Alright - so I wrote a one-shot modern au and I ended up really enjoy it and liking it, so I wanted to expand on it. This is my first modern au of anything so…don't judge be too harshly lol - enjoy!

Chapter 1: Striking Out

Hiccup still wasn't used to the motion of the city. The street outside his cramped apartment was a constant roar. The first couple nights he had laid awake on his air mattress staring at the ceiling which often vibrated as a resulted of his upstairs neighbors blaring metal. And tonight wasn't any different. He pulled his pillow over his face as a police siren went by.

A week in the city and already that little voice in the back of his head kept saying it was a mistake. He'd struck out of his small town life to get away, not just the town, but also his overbearing parents. He'd gotten a pitiful job with a welding company. He worked long hours in a tiny and miserable shop that smelled like cigarettes, sweat, and piss. He made just enough to pay for his tiny apartment and the occasional fast food taco.

He couldn't call home for money. He'd been a failure at everything else in life and crawling back home would only prove to his father that he'd messed up again. He had told him that moving out without a plan was a mistake and Hiccup didn't want to see his disappointed face again.

Hiccup woke up with a start. Bright sunlight was blaring through the window. The ceiling was thumping and the overhead light was shaking. Hiccup pushed himself off the bed and through a cold shower. The hot water worked some of the time, but not all the time.

Today was Wednesday, which meant he didn't have to work. But he couldn't stay in this place all day. His head was already throbbing. He gathered a few books and his current sketch book and left the apartment. He gave the door an extra tug to make sure it latched.

He didn't have anywhere in particular he wanted to go. He walked until his headache subsided. He'd turned onto the campus of the university. Students were flocking this way and that. Dressed in a hoodie and jeans with an old backpack slung over his shoulder, no on paid him much him, like usual, he didn't stand out in the least.

The massive university library stood out with its ancient castle like structure. He went inside and a bit irked that the castle-like atmosphere did not continue. But it was peaceful and quiet. The floor he'd entered into was set up like a lounge with chairs and small sofas arranged study-group style. Students were scattered, studying or snoozing, and one guy sat with his eyes closed, tapping his finger in the air, his big headphones leaking out a mumbled beat.

Hiccup choose a table stashed between two bestseller bookshelves. He sat down and relished the silence. He retrieved a book from his bag and leaned back in the squishy chair. The next two hours flew by as he read and he was only interrupted by this thirst. He had heard the tell-tale clatter of a soda machine not too far away.

He replaced the book in his bag and slung it back over his shoulder and went to find it. It didn't take long. The glowing machine was on the other side of the wide staircase. It was next to a candy and chip filled vender and a gas station coffee spitter. Hiccup retrieve one of the dollar bills from his wallet and smoothed it out on the corner of the machine. He fed it to the coffee machine but it rumbled and spit it back out. He tried again, and again, and for the fun of it, a third time. But every time the machine returned his money with an angry mechanical whine.

"Damn it." Hiccup mumbled. He snatched the dollar back and crunched it in his fist.

He heard a small mumbled from behind him and he turned to see a blonde girl watching him. Her shoulders were supporting a backpack and her shirt was sporting the school's track team's logo. Her hair was tied back in a loose braid that left fair strands dangling about her heart shaped face. She was beautiful, without a doubt, and it was making him horrible nervous.

"I've got it." She said, handing him a smooth bill, holding it out between her delicate fingers.

"Oh, um…thank you." Hiccup said, unable to look her in the eye. Her blue eyes were crisp and intelligent and they were making his heart race. He handed her the crumpled bill in exchange but she shook her head.

"No, it's okay." She said.

Hiccup stood there, the crisp bill in his hand, with this beautiful creature still watching him. He gulped and turned back to the coffee machine which then took the bill with no hesitation. The little light came on with a beep and the machine was ready to fill his order. He paused over the buttons.

"The mocha is good but it's a little bitter," said the blonde girl. She had gotten closer and stood looking over his shoulder. Her skin was radiant, smooth, and flawless. But she was looking at the machine, defiantly not at him. Girls like her didn't look at guys like him. "The white chocolate is sweet, the caramel is kind of bleh, but the plain coffee is a safe bet."

"Oh, thanks." Hiccup said. He swallowed.

She smelt like expensive shampoo. She was so far out of his league that even the daydream was preposterous. He pushed the button for plain coffee.

Plain coffee? That's what you're going with? He inwardly cursed himself.

The machine dropped down a cup and steaming coffee started to drip into it.

"I'm Astrid, by the way." she said with a friendly smile that left him feeling like he'd run into a wall. "I haven't seen you around here. New student?"

"Uh…not really." Hiccup shrugged. He probably wasn't supposed to be in here if he wasn't a student. The machine beeped that his coffee was finished. He picked it up and brought it his nose. It smelled strong.

Astrid fed the machine another smooth bill and punch the mocha button. In an instant the machine was dribbling.

"So do you have a name?" Astrid asked.

Idiot! Hiccup cursed himself again. He hadn't even returned her introduction. "Hiccup."

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked with a raised brow.

"It's a, uh, nickname. It's a long story, but it's just stuck." Hiccup shrugged.

He waited for her reaction but he was surprised when she smiled. She picked up her finished coffee and inhaled the steam.

"Well, alright, I've heard weirder." Astrid shrugged. She sipped her mocha. "I'll see you around?"

"Uh, sure." Hiccup said.

Astrid walked away and Hiccup felt the racing in his chest subside just a little.

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Alright - first chapter of my first attempt - it went…well, I think. Did it? I don't know, I'm bias when it comes to my own writing. Review and tell me what you think!