SIX:

The weather was cold and drizzly and made Astrid grateful that she was still being driven into school by Finn. It was actually a real delight to go home and spend time with her Uncle, who was similar to her dead father but much more outgoing. And despite his involvement with the shoot, Finn had worked out that he could manage some of the details through Skype and visit personally while Astrid was at school-so they could go to visit Ingrid together.

When she had seen the awful weather, she had almost reached for her beat-up jeans before she had recalled she wouldn't be cycling through the puddles and being splashed by careless drivers, So she had dressed in an above knee tartan skirt, her thick navy leggings, pale blue blouse and white sweater and her knee length boots, with her scarf, hat and thick winter jacket on. Finn had hugged her and promised he would be waiting when school got out so she wouldn't get wet and then he had headed out to the set while she walked in.

She was shocked when she arrived for overnight, the Hallway had been decorated with crepe paper and foil hearts, red bunting, cut out cupids and banners for the Valentines' Dance on the Saturday. Groups of girls and boys were huddled together, chattering loudly and exchanging cards. She kept her head down and walked towards her locker-and then Heather waved and yelled.

"ASTRID!" She looked up and saw the girls waiting for her, all grinning and opening their cards excitedly. The jocks were hanging close by, casting looks at the girls and winking. Snotlout made at least three inappropriate gestures towards Ruff, who leered and waved her little finger at him, causing him to gape in shock. "Hurry up-you have a shed load of cards, all stuffed in your locker door..." And arriving, Astrid did indeed find a number of cards, all pink and embossed and foiled and looking extremely shop-bought and showy. She flicked through each one, reading insincere words and curiously annoying and insulting innuendos from people who were praising her beauty and character when they wouldn't even give her the time of day at the start of the week. Snotlout's was the worst, even though he was going out with Mindy and she felt her fists itch to destroy the lot of them.

Except the bottom one, which was a handmade envelope crafted from a sheet of pale pink cartridge paper. Inside was a hand-painted card with a familiar scruffy hand inside that Astrid recognised from the previous day as Hiccup's. The words were gentle and sincere.

I have admired you for a long time for your bravery and strength and the amazing person you are. I really hope you would consider being my friend and maybe my Valentine. HHH

She gave a small smile and carefully and discreetly folded the card in half behind the stack as she turned and rolled her eyes.

"Ugh!" she said and tore up the cards, apparently dumping them all-except the carefully concealed handmade card-in the trash. "Completely fake and insulting nonsense!"

The others stared at her in shock.

"But...but...but you just got cards from all of the jocks," Mindy stammered as Ruff stared at her and secretly winked before turning away.

"Did I ask for cards?" Astrid forced herself to say as calmly as she could manage. "They sent the cards for themselves, not because any single one of them has any interest in being my boyfriend or a romantic Valentine. It's all just for show, isn't it?"

Atali scowled and for a moment, Astrid wondered if she had blown her chances with the Queen Bee. Green eyes flashing with irritation, the girl tossed her red hair and gave a false laugh.

"Almost everything we do is for show, Astrid," she said in a voice that was clearly filled with forced patience-especially as she had received fewer cards from the Seniors than the newcomer. "That's part of being the Popular girls." But before Astrid could launch an exasperated attack at her, Heather slipped her arm through the blonde's.

"Part of the fun is the insincerity," she reminded Astrid, casting a sly glance at the boys. "We all know they don't mean it."

"Hey! Some of us do!" Snotlout protested, hugging Mindy.

"Except Mindy is your girlfriend and yet you sent me a card suggesting we 'make sweet horizontal music together'," Astrid snapped. "I mean, that is just insulting to Mindy. If you were really sincere, you would send her a card and her alone." Atali opened her mouth to scorch a reply but Mindy looked at Astrid and her eyes softened with the briefest flash of gratitude.

"Thanks," she said in a surprised voice. And then she turned on Snotlout. "And you-you self-absorbed numbskull-why did you send her-or any of the others-a card when you're supposed to only have eyes for me?" The stocky boy shrugged without any contrition.

"Duh-because it's Valentines and the others would feel cheated if they didn't get a card from the Snotman!" he said as if it was obvious.

"Actually-it's weird getting a card from someone else's boyfriend," Ruffnut pointed out, much to Atali's annoyance. "We all know Snot is Mindy's boyfriend so why would he be sending us a card? It's lame and pretty underhand."

"It can't be underhand because honestly, no one could miss those huge and tasteless cards," Heather pointed out. "I mean, he seems to think that larger equals better."

"It doesn't," Ruff agreed, smirking as she watched Snotlout look more and more irritated. "And smacks of over-compensation to me. I mean...it seems he feels he needs the largest card possibly because he has a tiny..."

"Hey-none of you have objected the last couple of years!" he snapped. "It's just since..."

"You were going out with Mindy that it's wrong!" Atali interrupted, glaring at the raven-haired jock. Her eyes clearly reminded him to swallow the words 'since Astrid joined you' even if they were true.

"And it's not just Snot," Ruff added, stirring things with a sly smile as she peered at hers and the others' cards. "I mean, Thuggory has given us all the exact same card with the exact same line in. Talk about not making any effort!"

"And Eret has made the same suggestion and asked every one of us to go out with him to the Dance-even Mindy who is supposed to be his friend Snotlout's girlfriend!" Heather added. "You know, I think Astrid is right. I mean, counting success by the number of insincere and plain insulting cards you get is pretty childish. It may be okay in Second Grade but we're Seniors. Pretty much adults. Showing off who gets the most cards is really pathetic!" Atali snorted: as Queen Bee, she valued the fact that she received the most cards of anyone in the School, for all the jocks and many admirers from all years sent her cards. But even she could appreciate it had to be unfair to Mindy for Snotlout to send a card to all her friends as well.

"And I think we've talked that subject to death," she said, tucking her cards in her bag, while noting Ruff and Heather had binned their cards as well. "There's the bell. Come on, girls. Just a few hours of classes and then it's the weekend-and the Valentines Dance!"

As the group walked off in the directions of their classes, Astrid passed a familiar shape, hunched by his locker. Hiccup looked rough, his nose red and still coughing painfully. He had forced himself to come into school, despite the fact that he wasn't well, because he didn't want to miss out-and score a zero for failing to hand in his English assignment again. And from the look in his face, he had clearly seen her action in ripping up the Valentines cards, assuming his had been destroyed and dumped with the rest. His feverish emerald eyes met hers for a brief moment and she saw how hurt he was, so she drifted slightly towards him and turned her head, gifting him the briefest of smiles.

"Thank you," she mouthed and then continued on her way.

Hiccup gave another hacking cough. He had been completely distraught that his final gambit had failed and worse, been rejected as a shallow, self-serving gesture when it had been anything but. Yet Astrid's reaction gave him the slightest sliver of hope. Maybe she hadn't lumped him in with all the other insincere jocks and had understood what she meant to him. And then he sighed and gathered his bags, trailing along at the end of the throng, hoping he would make class in time.

oOo

"So who are you going to the Dance with?" Mindy asked, snuggling obviously against Snotlout. That had been a no-brainer for even Snotlout had managed to assess the situation and had been extra-attentive and sweet towards his very disgruntled girlfriend. Mindy had been pointedly clingy and was enjoying a free lamb burger and rice courtesy of the jock. Astrid looked up, not assuming the girl was talking to her-but every eye was uncomfortably on her.

"Um...I really wasn't intending on going," she admitted. "Haven't been the last three years and as I don't have a boyfriend to go with..." Mindy gave a smug smile.

"Well, that is true," she accepted. "Though you're now with the popular crew so offers should be flying in."

"Not really happened so far," Astrid muttered, poking her pasta salad. The boys shared a look.

"Dear Astrid-are you sure?" Eret asked her smugly. "I mean, you are a beautiful and spirited young woman and I would be honoured to go to the dance with you."

"Or you could go with quality over quantity and come with me, Hoff," Thuggory smirked. "I mean, we would make the most stunning couple there."

"Or you could go with me and at least have a laugh at the treacly sickly nonsense everyone else is spouting," Dagur offered, a twinkle in his pale green eyes. Astrid looked up for a moment and considered it: she knew Dagur through Heather and was pretty sure he wouldn't be as much of an ass as the others because he had been a decent guy towards her when she had gone over to Heather's home in the past. And he did have a wicked sense of humour.

"But what about the others?" she asked with a slight frown. "I thought you guys always asked the girls out?"

"Well, I can hardly ask out my sister, can I?" Dagur teased her. "I mean...incest. Bleurgh!"

"I'm coming with Ryker Grimborn," Atali announced.

"No way!" Ruff gasped.

"Way!" Atali said smugly. "He's been messaging me for the last seven months since he left and went to College. And though he's already the star of Berk University Football Team, he has only got eyes for me."

"Not what BerkBook is saying," Ruff muttered under her breath. Astrid cast her a sideways look: the words weren't intended for Atali though the girl had guessed what the female twin was saying.

"I trust Rykie," she said firmly. "No matter what those vicious gossips say!" Ruff's eyebrows spoke volumes but she didn't say anything more. Eret raised an eyebrow at the female twin.

"Okay, Raquel-what do you say?" he asked. She rolled her eyes.

"Okay, E," she said. "I'll be your date." Heather sighed and looked over at Thuggory.

"You and me, babe," she said in a resigned tone as the dark-haired young man gave a broad grin.

"Don't worry, honey-we'll have fun," he assured her as Dagur turned to Astrid.

"Go on, Astrid," he asked her in a faintly pleading voice. "I mean, that means I'll be the only one without a date. We can have fun. I promise not to pull any asshole moves on you-boy scout's honour!"

"Dagur-I know you were never a boy scout," Astrid said, folding her arms. "But okay. Friends only-if you try anything smoochy, I won't be responsible for my actions..." Winking at the others, Snotlout crept around and wrapped his arms around Astrid from the back.

"Surprise, Hoff," he said and tried to smooch her. Instantly, she slammed her head back, stunning him before an elbow slammed twice into his side and then she rose, grabbing the doubled-up, winded jock and ably throwing him to the ground. He impacted with a pained 'OOF!' and looked up blearily.

"Ow..." he whined.

There was a pause-and then everyone burst out laughing. Even Mindy was completely unsympathetic at her boyfriend's distress-primarily because she had been shocked and annoyed that Snotlout had grabbed the newcomer to the group and tried to kiss her. Eret and Thuggory were just helpless with laughter and Ruffnut was howling and pointing. Annoyed, Snotlout slowly picked himself up.

"Not funny..." he snapped. "I could have been seriously hurt..."

"And it would have served you right," Astrid told him sternly, folding her arms. "I warned Dagur."

"That was very impressive, Astrid," Atali said primly, her eyes calculating. She had been impressed at the reaction, even though she felt sorry that Snotlout's prank had been foiled. "How did you learn to do that?"

"Martial arts lessons when I was younger-and I did some more after Dad died when certain people started being asses to me," the blonde replied sharply, glaring at Snotlout. There was a pause and Ruff started howling with laughter again.

"It's your own fault!" she exclaimed gleefully.

"Shut up, Ruff," Snotlout grumped as Heather touched Astrid's arm. The raven-haired girl winked.

"That was awesome," she smiled. "Wanna come round mine to get ready? It will make collecting Dagur easier-and he does get nervous before these things..." Taking a breath and calming down, Astrid nodded. Because thought she was sort of looking forward to actually going to a dance, she would really have rather gone another green-eyed boy who was sitting with his little gang of outcasts at the back of the canteen. Looking up, she saw Hiccup looking at her and for a second, she saw him look as if he wanted to say something...but then he looked away. And there was a faint flicker of regret in her chest-because there was a large part of her that would actually have preferred going with Hiccup rather than Dagur.

And maybe be my Valentine?

Was it a request? A suggestion? An offer?

She shook her head and turned back to her salad. Maybe she could see him at the Dance and thank him. Because she was certain now that his had been the only genuine offer. Snapping the plastic container closed, she rose.

"I just need to nip to the bathroom before classes," she explained and smiled at them before she strode out. Atali's smile dropped from her face the second the blonde was out of sight.

"Gods, she is an utter puritan," she sighed. "Doesn't she understand a bit of fun?"

"Yeah-she should be grateful that we are giving her our friendship rather than leaving her as the pariah she is," Thuggory added.

"I thought she was going to turn us all down," Eret added. "You did good work, Dag." The carrot-haired man looked over at his friends. He was two years older, held back by a combination of injuries and serious illness meaning that he had ended up doing Junior and Senior Year with his younger sister. And he was feeling more than a little guilty at the way his friends were behaving. His sister had moments when she looked as uncomfortable as he felt, for he knew Astrid from when she and Heather had been friends in Middle School and liked her. It felt wrong to be using her.

"Yeah,"he said shortly and sighed.

"Don't everyone look like your grandmother has died," Snotlout cut in obliviously. "Look, the plan is going brilliantly. Hoff has been adopted by us and she seems to think we like being her friends. She's now popular and has us as her friends. Has she mentioned the film set yet?"

"Not yet," Atali said irritably. "Honestly, she should be offering that up immediately..." But Heather shook her head.

"Why should she?" she asked her friend. "I mean, you and the rest have treated her pretty badly over the last three years-so why would she want to do anything so amazing for us after just a few days. I mean, I think she's still expecting us to all revert to how we were and tell her this was a particularly cruel joke."

"Well, it is, isn't it?" Eret asked bluntly. "I mean, we are only mixing with her so we can use her to get on the set of 'Son of Odin' aren't we?" There was an awkward pause and the others nodded with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Heather noted that both Ruff and Dagur looked distracted as she nodded and then she sighed.

"I think we're going to need to convince her that we are her friends," she reminded them. "Remember to ask about her Mom, muttonheads! Exchange phone numbers and remember not to give the game away-and that means you, Snotlout!"

"I honestly though he had blown it," Mindy admitted as Atali rolled her eyes.

"Dagur-you're up to bat," she said. "You need to make sure she has a good time at the Dance-so she realises that we are her friends. Next week, we can start including her in the things we all bring to the group so she starts to realise she ought to contribute as well..." Everyone nodded. "Now remember-be nice to her," Atali stressed. "At least until we get what we want from her."

oOo

Hiccup dragged himself back to his locker, his body aching. He was truly glad that the week was over and that he could have the weekend off to recover from his cold, get ahead on his school assignments and try to come to terms with the fact that somehow, his one chance with Astrid had been snatched from his grasp. And though she had been amazing to spend time with yesterday, today, she had blown off all the guys' cards...including his last ditch attempt at letting her know what she meant to him.

He glanced up at the hearts and posters and he sighed. This would be the first year he wouldn't be going to the Valentine's Dance-but then, he had no Valentine and he couldn't dance, so why should he even try? Admittedly Fish and Tuff would be going but that would just be weird, as a threesome all without dates and he wasn't sure he could cope with seeing Astrid dancing with Snotlout or Eret without it breaking his silent promise not to ruin her blossoming friendship with the Popular girls. There was a small part of him that really hoped they would see her as he did-for the amazing girl she was-but the conversation he had overheard in the canteen had made him concerned for her once more. No matter how nice they seemed, it was clear they were still forging on with their plan to use her to get on the film set and he really really hoped that they wouldn't discard her after they had got what they wanted.

He unlocked the door and opened it...to see a scrap of paper flutter down. Warily, he glanced around to check that it wasn't some sort of set-up before he bent down to pick it up and then his eyes widened. It was the back of the handmade envelope he had given Astrid and as he turned it over, he saw her neat writing on the pink cartridge paper.

I think I may have misjudged you. Yours was the only sincere offer I have had ever-and I greatly appreciate it. Yes, I would love to be your Valentine-if you would be mine? And maybe...you want to ask me for a dance tomorrow? A

Smiling, he folded the paper and carefully stowed it in his bag. Maybe he had a reason to go to the Dance after all.