A/N: So this one is extra long since my updates are slow. I quite like this chapter. Lots o' drama! :) Anywho: read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter Ten

(Ashley POV)

She woke to someone shaking her. "Ashley? Ash wake up." Ashley thought it was Tori, but she cracked an eye open and saw Jimmy. "C'mon and wake up. Captain gave us a job."

"Huh?" Ashley groaned as she opened her eyes lazily. She rubbed at her eyes and sat up. She noticed Jimmy was kneeling by her bed and grinning. "Wha'?"

"You sleep funny," he said very matter of factly.

She stared at him with suspicion. "How so?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. You just do."

Ashley gave a nod and let go of her bear, Griffin. She swiped Jimmy's hat off his head. "I'm borrowing this," she told him.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Fine, let's just go." He stood up and Ashley rolled out of bed.

She stood up and stretched as she yawned. Ashley looked down and tried to smooth out her wrinkled pants. 'I need another pair of pants. Have to remember to get them when I jump later.' Jimmy was eager to go and practically leaping out the door. She sighed and walked over to him. "Alright, c'mon before you jump of your boots." The two walked out of the room and made their way down the hallway. Ashley saw Tori walking around the corner. "Torence!" she shouted, sprinting past Jimmy to Tori.

Tori stopped and turned around as Ashley caught up with her. "Hey did you go," she trailed off when Jimmy walked up behind Ashley.

Ashley shook her head. "We're on our way to do…something." She glanced at Jimmy, who was giving her a 'hurry up' look. "I'll meet up with you later," she gave her a wide eyed look and followed Jimmy once again down the hallway.

---

(Tori POV)

Tori watched as Ashley scampered off after Jimmy. She smiled and shook her head as she started towards the galley again. When she walked in, Preston was already cooking. "Uh, hi." Preston smiled at her nervously. "I was up early and got started. I hope you don't mind."

Tori grabbed her apron and put it on as she walked around the counter to join him. "Oatmeal? Good choice," she told him. Preston smiled and kissed her on the cheek. Tori blushed as she stirred the oatmeal. She looked around the galley as she cooked and set eyes on Captain Englehorn in the back, drinking something from a cup. 'Shoot. I have to talk to him.' She turned to Preston. "Hey, I have to talk to the captain can you…?"

"I can handle it. Go on," he told her.

"Thanks." Tori walked over to the table Englehorn was sitting at and looked at him. "Captain," she said.

He looked up at her. "Hello Miss Tori."

She grumbled, "It's just Tori. Now, you wanted to talk to me?"

He stood up. "Yes. I'd like to speak with you." Tori watched him as he walked past her. She looked at him with a confused look. "In my office."

She smirked and followed him out of the galley and onto the deck. "You have an office?" she asked, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose.

He smiled at her over his shoulder. "Kind of." The two walked to his cabin and he shut the door once she stepped in. She flinched, turning to him when he shut the door. "So," he said, almost nervously.

"S-so…" Tori stuttered as she looked around the room. She saw Englehorn step towards her. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

He seemed to hesitate, taking off his hat and placing it on the desk behind him. "I wanted to ask you a question actually."

Tori's eye twitched slightly. 'Accent… The accent…' "Ask," she laughed.

"Fine. Are you…involved with Preston?" Captain Englehorn asked in a low tone.

Tori leaned back slightly. "What kind of question's that?"

"Just a question," he said as he ran a hand through his hair.

She eyed him with suspicion. "I…might, but…I might not," Tori told him as she tried to figure out why he wanted to know. Englehorn shut his eyes and sighed, sounding very relieved. He took a step forward and pressed his lips lightly against hers. Tori, very startled, broke away instantly with wide eyes. "I, um…have dishes to wash," she said in a ramble as she darted for the door. She burst out onto the deck and ran into the hallway, pressing herself against the wall as she tried to catch her breath.

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(Ashley POV)

Ashley helped Jimmy with the job, which was to catch more fish. 'Ugh. That was horrible.' She walked into the galley, looking around for Tori. 'Not here?' She looked to Preston, who was cleaning up from breakfast. "Hey Preston, Where's Tori?"

Preston shook his head. "I haven't seen her. She went with Captain Englehorn somewhere." He seemed to scowl as he said the last part, causing Ashley to snicker.

"Okay then. Thanks Preston," she gave him a nod and walked back out onto the deck. Ashley glanced around, looking for a sign of her. She sighed as she found none and walked over to the hallway entrance, with a hope of finding Tori in her room. She found Tori leaning against the wall, seeming to be spaced out. "Tori?"

Tori looked around in a spastic manner. She set eyes on Ashley. "Oh my god. We have to talk," she grabbed Ashley's arm and pulled her around the corner to her cabin. Tori shut the door and Ashley sat down.

"What happened? You look like you saw a ghost or something…"

"It's Englehorn!" Tori whined as she plopped down on her bed.

Ashley turned to her friend. "Engle-? God damn, I was gunna warn you. He likes you. Did something happen between you two or something?"

Tori pursed her lips into a thin line and nodded. "He kissed me," she said quietly. Ashley's eyes grew wide. "Really?! How was it?" Tori punched Ashley in the arm. "Ow! I was kidding… Halfway."

Tori laughed a little bit. "If you really want to know, it was…good. I mean, he was nice about it. Not like he attacked me."

Ashley laughed. "Awesome. But what about Presty?" Tori gave her an unsure look and Ashley smacked her palm to her forehead. "You make a choice and let me know, but I have to get us some more clothes. Anything in particular?" she asked.

"Some pants would be nice," she said smoothing her dress down.

Ashley nodded and jumped. She returned with a small armful of clothing. "I kinda just grabbed stuff. Like I didn't even look this time." She threw the clothing down. "Dibs on button down shirts," she said as she rummaged through the little pile. Ashley grabbed the few articles of clothing she wanted. "So…you should figure out your decision on the guys. It would be a good idea," she suggested. Ashley walked out the room and made her way to the cabin she shared with Jimmy. She found Jimmy in the cabin, reading Heart of Darkness. "Hey Jimmy," she smiled as she dropped the clothing on her bed. "There somewhere I can put this?" she asked.

Jimmy shut his book and sat up. "Where'd ya get that stuff?"

"Uh, found it in an empty room," she grinned. 'He's not suspicious, is he?' He pointed at a small closet and got up to help her. He helped her hang up the clothing and sat back down on her bed next to her. Ashley smiled at him. "Thanks."

Jimmy pointed to the hat on her head. "Still borrowin' it?" Ashley nodded and took the hat off. "Than why are ya takin' it off?" he asked.

Ashley leaned towards him and kissed him square on the lips. When she pulled away, she said, "So I could do that."

He flashed a crooked smile and she wanted to melt at the sight of it. "Good idea," he said before returning her kiss with one less gentle. He inched closer to her, deepening the kiss. Ashley let a hand wander through his sandy brown hair.

At that precise moment, Captain Englehorn stormed into the room. "Jimmy, I've…" The two leaped apart, trying to act as if nothing happened. "Excuse me," Englehorn said, "but can you do nest duty Jimmy?" he asked calmly.

Jimmy looked at Ashley, who was averting her eyes anywhere but at him or the captain. "Yes sir," Jimmy said.

Ashley felt the bed shift as he got up. She looked at him as he left the room with Englehorn. She sighed and fell back onto her bed. 'If that wasn't embarrassing I don't know what is…'