Author's Note

mehhehhehhemehehehhe

What is up my lovely readers! I have gotten a total of FIVE reviews so far. (Which may or may not have been followed by five solid minutes of dancing through the kitchen and whooping.) So thank you for actually reading my story, cuz it makes my day.

See, I just love the idea of Tommy Ryan. I mean, in the movie, we don't see much about him, which just sux. But it is lit because you can add so much to him, like a personality and a backstory.

Let it be known I still frickin love Jack with all of my heart.

GUYS I had a dream last night with Jack in it and I woke up crying cuz it was like such a beautiful dream AGH. Anyway, the last chapters have been like intoductory chapters, hopefully we'll get into some juicy plot twists soon. ;)

Daily Top 5 with Merra?

Favorite Authors:

1. Anna Banks (GO READ ALL OF HER BOOKS THEY ARE LEGIT.)

2. Stephanie Meyer (What can I say? Twilight was good.)

3. Rick Riordon.

4. J.K. Rowling

5. Sharon Cameron

Well das it

Thanks for reading my story! On with the plot!

xXxXx

Cassidy turned around.

"Tommy?"

There he was. He was wearing the same outfit he wore earlier, and with the absence of a cigerette smoke cloud, he looked in a way more sophisticated. He stood with his palms up, slowly walking towards her, as if she might bite him. And his eyes...they were pools of compassion that struck Cassidy. But she was too deep in her grief.

"Lass? What are you doing?"

"None of your business," she snapped. "Go away!"

"Beautiful, please let me-"

"Back away! Leave me alone!" Cassidy cried.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, lovely. Come on, it's cold outside."

"I don't want to go inside! Leave me alone!" Cassidy repeated.

"Lass, please allow me to pull you back, get you somewhere warmer—"

"I said leave me alone!" Cassidy turned back to the sea, her sobs racking her entire body. She leaned farther over the rail, allowing her tears to free fall. "My life hardly matters anymore..."

"That's not true, lass. Please back away from the rail..."

Cassidy started, faltering her sobs. His voice was closer than she expected. She turned. He was standing right behind her, arms out.

"I will stand where I very much please, Mr. Ryan," Cassidy said. "And I told you to leave. I will call the Master at Arms!"

"Lass, just come here," Tommy said, gesturing with his arms. "I can take you inside, you can warm up in your room."

"I don't want to go to my room! I don't ever want to back anywhere!" Cassidy snapped. "In fact, I may just jump over this rail right now!"

"No!" Tommy pleaded. Cassidy was shocked at how sincere he sounded. He legitemately sounded concerned about her, despite what she had said earlier. No. Don't think about that. What did it matter how Tommy felt about her?

"I will! Don't come any closer!"

"Please, lass. Listen to me. Just give me your hand and I can help you back-"

"Mr. Ryan, I don't need your help, and I don't want your help!" Cassidy glared at him, wishing he would stop trying to be so gracious.

"I understand that lass, but I want to help."

"Mr. Ryan, please. Can't you see I want to be alone?" she asked, leaning back over the rail.

"Oi, I can see that, lass, I just can tell that's not what you need."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, looking up at him through her tear-streaked eyes. "What I need? I don't suppose you know what it's like to lose both of your loving parents in the same night. I don't suppose you know what it's like having to keep those emotions botted up inside you because it's not right for a first class lady to be anything other than a smiling poster girl!"

"Lass," Tommy began.

"No!" Cassidy interupted him. "I have been told all my life that I must be the perfect little picture of grace, and to act like I'm okay, even if I'm not okay! How am I expected to do that now? Now that," she started sobbing harder, "Now that my parents...died saving me from...the f-fire that night..."

She kept crying, she couldn't get another word out, she couldn't remember what she had been ranting about, she just felt pain, raw pain, that felt like it was tearing all her bones from her body. She was drowning in her tears, not bothering to come up for air, just drowning in her grief.

She had never known she could feel this kind of pain, the kind of pain that stabbed every muscle in your body, the kind that ripped away all hope straight from your soul. It consumed her, as she was crying, but she couldn't stop, she couldn't break away.

She didn't remember how Tommy Ryan had done it, but he locked his strong, stable arms around her and dragged her shaking body away from the rail. All she knew is she cried long into that night, head in his jacket, her fingers gripping to his shirt, using him as a lifeline.

She cried and cried and couldn't stop. Somewhere in her near-incoherent thoughts, she realized she was allowing a near stranger to hold her and comfort her. But for some reason, that didn't bother her. She trusted Tommy Ryan. It was this realization that calmed Cassidy down, even just for a little bit, allowing her to drift into a restless sleep.

xXxXx

Cassidy slowly regained her consciousness. She didn't see a point in opening her eyes. She assumed she was in her bed in her suite. But why was her bed rocking? Luxery ships don't rock this much, let alone at all! She peeked her eyes open a little bit. Above her was the face of... Tommy Ryan. Suddenly, she remembered how she had left dinner crying and how she had yelled at Tommy and how she had started crying and couldn't stop.

Cassidy knew she should probably move. It waw horribly rude to be lying in a stranger's arms, allowing that stranger to rock you and hold you. But for some reason, Cassidy just wanted to relish the feeling of being in Tomm Ryan's arms.

They were nice arms, Cassidy thought to herself, then scolded herself mentally for thinking such an odd thing. Trying to keep up the act of being asleep, she gave a little snort and rolled over, which pushed her face into Tommy's chest. Her nose was pressed right into the fabric of his shirt, and she wiggled closer, taking in the scent of smoke and something else she couldn't place, but she liked it. She felt his chest rumble as he gave a little chuckle.

"Not a very restful sleeper, I see," he whispered. Cassidy nearly sat up. How did he know she was awake? But as time continued, she realized he was just talking to himself. Or was he talking to her through her sleep? She smiled. This man had been so helpful to her, and what had she done for him? Nothing. She had yelled at him, offended him, and had probably stolen the idea of him getting sleep tonight. He didn't seem to mind that though. He had been talking since she had woken up, so she assumed he had been talking while she was sleeping as well.

Cassidy allowed his words to wash over her, giving her a sense of peacefulness. He had a beautiful voice, his accent magnifying his storytelling. And what a storyteller he was! Even though he was technically speaking to himself, since Cassidy was supposedly asleep, he made it sound like he was telling his story to an audience of thousands.

As he finished another story, about a beanstalk and an ogre, Cassidy peeked one eye open just a crack. Even though she hardly knew the man, she had to admire his face. He had super tan skin and permanent dimples from smiling so much. If he forgives me, Cassidy thought, and I'm not too embarassed to talk to him, I want to learn more about him. He would be a nice friend in this high society world.

Suddenly, Tommy cut off his story. Cassidy squeezed her eyes shut quickly. Had he seen her? His arms tightened around her, and he took a deep breath.

"Lass," he began, and Cassidy stiffened. He knew! "I know that you're asleep, and I know that I've just been talking to myself this entire time...but I need to get this out. I...I was telling all those stories because I hoped it would comfort you. Because seeing you cry...it hurt my heart. I know it's crazy...I mean, I just met you today. But I believe in fate. I think I was meant to meet you, even if I'm a nuisance, even if you hate me...because I think...you just need a friend. And if somewhere in your subconsciousness you can hear me...I hope you don't hate me."

Cassidy almost stared crying again. What this man could do with his words! He didn't hate her! He just thought she hated him. Cassidy mentally rebuked herself for being such an idiot. Tommy was silent now, just rocking her back and forth, so Cassidy reached out slowly and grabbed his coat. She had her eyes open now, and saw Tommy glance down at her, eyes concerned.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

xXxXx

"Mr. Ryan...I..."

"Tommy," he corrected.

"Tommy..." Cassidy said. Tommy had quickly set her down on the bench, to her dismay, for it was actually quite cold outside, and without the human warmth around her, cassidy was starting to shiver. Despite that, Cassidy felt the need to apologize profusely for being so rude.

"...I just wanted to say...I am terribly sorry for my attitude towards you, right from the start. It's not you, it's me...I...I have alot going on right now and I seemed to have taken it out on you...and I'm sorry for that I just...and then crying like that in front of you...I am a horrible person." Cassidy buried her face in her hands.

"Aw, lass don't say tha'. I know how ye feel. I lost me mum when I was about five, and I didn't take it as well as you. I... ran away from home fer a while...at least you carried on with your normal life as best ye could."

"Tommy...I'm so sorry, I didn't realize–"

"Forget it, lass. There ain't nothin you can do about it. I'm over it now." Tommy's eyes seemed to have glazed over.

"Do you still miss her?" Cassidy asked, covering his hand with hers. He glanced at her.

"All the time, lass, all the time." He smiled weakly at her, and she smiled back.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked. He shook his head. "Oh..." Cassidy couldn't help but feel disappointed. He grinned at her.

"Lass, I would love to talk with you more, but I have a feeling it's gotten very late, and you are ice cold," said Tommy, clasping her hand in between his.

"I guess I'm a little cold..." she said sheepishly.

Tommy stood up and held out his hand to her. She took it and stood up as well. They stood there a little bit, just looking at each other.

Finally Tommy coughed. "Well, Lass, would you like me to escort you to your room?"

"I don't think you're allowed..." Cassidy told him.

"Like that'll stop me," Tommy snorted.

"Well, I don't want you getting in trouble," Cassidy said. "Well, I better go." She started to leave.

"Wait–Lass!" Tommy called after her. " Do ya...do ya think ye might want to meet up tomorrow and talk?"

Cassidy smiled. "I would love to." She turned back toward the first class door. "I'll meet you here around...noon?"

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," Tommy said, tipping his hat at her.

Cassidy grinned again. "See you tomorrow then. Goodnight...Tommy." And as she opened the door and walked down the hallway towards her suite, Cassidy heard behind her,

"Goodnight...Cassidy."