SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

(A How To Train Your Dragon Fanfiction)

By: Astrid Camicazi N. Hofferson

Summary: After so many years, Hiccup Haddock have never seen his best friend Astrid Hofferson. But fate seemed to have a way for them to cross paths again. Everything that revolves around them have already changed, except for one. His feelings for her. Can he muster up all the courage to confess to his only love? (MODERN AU, One-shot)

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

A/N1: English isn't my first language so please bear with me. Constructive criticisms are pretty much appreciated.

-HTTYD-

HICCUP

IN THE QUIET embrace of the library, I found myself drawn to her presence once again. As I sat there, engrossed in my books, I suddenly noticed her gentle entry into the room. Her infectious smile illuminated the space around her as she gracefully approached Mr. Mildew, the stern librarian, to inquire about a book.

Her smile, like a radiant halo, seemed to hold the essence of eternal joy within her, never fading away. Our eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, memories of our happiest times together came rushing back. It took me back to the days when I was just a shy, nerdy kid, always lurking in the shadows of popular students like her...

Summoning all my courage, I called out to her as she was about to leave. "Hey Astrid!" I stuttered, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.

She turned around with curiosity in her eyes. "Hiccup, right?" she confirmed.

I nodded, a small smile escaping my lips. "What's the rush? Is there a problem, and you wanted to talk to me?" she asked kindly.

"N-no, A-astrid. T-here i-is n-no p-problem. I j-just w-wanted t-to t-tell y-you t-that w-we h-have a r-rehearsal f-for o-our s-school p-play. A-are y-you c-coming? T-they're a-already l-looking f-for y-you," I managed to say, my nerves getting the best of me.

"Oh, I forgot! But I'm really sorry, Hiccup... I won't make it to the rehearsal today. I have a project to do for my History class, and you see, it is due tomorrow, and I don't have much time to finish it," she said apologetically.

"I-is t-that s-so? I-its f-fine. I u-understand. I'll j-just t-tell t-them t-that y-you c-can't c-come."

"Thanks, Hiccup. But I promise that I will make it up to you, and next time I will attend the rehearsals," Astrid said, offering a warm smile. "Oh, I need to go already. Goodbye, Hiccup."

"B-bye A-astrid," I replied, waving my hand as she made her way home.

True to her word, she showed up at our practice the following day, and her performance left us all in awe. Over the next few months, our shared rehearsals brought us closer together. We became friends with shared interests, providing each other with wise advice and discussing everything under the sun.

As we spent time together, I discovered that Astrid was the kindest and most genuine person I had ever met. My initial assumptions about her being like the other popular girls in school, arrogant and conceited, were completely wrong. She was Astrid Hofferson, a beautiful, kind, intelligent, sassy, witty, brave, funny, and selfless individual. Most importantly, she became my best friend.

There was something about her that made my world feel lighter, as if she had the power to bring happiness and calmness into my life just by being present.

As our friendship blossomed, we became the subject of constant teasing by our schoolmates due to our constant togetherness. People would jest that we were starting to resemble each other, and in their playful teasing, they would insinuate that such resemblance often led to romantic connections. Secretly, I found myself hoping that there might be some truth to it.

But in the midst of the school year, before I could gather the courage to confess my feelings, fate intervened. Astrid's family had to move to the other side of the country, closer to her father's new job assignment. And just like that, she was gone, leaving me hesitant to express my emotions. I feared that my confession would jeopardize our friendship and that she might not feel the same way about me.

Time passed, and we lost touch with each other. The years went by, and the memories of her lingered, a constant presence in my thoughts.

Now, at the Archipelago University, destiny seemed to have woven our paths together once more. Seeing her again after all this time, I was determined to tell her everything. She greeted me with familiarity and happiness evident in her eyes.

"Hiccup! Long time no see. How are you? You've changed a lot," she exclaimed, her voice warm and inviting.

"I'm fine, Astrid. I'm still the person you met years ago, though puberty hit me very hard. How about you?" I replied, trying to keep the mood light.

"I'm very okay! I'm so glad that we've seen each other again," she said, tapping my shoulder gently.

As we left the library for the cafeteria, we delved into the tales of our lives over the past years, catching up on all the experiences we missed sharing with each other. The weight of my unspoken feelings grew with each passing moment until I could no longer contain them.

"Astrid, I have something to tell you. I was supposed to share this with you before, but I was too shy, and you were leaving," I confessed, my heart pounding.

"Go ahead. What is it?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I like you, Astrid, for a long time now. Ever since we became friends. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. I was scared you wouldn't feel the same way, and I didn't want to risk losing our friendship. Even after all these years, my feelings for you remain unchanged. You are still the one I love," I bared my heart to her, hoping for a glimpse of reciprocation.

She stared at me in surprise for a brief moment before a sweet smile graced her lips. "Why didn't you tell me before?" she asked softly.

And then, in that moment, it felt as if the world stood still. Her confession filled my heart with an overwhelming joy that words couldn't describe. "I like you too," she said, and in that simple sentence, a new chapter in our story began.

THE END

-HTTYD-

A/N2: Hello! After years of being inactive due to pursuing personal endeavors, I've decided to revisit some of my past works and update them. I've added more vivid descriptions and improved the overall syntax of the story. I hope that you'll enjoy reading the updated version.

Sincerely,

ACNHHH

Originally Published: March 9, 2020

Updated: February 20, 2024