and besides, she's with someone remember Snotlout?" Ruff laughed

"Not my fault she turned her nose up at this."

"Eurgh." Astrid groaned

"When she's got him what does she need you for? He's so much sexier." Heather said smiling at Astrid. Hiccup sank further in his seat and began doodling on a scrap of paper as he listened. He'd forgotten Astrid's new boyfriend. He was a year or two above them in school and very popular.

"Can we stop discussing this please?" Astrid said casually playing with her braid

"Did you guys finish the assignment for chemistry?" Fishlegs asked nervously "I think I've done enough but I mean, I'm not totally sure..."

"Fishlegs, just because we're done discussing Astrid's love life does not mean we want to discuss assignments." Tuffnut groaned. "And yes, I've done it. Pretty well too I think."

"Same. If he can do it I can." Ruff smirked, Heather nodded as did Snotlout.

"Yeah I did it..." Astrid began

"But?"

"But you know... Nothing. Forget it." She snapped as Gobber walked in to take the register. Hiccup sighed again, chemistry and the sciences and maths too was not Astrid's strong suit. When it came to physical combat she was amazing, but the logical subjects often had her stumped. Hiccup knew he could help her but she'd never accept it. She'd barely even look at him let alone let him help her.

"Morning you lot. Settle down then, I want to check you're all here and then send you on your way as quick as I can. So just sit still and shut up." Gobber bellowed. He was a fun teacher... if a little unconventional. Hiccup was used to him as Gobber had been in his life as a carer for as long as Hiccup could remember. Gobber did a very quick register and then dismissed them all.

"Gobber am I alright to come down and do some more work in the 'forge' after school?" Hiccup asked. The 'Forge' was the name Gobber gave to his metal work rooms, a separate building where Gobber practically ran his side bar business of being a blacksmith. Hiccup had been trained as a blacksmith for years, mostly to keep him occupied. But he found it a useful tool for relieving stress, and in a high school there was plenty of that.

"Sure you are Hiccup. Oh and Astrid, you're ok to use the gym late. They said it was alright, but let me know when you're done so I can lock up. Oh and Hiccup, another thing, Hilda asked if you'd be alright to clear up the library after school as she has to leave early and it's a mess."

"Yeah sure." Hiccup said, he didn't mind. He could get some work done and it was better than going home and listening to his father grumble all night. He'd just take Toothless, his Night Fury, out for a late flight.

The day passed fairly uneventfully for the most part... then it reached the lunch break.

"You bitch!" A voice shrieked down the corridor. Hiccup froze as he walked onto the scene, clutching his text books. Astrid was standing in front of Heather and looked ready to commit murder. "You're supposed to be my friend!"

"I am Astrid, I am your friend."

"Friends do not hook up with their friend's boyfriend!" Astrid hissed. Shit... Hiccup thought. Astrid was tough and rarely showed emotion but when she was angry, you knew about it.

"Oh please, you didn't really like him that much. You've been together for a few weeks now and never kissed, you wouldn't even hold hands or hug him. And you certainly weren't going to put out..."

"You absolute bitch! How dare you... I can't believe you! I swear when I get my hands on you..." But then Gobber arrived and pulled Astrid away from Heather. Astrid then promptly ran off and no one saw her for the rest of the day.

No one, except Hiccup that is.

He was putting books back in the library late that evening after he'd been down in the Forge, when he noticed one of the desk lamps was still on and a figure sat hunched over the desk, their head in their arms. He wandered closer cautiously and instantly recognised the blonde braid that belonged to Astrid, that and her combat boots and torn up jeans. Her head was buried in her arms and Hiccup could see sheets of homework and assignments laid beneath her. Taking a deep breath he gently placed a hand on her shoulder as he put the armful of books down.

"Hey, Astrid er... Are, are you alright?" He asked softly, she didn't respond but he heard her sniff slightly and realised she must have been crying. "Umm," He tried to think of something to say to make her feel better but his brain was fried. He couldn't think of anything at all. Then he noticed her math's homework and the equations she'd clearly been struggling with. The only thing he could think to do or say was to correct it and explain it as he did so.

"So yeah... Umm, I uh, I hope you're ok. And well, I hope that helps. Ok." He picked up the books again and began to walk away.

"Am I just an idiot?" Hiccup heard her ask quietly as he walked away. She raised her head and stared at her hands. Hiccup's heart began beating faster; she'd barely ever spoken to him. "I mean, was I completely stupid to trust her? To trust him?" Hiccup's throat had gone dry; he couldn't seem to get the words out. "Who am I kidding? I'm so stupid. All I can do is throw a punch. I can't do anything else right. I chose to be friends with a girl who flirts with every guy she meets... to go out with a guy two years older than me who everyone knows has done the dirty with any girl he wants... I can't get higher than a D in pretty much any of my subjects... I'm just completely stupid." Her head dipped again and Hiccup finally managed to find some words.

"You're not an idiot." He said quietly, almost afraid to be heard.

"What?" She said looking up and at him, though his back was still turned.

"You're not an idiot." He said a little more firmly, turning around to face her. "You deserve better than him, someone who will treat you with respect, and someone who really cares about you. You deserve to be with someone who makes you want to do all that romantic stuff like holding hands and kissing at sunset. You deserve better friends than Heather. You were right, no friend would do what she did. You're better off without her." She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. "And you are not stupid, so what if you can't get maths or science so easily? It'll come in time, and you can always ask for help. You're brilliant, and strong and beautiful. Don't listen to those people that tell you you're not because they're lying. You're an amazing dragon trainer, and very talented. You're seriously tough and that's good. You're beautiful and perfect as you are. If someone can't see that, well... they're not worth your time." And then blushing furiously Hiccup turned away and hurried to put the books back and leave.

He had just grabbed his satchel when Astrid stepped in front of him; her blue eyes were wide and slightly glassy. She had a look of slight disbelief on her face still, but there was a trace of a very small smile at the corners of her mouth. Hiccup looked away nervously and went to walk out of the door but Astrid grabbed hold of his top and pulled him to her, kissing him briefly on the cheek and hurrying away herself. In that moment, Hiccup truly thought he had died and gone to Valhalla.