SEVEN:

"How was School?"

It was the question that Astrid had been sort of dreading for she really wasn't sure what to say. But her Mom was smiling and looking much better and she felt her own mouth stretch in a smile as she felt Ingrid's hand tighten around her own. Having her Mom looking and sounding much more like herself was a blessing and she knew that as she improved, Ingrid would get bored.

"Okay, I guess," Astrid admitted as her mother's blue eyes narrowed at the tone.

"But...?" Astrid sighed.

"Since you were taken ill, since I came back to School, people have been...much nicer to me," she admitted, Ingrid said nothing. "Most of them people who spent the last few years-well, being bitches." Ingrid gave a small cough.

"Maybe this has made them think differently of you?" she suggested. "And if they are talking to you, maybe they will realise what a wonderful person you are, Astrid."

"I guess."

"But...?" Ingrid leaned forward and her daughter sighed.

"It isn't real," Astrid admitted. "I mean, don't get me wrong-it's really nice to suddenly be included once more. To have people to talk to and laugh with and...and be with. But..." She sighed. "I think it's fake. I think they saw Uncle Finn collect me when you were taken to hospital and I guess they recognised him."

"You think they've befriended you because they think they can meet him by being your friend?" Ingrid asked.

"The boys are more obvious than the girls," Astrid admitted thoughtfully.

"Boys?"

"The jocks-the popular sporty guys that most of the female population would bite your arm off to be friends with-are all swarming around me," Astrid admitted. "It's kind of creepy, since they were calling me a nerd and threatening to put me in a dumpster on Monday. Yet when I came back, they were all 'looking good, Hoff' and 'how are you?'. It's so obviously false."

"Maybe they actually felt sympathy for you, my love," Ingrid said thoughtfully. "After all, they all have mothers and maybe this brought home that you are a person, just like them..." Astrid frowned, her nose wrinkling as she considered.

"Nope," she said at length. "It's obviously premeditated. Snotlout is a sleaze, smarming up to me while making his girlfriend feel uncomfortable, Eret is a swine and Thuggory is so in love with himself that I'm surprised he hasn't already eloped!" Ingrid began to chuckle.

"That's my daughter," she commented.

"And the girls aren't much better," Astrid continued, her frustration suddenly venting. "I mean, Atali deliberately isolated me in Freshman Year when Dad died and now she's all wanting to be friends? It's clearly false."

"And the others?" Ingrid asked her. Astrid sighed again.

"I want to believe Heather because she was my friend forever and she was still secretly my friend a little bit," the girl conceded. "And I find myself wanting to believe Ruff as well."

"Ruff?"

"Raquel Thorston," Astrid explained. "Her twin brother is a definite outcast but she won't allow a word against him. But not so sure about Mindy. I mean, she sometimes looks at me like I'm trying to steal her place and the fact that Snotlout, her boyfriend, has been flirting with me hasn't helped."

"And you've discouraged him?"

"Yup. Forcefully," Astrid said with a smug smile and Ingrid laughed again, though that set her off coughing. Astrid gave her some water and waited until she had settled. "Sorry, Mom," she said. Ingrid clasped her hand.

"No, this is doing me the power of good," she admitted. "But I will take a little while to get back to normal. The doctors are still dubious if I'll come off the HDU today or if I need another day here." Then she looked at her downcast daughter. "Is there no one you trust is being honest with you?" Reluctantly, Astrid nodded.

"There is one guy," she said slowly. "I mean, he used to be a jock but he was involved in an accident and was hurt. He lost part of his leg and he was ruthlessly cast aside by them. He's been trying to be friends with me ever since, always smiling and friendly. And no matter how many times I rebuff him, he still keeps being there. He asked if I was okay the day you were admitted because he could see I was down. I wasn't very nice to him..."

"Why?" Ingrid asked. The girl sighed.

"I think I was angry that I had been basically ignored for so long, that my friends had all abandoned me and then suddenly-boom! The same thing happens to him and he just expects me to be his friend. I wanted him to feel as miserable as I did..." And then she looked up. "That sounds horrible, doesn't it?"

"A little," Ingrid admitted. "I know you have been dealing with a lot, my daughter. Did you suspect he wasn't genuine?" Shaking her head, Astrid toyed with her hands again.

"No," she murmured. "But I just resented that he was thrown aside and he wanted to be friends with me when he hadn't before."

"People change and grow and learn," her mother reminded her. Astrid nodded.

"He used to be a jock...and I found out he was the one who mentioned the whole idea of putting me in a dumpster in Sophomore Year-though he told his friends not to do it..." Astrid continued. Then she pulled a face. "He never took part. And he tried to apologise to me the next day when everyone found out what had happened-but I yelled at him and the other jocks. And when they all became friendly-minus him, of course, because he's now as popular as Eel Pox-I asked the guys to prove they were serious and for the person who came up with the idea to spend an hour in a dumpster to see what it was like. I expected one of the people who actually did it to go in. Instead, they ambushed him and locked him in. He could have died! And that was my fault." She shook her head. "I feel really bad about that."

"You should," her mother said thoughtfully. "That's not who you are-and it sounds like it isn't really who this young man is either. I mean, he did apologise and he didn't take part. And he appears to have learned the same harsh lessons that you have, my love."

"I spoke to him the day after the dumpster incident," she admitted. "He's got a really bad cough and cold. And he was apologetic. And he was sassy and nice and..."

"And you sort of like him, don't you?" Ingrid asked. Dumbly, Astrid nodded.

"I was stupid," she admitted. "I couldn't give him a chance until I was suddenly popular, until I was no longer the pariah I had been. And I missed out on having a friend like him because that would have meant swallowing my pride-but it meant I was more alone that I should have been." Ingrid leaned forward and wrapped her arm around her daughter.

"You weren't in the best place-just like me," she said, her tone peaceful. "I think we both don't make good decisions when we're angry and hurt and bereaved." Leaning against her, Astrid closed her eyes.

"No," she sighed.

"And I have come to terms with my mistake, lying here and staring at the ceiling and thinking about how much I have deprived you of by my anger and bitterness," Ingrid added. "Finn could have been in our lives all this time-instead, all three of us suffered because I was angry for no good reason." Astrid sighed.

"He's here now," she admitted. "And you're getting better." She looked up and smiled.

"That's true," Ingrid admitted. "I am on the mend-and I don't want to see you here at the hospital tomorrow, Astrid." The girl's eyes widened. "I am going to have all my friends from work visiting and you need to go out and do something for yourself."

"But..."

"Astrid-you have spend hours here with me-and then you have needed to then go home and do your homework and everything else in the house," Ingrid said sternly. "So I want you to take tomorrow off. I presume there is a Valentine's Dance? And that you will be going?" Blinking in surprise, Astrid nodded.

"But how...?"

"I'm not so old and decrepit that I can't recall Valentine's Dances," Ingrid said dryly. "And being a popular girl, you would be going. Who is your date?"

"Dagur, Heather's brother," Astrid admitted. There was a pause and Ingrid raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" she asked. Blushing, Astrid stared at her hands again.

"Because I had to go with someone and he was the best, most palatable option," she admitted.

"But you don't actually want to go with him," Ingrid murmured. Astrid shook her head. "And you would prefer to go with this other boy?" Astrid nodded her head.

"Yes," she sighed.

"Then why don't you?"

There was a long silence.

"Because he's a pariah...and I have only just got some friends back," Astrid admitted.

"Even though you believe most of them aren't genuine friends...and the ones you hope are genuine are people who were either your friend before or who remain loyal to people who don't conform to High School Hierarchical norms," her mother pointed out.

"Who uses the word 'hierarchical' in normal conversation?" Astrid asked her dryly.

"I just have," Ingrid replied smartly. "Don't deflect. If you know it's not genuine, you should follow your heart, my love."

"Except it's nice having friends," Astrid mumbled.

"Even if they are just using you and will let you down?" Ingrid checked. Running her hands through her hair, Astrid sighed.

"I know they aren't genuine," she sighed. "And I'm using them as well..."

"But that's not who you are," Ingrid reminded her. "You are much better person than that. You do everything wholeheartedly. And when you befriend someone, you are a true friend. That is why you were so angry and hurt when you were abandoned before. These girls may be able to pretend to befriend you and then cast you aside when they get what they want-but that rejection would still hurt you badly."

Slowly, Astrid nodded.

"This boy you like...maybe you would be better going with him to the Dance?"

"But I gave my word to Dagur," Astrid said stubbornly. "And he is the best of the guys..."

"My love, life is far too short to be making compromises just for the look of the thing," Ingrid advised her, pausing to cough again. Breathing hard and exhausted, she reached for her oxygen mask and breathed the gas in for a few breaths. Anxious, Astrid reached for the call bell.

"Mom-I'll get the nurse..." But Ingrid grasped her hand.

"It's okay," her Mom said. "I was supposed to be wearing the oxygen mask all the time-but I wanted to talk to you without looking like an invalid..." Astrid gave a wry smile.

"Making compromises for the look of the thing..." she murmured. "Mom-this is your health we're talking about..."

"And I'm talking about your heart and your happiness," Ingrid retorted. "Just promise me that you will think about what I've said...and maybe give this boy, this young man who has been trying even before you were related to a famous film producer, a chance." Unbidden, a pair of emerald eyes flashed across Astrid's memory and she nodded.

"Yes," she conceded. "I want to." Ingrid squeezed her hand.

"So you have a super time, my love," she said, lying back. "And I know that Finn has a surprise planned for you tomorrow. So I will see you on Sunday and I want a full report of what happened at the dance!"

oOo

Saturday morning dawned, bright and cold and Astrid was up early, because Finn had told her that he wanted to take her to the set and she had agreed without hesitation. Dressing carefully in dark blue skinny jeans, her favourite brown boots, a fashionable azure silk blouse and sweater and planning to wear her usual ski jacket, she was ready early as Finn fried bacon and eggs and bread. Looking at the burnt crispy edges of the eggs, Astrid carefully rescued them and dished the food up.

"You look beautiful, niece," Finn complimented her, grinning as he bit into his bacon. "Seriously, I will be the envy of everyone with such a stunning young lady accompanying me." Astrid rolled her eyes.

"And it's all about looks," she said tonelessly...but he laid his cutlery aside.

"Astrid-no one can dispute you are a beautiful young woman-but I also happen to know you are smart, determined and very brave,' he told her. "People will underestimate you because of your looks-because there is an unconscious bias against pretty women, especially in the film industry. But I know that you will be fascinated by what goes on-and what man wouldn't be proud of such an amazing niece?"

Relaxing, Astrid sighed.

"But my friends at school are pretty shallow and are in it because of what they can get," she sighed as Finn frowned.

"You want to bring them along?" he asked mildly.

"Thor, no," she said quickly. "I mean, they ignored me and taunted me for year and only became my friends after Mom was taken ill...when you collected me from school. There is only one person I would offer to bring along-and he's ill with a cough and cold and I wouldn't have him standing out in the cold for hours..." Finn chuckled.

"Look, Astrid...if you want to bring a friend or friends along, I can always organise another visit for you and them," he offered. "But today is for you and me-because I do want to spend time with my niece. Deal?" Astrid nodded.

"Deal."

They drove out of Berk and into the rocky valley of Jotun's Low, where the film was currently on location-and Astrid was surprised at the infrastructure that had sprung up in the isolated and beautiful area. Trailers and tents were parked in the lea of Smigvarg's Stone, sheltered from the prevailing northerly winds and the crew were huddled in the tent, having coffees and preparing for the next scene. Finn parked and clambered down, waiting for Astrid as a skinny young man in a thick jumper scurried up, a clipboard clutched in his hands.

"Thank Thor you're here," the young man said without preamble. "That Yelena is kicking off again, complaining that her trailer is too small, that her lines are too difficult and that she is too cold." Finn gave a small smile.

"Have you got it?" he asked and the young man nodded, his pale brown lifeless hair plastered to his head. Swiftly, he handed over an ID and Astrid found it pinned to her collar.

"Astrid-this is Timothy Oeberg, my assistant. Timothy, this is Astrid Hofferson, my niece. She's visiting us today to see how films are made..." The stressed-looking young man nodded and gave a tired smile, his grey eyes still wary.

"Very very slowly," he sighed. "Finn..." The older Hofferson grinned.

"Come with me," he invited his daughter as they headed off in the direction of one of the largest trailers.

Astrid watched her Uncle in action and she was impressed with how he soothed the temperamental star, efficiently checked in with the director and had a word for anyone who wanted to speak with him. Finally, they sat back as the director finished a run through and then shot a scene with the star, Dane-a tall, handsome blonde man with a wry smile and charismatic presence. Then the director, a rotund balding man with a 'Berk Vikings' cap perched on his head shook his head.

"CUT!" he yelled. "Where is the Valkyrie?"

"She never checked in," Timothy reported, looking harassed. "And she's not answering her cell."

"We'll just have to change the order of shooting," Finn said but the director shook his head.

"The actor playing Brunnhilde has to leave this evening for her operation," he said tightly. "We changed the order of shooting to complete her scenes before her operation and her chemotherapy..."

"Then who have we got who could take her place?" Finn asked, nodding in recollection. The actress playing Brunnhilde had been determined to complete her part. "Any of the extras...?"

"None are in today-they weren't needed," the director sighed and then he looked up. "Who's that?" He pointed at Astrid. Finn frowned and glanced at the young blonde.

"My niece," he said. "She's just visiting the set with me and..."

"Can she act?" the director asked.

"Bernard...I'm not sure..."

"Can she act?" Bernard, the director insisted. Finn glanced at Astrid and mouthed the question. She nodded.

"Um, yeah...I've taken part in school plays..." the girl admitted.

"Can you swing an axe?" Bernard asked, his pale brown eyes locking with hers. Her brows dipped.

"I am Berkian!" she said proudly. "My father and Uncle made sure I am proficient on the axe and the sword."

"Astrid-do you understand what this means?" Finn asked seriously, resting a hand on her shoulder. "This has to be a secret. We will have to sign you up to the Archipelago Actors' Guild and this could change your life..." She sighed.

"Will this help you?" she asked directly. Finn's eyes widened.

"Well, yes..." he admitted. "But I brought you here for a day out, not to work you..." She gave a small smile then.

"And what would Dad have done, Uncle Finn?" she asked him. He gave a small chuckle.

"He'd have said 'where do I stand?'" he admitted. She nodded.

"Okay-what do you want me to do?" she asked.

Timothy immediately got on the phone to get her an Actor's card while the Director and Assistant Director explained to her what the scene involved and handed her a script to learn her lines. She was taken to costume where she fitted the Valkyrie outfit perfectly and then to make-up where they enhanced her looks and emphasised her pout. They kept her blonde hair in the braid, liking the way she had always done it-and then she was handed an axe and sword and taken to the set, the words running round her head and grateful for her excellent memory.

Her part was small but crucial. The Valkyrie finds the injured Thor and helps him recover from his crash-landing from Asgard, giving him enough impetus to find Mjolnir and defeat the invading Loki, Frost giants and Dwarves before riding off with Brunnhilde. But as Dane walked onto the set, carefully lying in the crater that had been built to simulate his fall from grace, she looked up.

"I can't do this,' she whispered. "I'll mess this up and ruin it for everyone..." But Dane immediately sat up, his blue eyes twinkling and he beckoned her to crouch by him.

"Astrid?" he said in a kind voice. "You won't. We can have as many takes as we need to reshoot the scene until it's right. And I know you'll do fine-because you're brave enough to step up to help us out and doing this for the right reason. And because you really really look like a Valkyrie. I am sure Finn wouldn't have let you do this if you weren't up to it." And then he smiled. "Look-when I first started, I was hopeless. I stammered. I was nervous. I missed my cues. But you are brave and Finn is always talking about his niece-and how hardworking and smart you are. I can appreciate that." He shrugged. "I may look like a Norse God but I have to work out for hours every day. I watch my diet. I avoid alcohol and have to dedicate myself to this role. I can't go out with friends and have to be careful whenever I go out because social media will be waiting for me to do something stupid. It's just a job-even though it's well paid with some serious perks."

Astrid nodded and smiled.

"Thanks," she said. "Shall we go?"

It took four takes to get the scene to Bernard, the Director's, satisfaction but at the end, he and Finn were smiling. And so was Astrid, a small smile that the camera captured as 'Thor' strode away, his purpose renewed by the words of belief and comfort from 'the Valkyrie' as Brunnhilde stood in the background.

"CUT! And that's perfect! Now let's set up for Scene 141..."

"You were great!" Finn rushed forward and hugged Astrid. Dane was back as well, hugging her and grinning.

"You were awesome, Astrid!" he said genuinely. "Look-you're a natural. If you ever fancy trying this as a career, you'd be a star!"

"Wow. And thanks!" the girl said, her cheeks aching as she smiled, though knowing her heart was still on her career as a scientist. Dane got her to fetch her phone and made sure they had selfies and pictures of her with him, the cast, even Bernard. And then they all went for lunch together.

By the time they got home, Astrid was running late for the Dance and texted Heather on her way back, telling her that she would meet her and Dagur at the venue, explaining that she had been out for the day with her Uncle. Disappointed, Heather had said she would see Astrid there and the girl had raced up to the bathroom for a fast shower.

Finn was taking her to the school and his breath hitched at the sight of Astrid in a knee length spaghetti strapped sky blue dress, a cream wrap thrown around her shoulders and golden strappy heels on her feet as she paused at the bottom of the stairs.

"Do I look okay?" she asked nervously. He blinked and sighed.

"Like a Valkyrie," he said and they both burst out laughing. She surged forward and hugged him.

"Thanks, Uncle Finn," she sighed. "That was the most amazing day ever."

"And this evening? Is there anyone there for you?" he checked. She sighed.

"I have a date-but he's not the person who I should be going there with," she sighed. "I mean, there is a guy I'm hoping to dance with..." Finn gave a huge grin.

"Astrid-I am sure you will get your man," he told her. "Remember-none of your friends know what you have been doing. So you will have a secret from them. You can't tell them...but I will take you for another visit with your closest friends another time. In the meantime-take my advice. Genuine friends don't care if you are rich or poor, they befriend you for who you are. Not who you know or who you are related to." Astrid kissed his cheek.

"Thanks," she said. He smiled.

"Now let's go knock 'em dead at the dance."