Httyd3 Character Designs - Tumblr Posts
To Paradise and back - Chapter 2
“Astrid, wake up!” A loud knock tore Astrid out of her dreams. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, but was still too lazy to sit up. She yawned heartily and was about to snuggle back into the pillows when there was another banging on the door, this time stronger and louder, plus Heather's booming voice coming through the closed door. Astrid groaned, if only the ship's designers had deigned to install soundproof doors, then she could have slept a little longer. "I'm coming, Heather." Finally she deigned to stand up. Exhausted from her little nap, she leaned against the door. “What's up Heather?” “Eret, just told me that we're meeting his friends in the ship's cafe. Are you coming or do I have to come in?” Astrid smiles quietly. “No, it’s fine. I'm coming. Give me two minutes and I'll be ready." Still a little sleepy, Astrid opened her suitcase and grabbed her dark blue bikini with the matching ocean blue beach dress that she had finally been able to afford a few months ago. She quickly changed her clothes and went to her hairdresser, who had been completely disheveled. She tied some of her loose back strands into a braid. She then grabbed her keys and her ivory white bag. She walked out the door and was immediately greeted by Heather. Astrid locked the door and immediately slipped in with her friend so that they could finally get going. The two were about to set off when Astrid suddenly heard a quiet clinking sound behind her. Did she drop her keys? “Wait a second,” she said to her friend and bent down to pick up the key ring. She was just reaching for the bunch when she felt the warm touch of fingers on the back of her hand, also reaching for the keys. Astrid looked up and found herself in the forest green eyes of a young man who couldn't have been much older than herself. The young man smiled shyly and withdrew his hand from hers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Just as embarrassed, she smiled back and took her keys back. She felt her skin begin to tingle as he held her gaze as soon as the two of them sat up. "No, it's alright." The young man sheepishly scratched the back of his head, which was covered in shaggy auburn hair. She saw that he was blushing a little, which made her smile a little. They were both silent for a moment, not knowing what to say, but just looking at each other for the briefest of seconds they had. Embarrassed, Astrid brushed back a strand of her golden hair, she looked away a little as she still saw the young man's sweet, embarrassed smile, he didn't want him to notice that her cheeks had turned reddish from embarrassment. "Thank you," she said, "...for wanting to help me." The young man's green eyes brightened. “I liked doing it. I wish you a nice stay.” “Likewise,” Astrid smiled before she linked arms with Heather, who grinned mischievously at her. As they walked off, Astrid took a quick glance over her shoulder, only to see the man returning her gaze as he unlocked the door directly across from her room. “Well, that’s what I call love at first sight,” Heather teased as the two friends walked down the aisle to the ship’s cafe. Astrid looked at her best friend in shock; she couldn't really be serious. “You’re not serious, are you?” “Oh yes, Astrid, I’m serious. I can tell when the chemistry is right, just like back then with Sam." Astrid rolled her eyes, she didn't want to talk about Sam now, and the fact that her friend had mentioned him made her feel the shock and sadness of their breakup again. She quickly pushed away these emotions that she never wanted to feel again. “It was nothing, just harmless eye contact, nothing of significance. He was just trying to be nice.” Heather could only smile at that. “Believe what you want, dear friend. But feelings are something that you can't control, you can't choose who you fall in love with." Astrid didn't go into that any further, and she didn't even have to because at that moment the two women, Eret and Dagur, were waving towards them, surrounded by four other people sat around a table with an intoxicating view.