Disclaimer: I don't own How To Train Your Dragon. Rights remain with Cressida Cowell and Dreamworks.

A/N: Another story? Well, I've been writing this one quietly for a while so why not? This was inspired by Wimbledon (the Tennis Tournament, not the film) and the words over the door to Centre Court. 'If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same.' What more prompting do you need to put our hero through the wringer (again)?

I've wanted to go back to High School (not personally-ugh, that would be terrible!) since all the positive feedback from Behind the Mask and requests for a sequel or similar story. Of course it has to be somewhat different and in this, Hiccup starts out as…well, an ass. It's actually quite hard to make Hiccup unsympathetic because he is the hero of HTTYD (along with Toothless) and generally a nice guy so I had to channel his inner Snotlout (eg from Thawfest) but I do promise that things will change and so will he.

So enjoy…

One:

The sounds of laughter echoed down the hall as the gang swung in, voices loud and confident. It was the same group of the most popular kids in the year and as Seniors now, they were the ones to be friends with. More junior students moved aside to let them through as they joked and yelled. A couple of oblivious Freshmen got jostled out of the way and one was shoved to the ground as the group strutted by, uncaring of anyone else in the school. A short, tow-haired boy cast them an annoyed glance but he was shoved roughly aside by a buff young man with short, carrot-red hair and pale green eyes.

"Out the way, squirt! Don't you know who we are?" he sneered. A raven-haired girl flipped her braid over her left shoulder, her green eyes impatient.

"Leave them alone, Dagur!" she told him firmly. "These babies hasn't even sat in their first class yet! They can hardly know who we are yet!" The buff young man huffed and then gave a brilliant smile.

"Okay, sis," he said then turned to the unfortunate young kid. "Make sure you know who we are by lunch, squirt!" The young boy recoiled and raced off to his first class as the other students turned away, some awed and others just envious of the respect the group were held in. People either wanted to be their friends or avoided them.

The gang had been together since the first day of High School and comprised the Thorsten twins, Rachel and Timothy or 'Ruffnut' and 'Tuffnut' as they liked to be called, the top pranksters in Berk High; Simon 'Snotlout' Jorgensen, Captain of the Football team; Damien 'Dagur' DeRange, the class bully who was redoing Senior Year for the second time; Heather Oswaldson, his half-sister; Cameron Bogthorpe, a keen soccer player, Theo 'Thuggory' Carnaby and Erik 'Eret' Eretson, both buff Senior football players and Hiccup Haddock, the Mayor's son. They were loud, confident-bordering on arrogant, brash, popular and took what they wanted. All were well-off, privileged and completely insensitive to the feelings and needs of anyone else. And those who crossed them were teased, taunted and bullied-or ridiculed and ostracised.

Of course, if you weren't one of the gang, you were definitely a second class citizen-and none more so than Astrid Hofferson. Joining in Sophomore Year-and late at that because of the death of her father, she had been barely welcomed since everyone had already formed their friendships and were busy in their cliques when she had arrived. She hadn't helped, of course, because she was withdrawn and down following his unexpected death and no one wanted to welcome the miserable looking blonde. And worse, she had made the mistake of crossing Cameron in soccer trials, winning a place in the first team at Cameron's expense. And though the other girl had made the squad, Astrid had been teased and ostracised by the popular gang since. And her small circle of friends-Finlay 'Fishlegs' Ingerman, a husky boy with exceptional knowledge of almost everything; Anna Christiansen, a bubbly kind ginger-haired girl and Kristof Shepherd, Anna's boyfriend-were not popular or cool, but they were loyal and supportive.

She watched the gang shove some more students aside and closed her locker with a sigh. The fact was that they all had everything they wanted: cars, expensive games consoles, phones and computers; they went on expensive holidays and they never had to worry about anything. None of them had the heartache of losing a parent, of having to work to help pay the bills, of struggling with any lesson or dealing with bullying or cruelty from the other students. In fact, most of them were callous and cruel to other students, either on purpose or just because they never seemed to think about others' feelings and sensibilities. And her mind flew treacherously back to the trials in Sophomore Year.

Soccer had always been her favourite sport, the game her father had ceaselessly encouraged her in and supported her through. So having to move school and try out so soon after his death had been doubly hard-but Astrid was a Hofferson, a fearless and determined young woman and she had played her heart out in the trials, winning the coveted number 10 that she had played in all her previous teams. So it had been with a sense of relief and joy that she had received the news, knowing she had done her father's memory proud-for all of ten seconds until a shorter wild-haired blonde, Cameron Bogthorpe, had come screaming up at her, abusing her and yelling that she had stolen Cameron's place and should step aside or she would be sorry. And when the Coach had just watched and said nothing, Astrid's temper had broken and she had screamed back in the other girl's face that no one owned a place in the team and that Astrid had won it on merit. If Cameron wanted to play, she needed to up her game and stop imagining things should just be handed to her on a plate.

The entire group had gone quiet and one of the other girls had asked the question:

"Don't you know who she is?"

"No-and I don't care," Astrid had replied tightly, her azure eyes flashing.

And that had been when she had been marked as a pariah by the gang and most of the other students. Only others ostracised or ignored by the gang would even chance interacting with her, let alone offering her friendship. Even new students were subtly warned off her as a social leper. And though she was furious and hurt, Astrid had carried on because she knew she deserved a High School education and wouldn't let a group of spoilt, arrogant asses ruin everything. She had lost her Dad: she wouldn't lose her education or her sport as well.

The bell rang and she looked up, slamming the door to her locker and racing to her first class, sliding into English with moments to spare. There was only one seat left-right at the back-and as she walked forward, a leg tripped her and she slammed against a desk, just catching herself.

"Careful, Hofferson-you won't get into the soccer team with a twisted ankle," a familiar slightly nasal voice taunted her. She glared back at Hiccup Haddock, the Mayor's son and Cameron's boyfriend. He was tall and lean, his pale, lightly-freckled face with the wide, sparkling emerald eyes and sharp jaw framed by casually tousled dark auburn-brown hair. He knew a few girls found him hot and he did flirt, even when Cameron was with him, though he was always attentive to her as well. He was dressed well-designer green shirt, expensive jeans, brand new converse and soft leather jacket-and there was a smirk on his features. She looked away from him, flicking her braid over her left shoulder. It was a waste of time to point out that he had tripped her so she blanked him and took her seat.

"Cat got your tongue?" Cameron sneered from the seat beside him but at this point, Mr Larson spoke up.

"Enough time has been wasted on Miss Hofferson's clumsiness," he said and she glared at him as well. She hadn't been clumsy and his siding with the gang rather than supporting the truth was just another way she was constantly undermined. But she was a straight A student and the gang could waste their time on silly jokes: Astrid had her plan. One more year of Berk High and then she was off to College, forging her own future based in her merits, not on the size of her Daddy's bank balance. She knew the gang could all go to Ivy League Schools but she just wanted her dream and to support her Mom.

"This Semester, we will be studying emotion through the great poets of the English language," Mr Larson said. He was a crumpled man in his forties with thinning black hair and grey eyes-looking like an older version of his son, Gustav, who was in Junior Year. "You should choose a poem of William Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Alfred Lord Tennyson or Rudyard Kipling for your first assignment-to explore the emotional component and how it can relate to you."

"Why are we just studying British Poets?" Snotlout asked sulkily.

"Edgar Allen Poe is American," Fishlegs hissed.

"But the others...okay, I get Shakespeare...but Rudyard Kipling? What kind of a stupid name is that?" the stocky, jet-haired Snotlout protested, his blue eyes glittering sulkily.

"Hello-Snotlout Jorgensen?" Ruff sniggered.

"It is a reasonable question," Mr Larson acknowledged. "Can anyone answer Mr Jorgensen's protest?" Astrid put her hand up.

"He was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 and published numerous poems, short stories and children's stories," she answered. "His poem 'If' is considered a classic." Mr Larson smiled.

"A fine answer, Miss Hofferson, and an excellent riposte to Mr Jorgensen," he said. "You have won the right to choose any of his poems for your assignment." She gave a thin smile.

"'If', please," she said softly because it had been one of her father's favourites. Mr Larson smiled.

"Everyone must choose a different poem and must clear it with me before it is approved so there is no duplication," he said cheerfully. "Kipling's 'If' is now taken. I suggest the rest of you start looking for a suitable subject. And that includes you, Mr Jorgensen. Unless you wish to drop English this year?" Snotlout grumbled a response as the teacher sat in his chair and made a note of Astrid's choice. Quietly, she sat and watched the others riffle through their volumes of Edgar Allen Poe and smiled, seeing Hiccup and Thuggery begin to argue over which of them could get 'the Raven', not realising that Fishlegs had already claimed it.

English was going to be a trying class this year.

oOo

Lunchtime found the gang in the cafeteria, occupying their usual table. A group of Juniors had been brazen enough to sit there first but Snotlout, Tuffnut and Eret had soon seen them off and reclaimed the prized position for the gang. Hiccup arrived with a tray laden down with cans of soda, chips, chocolate and candy and five burgers. He grinned as he arrived and slid the tray onto the table, seeing the others fall on it hungrily without a work of thanks for him. Not that he minded: he had as much money as he wanted and treating his friends was something he enjoyed. He grabbed the salad Cameron had asked for and handed it to her, snatching the last burger before Snotlout could grab a second.

"Milady," he purred and she grinned. She was wild, fearless and hot-tempered, with her wild blonde hair and bright blue eyes and he really liked her very much. She leaned in and kissed him hard, drawing whistles from the twins.

"Get a room!" Tuff yelled and Eret and Thuggory wolf-whistled, but Hiccup just gave a cocky grin.

"I like that idea," he murmured against her lips. She rubbed her nose against his.

"Cabin? At the weekend?" she suggested, grinning. "I presume your parents don't know...?" He grinned back.

"They think the gang are just coming up to camp," he smirked. "Of course, they are coming-on Saturday..." She snuggled against him.

"I'll be over at four on Friday," she whispered, kissing his neck lightly, then sitting back and opening her salad. Hiccup turned back to find a bite out of his burger-and Snotlout chewing, a smug grin on his face.

"Hey! You were eating her face! I thought you weren't hungry!" his cousin protested as Hiccup grabbed the remains of his burger and bit into it swiftly.

"You owe me a burger!" he mumbled, his mouth full. Snotlout flared, his eyes narrowing.

"Hey! You're not the boss of me!" he sneered.

"Snot, which one of us is the Mayor's son?" Hiccup asked him pointedly. "Your Dad depends on mine for his contracts. Get me the damned burger!" Thuggory immediately jeered.

"You tell Snot-boy, Hicc!" he sneered, further enraging the stocky Football Captain. "Off you go, shorty! One burger!" Looking around, Snotlout rose slowly and stamped back to the counter, buying a burger with bad grace and walking angrily back, slamming it down in front of the auburn-haired boy. He glared at Hiccup, seeing Cameron sitting in his lap, also laughing at him and his fists tightened.

"You don't treat your friends like this, cuz," he growled-but Hiccup only laughed.

"And you don't steal a man's food, Snot," he replied. "Am I right, guys?"

"Yeah-totally right, boss man!" Tuff shouted.

"What he said!" Ruff added. Eret fist-bumped the auburn haired boy and Dagur grinned at him. Heather glanced up and then smiled, rising.

"Gotta go," she said. "I've got a meeting with Principal Wing in five."

"I'm sure she's going to appoint you as Class President," Ruff commented. "I mean-none of the rest of us are President material..." There was a cough from the end of the table. "Except you, Hicc," she added.

"Yeah-why isn't Mayor's son Haddock being given the Class Presidency?" Snotlout snarked, causing said boy to glower at him.

"We don't know what the Principal wants to see me about," Heather reminded them. "And I'll be late. See ya!" Watching her go, Cameron snuggled into the tense Hiccup.

"Don't worry, baby," she soothed him. "You don't want all the work that goes with that. We all know you're the boss of the gang...and if you were having to be Class President, you'd have less time to spend with me." She pouted, her lower lip sticking out. "And I wanna spend time with my boyfriend..." Immediately, he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck.

"I'm so lucky to have you," he murmured. "They can keep the work. I'll keep you."

oOo

Astrid watched the gang's antics, seeing the twins have a food fight, Eret and Thuggory arm-wrestle and Hiccup's treatment of his cousin. Cameron was all over him, her athletic shape pressed possessively against him...not that Astrid was interested. Hiccup had his attractive points-his sparkling emerald eyes and lopsided grin were okay, she guessed reluctantly-but she didn't like him. His sense of entitlement, the way he was unkind to his so-called friends and his selfishness and arrogance did nothing for her. Shaking her head, she sipped her water and turned the page in her book.

Someone stopped by her and she glanced up, then stood, seeing the burly shape of Coach Markstrom. The woman was a former international soccer player who had settled in Berk and was the driving force behind the team's success. Her dark eyes swept over the athletic shape of the student, seeing her calm expression. "Can I help you, Coach?"

"Could you come with me please, Astrid?' she asked and the girl nodded, swiftly stowing her book, putting her trash in the receptacle and grabbing her bag, then walking after her. They were silent until they reached the Coach's office, where Astrid sat when asked and stared at the powerful woman. The coach's dark eyes inspected her.

"You are the finest player the school has seen," she said without preamble. "You work hard, you never give up and you always play for the team, even spurning scoring chances if someone else has a better opportunity. You are a great leader on the pitch and have an excellent eye for the break. And you're the only number ten I know who can defend as well as they can attack." Astrid felt her cheeks heat and gave a small smile.

"Thanks, Coach," she said, waiting for the 'but'. Her life over the last few years had been filled with 'buts'.

"I am coming under significant external pressure to name Cameron Bogthorpe as Team Captain," the Coach said, her tight voice betraying her irritation at the interference in her domain and Astrid nodded. "I could say more but we both can see who her boyfriend is-and thus the identity of the person who is exerting the pressure. However, I have played at the Women's World Cup and at the Olympics and have winner's medals from both...so I really don't care what they say. You are my Captain for the Senior Year, Astrid. It does mean commitment-all practices, team meetings and games. Can you commit?"

Could she? She had her part-time job at the Diner but she could alter her shifts to accommodate her practices-and her mother was absolutely adamant that Astrid should pursue her soccer. Money was tight...but she knew she could make this work and still contribute to the home. And she honestly wanted this more than anything. She nodded.

"Yes, Coach," she promised. "I won't let you down." Coach Markstrom grinned back at her.

"Please don't," she smiled back. "You're the only person at trials who is guaranteed a place-so try not to make me look a fool by picking you!"

Imagining Cameron's face-and by extension, Hiccup's-when she was announced in the Soccer team as Captain, Astrid grinned back.

"You can count on me, Coach," she grinned. "I guarantee you the people who were interfering with your team will be very disappointed!"

A/N: Yes, in this one Hiccup is a bit of an ass and not very likeable-to start with. He will get better!