I was just starting College. Everything was suppose to brand new for me. No more angry teachers, no more yelling father, no more bullies, and for me no more Astrid. Who is Astrid? I should probably start with who I am. I am Henry Harry Haddock III, or as people called me: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Why do people call me this? Well, I am quite scrawny. The bullies liked to say that I was a mess up, or a hiccup. Horrendous came from the fact that I suck at sports. They kept Haddock, because that is a name of an ugly fish.

Back to Astrid, I have had feelings for her since elementary school. She moved into my part of town right before our third grade year started. She came in and I couldn't have been more mystified by. Her two golden braids stopped short of her shoulders and her soft sky blue eyes seemed to glow. I watched her everyday. Every Valentine's Day I would slip a daffodil in her locker with a note saying: "You are the best girl in the world." I would never sign it. I was too scared to. I did this in middle school too. By this time puberty had hit her and she was filling out nicely. She now kept her hair in one braid and behind her head. Some people called her fat at first, so I would write in the note: "You are the most beautiful girl in the world." Once we hit high school, she was now the most wanted girl in the school. Her braided hair reached right below her shoulder blades and she was perfect. I on the other hand was in the middle of puberty. I was tall, lanky, full of freckles, and my voice squeaked. I was better with my words though. For the first three years, I gave her this note: "Dear Astrid, I can't help but express how wonderful you really are. You are not only pretty, but you are strong and intelligent. Don't ever forget how special you really are." I still never signed it. My senior year though, I was going to tell her. I had a bouquet of daffodils. A daffodil for every year I knew her. I also had a letter, but this time it read: "Will you be mine? Will you be my girlfriend?" I couldn't say it outright. I came around the corner to the hall with the daffodils and note behind my back, but I saw her flirting with my cousin instead. I was broken hearted. I dropped the daffodils and the note and ran.

Who is my cousin? Sean Jorgenson. Also known as Snotlout. I really don't know how he got that name and neither do I care. Everyone in my class had weird names. There was Fred (who was also known as Fishlegs)and Timothy and his twin sister Ruth (Tuffnut and Ruffnut). How they got these names, I don't know and I don't care.

Well back to what I was saying. It was suppose to be brand new. I wasn't suppose to have the troubles I did before. Boy was I wrong. Fishlegs was in my first class, Biology. He and I used to be good friends before I became the social outcast. My own cousin, Snotlout, made sure of that. Fishlegs never talked to me once Snotlout made me the butt of every joke. Needless to say I didn't have the best self esteem. I ignored Fishlegs hoping my next class was better. Nope, not any better at all. I had Snotlout in my History class. He made sure to embarrass me right away. In my College Algebra class were Ruffnut and Tuffnut. They both snickered as I walked in the door. I had Biology lab in the evening and guess who I had that with. You guessed it Astrid. Oh was she a beauty. She was the perfect example of a woman. Her hair was longer now and braided on the side. I sat in the back to not be seen but Astrid ended up sitting in front of me. Some guy named Dagur, sat next to her and started to flirt.

During the lab, I was very studious and got done early. As I was about to pack up, Astrid turned around.

"Hey!" she said stopping me. "Can you help me?" I looked at her lab worksheet and she had a couple questions missing. I nodded and helped her find was she was looking for. "Thanks a lot!" she smiled. I nodded and went to turn my papers in. "Your the Haddock boy aren't you?" she asked. I nodded again and left. I didn't want to talk to her. I was still getting over heartbreak.

Once back at my dorm room I let myself fall on my bed. I stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours feeling my broken heart beat hard against my chest. I was so glad I didn't have a roommate. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I looked at my schedule and was relieved that I only had that lab once a week. I didn't realize at the time that no matter how little I saw her, my heart just ached.

The next week in Biology Lab, Astrid sat right in front of me again. Dagur sat next to her and started to flirt. I couldn't help but feel even more hurt as she spoke to him. While we were finishing our papers Dagur turned toward Astrid.

"So Astrid, what is your favorite flower?" he asked. Astrid was silent for a while then a little smile came across her face.

"I like daffodils." she replied. I felt my aching heart start to race. It hurt so much to know that she actually like those flowers and I gave them to her.

"Really?" said Dagur. "Why daffodils?" Astrid shrugged and didn't say another word. I finished and put my lab paper in the pile. My heart was going at one hundred miles an hour. It told me: She likes daffodils. She may love you. But my mind kept reminding me: It is just a coincidence she will never care for you the way you want her too. I sighed as I walked back to my room. My heart was still mending and every week the wounds were ripped open again.

Later on that week I was on my way back to my dorm from class and Astrid walked by me.

"Oh hey, um Haddock boy!" she called. I reluctantly turned toward her.

"Hi." I said weakly. She came up to me and smiled.

"Can you help me with Biology? I thought since we are in the same class, just at different times, that we could study together." she said. I wanted to tell her no but I just ended up nodding instead. "Great!" She then started to walk away then turned toward me again. "What is your actual name? I don't want to call you the Haddock boy forever."

"H-He-Hen" I stuttered. I couldn't get myself to say my real name. As much as I hated it, I gave her my other name. "H-Hi-Hiccup."

"Well then Hiccup, I will see you tonight at nine in the library." she said writing it down in her notebook. I nodded and turned back toward my dorm.

That evening, I went to the library to reserve a study room for the two of us. It was on the second floor on the west side behind the stacks. I set up and waited for her to show. 9:00 went by and I didn't she her. 9:10, no sign of her. 9:20, I was wondering if she forgot. Finally at 9:30 she came in her cheeks flushed and panting. I stood, as a gentleman is suppose to when a lady enters a room, and finally found my voice.

"G-g-good evening." I stuttered. Astrid went to smile only to roll her eyes when I heard my cousin pounding on the door. Astrid then locked the door and sat down next to me.

"It is almost impossible to get away from that moron!" she sighed. My heart rejoiced as I heard those words and chuckled quietly. "Your smiling now. Well that's a good thing." She said pulling out her books. I instantly felt my face flush and bowed my head hoping she wouldn't see. "So are you ready?" she asked.

"Y-y-yeah... um... what d-do you w-wanna st-st-st-start with?" I couldn't believe it. I was stuttering like a complete idiot. Astrid opened her book.

"Lets see lets see if we can memorize the contents of a cell." she said. I don't know why she wanted to study, she aced everything I quizzed her on.

As I was about to leave, Astrid pulled out her College Algebra book and sighed. She then opened it and I noticed that she hadn't even made it passed problem one. Her scratch paper was loaded with the wrong equations and answers. She would write something and once she couldn't continue she would scratch it out. I was starting to hate my moral fiber. I sat back down.

"D-d-do you need h-help?" I stuttered. Astrid looked back up at me.

"Are you good at math?" she asked hopefully.

"W-well, technically this is Algebra." I said taking the book from her hands. I studied the problem and looked at her paper. "Try this." I said writing down a new equation for her. She looked carefully at the equation and started to write. After a couple tries she had the answer.

"This is amazing!" she exclaimed as she looked at her perfected work. She then smiled a most enchanting smile at me. "Thank you so much Hiccup!" Feeling intoxicated by her smiled, I nodded with a goofy grin. "Please, will you tutor me for math?" she asked.

"I-it's Algebra, and sure." I replied. The rest of the time we were allowed in the library we worked on her Algebra.