(Three) Welcome to University

“Welcome to university.”

        The words sounded somewhat hollow—especially since Hiccup had said them to himself—nonetheless, the general idea was comforting.

        The building was big, with stone walls and arched doorways. It reminded Hiccup of some kind of cathedral. Big. And echo-y. Stony.

        The dorm was bigger than his old apartment. There was a dining table, kitchen, a bathroom, [miniature] living room and two bedrooms. Your average college dormitory.

        There was a girl sitting at the dining table when Hiccup walked in. The girl was popping gum, a tablet propped in front of her. When she heard Hiccup enter, she looked up and raised an eyebrow.

        “Hey.”

        “Um… hey.”

        “What’re you studying?” She made it sound like he was invading her personal space.

        “Oh… um, playwriting.”

        “Robotics.” The girl got up and stuck out her hand. “Leiko Tanaka, but call me GoGo. And you are?”

        Hiccup didn’t see how your name could go from Leiko to GoGo, but he shook her hand all the same. “Hiccup.”

        “Hm. Hiccup. Okay.”

        Silence.

        Then GoGo spoke again.

        “Now, listen to what I’m about to say, because you’re going to need to remember it—you have two other roommates. You’re going to be sharing a bedroom with Flynn Rider, who is studying film-acting. My roommate is Aiko Miyazaki, but call her Honey Lemon—everyone does. She’s studying chemistry and she’s a genius at it, so don’t get on her bad side.”

        “Oh—wow. Yeah… um… great.”

        “You and Flynn will get along. You’re both hard workers.”

        “Wait. How do you—? We’ve only just met…”

        Her eyes spoke more than her tongue; Don’t ask, just listen. “I know potential when I see it.”

        That was the first complicated thing he learned about his friend GoGo.

        It wasn’t his last.

        “Oh.” Hiccup’s eyes widened at her tone. He swallowed. “Right.”

        Silence.

        “Well.” GoGo raised her eyebrow—at Hiccup’s small, single suitcase. “You sure need help unpacking.”

        Hiccup managed a nervous laugh. “Yeah… I don’t bother with stuff other than what I really need.”

        “Like…?”

        “Well… books, the Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Edition DVD, textbooks… oh, you know.” His hand went to his pocket, where he was keeping his notebook. “Stuff.”

        GoGo didn’t react. She sat back down and continued scrolling whatever she was scrolling on her tablet. “So you’re writing a play?”

        “Well, I’m done with—you know—the writing, and all that.”

        “What’s it about?”

        “It’s about this girl who travels the world in sixty days,” Hiccup answered. “And she meets different people and sees different places… you know.”

        “Hm. Cool.”

        She didn’t sound coolified, per say, but he was grateful for the support—even if it was pretend.

        He needed it.

~*~

        Hiccup didn’t need to ask which room he would be staying in. The door on the right was scattered with pictures of GoGo and another girl, not to mention a picture of a chemistry beaker and a bicycle with enlarged eyes and… pink cheeks? Wow. A glass tube and a two-wheeler adorable-fied. What the heck, right?

        He was glad to be staying in the other bedroom. It only had one decoration; a picture of a film camera that read:

NOW ENTERING THE BEDROOM OF A FUTURE JAMES BOND.

In smaller letters:

AKA FLYNN RIDER

~*~

Classes were tough, but enjoyable. Well, maybe not math, since Hiccup stank rotten eggs at it and his teacher held a disturbingly striking resemblance to Ursula from The Little Mermaid, but he wasn’t complaining.

        Each time Hiccup walked into a classroom, he thought, I’ve made it this far. College, in a way, was a symbol of his strength. All his hard work had gotten him here. So he approached every lesson that day with enthusiasm.

        Okay, maybe not every lesson.

        Still, the journey wasn’t over yet. There were still songs and dances to complete, the script to perfect. Hiccup figured at the rate he was going, the play would be “finished” in around two weeks. He hoped the folks at Freedom High were patient.

~*~

Hiccup didn’t meet the famous Flynn Rider until he tornado-ed into their bedroom that evening, after classes.

        “Hellooo! Ohh… you must be my theater dude roommate.”

        Theater dude roommate?

        Well, okay then.

        “And you must be my movie dude roommate,” Hiccup shot back, with an awkward laugh.

        “Name’s Rider. Flynn Rider.” He shot out his hand, which Hiccup shook.

        “And I’m Hiccup.”

        “Hiccup?” Flynn's eyebrows arched.

        “I know… well, I should probably explain. My dad was a Viking-type guy. These Vikings thought horrible names would scare evil off.”

        “In that case…” Flynn hopped on his bed and put his arms behind his head. “…you’re completely protected.”

        Hiccup laughed sourly. “I am.”

        Now for the part where Flynn asked Hiccup what his play was about; unlike GoGo, he seemed to show actual interest in it. He didn’t go farther than asking an occasional question, but he seemed to be really listening.

        When Hiccup was finished explaining, Flynn actually stood up and applauded. It was a little strange to the playwright, since it was only the plot, but he realized it was genuine. It warmed his heart a bit.

        “That—” Flynn pointed at Hiccup— “Is gonna be a beyond-awesome play.”

        “Well, thanks,” Hiccup muttered in his awkward little way. “I’m glad you think so.”

        “Think so? Oh, no no no no no. My good sir, I know that this is going to reach Broadway before you can say jalapeno!”

        “… jalapeno?”

        “Um—yeah.” Flynn’s shoulders slumped. He’d obviously been expecting a bigger reaction.

        “Really, though. Thanks again, Flynn.” Hiccup sat himself at his desk and turned on the lamp to tackle his homework. “I really appreciate it.”

        “Hey. No sweat, right? We’re going to be great friends.” Flynn grabbed a magazine starting leafing through the pages.

        “Definitely.”

(A/N): This chapter is dedicated to @FrostyThePenguin, who is an honest-to-goodness GENIUS and helped me a lot with some awesome plot twists and turns! Follow my penguin buddy. Please?! The admin is my sister. Also, if you can, please leave a request on her cover shop! J Thanks so much!