A/N: Happy Halloween, watashi no tamodachi! (Yup, I take Japanese. Did you know that they don't celebrate Halloween in Japan? Those poor deprived people...) I'm being Moaning Myrtle this year. I know, shocker.
So, in the last chapter, Lily said, "Call me Evans," to Jack, and that was obviously a typo. I could play it off like I meant to put that in and pretend to be all savvy in my writing ability, but I won't and I'm not. Thanks for pointing it out for me.
READ ME: This is the last time I'm gonna say it, and I'm sorry if it sounds rude or whatever, but 1) Jack is not James, James is not Jack. Jack is Jack, and James is James. End of story, and 2) James and Co. are coming in chapter 14. I hope that clears up any questions you guys might have.
Does anyone know where I might be able to find a CD with I Must Not Chase the Boys by Play on it? I love that song, and I can't find it! Please help!
So right now I'm listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's version of Carol of the Bells. It's a Christmas song, but I love it. (Random!)
Ok, so I'm worried. A lot of my regular reviewers haven't been reviewing. Is it because of me? Am I such a bitch that you guys aren't reviewing to spite me? (Beacause, you know, the whole world revolves around me. -Blinks- Sarcasm, people.) Or is it because you think my story wholly sucks and you don't have anything nice to write about? Seriously guys, if you don't hate either me or my story, please review. I like hearing from you.
Anyways...thanks to those who did review, especially rockstar-101, goodie2shoes19, Green Animelover, pssh dork wad, the-one-and-only, cerdinalz, FallenMystery, hpisthegreatest, lilytero, wIthOUt A nAmE, babi-gurl-chels, sapphire stalker, ajlkf sdjslfk, Zimo, RavieGrint, opalshine, Etar, Tayler, Untamed Loner, SweetPsychotic2358, EvilFaerie17, choco-crush, Sweettarts, la tua cantante, triquetraperson, Ashley James Potter, love life, Hermes22, Serenity Emrys, Anna, futurePOTUS, The Labyrinths Scribe, potterlover, debbiegirl, serindraxx, Dutty Non, ick, Daisy Pixie, MahoganyEmbersIsAGobstopper, liakenzie, 'you know who' (You will die), october tuscany, kinkanpot, scarlet emerald, Lady Eowyn of Ithilien, Monkey Face, xsweetxgrenadinex, EmilyEB, james-s2-lily, Rxc, SilverJadlyn, Jamie, Enchanted Princess Gal, Heaven's Flying Fish, lady potter7447, and dracosfling.
Well, onto chapter 11!
Disclaimer: The book of poems that I'm published in finally came in. I don't believe JKR is a poet...
"You really like sleeping out in hallways, don't you?" A voice, which I recognize as Robin's, says, drifting in through my half-awake mind. I groan and stretch my arms high above my head, then open my eyes.
It takes me a minute to remember that I'm in the hallway outside my room, and I blink and look around, unsure of myself for some reason.
"It's time for your watch," Robin says, extending a hand to help pull me up. "Since Jack's kinda...disabled, I'm taking over, so whenever you're ready..."
"Oh," is all I can say, since I'm still tired. It seems like I can never get a decent night's sleep around here. I take hold of his hand and hoist myself up, then the two of us walk down the hall towards the stairs.
It feels unnatural to go up on the deck without either the bright sun or Wilson being there.
The fact that one of my first thoughts of the day was about Wilson doesn't seem to upset me as much as it usually would. Instead, I shake my head to clear my mind, my hair tickling me as it swings back and forth around my face. I probably should cut it again, just so that no one else guesses my secret.
"So...I guess I'll see you," Robin says before walking towards the other side of the ship, his hands in his pockets. As I watch his back move further and further away from me, I get a weird sensation in my stomach. It's as if...as if I finally got a taste of what it's like to be around people who can tolerate me - people who maybe even like me - and then they all abandon me.
Like my mother and Petunia...
Robin walks along the rail of the ship, then turns around and smiles at me. I smile back half-heartedly, then turn and walk towards my side of the ship. The fact that I'm thinking about Petunia makes me cringe in disgust. It's not like she ever liked me to begin with. I guess it just would've been nice if she had, even just a little bit.
I chuckle quietly at my childish thoughts as I move to lean on the rail and look out into the water. I'm being so bloody dramatic. But hey, it's better than contemplating what Wilson said earlier...
"Hey," someone says from behind me, and I don't even have to turn around to know who it is.
Speak of the devil and he will appear...Only this time it's a tad bit too literal.
"I thought you were...'disabled'," I say, quoting Robin. I do not turn to face him.
"Yeah, well, I'm not," he replies, moving so that he is standing on my left, resting his weight on the rail just as I am. I look sideways at him and see his profile outlined in the moonlight, his skin taking on a celestial glow.
Then he looks sideways at me and our eyes meet for the briefest of seconds. I turn away quickly, glad that he can't see the blush on my cheeks in the darkness.
We both stand there for quite some time, just staring out into the water, neither of us saying anything. It's almost...nice, the night being so calm and clear...
But it'd be a while lot nicer if my damn cheeks would stop turning red.
"You know, there's no use lying," Wilson says suddenly.
Startled, I turn to look at him full on. "What are you talking about?"
Still looking out at the water, he replies, "Lying won't get you anywhere, since we both know the truth."
Ah. So he had to go and bring that up.
What was I saying about this being a calm night?
Being determinately stubborn, I say, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not lying to myself or anyone else for that matter."
At this, he turns his entire body towards mine. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, so stop trying to act innocent," he says, his azure eyes probing deeply into mine.
" Wilson, you're right, I do know what you're talking about. But you don't. You have no idea how I feel about anyone, so stop pretending to be all-knowing and leave me alone."
"I told you," he says, taking a step closer to me and forcing me to back up a step, "Call me Jack."
"I will not," I reply stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest. "I only call people I like by their first names, and you definitely don't fall under that category." (Well, I don't hate Walker, but that's a different matter.)
"Oh, really." It was a statement, not a question.
Wilson glances around, then, before I can get one word in edge-wise, he grabs my wrist and practically drags me off the deck and back down to our room. He closes the door behind us and then turns around, taking a step towards me.
Backing up, I gulp quietly before saying, "If you take another step closer, I will personally see to it that you never have children." My voice shakes slightly, and I pray that Wilson didn't hear it. I hate that I am utterly vulnerable at the moment, and unfortunately, it looks like Wilson knows that.
But he doesn't stop coming closer. I step back until I'm up against the dresser, and then I know that I'm trapped. I look around helplessly and spot my old pen knife lying on the dresser behind me. I pick it up and brandish it at Wilson, who is so close now I could reach out and touch him.
"Take another step and I'll cut your nose off," I say in what I hope was a deadly serious voice.
Of course, Wilson ignores me, prying the knife effortlessly out of my hands and throwing it behind him, where it clatters noisily onto the floor.
I swallow hard and look up into Wilson's eyes as he takes another step. "What do you want from me?" I ask him, almost desperately. "Do you want me to beg, to grovel? Well, I'm not going to."
Wilson is directly in front of me now, our bodies mere inches apart. He lifts his hand and touches my right cheek. I shiver outwardly and look down at the floor. I know what's coming next, and I also know that I most certainly don't want it to happen.
"Lily," Wilson whispers, his breath tickling my face as he gets closer to me. His thumb gently strokes my cheek, and I find my defenses slightly weakening.
Wilson lifts my face up towards his, which is so close, far too close. That strange swooping sensation seeps back into my stomach as he slowly lowers his face to mine.
"Stop," I say in a weak, feeble voice. (Had my mind not been so clouded, I might have noticed that the way I said it made me sound submissive and, well, girlie. Ugh...)
But of course, Wilson doesn't listen to me. His lips come down on mine, and I struggle against him as the familiar warm feeling takes me over. After a few moments, I can't stop myself from moaning and leaning slightly into him, relishing in the warm firmness of his body.
Wilson smiles into my lips and kisses me a little harder.
Who would've thought that kissing this bastard would feel so good?
His arms slid around my waist, holding me firmly-yet-gingerly against his injured chest. I in turn wrap my arms around his neck, drawing him closer to me as I play with the loose golden hairs on his neck.
After a few moments, in desperate need of air, I pull back from him to take a few ragged breaths. Without missing a beat, Wilson begins kissing my neck, going from the spot just below my chin to my collarbone and back up. My breathing becomes slightly more labored.
Chuckling quietly, Wilson returns his attentions to my mouth.
Well, something must be said about this guy. For all that he is a horrid bastard, he's a damn good kisser.
A knocking sound comes from behind us, and I jump back from Wilson as if I'd been touched by a branding iron.
"Topher? Jack?" Recognizing Walker's voice, I move forward to open the closed door.
Stepping into the room, Walker jokingly asks, "Did you leave early just to come and visit precious little Jacky over here?"
You don't know the half of it, I think as my cheeks blaze crimson.
Walker laughs at my discomfort. Wilson, who is still standing behind me, says nothing. "I'm only joking. I know you guys aren't that close." He winks at me. "But you must've left early, though, since Robin said you weren't there when he came down."
"Oh - yeah, well, I wasn't feeling too well," I reply, looking at the floor.
"Jack's keeping you awake, I see."
"Ugh, I've had enough of this. I'm going to bed," Wilson says from behind me.
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving. Don't harass Topher while I'm gone. We don't need another corrupted one." Walker yawns, then shuts the door.
Suddenly the gravity of everything hits me like lead. I snogged Wilson...
Oh God.
"Hey," Wilson says from behind me. I turn and see him lying in his bed, his arms supporting his head on his pillow.
"So have you decided what this means?"
I swallow and look at the floor. "I was hoping you'd tell me."
Wilson groans loudly put a hand over his eyes. "You really need to not do that," he says with some strain.
"...Do what?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"You - you get this...defenseless look on your face sometimes. It makes you look...delicate. Almost like a girl."
I cross my arms across my chest. "Hopefully you've realized by now that I am a girl, Wilson." I open the door leading out of our room and stop in the doorway. "But thanks for the compliment."
"I told you to call me Jack," Wilson says as I shut the door.
I sigh, then smile. Calling him Jack would be difficult, now that I'm used to thinking of him as an arrogant ass.
Feeling kinda bad that I left less than halfway through my watch, I climb the stairs up to the main deck. The night air is cool and slightly crisp - fall's coming soon. It'll be strange to be in the middle of the ocean instead of being on land, where all of the trees' leaves are going up in a flame of brilliant and vibrant color.
Sighing, I look up at the nighttime sky. (Or rather, the sky as it is at three in the morning. Is that still considered night?) The formerly clear black mass is now half covered by clouds, so few stars are visible, but it's still beautiful, just like a painting.
"What're you doing up here?" A voice says from my right, startling me.
Walker laughs at me. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone jump that high."
I conceal my blush and hiss, "Don't do that!"
"Sorry, sorry," Walker says, his laughter subsiding. "Why're you up here?" He repeats. "Your shift ended already."
"I know, but I felt kinda bad leaving beforehand, so..."
"Here, you're gonna need this," Walker says, handing me a mug of coffee. "You're daft if you're actually willing to do a double shift out here."
"Gee, thanks," I say sarcastically. "But won't you need this?" I hold up the mug, looking at him. (Which would be a whole lot easier if he weren't so tall. Or if I weren't so short."
"Nah," he replies, leaning on the railing next to me. (I get the feeling that this has all happened before...) "It doesn't work for me, anyways. Too much of it when I was young."
"I see," I say, taking a sip and letting the hot, bitter liquid slide down my throat and warm my body.
Walker and I stand there for a while, and I get the oddest feeling, as if I'm with someone I've known forever. Kind of a feeling like...family.
Which is absolutely absurd, because I'm sure I've never met Walker before in my life. But...for whatever reason, when I'm around him, I feel safe, like I'm with an older brother or something.
Oh well, no point in trying to understand my bizarre logic. We've already established that I'm not exactly sane, haven't we?
"So, have you heard the news?" Walker asks, breaking the comfortable silence.
"...Uh, no. What news?"
"We're going to land to ship the cargo we took from the Frogs back to the king. We're docking in a country called Guinea tomorrow evening."
"Oh?" I ask, not really sure what to make of this information.
"Whenever we go into port, the crew gets most of the time we spend there off. I've been to Guinea once. There's a lot to do there. I think we'll be in a British colony, so there'll be plenty of things to do."
"By things, he means plenty of lasses to keep us company." I turn and see Freddie walking towards us.
"Ah," is all I say. It's not like the promise of lasses really fazes me.
Freddie leans onto the rail on my other side. "Should I even ask why you're here?" He looks a me with a boyish grin on his face.
"Nope," I reply, looking back out at the pitch black ocean.
"I have an idea, Frederick, my good fellow!" Walker says suddenly.
"And what is that, Your Excellence?"
"I believe we should make it our mission to find Christopher here a girl!" Walker exclaims exuberantly, bringing a fist down against the railing.
"Aye aye, sir!" Freddie replies, saluting to Walker's large form.
Oh dear God...
"I'm quite fine without a girl at the moment," I say, but to no avail. Walker and Freddie have already moved away from me, talking loudly about how I'm going to be turned into a "dashing fellow".
How wonderful.
I close my eyes and shake my head, a small smile coming over my features.
If nothing else, life aboard the Intrepid is certainly never dull.
A/N: ...One chapter closer to James's arrival...-Fangirls squeal-
Well, please review! (All 1,715 of you.)
Hugs and fuzzles
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