an: I don't own anything with Pirates... though I totally wish I did. Especially one Orlando Bloom. 3
anyway. this chapter starts off Norrington/Elizabeth... but it changes by the end. D it's a dream at the beginning. ENJOY. R&R.
Finally, at the end of freshman year, he asked Elizabeth out.
"Miss Swann," his voice was quiet and shy, much like his personality at times. "I… I have a question for you…" It wasn't often James called Elizabeth by her formal name, but he did it at serious moments.
Elizabeth was sitting next to the male; he was her best friend through all the rough times. That freshman year, she lost her father by death and she had never a mother. She was taken in by a friend of the family and was the quiet child under the eyes of Mr. Gibb's. With a questioned look over her face, Elizabeth asked simply "Yes, James?" with a bright smile.
He adored that smile. It was so cheerful whenever he saw her and it made his heart melt. God, he was a lovesick teenager. He vowed to his growing up buddies to never become that, and it took a turn when he met Elizabeth Swann. "Miss Swann, I've been wondering…" His voice was shaken by the nerves. "If you would like to… uh… go out…?" He finally spoke as a blush covered his cheeks.
Elizabeth couldn't help but to giggle at his nervousness. He was adorable as a shy boy. "Of course, James. Just pick me up at… hm..." She paused a moment for a thought. "How about… seven?" Who knew if Elizabeth was doing this just to make Norrington not feel bad or if she really did like him. It truly turned out, later on, that she did like him.
They were never separated from that first date. Norrington's limited popularity rose as he held onto the girl he adored and many others were jealous. "Damn that, Norrington! He got himself a good one." Those words would always echo the halls of LaGuardia. It didn't affect them at all, both were happy in their place together.
Of course, that was until their one year soon approached. Elizabeth was excited that she had been dating her boyfriend and best friend for a full year, and was more excited knowing that nothing had gone wrong.
That was, until the day before it was a year. She was going out for a night run, something she did often. With her music playing loud into her ears, she jogged around the neighborhood a few times before deciding to take a detour and surprising her boyfriend. At LaGuardia, she was the dancer and James was the actor. That was one reason the two got along so well. The day of their one year anniversary was also the same day of a major production for Norrington. Elizabeth wanted to surprise him and that was exactly what she was going.
Giggling like a little girl, she caught her breath on his door step and knocked a few times. Through the wooden door, she heard a few grunts and then saw the door swing open. Behind the door, her boyfriend stood with his clothes askew and his hair messy. "Uh… did I wake you?" She questioned as many emotions hit her at once. James cleared his throat at a voice echoed through the house behind him. "Oh, no. I was practicing…" He half lied. Elizabeth glanced behind James as she noticed another female in the house, approximately a year older than them, with her clothes messy and her hair thrown into a complete mess of a ponytail.
Those emotions Elizabeth was feeling, they were all correct. "James Norrington!" She gasped as she backed away from the doorstep. He wasn't the same person she thought he was. "How… how dare you!" Norrington made no attempt to apologize as he watched her back away from the door. The female behind him wrapped her arms around his neck and watched Elizabeth. She couldn't believe it. The man she thought she loved had cheated on her with another female! So confused in emotions, Elizabeth began to run as fast as she could. It was all so hard on her. She lost her only family member a year ago and now her boyfriend had cheated on her. The only thing she could do was run as fast as she could
Elizabeth woke up roughly from her dream, cursing under her breath. That male had wrecked her emotions and she never wanted to see him anymore. It was the middle of the summer, and she hadn't seen him since that day a year ago. She shook her head, her honey hair falling onto her shoulders as she twisted to the side of the bed, standing slowly. "Damn that Norrington…" she whispered, praying never to see him again. She was glad his parents decided to move to Port Royal, Jamaica. Let him deceive some other innocent girl and cheat on her. She frowned as she grabbed a robe from her small closet and opened the door of her room. The cold New York air engulfed her but a smile crossed her lips. Two rooms over, she could hear her adopted father snoring loudly and she suppressed a giggle with her hand. She had lived with him over two years now and she had grown to rely on the man for much support. Many found it hard to believe that he threatened James for doing that to an innocent girl. Smiling, she walked passed his room and glanced at the unconscious man before heading into the kitchen area.
Joshamee Gibbs and Elizabeth Swann lived in a small apartment not too far from LaGuardia so the girl was capable of finishing up her high school career there. Her seventeen year old hazel eyes flashed across the cupboards before heading to the small refrigerator. The two were not the richest 'family' in New York City nor were they the poorest. Her father left her with much of the family's riches but she kept more than half in the bank in order for her college career. Sighing and glancing at the digital clock, she frowned at the time: 5:30. Folding her arms across her chest and grabbing a small bottle of water, she headed back into her room. She was sure Mr. Gibbs wouldn't mind letting her go on an early morning run.
Back in her room, she changed into a pair of running pants and slipped on a white tank top. She slid on the white running shoes then walked back into the main area of the house. She quickly scribbled a note letting her 'father' know where she was going and letting him know she would be home within the next hour or so. Of course, knowing Joshamee, she would return long before he's awake. She giggled quietly as she heard the snore once more then slipped outside the door.
Once outside of the apartments, her arms folded across her chest as the cold took over her. Elizabeth allowed her eyes to adjust before she began at a steady walk. She walked slowly from the small neighborhood and once she reached outside of LaGuardia, she picked to a light jog. Her eyes shut as she ran easily to escape her thoughts. She was a junior at LaGuardia and she wasn't looking that forward to becoming a senior. Ever since Norrington had cheated on her, her dream of become a dancer grew smaller and smaller as she longed to get away from the school that brought back the memories each time she walked down the hall. Her junior year was hell as the seniors who knew them as a couple stared pointlessly as she walked alone. She wanted to ask Mr. Gibbs about transferring her to a normal high school, but she doubted he would let her give up on her dream that easily. The man knew her very well; he watched her grow up from a little innocent baby to the young woman she was now. Biting at her lip, she stopped as she slowly approached the working and shop area.
Her breath shook uneasily as she thought of LaGuardia and the many memories from that school. That was where she met James, where he asked her out at, where they hugged at, where they held hands at, and where they broke up. She could feel the tears bring up into her eyes but she shook her head to refuse the tears from falling. She was a strong girl and cried for very few things. A stupid boy was not one thing she was going to let her break into tears. Elizabeth sat down on the bench and rolled her shoulders back slightly, attempting to give up the memories.
"Er… excuse me, miss?" a random voice came up to her side as she hid her face from crying. She glanced up slightly, taking notice to a male about her age standing before her. She wiped her face quickly, ridding of any escaped tears. "How may I help you?" she swallowed before she asked. She had no clue who this man was, but when she realized he was about her age, she felt relaxed a little.
"I saw you running… and something told me you were hurt, are you… okay?" He questioned as he bit his lip lightly as he sat next to her on the bench. The eighteen year old was William Turner, a now graduated student that once went to LaGuardia. Elizabeth struggled with her words as she attempted to read the males face. She was able to tell he was caring at how soft his eyes looked. "Miss?" He questioned once more as Elizabeth came back into attention.
"Oh, yes… I am fine." She half lied, biting at her lower lip. There was something about William that made her not want him to go. "I just had some thinking to do…" she waved it off as if she was nothing and stood up from her seat.
Will watched with a questioning eye brow but did not make any argue. "Well, please be careful. It's not safe for anyone to be out in New York alone. It can be extremely dangerous, something in which he knew from experience. He had a scar from his left cheek bone to right under his chin. He shook his head at his thought as Elizabeth smiled and nodded. "Same to you, mister." She paused as she hadn't gotten his name. "Do you mind… uh… walking me back to the apartment? It seems that you know New York pretty well." Truth was, she wanted to know this man a little more. William nodded as he rose to a stand. He was a going five inches taller than Elizabeth as he gave his arm in a proper position. Giggling, Elizabeth wrapped her arm through his. "Excuse me, sir, but I do not think I received your name." She spoke calmly as they slowly walked. "Oh, my name is William Turner." His smile was innocent as they slowly walked. "Well, Mr. Turner. I'm Elizabeth Swann," she couldn't resist giggling.
Mr. Gibbs taught her not to trust anyone easily in the midst of New York City, but something about this male made her trust him. As they were now acquainted, they talked loosely. Elizabeth told him why she was out for such an early morning run:
"I had to get an ex off of my mind."
"An ex-boyfriend? Might I ask who broke up with whom?"
"He broke up with me…" her voice grew soft.
"Oh." Will could hear the sadness in her voice.
"Do not worry, Mr. Turner. He was not worth my time."
"That's different from what I hear most girls say."
"James Norrington was a disgusting figure."
"Norrington?" he replied back quickly.
"Yes… That's who I dated." Her voice was questioning.
Will couldn't help but to laugh. William knew James Norrington before he graduated and he was never fond of that man. Elizabeth had a question look over her face as she tried to figure out why he was laughing. After calming down some, Will spoke again:
"Are you a student at LaGuardia?"
"Yes. I'm in the dance department."
"And James was an actor, correct?"
"Yeah… before he moved."
"Ah. I was in the art department. I had to paint some of the sets for that stupid brute."
"You go to LaGuardia? But I've never seen you before."
"Went there. I graduated and not going to college…" He half shrugged as he smirked. "I could say the same to you, I never saw you with Norrington."
"Well, I never went into the theatre area much. Only if he was giving me a ride home or he had a production."
"Calm me rude, but I think its good Norrington dumped you."
"What do you mean?"
"He was a jerk to anyone who wasn't in theatre. He pretty much hated me."
"Why would he? You seem like such a nice guy!"
"I dunno. But that idiot was always over the theatre girls. Made me sick."
"He… he was?"
"Yeah. I knew he had a girlfriend, but I figured that one of those girls was his."
"That bastard…"
They were slowly approaching Elizabeth's apartments and day light was breaking the barrier of the sky.
"Miss Swann, I have a question."
"Call me Elizabeth, Will."
"Yes, well, Elizabeth."
"What is the question you have?"
"May I… uh… take you to uh… possibly dinner?"
Elizabeth grinned with a nod. "It's all right with me. What about tonight?"
"Sounds like a date."
Elizabeth smiled as she gave her newly-found friend a hug before entering the apartment. She was blushing as she jogged up the steps and entered Mr. Gibbs and hers personal apartment. It had been a year since she had dated and that night she had a date with an extremely handsome man that seemed very caring. Now how to explain to Joshamee at the random date she got in the early morning. With a giggle, she headed back into her room but not before catching glance at the clock: 7:00. Falling into her bed, she fell into a sleep once more with a giggle.
Will could hardly believe it. The exgirlfriend to James Norrington had accepted a date from William Turner, the artist with no strong career. He bit his lip as he headed back to his own apartments with his hands hiding in the pockets of his jeans. Will was extremelly excited and it was obvious from how he could not stop smiling nor stop pacing once in his apartment.