The next day the group found themselves hanging out at Heather's place, switching between playing video games and just hanging out. Heather's parents' house was cozy and filled with a laid-back atmosphere. The friends sprawled across the living room, engrossed in video games, snacks, and casual conversations. Dagur and Mala had even come to visit along with their little boy, Einar.

"So Heather how's life? I heard you got a new job, teaching kids how to stay alive at the beach. Must be fun," Dagur said, finishing off his can of beer.

Heather grinned, taking a sip of her own drink. "Yeah, it's a blast! I'm a lifeguard now, and I get to teach kids water safety and basic survival skills. It's so rewarding to see them learn and have fun at the same time."

Mala nodded, watching Einar play with some toys on the floor. "That sounds amazing. Einar loves the water too, maybe we should bring him to one of your classes sometime."

Heather's eyes lit up at the idea. "Absolutely! I would gladly spend a week on the beach with my nephew. Anyway, are you guys going to come to dinner with us tonight? I'm sure Mom and Dad would love to watch Einar."

"I'm sure we can make it work; where are you planning on going," Mala asked, pulling out a Post-it note to write down the details.

Heather thought for a moment, glancing around at her friends. "How about that new seafood place down by the pier? I've heard great things about it, and I've been craving some good seafood."

Dagur and Mala exchanged glances, and after a brief discussion, Dagur nodded. "Sounds good to us! We're in for some seafood. What time should we meet up?"

Heather checked her watch. "Let's aim for 7:00 pm. That should give us enough time to wrap up here and freshen up a bit before heading out."

"Perfect. We'll be there," Mala said, finishing writing down the details on the Post-it note. Einar, having overheard the conversation, looked up with excitement, unaware that he would not be joining his parents for dinner tonight.

As the day continued Astrid and Heather had wandered off to the kitchen in hopes of having a little gossip without the others hearing. Astrid leaned against the counter while Heather placed a sheet of cookies in the oven, he playful smirk on her face.

"So, do you have a boyfriend," the blonde asked, giving Heather the famous 'I won't stop pestering you until you talk' look.

Heather chuckled, glancing at Astrid with a sly smile. "Oh, come on, Astrid. You know I don't have time for a boyfriend with my crazy schedule at the beach. Lifeguarding, teaching, and all that jazz. Besides, who needs a boyfriend when you have great friends like you guys to hang out with?"

Astrid raised an eyebrow, not buying Heather's deflection. "Uh-huh, sure. I've seen the way you look at some of the guys on the beach. Don't tell me you're not interested."

Heather blushed slightly, playfully nudging Astrid. "Okay, fine. Maybe there's a guy that I work with that is super attractive. But we haven't even hung out outside of work so go telling everyone I'm seeing someone."

Astrid grinned, teasingly nudging Heather back. "Well, well, well, a secret crush, huh? You better spill the details, Heather. We're best friends."

Heather laughed, closing the oven and turning to face Astrid. "Alright, alright. His name is Bodhi, and he's one of the surf instructors at the beach. We've talked a few times, and he's really cool. But seriously, it's nothing serious. Just a little crush, you know?"

Unbeknownst to them Fishlegs had been walking past and heard what they were talking about it. Upon hearing that Heather liked someone else he could feel his mind racing with insecure thoughts.

Fishlegs couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment upon overhearing Heather's crush. He continued walking past the kitchen, trying to shake off the sudden wave of insecurity that washed over him. As he rejoined the group in the living room, he found himself lost in his thoughts, contemplating whether he should address his feelings with Heather or keep them to himself.

Later that evening the gang was back at the hotel getting ready for their night out and Ruffnut was making it more difficult than it needed to be by being indecisive.

"What do you think Snotlout, should I do this shirt?" Snotlout felt like his head was going to explode, they had been at this for nearly forty minutes now.

Sighing, Snotlout got up from his bed and walked over to Ruffnut. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her closer to him and whispered into her ear. "You look great in everything and it's making it very difficult to control myself."

Ruffnut chuckled at Snotlout's response, playfully pushing him away. "Smooth, Jorgenson, real smooth. But seriously, I need your opinion on the shirt."

Snotlout rolled his eyes, giving her a once-over. "You always look good, Ruff. Just pick something so we can get going. I'm hungry, and I'm pretty sure everyone else is too."

Ruffnut grinned, finally deciding on a shirt. "Fine, fine. Let's go before Tuff gets hangry and starts a riot."

The group gathered in the hotel lobby, ready for their night out. As they made their way to the seafood restaurant near the pier, the excitement in the air was palpable. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they strolled along the beachside, the sound of waves crashing in the background.

The seafood place, named Ocean Breeze: Catch & Grill, had a warm, inviting atmosphere, and the aroma of delicious dishes wafted through the air as they entered. They were quickly seated at a large table, and the friends settled in for an enjoyable evening.

"Good evening everyone. My name is Surina and I'll be your server today. Can I start you guys off with any drinks?" A young girl with a long ponytail greeted, a warm smile on her face. Aside from Mala and Heather, who had to work tomorrow, everyone ordered some kind of alcoholic drink. Surina took their drink orders, jotting them down on her notepad with a smile. As she walked away to fetch their drinks, the friends began perusing the menu, discussing their preferences and sharing recommendations.

As they waited for their food, the friends engaged in animated conversations, reminiscing about old adventures and sharing anecdotes. The mood was light, and the laughter echoed through the restaurant.

Surina returned with their drinks, skillfully balancing the tray. She distributed them with a friendly smile, wishing them an enjoyable evening. The clinking of glasses and a collective cheer filled the air as they raised their drinks for a toast.

"To good friends, good food, and good times!" Dagur declared, and the group clinked their glasses together before taking celebratory sips.

The food arrived, a colorful array of dishes that looked almost too good to eat. Plates of shrimp scampi, grilled salmon, lobster tails, and various other seafood delicacies were placed in the center of the table. The friends eagerly dug in, passing dishes around and savoring each bite.

The evening progressed with lively conversations, laughter, and the shared enjoyment of delicious seafood. As the night wore on, Surina checked in on the group, ensuring they were satisfied with their meals and offering dessert options.

The group all exchanged stories about their respective lives, with the occasional laugh at Snotlout's expenses. The friends reveled in the warmth of each other's company, creating memories that would linger long after the night was over.

Meanwhile, Fishlegs found himself torn between enjoying the evening and grappling with his feelings for Heather. He stole glances in her direction, captivated by the way she seemed to glow when she really let down her walls and let people see the real her.

As the night continued, Fishlegs couldn't shake the internal struggle within him. The laughter around the table and the camaraderie of the group created a vibrant atmosphere, but his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Heather and her crush on Bodhi.

He decided to take a moment alone, excusing himself from the table under the pretext of using the restroom. As he strolled along the pier, he gazed out at the moonlit ocean, contemplating the best way to address his feelings.

Back at the table, the rest of the group was thoroughly enjoying the evening. Ruffnut and Tuffnut engaged in a playful argument over who could eat more shrimp, while Astrid and Hiccup shared an intimate moment, lost in their own world.

Snotlout, ever the attention seeker, decided to entertain the group with his exaggerated tales of heroic deeds, much to the amusement of everyone. Dagur and Mala exchanged fond glances, grateful for the chance to unwind and spend quality time with their friends.

Heather, oblivious to Fishlegs' internal turmoil, was engrossed in the lively conversations around her. She laughed wholeheartedly, sharing anecdotes from her lifeguarding adventures and beach escapades.

As the night unfolded, Fishlegs returned to the table, his mind still wrestling with conflicting emotions. The group, unaware of his internal struggle, welcomed him back with smiles and continued the merriment.

Surina approached the table to offer dessert options, and the friends decided to indulge in a variety of sweet treats. As they savored the desserts and shared bites with each other, the atmosphere remained light and cheerful.

Eventually, the night drew to a close, and the group left the restaurant with satisfied smiles and full stomachs. They strolled along the pier, enjoying the cool ocean breeze and the rhythmic sound of the waves.

Heather turned to the group, her eyes sparkling with contentment. "Thanks, everyone, for a fantastic night. It's been so much fun, and I'm glad we could all get together like this."

As they reached the end of the pier, the group paused to take in the view of the moonlit ocean. The sound of laughter and distant waves filled the air, creating a peaceful moment of unity among friends.

Astrid leaned against the railing, glancing at Heather with a knowing smile. "So, spill the beans. How do you really feel about Bodhi?"

Heather blushed, playfully nudging Astrid. "Oh, come on. It's just a little crush. Nothing serious."

Astrid raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with the others who had gathered around. "Well, we'll see about that. Maybe you should invite him to the next hangout."

Heather chuckled, realizing her friends weren't about to let the topic go. "Fine, fine. I'll think about it. But enough about me. How's everyone else doing in the romance department?"

Snotlout wrapped an arm around Ruffnut, a smug look on his face. "Well, I finally got myself a girlfriend."

"Okay, Mr. Loverboy, no need to brag," Ruffnut replied teasingly. The group laughed and continued sharing updates on their lives, relationships, and everything in between as they walked back to the hotel.

In the hotel lobby Heather, Dagur, and Mala bid the others goodnight before heading back to Bjornsson household. As the friends dispersed to their respective rooms, Fishlegs found himself lingering in the lobby, watching as Heather happily walked home unaware of the turmoil he was going through.

Fishlegs sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. He couldn't deny the genuine happiness he felt for his friends, but the ache in his chest persisted. As he headed to his room, he couldn't shake the need to address his feelings with Heather.

The next day, the group decided to spend a relaxing day at the beach. They gathered their beach essentials and headed to the sandy shores, ready for a day of sun, surf, and sandcastles.

As the group set up their towels one of the lifeguards approached them, a friendly smile on his face. "Well, good morning everyone. I just wanted to inform you that we are providing a marine life class to children today so the tidepools are off-limits until the afternoon. If you have any more questions my name's Bodhi and I'll be patrolling this section of the beach."

"Ah, so you're the guy Heather's been telling me about," Astrid said, a pleased expression on her face.

Bodhi let out a hearty laugh glancing over at the tidepools where Heather was instructing kids on what animals were safe to touch. "Hopefully all good things, I know how much she likes to hold grudges."

"Don't worry, she's been talking about how amazing you are," Astrid reassured, holding back her laughter. She was going to enjoy teasing Heather later.

Bodhi grinned, clearly flattered. "Well, I appreciate that. If you guys need anything or have questions about the marine life around here, feel free to ask. I'm here to help."

As the day unfolded, the group enjoyed the beach, playing volleyball, taking dips in the ocean, and building sandcastles. Heather, who was on break had joined the others for a picnic lunch engaging in a playful banter with Astrid as they teased each other about their relationships. The day eventually came to an end with the group of friends along with Bodhi deciding to attend the open-air concert that was happening in the market square, each eagerly awaiting something different from the night.