Disclaimer: How To Train Your Dragon and it's characters are owned by Dreamworks. Except where noted, all lyrics are original and may not be re-produced in any shape or form without prior permission

"Pens down!"

Hundreds of them clattered on plastic desks, and I let out a huff. That was it. My finals were over. 8 weeks of nothing on my shoulders, and no-one to interact with me. Everyone around me began to talk at once.

"Thank gods that's over!"
"I wonder how I went!"
"I swear, if Mr Thorston fails me, I'm gonna kill myself, Heather!"

Heather? Oh gods...that's right, she's right next to me. Ever since I was a freshman in Middle school all she ever wanted to do was get close to me, for reasons unknown, but she's everything I'm not and not what I want or need. She's the center of attention, at the top of this school and is on the receiving end of many cat calls, wolf-whistles and one night stands. I don't know; maybe its her jet black hair or piercing eyes that put me off. That, and she takes pride in her reputation, and I'll never understand why. If I was ever put into that situation with someone, I'd want...it to mean something. Not just "Good morning, gotta run, don't call!"

One girl I came to love over the years has been my friend since kindergarten, but now that she has a job somewhere and I'm...me, the lean, rich kid who barely speaks and has his head stuck in a sketchbook, we haven't spoken in a while, and I miss her company. Sure I see her in the yard, fixing her complicated braid of blond hair and adjusting her favorite red tank top, which suits her perfectly, but she barely has time for conversation. Just a wave and a smile is all that seems to happen now.

Ah, who am I kidding? It's not her fault, its mine. Ever since I got bad I found myself slowly pulling away from my friends as the teasing started. 'Useless' and 'Fishbone', Scott "Snotlout" Jorgenson and his Jockey Posse started calling me, among other things. Withdrawn from my friends, I started marching to my own drum and that's how its been for a while. Just me, my parents and my black cat Toothless. Hopefully, this Summer, I can make a change. Hopefully, I can make friends again.

"Psst! Hiccup!" I mentally groaned and swung my head to the left, brushing some of my auburn hair our of my green eyes.

"Hi Heather," I said politely.

"My parents are out of town this weekend, do you wanna...hang out?" she asked, something off was dripping from her tongue. Oh no not that!

"Uh, Heather, I..." Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! I jumped out of my seat and power-walked to the exit before I said anything else. I looked behind me, but it didn't work. She was hot on my heels and matched my pace so accurately she ended up next to me once again. I could feel my chest starting to constrict and my breathing became shallow and rapid.

"Come on, Hiccup," she cooed, as she snaked a slender arm around me. I flinched and brushed her off. It was getting worse. I hadn't had an attack in 2 weeks.

"Please don't touch me, Heather. Be like everyone else and leave me alone," I said sharply.

"But Hiccup, you're alone too much and I thought you could use the company-"

"I DON'T WANT YOUR COMPANY!" I exploded. Everyone around me fell silent. I was saying no to Heather, something no one had ever seen, heard or even done before. You do not do that to Heather. It was "common sense", apparently. I could feel all the eyes staring at me, and I foresaw how much shit I'd be copping.

"I have to go," I huffed. "Enjoy your summer." I jogged out the front door leaving everyone in the gym foyer stunned. I had never snapped like that before. My chest was about to burst at the seams and tears started stinging my eyes. Don't cry, Hiccup. I wiped my tears with the cuff of my sleeve and ran across the courtyard that started to flood with my peers and I kept my head down, not wanting anyone to notice me. I shuffled through the torrent of screaming teens and hurried down the corridor to my locker. Opening it quickly, I stopped for a moment and took deep breaths, in and out, in and out. My ribs slowly started to give. I blinked twice and grabbed my red bag already packed with my old books and slammed the locker door shut. I pivoted on my heel and saw the familiar tank top. Astrid's locker was right across from mine? How did I not-?

"Of course you didn't know, Fishbone," I whispered bitterly. "You're too busy wallowing in your self pity!" I shook my head quickly and started to make my way down the parade of work-paper confetti and deafening roars of triumph when I heard-

"Hiccup!" my heart skipped a beat. I slowly spun around and struggled to maintain a straight face. Astrid was standing in front of me and looking at me, her deepest of deep blue eyes boring into mine. I could sense some concern in her. She looked determined.

"Uh, hi Astrid...been a while," I said nervously, giving her a little wave.

"Walk with me." She demanded. So I obeyed. We slowly started to walk through the paper rain together. "Are you okay?" she asked urgently.

"Uh...yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I lied.

"Hiccup, I heard what happened. And I know when you're lying to me. You're rubbing the back of your neck." Oh gods, was I? I snapped my right hand away from my neck. "You always do that when you're nervous."

"Seems you know more about me than I do," I quipped. She smiled slightly.

"But seriously, Hiccup, I heard you yelled at Heather. Have you had another attack?" I snapped to attention.

"Wait, what do you mean, another attack? How do you know I was okay for the past two weeks? And how on earth do you know what's been going on with me?"

"Give me a little credit, Henry." She never called me Henry unless it was serious. "We may rarely speak anymore, but I know what you're going through, even from afar." She was looking out for me? Even after my selfish decision to shut everyone out. She is my best friend, after all. She deserves to know. I sighed and took another breath in.

"Honestly, yeah. Heather was pining for me to spend the weekend with her, and it made me uncomfortable, so I snapped." I admitted. The sunlight suddenly hit my eyes. We were now out in the parking lot.

"As in, like..." her eyes widened. "Oh, Hiccup, I'm sorry to hear that."

"I just wish she'd acknowledge my need for space and understand that I'm not into her like that-or anyone, for that matter!" I said quickly. But of course it wasn't the truth. I won't lie, I've imagined Astrid and I together like that, and it meant something to us in that dream, but she could never find out. I doubt she loves me like I do, her. I was focussing on my black Chuck Taylor sneakers when I felt a hand touch mine. I looked up at the blue eyes again.

"I know you'll sort this out Hiccup," Astrid reassured me. She ran her thumb over my palm. I smiled at her touch. "And I know you'll want to try and resolve this by yourself, but if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me." For the first time in ages, I was actually smiling.

"Thank you, Astrid," I said sincerely. "Means a lot."

"Hey, what are friends for?" she laughed. I smiled again. A car horn sounded. "Oh, that's Mum," Astrid said hurriedly. Before I knew it, she let go of me and raced away. I watched her run off.

"You're amazing!" I heard her call out. I chuckled at that. Maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad. I had Astrid back in my life, hopefully I could get everyone else back.

I broke away from the massing crowd and made my way to my car, a black Volkswagen Golf. I opened the driver's side, dumped my bag in the back and sat down. Coming from a rich family, people might've done a double take when they realized I had a 2004 Golf when I could be driving something a little more...now, I guess. But I don't like to spend my money too much and as you could imagine, I don't want to stand out. I gunned it to town and drove towards the beach, as I always do on a Friday after school. I turned on the radio, suddenly aware of how quiet it was, which is stupid because I am always quiet.

"...new music coming out from Australian singer, Chet Faker today. This is from his debut album "Built On Glass", you're listening to "Talk Is Cheap." Suddenly, a ringing saxophone flooded the car and began to play a descending melody. Soon after it was joined by hand claps and finger snaps. I was surprised at how D.I.Y. this music sounded. It was a Hel of a lot different to what I hear on the radio, which I'm not all too fond of. And then the singer's voice escaped the speakers. He was mellow, soulful and even sounded vulnerable. This voice was beautiful, and it was different, and I liked it. I made it to the waterfront by the second verse, and I watched the sun prepare its descent into the sea. It was soothing, the mellow music and the waves, almost working together to slowly shut my eyes. I spoke to Astrid. I found good music. I felt comfortable.