"Good night Mr. Brown," Will said at an above average volume. "I'm off for home." As usual Brown did not hear Will's farewell and he slept steadily on, a half-bottle of rum held loosely in his hand. Will sighed and gathered his hat, top coat, and book. He looked around one more time to make sure nothing was out of place and then shut the door tight behind him.

Usually Will would head straight home after a long day to catch as much daylight as he could to read. He usually tried not to spend his money on candles and those sort of things. However he decided that after working over the hot flames all day, he needed some cool fresh air before shutting himself in his small cave of a room. He tossed his jacket over his shoulder and walked slowly towards the setting sun, hoping to find a peaceful uninhabited place. He had always been rather wary of society because he hadn't the faintest idea of how to act or what to say.

Will had not gone overlooked by his peers. The young men made fun of him for no apparent reason other than the fact that he was poor and they were not. The young women watched him closely though Will did not know why. He guessed it was because they were making as many mental notes on the shabbiness of his appearance so that they may better criticize him in their own conversations later. He often wondered if Elizabeth would participate in these chats.

A familiar face jumped into Will's head. Deep brown eyes, fair skin, long soft hair... Will shook his head defiantly. Not today. Not now. It had been three weeks since Elizabeth caught him gazing at her house and he was not going to let himself think about what a fool he had been. He wanted to read, to forget his troubles and read of others and their triumphs. He refused to clutter his mind with thoughts of self-stupidity.

Will walked for a solid fifteen minutes until he felt that Port Royal was far enough behind him that he could safely sit and be undisturbed. Settling with his back against a palm tree, he opened his book and let the stories and adventures of others fill his mind, allowing his own worries and feelings of inadequacy to leave.