Chapter Ten

"Ah, how good is feels! The hand of an old friend."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our first stop in the Caribbean is Tortuga. Jack insists that we're in need of supplies, but I know that by 'supplies' he means rum.

"I don't understand why you like this place so much," I confess, stepping over a dormant man who reeks of whiskey.

"Because, love," Jack replies, "This island is every man's dream!"

"That's pathetic, Sparrow. Doesn't the male species have any other dreams than stale whiskey and filthy prostitutes?"

Rodney laughs from beside me. "Sure we do. But said dreams outweigh all the others."

I roll my eyes but say nothing more concerning the matter, but that's mostly because we have to push our way through a drunken brawl in the center of the street just to get to the entrance of the Faithful Bride tavern.

"I'll get the drinks," Jack says once we get inside, and Rodney leads me over to a table in the corner of the room.

"You're in luck, Andie," he tells me as I take a seat beside him. "You can be shagged on multiple tables in here!"

So obviously Jack and I haven't lived down our incident in Mercy and Emmet's kitchen a year ago. "Don't make me kill you in front of all these people, Rodney," I warn him with a scowl.

He laughs and reaches to grab the mug of rum that Jack slides before him. "Thanks," I say as said pirate hands me a glass of brandy and takes a seat to my left.

"Looks like you have an admirer," Jack says with a chuckle and nods towards a table behind me.

Frowning, I turn to see a group of sailors having a drink, half of them engrossed in a conversation, and the other half looking most interested in me, or rather, the way I look. Sometimes men completely disgust me. I roll my eyes and turn back to face the captain of the Black Pearl. "Actually, I think they're looking at you," I tell him.

"To tell you the truth," Rodney interjects, and points to something across the tavern, "I think there's someone else who has their eye on Jack."

And sure enough, not but a moment later said strumpet walks over, her golden hair hanging down in curls and bust pushed high. I raise an eyebrow as she slides herself into Jack's lap, watching in disgust as she wraps her thin arms about his neck and leans down to whisper something in his ear. Jack chuckles somewhat uncomfortably at her words and moves to unwrap her grip from around his neck, but she only presses herself closer.

"Christ," I bite out, "He's not interested, all right?"

The wench leans back to glare at me with dull, lifeless grey eyes. "Pardon me?" she asks in a heavy French accent.

"He's taken for the night," I continue, my voice completely calm. "Bugger off."

She scoffs, her attitude most aggravating and obnoxious. "Taken by you?" she laughs. But as she glances back down at Jack, he's pulling her arms away from him, and her amusement completely dies. "You've got to be kidding me," she states, looking over me with a disapproving eye.

"Not at all, love," Jack presents.

"What are you, in mourning? Isn't that disrespectful to be in a place like this with a man like him when you're supposed to be secluded from society?" the woman asks of my black clothing as Jack slides her from his lap.

"No, I'm not in mourning," I reply simply, bored of the situation.

"Oh, so you choose to look like one of the deceased?" she remarks coldly. "Trust me, dear, you need a bit of color."

"You're giving me beauty tips?" I ask sarcastically.

"Well," she says, looking me over one last time, "You need them."

I instantly launch myself at her, ready to teach this broad a lesson, but before I can even touch her, Jack quickly grabs me and pulls me down, settling me in his lap. The whore walks away without a scratch, swinging her hips and grinning with mockery in her stance.

"What did you do that for?" I demand from Jack, simultaneously smacking him hard on the shoulder.

"She's just jealous, Andie," he tells me, the amusement clear in his voice.

"Of what, my lack of color, or my dead appearance?" I question with sarcasm once again.

"Both," he replies, and laughs at the hateful look I give him. "I'm only kidding, darling. She's jealous of yer beauty and the way you're getting more attention than her in only the five minutes you've been here. That's what ye want me to say, correct?"

"Only if you truly mean it, pirate." I say with a laugh.

Jack grins. "Want to know why she really dislikes ye? Because ye have the Captain Jack Sparrow for the night, that's why."

"Is that right?" I reply. "Well, I'm not sure I want to touch you after she has, then."

Amusement lights in his eyes as he shrugs nonchalantly at my words. "If ye don't, someone else will."

I glare at him but stay seated anyway, turning to grab my drink. I see AnaMaria, Jaden and Nolan approaching our table as I do this, shoving their way through the crowd.

"I heard word of an almost-cat-fight and instantly knew you were involved," Jaden tells me as he fills my discarded chair.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I reply.

"What happened?" Nolan asks.

Jack of course now takes it upon himself to explain. "Andie's jealous," he tells them simply.

My hazel eyes narrow at him dangerously. "And her jab at my appearance had nothing to do with it," I put sarcastically.

"But it began because she approached me," he supplies.

"You're so conceited it's disgusting," I say.

The pirate captain grins. "Tis true, but darling, ye knew that from the beginning."

Rodney chuckles from across the table. "The two of you fight so much that one would think you were more of enemies."

"They are enemies," AnaMaria interjects. "That is, until tonight when they're making up and the rest of us can't sleep from all the noise they're making."

"Excuse me," I cut in, "But we do not 'make up'."

"Course not," Nolan says, "You fight during the day and by night the both of you are just feeling friendly."

"Why is this a topic of discussion?" I ask as Jack chuckles at the situation. He takes some sort of manly pride in the fact that his entire crew is aware of our physical relationship and nightly (as well as daily) activities.

Rodney smiles that handsome smile. "She has a point. Let's change the subject to something interesting."

I narrow my eyes at him but say nothing. I will gladly risk my pride at this moment in order to not discuss the relationship between Jack and I. Everything is very touch and go with us; we don't talk about it, but simply go through the motions day by day. And for now, that's good enough for me.

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An hour and two pints later, it is my turn to buy the next round. I try sliding myself from Jack's lap in order to venture over to the bar, but his arm only tightens about my waist. I turn to regard him, only for his mouth to meet mine. I grace him with a kiss for a long moment before pulling back, but his hold does not lesson.

"Jack," I whisper against his mouth, "Do you want more rum or not?"

He watches my lips as I speak, his hands venturing swiftly up my sides. "Is that a trick question?" the pirate asks.

I laugh. "Yes, darling, it's a trick question," I tell him, but only because I can see that slight drunken gaze beginning to form over his eyes. Pressing one last gentle kiss to his mouth, he then allows me to rise to my feet.

But as I approach the bar, a strange feeling overcomes me. An empty feeling fills the pit of my stomach and I briefly feel the hairs on my arms stand up straight. My instincts are much alike to those of a predator. Despite the knowing of unwanted eyes on my being, my instincts buzzing in my ears, I carry on as normal, for a sense of familiarity also surrounds me. Something tells me exactly who this predator is.

Suddenly something creeps over my flesh and I reach back instantly, my fingers wrapping around a thin arm as I jerk the person forward. But just as quickly my feet are kicked out from under me, and I land flat on my back, a familiar feminine form instantly moving to straddle my torso.

"Hello, Jacqueline," she says to me.

I smile. "Kamella. Fancy seeing you here."

Her light brown hair falls over her shoulders in soft waves to gently brush my flesh. "Your reflexes are as sharp as ever, but you're still having troubles guarding those feet of yours, I see."

I shrug. "Everyone has their flaws."

At the sound of boot steps, the two of us look over to see Jack and Rodney approaching, pushing their way past the various cliques of people. The two pirates appear slightly confused at first, but after a short moment, I see an amused twinkle light Jack's dark eyes.

"Well, this is interesting," he says. I smile. Truthfully, I would be both curious and interested as well if I found someone (preferably someone of the same sex) atop of him as well.

"Kamella Jackson," I introduce, "Meet Jack Sparrow."

She looks most surprised, but extends her hand anyway, her blue eyes twinkling with her inevitable mischief. Jack pulls her easily to her feet, placing a polite kiss to the back of her hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he corrects me.

"Just as suave and handsome as you're described in the stories," Kamella flaunts. "I did not expect that." She has always been a terrible flirt. Honestly, she has always been a terrible wench at times too. It brings back memories I have long since forgotten.

Chuckling, Jack swiftly helps me up off the floor with an easy movement of his arm, giving me a small grin and a quick amused wink.

"Watch yourself," Rodney tells Kamella, "Andie almost pummeled a lass back there for using that kind of language with Jack."

My friend raises an eyebrow, her eyes wandering innocently over Jack and I. Then, she says something I did not expect, obviously holding her tongue back from what she's really thinking. One thing about Kamella is that she's honest to a fault, but not overly so. She knows the meaning of tact. . . most of the time, anyway.

"Andie. . ." she considers, giving the name some thought. "So that's what you're going by these days. I like it."

I give her a smile. "What brings you here, Kamella?"

"Chester," she shrugs. "Sent me an urgent letter saying he's got something important to tell me. Any idea on what it is?"

I nod. "But it can wait. You know Chester, he'll find you when he needs to."

What Chester is meaning to speak with her about, the fortunes and ritual of Athena, is important for her to consume, I realize, but I figure treating her to a drink and a little conversation won't hurt. Besides, she's always ready for a fight.

"You're right," Kamella replies. "Join me for a drink, will you?"

"I keep my jealousy close cause it's all mine
And if you say this makes you happy
Then I'm not the only one lying.
Keep quiet, nothing comes as easy as you
Can I lay in your bed all day?
I'll be your best kept secret and your biggest mistake."
"Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner" -Fall Out Boy

I'm so excited to write Kamella, this new character. She's a really fun, wild personality. More on her will be revealed in the next chapter.

Thanks to these people for reviewing:

dreadlockedpencil, A Depp Girl, DinoGirl15, Genevra, RunawayPirate, xJacksJessx, POTCgrrl, SacredBliss, Cayeene Pepper Powder. Thanks so much, my dears.

VooDooJayneSmith: Of course Jack always wins! He's Jack-freaking-Sparrow! Haha. You're twenty-two? Wow, I'm only sixteen, seventeen in December. Yeah, what's happening in New Orleans and such is very, very sad. I can't even watch the news anymore because it depresses me. You have a nice week too, darling.