Sorry this took a long time, our computer caught heaps of viruses... And now we have a new one! But I have junior exams coming up. It's my first one, i'm kinda nervous... So I have to study for the exams and not spend much time on the computer. Now enuff about what I have to say...

Laurence Appledorn and Jack Sparrow

(AN: This is a flashback thing while Mr Appledorn is telling Nicola about how he got to know Jack.) "Jack, it's no use runnin' away from us" A man called. "Ye know that I know that ye owe me and Ana our ship!" A younger Mr Appledorn yelled across the bar towards Jack.

Jack stood still in an akward position, as if he was caught, but he remained to be calm and relaxed as he turned around. "A ship?" he chuckled. "Laurence... I don't know what yer talkin' 'bout!" he tried to laugh it off and took a drink, as he tried to avoid Anamaria who was standing beside Mr Appledorn, also known as Laurence.

"Jack!" Anmaria screeched. "Don't play dumb with me, or I'll-" She shrieked, but stopped when Laurence told her to calm down. But the way Anamaria was giving Jack the evils made Jack change his answer.

"Oh, oh!" He said as if he started to remember. "That, boat... I meant ship!" He re-sentenced quickly, as he gulped. "Terribly sorry bout yer ship... I was using it fer self-defence, me crew and fer the Black Pearl..." He announced, eyeing Anamaria to see when she's going to attack.

Laurence stood foward. "Jack, ye know that I know that yer much more imporatant than me..." He started.

Jack narrowed his kohl-rimmed eyes as Laurence started talking right. "Yes... I know that! Carry on..." He urged, motioning with his usual hand signs.

"If ye give us our ship back, I'll give ye the directions that lead yer to the secret treasure of Cortez!" Laurence deepened his voice quietly. "What say yer?" He quired. When Jack didn't look moved, he added, "An' ye can have it all ter yerself, mate..."

Jack didn't know that the treasure of Cortez was cursed then, and he rose an eyebrow as he thought about it. Finally he looked like he made a decision. "An' what happens if I say I accidently sank yer boat-sorry, ship- in ter the bottom o' the ocean?" He questioned, walking a few inches away from Anamaria.

Ana got ready to leap up at Jack and rip him to pieces, but Laurence remained calm and still. "Well, if ye did..." He started, really seriously. "I would 'ave ter take 50 percent o' the Black Pearl..." He added. "I might burn me half o' the Pearl, or even cut it, so it's fair..."

That was when jack's ear's lit up. "Alright, no more threatening, please I'm savvied enough! I'll give ye yer ship back, an' ye just keep yer evil hands away from mine, savvy?" He asked hurriedly.

Laurence beamed. "Savvy mate. An' I hope our ship is in one piece! Or else 25 percent o' the Pearl" He demanded, his expression still.

"Yer ship's in stunning condition, Laurence... And Ana..." Jack declared, forcing a fake grin. Then he was off.

And the next day, Laurence and Anamaria got their ship back in one piece and Jack's Pearl was as far away from their's as possible.
(end of flashback...)

"Alright..., so you're saying my uncle was afraid of you?" Nicola asked the storyteller of the story, Mr Appledorn (a.k.a Laurence.). She asked in a disbelieving tone.

Laurence rose an eyebrow. "No, we just... weren't good friends, that's all." He added, thinking about it.

"So you and uncle Jack were rivals... And I guess you'll always be" Nicola suggested then quickly added, "Anyway... What was it between you and Anamaria? Uncle jack mentioned her once when he was telling me and Amy a little bit about how he got the Black Pearl back. He said that Anamaria wasn't a woman." Nicola informed.

Mr Appledorn chuckled. "Anamaria and me, we were going ter get engaged. Until she thought she was breaking some of the pirate codes... She said she wanted a break, so we broke up. That's when Jack stole Ana'a ship, again, but this time he sunk it." He explained.

Nicola smirked. "But how come you and uncle Jack aren't as... friendly as much?" She asked carefully, not being able to resist her curiosity.

Mr Appledorn sighed. "Jack stole me ship... An' Ana." He muttered, more to himself than to Nicola. "O' course, Jack and Anamaria are just friends now, if ye call it friendship... An' I 'ave no interest in 'er either!" He added, but Nicola could sense a bit of bitterness in his voice.

So she decided to change the subject. "How did you become a teacher, when you're a pirate?" She quizzed.

Mr Appledorn chuckled again. "I needed money, and I had ter disguise myself as a 'non-pirate' so it was safe for me to stay in at Port Royal." he explained again, a matter of fatcly. "Now, it's getting late... Do ye always stay up this late on school nights?" He asked.

Nicola nodded. "Yup. I'm not tired, well... I am now." She yawned.

"No wonder ye were always late for school!" He rolled his eyes, while saying it. "Hurry up and go to sleep, we might be arriving to Tortuga tomorrow if we have good weather." He ordered.