A few days later, Jack and Arabella arrived in Tourtuga.
"Okay- We're here." Jack said as he tried, for the billionth time, to figure out how to tie the boat up to the pier. Arabella rolled her eyes. "Aha!" Jack proclaimed. "I got it!" He jumped up onto the pier and faced Arabella.
"So…" She said, "Now what?"
Jack thought for a moment. "I'll go look for a better boat, get food and water, stuff like that, and you can go do whatever you like, ya know, walk around town some, go say hi to your father, try not to get kidnapped, and then I'll meet you at the Faithful Bride at sunset. Savvy?"
Arabella frowned. "You don't know your way around here, do you?" Jack laughed. "…No. Anyway, see you at the Bride!" Jack said and waved to Arabella as he walked off.
Later, Arabella arrived at her father's tavern. It was only midday, but she didn't know what else to do. She knocked on the old door. The tavern was usually closed until dusk, so there weren't any drunken pirates present.
Slowly, the door creaked open. "Yes…?" Croaked an hoarse voice from behind the door.
Arabella bit her lip. "Dad? It's Bell." The door swung open to reveal an unshaven, tired looking man. Arabella's father, also the tavern owner and frequently asleep from the drink, smiled. "Bell!" He hugged Arabella. 'I Thought you were gone! Like your mother…"
Arabella opened her mouth to tell him that her mother was alive and well, but then she decided it was best not to tell him she was a pirate.
"Ah, I uh- I got a letter in the mail today-" Her father said as he reached for an envelope on a desk near the doorway. "It's very nice. I didn't open it since it was for you." He handed her the letter. It was plain white with the words Miss Arabella Smith written neatly on the front. Arabella took care in opening the red wax that sealed it. The letter was very fancy, hand-written in curvy writing. Arabella read it slowly in her head.
"What's it say?" her dad asked.
"Fitzwil- er, an old friend invited me to a ball tonight. He has to choose who he wants to marry there. It'll be at the governor's house."
"You gonna go?"
"Yeah." Arabella thought. "I'm going to go walk for a while and think things out."
Arabella kicked to leaves on the ground as she walked. Did she really want to go to the ball? She'd never been to anything like that before. She didn't even have anything nice to wear. Plus, Fitzwilliam was going to have to get married, and he'd probally ask her because she's the only one he actually knows. If she got married, she wouldn't have to work at the Bride. But I'm too young! Arabella thought. If she went to the ball, she'd have to let Jack down. He'd hate that. If she went sailing with Jack, she'd let Fitzwilliam down. Fitzwilliam would hate that. If she went with Jack, she'd probally end up a pirate. If she married, she'd live the rest of her life in comfort. Arabella guessed it would be best to go to the ball. Then again, she really, really liked Jack. Maybe even loved him. She'd hate to leave him- again. Why did Fitz want to get married, anyway? Didn't he run away so that he wouldn't? But the ball was a one-chance-only thing, and she could leave with Jack the next night. Yeah, she would go to the ball.
Ok, so it's awfully short. It's easier to read when it's short. Trust me, the next one will be longer! Also if you've noticed I changed the story title. Yay!