Chapter 2: Just Like Her Father

Sig left Maeva alone to get more accustomed to the gallery. He headed up to the wheelhouse, passing Jake Anderson along the way.

"What are you up to Jake?" asked Sig as he paused in front of the stairway, giving Jake a warning look.

Jake swallowed nervously and just shrugged.

"I dunno," he muttered, "Edgar told me to go inside and cool off for a bit so I'm gonna go get a bite to eat."

Sig smirked at that, "What'd you do this time?"

Jake's eyes flashed briefly in anger as Sig held up his hand to stop him.

"Save it kid," he ordered, "Just go calm down and then get back to work. I don't have time to deal with drama."

Jake sighed and forced himself to calm down a bit as he opened the door and stepped into the galley. His heart skipped a beat when he saw who was standing there inspecting the stove.

Maeva heard the door open and spun quickly around to face them. Her eyes glittered with defiance as she turned her glare on an unsuspecting Jake. Quickly realizing that it wasn't her dad or one of her uncles she blinked and softened her gaze.

"Oh, Jake," she said trying to regain her composure, "Sorry, I thought you might have been my dad."

Jake smirked at that as he slid in behind the table.

"Nah, it's just me," he muttered, looking slightly dejected.

Maeva gazed at him for a moment and cocked her head to the side questioningly.

"You alright?" she asked as she leaned across the counter to look at him.

Jake swallowed nervously and nodded quickly.

"Um, yeah I'm fine," he said hurriedly, "I just needed a break."

Just then a loud banging noise sounded from inside the hallway.

"I'm sick of it Edgar!" shouted Matt angrily, "I'm not putting up with the kid's crap anymore! And if he thinks I am then he's got another thing comin'!" That punk kid's gonna get his butt kicked if he so much as looks at me wrong!"

Maeva's eyes widened in shock as she glanced over at Jake. He winced and sunk lower down into the bench behind the table. He gave her a sheepish grin as his face turned slightly red.

"I guess I made Matt a little angry," he said quietly.

Maeva raised an eyebrow and shook her head.

"Um yeah I'd say that you did."

Just then the door to the galley flew open and Matt charged in with Edgar hot on his heels.

"Matt calm down!" he shouted, "It's not worth it!"

Matt grabbed a cup and filled it with water at the sink and took a long swig. He glanced at Maeva and gave her an apologetic look.

"Sorry hun," he said kindly, "I'm just a little ticked off at…"

Matt paused as he glanced over Maeva's shoulder and saw Jake sitting at the table. The two deckhands made eye-contact for a split second and Jake shivered inwardly at the anger he saw reflected in Matt's glare.

Edgar sighed and rolled his eyes at the spectacle.

"Alright you two need to cut it out," he ordered as he glared at them both, "We all know you two don't get along but you're going to have to find a way to work things out. You don't have to be best friends, just learn to work well together that's all I ask. I don't want to see either of you get fired and you know good and well that Sig will fire one if not both of you if you don't cut it out. You're lucky he didn't see what happened out there or you two may be fighting it out at the docks while the rest of us go fishing. So let bygones be bygones and move on, alright?"

Matt looked away sharply and muttered under his breath. Jake took a deep breath and sighed as he glanced over at Matt.

"Yeah I'm cool with that," he said quietly.

Matt shot him a glare.

"Matt…" said Edgar warningly.

Matt sighed in defeat and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Fine," he said shortly, "But we're not friends."

"Didn't say I wanted to be," retorted Jake.

Edgar ran a hand through his hair and groaned.

"Don't worry Eggy," said Matt, "I won't bother the shrimp…so long as he stays outta my way that is."

Jake glared at Matt and sneered, "And you stay outta mine!"

Matt laughed at that and quickly left the galley, stomping loudly down the hallway as he made his way back out onto the deck.

"Well…that went over well," muttered Maeva as she glanced at Jake.

"Oh you haven't seen anything yet," said Edgar with a sarcastic laugh, "Just wait until we're underway. They really go at it then. I'm seriously considering pushing one of them overboard. That'd shut them up."

Maeva tried to stifle a laugh as Jake glared at Edgar in indignation.

"It's not like I want to piss him off!" he said, attempting to defend himself, "He's just always raggin' on me. It's not like you died and made him deck boss or something."

Edgar sighed and gave Jake a sympathetic smile.

"Oh come on kiddo," he said kindly, "You know how Matt is. Just keep your attitude in check and don't talk to him and it'll be alright."

Jake shrugged and looked down at the table. Edgar went over and patted him on the back.

"Keep your chin up Jakers."

As Edgar left the galley to head back out onto the deck, Maeva walked over and sat down across from Jake.

"He's right you know," she said softly, "Just don't let Matt get to you."

Jake smiled slightly and glanced up at her. He felt his breath catch in his throat when his darker blue eyes locked with her crystal blue eyes. He fumbled for words, attempting to cover up his shock.

"Um, yeah…yeah I guess so."

Maeva smiled kindly as she reached over to fix his ruffled brown hair.

"There's the spirit!" she said with a broad, white smile, "Now get out there and do your job."

Jake frowned slightly, "You know it's almost creepy…you sound just like your father."

Maeva let out a beautiful laugh that sounded like music to Jake's ears. He couldn't help but laugh with her.

"Well then you'll have no problem taking orders from me," she said with a mischievous grin, "Now get out there greenhorn!"

Jake laughed as he turned to leave the galley.

"No…no problem at all."