HICCSTRID: How Life Goes

Chapter 21: Moments Like This

It's official. I hate Father Time. I hate him more than I hate bullies and exams and even pickled onions. But I have discovered one consolation. Whenever I close my eyes and remember what happened, my skin starts tingling where Hiccup touched me and it's like i'm with him all over again. I might not have been able to stop time but at least i'm able to time-travel back to the tent. I'm doing it now while waiting for Hiccup to get ready. Sitting on my suitcase, eyes closed, remembering the way he stroked my hair and ran his fingers down my back.

'Penny for your thoughts.'

I open my eyes to see Hiccup looking at me from across the hallway.

'I was thinking about the tent.' My face starts to flush.

'Me too. I can't stop thinking about it' Hiccup comes over and takes hold of my hands. 'Why don't you go down there and hide? I'll tell my dad you were abducted by alien pigs and you don't have to go home.'

I give him a sad smile 'I wish I could.'

He puts his arm round me and I rest my head on his shoulder. I'ts a perfect fit. We're a perfect fit, this is so unfair.

'It'll be ok,' he whispers in my ear. "it'll be okay.'

But will it? How can it be, when we live so far apart?
***
All the way to the airport, I feel as if I have a ball of sorrow growing inside me like a tumour. I'm in the car with Hiccup and he doesn't even need to do his running commentary of traffic manoeuvres, I'm so numb with grief I can't even panic.

As we pull into a space in the terminal carpark, Hiccup turns to me.
"Look, Astrid, is it ok if I don't come in with you? I'm not very good at public goodbyes. I'd rather say what I have to say here. Now. While it's just the two of us."
I feel a little stab of disappointment.

Hiccup reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out a blank CD.
"I have something for you. It's something I made. For you."

I take the CD and look at him hopefully.
"Did you write me a song?"

The colour rises in his cheeks. "Maybe." He laughs. "Ok I did. I recorded it on my computer so the quality isn't that great but I want you to have it. I want you to know how I feel."

I look at the CD player in the car. "Can I play it now?"

Hiccup laughs and shakes his head. "No way!" He presses it into my hands. "Save it for when you get home. That way it's like you'll have a message from me as soon as you get there."

The sorrow inside me starts to shrink a little. I take hold of Hiccups hand. "Thank you."

He cups my face with his hand. "Astrid, I like you so much it might even be love."

"I like you so much it might even be love too." My heart fills with home. Doesn't love conquer everything? Isn't that what the song says? Time is running out.
Hiccup pulls me towards him and we kiss.

***

When I reach home, it's just gone midnight. Mitchell and mum are already sleeping. Everything looks different. Unfamiliar. I go straight up to my room and stick Hiccups CD into the player and press play.
Right from the very beginning, I know that it's going to be beautiful. As I lean back against my bed, I spot a little folded up note inside the CD case. I open it as Hiccup starts singing. At the top of the page is 'Moments Like This' (play video) beneath are the lyrics. I read them as Hiccup sings.

MOMENTS LIKE THIS
Here we are on top of the stars
Never thought we'd ever get this far
We live for moments like this
We come alive in moments like this

Here we are this is the time
Like a dream coming to life
We live for moments like these
We come alive in moments
like these

I smile as I remember all the fun times we had together.

I try to take a breath. Thoughts racing through my head.
I try to capture it, but a picture can't hold what a heart is feeling.
I just wanna stop the world from spinning,
Slow it all down for a minute so that I can take it in.

Here we are on top of the stars
Never thought we'd ever get this far
We live for moments like these
We come alive in moments like these
Here we are, this is our time.
Like a dream coming to life.
We live for moments like this.
We come alive in moments like this.
In moments like this

I close my eyes and sway to the beat.

I don't wanna close my eyes. I'm feeling so alive.
I try to find the words, but no words can say what my heart is feeling.
I just wanna stop the world from spinning,
Slow it all down for a minute so that I can take it in.

Here we are on top of the stars
Never thought we'd ever get this far
We live for moments like these
We come alive in moments like these
Here we are, this is our time.
Like a dream coming to life.
We live for moments like this.
We come alive in moments like this.
In moments like this

We'll hold up a light, burning holes in the night
When we are here, when we are here.
So we'll hold up a light, burning holes in the night
When we are here, when we are here.

Moments like this
Moments like this

Here we are on top of the stars
Never thought we'd ever get this far
We live for moments like these
We come alive in moments like these
Here we are, this is our time.
Like a dream coming to life.
We live for moments like this.
We come alive in moments like this.
In moments like this.

♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪
Geez this took me a while. Aw now the story's sad. I need to think of a way to get them together again.

By the way guys I may or may not be able to update this Monday cause I have to work on my stupid assessments and study for tests so I won't be on much.

Well
Until next time,
PEACE ✌🏼