So here's the second installment, we're basically still getting to know the characters but thank you for all the great feedback from the first chapter, means a lot :)

Chapter 2

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the living room, chatting about random things and watching tv. It felt nice to just lounge around without any chores to do, I'd never really had any friends before so it felt a bit strange, in a good way.

Merida was in the kitchen, cooking our dinner of spaghetti bolognese when the wall phone rang. She flung the cloth she was holding over her shoulder and wiped her forehead before grabbing the phone of the hook and holding it to her ear.

"Hello?...yes...yes...tomorrow?...sure!...okay...b ye." She put the phone back on the wall and walked over to us.

"That was the landlord, he's coming over tomorrow to meet you, yanno, to make it official and stuff." She used her hands as she spoke, making gestures towards me.

"Oh okay." She smiled at me as she walked back to the kitchen, turning the temperature down on the stove before draining the pasta. She started portioning out the strings of pasta into bowls, topping them with sauce before adding a sprinkle of cheese.

"Alright, dinner's ready!" She called over to us as she put all three bowls on the kitchen table then sat down her self. Me and Hiccup stood up at the same time, eager for food but I noticed that Jack didn't move at all, he carried on watching the tv.

"You're not eating?" I asked as he looked at me.

"Oh, I'm not hungry." He smiled weakly and returned to watching some movie that had just started on one of the channels.

"You sure?" He nodded without looking at me, concentrating on the tv. Merida must have already knew that he wasn't eating as there was only 3 bowls of food on table as I approached it, taking a seat opposite Merida. Steam rose from all three dishes, creating a delightful aroma that filled the room, not to mention it looked delicious to.

After dinner, Hiccup and Merida started washing the dishes, Merida washing whilst Hiccup dried. I strolled back over to the couch, taking a seat next to Jack who had been sitting there the whole time. I had a question to ask that had been bugging since I first saw Hiccup.

"So..erm.. how old is Hiccup? He looks a little young to be living with you guys?"

"Well, his father kicked him out and he needed somewhere to stay so I said he could move in with us. I'm actually his legal guardian now." He smirked to himself, like he'd said something that only he found amusing.

"Oh, that must have been terrible for him."

"Not really, he didn't have a very good relationship with his father after his mother died so for him it was kind of a relief to get away."

"Oh, so does he still go to school?"

"Occasionally, not that he needs to. Smartest kid I know, always has been."

"So you've known him for a while?"

"I've known them both since they where little." He spoke like he was a lot older then them but he looked the same age as me. Maybe it was just bad wording.

"Must be nice to have friends like that." I said it partly to myself, curling up on the couch.

"Yeah, it is." He said thoughtfully as he grabbed the stick I had seen him with earlier and started fiddling with the wood.

"Anyway...I'm gonna go to bed now...goodnight." The whole day had been rather stressful so I was exhausted and needed a good nights sleep.

"Night." Jack said as he grabbed the tv remote and started flicking through channels again. I got up from the couch, making my way to my bedroom but stopped just as I reached the door.

"Goodnight guys!" I called to the kitchen and listened for a reply.

"Night!" Hiccup and Merida called back in unison. I smiled to myself as I turned the knob of my door and walked in.

I woke up in the middle of the night, sweaty and panting from a nightmare that I couldn't remember so I decided a glass of water would do me good. I sat up, wiping my brow with the back of my hand before peeling the bed covers off me. I tiptoed out of the room, not wanting to wake the others and made my way to the kitchen sink. I'd just started pouring a glass of water when I heard something stir from the other room, making me jump slightly. I stretched my neck and squinted through the dark to see what it was and was surprised to see Jack lying on the couch, arm draped over his face whilst hugging his 'walking' stick in the other arm. Its then when I realised that he didn't have a bedroom. There was only four rooms at the back of the apartment, one of which was a bathroom. Why wouldn't he have his own room? I warily walked over to the living room, standing behind the coffee table. I tilted my head as I observed him, smiling to myself. He looked so peaceful, breathing gently through pale lips. Suddenly, one of his crystal blue eyes snapped open.

"Where you watching me?" He asked with a smirk.

"What? No!" I stepped back, taking a sip of my water to calm myself. He chuckled as my cheeks started heating up.

"I'm sorry for waking you."

"I wasn't asleep." He sighed as he sat up with a groan, balancing his stick agaisnt the couch. He patted the now empty space where his head once was, gesturing for me to sit down.

"Oh, how come?" I asked as a plopped down on the couch next to him.

"I'm not a very good sleeper. How come your up anyway?" I held up my glass with a smile.

"Ah." He nodded to himself as he sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. There was an awkward silence for a moment before Jack spoke again.

"So, what brings you to London anyway?" He looked at me with a curious smile.

"I..er..ran away." I figured there was no point in lying, they where gonna have to find out eventually anyway.

"Woah, I suddenly feel like we're hiding a criminal." He chuckled which kind of made me feel guilty. Mother would be back in two days. She'd come home to an empty house, but she should've known that I'd leave eventually. I was 18 years old and had never been to school, had friends or relationships. I'd never experienced anything thanks to her.

Jack must have seen the expression on my face as he stopped laughing but smiled at me sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- ."

"No it's okay, it's just, I feel guilty for leaving my mother."

"Well I'm sure you have a good reason for running away."

"Well, she did keep me locked in a house for 18 years." Jack stared at me in shock.

"Really? Wow, well I'd say that's defiantly a good reason. Why would she do that?"

"I don't know, she says the outside world is dangerous, full of people who want to hurt me." I gave a little shrug as Jack tutted to himself.

"Ridiculous. Well, be assured that you can go out all you want now you're with us." He winked at me with a grin, bumping my arm with his. He really was a flirt.

"Thanks." I giggled slightly at the gesture, he was starting to get to me. Damn it! How was Merida able to live with him for so long? I checked the clock on the wall above the tv for the time. It was almost 1 o'clock. I stood up with my glass in hand, smoothing out my pink pyjamas.

"I should probably go back to bed now, I'll er..see you in the morning." I smiled politely as I backed away to my room.

"Yup." He gave me a little salute before running his hand through his hair, making my heart rate go up. God Rapunzel, get a grip, you've only known him a day.