Merida groaned. She knew she was bad at art, but her mother getting an after school art tutor was a bit extreme, surely? From what she heard her new teacher was a guy not much older than she was. These after school classes, hang on, these classes were taken by other students at her school! It better not be -

Crap.

"Merida?"

Hiccup Haddock.

"Oh God. This is a mistake, I mean -"

"No, I'm tutoring you. It's part of my extra credit."

"There is no way you are tutoring me."

"Well - you're here now and your mum says you're in dire need of it."

"She's lying."

"I have your grades from your last assessment," he said mischievously, holding up a piece of paper headed DUNBROCH, Merida.

"Don't you dare -" Merida made a grab for the paper but Hiccup had grown. He held it up out of her reach and opened it. He stifled a snigger as he read it. Merida looked at him with wide eyes full of regret. "I'm bad, okay? Maybe I do need a fucking tutor after all."

The smile was wiped off of Hiccup's face as he realised that Merida was genuinely upset that her grades were so low. He vowed to help her as best he could.

"Right," he stammered slightly as she sat down beside him. The art room was empty except for them. "It says here that you need to work on shading and real life imagery..."

A couple of lessons passed over the course of a few weeks and Merida started to warm up to Hiccup more. He was actually a pretty nice guy once she came to think about it and he was really, really good at art. He showed her some techniques to get started with and as she worked she felt herself improving already. Hiccup leaned over and looked at her work.

"Merida, this is a serious step up. This is really good."

"Really?" She felt her heart swelling with happiness before she could stop herself.

"Yeah, hang on, you're holding your pencil slightly wrong, more like this." Hiccup demonstrated with his own and Merida tried to copy his grip. "No -" Hiccup said as he placed his fingers over hers and guided them to the right spot. Merida felt her heart leap. Hiccup hadn't taken his hand away.

"It means you have more control, you see?" he said quietly, his breath tickling her ear. She hadn't realised how close he was before now; her cheeks were burning so red she swore he'd be able to feel it.

"Yeah," she whispered, "I see that."

"Why are we whispering?" Hiccup chuckled, looking at her.

"Why are you whispering?" Merida grinned, laughing.

"Come on, art stuff," Hiccup pulled his hand away, making Merida somewhat disappointed. What? she thought to herself. This is Hiccup. Really? You can't, no, you won't have a crush on him. You hate him, remember? Remember? Remember...?

Despite all this, the only thng she could think of as she walked home that evening was how warm his breath was on her neck, how his hands fitted over hers almost perfectly. No, she thought to herself as she stubbornly pressed her earbuds into her ears, I'm not going to get all funny because of some guy. It didn't mean anything anyway - did it?

Soon she got a text from Rapunzel, her best friend.

How was Hiccup today?? ;)

Merida replied instantly.

Fine... why the wink faces?

It's sooo obvious! How can you not have guessed yet?

What?

Hiccup likes you Mer!

What?? Wtf?

Not kidding Mer. Jack told me.

And?! There's no way Hiccup likes me. He's just my art tutor, that's all.

An art tutor you have a crush on.

No I don't!

Admit it.

I'm done with you and your jokes.

Merida, I'm serious. He really likes you. Jack told me he was going to try and make a move today or something.

...

Did he?!

I don't really know. It's hard to explain.

I've got time. Tell meee!!

Basically he was showing me how to hold a pencil properly and he put his hands over mine to show me how to do it. He didn't let go for ages.

HE LIKES YOU OMG I TOLD YOU!!

Omg Punzie shut up. He probably doesn't.

LOOK HE HELD YOUR FREAKING HAND - OF COURSE HE LIKES YOU.

You're just overreacting.

Merida plugged in her headphones and ignored the incoming texts, presumably all from Rapunzel. She pressed play, and it didn't help her already confused mind that "Crush" by David Archuleta started to play, so she skipped it. "Hold Me Now", The Thompson Twins. Skip. "Best Friend", Queen. Skip. "Three Little Words". It didn't matter who or what these songs were, none of them were helping. Merida yanked her headphones off and checked her messages. There were three new ones. Merida was confused. She never had that many at once.

She opened the first, Rapunzel's.

Talked to Jack - Hiccup's upset you walked out on him so quick today. Jack gave him your number.

Merida gritted her teeth as she opened the next message. This one was from Jack.

Hiccup's got your number. He really likes you Mer. Just give him a chance??

Merida opened the last text from a number she didn't recognise.

Hey Merida, it's Hiccup. I don't want to sound all stalkerish but Jack gave me your number and I just wanted to meet up maybe outside art tutorials? Please reply soon - H

Before Merida could help it, her heart was fluttering and she was sniling down at her phone. She replied to Jack's text:

Ugh fine. Just because he's your friend.

Then Rapunzel:

Fine. What the hell do I say to him though??

It didn't take a moment for Rapunzel to reply:

Just say something like - hey, why don't we meet up at Starbucks or something tomorrow? Simple but sweet.

I told you - I don't like him like that!

Mer - if you didn't then you'd have downright refused him. We all know you and Hiccup have something going on.

OMFG I hate you

I aim to please ;)

Merida grinned and started typing her message to Hiccup. It was slightly nerve-wracking, even though it was just words. Just words. Letters rearranged to form a sentence that could mean the world to someone or destroy their lives. God - the alphabet sure had a lot of power.

Her message read:

Don't worry about it - it's fine :) Want to come to Starbuck's tomorrow if you're not too busy, about 1pm?

Within seconds she got a reply, making Merida smile.

Sounds good to me. I'll meet you there :)

This isn't like a proper date, is it?

If you want it to be ;)

You've been talking to Jack for dating advice haven't you? xD

... Crap.

Relax, it'll be fine. I'll see you at 1 :)

Merida grinned and put her phone in her pocket. This would be an interesting lunch tomorrow...

A/N Hey everyone! Just a note to say I'm sorry I haven't updated or done much since I last finished 'I Don't Love You Too', I've been working on a new story which is pretty different, maybe I'll post a teaser chapter? Tell me in the comments :)

Just wondering, would you guys like a part two to this one-shot where they have lunch? I was going to write it but I figured it'd make a pretty long short story, so I thought I'd let you guys decide. Let me know!!