^_^ I'm glad someone people reviewed! I hope you like this chapter!

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(_)-AN

"_"-Speaking

'_'-Thoughts

~_~-scene change

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A Pirate's Life for me

Part 12- Riding the Waves

Jack took his last look at Port Royal. The men onboard the ship was taking in his small amount of luggage. Jack only brought three suitcases. They held his most prized possessions. His bandanna, Anamaria's note and a Book about the ocean.

Jack sighed and walked onboard the Ship. It was called 'The HMS Gate'. It was a rather nice size ship. Not at the galleon size, of course, but it was something to look at. Jack walked up the plank and onto the Ship. He was wearing a fine set of clothes that were meant to impress. His hair was tied back and his posture was straight. The air around him seemed to scream high class.

He felt the ship tug as it raised anchor and set sail. He stood near the railing, looking over at the docks. He scanned the small crowd, trying to find Anamaria or Miss. Sparrow. He searched and searched. Neither of them was found among the crowd. He looked down at the ocean. His last day there and his two friends weren't even there to see him off? What kind of cruel joke was this? Maybe it was too painful to see him off. That could be it.

"JACK!" A voice yelled. Jack's head turned up to look at the docks. Anamaria was standing there, with Miss. Sparrow running to catch up behind her.

They both waved to him. The ship was already pulling out. Jack could barely make out their voices.

"Good bye!" Anamaria shouted.

"Be good!" Miss. Sparrow shouted. He could swear he saw her wink.

He put on a happy face, for their sake at least. He waved back at them. His hand, slowing dropping as they became blurs on the horizon. Jack gave a pitiful sigh. He was going to miss them more then anything else.

"Stir to the east! We must be aware of the rocks!" The Captain shouted. He was a high ranking Officer of the law. He stood by the helm, directing everyone on the ship.

Jack walked down the steps into the below decks. This was the one time he really couldn't enjoy being on a ship. What good was being on a ship if it was taking you away from your friends?

He sighed and walked into his personal room. He looked around. It wasn't fancy. It was cleaner then the other cabins onboard the ship, that was for sure. Jack spotted his suit case by the bed. He walked over to it and opened it up. He re-read Anamaria's letter. She said she wasn't going to be there... Jack smiled. He was glad she came to see him off though.

Jack pulled out his hair tie and put it in his suit case. He took off his expensive jacket and set it inside the case. He had been wearing 'normal' clothes under it. He got up and went back on the top deck.

A few crew members stopped at what they were doing to look at their changed companion. They all probably thought he was another stuck up high classed boy. They were in for a shock.

"Mr. Kapural. May I inquire as to way you are wearing peasant clothes?" The Captain asked.

Jack turned around. "It's Jack for one thing. And second, I'm not going to be a prissy like high-classed boy. I want to work on the ship."

"Work?" The Captain repeated, not really understanding. Then.. it slowly dawned on him. The crew was watching and waiting to see the answer Jack received for this sudden note. "Very well. You will work, if that's what you wish. You can start by scrubbing the decks."

"Aye, sir." Jack said with a smile. He quickly went to get the mop and bucket.

After an hour of scrubbing every inch of the top deck, Jack went below deck. He started washing the floors below and cleaned some of the messy rooms.

Then, the dinner bell rang. Jack scampered to the gallery. He quietly sat down with the crew. Some of the crew gave him strange looks.

"I want to ask yer somethin' lad." One crew member asked.

"Go ahead." Jack said, nodding to the man. Everyone was listening.

"Why did ya want ter work with us?" He questioned.

Jack smiled proudly. "It's in my blood." That was his only answer. He wouldn't give them anymore then that.

That seemed to be good enough for them. Well, most of them. Some of them sneered at Jack and kept their voices raised just high enough for Jack to hear. They would talk about how sore Jack would feel and bet on how long he would last till he begged to go back to being a 'prince' on the ship.

Jack frowned as he continued eating. The food was good. Well, compared to what he would eat onboard 'Princess Pearl' it was. His home food was much more filling and tasteful. But, that was to be expected. he was, after all on ship.

He didn't mind the food. That wasn't what was bothering him. He had a nagging feeling like something awful was about to happen.

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Later that night

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"Storm's on our bowls! She's pushing us far to the north!" A shout rose above the night storm.

Jack was holding onto the ropes for dear life! Tide waves kept washing onto the deck, kicking his feet from under him. This was the first storm he even encountered. It was terrifying! It was dangerous! It was fun as all hell to Jack!

His hands kept loosing their grip on the ropes. He tried to tie down the for-mast rope, but it kept slipping from his grip. He clenched his teeth and tried over and over again, never giving up. The water washed over him as he continued to struggle with the rope.

He finally got it into a secure knot, and went on to another loose rope. He heard the sails being dropped and the order for the anchor to be weighed. His vision was limited due to the amount of water spraying onto the ship and the lack of light.

He was shivering from the cold water and the crisp, and whipping cold wind that blew at his face. It made the rain come hard and fast, stinging as it hit his under sheltered skin. He squinted his eyes, trying to find another line. He could feel that nagging feeling again that he should be holding onto something pretty soon. He reached out blinding and held onto a line just as another tidal wave crashed over the top deck. It knocked him off his feet, sending him crashing into the deck. His hand never lost its grip though.

He held onto it with all his might and the wave pasted. But not before a cracking sound split through the storm. He watched as the bow of the ship split like a twig from the ship. The lines were still attached. It would make the bow crash into the side of the ship and probably make a hole in the keel.

Jack pushed himself up and ran over to the for-deck, slipping a few times on the deck as he went. He grabbed a line. "I need a knife! Or a dagger!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

A crew member went over and brought out his dagger. He cut the line between Jack's hands. The first one was cut. That was a good sign. Only four more to go.

Jack reached out wildly into the storm, trying to find the next line. The Captain shouted over the storm.

"Mr. Gillin! Cut the lines!! The Bow will strike the haul if you do not reach it soon!" He shouted.

This was more desperate then Jack originally thought. He narrowed his eyes. If he was going down, then he would go down saving this ship. He climbed onto the small ledge that was left of the bow. He jumped, reaching upwards. His hands caught the line. He held onto it. It was his life line. The only thing that would stop him from dying.

He swung his legs, wrapping his feet onto the railing of the ship. "Cut the line!" Jack shouted.

"You're crazy Lad!" Mr. Gillin shouted. But, he did as Jack said. He cut the line. Jack felt the line snap and he started falling. Well, part of him did. His legs were wrapped around the railing. He wasn't going anywhere right now. But that could easily change with a single strong wave.

Jack pulled himself up and reached out again. He felt another line. "I found it!"

Mr. Gillin reached out, feeling Jack's arm. He used that as a guide to find the line. He cut it as soon as he felt the rope.

"Only two more Lad!" Mr. Gillin shouted over the storm.

Another wave crashed into the ship. Jack could feel water enter his lungs before he could do anything about it. He coughed violently, trying to get it out. His legs suddenly felt a little weaker.

"Come on lad! Don't give out on me now!" Mr. Gillin said, reaching out a hand and holding Jack still, till he was done coughing.

Jack nodded, before continuing his task. He reached out again, trying to find another line. He felt it. It was just out of his reach! "I can't reach it!"

"Take the dagger! Try to cut part of it! The waves will do the rest." Mr. Gillin said. He held out the dagger for Jack.

Jack took it quickly, and started to work on the line. The water made it almost impossible to cut! The blade kept slipping from the line and nearly out of his hands.

Jack clenched his teeth together, and made a last minute jab with the dagger, right onto the line. It cut away.

"It's cut!" Jack shouted over the storm. Jack held out his arm, trying to find the last one.

'Only one more! Come on! I can do it!' Jack thought to himself. He could hear the sound of a line being taught. He followed where he heard it and quickly reached out. He got hold of the line.

"I got the last one!" Jack shouted happily. Then, a tidal wave crashed into the ship. It yanked the line, pulling Jack off the ship completely. He held onto the line with one hand, slipping do to the wave crashing into him. He slipped all the way down into the water, still holding tight onto the line.

His legs hit something. He looked down in surprise. It was the bow. The water was close to him now. He was going to be pulled under in a few seconds. Jack held his breath as another wave hit his body.

He slipped further down, going under water. He put his legs on the bow, standing up in the water. He cut the line a little below his hand that was holding onto the line. He quickly cut it away, then dropped the dagger.

He didn't need anything weighting him down right now. Even that little dagger. He pulled himself up. He wrapped his legs around the line, climbing up it like he would a line tied to the mast to get to the crow's nest. He could see Mr. Gillin standing at the railing, holding out a hand.

Jack took a breath of air, before another wave crashed into the ship. Lightening struck near where Jack was. It made Jack pause, staring at it. He couldn't believe how fast it went! And how deadly it was.

"Come on Lad!" Shouted Mr. Gillin.

Jack looked up getting himself back in the game. He started climbing again. Mr. Gillin reached out a hand. Jack reached up for him. Their finger tips met. Another wave crashed into the ship.

Jack couldn't find his hold and fell off the line, sinking into the dark ocean, hearing a distant shout from Mr. Gillin above.

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Sorry for the cliffy. I didn't mean for it to happen like that. I hope you can forgive me for this. ^_^ Review or Jack will be lost to the sharks! Just kidding.. please put down the sharp objects…