Disclaimer: I don't any rights to the names or likenesses of any wrestler in this
story. I also don't claim any rights to the songs or lyrics in this story. Also
I do not own any rights to any actual St Augustine businesses names used in this
story. Basically, if you've heard of it or it actually exists - it ain't mine.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!
J.J. woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. She rolled over and looked at her alarm
clock that read 9:35am.
"Shit!" she said sitting straight up, then instantly regretting it. Grabbing the her head with both hands she sat still, hoping the pounding in her brain would stop. Unfortunately, a moment later her stomach turned on her, sending her rushing to the bathroom.
After emptying the contents of her stomach, J.J. sat on the cool tile floor of her small bathroom
wedged in between the tub and the toilet, cursing the man who invented beer.
After a few more minutes her stomach settled, so J.J. got up and slowly made her way to the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and popping a couple of Tylenol, she then sat at her kitchen table holding the cool bottle to her head, praying for the Tylenol to kick in.
About an hour later J.J. pulled into the marina, slowly climbing out of her jeep.
The headache had almost subsided, and she was able to function. But she still felt like
shit and was in a foul mood. Unfortunately for her the place was bustling.
She went into the office, and dropped her stuff on the desk then headed back out and
down the docks.
"Look who decided to show up, and only four and a half hours late too!" Josh laughed.
She lowered her sunglasses a little and sent him a glare that dared him to mess with her further.
But of course Josh, being Josh, was not to be deterred. "So Grant told me you closed the place down last night." Grant the bartender from the Milltop was Josh's roommate. "Dancing with
some guy all night. But, from your mood, I can tell you still didn't get any."
"Josh, bite me." She said dryly.
"Don't make offers you don't mean." He said with a grin.
"Well then go tie up that damn boat that's comin' in." She said.
Despite the heat and the sun, by 2pm J.J. was starting to feel more human again.
She headed over to a 26' Pro-line that had just come in and was having problems.
It was obvious that they had gotten their tie lines horribly tangled in the prop and
all over the outboard motor.
"Cut that engine!" she yelled without even looking at the driver.
She went over and grabbed a knife and kicked off her flip flops, climbing halfway down a ladder before jumping into the water once the engine had completely stopped.
"What a fucking mess." she mumbled as she started to cut away at the lines wrapped so badly,
that you couldn't even pull the prop out of the water.
Just then she heard a splash and felt a presence beside her. She was so not in the mood for this crap. Without even looking up from what she was doing she said.
"Get back in your boat! Do you know how dangerous it is down here, there's oyster beds, other boats, pilings! This isn't a swimming hole."
"I figured you'd need help." A male voice responded.
"No thanks, I know what the hell I'm doing." She said then finally looked up.
"Oh god." She said upon seeing who it was.
"Nice to see ya again too." Chris replied.
"Get out of the damn water." She said motioning to the ladder, as she pulled the last of the
rope free.
Chris waited up on the dock as she made her way back up the ladder, ignoring his offered hand.
Once she was up she looked at James who was at the wheel of the boat. "Try not to back into your line anymore." Then slipped her shoes back on.
Chris stood there watching her, when Josh suddenly came up, not noticing Chris standing there.
"J.J. we've got a yacht coming in for the week, it'll be here in the morning. You were busy so I authorized it." Josh said.
"That's fine." J.J. said then looked over noticing Chris still standing there.
Josh noticed the man's presence and looked up at him then exclaimed. "Holy shit! Wildcat Chris Harris." Josh stuck out his hand which Chris shook, then Josh noticed James who had just climbed out of the boat. "Cowboy James Storm!"
By then J.J. was helping someone else, a couple of slips down.
Chris asked "Is she always like that?"
"J.J. no, she's cool. She's just hung over." Josh replied.
"Is she much of a partier?" Chris asked.
Josh let out a slight laugh. "Once upon a time maybe, but last night was the first
time she has gone out and cut loose in over a year and a half. She needed it. But I heard she got
smashed."
"Oh she did, I was there." James replied.
"We met last night." Chris explained.
"Ooohh, I see. You wouldn't happen to have been the guy she was dancing with
all night?" Josh asked Chris.
"Yeah." Chris said with. "Did she tell you about it?"
Josh let out a laugh. "No way. My buddy's the bartender. But that explains, why she was in such a hurry to get away from you. J.J. doesn't let her guard down, last night was an exception."
"I see." said Chris. They took care of business, renting a slip for the week while they were staying in town. As they headed up the dock to leave, Chris took one last look back up at J.J., who was
busy at work.
James noticed where Chris was looking and rolled his eyes, as they continued on their way.
James, Chris and Chase Stevens who had just arrived that morning, had each rented a room at
the St George Inn. After leaving their boat at the marina, they had grabbed a bite to eat and
then made their way back to the inn.
After he had showered, Chris was laying back on his bed flipping through the TV channels, but nothing could hold his attention. His mind kept wandering back to J.J., he tossed the remote
onto the nightstand in frustration. Sure she was cute, but there really wasn't anything
remarkable about her. He worked with beautiful women everyday, why couldn't he get this girl out of his mind. She obviously didn't think much of him, or at least that's the impression he got from her today.
And James sure made it clear that he didn't think much of her. He rolled his eyes or snorted anytime her name came up. Chase hadn't met her yet, he had jumped off the boat to go use the bathroom the moment the boat had been with a foot of the dock. Chris jumped off his bed and threw on a black shirt that had the sleeves cut off, and a pair of jeans, pulled on his shoes and headed out the door. He walked over to Chase's room, and knocked on the door.
"I'm gonna go walk around, you game?" Chris said as soon as Chase opened the door.
"No man, I'm tired from the drive and then all that sun today. I'm just gonna chill here.
James said he was heading out about a half hour ago to get a beer or something, so he
ain't in his room." Chase answered.
So Chris headed out on his own. He walked up St George Street, it was just after dark, but the
narrow "walking only" street was still bustling with people going in and out of shops, and
admiring the centuries old buildings. As he was walking he noticed a sign that said St Augustine Ghost Walk in front of a little stand. Deciding to take a chance, he walked over.
"Excuse me." He said to the woman dressed in period clothing behind the stand.
"Yes sir." She said
"I was wondering, I'm looking to surprise a friend of mine. She said she does these tours,
I was hoping you knew her."
"Well there are a couple of companies that do these, but what's her name?" The woman asked.
"Her name is J.J., she has long dark hair..."
"Oh yes, J.J. is one of our guides. She only does one maybe two tours a week. But you are
in luck she will be on tonight. She always does the Saturday 10pm tour, since Sunday is
her day off from the marina and all." The woman said happily, eyeing Chris up and down.
"Great I'll take a ticket, and let's keep this between you and me, like I said
it's a surprise." Chris said handing the woman his money.
"The tour leaves from right here, at 10pm sharp." The woman said handing Chris a
sticker. "And be sure to wear this."
"Uh thanks."
J.J. had gotten home about 5:30 had grabbed a short nap and then changed into the
costume she had to wear for the night. She donned a long flowing black skirt, and a
white peasant shirt with a black corset over it and black boots. She didn't mind it too much,
even the summer heat didn't bother her since she did the late tour. She stood in front of the
ticket stand waiting for everyone gather. By now the streets were very quiet and all of the shops were closed. As she looked over the group of about thirty that had gathered, she narrowed her eyes as she saw Chris smirking at her from the back of the group. Smiling at everyone she spoke up "Ok everyone, we are gonna be leaving in just a few minutes." Then she headed to where the large man was standing.
"Interested in ghosts?"
"Something like that." Chris replied.
"I hope you don't get spooked easily."
"I'm a big boy."
"Yeah, but it's usually the big tough guys that end up right at the front by the end of the
tour. You know so nothing can sneak up behind 'em." She said raising her eyebrows and
turning to head back up to the front.
"Ok everyone, this is a 90 minute walking tour. I will ask that everyone stays together.
Lets head this way."
She started out giving a brief history of the tragedies that had struck the city over the centuries,
like yellow fever epidemics, war, pirates, etc. She headed over to the first cemetery, stopping along the way to tell tales at different places like the St Francis Inn. Her voice took an a dark
and mysterious tone at certain points. Chris could tell she loved the story telling, she was completely submersed in her tales. Everyone on the tour was completely pulled into each story. After telling the tale of the exploding bishop, she took them to the second cemetery. And
then the lawn of the Castillo de San Marcos, all the while telling them tales of the ghosts
and horrors of the Oldest City. Then she finally took them through the city gates and back
to where they had started. As predicted Chris had ended up right up front by the end of the
tour, but it wasn't because of the ghosts. After the tour ended a few people hung back to ask
J.J. questions.
Once they all left Chris approached her. "You're really good. You had me convinced."
"Thanks. I didn't just make up those stories you know. This is a very old place.
You can feel it, especially this time of night, when there's no one around."
Chris look up and down the quiet street, she was right they were literally the only people
around. Chris shivered a little, then shook off the creepy feeling.
"Can I walk you to your car?" He asked.
"I'm fine, it's only a couple blocks away. In fact the same place it was last night. Thanks,
by the way."
"Your welcome. But, I'd feel better if you'd let me walk you."
"Alright." She said, too tired to argue.
"So you and your friends are in town to fish I take it. Have you done any sight seeing?" She
asked as they walked the quiet streets.
"Nope, just what I saw tonight."
"Well you should make sure you do. It is an amazing little city."
"I'll have to do that, my buddy Chase will be into that."
"Where are you guys staying?"
"The St George Inn."
"I heard it's nice." She said as they stopped beside her jeep. "Well, thanks."
Her heart raced a little as he stepped closer to her, looking down at her. "I was wondering if
I could take you out to lunch tomorrow?" He asked resisting the urge to brush a back a piece
of dark hair that had fallen in her face.
"You here what? Another three or four more days?" She could feel herself starting to blush,
damn it she never blushed.
"A week." He replied.
"Chris, I don't date tourists. I just don't." She said climbing into her jeep and starting it up.
"Thanks for walking me" She said as she pulled away.
Chris just stood there for a moment, he wasn't used to working this hard to get a date.
Then his look of confusion turned to a small smile, was that a look of regret he had seen
in her face before she pulled away? Maybe he had a chance after all.
