Chapter 9: Opportunities

Jack had made his way to the docks. When he got there he saw Merrington-Faye waiting there anxiously wringing his hat between his hands. But as Jack began to walk towards him Faye began backing away his eyes widening in horror.

"Leaper! Stay away! I don't want your disease! Stay back!" Faye said making the sign of the cross.

"Well there was me thinking that someone today actually wanted to talk to me!" Jack said hurt. Faye's Jaw dropped, he leaned forward scaling up Jack's injury's.

"Jack? Oh Jack what happened you look simply awful!" Faye exclaimed.

"Oh why thank you?"

"Well it's true! You're covered in blood, you've got a black eye and it looks like your nose is broken! What happened! Who did this to you!"

"Why would you care anyway! Seeing as making me trust you was just a ploy for the bloody navy! I hate you! If all you wanted to tell me was that I looked awful then I'm going home where I can be ignored rather than insulted! Actually that's not true! I'm constantly getting almost killed but at least it means that I'm not invisible!" Jack shouted.

"Oh Jack!" he said, his voice full of pity, "I know that I'm not your real father and I know that I broke your trust and betrayed you, but I think you're a truly remarkable young person,"

"Well mate I've always thought I had a certain je ne ce quois but umm-,"

"Jack! For once please listen!" Jack shut up, "I would like to adopt you."

"A-a-adopt me? You mean with three meals a day and sometimes cake in the afternoon?"

"Yes, and so much more! A loving home, a stable family life an-,"

"Yeah! Just keep talking about food," Faye laughed, thinking Jack was joking and ruffled his hair.

"...wait...why?" Jack asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Because I'm very worried for you! Look at you! Your family did this to you! Your father! I'm pretty sure if you stay there much longer you'll be killed!" Faye stopped, " and...Jack, I've grown over these last few days to be extraordinarily fond of you."

"uuuummm..." Jack didn't know how to respond, he felt a little bit emotional, "I need to think about this." Then he promptly walked off, unsure of what to think.

Jack wandered around the port of Shipwreck Island, still too scared to go home. He was pondering his situation and all the many ways in which this offer could improve his life and also how long he needed to leave it before Teague was calm again.

"JACK!" Robin shouted running towards him, "JACK! You look...horrible." he said wrinkling his nose and bending to look underneath Jacks hat and at his bloodied and bruised face.

"Oh why thank you." Jack said sarcastically, looking over at Callie and Coralina who obviously thought differently!

"Hi Jack." Callie smiled flirtatiously.

"Hi...Callie." Jack said backing away slightly. He turned to the side and saw that Coralina was reaching for his hair, Diego and Robin did not look impressed.

"Where have you been?!" Diego asked.

"We've missed you..." Coralina trailed off and reached for his hair again.

"I've missed you most." Callie stated creepily.

"Ok, I need to go..." he said slipping away.

"Oh well see ya then stranger!" Diego teased.

"See you around then Jack." Callie whispered seductively. Robin came between them.

"Have you managed to get your own girlfriend yet?"

"I don't need one! I got everyone else's." He joked, Robin looked as angry as Teague, Jack stepped backwards slightly, "I'm joking! Yes I do actually."

Coralina gasped, "You mean single sparrow actually has a girlfriend." She teased.

"Yes...sorry Carolina, callie." He hung his head.

"WHAT DOES SHE HAVE THAT I DONT!" Callie burst out, the others, even Jack, looked at her shocked.

"umm, she's a bit taller." Jack ventured.

"So, who is she? What's her name?" Diego asked leading Jack away from the girls...and robin.

"Arabella." Jack replied happily.

"ooo, fancy!" Diego joked, "How did you meet her?"

"Well it's a long story, she used to be a barmaid in Tortuga,"

"Whore." Callie coughed,

"What's she look like?" Diego said glaring angrily at Callie,

"pretty damn fit!"

"Hair colour?"

"red."

"Ginger." Coralina muttered,

"eyes."

"Brown."

"Bosom?"

Jack slapped him in the stomach, "Shut up you!" He said laughing.

"How far have you gone?"

"Well, that's personal information-,"

"So that's just kissing then?"

"Yes." Jack muttered so quietly it was inaudible.

"How long have you been going out?" he asked curiously.

"I dunno...a month."

"Oh mate! You've lost your touch! You normally have 'em in one night!" Diego laughed.

"DIEGO!" Coralina snapped, Diego ignored her and continued to poke holes in Jack's relationship, "So what's so special about the Ginger Whore?"

"Firstly she's not ginger, secondly she's not a whore unlike your mum and thirdly I'm not single sparrow anymore...so ha!" Jack said, "I'm going to the bar." he stated.

"I'll come with you, maybe we can pick someone up so you don't get out of practice!" he said running after Jack.