Hiccup and Jack had always been best friends. Ever since they became neighbors they had been like two peas in a pod. Jack and him would always do everything together and Jack's sister Merida, who was two years younger, would always try to tag along but they usually ignored her most of the time. When Merida was 14 she went in this foreign exchange program to Scotland. She was going to be there for a year. But Jack and her parents would visit her on holidays. Finally she was coming home.
"Are you excited to have your little sister home?" Hiccup asked as they were setting up her welcome home party.
"Yeah but I'm going to miss the life of an only child." Jack replied.
Jack hung the last of the banner. It was simple decoration. A blue table cloth covered a table with tons of food. Merida's favorite dessert, apple pie,was one of these items.
The banner hung over it that said "welcome home!" In big yellow letters.
Mrs Dunbroch came rushing in making readjustments to everything she was so excited to have her little girl home.
"Oh come on Jack really this is what you call a straight banner? It's completely crooked!" Mrs. Dunbroch said.
"Mom it's fine. She won't even notice. She'll be to busy noticing Hiccup." Jack punched Hiccup in the arm playfully.
"Jack, don't tease it's distasteful." She replied.
It had been a known fact that Merida had a big crush on Hiccup when they were in elementary school. It had become Jack's running gag throughout middle and high school. Hiccup didn't really think much of it. It was his best friend's little sister, he felt flattered. He actually liked Merida, she was funny like her brother, even though she used to hit him a lot, and it wasn't like she was displeasing or anything he just had always known her as Jack's kid sister and he knew she was most likely over her childhood crush by now.
The sound of a car door being shut came from outside the Dunbroch residence.
"They're here!!" Mrs. Dunbroch said.
"Calm down mom dad will bring her inside." Jack said.
"Guess who's home!!!!" Fergus yelled coming into the house.
"Oh let me see my little girl!" Elinor said rushing towards the door.
Merida came out from behind her father. "Hi mum." She said as Elinor gave her a squeeze. "Mum you're killing me." She said, her voice had now a hint of Scottish accent to it.
"Oh goodness you sound like your grandmother!" Fergus said.
"Boys go take Merida's stuff in her room." Elinor said.
Hiccup looked at the 16 year old he saw before him. She wasn't Jack's kid sister anymore. Her hair was still the same, but she seemed taller. She seemed more assure of herself and comfortable in her own skin. She was wearing a blue green flannel with jeans. Her blue eyes met his and she smiled at him.
"Hi," she mouthed with all the commotion of conversation around her.
He tried to smile but he knew it probably turned out to be a goofy grin.
"Hiccup you coming?" Jack asked from outside.
"Yeah. Sorry coming." Hiccup said turning around.
Hiccup had unloaded the last bag and walked over to Merida's room. He was surprised to find her in there.
"Is it weird seeing this after a year?" He asked.
"Yeah but that might just be because it's actually clean in here." she joked. "I almost forgot there was a carpet underneath all that mess."
