Chapter Five~ Friends
Jack heard slow footsteps on the deck behind him.
"G' morning," he said pleasantly. He was in a very good mood. New adventures always had that effect on him.
"Morning," answered Will's gloomy voice.
"What's a matter?" asked Jack. Will sighed. Jack wouldn't know anything about his problem... if a woman was mad at him he just forgot all about her and found another one.
"Nothing."
"Ah, whatever. Really, what is it?"
"It's just... well, Elizabeth thinks I'm being stupid and selfish to agree to come with you. She's furious."
"See, lad, that's the trouble with women. They're nice for a while, but once they've got ye snared into a marriage, ye can't do nothin' that'll please 'em."
"Jack, it's not like that! She's wonderful most of the time... she gave up her whole rich, luxurious lifelstyle just to marry me. I just wonder if she might be right. You knew my father... will he want to see me?"
"Aye, I knew your father, and beleive me, it's likely as not that he's trying to find you 'imself. He'll be just thrilled do see you. And if Elizabeth don't like the arrangements, she can hop in a rowboat and go back to her rich Pappy, can't she?"
"No! Jack, I... I should've known you'd be like this. It's no use trying to make you understand. We don't hate each other, it's just... never mind. There's nothing you can do." Will turned and began to walk away.
"Hey, now don't be all downhearted. She'll get over it, you watch. Don't worry yourself about it too much... it'll just encourage her."
"What do you know? If a woman gets mad at you, she slaps you and you move on to a new one. For me it's not like that. Oh... also... she said Anamaria kept looking at me... was she? I didn't notice."
"I don't doubt she was. But Anamaria's head over heels for me and she knows it. Tell Elizabeth that." Jack chuckled softly.
"Fine." Will leaned on the ship's rail and breathed in the salty spray. He had never really realized how beautiful the ocean was.
"Pretty, isn't she?" asked Jack. For a moment Will thought he was talking about Elizabeth, but when he looked at the captain he was staring into the sunrise with his head tilted to the side.
"Yes. I almost wish I had been a sailor. Better than smithing, anyway. But then I'd never be home with Elizabeth."
"You really are in love with her, aren't you? I tell ye, if you had been a sailor, ye could have brought her with ye. So long as the rest of the crew weren't too superstitious. She pines for adventure."
"What?"
"You haven't seen it? Every time that girl looks at the sea, she gets a longing sort of look in her eyes. She wants to have an exciting life. Ever since the whole business with Barbossa she's wanted more action. She was a decent fighter, too. Would've made a good pirate."
Will laughed for the first time that day. "Pirate? Jack, you should have heard her this morning! She was screeching like mad about how awful you are."
"That just showes how jealous she is of me," said Jack, smiling. "Besides, that's not got anything to do with it. You would've made a fine pirate yourself, but you hated us more than she did."
"I'm different now. I know better... it's possible to be a pirate and a good man... I can accept it now."
Jack laughed out loud. "You've got an amazing memory, boy. Now, trot along back to Miss Swann and apologize to her, but go on and mention how exciting and thrilling this venture is likely to be. For it is, you know. All the men on Barbossa's crew had lots of enemies. People who they'd given the gold to, and lots of others who they were just plain cruel to. No one'll stop to hear Bootstrap's story... they'll just try to slit his throat. Likely he's come up with a fake name, to be safer. But once we start asking about him, all his old enemies will hear that we're searching for the last living member of Barbossa's crew. And then the'll start searching too, but for different reasons."
Well nodded. "Alright. I'll tell her. But can you act a bit less... you know... rougish? And tell Anamaria to keep her eyes to herself?"
"Course I will. You just settle things with your lady, I'll settle them with mine."
"Good. Well, I'll go take care of that now, then." He stopped halfway across the deck and turned back for a moment. "Thank you."
"Thank me? For what? I haven't found your father yet, laddie, and there's a fair chance that we won't be able to."
"No, I just meant thank you for talking with me... like a friend."
"Friend? What do you mean- I mean, yes. Yes, Will, you're welcome." Jack watched Will dissapear into his cabin with a look of mingled suprise and pleasure on his face. Who'd a thought of that... Will thought they were friends. They'd saved each other's lives a couple of times each, but friends? Well, thought Jack, maybe they were. Hmm. He decided he liked the idea.

~I know this is getting very boring. Sorry. Next chapter will have something exciting. Just not sure what yet. Still, why should you get all the surprises?~