AN: This story is more or less based on a dream that I had. I'm not really sure where I'm gonna be going with it, but bear with me.

(Insert usual disclaimer here.)

A Girl Like You

Chapter 1

There's A Girl On Board...

March, 1967. Night.

"Jesus, Felicity. I don't know how you suffer them."

"Practice," she said as she grabbed the empty plates of food left behind by the various deejays and crew members on Radio Rock. About a month ago, Abby ended up on the famous boat off the coast of England, and none of the others had even noticed she was there. Thankfully though, because even though she was from America, she knew about the inhabitants' notorious reputation. The only people who knew she was on board were Quentin, Felicity and the Count. So to keep her out of sight, she was given a room on the other end of the boat and was told to keep her door firmly locked at all times, especially at night. If any of the men knew she was there, Quentin said, they would stop at nothing to get their hands on her. But Abby was a smart girl, and stuck up for herself.

"I've been in worse jams than you can probably think of. Plus, Dad used to serve in the armed forces so he taught me a thing or two about defending myself." Quentin had to agree; with the way she dressed, she did look the 'butch' type.

"All right. You can help Felicity in the kitchen and with the general upkeep with the boat. But make sure what you're wearing remains your standardized outfit as long as you're on here." He looked at her baggy brown sweater and her loose torn jeans. "A pretty girl like you could get into a lot of trouble if the men find out you're on here."

Abby scoffed at his 'pretty' remark. "Just tell me who to steer clear of, and I'll be on the lookout." Quentin turned to look at her, with a smirk on his face.

"All of them."

"So, this is a nice place you've got here," Abby said as she scanned Count's room when she arrived on the boat that night. There were various posters of rock and roll bands plastered on the walls, as well as albums messily scattered all over the floor. She cocked an eye at him.

"Uh, I've been meaning to sort those out," he said as he waved his hand over the mess as if it would magically disappear.

"Things seem to be back on track since the accident."

"Yeah, I still don't know how Quentin managed to get another boat, let alone get the entire crew back together." Radio Rock had been reborn despite the government, and had set sail again only 3 months after the previous boat sank. The public demanded that they come back and by some kind of miracle, Quentin had found another boat (a working one this time) and nearly everyone returned. Things were finally back to normal. "How long are you here for?" Count asked the young woman.

"That depends if I can get a job here."

"A job? Why?"

"I kind of…got kicked out of college."

"What? What did you do, Abby?"

"Nothing too serious."

"Serious enough for you to get kicked out of college!"

"Aw, come on…it wasn't working out for me anyway. If my heart's not in it then why should I stick with it?"

"I guess," he said, easily defeated and sat down at the edge of his bed. "How are things overseas in the good old' US of A? How's your mom?"

"She's good," Abby sat down beside him and pushed her hair behind her ear. "She got married to some stiff in a suit, but he's nice I guess. She says to say hello and that she hopes you can straighten me out because in her words, 'I can't fucking handle you anymore!'" Abby said with her hands on her hips and a mocking voice. They both laughed at her spot-on imitation.

"Straighten you out? Now why would I want to do that? Your spunk is one of the things I love about you," he said as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "But are you sure you want to stay on board here? I mean, I'll have to pretend like I don't know you when we're in front on the guys. Not because I don't want you on here, but because…"

"Listen, I understand. Besides, if anything gets out of control I have you to protect me," Abby smirked up at him, "Right Dad?"

In her dirty jeans and a baggy sweatshirt uniform that made her look absolutely repulsive, Abby snuck her way up to the deck to get some air. It was the dead of night and everyone must have been asleep, except for Bob, who was doing his early, early show.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, mate?" A voice called down to her. Abby pulled her hood over her head and ran back down below, not noticing someone watching her from the shadows.

Next Morning...

"I saw something last night…that might be of interest to you all."

"Oh, god. Kevin has something to say everyone," Dave announced. He was in no mood for stupidity this morning.

"There's a girl on board." Kevin said proudly, and the Count moaned.

"Felicity lives here, you fucking idiot."

"No, I mean not Felicity."

"Yeah, okay Kev. Did you fall off the bed again?" Angus asked.

"I saw her last night! She was out on the deck and then ran downstairs when Gavin told her to go to sleep."

"Hang on a minute. That was a girl?" Gavin asked. "I thought it was Young Carl, here."

"Nope. A girl. With breasts."

"What's all this then?" Quentin said as he addressed the group for his usual morning meeting.

"Thick Kevin thinks he saw a girl on deck last night, and Gavin thought it was me," Carl spoke up. "But I was asleep in bed."

"Girl? Kevin, you really need to stop sleeping on the top bunk." Quentin said nervously.

"I know what I saw!" Kevin said, almost furiously. The men all turned to look at Quentin and he sighed.

"Fine. You were probably going to find out about her soon enough. Felicity, tell Abby to come here." Within a few minutes, Felicity returned with another girl dressed in a baggy grey sweatshirt and torn jeans. Her dark brown hair was done up in a messy ponytail and she was wearing no makeup. All in all, she looked like...

"A mess. She looks like a dirty mess. Why doesn't she look all done up like other girls?" Dave remarked. Abby glared at him.

"She...prefers to dress this way," Quentin said.

"To keep your grubby hands off of me," Abby added. "I've heard about you guys; you'll do it with anything that walks."

"This little spitfire is Abby. She came here from America, by her mother's request. I don't know why people keep sending their children here thinking it'll be good for them."

"Is that what people in America dress like?" Gavin asked. "Because if it is, I'm never setting foot in that country."

"She's disgusting," Midnight Mark was heard to say from way in the back. Abby glared at every single one of them. Their remarks hurt a lot, much more than they should but she refused to show how much.

"All of you, shut the fuck up. Abby," the Count said, removing his sunglasses and discreetly winking at her, "I'm sorry for the rude introductions from these morons here, but let me just say it's a relief to not be the only one on board here from America anymore." She smiled at him and gave his hand a hearty shake, and he patted her on the back, much like a man would do to another man. The Count stood and looked at each DJ who began to mumble their welcome, with the exception of Mark, who lit up a cigarette and Carl who joined the Count by shaking Abby's hand.