Chapter Seven

Mind You, We Run a Tight Joint Here

Ah morning. Ya gotta love it. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping. And golden morning sunlight looks absolutely beautiful on the blue waves. Everything looked so sparkly, like the remains of a Disney princess closet after an explosion. It really, really was nice outside. Except for, we were still in Tortuga. And so it still stank. A lot. On the bright side, at least we had a ton of candidates for a crew! Granted, not good candidates, but a candidate is a candidate no matter what! Hm...when you say candidate a lot it stops sounding like a word. Just try it! Candidate.

Anyways, Jack paced back and forth, closely scrutinizing the possible crew. They seemed weather-beaten and they were all assembled in a ragged line.

"Feast your eyes, Cap'n," Gibbs bragged. "All of 'em faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt -" a pause to prove his point "-and crazy, to boot."

Jack nodded and paused for a second to stare at a diminutive sailor, contemplated him for a bit, then moved down the line. I shifted in my feet, feeling nervous for these poor fellas. Maybe the only reason they looked so bad was because they so obviously were put on a chopping block here! Eyes roving down the line, many of them met my stare with bright curiosity and I gave them a shy smile. Then I looked over to Will, seeing how he was taking this. Yowch. He looked as if he had swallowed a lemon whole.

"So this is your able-bodied crew?" he asked dryly, looking suddenly as if he would rather be anywhere, even in Neptune's salty armpit, rather than here.

Jack nodded and continued to walk down the line when he stopped in front of a short sailor with a large, colorful parrot positioned on his shoulder. Oooh, I thought to myself, eyes latching on the bright colors. When we are going to stock up on supplies, we'll have to get crackers. Definitely going to have to get crackers. Jack raised an eyebrow, amused as he stared. "You, sailor!" he called.

"Cotton, sir," Gibbs informed.

"Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" closely he looked at Cotton, waiting for an answer. There was a nagging in the back of my head, I felt as if I should say something here...what was important again? "Mr. Cotton! Answer me!"

"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out," Gibbs said.

Jack grimaced as Cotton demonstrated.

"Oh, that's what I forgot!" I exclaimed. All eyes turned to look at me. "Sorry...just forgot I left the sprinklers on at home." Their looks became even more confused when Will spoke up.

"Don't mind her, she's a few nuts short of being short of a pecan pie," he excused for me.

"I object! Is that your way of saying I'm fat?" I retorted angrily.

Will's lip curled in the same manner Bridgette's would, when she was just at total loss at what to say with me. That's when I could tell that I had said something wrong and a wave of homesickness washed through me as I thought of my friend. We've never been apart for this long, except for when she had the swine flu and refused to let me take care of her so that I wouldn't get sick. Tears threatened to pour out of my eyes, completely catching me off guard.

"Nevermind," I said tightly. "You may carry on."

"Back to business," Gibbs continued, "he's trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how."

Jack nodded, getting it and tried again. "Mr. Cotton's parrot. Same question."

"Wind in your sails!" the parrot croaked. "Wind in your sails!"

"Ooh that's so cool!" I cooed and turned over to Will, tugging on his sleeve. "Can I get one?"

Will paled. "Of course not. I wouldn't even trust you with a goldfish."

"Poo," I pouted. "I never get anything."

Jack looked confused at the parrot.

"We figure that means 'yes'," Gibbs offered.

"Of course it does," Jack nodded and turned back to me and Will. "Satisfied?"

At the same time I belted out an enthusiastic yes, Will muttered, "Well you've proved they're mad."

Disappointed I shook my head and turned to look at him. "You just always see the glass half-empty don't you?" I clucked my tongue and looked sadly down at my feet. "That must be a pathetic way to live."

He frowned and at the same time a female voice boldly announced from somewhere in the sloppy line, "And what's the benefit for us?"

Jack turned in curiosity while little whispers of agreement washed through the crowd. Wrinkling his nose, he paced down the line, stopping in front of a hunched sailor, their downcast face covered by a large hat. Leaning to the side, Jack tried to see underneath the hat when suddenly the rebel looked up-anger in her eyes. My heart fluttered in my chest. A girl! Now we could have sleepovers on the ship, gossip about the boys, play truth or dare, and develop an interlinked bond that will last through forever! There was an aching inside me. I desperately needed a girlfriend right now, like I needed air to breathe. There had to be someone that I could squeal about Jack Sparrow with!

Speaking of the pirate, his mouth raised in recognition. "AnaMaria."

Her face suddenly twisted in this heated anger and she struck her hand across Jack's face, the crack resounding through the air.

"Jack!" I gasped, rushing forward to help him when an arm reached out to stop me.

"You suppose you didn't deserve that one, either?" my captor spoke crisply.

"Lemme go, I gotta help him!" I punched furiously at Will's arm and...gosh, he was muscular. And hairy too. Like, this-is-a-two-razors-kind-of-job hairy.

"Relax doll," Jack reassured me. "That one I actually did deserve."

AnaMaria scowled, flames dancing in her eyes. "You stole my boat!" she spat.

"Actually-" Jack started when- SLAP!-she hit him again.

I gasped and tried fighting my way out of Will's tight grasp. "Let go you possessive creep!" I hissed at him to no avail. Fine, I didn't want to have to do this to him, but he left me no choice! I wrestled an arm out and slammed it down on him, sinking my nails down into his skin like I was trying to get my fingertips to scrape against his bones.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed and jerked his wounded arm away from me.

Wha-ha-ha! That's the last time someone underestimates my vicious claws! Honestly, I swear I must've been a cat or something in a past life.

"Freedom!" I cheered, running forward when I was stopped out of nowhere by Gibbs. "Honestly," I groaned. "Again?"

"Borrowed," Jack amended. "Borrowed without permission. But with every
intention of bringing it back."

"But you didn't!" she countered.

"You'll get another one!"

"I will," she threatened.

"A better one," Will said.

"A better one!" Jack agreed.

"That one," Will spoke and I turned to see over Gibb's shoulder, Will pointing at the Interceptor. My jaw dropped. Was he honestly serious? Was he allowed to do that?

Jack whirled around to Will, wide-eyed. "What one?"

Will gave him a hard look. Catch up, he mouthed. Everyone turned to look at the Interceptor, taking in its wonder. Jack turned back to Will, eyes even wider. "THAT one!?" he said incredulously and paused. His mind digested this and a grin came on his face as he realized this was a good idea. "Aye, that one! What say you?"

Everyone in the rugged line responded with an enthusiastic, "Aye!"

Everyone celebrated and my jaw dropped down even further that I thought it was going to unhinge. What? Will could just give a ship away to someone? But...but...that's not fair! If I had tried to do that, it would never work, but noooooo, since Will is a grown man with a beard his proposition is accepted with ease! That was so flipping infuriating! Gosh, you could just tell we weren't in America- there were no fair chances here. Success was given to those with the most facial hair which was even more cruel becauses I look terrible with a beard!

I whipped my head around to shoot Will a glare. He caught my glower and raised his eyebrow in confusion. Ugh, that was so typical of him. Acting as if he didn't see the double standard here! I made a big point of rolling my eyes and mouthed, "Men." That made him seem even more perplexed and I turned around again with an enraged scoff.

"Anchor away!" Cotton's pirate croaked.

"No, no, no, no. It's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir," Gibbs let go off me to object, stepping forward.

"Ah!" I gasped. "What am I then, a drag queen?"

Gibbs looked back at me with an apologetic frown. "I'm sorry m'lady, but you're far more of a child rather than a woman."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" I retorted.

"It means that you're immature," Will supplied.

"Shaddup Will!" I looked at him desperately then back to Gibbs. "And I'm so totally mature! Like, mature with a capital M," I paused and laughed at that sentence.

"What do you find to be humorous?" Gibbs asked.

"Get it?" I giggled. "I said mature with a capital M, and that's the same letter my name starts with!" I shared a happy look with everyone. "That's what they call fate people!"

Will sighed. "My point exactly," he spoke gesturing to me.

"Huh?" I asked, not getting it.

"Nevermind that," Jack spoke up, glancing up to the sky then back to Gibbs. "It'll be far worse not to have them both."

With that, he moved away, leaving Will and Gibbs to exchange puzzled looks with each other. Rocking to the back of my heels, I grinned wildly. "Ha!" I bragged to Will. "Jack is a feminist also."

Bewildered, Will opened his mouth to say something when I took off after Jack, falling into step beside my favorite pirate.

"Where are we gonna go now?" I asked James leaning across the table that housed the map. Blocking his view of part of it.

He looked at me "We are on due course to Tortuga. We'll arrive there in the next hour or so," He looked a little annoyed, he was probably thinking about the 'War' I declared on Gillette.

"Ew," Was all I could say "Why there?" I was remembering Tortuga from the movie and I definitely would rather kiss Mercer. I made a face as I thought of that, and couldn't suppress a shudder of disgust.

"Because, pirates tend to gravitate there therefore, they might have Elizabeth there." I bit my tongue hard when he said her name. He said it with a longing in his voice, it made me want him to say my name like that not hers. Not, hers.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath instantly feeling a little better. I opened them back up and my eyes meet James' ,he was watching me. And, we sat there just looking at each other for seconds, or minutes, I'm not really sure. But, neither of us moved, we hardly even blinked. I felt like I was drowning in his beautiful green eyes, the deep abyss and I was falling, falling fast, and I didn't want to stop. 'Crash' I jumped looking for the source of the offending sound that had pulled me away from the enthralling captivation of his beautiful eyes.

My eyes found the small array of utensils that were used to mark and measure the map strewn across the ground, the small container that they were held in a small distance away from the table leg. I must have pushed it off the table and didn't notice. I looked back at James he was slower to react he was still leaning slightly over the table but his eyes were closed, like he was trying to remember something. Before I got distracted by looking at him I bent down and started to collect to objects littering the ground.

I heard a slight shift and creak in the floorboards as James finally came out of his trance and knelt down next to me and helped me pick up the utensils. "You don't have to do that," he said grabbing the container and putting the utensils in there with quiet 'pinks'.

"Its fine," I said brushing some of my long wavy black hair out of my face. "I think it's partially my fault anyways," a small laugh escaped me and I heard James chuckling lightly too. I reached forward and dropped the objects in my hand into the container that he held out for me. We both stood up and I said "I'll leave you alone to concentrate," I gave him a small smile and walked down onto the deck.

I didn't hear his faint "You don't have to."

...Some twenty minutes later

"Gillette!" I screamed angrily my voice reaching an impossibly high note (Not really that impossible I am a soprano after all). My hair was dripping wet and my bodice was soaked through. My fists were clenched and if my eyes could shoot deadly lasers he would be a small pile of ash. Gillette had come up behind me and dumped a whole bucket of salt water over my head. I knew it was him because, I have my little sixth sense ya know? And also because he was facing me when he tipped it over.

"So sorry didn't see you standing there," he said with a smirk.

I let out a slow angry breath my anger about to spill out and lash out at anyone too close. My left eye twitched a little, and I gave him a sickly sweet smile. "Oh, its quite alright," I said forcing my voice to seem calm.

He looked taken aback and thrown off. I reached forward and tugged the bucket out of his hands. "I'll take this and put it where it belongs," The fake smile still on my face, I could feel the whole crew observing the scene with rapt attention. I looked at the bucket and carefully observed it.

His expression was suspicious and he looked like he was trying to figure out what I was going to do. I took a step to the side and slowly walked forward. Gillette not turning but he looked like he was bracing himself. I turned around and was facing his back. Then, I swiftly slammed the bucket over his head. I swear that I could hear his head ringing from the force that I used. He reached his hands up about to pull the bucket up to yell at me and get his vision back.

I didn't let him do that I shoved him forward and before James or Groves could get to us to stop what Gillette was about to do. I kicked him in the arse and sent him once again tumbling into the water.(wow now I think i'm british i'm cursing like I am)

"The clumsy Lieutenant falls once again," I said triumphantly

"You said you were going to put the bucket away!" Groves said his expression only slightly disbelieving.

"I never said 'put away' I said put it where it belongs. Those can be two completely different things" I said matter-of-factly.

"So, you think that the bucket belongs on Gillettes head?" Groves asked as James wearily made his way over to us.

"Uh, ya I mean who would want to look at a face like that? That bucket is like a insane upgrade. Now, I don't have to slowly go blind looking at him."

"Fetch a rope, please Groves" James said looking at me with a disapproving expression "You are acting so childish doing that,"

"Doing what? Hes the one that keeps tripping over himself,"

"YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A 5 YEAR OLD!" Gillette shouted up at us. "How would you feel if you got shoved overboard?"

"OMG! I would thank you profusely because I love the ocean and i'm a really good swimmer! In fact, no one needs to push me overboard," I said leaning over the side to look at Gillette. "Because, I have wanted to do this since I first saw the movie."

"Movie?" someone said

I smiled and looked between James and Groves "Keep in mind that I won't drown."

"What are you talking about?" James asked me trying to figure out what my words meant.

"Geez, for being the pride of the navy some of you can be really daft. But, I guess that is part of your charm isn't it?" I said to James. I grabbed his tri corner hat off of his head and set it on mine. "Might as well have some fun and act like Megan once in awhile," I said mostly to myself and before anyone fully caught on I jumped off the boat...ship yelling happily "FOR AMERICA!"

I made a point of making a large splash and drenching Gillette's head with sea water.

When we were both pulled back into the boat...ship I was giggling profusely.

"What were you thinking! You could have gotten hurt!" James said he looked slightly panicked.

"Relax James!" I said a smile still in my face and I reached up and cupped both sides of his face with my hands "I'm fine! I didn't get hurt not 'could' of 'ifs'!" I got his hat that I was still holding onto and put it back on his head it was full of water so you can guess what happened. My smile reached epic proportions and I said "That's a good look on you James! If only I had a camera!"

He wiped his face and stood up straight "You keep talking about these strange things that i've never heard of!"

"And you probably won't so its quite redundant to ask if you ask me."

"No one was asking you," A very grumpy Gillette said.

"I was actually thinking about asking," Groves said to Gillette. Gillette narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"See even Groves likes me more than you! You clumsy weirdo." I haughtily smirked at him. "I'm gonna go change into something less salt watery before we make dock in Tortuga." I swung my head to James "Don't let the clumsy baby man fall or trip while I do that I don't want to miss anything funny!" With that I flounced into the captain's cabin.

I just finished putting my hair into a loose knot when James called through the door that we had just made port. I rushed out of the cabin and asked him "You're not going to try to make me stay?'"

"I don't see the point you would just come along anyway," James said with a small smile.

"Oh," I cooed and walked up to him placing my arm through his "You know me so well luv," His face turned red when I said luv.

We all walked off the ship and I was already figuring out how to slip away from them to see if Megan was still here. I mean i'm not stupid like Gillette thinks, I have a good memory and I remember almost exactly what happens. (except for right now, this was never shown in the movie. I wonder what else we are going to experience that we never saw happen in the movies.)

"I JUST MET A GIRL NAMED ANAMARIA! ANAMARIA, ANAMARIA, ANAMARIAAAA!" I sang loudly while sitting on top of a barrel, throwing my arms wide as if to embrace the world.

AnaMaria paled, and shot a desperate look at Jack. "She won't stop singing about me," she complained.

I pursed my lips, disappointed. "You're not one for West Side Story? Shame," I sighed, racking my brain for any other songs. "Ooh, let's try Brooks and Dunn!"

"I'd prefer that you did not," AnaMaria frowned.

"ANAMARIA! Duh, duh duh. Don't you know that you're a pirate gi~irl? I'VE BEEN-"

"Captain, we need to stock up," Gibbs rushed into the room.

Jack sneered, his arm folded in front of him with his other arm resting on top of it, his finger tapping his chin. "Can't you do that yourself Gibbs? I'm watching high-quality entertainment here."

"Sir, we need-"

"And why do we need to stock up anyways?" Jack asked, turning to Gibbs. "This ship was fully stocked when we stole it."

"Hahaha!" a laugh shot out of my mouth before I could help it. But, it was just so silly! Me- stealing something? The worst I've ever done was steal a pencil, but look at me now! I'm sailing along in a stolen boat that I assisted in robbing! Hahaha, funny how I'd didn't think of that until now.

Gibbs paled. "Well now we have a full crew, captain, to contend with, many mouths to feed.

"Not to mention her," Will added, jerking a thumb in my general direction.

"That's so rude!" I gasped. Will was starting to say something else when I turned to AnaMaria with a sympathetic expression. "I'm so sorry that he's treating you like this. Sometimes he just gets intimidated when in crowds."

"I wasn't talking about her, I was talking about you!"

"You who?" I questioned, looking over to him again. "Oh, haha that's so funny!"

"Now she gets it," Will sighed but my loud voice trumped his by a thousand decibels.

"Yoo hoo can be a greeting or a chocolate beverage, but instead I used it as a question with the spelling y-o-u-w-h-o!" I broke off, laughing. "Isn't that just hilarious?"

Will wrinkled his nose, his poor thick head once again bewildered by the words coming out of my mouth. Poor, ignorant William...he just can't seem to catch up with things can he?

"Captain," Gibbs repeated.

"Alright," Jack groaned and rose to a stand, his figure automatically filling up the map room with authority. "That would be umpteenth time you called for me Gibbs."

"Ooh, ooh, I volunteer as tribute!" I squealed, stretching my hand high into the air.

"Tribute for what exactly doll?" Jack tilted his head over.

"I wanna go shopping with you!" I grinned.

A look of concentrated disgust contorted Will's face. "I thought that you hated Tortuga," he noted.

"Oh I hate it," I nodded in agreement. "Hate it with a fiery burning passion that even surpasses the hot intensity of the flames of Hell. Hate it with a capital H."

"Why do you wish to go to a place you so obviously loathe then?" AnaMaria asked, leaning against a table with her smooth black arms folded in front of her chest.

"Because," I started with a wide smile. "I wanna be with Jack. And maybe while shopping we bond over our dark past and end up coming back to this ship forever changed for the rest of eternity, with a bond that's as thick as blood... Like the Breakfast Club!"

"You can't just bother the Cap-"

"Sounds good to me," Jack responded with a smile my way.

My heart leaped up in my chest...or maybe it skipped a beat...or maybe it had just beaten so frantically fast in that moment because I was so unbelievably happy that even it was beginning to feel joy too and was trying to spread the good energy throughout my body but my body was still to slow to comprehend the power!

"Yay!" I cheered, sliding off of the barrel and rushed forward to throw my arms around him. Before he could even understand what was happening, I pulled away with the happiest expression I've had...since we first got here? "I gotta go do something," I declared loudly and spun on my heel to run out of the cabin.

Behind me I could hear Will mutter, "What just happened?"

I happily shook my head. Same old Will...still couldn't follow what was going on right in front of his eyes. I searched around the ship for a moment before I found Cotton on the opposite side, scrubbing the deck with his parrot perched on his shoulder. Instantly my eyes latched onto the vibrantly colored feathers.

"Cotton's parrot!" I yelled, and all the working heads turned round to stare at me, including Cotton's. Following the swiveling head of his owner, the parrot looked at me curiously, cocking his head to one side. "I gotta ask you something!" I called and ran down the steps, barrelling over to the parrot.

"Ma'am, I'd be careful, we just washed the deck!" a voice shouted at me.

But it was too late. My feet crashed on the soapy deck water splashing up water as I slipped and slid around. I made my hurried way over to the parrot, bubbles forming underneath my boots as I stumbled around like I was drunk. My heart pounded in my chest and my legs went as wobbly as Jello.

"Sure doesn't seem like she'll have a case of sea legs does she?"

"Able to keep her balance even through a soapy deck."

At long last I reached Cotton, skidding to a wobbly stop. "Hiya Cotton's parrot!" I greeted cheerfully. Interested, the parrot leaned his head the other way. "Jack and I are going shopping, so I was wondering if you'd like us to get some crackers for you?" I folded my arms behind my back, swinging my hips back and forth.

His black eyes seemed to sparkle. "RAWCH, me want a cracker! RAWCH!"

Yes! "Kay kay, I'll be sure to get you one! We'll be back in-"

"Watch out!" A familiar voice shouted behind me and I spun around just in time for a sliding Jack to barrel into me.

"Oh!" I yelled, fixing to crash down to the floor when Cotton caught me and hoisted us back up. I laughed when I saw Jack's flushed face. "What are you doing over here?"

"Making sure that you don't fall doll," he responded.
"Hehehe," I giggled. "If I were you, I'd watch out for my own balance instead."

"Noted dearie," he said and seemed suddenly confused, like he was suddenly wondering why he was over here in the first place.

"Hm," I mused quietly.

"What?" he asked, looking at my with those brown eyes I've adored for years.

Wickedly I grinned. I could not pass up this opportunity! "Have a nice trip Jack, see you next fall!" I cackled.

"I don't follow-" he started when i put both hands on his shoulder and shoved him down, his arms wheeling wildly in the air as he trained to regain his balance. but the suds pulled him under.

"Hahahaha!" I laughed, wrapping my arms around my stomach. "Oh don't give me such a sour look Jackie boy, that's probably the closest to a bath you've had in years!"

"I told you before, personal hygiene isn't my utmost necessity," he complained.

"Is that so?" I asked. "Well..." all the sudden I slid over to him, sitting on top of his stomach. "Let's make the most of this that we can, right?" I scooped up bubbles in my hand, massaging them into his dreads, despite his kicking and loud protests. "Aw, quit complaining, you know you need it!"

He squirmed underneath me, shouting something about how I was ruining his hair as I laughed wildly, all while unbelieving eyes witnessed from a distance.

"While we're here we might as well stock up on supplies" James told some of the officers that were accompanying us on our search on this gross and vomit inducing place. The nodded at him and with Gillette leading them they disappeared into the crowd of dirty and drunk people.

"It won't be so bad now!" I said tightening my grip on James' arm.

"And why is that?" He asked giving me a curious look.

"You sent Gillette the the clumsy wonder away!" I said

He laughed quietly under his breath. "I sent him away because I don't want any mischief from you two while we look for..."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes and say in an annoyed voice "...Elizabeth," He looked at me curiously (once again). And I pursed my lips and decided to let go of him. I took a small step away and asked "Where are you gonna start?"

Still looking confused he said "That tavern, it has a very large place for people to room and is the most popular."

I looked at it closely and saw that it was really crowded and you could hardly hear or see very much except what was close to you. 'Prefect' I thought "Alrighty, onward my friends!" I said in what I believed is something Columbus said when he found America. I marched on toward the tavern with James and Groves rushing to keep up with my fast pace.

"Who's walking fast now?" Groves asked. "Are you eager to find Elizabeth too?"

I stopped and couldn't hold in an loud unbelieving laugh. James frowned at that and I quickly tried to swallow it down and said in an unconvincing voice "Ya, totally. Really want to find her."

James gave me one more look and put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me into the tavern with him "Stay close to me I don't want anything to happen while we are here," He said leaning close to say that into my ear due to the loudness of the place.

He stood up straight and gave a slight nod to Groves and another soldier they nodded back and went different ways taking a small group of men with them. James walked forward tightening his grip on my shoulder. A group of navy officers following us.

Suddenly, fight between quite a bit of patrons broke out in front of us. And James being who he is tried to stop it getting help from the officers with us. His grip on my shoulder loosened and finally fell away when someone went to swing a punch at him, he blocked it with little difficulty. And I took that as my chance. At first I slowly backed away, but when I realized that James was fully occupied I rushed out of the tavern.

I looked both ways and decided to go right, towards a slightly emptier place in the street. I set out walking and wondering how on earth I was gonna even start to look for Megan when I was suddenly grabbed from behind and an arm tightened painfully around my waist and another dirty hand covered my mouth.

"Well, look at what we 'ave here," said a gruff voice. "A well to do girl wandering all alone. Don't you know that thats dangerous? With all that is wandering 'round here." His hand briefly left my mouth but was quickly back holding the cool blade of a knife to my neck.

I gave a helpless whimper and closed my eyes.

"Augh, I lost feeling my arms Jack!" I complained, carrying a heavy crate stuffed full of food inside. That's when it dawned on me. "Ooh, ooh, we can eat some of the stuff in order to make it lighter! What say you, my fellow companion?"

From the corner of my eyes I could see a grin fill up his face. "I say that's a fantastic proposition. Set the crate down so we can make your job easy."

Success! Man, am I butter? Because I'm on a ROLL today! (Haha, get it!) We both set down the supplies we were carrying and I popped open my lid, revealing the little bit of Heaven that I was carrying my arms. "It's so beautiful," I sniffed, feeling tears come to my eyes at sight of all the delicious food. It's times like these that I wish I were a cow instead of a pig, then I would have all those extra stomachs to stuff goodies in!

"I agree," Jack said, stooping down to rummage for food, and in his shifting I caught a flash of green.

"Oooh!" I admired lovingly and bent over to grab a granny smith. I displayed it to Jack with a happy expression. "Try the apples. One of those next."

Jack suddenly froze as if he'd seen a ghost, taking in my expression with this frozen bewilderment.

"What?" I asked innocently, taken aback from the way he was staring at me...as if he noticed something about me, something that he'd never seen before. "Do I have something on my face?"

Starting, he shook his head out of the spell, seeming suddenly pale. "Nothing, you just...reminded me of somebody that I used to know."

"Really? Who?" I asked, rocking to the back of my heels.

"I both know and I don't," he answered slowly, with this non-understanding expression on his face.

"That doesn't make sense," I frowned.

"I know it doesn't, doll," he sighed, as if he was trying also to understand himself.

"Oh," I said awkwardly. Gosh darn it, where was Google translator when you needed it!? Actually, now that I think about it, I don't think even the internet spoke Sparrow. With a sigh, I watched as Jack selected a loaf of bread and tore a chunk of it off with his teeth, tossing it carelessly back into the crate. Mental note: don't eat that piece of bread. Jack probably hasn't discovered the miracle of Crest mouthwash yet. It wasn't until he started maneuvering the lid back on that I finally spoke up, "Are you gonna eat the apple?"

He gave a glance towards my outstretched offering and rose an eyebrow. "Do you not want it?"

"You bet I want it!" I exclaimed happily and took a bite of it out. Then I remembered that this was my offering to Jack and felt a sudden surge of guilt. This was supposed to be one of the building blocks that intensified our bond together to the point of never, ever being the same! Ever! "I'm sorry, did you want this?" I asked with a full mouth.

Sliding the lid completely on, he laughed. "Don't worry, it's all yours."

I grinned to turn and plopped myself on the crate, stuffing another bite in my mouth. Jack sat down next to me, tearing off more bread and slowly chewing. Savoring the sweet and sour flavor, I chewed and wiped the fizzy juice running over my chin. This was really good! "You know the first thing I'm going to do after we rescue Elizabeth?" I widely grinned. "Eat a whole bushel of apples."

Again Jack winced as though he'd been slapped. I turned to stare at him curiously when I suddenly saw sight of something. My heart stopped in my chest. Could that be...? No, that's ridiculous. It had to be a trick of the light. But...I turned my head fully and gasped. It was!

Bridgette!

There, in the middle of a crowded street in disgusting Tortuga (which is, by the way, much better in the kindness of daylight) wearing a gorgeous gown, and her long wavy black hair reflecting rays of sunlight, was my best friend. She stood out like a sore thumb, like a knife in a pile of baby bottles, or a Belieber at a screamo concert. She was one of the elite, thrown into a crowd of misfits. Confused, she seemed to be looking around, searching for something. My best friend...she was here! She was here, she was here, she was here! MI NÚMERO UNA AMIGA ES PRESENTE! I smiled wildly, fixing to call out her name when suddenly a shadow appeared behind her. Before I could scream, before Bridgette even had any clue as to what was going on, suddenly a revolting man appeared, slapping a filthy hand over her mouth and pressing a glistening blade to her pale throat. Fear came over her face as she couldn't even scream and she closed her eyes painfully.

"BRIDGE!" I screeched and turned around, yanking Jack's sword out of his holster and flew off of the crate, towards my threatened friend. I yelled as I charged towards them, sword pointed out at my side and tons of startled screams jumping out of my way. Smugly, I thought back to earlier and how I told myself that since I was now pirate, I could run with scissors. Well, HA, not only was I running with scissors, but I was sprinting with a freaking sword fixing to kick some serious buttage!

"Get-away-from-my-FRIEND YOU CREEP!" I shouted, whirling the sword in the air and slashing across his shoulder, the blade slicing through so easily it's as though his skin was butter. Blood went into the air in a ruby red arc, some splashing on Bridgette's chin. He roared, and backed away from Bridgette, his now infuriated eyes turning to me with a feral expression. He wielded his knife at me, the silly thing looking like a plastic knife in comparison to Jack's sword.

"You little-"

"Ah, ah, ah," I said cutting him off, my feet strangely moving into en garde position automatically as I levelled my sword at him. "Insults are so double standard when they come from freaks like you."

Bridgette opened her eyes, staring at me as though she's never seen me her whole life. "Megan?"

"This was none of your business pirate," he spat at me, circling around with his dagger pointed.

I swallowed down a laugh. Did he honestly think that I was threatened by him? He was staggering in his pace, like...like a drunk. That's when it dawned on me. This perv was drunk! See kids, this is why you don't drink alcohol. Then you harass my friend and I have no choice but to slice through your shoulder with a sword. It's only the natural thing to do.

"Are you kidding, thief?" I giggled. "You're about as threatening as a quivering chihuahua." And then suddenly, in a blur of metal, I knocked his puny knife out of his grasp and it clattered down to the street, a trail of blood going down his hand. He gasped, looking pathetically down at his weapon when I pressed Jack's sword on that little groove in his collarbone. Cursing, he glared at me with the most hate anyone has ever shot my way. Yowch. Hurtful! I was only doing what karma would've done eventually. Lifting up an eyebrow, I smiled at him and said, "Unless you wanna become a creep kabob, I suggest this be the part that you take off crying for your mummy."

Sniveling he obeyed, taking off down the street like a blubbering idiot. Successfully, I grinned. For my first swords fight, like, ever, I'm pretty gosh darn happy that I won! Whoop-whoop, one for team Megan! Buoyantly I turned around and grinned wildly at Bridgette. "Did ya see that!?" I cheered, throwing my arms wide open.

Gasping, Bridgette lunged herself at me and yanked the sword out of my hand before I gave a passing by lady a surprise buzz cut. "Megan!" she hissed worriedly. "What have I told you about having sharp objects?"

Sadly I pouted. "To not to," I sighed, looking down at the ground.

Bridgette sighed and I could hear her laugh lightly under her breath, just like old times. "Whatever, I'll make an exception since you saved my life and all," she giggled.

Happily I looked up, incredibly shocked but super happy that she decided to skip over the opportunity to scold me. Tears filled my eyes as I took in my smiling best friend, and it's as though we were little kids again- finding each other in a crowded mall after I got distracted by something shiny. "Bridge," I breathed out like it was a huge relief and threw my arms around her in a bone-crunching embrace.

Instead of scolding me that she couldn't breathe, she just laughed in my ear and squeezed me back just as tight. It was perfect, just like how things were before we got transported here! We were just two best friends now, reuniting after-

"I'd highly suggest backing away from Ms. Paige, pirate," a crisp voice spoke clearly and there was a heart stopping click.

Gulping, I slowly backed away from her and turned to see James, with his pistol aimed at my head. Behind him was an array of highly trained British soldiers, each with their muskets pointing at your's truly head. Ohmigosh. Ohmigosh, ohmigosh, ohmigosh! It was impossible to breathe and I raised my hands slowly up to my head, trying my best not to cry. This was terrifying. A knife, now that was not such a biggie. But...a gun? A gun fully loaded with gunpowder and bullets? Now that, was a humongous BIGGIE.

"James, you don't have to, she's my-"

"I'd appreciate your silence Ms. Paige," James spoke dryly, his eyes just barely flickering over to her before they settled back to me. "Obviously, I shouldn't have trusted you to be in the streets of Tortuga."

Bridgette looked like she was going to die, when I knew that for a fact I actually was.

"And I'd appreciate you lowering your gun from my shipmate," I turned and caught wonderful Jack, concentrating his gun at James, "before I shoot mine."

Relief and dread washed through me like taking a long drink after your stomach was incredibly empty, you can feel it running down your throat and into your stomach. Oh man. Bridgette and I shared a look with each other, both of us wondering how we possibly could've ever gotten in a mess this big.

Oh dear lord, what have we gotten ourselves into now? I thought.

"Miss Paige come over here away from the pirates I would hate for you to get caught in the crossfire."

I gaped at him and put my hands definitely on my hips. "Oh, so now we're back to formalities? ?"

He looked at me and was about to say something when Megan cut in "Ya, formalities and... A GUN!"

"Its Commodore Norrington actually," he said in a clipped tone, still pointing his gun at Megan but looking at me.

"Oh, it is, is it?" I asked and walked in front of him and stepping forward till the gun was flush with my collarbone. His eyes widened and he was about to pull it away and point it back at Megan but, I took hold of the barrel and held it there. "You're gonna have to shoot me before you even point your gun back at Megan.." I looked behind me and saw Megan waving frantically at Jack. I let out a sigh "...or Jack,"

His jaw clenched angrily "Ya, mate what the girl said," I could hear the smirk in Jacks voice.

I twisted my neck to look at him and sent him a death glare "I suggest you put your gun down too, or things are going to get uglier a lot faster. I'm still cross with you strangling me." I widened my eyes threateningly when he didn't lower the gun. And Megan, looking slightly terrified, put her hand on his wrist and pushed it down.

I turned back to James and asshat Gillette stepped forward and said "You're protecting them!?"

"Yes I am," and I looked at the bayonet he had still up I raised my eyebrow and looked straight at James he was still looking at the gun pointed at me with disbelief. "I greatly suggest that you tell your men to lower their weapons cause if they don't..."

"They are pirates! It. Is. My. Job to capture them and send them to the gallows!" He said grinding his teeth "And if you hadn't run off none of this would have happened! I was terrified that you had gotten hurt or killed! I told you to stay with me where it would be safe! But, of course you didn't listen and you got threatened by a man with very questionable intentions..."

"Well that is entirely obvious..." Jack said with a snort.

James ignored this and continued ranting at me "...who could have done God knows what to you!" He let out an angry breath "Trouble is attracted to you like you're beckoning it to come to you! I don't know what I would've done if anything happened to you! I was so scared that you were..." he closed his eyes and finally I let go of the gun and he put it in its holster. "...that you were going to..." He didn't finish his sentence "Then she came and saved you. And I was so glad that you weren't hurt but, I was disappointed that it wasn't me who got to you first." He opened his eyes and they were pleading. "Do you understand?" he asked me.

I was entirely shell shocked and elated at his words and the first thing that tumbled out of my mouth was "Ya, I follow,got a little lost in the middle... But, I-I found my way back," Oh dear Lord my mind's gone blank! What am I saying!

"She means YES!" Megan helped me out "She might still be in shock from her near death experience. It tends to do that to people."

"James," I said partially recovering from my dead brain. "Please, there will be other times! Can I just have this?" I felt awful knowing I was lying to him but I didn't want my best friend dead!

He looked at me defeated and he angrily pinched the bridge of his nose. "Men lower your weapons," No one moved "NOW!" He said forcibly they immediately lowered them at his tone.

A/N;(Bridgette) Kudos to who can identify the movie line I used. What movie it's from and who said it. ;) Oh and my point of view will start getting longer soon I realized that mine are really short. If you guys even care.