(A/N: Hiccstrid is RTTE age here.)

Even though her headphones were blasting music loudly, she still heard the students riot echoing through the halls during break. Everything from slight fights where teachers had to interfere to gossip spreading like wildfire throughout the college.

Minding her own business, she reached her locker without being stopped by someone wanting to talk to her, - thank god, she really wasn't in the mood for that - and changed books for the next class.

Lingering slightly longer than normally at her locker, she took one last look at her cat before closing it. Having a picture of Stormfly at school always made her feel better when she was anxious about something.

She saw a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye and she turned to see Hiccup walking past her. She called out his name but he failed to hear her and continued walking. She walked after him, wanting to chat on their way to class (he was the only exception when Astrid didn't feel like talking) but someone bumped into him and a slightly crinkled paper slid out from his folder and landed on the floor.

She wondered how he didn't notice but went to pick it up to give it to him. One word caught her eye though and she froze in her spot.

Suicide.

Words and sentences like, "clean out locker," - "sorting," - "write farewell letter," - "call parents," were written on the paper. She had no idea what some single words meant. One sentence made her heart skip a beat and then start pumping rapidly. "Gather courage and confess to Astrid beforehand."

Her legs started trembling under her and she quickly pocketed the paper and set off after the boy when the bell rang.

Her mind was racing on her way to class. She didn't know Hiccup that well. They went to kindergarten together and had been neighbors when they were younger but then his father became the mayor and they moved to the other side of town and she hadn't seen him until they started college a few months back.

He had seen her struggling during math class and had offered to help her and they had hung out a few times since but she was no where near close friends with him. That hadn't stopped the feelings coming though. She had caught a liking on him and finding out what he would do broke her heart.

Reaching biology, she walked inside and scanned the room for him, - they only had math and biology together - and she found him sitting alone at the last table in the back. She slid into the chair next to his and greeted him with a big smile while taking off her headphones and putting them away.

"Hey," he said quietly, waiting for the teacher to arrive. Astrid noticed the tone in his voice and turned towards him. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged and looked at her for a second. "Just a mild migraine," he replied and looked forward again. Astrid nodded slowly. "I can give you a painkiller if you want it," she said and pulled a pack out of her bag. He considered it for a moment before nodding.

Astrid smiled as she gave him one and handed him her water bottle. Hiccup thanked her, his mood definitely off. Her stomach knotted itself and she felt so bad for him. All she wanted to do was to pull him into a hug and stay there for as long as possible but she couldn't.

She hesitated but put her hand on his back and rubbed it slowly in a circle. He sighed with content and a small smile made its way onto her lips.

"I was thinking," she said, not sure what she was going to say but her mouth was doing the talking instead, "if you feel better after school, maybe we can go to the coffee shop down the road and pet some cats?" She asked, and looked at him, hopeful.

Hiccup smiled softly and looked at her. "I'd love that," he said gazed into her eyes, not looking away.

Astrid smiled and nodded happily, not breaking the gaze.

They both jumped when the teacher suddenly entered the classroom and said, "Good afternoon, class!"

•••

The last bell finally rang, announcing the time was finally 4:30 PM and that school was over for today. Thank the gods, satan and everything in-between that it was Friday and that weekend was here.

Astrid had agreed with Hiccup that they'd meet in the parking lot outside the school. She was told to look for a big black car.

Scratching her head, her eyes searched through the parking lot for a big black car and found...15. How was she ever going to find which one it would be?

"Boo!"

"Ahh!" Astrid jumped and turned around to see none other than Hiccup behind her, snickering at her. "You-!" She began and softly slapped his chest.

Hiccup chuckled at her before settling down. "Can't find the car, huh?" He asked with a smile. "No, I can't. There's too many," Astrid said and gestured at all the cars in the parking lot.

Hiccup shook his head with a smile and walked away. She stood there for a second before her mind registered that she should follow him.

Doing that for a minute or two, he suddenly came to a halt and stood beside a car slightly taller than him. "Get in," he said as he unlocked the car and got in. "Woof," she said, obeying his order and getting in.

"Oh no, a big black van, I'm gone get kidnapped," She joked as she put her seatbelt on. "Astrid, this is an SUV," Hiccup corrected her with a smile.

"Same thing," she said with a smile and a shrug and Hiccup just shook his head. Pulling out of the space, he started to drive slowly out of the parking lot.

"What happened to your other car? You had a blue one last time you came over to my place," Astrid asked and looked at him, observing his mood and watching him drive.

"Too many things broke at once in that old 89' Corolla and my dad literally said, "Fuck that," and we got it crushed. He bought himself a newer car and passed this one down to me. I'm not complaining though," He said with a smile as he ran one of his hands down the steering wheel without turning it.

"Oh. Well, I get what you mean, this is a luxury car if you compare it to your old one," Astrid said, not taking her eye off of him for one moment.

He only nodded in agreement, eyes on the road.

•••

The shopkeepers bell rang above them when they opened the door and the smell of coffee, hot chocolate, sweets and cats hit their nose the second they stepped in.

"Thank you, gentleman," Astrid said with a smile, thanking Hiccup for holding the door open for her. "You're welcome, M'lady," he said, playing along.

They were greeted by the barista behind the desk and placed their orders, - two cappuccino with extra chocolate and cinnamon. Taking their mugs, they went into the lounge area and sat down on a sofa, barely a feet of distance between them.

The silence was awkward at first but after a few minutes and a few laughs at some playful cats, they loosened up and Astrid settled into the sofa, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

Hiccup sighed beside her, taking a sip of his coffee. Astrid looked over at him, observing him. "What are you thinking about?" She asked, heart pounding.

She wanted to somehow mention the stuff that were written on the piece of paper but she had no idea how she was going to begin-

"-ve you."

"Huh? What?" She asked, shaking her head to snap herself out of her thoughts.

"Never mind. Forget it," Hiccup said and shook his head, grabbing his coffee that now somehow stood on the table in front of them and stood up, about to walk away.

Astrid had to think fast or he'd disappear, - maybe for good.

She grabbed his wrist and tugged at it, stopping him in his tracks. He looked back down at her and saw her concerned expression.

Astrid guided him down onto the sofa once again and scooted closer to him, looking at him for a moment before she let go of his wrist and wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him into a loose hug.

He tensed for a second before his body melted into hers. The hand he held his coffee in wrapped around her back and squeezed her tightly, burying his face onto her neck, breathing heavily.

If now wasn't the right moment, it never will be.

"You dropped a paper this morning," Astrid whispered softly. He tensed slightly once again before settling, moving and placing his chin on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," He apologized in the softest voice ever. Astrid shook her head. "No need to be sorry," she started and pulled back softly, putting her coffee on the table. "You're going through something I don't understand right now but I promise you, I'll try my hardest and if you let me, I can try to help and we can get through this together."

Hiccup lifted his eyes from his mug to her eyes and a small smile tugged its way onto his lips. He nodded slowly, reassuring her that he'll let her help him.

"Thank you, Astrid."

She nodded and leaned in, placing a small kiss on his cheek, looking forward to a brighter future.