"Will! Will, this isn't the proper way to play the game!" I complain.
"You don't win every time, Elizabeth."
"Can you at least kindly put me down?"
During the course of our game, Will managed to not only disarm me but sling me over his shoulder, carrying me off to goodness-knows-where down the shore.
"Put me down, please," I request again, fluttering my eyelashes though he by no means can view the gesture.
"A moment."
His moment truly comes a moment hence, flipping me back over his shoulder to land in the sand, back against a rock. Will kneels beside me--out of breath.
"That's the last...the last time I endeavor to attempt that," he pants. "Goodness, Elizabeth, what does your cook feed you?"
I wallop his shoulder. "I am not heavy! Clothing adds weight!"
"How much clothing are you wearing?"
I turn my head away, crossing my arms over my chest. "I don't appreciate your suddenly cheeky attitude, Will Turner. You can kindly leave me be if you continue to behave so."
He rocks back on his haunches, arms resting on his knees. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth."
"Yes. Yes, an apology is definitely deserving."
"I believe we are getting too old to be playmates."
"What?"
Will smiles sadly, toying with his garters. "We can't keep this up forever, Elizabeth. We are both at an age where adult things must come to mind. Play fighting and pirate games are just not seemly or proper anymore. I'm sorry, but I cannot continue."
"Did my father speak to you?" I ask, leaning forward and trying to catch Will's downcast eyes. "Did he request I not play such tomboyish games? Is he the reason you're saying such things?"
"No, Elizabeth, I am the reason," Will says quietly. "We cannot continue to act so. We are too old. I am sorry."
"You do not mean it," I accuse. "Someone has put you up to this! You do not mean it!" I scramble to my feet, blindly following the shore back hence we came, trying to stop the tears that persist on falling.
"Elizabeth!" Will calls, catching up and turning me by the shoulders to face him. "Elizabeth!"
I hide my face in my hands. "Do not look at me! I'm horrid! My face is all splotchy!"
He holds me instead, pushing my head to his shoulder. "Elizabeth, please do not cry. It hurts me to see you so."
"We can play other games," I say into his shirt. "There are scores of them. It doesn't always have to be pirates."
"You need to begin attending fancy dress balls," he says. "I cannot follow you there."
"You can escort me."
"A blacksmith on the arm of a lady? No, Elizabeth, it's not proper."
"My father's the governor," I plead. "He can make anything proper."
Will sighs, placing me away. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth."
"Stop saying that!" I cry. "Stop saying you're sorry when you're not! If you are sorry, you'd relent and not do this. When you say we can't play games, you really mean we can never see each other again. You are breaking our friendship by saying such things!"
"No, I am...I am breaking my heart."
"Then don't say it. Don't say it, Will," I plead, trying to take his face in my hands, but he pulls away. "Don't say it."
"I can't comply," Will says, shaking his head, eyes closed. "I can't. I'm sorry. Good bye, Elizabeth."