BPOV

Clutching my shawl to my chest, I creep down the wooden stairs, careful not to make a sound. My parents are asleep, and sneaking out of the house requires intense stealth, a skill that I don't have. This is the third time I have tried sneaking out, but every time father catches me because I somehow always end up tumbling down the stairs headfirst and collapsing at the bottom in a heap of pain.

However, this time I make it to the bottom of the stairs and to the door without so much as a creak. I pull the door open and slide through the opening before pulling it closed behind me.

The full moon casts a sparkling light on the calm ocean. A light breeze tickles my bare shoulders and, pulling on my shawl, I start across the yard and towards the dock. I follow the dirt road in the opposite direction that leads to the center of town and let the moon lead me through the dark.

When I reach the large, wooden dock, I find my best friend Jacob Black sitting at the end, his bare feet splashing in the water and his pant legs rolled up his calves. I sit next to him and he throws an arm over my shoulder.

"You made it this time." He murmurs with a smirk. His tan face reflects the moon's light.

"Surprisingly. I decided to not use the fourth step. That one usually sends me plummeting."

He chuckles. "What are your plans for tomorrow, Bella?"

"I have to meet with Michael Newton. But then I can see you."

"Why do you have to meet with Newton?" He asks, his eyes narrowing.

"He has been asking my father for my hand." I mutter quietly.

Jacob's arm tenses around me . He gives me a penetrating look. "You don't want to marry him, do you?"

I shrug. "Father said he would be a good candidate because he is wealthy and handsome. Not many men want me, Jake. The least I could do is talk with him."

His eyes return to the water but his hold on me doesn't lessen. He's quiet a moment. "I want you, Bella." He whispers.

I laugh. Jake has been my best friend since we could walk. Our fathers are good friends. Although Jacob is handsome, I have never thought of him as anything more than a friend. I suddenly feel exposed in my thin nightgown. If Jacob weren't my friend, my parents would surely have a heart attack if they knew I was out alone with a boy wearing only my nightgown. "Jacob, we're friends."

"I know, Bella. But I would treat you better than any other man could."

That was true. Jacob would never hurt me, pressure me into anything, and would most likely dote on me hand and foot. However, I could never love Jacob in that way. He is too safe.

His feet splash cool water on my bare legs. "I know you want adventure, Bella. What could be more fun than spending the rest of your life with your best friend? I know everything about you. We wouldn't have to waste time getting acquainted."

I shake my head. "Stop, Jake." I shut my eyes and shrug his arm off of me. Whenever Jacob gets like this, I begin to feel uncomfortable, like he's trying to pressure me.

When I open my eyes, his have gone cold. "Are you still pining after that pirate?" He spits out the words in a biting rage.

My stomach twists at the memory. I could not have been more than seven years old when I saw my first pirate. I was sitting in the living room reading when the knock came. My mother was seated next to me, carefully pulling a needle through the cumbersome hose of my stockings. She had decided to fix the hole in the toe instead of simply throwing them away. When the knock came, she called for my father to answer the door, and when he did, we were met by young boy wielding a sword.

The boy, possibly only about ten years old, demanded for our money and jewelry. He was dressed in black boots, dirty beige britches and a white shirt that billowed out from where it was roughly tucked into his pants. The pirate had a knowing smirk on his face as if he knew something we weren't privy to. If it weren't for the sharp hunk of metal in his hand and the pistol in his waistband, my father would have undoubtedly arrested the boy.

However, the way he had commanded a grown man to give him what he wanted made me crave for that kind of power and confidence. I have always been in lower status of my parents, forced to do as they demanded.

Along with his confidence, his bronze hair and boyish wink at me before he disappeared has kept him in my mind for the last eleven years.

Jacob has known about it since it happened. He knows I want to become a pirate. He knows I want to marry that boy, whomever he was.

I only nod in response to his question. Although Michael is no pirate, I should not live with my parents the rest of my life and dream of a strong man to come take me away. Because it is not going to happen.

"When are you going to get over it?" He asks, pulling his feet out of the water and facing me. "When are you going to realize that there is a man sitting right in front of you willing to give you an adventure?" His brown eyes are ablaze with frustration and passion.

"It is not the same."

"Oh yeah?" He grabs my long braid of brown hair and twists it in his hands. "I can't believe you would want to do such a disgraceful act as piracy. They are thieves and murderers. You are better than them."

I recoil from his words. "But they are strong and they have fun. What is wrong with having fun and living dangerously?"

His eyes blaze with anger and he yanks on my hair, causing me to gasp in pain. "They are low class people without any morals. They would not hesitate to hurt you if you came into sight."

I wrench out of his grasp. I know he is right. Pirates have been known to defile women and take wenches to bed just for the fun of it. However, their cruelty does not repulse me like it should. It entices me. I want to be a pirate, but I know they would never let a woman on board, especially a weak, clumsy one like me. I want more than anything to be strong.

Meeting his dark eyes, I narrow mine. "You should not judge people without knowing them first."

"Quit being so dumb and childish, Isabella. Wake up and stop dreaming of something that is never going to happen."

It is as if he just slapped me. My eyes burn with tears as I stand up. "You know what else is never going to happen?" I ask him. He just looks at me with cold eyes. "You marrying me."

With that, I take off down the dock and towards my home waiting in the darkness.

{~}

Lying in my bed, I stare up at the white ceiling and think about my conversation with Jacob. I so desperately wish I could take back what I said to him. I doubt our friendship will last much longer. I have always known he has had feelings for me, he has told me enough times, but I never knew he actually wanted to marry me. Why would he want to marry me? I am only Isabella Swan, daughter of constable Lord Charles Swan and Lady Renée Dwyer, the daughter of Baron Dwyer of Forskville, England.

Besides the money and high title, there is nothing special about me. William Black, Jacob's father, is cousin to the prince of France. Jake could get any woman he wanted. But for some reason he wants me.

In the morning, I appear in the dining room feeling like death from my lack of sleep and find my best girl friend Angela Weber and my mother chatting while the maids busily place plates of food on the table. After the disastrous meeting with Jacob last night, seeing Angela is a welcome distraction.

My best friend smiles at me before digging into her plate of eggs and smoked bacon. I sit across from her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to take you out before Lord Newton arrives." She smiles around her glass of milk and gives me a wink.

My mother smiles at me. "Good morning, Isabella. Before you leave, your father wants to speak with you in his office."

Fear grips my stomach, prompting me to halt my bacon eating. Does he know I left last night? From the sincere smile mother is giving me, I doubt he knows. Surely he would have told her.

After finishing my breakfast, I change into a soft pink dress and visit my father in his office.

"Sit down, Isabella." Once I have a seat, he places his hands on the table and gives me a small smile. I relax. He is not angry. "So Michael is calling this evening." I sit up. Panic burns the back of my throat. I only thought he was coming over to talk, not to actually express his intent to marry me. I have only spoken to Michael once, and that was while we danced at a party. The conversation only lasted for one song before I was whisked away by another man.

Although Michael is handsome and rich, something about him makes me uneasy. My conversation with Jacob rings in my ears "Are you still pining after that pirate?"

I am. I can not marry Michael knowing I want another man. It would not be fair for either of us. However, the pirate is only a small figure in my past. I do not know his name, nor whether he is alive or not. I have not seen him since the day he robbed us.

My father is peering at me expectantly. As a constable and the commander of the Guards, his job requires little expression of emotion other than determination. Seeing him smile makes me feel guilty. I cannot let him down.

"Father…I…..I do not wish to marry Lord Newton." His face falls so I continue. "However, if this is what you want, then I shall do it for the family."

My father is thoughtful a moment. "Good. He will bring a respectable reputation and I have no doubt he will treat you like the lady you are."

With that, I am dismissed from his office. I find Angela waiting for me on the porch. "How did it go?"

"I guess I am going to marry Michael."

Her face turns down into a frown. Angela's brown eyes meet mine before she starts walking down the path into town. "I am to marry Lord Eric. Surely Michael cannot be worse than him."

I choose not to respond. Angela knows just as much about me as Jacob does, but while Jacob does not understand my dreams, Angela does. She knows my pirate dream and she accepts it, regardless how crazy it is.

She changes the subject. "Did you see Jacob last night?"

"Yeah. We got in an argument."

"About what?"

"He wants to marry me." At my words she freezes in place and spins around to face me with a surprised look.

"He finally admitted it?" She gasps.

I glare at her in shock. "You knew?"

"Everyone knew, Bella." I'm quiet, so she keeps walking. "Why did you argue? I thought you liked him. He would be a much better alternative than Lord Newton."

"You know why we argued."

We finally reach the center of town. "The pirate?" She murmurs. I nod. "Come on, Bella. I know this is your dream, but you have to realize that you have no clue who that boy was. What are your chances of meeting him?"

Zero to none.

The town is filled with many people hanging out and talking, wenches wandering around the streets looking for a taker and merchants selling goods from various stalls. The pubs are overflowing with midday drinkers and relentless chatter fill the streets.

Angela and I end up in our favorite clothing store. Along with men's clothing, the boutique has dresses as well. We love to come here because its dresses are hand made and simply beautiful. The shop keeper Laurent greets us warmly as we enter.

My best friend spots a beautiful red gown with sequins covering the bodice. She fingers the sequins with a look of admiration on her face. "It is so beautiful."

"You should get it."

She shakes her head. "No, no." We move on through the shop. "So you turned down Jacob, your best friend, for a man you hardly know? And this is only because you want to marry a pirate? I am confused. I don't understand you, Bella."

"You want to marry a pirate?" We turn to see Laurent standing behind us with a curious look on his face. His olive skin tone, brooding eyes and dark hair make him seem dangerous, but Laurent has always been very kind to us.

I know I can trust him, but my cheeks turn red in embarrassment. "Not in so many words. I want to be a pirate."

His eyebrows raise in curiosity. "Is that so?"

I nod under his penetrating gaze. "Yes."

"Sad to say, Isabella, but they would never allow a woman on a pirate ship unless she were there to serve their every pleasure." His voice comes out silkily. My skin crawls at the thought of having to please men just to live out my dream. Why can't women be treated equally? We are not here to serve men.

"He is right, Bella." Angela acknowledges.

"I wish I were a man!" I groan. "I want to be strong and to be feared. I want to have an adventure."

Laurent nods in understanding. "That does sound enticing. But what do you suppose to do? Cut off all your hair, dress like a man and beg the next pirate captain that walks through this town to be a member of his crew?"

My eyes widen. Why hadn't I thought of that before?

Angela shakes her head. "No, Bella! Your hair is beautiful and pirates are dangerous."

"But Angela! This could finally be my chance! You know I have always wanted this. I am not happy here."

She looks hurt by my words but she nods in understanding. "I don't want you to have to marry Lord Newton. But this is dangerous. And what if the captain doesn't let you be on his ship? You will be left with short hair!"

"I have always wanted short hair."

There is a commotion outside when a man bursts in to the shop, breathless. "Laurent! A pirate ship has been spotted at sea."