Chapter 7

Drizzle With Love

Jim took a shaky step down into the dimly lit galley. Food was spilled everywhere along with plates, pots, and other cooking utensils. A bang interrupted Jim's thoughts as he heard Alice grumble near the cupboards in the back. Jim stepped forward to see her wrestling with a cupboard that was near bursting from the amount of pots and pans.

"Close!" Alice ordered the straining door, but a minute later it popped back open sending the pots and pans spilling out over the floor in a loud crash. Alice let out an angry yell as she looked at the mess around her. She kicked a pot before sinking to the ground and burying her face in her arms. "Not my fault," she whimpered beginning to cry as Jim, full of regret, came to her side.

The girl's shoulders shook from her silent sobs, not noticing that Jim had knelt down next to her. He reached out and gingerly put a hand on her shoulder making Alice jump in surprise. When she saw it was Jim she turned away.

"What do you want?" she growled.

"To say I'm sorry," Jim said, remorse forcing him not to meet her eyes. "I was a jerk, Alice. I didn't mean to say those things."

"Well you did," she spat, wiping her eyes. Jim let out a little breath. She wasn't going to accept his apology so easily. He sat down amongst the pots next to her.

"I've always just felt like I screw everything up," he began quietly. "I guess I never really thought about the good in my life until you came along." Jim paused for a moment to swallow. "And I guess I never realized how bad I was acting until you pointed it out. I mean, my dad leaving just–just sort of broke down the walls, or I suppose you could say it built them because of me being so negative and guarded all the time."

Alice still hadn't said anything, but she had turned to look at him.

"I didn't mean to make fun of you because you have no parents. I didn't mean to make fun of your talents either. So, I'm sorry," he breathed, "for everything." Alice blinked, but her frown remained.

"Why apologize? It's not like anyone wants me around anyway," she mocked his words, grabbing a wooden spoon close by and throwing it across the room. Her eyes filled with tears again as she let out a little gasp and buried her face in her knees, unable to stop her sobs. Jim lowered his head in shame.

"I didn't mean that," he whispered. "I want you around, Alice, I do." Alice shook her head and scooted away from him as he tried to reach out to her again.

"Don't touch me. From the moment we met I knew you hated me. Don't pretend you care," she choked out, raising her head just a bit for Jim to see her wet eyes covered by her dark lashes and her pink nose.

"That was because I didn't know you, Alice. I didn't know you the way I know you now. And I'm happy I did get to know you, because you've been there for me, Alice," Jim said, reaching over and taking one of her hands. Alice didn't pull away which Jim took as a good sign. "You don't know how glad I am that I did get to know you, because you're great, Alice. You really are a great friend, and I've been so stupid. I'm so sorry. I care. I do care about you, and I want you around. I don't ever want you to leave," Jim finished, squeezing her hand. He let out a little breath, embarrassed he had said so much. Alice stared at his helpless expression gazing at the floor and squeezed his hand in return.

Jim looked up in surprise catching her eye and feeling his face heat up as he curled his fingers between hers. Alice sniffed and wiped her eyes with her other hand before she passed him a small smile. As if on instinct both of them leaned in closer.

"You're forgiven," she whispered. Jim's own familiar half smile appeared as he lifted his hand to push a piece of her hair behind her ear. For a moment his heart nearly beat out of his chest as his hand lingered against her cheek.

"Um," he cleared his throat, pulling away as both teenagers flushed. "Uh, we should probably clean this up."

"Yeah, that'd be a good idea," Alice agreed as Jim helped her to her feet.

"Really, I am sorry about the things I said to you."

"It's okay," Alice sighed, rubbing her eyes with one hand, her other still clutching Jim's.

"Er, Alice, you can let go now," Jim blushed, nodding to their hands.

"Oh, right," she stammered, releasing him and taking a step back. "Let's just forget about tonight. I don't – I don't want to remember any of it."

"Do I have to forget the part where you called me handsome?" Jim smirked, a mischievous glint entering his eye making Alice whirl around, her face a bright scarlet.

"I-I didn't call you handsome," she spluttered, grabbing a pot and handing it to Jim who was stacking them into neat piles.

"Yeah you did."

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Alright alright, so you didn't call me handsome but it makes me wonder why Silver also heard you say such a thing," Jim snickered. Alice sent him a glare.

"I don't know what either of you are talking about. I think you need to restrain your ego, Jim."

"That's cold."

"At least I'm not falsely accusing people of saying things they didn't."

"Okay, I get it. I'll back off," Jim chuckled as he and Alice finished picking up the pots before moving on to the food spilled all over the floor. As they worked Alice couldn't help but continue to sneak glances at the boy working beside her. Her heart was thumping a mile a minute. She hadn't meant to call him handsome, it had just slipped out.

Jim, on the other hand, was at war with his mind. She had called him handsome. He was sure. She just didn't want to admit it, but why? Did she like him the way he liked her? Was it an accident and she really hadn't meant to call him handsome?

Jim frowned before turning his head to look at Alice trying to dispose of the flour that had spilled all over the floor.

"Hey listen, um," he started, feeling his palms sweat. Alice looked at him curiously. "Y-you look pretty tonight too, just so you know." Jim turned away internally slapping himself. Alice felt her stomach twist into knots.

"Thank you," she mumbled. She and Jim caught each other's eye before both of them looked away again. The rest of the night was spent working in silence. It was very late when both of them finished up and turned to head to bed. "Maybe Silver will give us the day off tomorrow," Alice said.

"Not likely," Jim grunted. Alice let out a hushed laugh as they joined their crewmates in the bunk house.

"Good night, Jim," Alice whispered but hesitated. Jim looked at her, confounded for a moment when Alice put a hand on his shoulder, leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek. Jim's eyes widened, his heart seeming to stop upon contact. When Alice pulled away, withdrawing her hand, she hurried to her hammock and lay down, pretending to be asleep. It was the bravest thing she'd done in all her life and her heart burst with all of the emotions of the day.

Did he like her? She wasn't sure. Should she have done that? Probably not but it felt like the right thing to do. She listened intently and for an entire minute Jim didn't move.

His whole body tingled and warmed despite the chill that usually accompanied the crew's quarters. A smile spread across his lips as he rolled into his hammock and breathed hard through his nose. The two cabin kids had been worrying that they'd lose valuable resting time that night, but now it was all forgotten.

Both teenagers knew they wouldn't get a wink of sleep anyway.