TEN:

Astrid woke late on Sunday, eyes widening when she saw the time. She had been exhausted and she was surprised that Finn hadn't woken her but she was grateful for the rest. Then she automatically reached for her phone and peered at the screen-and then her lips stretched up in a smile, for there were a couple of texts-from Hiccup.

[11:36]

I JUST WANTED TO THANK U 4 AN AMAZING EVENING. SERIOUSLY. BEST EVENING OF MY LIFE. EVEN BEING PUNCHED WAS WORTH IT 2 SPEND TIME WITH U

[11:39]

AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE U 2 MUCH TROUBLE ON MONDAY. I MEAN, YOU CAN IGNORE ME IF YOU WANT 2 SO THE GIRLS AREN'T MEAN 2 U AGAIN.

[11:40]

THOUGH I REALLY HOPE U WON'T

[11:41]

SLEEP WELL. AND C U MONDAY :) X

She clicked the screen off and sat up, running her fingers through her dishevelled hair. Finn had shared his pizza with her and they had watched a stupid slapstick comedy that she remembered from her childhood. Then she was up, hitting the shower and dressing casually before bouncing down the stairs to find Finn sipping a steaming hot coffee and reading the 'Berk Marauder' newspaper. He looked up to see the smile on her face and he grinned.

"Morning, Asti," he greeted her cheerfully. "Coffee's brewed, there's porridge in the pan and I can make some toast." She grinned and poured herself a cup, sitting down and sipping the hot liquid as she sighed. "Now are you going to tell me anything about the handsome young man who drove you home?"

She glanced at him and smiled.

"That was Hiccup," she explained as Finn chuckled.

"Ah-I see the good old Berkian naming traditions haven't died out yet."

"Nope," Astrid admitted. "Though I think the poor guy would rather they did."

"So should I be worried? As your Uncle?" he asked and she shook her head.

"He's a good guy," she explained, smiling, thumbing through her phone and finding two pictures Heather had sent her. She demonstrated the one of them dancing. "He was rejected by his friends when he lost part of his leg in a fire and he's been trying to be my friend for over a year. But I was...so sore and angry I was mean to him as well. Until I regained my friends and then I realised I had done something that had hurt him. It made me feel...dreadful...and he was...really good about it. I finally allowed myself to see that he was worth being friends with and forgave him for who he was before."

Finn rolled his cup in his hands and looked thoughtful.

"He's not after you for your...new found fame?" he asked carefully but she shook her head.

"He's been trying to be my friend for over a year. The day Mom was taken ill...he asked me if I was okay when I came in. I grumped at him...but he said I looked sad." She noted Finn give a small smile.

"He knows what you look like," he murmured. "I guess he's not popular?"

"Treated like dirt by the rest of the populars...especially the people who used to be his friends," Astrid admitted, getting up and putting some bread in the toaster.

"I can't begin to understand the intricacies or vagaries of teenage school hierarchies," Finn commented, "but that seems a vile way to treat your friend when he has just suffered a terrible accident and needs your help. And though of course I would never think of offering you advice, I will just say that people who treat their so-called friends like that are not to be trusted. Leopards don't change their spots and the way they treated Hiccup...is how they will treat anyone else who falls below their personal standards of worthiness."

"Kinda what I thought," Astrid admitted and sighed. "I only just got popular again...and it's really nice having friends again" Finn got up and grabbed her freshly toasted bread, smearing butter and honey on the warm crisp bread and placing the plate in front of her.

"You have to do what you think is right and most importantly, what makes you happy," he told her gently. She sighed.

"That's the choice," she said.

oOo

Sunday flew by, visiting her Mom, who had finally been moved off Intensive Care, and completing her assignments. Astrid hadn't heard at all from the others-even Heather, which concerned her a little. And she studiously tried not to concentrate on what would happen the next morning. And waking on Monday, she had almost reached for her previous uniform of beat up jeans and baggy jumper but the stubborn core of Astridness had refused to lie down and admit that she had done anything wrong. If the popular girls were going to gang up on her, she was going down fighting.

Finn gaped as she walked down the stairs, dressed in an above-knee dark brown leather skirt, pale blue silk blouse, sky blue cashmere cardigan, brown ankle boots and leggings. Her hair was braided at the sides with most bushed loose over her shoulders. And there was a hint of eyeshadow over her bright blue eyes.

"That's the Hofferson Valkyrie," he commented with a smirk and she smiled back.

"Thanks, Uncle Finn," she said.

"I take it you're going to war?" he checked and she nodded, her eyes glittering.

"I did nothing wrong," she said, recalling her furious outburst. "I am a Hofferson and I do not have to justify myself to girls who are so shallow they will go out with an ass to look good." Finn winked.

"Then into battle?" he suggested and she nodded.

"To Victory!" she said as they headed to the car.

But her heart was pounding and she felt apprehensive as they pulled up to the school and emerged from the car. Finn kissed her and leaned close to breathe a couple of words in her ear:

"The Valkyrie who helped the Son of Odin fears nothing." Then he winked and watched her walk into the school.

She was immediately aware of eyes on her as she walked through the Hall, for word of the Dance had flown around the students. There were murmurs and the relief of the last few days had gone, replaced by the familiarity of being an outcast. But she lifted her chin and walked forward, striding straight on and forcing students to move out of her way, for she could see the familiar shape of Heather standing alone by her locker.

"Hey," the raven-haired girl greeted her. Astrid smiled.

"You okay?" she asked and Heather nodded, her eyes distracted.

"I tried texting Atali and Mindy yesterday but the didn't reply," she revealed unhappily. "We've chatted on text and Berkchat since we became friends and this is the first time they haven't replied." She sighed.

"I'm sorry," Astrid said genuinely. "I never meant for any of this to happen. And if you want to go back to them...I won't hold it against you."

"But you would be disappointed-and with good reason," Heather replied with honesty. "I have maintained our friendship without making any sacrifice-while my so-called friends have sneered at you and I didn't say anything. I've not been a good friend-but you deserve better. And honestly, after seeing how they and they guys behaved on Saturday, I think...I'm better off without them." Astrid hugged her.

"I meant it," she said gently. "You are my friend, Heather-and you did speak up for me."

"Three years too late," the other girl muttered. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you, Ast."

"Right back at you," Astrid promised.

"Room for one more?" a familiar voice said and they looked to see Ruff standing by them. "I mean, I may have burned my boats. And then stamped on the ashes. Then vaporised the ashes."

"And then squirted mustard on them," Astrid added dryly. Ruff grinned. Heather did a double-take, for the female twin was in khaki combat pants, white lycra top under a brown fitted cashmere sweater and brown boots.

"What happened to fashionable Raquel Thorston?" she asked as the female twin winked.

"She's in here...somewhere...but she's having a day off," the girl admitted. "And I came in with my bro..." She pulled a face. "I mean, I do love him-though it's incredibly unfashionable to admit that-but he has this pet chicken and the cursed thing does poop everywhere." Astrid smiled: that was the kind of person she preferred, someone real who didn't care about looks but things that actually mattered. Then she looked up.

"So what do we do if we run into Atali and Mindy?" she asked as the other two shared a look.

"Let her make the first move," Heather suggested, frowning. "She could blank us, pretend it didn't happen or be gracious and give us another chance." Ruff snorted.

"Like I want to go back to being her pet when I ketchupped Thuggory," she commented. "That was so much more fun. And they all owe you an apology for saying you had to go dance with that ass Ryker." Slowly, Astrid nodded.

"Not really expecting that," she admitted. "So...shall we get our things and make our way to class?" Heather nodded and closed her locker.

"I doubt it's going to be that simple," she said. "I can guarantee that everyone knows what happened-and in this school, you're either with Atali, or you're nothing." Astrid folded her arms.

"I think it's time they understood that people who aren't their cronies aren't nothing," she said. "We are all amazing. And you guys are doubly so for standing by me when I really didn't expect it." And then Heather hugged her.

"No-thank you...for giving me a chance to be the friend I should have been," she murmured.

"And me a friend you never knew you needed," Ruff added with a grin, throwing her arms around them. And then she winked. "Shall we go and find your possible boyfriend, Ast? I guess the guys aren't gonna be pleased and they already tried to freeze him to death." Astrid's eyes widened.

"Oh, surely they wouldn't do anything that stupid in the school and..." she began and then she paused, seeing the two girls give her an impatient look. "Of course they are...because Snotlout is there, isn't he? Come on-let's try his locker first..."

oOo

Hiccup was late, flustered and certain that the Gods definitely hated him this morning. It had started so well with him waking early and going for a run to try to get fit enough to be worthy of going out on a run with Astrid-but he had been a bit slower than he had guessed as a result of his lingering cold and then it had started to rain so he had needed an extra-warm shower. And when he had come down from breakfast, his father had unexpectedly been there. Of course, he had tried to explain that he was already running late for school but Stoick Haddock had been eager to spend time with his son and had insisted on making him a huge fried breakfast that he had forced himself to tackle while his father eagerly tried to pry into Hiccup's private life and enquire about the obvious bruises on his face. Forcing himself to be patient, even though the sudden intrusive interest irked him, he had tried to be civil while giving away nothing. He knew that his Dad would be gone by the time he returned from school but for now, Stoick seemed to have no sense of time.

He sighed as he parked. His usual place had been taken by a definitely non-disabled student (Snotlout, of course) by the time he had managed to get away and drive in and he had been forced to park in the furthest corner of the parking lot and walk all the way round the school in the rain to get in. And because it was later, the Hall was thronging with students, jostling and bumping him aside which didn't help his slightly diminished balance. Worse, his locker was miles from the main entrance, meaning he had to navigate the whole crowd of students to get to it.

Finally through, he knew he only had a couple of minutes to go before class and he frantically opened his locker and dumped his coat and bag contents in there, just taking the things he needed for lessons. But as he slammed the door, he found three burly shapes waiting at him, scowls on their faces. His eyes widened.

"Snot! Thug! Eret! How are you guys?" he asked quickly, his voice muffled by the bruising from where Ryker had hit him and still a little thick from his cold.

"We want a word with you, Haddock!" Thuggory growled, grabbing at him. But Hiccup dodged back, ignoring the ache in his stump. He should have been running a bit more regularly, really-but he frowned and forced himself to concentrate on the dark-haired jock.

"Can't it wait?" he asked, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the classrooms. "Bell's just about to go..." Snotlout slammed him back against the locker.

"No, we need to talk now, fishbone!" he growled. Hiccup tried to shove him back and failed.

"But a cork in it, Snot," he snapped, "I know why you're pissed-and it's stupid."

"You made us look stupid in front of Ryker," the stocky young man snarled. "You shouldn't have asked Astrid to dance..."

"Why not?" Hiccup snapped back. "She is beautiful and brave and sassy and smart. All of you taunted her and treated her like dirt until you found out who her Uncle was. She could always have said 'no' if she didn't want to dance with me. But what she didn't want was to dance with Ryker. She was relieved to be rescued. She wouldn't dance with you because you were all asses to her. Here's a tip-if you want people to like you, you need to treat them with decency and respect."

"She's a nobody who should be thanking the gods that we are her friends," Eret told him.

"I mean, she was offered our friendship and she chose a one-legged outcast over a College Football star!" Snotlout scoffed.

"She should have been honoured that Ryker wanted to dance with her," Thuggory pointed out, looming closer.

"She wasn't," Hiccup shot back. "She wanted not to dance with him-and he didn't look like he has the word 'no' in his vocabulary."

"You don't ask a girl to dance when another guy has already asked," Snotlout told him smugly.

"Why not?" Hiccup retorted. "She was looking for me-for someone-to rescue her from him."

"But he had already asked her," Snotlout protested.

"So? She doesn't have to say yes-and he isn't her owner," Hiccup snapped back. "She can be asked to dance by as many people as want to-and it is her choice who she accepts. In fact, she has the right to turn everyone down."

"But she didn't," Eret said coldly. "She chose you."

"You know, I really don't understand why you were fangirling over him so much when he was a cruel ass who treated everyone like dirt," Hiccup pointed out. "Including you guys. I mean, he acted as if you were beneath his notice. I have every right to ask her to dance. She looked like a Goddess and the rest of you were all being pretty mean to her. I watched you treat her like a servant! I would do anything to dance with her because she is worth it. Ryker expected her just to swoon and say yes-but some things have to be earned. And y'know, to me-Astrid is worth everything."

"She's just a cheap whore!" Snotlout sneered and punched him and he went down, kicking out and catching the Football player on the knee. Bellowing, Snotlout went down as Eret lunged at Hiccup-but the lean young man flung himself forward, carrying the buffer and taller young man a couple of paces. Thuggory grabbed him and pulled him off but he elbowed the taller man in the ribs and pulled back-to be knocked down by Snotlout.

"You don't insult Astrid in my hearing!" Hiccup gasped, slamming his prosthetic leg into his cousin's ankle.

"Who doesn't insult me?" Astrid suddenly said as Snotlout yelped loudly and clutched at his ankle. She had rounded the corner and seein the jocks clustered around him and her eyes narrowed. Hiccup looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of the blonde almost growling as she advanced. Snotlout hopped away, cursing.

"Son of a half-troll...Coach will be furious..." he whimpered.

"Um...these guys?" he mumbled. "I mean..." He tried to get up but Eret shoved him back once more and he collapsed to the ground. Heather and Ruff stared in shock as Astrid leapt forward, her fists balled.

"Get off him!" she shouted, kicking Eret's ankle. The jocks looked up and then backed away, their eyes shocked that there were two of the 'popular' girls still with the possibly-reinstated outcast.

"If you aren't in your class in one minute, you all have detention!" the familiar hard voice of Mr Grimborn said from behind them. The jocks fled and Astrid took Hiccup's hand as she helped him up, nodding to the girls before they all scurried along to English. And every eye was on them as they sped in just as the second bell sounded, seeing Atali and Mindy seated in their normal place by the window, studiously not looking in their direction.

Under Mr Throk's cool gaze, Hiccup limped to his normal place on the back row and Astrid sat at his side, with Heather and Ruff next to her. On Hiccup's other side were Fishlegs and Tuffnut. Dagur walked in and sat by Heather's other side, staring ahead and ignoring the other jocks, who were huddled by Atali and Mindy. The other students were muttering in shock at the apparent fracture in Atali's gang-but the Queen Bee was maintaining her cool facade and pointedly ignoring her former friends.

When they were doing their group work-thankfully, Hiccup and Astrid had been paired as they were sitting next to one another-Astrid glanced over to the young man, seeing the dark bruising on his face from where Ryker had punched him and recalling the words she had overheard.

"Are you okay?" she murmured as he finished his sentence. Then he looked up and his emerald eyes looked self-conscious.

"I'm great," he said brightly, then coughed. "Apart from the cold."

"And the bruises," Astrid murmured, leaning over and looking at his work, then scrubbing an amendment. "I heard what you said."

"You-you did?" he mumbled. "Okay, I'm sorry but I never meant..."

"I'm not angry," she told him gently. "That was really...wow. I don't think anyone has ever stood up for me before. And I am completely...touched." And then she smiled. Hiccup stared into her face and he swallowed, feeling his heart accelerate and all the problems of the morning melt away.

"I mean it," he said honestly. "And I'm really glad you decided against the 'ignoring Hiccup' option..." She grinned.

"Well, I was really hoping you would join me for lunch," she said. Hiccup glanced round the room, seeing the shocked eyes of some of the students and the cool and unfriendly eyes of the rest.

"I would love to-Milady," he said as they turned back to their assignment.