Ask Me No Questions I'll Tell You No Lies
Chapter 7: The Rest Of The Gang
Hey people! Just wanted to say sorry for the wait, I have no real excuse. Just being lazy.
After three days on the Venture, the feeling of freedom started to sink in. I could have the wind blowing through my hair without my mother telling me to tie it back. I could kick a man for making lewd comments, the way I'd always wanted to kick Charles. I could have jumped off the ship right then, and there would be no mother to lecture me for a day and a half! I was nearly high with the thought of being able to be whoever I felt like. I was ecstatic. No one here would expect me to be a lady or a spoiled little rich brat. I was Scarlett Harker, the strange stowaway that Englehorn somehow put up with. I was no one!
And as much as everyone wanted to be a someone, I had longed to be a no one all my life.
As I mulled over my current thoughts, I was blind to where my legs were taking me. Soon enough, though, my random walk was ended by a large…something.
How many times have there been large somethings blocking my path now?
I looked up and saw a portly man carrying a stack of paper. Carl Denham.
"Watch where you're going next time, miss…" he trailed off as he helped me up.
"Harker," I answered, "Scarlett Harker."
"Well, Scarlett-may I call you Scarlett?-" he inquired, "I must ask what a girl like you is doing on a boat like this?"
Oh, my god. The worst pick-up line ever invented. And he's using it on me!
Also, why is everyone always asking why a girl like me is here? Can't a girl get some peace? Jeez.
"Why I'm here is none of your business." I stated, my voice turning slightly cold.
"Of course, of course," Denham said. He seemed to be the type of man that conformed to any role, to the expectations of anyone he met. "But it's in the human nature to be curious."
"Yes, it is," I answered, thinking fast for a good comeback. Chances like this don't come by too often, "Which leads me to ask; why do you even care?"
Needless to say, comebacks are not my forte.
"Well, as I said before," Denham said, smirking, "I am only curious."
Damn. Backed into a wall. Figuratively, of course.
"Well, I must be getting above deck to film, would you like to watch?"
Hm. This one was a strange man. Quick to reciprocate…
"Why, yes, I very much would."
Just like I was quick to accept.
On deck, I saw the faces that had become familiar to me. Jimmy, Jack, Mr. Hayes, Bruce, Denham, and a few crew members; Bill, Jose, John, Kyle.
And Englehorn, way up in the control room, eyes set upon the horizon.
But there was one person on deck that I had not yet met. Ms. Ann Darrow. She seemed to be in a scene with Bruce, gazing out into the ocean and engaging in playful banter. Jack was off to one side, rolling his eyes. Was he jealous of Bruce?
smirk Mebbeh….
"Why hello there, Jacko," I said, "Enjoying the view?" I nodded toward Ann.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," He replied, not grasping the meaning in my question. Comprehension seemed to dawn to slowly, but soon his face illuminated with understanding, "I mean, no, uh…where would you get that idea?"
"Ask me no questions I'll tell you no lies, eh?"
"Well, I don't. I mean, I'm not enjoying the view." He said, sounding like he was trying hard to convince me.
"You mean you think she's ugly?" I asked, enjoying my little mind game.
"No! I mean…she's not unattractive, I guess. But I'm not staring or anything. I'm just looking at Bruce…" As soon as the last sentence left his mouth, I knew he regretted it.
"Bruce? Is there something I should know?"
"Oh for the love of God, Scarlett, stop." He said, but he couldn't keep from laughing.
Oh, I am soooo good.
"Fine, but whenever you want to talk, Jack, I'm here." I smirked, patted him on the shoulder, and left.
I found myself climbing the ladder to the crow's nest. To my surprise (and small horror) it was there that I found Englehorn. I tried to quietly climb back down while his back was to me, but he said suddenly,
"Miss Harker, don't let my presence put you off."
See? Telepath. I told you.
I climbed back up and hopped the railing. Never having done something like hopping the railing before, I fell down on the other side.
Is it just me, or has every embarrassing moment I've ever had been in front of Englehorn? When I was nine and flew right off a swing set, was he looking at me and sniggering? When I threw up at my fifteenth birthday party, was he lurking behind a wall?
Please, no. Please, please no.
He bent down to help me up. After brushing myself off, I said,
"I see your manners have got better since we were at the docks," I said, remembering when he had knocked me over and left me on the ground.
"I see you've got no less clumsier," he retorted. And, in usual telepath manner, he was right. He smirked triumphantly. Then he said,
"Beautiful isn't it? The ocean…"
Um, excuse me? First he's insulting me and then he's talking about the ocean's beauty? Is he drunk? Does he have some strange split personality? Does EVERYONE here have some strange split personality? Am I on a boat full of crazy people? They're always switching from nice to evil, evil to nice. I swear –
"Miss Harker? You're…staring off into space." He snapped in front of my face, pulling me out of my bout of paranoia. Maybe I have a personality disorder…
"Uh, yes, the ocean, it's…nice."
Oh…my god. Nice? Is that all I have to say? Ugh, I'm such an oddball.
"It is…nice." Oh no, conversation turning awkward…must escape-
"So…"
-or throw myself deeper into the endless pit of awkwardness…
"So…" Awww, Capitan, you always seem to not need words, why not now?
Wait…yes...eureka! An idea!
"Um…"
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's gone again.
"You're shivering. You should find a jacket." He pointed out.
"You're right. I'll just-"
Huh?
He had wrapped his overcoat around me, the corners of his lips twitching up, apparently satisfied. I dared to look up into his eyes. They were like the ocean, just as beautiful as the ocean. The ocean around was…nice…but his eyes…I was drowning-
"Scarlett!" I heard Jack's voice call out from below.
Men ALWAYS have bad timing. Always. I sighed, and el Capitan looked away.
Note renewed use of annoying nickname.
I turned toward the railing and looked down. Jack, with Ann, was looking back up at me. I turned back to Englehorn and handed him his coat with a well-practiced, grateful smile. Then, I proceeded to climb down the ladder.
"There you are, Scarlett." Jack said once I'd hopped down to the ground, "I was looking for you. I'd like you to meet Ann."
Ann outstretched her hand and said, "Ann Darrow."
I took her hand and shook it gently, "Scarlett Harker."
Jack looked at us and said, "Well, you two should talk. I'll go find Englehorn."
"He's up there," I said, nodding up to the crow's nest.
"He's up there? He was with you?" He asked, a smirk growing at the corners of his mouth. I had the feeling I was about to be punished for my little joke earlier.
"Well, yes."
"Doing what?" He inquired, full out smiling now.
"Don't you have to go find him?" I asked firmly.
"Fine. Be that way." And he went to talk to Englehorn.
"Well. So Ann, are you a new actress?"
"Yes, I am. I didn't know there was another girl on board. Why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"
I sighed. I did feel like I could trust her…
"I, um, ran away from home."
"Oh, how awful. But why?"
"My mother was getting married to this horrible man, and she was completely oblivious to his…horrible…ness."
Ann giggled, but then turned serious, "Did he, you know, hit you or anything?"
"No, but he was a drug and arms dealer. And he seemed to take some interest in me as well as my mother. I swear, once he called me 'toots'."
Ann made a face. I laughed. Before we knew it, we we're both laughing our heads off and making every crew member who passed by look at us strangely.
"You sure…have a...talent…for making people…laugh!" I stuttered between giggles.
"It's what I do," she smiled. But then her grin faded, "Well, what I used to do."
"What do you mean?"
"I used to be a comedian, but then our venue was shut down. But I was lucky enough to find Mr. Denham. Or rather, he found me."
"Hmm." I said, listening intently.
She seemed as out of place on this ship as I did. As lost, as confused. I felt my heart go out to her. After all, she probably never had money or the ability to have anything she wanted.
But at the same time, I was slightly jealous. She had probably always been free to do what she thought was right, not what was expected of her.
I brushed away my thoughts of self pity and envy. I had made a new friend.
"C'mon. Let's find something to eat. All those takes and cuts must have you with quite an appetite."
End.
