Chapter 11!!

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One of the maids pulled apart the curtains, sending light pouring into the room. Alyssa groaned and hid her head under a pillow.

"Come on Miss Andrews. The Commodore wants you ready to go in an hour."

"Well if he wants me ready in an hour, than wake me up then. It won't take that long to get ready."

"Oh yes it will, trust me. Now, up!" the maid pulled the covers off from over her, and she curled up in a little ball.

She soon got up, and the room was bustling with activity. More maids entered, bringing in pieces of clothing and trays of food and makeup. She ate quickly, and then began to dress.

Unfortunately, the new outfit that she was to wear required a corset. The maids pulled the strings tighter, making her ribs ache with the pressure.

She was dressed in layer after layer of clothes, until Alyssa felt like she would collapse. Then she had to sit still for another 20 minutes so she could get her hair and makeup done. How she had been able to stand this when she was younger she had no idea.

Just as the maid had said, when everything was done, it had been an hour. She struggled to get down the stairs without falling (or passing out) and was greeted by James.

"You look…Lovely Miss Andrews." She smiled and thanked him.

The square at the gallows was buzzing with activity. People crowded around scaffold, trying to get the best spot to watch the hanging of the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean.

James and Alyssa stood near the back, on a raised platform. Drum roll sounded, and the crowd grew quiet.

But no one came. James's eyebrows furrowed.

"They should be here by now."

"I'm sure they're just having some trouble getting Sparrow out of the cell. I know from experience that he can be a very stubborn individual." Norrington nodded, though he was still not convinced.

Ten minutes later, the drum roll had stopped, and the mass of people grumbled amongst themselves.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alyssa could see movement behind her. James seemed to sense it too, and was about to turn around.

She pulled his face towards hers and kissed him. He seemed shocked, but soon his hand moved to the side of her face.

James pulled away, looking at her in shock.

"Miss Andrews…I'm sorry, I …I"

"They're getting away!" His head whipped around to where the voice came from. There was a group of soldiers chasing after Jack and Will.

"Not again…" Alyssa grabbed his arm.

"Commodore, I would like to thank you for your hospitality, and am very sorry it ended like this. I hope we meet again on…friendly terms." She shook his hand and ran after the pirates.

It was hard to run in a corset, but she managed to catch up to the group, who circled around pillars and barrels, just as planned.

Alyssa ran along side of Jack and Will, Jack looking very surprised to see her.

"What happened back there?"

"Well the Commodore noticed you. I had to do what I had to do. But we have more important things to think about."

They ran up the stairs, and toward the battlements.

"Ready?" Will yelled, and the other two nodded. "Jump!" They leaped over the wall, and began falling down towards the water below, where the Pearl was waiting.

They crashed into the icy water, surfacing quickly. There we're shouts from above, and Alyssa could see James looking down at her sorrowfully.

It made her feel almost… bad for what she did. He had opened his home to her and he had been so kind. But he was going to kill Jack, and as kind as he was, she couldn't let that happen.

"Alyssa! Come on!" Will was calling her from a great distance away, about halfway to the ship. She began to swim over, but the layers of clothing made it hard to stay afloat, and the corset made it hard to breathe.

After struggling for a minute and going practically nowhere, a strong hand grabbed her arm and began to tow her along.

Jack pulled her all the way back to the ship, where they grabbed a rope and were pulled up.

"Well that went rather well." Jack squeezed the water out of his shirt and put his hat back on. The dress that Alyssa wore grew heavier from the weight of the water, and she walked slowly towards Jack's cabin to relieve herself of it.

She fiddled with the strings at the back of the dress, but couldn't get it undone.

"Stupid bloody corsets and stupid bloody dresses and…" Hands moved hers away from the knot. Soon the dress loosened, and she was able to pull it off. She heard a tsking noise from behind her as Jack saw the corset.

"Thank you." She mumbled, keeping her eyes on the ground. Jack turned her around and cut the strings of the corset. They stood there in silence, and she could feel his eyes boring into her, causing her cheeks to flush.

He left the room, leaving her standing awkward and alone. She sighed and got changed before going back outside.

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Uh oh. He's mad at her. Review please.

Chicaga