Disclaimer: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean, any of its characters (although I wish I could own Will…), or any of its locations. Go sue someone else.

The plot, however, IS mine, and so are Justin, the Adams, and the Dupree's – NO TOUCHY!

Rating: PG-13, just to be safe

HORROR, DRAMA, AND A TOUCH OF COMEDY

Prologue

It's not like you to say sorry

I was waitin' on a diff'rent story…

"Honey, turn down your radio! I can feel the ground shaking…" I rolled my eyes as I turned the knob on my stereo from ten to seven. How could you say no to Nickelback? Honestly… I went back to deciding what to wear to the movies that night. 'What to wear, what to wear,' I thought, brow furrowed as I thoroughly examined all of the contents of my closet. My eyes fell on a baby-blue cashmere sweater. I flung it, and my white jeans, onto my bed.

"Siri and Justin sittin' in a tree!" My younger brother's muffled voice carried through her door.

"Go away, Ricky!" I fumed.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

I flung open the door to tell him off, and accidentally hit him in the nose. He ran off wailing, and I counted off the seconds until I heard, "Siri Kathleen Adams!" As I walked into the kitchen, where my mother was stemming his nosebleed, I casually straightened out my pants.

"You rang?"

"Siri, what is the meaning of this? Why on EARTH would you think it okay to hit your brother, even if he was annoying you?"

"I didn't hit him," was my calm response. "I opened my door to tell him to go away, and he happened to be standing with his nose right in front of the doorknob. He brought it upon himself, you know. I had nothing to do with it." Since I was used to winning at those, I walked off. Seconds after I closed my door my mother flung it open.

"You may not walk out on me like that, and since you did you're not going out tonight." It took me a second to register what she said.

"What?" I asked dumbly.

"You're not going out tonight," she repeated blatantly. "You can call up Justin and tell him that you're grounded."

"Grounded?" I asked incredulously. "I didn't even hit Ricky! He exaggerated, just to get me into trouble!"

"That's not the point. You strutted out before letting me, or Ricky, say anything. It's the attitude factor." She handed me the cordless phone and left.

"I did not strut," I grumbled as I dialed Justin's number. His sister answered the phone.

"Hey, Siri. Hold on a sec, I'll go get him." I tapped my foot. What if he thinks I'm blowing him off? Wait…worse, what if he thinks that I'm embarrassed to go out with him?

"Hey Si, what's up?" I smiled at his voice.

"Nothing. Well, actually there is something. See, I opened my door to tell my brother to bug off, and hit him in the nose with it. And now my mum says I'm grounded and can't go out tonight." There was a short pause.

"Does she know that I'm leaving tomorrow?"

"Leaving tomorrow?" I was confused.

"Yeah, don't you remember? I'm spending a few months up at the University of Florida to see if I like it there. I won't see you for at least four months." I smacked myself on the forehead.

"Yeah, I almost forgot. Hold on, I'll go tell her." And I did tell her, but to no avail.

"You're grounded, and it's your own fault. You'll just have to apologize and meet up with him when he gets back. At least you have phone access."

"Yeah, but it's not the same," I muttered. "Hey, Justin. I'm sorry, but my mom isn't letting up. I wish there was something I could do; I really want to see you before you leave." Once again there was silence on the other end.

"What time does your mom go to bed?" he asked quietly.

"I dunno, around nine. Why?"

"Meet me behind that big tree in your front yard at nine-thirty, okay?"

"But…"

"I don't think I can go that whole time without seeing you beforehand. I'm really going to miss you, Si. Just meet me. Please?" I sighed.

"Alright, but if I get caught I'm hauling you in with me, you hear?"

"Yup." He definitely sounded more cheerful. "I'll see you tonight then. Oh, and we aren't going to the movies; I know that your mom knows the owner. Just dress in dark clothes and we can float around town. I love you."

"I love you, too." I hung up, not quite sure of what to do next. I had never broken the rules before. Sure, I was your typical teenage girl, who threw a little sarcasm and cattiness into my daily attitude, but I was also the type that got good grades, always listened to my parents, and was responsible in all my relationships with guys. I figured that, since I was going to be a senior in high school it would only be normal for me to break the rules at least once. And I even had a good reason: My first serious boyfriend, whom I had been dating for twenty months, was going away to college. Who wouldn't break the rules in a situation like that?

I tossed my sweater and jeans into my closet and grabbed my black, paint-smothered jeans and an old hoodie. Pulling them on I examined myself in the mirror. I never before appreciated my physical being, and I was always complaining about small flaws, like my big hips, small bust, or huge pores. As I was looking at myself in that grunge clothing I actually saw myself as pretty. For the first time I appreciated my brilliant green eyes, which were flecked with bits of gold, and my long, sleek, chestnut colored hair. I shrugged my shoulders and flopped onto my bed. Lying on my stomach, I flipped through the channels until I found a somewhat suitable show to pass the time. The show was interesting enough, but I found myself glancing continually at my clock.

Finally nine fifteen rolled around. I took a bunch of clothes from my closet and stuffed them under my bedspread. It took me about five minutes of rearranging until the lump somewhat resembled my body.

I walked down the hall to my mum's room and pressed my ear to the door…no sound. That was good. Tiptoeing so as not to wake her or my brother, I went back to my room and cranked open my window. Getting out was easy, and I made my way to my front yard, where I could see Justin waiting for me under that tree.

So, how's that? I know the beginning is a bit slow, but it'll pick up – after all, it is a prologue. And Elizabeth, Will, and Jack are coming up…YAY! Oh, and I know this seems to have nothing to do with PotC, but it does! I promise!