Chapter IV

Ann rushed to the railing, her slender hands wrapped around the metal and she flashed her pearly smile, 'I think this is awfully exciting!' Her voice jovial, almost singsong. 'I've never been on a ship before!'

Bruce glared at her, puffing away at a corn pipe borrowed from Lumpy. 'I've never been on one with a woman before.'

She turned to Bruce, her eyes more brilliant with the ocean's blue waves rolling underneath her. 'I guess you don't think much of women on ships, do you?'

'No, they're a nuisance.'

Alice slipped silently to Jack's side. They exchanged looks and watched on.

'Well, I'll try not to be,' Ann continued to chirp, her character unabashed by Bruce's blatant rudeness.

'Just being around is trouble,' he grumbled.

Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the next; Alice sadly noted that his eyes did not leave her sister though. Another minute of dialogue was belted out before Denham called out, 'Cut! Great!' Bruce walked up to him and Denham slapped a hand on his shoulder. 'Wonderful performance. You and Ann can take ten before the next scene. That was very natural, Bruce. I was moved, really.'

Alice looked for Jack's response; he rolled his eyes.

Bruce strutted pass them, his smile wide and cocky, 'What'd you think, Driscoll? The dialogue's got some flow now, huh?'

'It was pure effluence,' he replied dryly.

'I beefed up the banter.'

His eyes narrowed, 'Try to resist that impulse.'

Bruce scoffed and kept walking, 'It's just a little humor, bud. What're you, a Bolshevik or something?'

'Actors,' Jack's gaze fell back to Ann, though his words were directed to Alice. 'They travel the world but all they ever see is a mirror.'

Ann powdered her nose before clicking her compact shut. 'Mr. Denham, I am going downstairs for a beverage!' She flitted pass them, stopping to give a lock of her sister's hair a playful tug. 'Oh yes, Alice. Just like this. You look near picturesque!'

Jack's eyes fell on her and for the first time, truly looked at her. He noticed first that she was not in her usually garb of men's slacks but instead a more fitted plum blouse and beige skirt that hugged her hips appreciatively. The younger Darrow's hair was also brushed out, her curls cascading down her back; her usual auburn locks were especially red in the sun's light. Her emerald eyes stared back, framed by black, thick lashes. She broke into a smile, 'Something on my face, Jack?' She asked.

He shook out of his trance. 'I think I am going to get myself a beverage as well.'

—

That night, the Darrows made their way to the ships bathroom. Alice kept Ann in front with one hand stretched towards her backside, her fingertips barely touching the bathrobe's silk. She looked up to see Jack moving towards them wearing only trousers with a towel draped around his neck which he was still using to dry his dark locks. They all exchanged polite smiles.

Just then, ship jolted, throwing all three off balance. Jack's hand shot out and flattened against the wall to brace himself; Alice widened her stance and grabbed Ann's arm, keeping her from pitching forward. 'Damn ship,' Ann murmured. 'My legs pine for solid ground.'

'Good legs,' said Jack to Alice, his voice breaking the corridor's silence. They both looked at him quizzically. 'Sea legs,' he explained. 'No, I meant—you know, steady sea legs.' He saw Ann's expression darken slightly, 'Not that you don't have good legs, too—er, as well,' he blew out sharply and whispered, 'Jesus.'

They edged pass him, Ann in front with Alice trialing behind, both giving Jack another queer look. Ann slipped into the bathroom first and Alice leaned up against the side wall. He paused another moment, 'So the scene today,' he began lamely.

'Yes, I had a talk with her. Apparently the genius ad-libbing was all Baxter. He states that if a man likes a woman then he must ignore her. That, actually, the more hostile he acts, the stronger his affection towards her…' she smirked.

'Interesting theory.'

'He should be a bit more passive these next few days. I got the word that some graffito may have happened to his beloved movie posters.' She loved when she could make him smile. 'That should keep him in a sulking and, hopefully, muse-less mood.'

He looked absently at his hands, 'Right. Well, good.' He started to turn away before saying, 'See you in the morning then?'

She smiled warmly, 'Yes, Jack. I'll be bringing the coffee as always.'

He gave a nod and walked towards the stairs.

—

The next morning and into the late afternoon, they produced page after page, slowly bringing Denham's picture to verbal life when they heard footsteps pounding overhead. 'What in the hell?' She looked upwards and then back at Jack, who eyed the typewriter. 'Oh, c'mon, Jack, we've been cooped up in here like cage animals!' She giggled at herself. 'Let's get ourselves some fresh air, I think we deserve it!'

Before he could think of an excuse, she grabbed for his hand and pulled him up. She flew threw the halls, Jack following her with his long strides; music played in the distance, louder with each step towards the surface. On deck, the sailors had created a half-circle around her sister and Jimmy, who danced lively to the chorus of instruments and Choy's rendition of Marie's Wedding. Ann danced with Jimmy before another sailor stepped in and took her as his partner. His hazel eyes landed on Alice and he bounded to her, grabbed her around her waist, and dragged her out to dance.

Jack settled next to Captain Englehorn, who was enjoying an old paper, leaned up against the wheelhouse's wall, to watch. Jimmy twirled Alice, her slate gray skirt swirled around, showing off shapely calves that lead to slender ankles. He watched her curls tangle around the young man's neck, who batted the locks away, laughing. At the song's ending, he threw her over his shoulder and spun her several times before setting her down. She collapsed into her sister's arms, both shaking with laughter now while the men cried for more, more! And the makeshift band started up again.

'She's a beauty, that one,' Englehorn commented, his eyes never leaving the articles.

'Mmm?' Jack looked at the captain.

He folded his paper and tucked it under his arm to pull a cigarillo from his shirt pocket. Jack held up his hands to block the wind for his match's flame. He took a long drag before bothering to repeat himself, 'Miss Darrow.'

'Well, yes,' he agreed. 'Suppose that's why Denham picked her out in the first place.'

Englehorn shook his head, 'No.' His accent thickened with the smoke. 'The red head. She has affluence to her, a richness in her being. Ann is a pretty girl, yes, but she knows it too well. The little Darrow, Miss Alice, has much more character.'

Jack looked back; the Darrow's linked their arms and spun in circle as their dance partners stood to the side, clapping to the music's rhythm. Alice's cheeks were flushed; her eyes sparkled brightly and locked onto his for just a minute before Jimmy swept her up into his arms again. 'She does,' he agreed.

—

Alice's feet ached and her brain pan sloshed with whiskey. Bruce Baxter had joined and swept Ann off her feet with a slew of compliments and a personal flask of Crown; her attention completely ripped away from Alice. She left when the dancing died away and the men passed out bottles of rum to share, belting out sea lullabies and stories, both funny and frightening. Her sides ached from laughing and Jimmy kept returning the bottle to her hand and before she realized, and luckily without much notice, she was very much tipsy on a constantly rocking boat. This was when she excused herself, receiving a chorus of goodnights and sweet dreams.

She staggered down the steps, a white knuckle grip on the railing. 'Alice!' She looked down to see Jack, standing at the bottom of the steps, slipping on his black coat.

She broke into a smile, 'Jack! Where have you disappeared too?' Had it been an hour, or perhaps two, ago? She took another step but slipped, stumbling forward. He caught her in his arms and steadied her; the corridor reverberated with her laughter. 'Such good timing, Mr. Driscoll. What else would a poor girl like me do but fall and break my pretty little neck?' She teased and broke away from his grasp.

'Where are you headed, Alice?' He asked.

'My room,' she exhaled. 'I am exhausted from all this damn dancing.'

He took a step towards her, but stopped himself. 'Would you like me to escort you there?'

Her laughter rang out again, 'Chivalrous Jack tonight! Yes, please. I always enjoy your company.' He walked to her side and she reached out and gripped his arm, 'But first,' she kicked off one lavender heel after the other, the metal flooring frightfully cold but soothing to the sole's. 'My God, how do women suffer in such impractical shoes! I insisted on flats this morning but Ann begged me to borrow her shoes, said they completed my outfit. I should choose my footwear as if I am expected to dance every night away!' She let go of his arm and he reached forward and took her hand. She grew quiet as she watched him gently slip it into the nook of his arm.

'To your room then, Miss Darrow?' He asked; she nodded numbly and they walked in silence. He racked his brain, for something, anything to hear her laugh again, but came up empty handed.

'Thank you, Jack,' she said when they reached her door. 'You never did tell me where you went off too tonight. Not much of a dancer?'

He shook his head. 'May I show you?' He asked; she pushed open the door and stepped to the side to let him in. He dug into his coat's pocket and pulled out several pages, neatly folded. 'I was writing,' he handed it to her.

The words blurred till she blinked several times and then squinted. She breezed through the pages, her laughter ranging from a soft giggle to a full blown fit. 'This is brilliant, Jack. But since when do you write stage comedies?'

'I'm writing it for you,' he answered, his voice even.

She looked up at him, 'For me?' She looked down at the pages, 'Jack, I love it. Thank you.' She folded them neatly, following the creases, and returned it to him. He took them and slipped them back into his pocket, his head tilted down. She watched as the dark locks she loved fell forward and reached over to run her fingers threw them. He looked up as at her and she stepped in, pressing her lips lightly onto his. He relaxed, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in before realizing the strong taste of liquor.

He broke off the kiss; Alice's face crumpled. 'Jack?'

'Not now,' he shook his head. 'This isn't fair. After the Johnnie Walker wears off—'

'Excuse me?' Her tone was sharp. 'I am perfectly able to make decisions regardless of the fact that my walk has a stumble to it!'

'Shit, I wasn't saying that!—it's just, this was suppose to woo you and then—'

'And then, what? Any good author would have a fucking kiss. Sober or not.' She put her hands on his chest and pushed him through the doorway. He looked defeated and confused. 'Goodnight, Jack,' her voice lost its anger, keeping its hurt. She closed the door on him.