Day Eleven:
Jack indiscreetly avoided my all day. He only spoke to me when occasion made it impossible to avoid, and then he would only say things like "Hand me that rope." and "Where in hell is Anna-Maria?"
I would occasionally responding saying things like "Fine." and "I don't know."
Oh yeah. That's real deep conversation.
But life has a way of spiting me, and fate has a way of thrusting me into conversations I specifically try to avoid.
We were hauling one of the rowers up to the shelter when Carello (a tall greasy pirate of Jack's breed) motioned us over.
"You two've not been out fishin'. Thar's a rower on the beach." He tipped his hat. "Madame. Captain."
So what choice did I have? I got the 'fishing spears' (actually sharp rocks tied to bamboo sticks with corset laces) and set off in a rower. I thought things were going quite well (well as in no talking) until...
Bloody pirate.
Day Eleven Continued:
His silence was too loud. I know that sounds silly buy its true. His breathing was raspy and I could almost hear my heart beating. As we dove down his boot lace caught around my ankle. I panicked, but he grabbed me around my waist and pulled me to the surface.
I gasped frantically. "Your stupid boots almost killed me!" I spat.
He frowned. "Well luv, you near enough kicked the bejeebers outta me when you swam away yesterday."
"What's the matter, never had a girl blow off your oily advances before?" I struggled with the bootlace still caught around my ankle. "Dammit, Jack, can't you untie me?"
"Whatever you say, luv."
He dove under (he dives SO well!) and gently (OH SO gently) untied his lace from my ankle. He ran his fingers over the red, raw skin. I trembled.
When he surfaced again, I stared at him. "Jack? I..." He turned. "I'm sorry." He smiled, and wrapped his arms around my waist.
Major deja vu.
"Forgive me," he said, "if I admit that I'd love to..." his lips brushed over my cheeks and eyelashes "...love you."
He drew closer to me. I pushed all thoughts of my parents out of head. His lips brushed against mine.
We kissed.
I wound his beads around my fingers, he pushed his hands through my hair. Then we stopped. I heard calling in the distance. We both looked up.
There was a ship on the horizon, sailing from the far side of the island. Jack let go of me and raised his hands in the air.
I climbed back into the boat. "Jack?" he stopped waving and hauled himself into the boat. "Who were you waving at?"
"Hand me the oars."
I did, without question, and he rowed us out to the ship. And what a ship! It was a good, solid-looking boat equipped on each side with four long-nines. It had a tall mast and glistening pearl-white sails. The words Ebony Swann glinted, carved into the woodwork and illuminated in silver paint.
And a tall, handsome man was standing on the crow's nest.
"Ahoy!" he shouted "Jack Sparrow!"
Jack smiled, showing his many gold teeth. "Turner!" He turned to me. "Luv, 'd like you to meet my good friend, William Turner."
Day Eleven Continued:
Once we were brought on board, Jack and William had a rather brotherly reunion. Apparently they went on some sort of adventure a time back when Jack reacquired The Pearl. Jack seemed to forget I was even with him, until he spotted me leaning against the siderail.
"Oh, Turner, this here's Morgan Land, mate."
I smiled. "Hello, Mr. Turner." We shook hands. "Do you go by William or Liam?"
He seemed flustered. "Uh, Will."
"Your English?"
He nodded.
I shook my head. "Bloody fools, the lot of you." Jack laughed from behind me, and pulled me to him by the waist.
"This here's the daughter of Governor Swann's advisor. As to how we came to meet..." he paused, "long story, mate." He looked around curiously. "So how'd you come by this vessel?"
Will smiled. "Elizabeth-"
Jack cut him off. "Where is she!?"
"Below decks."
"Well I ASSUMED as much, mate. I mean WHERE?"
Will motioned for us to follow him below. The staterooms were damp, dimly-lit, and dirty. There were four rooms and an area for provisions, but it had nothing on the stately Imprintor. We followed Will through one of the doors into a brighter, more feminine stateroom. A woman near the one age with me was sitting in the corner (seemingly VERY pregnant) painting a small canvas on an easel.
"Elizabeth!" Jack cried, "Darling!" She looked up and turned ghost white.
"Jack!" she gasped, "J- Jack Sparrow!" Liam-wait, no,- WILL began to laugh. So did Jack, showing his many gold teeth. I love his gold teeth.
Day Eleven Continued:
"Elizabeth, this is my very good friend Morgan Land. Her father would be the famous Councillor James Land." He slid his arms around my waist again.
"James Land?" She looked at me, "I've known him my whole life!" She sprang to her feet and extended her hand to me. I pulled away from Jack's clutches to shake it. "You- wait, I remember you! The Jennings's bay peace treaty- you bartered the trading routes with my father!"
I gasped. "Bethie Swann?" She nodded. "YES! Oh, right, we were, what, fourteen?"
"Fifteen" Jack interjected.
We all turned to face him.
"Fifteen" he repeated casually. "I wouldn't sail to hell and back and not remember the time a fifteen-year-old girl single-handedly sunk my ship."
I gasped. "I did what?"
Elizabeth sank into her chair. "You did what?"
Will just stared. "You... She..."
"So you were..." I counted, "...twenty-two?" He nodded. "And..." Then I remembered. "YOU! You're the captain of the Pinnacle!" He nodded. I frowned, remembering how rude he had been to myself and the council members. And he had known all along. Jerk! I walked toward him and slapped him stingingly across the face.
As I climbed the stairs to the high-deck I heard him saying, "No, mate, I definitely deserved that."
Day Twelve:
We spent the night on the boat. Jack apologized to me (several times) in the morning. By the time I'd finally forgiven him we were anchoring offshore of our campsite.
Its strange that I didn't remember him, since he was so unbearably rude to us, and since I was the one who gave the command to fire on his ship. Its even stranger, though, that he actually TOLD me. Of all the rum-drinking womanizers on the planet, he seems so good at playing the wiser, so I just cant see the logic in him actually TELLING me.
Anna-Maria slapped him when she found out he was safe. She was angry, since the crew had thought Jack and I were dead, or otherwise just 'together', which is too embarrassing to write here, since, yes, it is true.
I SHOULD be angry with him. I SHOULD never speak to him again. Why? Well, in all logic, because it just makes sense, dammit.
REASONS I SHOULD NOT KISS (OR DO 'ANYTHING ELSE' TO) JACK:
1. He is a womanizer
2. He was rude to me way back when
3. This mess is all his fault
4. He takes it for granted that I will just let him kiss me
5. He is a rum drinker (I can smell it off him)
6. He is an outlaw, and has made me one too!
7. He is SO different from me, I have no real reason to love him
8. His advances have been quite cliché
9. He has 'done' Anna-Maria (repeatedly) so says the crew, so what's stopping him from doing it again?
10. He wont remember me in a week
REASONS WHY IS SHOULD KISS (OR DO 'ANYTHING ELSE' TO) JACK:
1. I want to - dear God do I want to.
Day Thirteen:
We are finally off that god-forsaken island!Will gathered the crew aboard. We are sailing for-get this-an island that cannot be found, EXCEPT by those who already know where it is! So, let me ask, HOW was it found in the first place?
I like to sit on the bearing of the Ebony Swann. It's just that- a swan, painted black, with silver eyes. If I sit up there, there's just enough room for me to gather my skirts about me, and nobody bothers me there. Its a great place to sit and try to sort out this whole mess of emotions concerning Jack.
Except this evening Will climbed up there, and was duly shocked to see me sitting on his boat bearing.
"Oh," I blushed, "sorry. I'll leave..."
He raised his hand. "No, no. You can stay." I smiled at him. His face was gentle. "I often come up here to think. I see you've found it quite a nice private place too."
I nodded. "Up here I can try to figure out what I'll do about Ja- well, about my future now."
He looked puzzled. "Are you and Jack..."
"No!" My response made him (and me!) jump in surprise. I took a breath. "No, no... he longsided our boat about ten days ago. Then we shipwrecked onto that island back there..." he looked as if he knew something I didn't, "We were fishing! We were spearfishing when you found us..." He nodded knowingly. "Don't make me slap you too!"
Will laughed. "Jack... well... I wouldn't be surprised if you and him were-"
"We are NOT!"
"Whatever you say..."
I wrung my hands in frustration. "You... I really do not like you!" He laughed again, and this time I did too. "Look, William, Jack hasn't really been a knight in shining armour to me."
"No," he said, "but..."
"Look, can we just DROP this?" I cried. He nodded, and climbed back down to the deck.
Now I have to be his friend- he knows too much.
Day Fourteen:
It has been two weeks since my life was turned upside down. I have kissed the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. I have killed a sailor. I have aided in piracy. And I have never felt more alive.
This morning Jack stumbled into my room carrying a bottle of Port. "Good morning, luv."
I sighed, clapping my hand to my forehead. "Jack, did it EVER occur to you that maybe I would want to get dressed before you barge in on me in the morning?"
He smiled. "As a matter of fact it did, luv." Jack pressed the cold bottle into my hands. "Breakfast!" And with a tipsy turn, he was gone.
I shook my head and climbed out of bed. I've taken to wearing only my shift with a long jacket and a belt-sash. Its much more comfortable than a full-fledged gown, and I can swim in it.
So our destination? Isla d'Oscuridad, apparently laden with treasure.
Cliché, even if I do day so myself.
I told this to Jack.
He frowned. "Well that's not very nice."
His eyes are so beautiful.
Sigh.
Once I was dressed, I headed across the deck to the bearing. But when I heard voices coming from the deck next room, I stopped and perked my ears. Jack and Will's voices drifted through the paper-thin walls.
"We can't drag either one to Oscuridad!" Will breathed frantically. "Neither one was ever a blood-bearer. And Elizabeth ..." he trailed off.
"She's your girl, mate." Jack said airily. "Not to be questioning your honesty, man, but I think you'd better inform her before you anchor your ship off a point of scarce return and go in all on twosies, savvy?"
I heard someone sigh. "This is why we cant be friends." Will said, "I have absolutely no idea what you just said."
"Swings both ways mate," Jack commented, "sometimes I cant make bloody head or tail of you."
They were silent for a moment.
Then Will spoke. "What of Miss Land? Can she make it at Oscuridad?"
"Morgan?" Jack said, "Morgan is consciously naïve. She's aristocracy, savvy?"
I clenched my fists. Consciously naïve? Who does he think he is?
That's when I made up my mind.
I'm going.
Jack and Will are leaving by rower tomorrow and I'm following. I'll be dammed if I wait on some blacksmith-turned-pirate's ship and let Sparrow call me an aristocrat.
I'm more than that.