A hand grabbed his shoulder before he could break away and he winced as the fingers dug hard into his flesh. He stared up into the furious face and forced his own expression to adopt a smile.

"Oh, hi Al!" he said with forced cheerfulness. "Fancy seeing you here!"

"What're yer doin' outta class, 'Iccup?" Alvin growled, tightening his grip. The boy stiffened and he grimaced.

"Just...getting a little fresh air," Hiccup said lightly. "You gotta do something about that, Al. I..." Alvin just turned, dragging the still protesting boy along the hall and towards his office. Marsha didn't even look up as Alvin opened the door and shoved Hiccup in, finally releasing the boy's arm. Hiccup glared at him, rubbing his shoulder and knowing it would bruise.

"Yer know, I've bin lookin' fer yer," Alvin growled, moving to his desk. "I 'eard yer was in me office earlier...but you'd scarpered outta the winder when I got back. And Mr Mildew tells me yer bin insubordinate again..."

"Well, much as I hate to say, Mildew is a terrible teacher," Hiccup riposted. "I was held back in the previous class and asked to help Astrid Hofferson...and when we arrived together, he believed her and then chewed me out in front of the class. He sent me to your office...so I went there...you weren't there...so I left..."

The slap echoed round the room and Hiccup blinked, staring at Alvin.

"Not sure that's in the rules, Al..." he mumbled, forcing himself not to press a hand to his stinging cheek. Alvin lunged forward and grabbed his hair, tugging his head back and leaning close, glaring into the wide green eyes.

"Yer know, this is almost the last chance, 'Iccup," he sneered. "If yer don't pull yerself together, boy, I'll 'ave ter kick yer out of High School...and when that 'happens, yer out on the streets..." The boy winced.

"You've been wanting that...except I think Mom wouldn't be too happy about it..." he protested softly.

"Yer know, I think yer Mother is gettin' pretty sick of yer attitude and yer trouble boy!" Alvin sneered. "So yer can do what yer want...but yer not welcome in the 'ouse tonight. If yer get through tomorrow without causing' trouble, yer'll be allowed 'ome tomorrow night. But any more trouble and yer'll 'ave ter look out fer yerself...until yer learn to behave...!" Hiccup swallowed, shaking his head slightly.

"You...can't..." he protested. "If Mom finds out..."

The slap knocked him to the ground and he stared up in shock, his head spinning.

"'Ow is she going ter find out?" Alvin sneered. "I won't let yer in...and for all she knows, it's yer decision ter not come 'ome! Yer leavin' her!"

"Mom would never..." he mouthed.

"Don't make 'er choose, boy-because yer wouldn't like the outcome!" he sneered, then walked to his desk. "Now get out-you 'ave classes and detention. If yer cut class again, yer'll never see yer mother again!"

Hiccup scrambled up, his cheek scarlet from the slaps and left, hearing the creak and a crash as the chair collapsed under Alvin's bulk...but even the success of his trap couldn't raise his spirits. He stared back at the door, hearing Alvin cursing loudly and walked slowly towards his class. He paused and picked up his phone. His finger hovered over the number for home...and then he put it away and walked to class, entering late with a mumbled apology. He was only allowed to sit when he explained that he had already seen Mr Treacher but he paid little attention to the poetry they were studying.

"Mr Haddock...have you heard a word I said?" Mr Larson asked. He was a short, stocky man with a large beard and a kindly face...except where Hiccup was concerned.

"Um...you just asked if I was listening," he replied sullenly.

"I'd give you detention...but I gather you are already booked into detention until Snoggletog," Larson growled, "so you are to write an appraisal of poem you should've been studying today and its relevance to modern attitudes..."

"Yeah...like that's gonna be useful..." Hiccup grumbled.

"Not less than two thousand words," Larson said coldly. Hiccup blinked and bit back the answer he wanted to give. His day was bad enough without making anything worse. He stared at the page and ran his fingers through his hair, dropping back into his silent slump. Finally, he headed through to detention, his assignment still rolling around his head and trying to think of anything to do with Astrid...

"Hiccup?" He stopped and turned to look at her, seeing her azure eyes inspect him as she paused on her way to practice. "I'll see you in the Art Classroom afterwards?" He nodded.

"I'll be there," he promised and vanished into detention.

oOo

Astrid had to concentrate hard during practice but she still smacked Ruff in the face and turned into Cami, causing both to sprawl to the floor in a heap. Cami shoved her off with a huff and glared.

"Your head is all over the place, Ast!" she said as Astrid smiled apologetically.

"Sorry!" she sighed. "It's just...I've got my first session being tutored by Hiccup Haddock after this and...I guess I'm a bit nervous?" The entire room went silent...and then there was an eruption of protests.

"Hiccup Haddock?"

"What can he teach you apart from sarcasm and being late?"

"And being a snitch!"

Astrid flushed but Ruff caught the pink colouration to her cheeks and pointed, roaring with laughter. "Are you blushing?" she teased.

"You are so dead!" Astrid shouted and raced after her. Ruff tried to get away but Astrid flipped her and straddled her waist, pinning her. "Do I look like I'm blushing or anything?" she growled.

"Er...no," Ruff confessed nervously. The famous Hofferson temper was rarely seen but was still scary close up.

"I needed a tutor for Art and Hiccup Haddock was the only candidate!" she announced sternly. "He's not a friend and frankly he's not someone I want anything to do with but grades come first!" She got up and offered Ruff her hand, dragging her up. "Now c'mon, girls-its Visithug on Friday and we need to kill them. Go Vikings!"

oOo

Hiccup left detention last, head down as he walked slowly towards the Art Classroom. He had spent most of detention trying to work out what he could do for Astrid and had finally decided to watch her draw. At least it would give him a clue to her standard and thinking...even though he had guessed she was direct and very limited in her ability for abstract thought...

He never saw the hands that hauled him back, one slapping over his mouth and others pinning his arms. He tried to cry out, though the deserted corridors held no hope of rescue and he struggled with all his might. He heard voices and saw Savage and Thuggory speed past as they hit the stairs...and headed down.

In the basement, he was finally released and he staggered back, green eyes desperately looking for some way to escape...but he was in the corridor by the boiler room with no way out except past the others.

"Hey-hey,g-guys," he said rapidly, breathing fast. There was no way out, no avoiding this. "You-you don't have to do this..."

And then he heard the footsteps behind him.

"Yes, I think we do," said Dagur.