Hi, guys! I'm back! It's only been a month too so the wait wasn't as long this time! Well, time for a short little "between story arcs" chapter(s). Enjoy!

Review Replies:

Astrid Haddock 19: Thanks!

Dirtkid123: Yes, it is! I hope the short wait this time wasn't too bad.

Noctus Fury (anonymous): Well, Hiccup didn't just recently start dating her. It's just that Astrid only just learned about it. Remember, she doesn't keep in contact with Rachelle because she's still ashamed over what happened to Rachelle's brother…which readers don't know yet, but I do! Haha.

MugetsuPipefox: Yeah…so many negatives in Astrid's life. The good news is that there are some positives on the horizon!

Chapter 10: We Should Start Over

Hiccup…and Rachelle broke up? Astrid felt rooted to the spot. What had caused that? Though Astrid felt a weight lift from her shoulders—she'd really missed talking with Hiccup because he seemed like a pretty cool friend—she couldn't help but feel a little bit responsible. Hopefully he didn't break up with her because of me, Astrid thought. That would just end badly for all of us…especially if Hiccup was to ever learn about my past.

"W-Why?" Astrid asked. She didn't even know why she was asking Hiccup about his breakup. This was something that she probably shouldn't be asking about, but Astrid just needed to know that she wasn't the reason why this had happened.

Hiccup shrugged casually as if it was nothing. Did he even feel bad about the breakup? Wasn't it a "touchy subject"? "We were just too different, I guess. The feeling was mutual, though, so it's okay."

Astrid was still confused. Hiccup's answer was very broad and she still was not certain that she was not the cause for Hiccup's and Rachelle's breakup. "Oh…okay, I guess," Astrid stuttered a little. "I just hope this isn't because of me," she bluntly told Hiccup. "I mean, you both seemed…okay…and then we met and…I just feel like…" Astrid did not know why she was telling all this to Hiccup. She probably sounded like some conceited jerk who thought the world revolved around her. Just as she was about to apologize, though, Astrid was stopped by Hiccup who spoke again.

"No worries, Astrid. It wasn't anything like that." Hiccup laughed a little nervously. "To be honest, we were only together because she…kinda forced me to be her boyfriend."

How does someone force you to be her boyfriend? Hiccup's story still didn't make any sense. "Uh…I don't understand," Astrid began.

"Yeah…it's kinda…weird, but…well…I guess she really liked me when we first met here on campus a couple years ago. She just…came up to me one day and said 'Hey, I'm Rachelle and you're going to be my boyfriend'."

Astrid was taken aback. She'd always known that Rachelle Thorston could be forceful, but this was not something she had expected. Back when they'd still been friends, Rachelle used to tell Astrid over and over again how she would never date. "Boys, girls, it doesn't matter. I'm not interested in love," Rachelle used to always say. "So…you're not upset?" Astrid finally asked Hiccup. "About the break-up, I mean."

Hiccup shook his head and his smile showed Astrid that his answer was sincere. "No, I'm not upset at all. In fact, I'm glad that our split was something about which we'd both agreed. Things may not have worked between us…and it may have been a doomed relationship from the start, but at least we can be friends. I'd hate to ruin a potential friendship over something as silly as a failed relationship."

Astrid took in Hiccup's words and they affirmed to her what she'd known from the moment she'd first met Hiccup. He was a truly good person. Many times ex-lovers want nothing to do with their former beloved and could care less what happens to them. Hiccup, though, did not want to sever the friendship…even if, as he'd said, the relationship was probably doomed from the very beginning.

"I…I see. That is good, I guess." Astrid really did not know what to say to this.

"So, Astrid, I think we should start over." Hiccup stood up just a little straighter, as if he needed to address Astrid more formally. "Hi, I'm Hiccup. Do you want to be friends?" He stuck his hand out, waiting for a handshake from Astrid.

Astrid giggled a little. Hiccup truly was someone special. He was a good person…with just enough quirkiness to keep him interesting. "It's a pleasure, Hiccup," Astrid played along, shaking his hand. "I am Astrid and I would very much like to be your friend."

Hiccup shook Astrid's hand firmly one more time before breaking the handshake. "Great. So, what do you say if, to celebrate our new friendship, I treat you to some highly indigestible campus dining hall food for lunch?"

Astrid laughed again, this time at Hiccup's over-the-top efforts. "I would say that I have to get to class first, but afterwards would be fine…and I'd also say that it should be me that treats you. You're a commuter student, aren't you? You don't have a meal plan, but I do, and I can use one of my guest meal passes for you."

Hiccup sighed dramatically. "Fine, if you must." He laughed though to indicate that he was joking. "I will meet you after your class then. Which building do you have class in?"

"The science building," Astrid answered. "In fact, I have to run. I'm going to be late."

"You know, I was going to volunteer to walk you to class, but since you're going to be running now, I guess I'll just have to run with you to class," Hiccup replied, smiling.

"Y-You don't have to do that." Astrid really didn't know what to say. No one had ever taken such an interest in being with her…especially after the accident. Why was Hiccup so insistent upon being with her…on being friends with her?

"I know that I don't have to, but I want to…now, weren't we running to your class?"

Figuring that there would be no arguing with Hiccup, Astrid took a light jogging pace toward the science building. Hiccup kept the same pace beside her. Astrid could tell that other students on campus were staring at them and, for once, it didn't bother her; she didn't care what they thought of her.

When Astrid and Hiccup arrived at the entrance to the science building, Astrid stole a glance at her phone to check the time. "Well, I guess I wasn't as late as I thought. Looks like I'll just barely make it on time."

"Great!" Hiccup replied. "So, I'll meet you here after your class?"

Astrid nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good." She told Hiccup when her class would be over and then she walked into the building and to the classroom.

It was hard to concentrate on the class, Astrid soon learned, when her thoughts kept drifting back to Hiccup. She was glad to have found a friend that actually wanted to be with her. That would probably change when he learned the full truth about her past, but it would be nice while it lasted. She was actually looking forward to their lunch together. It had been such a while since Astrid had eaten lunch with friends. The time seemed to drag just waiting for class to end. Probably didn't help that her Biology professor always tended to drone on and on in his monotonous voice.

Finally, when class had ended and their professor had officially released them, Astrid and her fellow classmates flooded out the classroom door and away from the monotony of DNA and cells. As Astrid left the science building, she looked around for Hiccup. It did not take long to spot him; he was exactly where he said that he would be.

Astrid walked up to him. "So, you really did meet me here."

Hiccup shrugged like it was no big deal (which it probably wasn't, but it felt like it was to Astrid). "I said that I was going to and so I did. Ready to go get some lunch?"

"You bet. Let's go." Astrid wasn't excited by the thought of another afternoon of dining hall food for lunch. No, her excitement came from knowing that she would not be eating alone today. She would have her new friend there with her.

"Hiccup!"

Both Hiccup and Astrid turned to the sound of the voice. A large blond boy was walking over toward them and waving to Hiccup. When the boy was within earshot, Hiccup addressed him. "Hey, Fishlegs! Good to see you!"

Fishlegs? Astrid wondered about the nickname, but didn't ask. As it turned out, she wouldn't have needed to ask anyway because Hiccup was already initiating introductions.

"Oh, Astrid, this is Franklin…Fishlegs Ingermann. We went to high school together." He then turned back to his high school friend. "Fishlegs, this is Astrid, my new friend."

Fishlegs greeted Astrid and she did the same. She had not been sure what to make of Fishlegs when he had first walked up to her and Hiccup. When Astrid had heard Hiccup call Fishlegs by that, admittedly-ridiculous, nickname, she had still been unsure. However, as she walked toward the dining hall with the boys, Astrid found that she warmed up to Fishlegs as quickly as she had with Hiccup. She loved to watch silently as the two boys "geeked out" over some nerdy obsession that they both shared. Was this what it felt like to have friends? It had been so long since Astrid had felt this way. Ever since the accident, everyone had shied away from her, leaving her all alone.

Now, though, as Astrid walked between the boys and listened to them conversing about some show she had never seen, Astrid realized that she felt safe and, most importantly of all…for the first time in years, Astrid truly felt happy.

So…I have had the ending to this chapter in my head for months. I had an idea where I wanted the chapter breaking point to be…and I forgot it. This is kind similar to the ending I'd planned, I think.

Next chapter will be the final one in this "in-between arcs" segment. I think it will be a pretty interesting chapter. Can't wait to bring it to you!

Thank you all for reading and supporting Roommates!

Posted: July 10, 2017