Absolute silence fell over the canteen as Senior Class President Astrid Hofferson kissed school screw-up and pest Hiccup Haddock. Hiccup's emerald eyes widened for half a second before they fluttered closed and he kissed her back, a hand rising to gently cup her cheek before they broke apart.

"I think your secret may be out," he murmured as he opened his eyes to stare into her face.

"Secret be damned," she murmured. "When my phone buzzed, when I saw the words...I was so worried..." He fashioned a small, lopsided smile.

"No need, Milady...I was just fine with my trusty crutches and the gang coming to my rescue in the nick of time..." She shook her head.

"You don't understand, Hiccup," she said in a worried voice, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "The moment I saw the words, it took me back...and I saw it all again...the thud...your scream...you lying so still on the snow..." He sighed and stroked her face, leaning close to her.

"It's okay," he soothed her. "I'm here. I'm alive...and hey-still got two feet as well! Bonus!" She stared into his face.

"How can you joke?" she asked him sharply.

"Because its all I've got," he reminded her gently. "No one cares if I'm coping or not so just better pull my mask up and be Hiccup Haddock, the sarky bastard." Her fist met his shoulder but not hard because she was too concerned to put too much weight into the blow. He still winced but he gave a little smile anyway. "Ah, you must feel better now." She sighed and nodded...then turned to face the silent canteen.

"Um...Astrid...that's Hiccup Haddock..." Anna pointed out. Astrid nodded.

"That is correct," she said evenly, walking Hiccup to a spare seat at her table.

"And you kissed him," Raylee squeaked.

"Really? Are you sure about that?" Astrid asked her pointedly.

"I'm pretty sure you kissed Hiccup Haddock!" Lilah piped up, her voice scornful.

"Wait-maybe it was a bet!" Anna suggested.

"Yeah...it really looked like it!" Savannah sneered. "You let Hiccup Haddock eat your face! Ewww!"

"So Astrid...what're you doing with that...nobody?" Lilah sneered, rising and planting a hand on her hip. Astrid stared at her and folded her arms.

"You mean my boyfriend?" she snapped.

It was possible to hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence. A freshman belched and everyone glared at him.

"BOYFRIEND?" Lilah screeched. "Hiccup frickin' Haddock? The most disruptive, rude, sneaky, sarcastic troublemaker in BH history?"

"Why thank you, Lilah. I'm grateful my talents are recognised," Hiccup commented pleasantly.

"Lilah...Hiccup is a good guy and he is my friend," Astrid said firmly.

"He's nothing!" Lilah snapped hatefully. "He's always in trouble and so damned stupid..."

"Actually, my grades are higher than yours," Hiccup pointed out.

"You're Cheerleader and Class President!" Savannah snapped. "How can you betray all of that?"

"Did I miss a line in the job description?" Astrid asked her pointedly.

"But you are popular and pretty...so you have to go out with a Footballer Player or an Athlete!" Lilah said in an outraged voice.

"And Hiccup isn't that...he isn't smart...he's clearly not rich...he's not a nerd...he's not cool...he's really below notice..."Raylee added.

"So why are you with him, Astrid?" Lilah asked cruelly. "Has he...?

"Another word and you're dead!" Astrid snarled, rising to her feet. "He hasn't touched me!"

"You kissed him!" Savannah sneered. "Is he blackmailing you?"

"And that's always the question..." Hiccup sighed.

"No!" she snapped. "Look-Hiccup helped me with my schoolwork and well, I got to know him..."

"Oh Gods..." Lilah exclaimed, her lip curling in disgust. "Actually spending time on school work...with Hiccup Haddock!"

"That's why I have a straight A average and pond slime has higher grades than you, Lilah," Astrid commented in exasperation. "And as I got to know him, I realised he wasn't the bad guy we thought he was..."

"Adios reputation," Hiccup mumbled as Tuff dumped a plate of hot dog, corn and fries in front of him with a can of cola. The rest of the guys filled the seats on the table by Hiccup and Astrid.

"...and he was...great company...so we became friends..." Astrid admitted.

"But...but...he's Hiccup Haddock!" Savannah protested.

"He's not an entirely separate species!" Astrid snapped angrily. "Stop saying his name like that!"

"I dunno...maybe being the Lesser-Spotted...well, Lesser-Freckled Hiccup Haddock may gain me some kudos...or a host of naturalists camped outside my bedroom..." Hiccup commented dryly. Astrid lightly swatted his shoulder.

"That's for being a smartass," she told him.

"Owww..." he whined dramatically. "Run down by car here! Poor injured invalid..."

"Your leg has more metalwork than the Brooklyn Bridge," she told him. "It's doing fine..."

"See what I have to put up with?" Hiccup appealed to the guys and Fishlegs grinned.

"Is no one bothered by this?" Lilah shouted. "He's always in detention! He's literally nothing! He's about a quarter of an inch from expulsion. And he's going out with the Class President!"

"And who does that harm, Lilah?" Olaf asked thoughtfully, his gaze flicking back to the pair. To his eye, they both looked happy and relaxed, bantering gently and rather sweetly. Hiccup had been a pariah...and probably still was...but to someone who wasn't at the absolute pinnacle of the social heap, seeing him go out with such an exalted student gave the rest of the student body some hope. And Olaf liked Astrid, especially when she was being genuine and natural, not acting like the Queen Bee that she was supposed to...

"Everyone!" Lilah snapped. "It's...disgusting! Snot-you have to back me up on this! I mean...aren't you upset as Captain that she isn't going out with you?" Snotlout munched his mouthful of burger and frowned.

"Kinda confused coz I thought I was going out with you," he commented carelessly through a spray of crumbs, "but actually no. I mean, Astrid is my friend and we've hung out for years and years...and though I have chased her for years...I can see she is happy and he seems...okay..."

"Odin be praised for that ringing endorsement!" Hiccup announced, raising his hands in the air.

"Not helping!" Astrid hissed. He winked.

"Eret-sweetie...surely you think this absolutely obscene?" Savannah whined. The big football player thought about it carefully; he didn't really like Hiccup but he understood the boy's right to have a friend and go out with someone who reciprocated the attraction.

"I don't see how it's your business, Sav," he commented lightly. "How does it hurt you?"

"Because to be a leader, a role model, you have to be beautiful, on trend and going out with the right people!" Lilah snapped. "How can Astrid be our leader if she's dating a loser?"

"Or maybe she is being a role model by going out with someone she likes, rather than someone she doesn't...in that way...just because it's expected..." Cami told her shortly. "Right, Snot?" The Football Captain nodded.

"Actually, she makes a good point!" he told Lilah and the girl rose to her feet with a scream.

"AARGH! You are SO dumped, Snotlout Jorgenson! How DARE you back that skanky loser-loving cow over me?" she shouted at him.

"Hey Babe-I'm Captain of the Football team-why should I worry?" he asked her bluntly. "Don't need you to be cool...but I think you need me!"

"There are OTHER football players!" Lilah hissed, her eyes flicking to the far side of the canteen...and the shapes of Savage and Thuggory.

"And that is gonna be awkward as well," Fishlegs muttered loudly enough for the guys to hear.

"I'm sure my broken heart will mend...maybe by next class, Babe," Snotlout shrugged and turned back to his burger.

"What about you, Eret? Are you backing this...cow-loving skink?" Savannah asked in a huffy voice, fluffing her hair. Hiccup leaned forward and looked at Fishlegs.

"Do you think she knows what a skink is?" he asked and Fishlegs started to chuckle.

"Look-you told me Savannah mis-spelled her own name on her account," he whispered back. "What do you think?"

"What can I say?" Eret said with a shrug. "Not your business who she goes out with, is it? Why are you upset?"

"I-I...YOU'RE DUMPED!" she shouted and stormed off after Lilah, who was already heading for the door. About half a dozen girls, including Raylee, went after them and a number of the younger students cast Astrid unfriendly or suspicious glances. She sat down heavily and looked at the guys.

"Eret, Snot-thanks," she said heavily. "I'm sorry they dumped you both..."

"Told you I just cause trouble," Hiccup mumbled, leaning close to her, his hand gently finding hers under the table. She inclined her head towards him and gave a wan smile.

"No sweat, Babe," Snotlout said, eating and spraying crumbs on the table. "She was astonishingly boring. All she went on about was herself..."

Hiccup and Astrid shared an unwise glance while they were both struggling not to giggle at the hypocrisy...and then both burst out laughing. They were laughing so much that Astrid didn't even pick him up on calling her 'Babe'. Ruff scooched up closer to Eret.

"Hello, gorgeous," she said happily. "So...free again..." Eret started and looked around frantically to find some way to avoid the female twin.

"Erm..." he said worriedly.

"HADDOCK! ON YOUR FEET! " a familiar voice bellowed across the canteen, causing all the students to stare at boy as he cringed in instinctive fear.

"And the hits keep on coming..." he groaned as the huge bearded shape cumbered closer.

"Get up," Alvin growled. "I wants a word with yer!"