It was the last day of the girls' suspensions and Astrid was cheerfully hanging with Anna and Olaf. The new students were very friendly and several others joined them to help welcome them to Berk. Astrid was in her element.

"The academic programmes are good, sure," she admitted, "but we're most proud of the Football Team, the Berk Vikings. Defending Archipelago Cup Champions!"

"You won for two of the last three years," Olaf added, his dark eyes sparkling. He was small, a little round but very friendly. Anna grinned.

"And you already whupped Aryndel High!" she noted. "Any boys worth paying attention to?"

"Only the whole Team!" Helga said excitedly. "They're all so hot-especially Snotlout, eh, Astrid?"

"Ugh! You're welcome to him..." she huffed.

"Is he your boyfriend...?" Anna asked, her green eyes wide with mischief.

"You are kidding?" she sighed. "No! He thinks he's my boyfriend but no! He's so not my type! But if you fancy trying your luck, be my guest!"

"Oh, Astrid is just playing hardball," Linda said airily. "Everyone knows she'll be going out with him by Graduation!"

"Will not!" she said hotly. "Ugh! There isn't enough room in a relationship for him and his ego, let alone anyone else."

"What about Eret?" Birgit asked, adopting a dreamy expression.

"Ruff may have something to say about that," Astrid smirked. It was no secret that her friend had a massive crush on Eret...though Eret had spent a lot of time trying to avoid the female twin who he seemed completely repelled by. Astrid privately viewed Eret as the most eligible of the Football Team-hardworking, handsome and polite...except he, like the rest, had an ego the size of a planet. Of the others, Tuff was officially crazy and was so similar to Ruff that it would be weird to even contemplate going out with him, Fishlegs was nerdy and a bit too timid for her taste and Snotlout...was yuk. Just yuk. And Dagur and his gang were unthinkable. She sighed.

"I heard Eret was eyeing Louisa Skarsgard," Helga murmured.

"Oh, don't say that aloud," Astrid advised her urgently. "Especially not in Ruff's hearing! The last girl Eret got 'interested' in woke up bald with a tattoo on her shoulder reading 'skank'."

"What?" Anna asked, astonished.

"The twins' family all worship Loki!" Jayden added, joining the group. "Pretty much every prank round here is down to the twins!"

"Or Hiccup Haddock," Birgit added scornfully. "Except his aren't funny, just stupid."

"I've heard that name whispered a lot," Anna frowned. Astrid looked up and realised she hadn't seen him since he walked in just before the bell for first class.

"He's tall, skinny, auburn hair and green eyes," she said. "He doesn't care, totally sarcastic and hangs with the worst crowd-Dagur and his Bad Boy Crew."

"But everyone says he turned in Dagur and Snotlout to the Principal," Olaf pointed out.

"Don't believe it," Astrid said firmly. "Hey-he's been with Dagur since Freshman Year. Why would he turn him in when there's nothing in it for him? He's failing half his classes, he'll be lucky to graduate and he's more or less on permanent detention. But he never ducks responsibility for what he's done-he always stands up...and usually makes some stupid comment as well."

"Sounds like a nightmare," Anna agreed.

"Just a pest," Astrid sighed, rising to her feet. "Catch ya later. I need to talk with Miss Sylvester before the next class." She smiled and waved as she walked off, her face determined. She needed to pass the class and first move was to speak with the teacher...

oOo

Hiccup was sitting outside Alvin's office again. He had gone straight to his room once he got home and Alvin had ignored him the previous night...and this morning, he had ordered the boy to come to see him. But this time, Hiccup didn't mind, because he had a plan. Before that, he had to make sure Alvin didn't cause him any more trouble.

Marsha jerked her head when he was called in and he offered her a small smile-but she blanked him. He sighed: sometimes, it would be nice to be treated like a normal student, not public enemy number one. And the joke was that Hiccup's sarcasm and defiance was nothing compared to people like Dagur and Savage, who were threatening, violent and downright nasty. Compared to them, Hiccup was just a smart-mouthed loser. But when he put his mind to it, he was also smart.

Alvin was sitting at his desk and Hiccup slouched his way to the chair, sitting unbidden and staring defiantly at the Principal. Alvin inspected him with a scowl.

"Yer left school yesterday," he growled.

"And...?" Hiccup asked him insolently.

"Yer owe me more detention!" he growled.

"Ya know, Al, just pencil my school finishing time an hour after everyone else's for the rest of the year!" he said casually. "Unless you wanna start me on Saturday morning detention...?" Alvin's face went puce.

"If yer think I'm goin' ter let yer off yer chores so yer can sit doin' nothin' all day, yer mistaken!" Alvin growled. "I got better things ter do with me time..."

"Is that all?" Hiccup asked, rising to his feet. Alvin lurched up as well.

"Are yer cheekin' me?" he growled. Hiccup stared into his eyes.

"You set me up," he said coldly. "What the Hel do you think?" But as Alvin lurched towards him, he faced him boldly. "And do you think people won't notice if I leave here covered in bruises?"

"I think no one cares, 'Iccup!" Alvin sneered. "All yer fellow students won't give yer the time o'day. I think yer friends are after yer. And if yer cross me, boy, I'll make yer life even more uncomfortable..."

"Are you for real, Al?" Hiccup asked him insolently. "Who the hell to you think you are?"

Alvin punched him, the blow to his middle crushing the air from his lean shape and dropping him to his knees. Alvin grabbed his arm painfully tightly, his fingers deliberately bruising the flesh underneath.

"I think I'm yer father, 'Iccup," he growled. "And we'll continue this talk when we get 'ome..." He jerked the boy to his feet. "Now git out!" He shoved the boy towards the door and Hiccup grimaced, then walked out, slamming the door behind him. But he paused and glared at the door-and as he stood there, he flicked the screwdriver out of his sleeve that he had 'borrowed' from Gobber. In a few seconds, he had unscrewed the handle off the outside of the door and broken the mechanism...then gently slid the unscrewed cover back in place.

"I'd like to see you get out of that," he murmured.

He was still sore and angry when he arrived in Art, murmuring apologies of this late arrival and taking his usual seat at the back. Miss Sylvester nodded and continued explaining their task before moving towards the boy. With a sigh, he grabbed his book.

"I'm sorry...I was with Mr Treacher," he repeated and her eyes softened in sympathy, nodding.

"He mentioned he wanted to see you, Hiccup," she said gently. "I had hoped to catch you before class but I need to ask you something now." His green gaze flicked up to meet hers.

"Um, that doesn't sound good," he noted warily but she was smiling.

"Actually, I was hoping you would help," she told him. "I have received a request for additional tuition and I am unable to give the time to help this student. And I wondered if you would be willing to assist this student?" His eyes widened: the conversation seemed surreal because he was Hiccup-not good enough at anything to be considered able to help anyone.

"Um...are you sure you're taking to the right person?" he asked and she nodded.

"Absolutely," she reassured him. "Now if you would be willing to assist Miss Hofferson..."

He leapt to his feet, his eyes suddenly blazing with anger.

"Is this a joke?" he hissed. "You want me to help her? Why the Hel would want to do that?" The anger in h is voice was very real. Miss Sylvester's face hardened slightly.

"Because she has requested it," she said. "And I am asking you."

"No!" he snapped. "Hel will freeze over! I'm not going to help that self-centred bitch! Tried it before-and all I get is sneers and being blanked! She thinks I'm useless-so I will be to her. No!"

"I have to say I'm disappointed," Miss Sylvester began but he turned on her in a rage.

"Why?" he snapped at her. "How stupid are you anyway? She started this year trying to get me thrown out of this class. I have already helped her once-you know the only A she got...? Definitely NOT her own work! And after that...well, she still treats me like shit! So no. She can fail on her own-and maybe then she'll learn what it feels like not be be Miss frickin' Perfect! And I'll be there laughing."

"Apologise right now..." the teacher began but he stood his ground, his emerald gaze still flashing in fury.

"No. And you should never have even asked me!" he shouted at her.

"Hiccup. Leave the class now," she ordered him calmly. "I will permit you to return when you apologise to me and to the rest of the students...including Miss Hofferson!"

"Never!" he snapped, grabbing his bag and shoving past her, swatting a jar of water aside and splashing two other students' work. "You can all go to Hel!"

And with a slam he was gone.