Chapter 4
Jack led Faith back to his cabin. He opened the door for her and let her enter first, trying to be a gentleman. Faith walked in to see Abbi sitting at Jack's desk, which was covered with maps, atlases, and of course his famous compass and pistol. Abbi looked bored until she saw Faith. "What was that all about?"
"Just scared o' the terrifyin' stories she's 'eard about me," Jack said with a smug expression plastered onto his face.
Abbi just chuckled. Jack glared at her. "Oh, come off it, Captain. You may be a pirate but..."
Jack moved so close to her that Abbi could smell the rum on his breath. "Shhh! She still thinks I'm terrifyin'! I wanna make a lasting impression."
Abbi's smile only widened. "Whatever you say, Captain. I suppose you can live your fantasy for a little bit longer."
Jack glared, but did a funny little bow, turning around and then straightening as he faced Faith. He looked down at her while still managing to keep his chin pointing up. He paced the floor comically and Faith, who was now sitting on Jack's bed, had to stifle a laugh.
During their conversation, Faith could not help but notice how casual and carefree Abbi was around Jack. She noticed that there was a certain lack of respect between them, but in a good way. The only thing was that Abbi always called him Captain. However, even thought she noticed those things, she also noticed that they seemed to have a special bond... as if they had been best friends all their lives.
Jack snapped his finger in front of Faith's eyes bringing her back to reality. "Sorry," she muttered. "I was just lost in thought."
Jack grunted. "It must have been unfamiliar territory," he mumbled under his breath. Faith's expression changed from contrite to angry within a moment. Abbi glared daggers at him as if to say, 'Cut her a break – she's new at this." Jack turned back to Faith and pulled up a chair opposite her. Faith glared at him. "So tell me, love," he began, ignoring her guarded look. "'Ow'd you get 'ere?"
Faith told Jack almost exactly what she had told Abbi in her cabin. Jack nodded when she finished, then asked, "Are you will to work on this ship if I let you stay?"
"Oh yes! Please let me stay! I'd much rather be a piratess than go back to my wretched father and my wretched fiancée' in Port Royal!"
Jack stood up and began his pacing again. "Then it's settled. You can stay with Abbi and get a share of the plunder if you are able to earn your keep." Jack moved toward her. He got down at eye level and moved his face uncomfortably close to hers. She stared into his deep brown eyes, not sure what to expect. "But understand this." Faith jolted backward when she caught a whiff of his breath. She fanned the air in front of her face, but Jack only ignored her. "I am your captain and you will do my bidding. Savvy?"
Faith smiled despite the stench that still hovered in the air about her face. Jack held out his hand and she took it. "Savvy."
"Wonderful!" Jack said suddenly, standing up and turning to face Abbi. "I have many more questions for you, Faith, but they'll just have to wait until tomorrow. I can see that you are exhausted and need your rest. It'll be a long day tomorrow, mate," Jack said over his shoulder. "Now, Abbi, prepare a bed for our new crewmember and see that she's settled in your cabin. That's an order," he hastily added, obviously trying to impress his newest sailorette. He took a glance to see her reaction, but Faith was only yawning.
Abbi rolled her eyes. "We're big girls, Jack. We can take care of ourselves." Before Jack could say anything, Abbi and Faith were out on deck and the door was closing.
When they got to Abbi's cabin, Faith crawled into the makeshift bed, not even bothering to change out of her dress. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was already fast asleep.
*
Abbi woke Faith before dawn the next day. "Come on, Lazybones. It's time to start the breakfast.
Faith groaned, but rolled over and fell out of the bed. She stood shakily and tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes. As the webs began to clear, Faith realized just how grimy her dress had become. Abbi beckoned Faith to the door and started to leave. "Abbi!" Faith called hoarsely.
Abbi turned around. "Yes?" she prompted.
Faith held out her skirts to reveal the nastiness and looked up at Abbi pleadingly.
"I see." Abbi smiled. She went to the closet. "I have some things in here. How about this?"
Faith gaped at the man's outfit Abbi had pulled out of the closet. She gained control of herself and shook her head. She strode over to the closet and pulled out one of her old plainer dresses. Abbi looked at her questioningly. "This was mine before you took it. I intend to keep it!" Faith explained even as she closed the closet door.
Abbi nodded, pursing her lips impatiently. Faith waited expectantly. "I'll meet you outside then, mate," Abbi grunted as she walked out the door.
Faith changed as quickly as she could and went out to meet Abbi. They walked silently into the kitchen and Faith was given the grand tour before they began the breakfast. It wasn't long before the pirates began filing in to get their food. Faith gave herself the task of serving it as they walked by with their dishes.
The first pirate she served thanked her by saying something very rude and called her 'darling.' She didn't say anything about it, but her face grew red and her jaw was clenched. Pirate after pirate made her angrier and angrier.
As the last of them came in, a pirate said something crude, just like the others. The last man in the line leaned forward to look down the line and identify the offender. "Keep your insolent tongue inside of your head, Scarsdale. She not just some no-account wench! The captain said she's stayin', so show a little respect!"
Scarsdale glared at him but said nothing more as he walked away with his breakfast. Faith looked at her defender appreciatively and he was rewarded with a smile. He ducked his head shyly and refused to look her in the eyes, but it didn't change Faith's gratitude.
It didn't take long for the men to finish. They dropped their dishes off at the serving table and left noisily, all of them vying to get another glance at the fiery newcomer. The moment the last pirate had exited, the irate Faith started to rant.
"Did you hear the things those bloody scoundrels were saying to me?! Those blasted, wretched, bloody pirates wouldn't know respect if it bit them on the nose!"
"You have to give them a reason to respect you. They all respect me because they know that if the don't they'll get shot. You're on a pirate ship in a dress; you can't expect too much from them," Abbi said as she began transporting the dishes to a large tub behind the serving table.
"Well, at least there was the one man. He was the last one in the line, and he put them in their place."
"Thomas? Aye, he's a gentleman, but his reprimands never keep the crew at bay for long. He can't defend you all the time. He's a bit on the quiet side, so I don't know much about him, but he seems a good lad."
Faith was silent as she pondered the statement. Wasn't Will always talking about Jack being a pirate and a good man? Was this Thomas the same was?
Abbi broke into her reverie. "I'm going to need some water for the dishes. There are some barrels up top that have some in it." Faith nodded and started to leave, working to calm herself down. "Oh, and Jack says you're to meet him in his cabin after breakfast."
"I thought he'd want to know more. What fun." Faith smiled at Abbi, but she was obviously preoccupied with other thoughts.
Abbi stood for a moment before reminding Faith about the water. Faith moved quickly out the door and Abbi soon followed to go to the stores for lye and scrub brushes. She shook her head thoughtfully. She'd learn. Faith would definitely learn.
~*~
What do ya'll think? Like? Hate? Let us know! We can't get better if you don't tell us what's wrong, but please, no flames. That's not what reviews are for.
fadingimage: hope you enjoyed this! This chapter was dedicated to you- you have given us hope when NOBODY else reviewed! THANKS!
Pirate'sRedWinter: We didn't forget about you either! Thank you so much for your review! It's kinda scary how much you and Abbi are similar in looks, but hey- it was bound to happen sooner or later! Hope you keep reading & reviewing!
Thank you to all of our readers who didn't review, but we would love you more if you did (hint hint nudge nudge)!
Happy trails!
~Ary & Joey~
Jack led Faith back to his cabin. He opened the door for her and let her enter first, trying to be a gentleman. Faith walked in to see Abbi sitting at Jack's desk, which was covered with maps, atlases, and of course his famous compass and pistol. Abbi looked bored until she saw Faith. "What was that all about?"
"Just scared o' the terrifyin' stories she's 'eard about me," Jack said with a smug expression plastered onto his face.
Abbi just chuckled. Jack glared at her. "Oh, come off it, Captain. You may be a pirate but..."
Jack moved so close to her that Abbi could smell the rum on his breath. "Shhh! She still thinks I'm terrifyin'! I wanna make a lasting impression."
Abbi's smile only widened. "Whatever you say, Captain. I suppose you can live your fantasy for a little bit longer."
Jack glared, but did a funny little bow, turning around and then straightening as he faced Faith. He looked down at her while still managing to keep his chin pointing up. He paced the floor comically and Faith, who was now sitting on Jack's bed, had to stifle a laugh.
During their conversation, Faith could not help but notice how casual and carefree Abbi was around Jack. She noticed that there was a certain lack of respect between them, but in a good way. The only thing was that Abbi always called him Captain. However, even thought she noticed those things, she also noticed that they seemed to have a special bond... as if they had been best friends all their lives.
Jack snapped his finger in front of Faith's eyes bringing her back to reality. "Sorry," she muttered. "I was just lost in thought."
Jack grunted. "It must have been unfamiliar territory," he mumbled under his breath. Faith's expression changed from contrite to angry within a moment. Abbi glared daggers at him as if to say, 'Cut her a break – she's new at this." Jack turned back to Faith and pulled up a chair opposite her. Faith glared at him. "So tell me, love," he began, ignoring her guarded look. "'Ow'd you get 'ere?"
Faith told Jack almost exactly what she had told Abbi in her cabin. Jack nodded when she finished, then asked, "Are you will to work on this ship if I let you stay?"
"Oh yes! Please let me stay! I'd much rather be a piratess than go back to my wretched father and my wretched fiancée' in Port Royal!"
Jack stood up and began his pacing again. "Then it's settled. You can stay with Abbi and get a share of the plunder if you are able to earn your keep." Jack moved toward her. He got down at eye level and moved his face uncomfortably close to hers. She stared into his deep brown eyes, not sure what to expect. "But understand this." Faith jolted backward when she caught a whiff of his breath. She fanned the air in front of her face, but Jack only ignored her. "I am your captain and you will do my bidding. Savvy?"
Faith smiled despite the stench that still hovered in the air about her face. Jack held out his hand and she took it. "Savvy."
"Wonderful!" Jack said suddenly, standing up and turning to face Abbi. "I have many more questions for you, Faith, but they'll just have to wait until tomorrow. I can see that you are exhausted and need your rest. It'll be a long day tomorrow, mate," Jack said over his shoulder. "Now, Abbi, prepare a bed for our new crewmember and see that she's settled in your cabin. That's an order," he hastily added, obviously trying to impress his newest sailorette. He took a glance to see her reaction, but Faith was only yawning.
Abbi rolled her eyes. "We're big girls, Jack. We can take care of ourselves." Before Jack could say anything, Abbi and Faith were out on deck and the door was closing.
When they got to Abbi's cabin, Faith crawled into the makeshift bed, not even bothering to change out of her dress. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was already fast asleep.
*
Abbi woke Faith before dawn the next day. "Come on, Lazybones. It's time to start the breakfast.
Faith groaned, but rolled over and fell out of the bed. She stood shakily and tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes. As the webs began to clear, Faith realized just how grimy her dress had become. Abbi beckoned Faith to the door and started to leave. "Abbi!" Faith called hoarsely.
Abbi turned around. "Yes?" she prompted.
Faith held out her skirts to reveal the nastiness and looked up at Abbi pleadingly.
"I see." Abbi smiled. She went to the closet. "I have some things in here. How about this?"
Faith gaped at the man's outfit Abbi had pulled out of the closet. She gained control of herself and shook her head. She strode over to the closet and pulled out one of her old plainer dresses. Abbi looked at her questioningly. "This was mine before you took it. I intend to keep it!" Faith explained even as she closed the closet door.
Abbi nodded, pursing her lips impatiently. Faith waited expectantly. "I'll meet you outside then, mate," Abbi grunted as she walked out the door.
Faith changed as quickly as she could and went out to meet Abbi. They walked silently into the kitchen and Faith was given the grand tour before they began the breakfast. It wasn't long before the pirates began filing in to get their food. Faith gave herself the task of serving it as they walked by with their dishes.
The first pirate she served thanked her by saying something very rude and called her 'darling.' She didn't say anything about it, but her face grew red and her jaw was clenched. Pirate after pirate made her angrier and angrier.
As the last of them came in, a pirate said something crude, just like the others. The last man in the line leaned forward to look down the line and identify the offender. "Keep your insolent tongue inside of your head, Scarsdale. She not just some no-account wench! The captain said she's stayin', so show a little respect!"
Scarsdale glared at him but said nothing more as he walked away with his breakfast. Faith looked at her defender appreciatively and he was rewarded with a smile. He ducked his head shyly and refused to look her in the eyes, but it didn't change Faith's gratitude.
It didn't take long for the men to finish. They dropped their dishes off at the serving table and left noisily, all of them vying to get another glance at the fiery newcomer. The moment the last pirate had exited, the irate Faith started to rant.
"Did you hear the things those bloody scoundrels were saying to me?! Those blasted, wretched, bloody pirates wouldn't know respect if it bit them on the nose!"
"You have to give them a reason to respect you. They all respect me because they know that if the don't they'll get shot. You're on a pirate ship in a dress; you can't expect too much from them," Abbi said as she began transporting the dishes to a large tub behind the serving table.
"Well, at least there was the one man. He was the last one in the line, and he put them in their place."
"Thomas? Aye, he's a gentleman, but his reprimands never keep the crew at bay for long. He can't defend you all the time. He's a bit on the quiet side, so I don't know much about him, but he seems a good lad."
Faith was silent as she pondered the statement. Wasn't Will always talking about Jack being a pirate and a good man? Was this Thomas the same was?
Abbi broke into her reverie. "I'm going to need some water for the dishes. There are some barrels up top that have some in it." Faith nodded and started to leave, working to calm herself down. "Oh, and Jack says you're to meet him in his cabin after breakfast."
"I thought he'd want to know more. What fun." Faith smiled at Abbi, but she was obviously preoccupied with other thoughts.
Abbi stood for a moment before reminding Faith about the water. Faith moved quickly out the door and Abbi soon followed to go to the stores for lye and scrub brushes. She shook her head thoughtfully. She'd learn. Faith would definitely learn.
~*~
What do ya'll think? Like? Hate? Let us know! We can't get better if you don't tell us what's wrong, but please, no flames. That's not what reviews are for.
fadingimage: hope you enjoyed this! This chapter was dedicated to you- you have given us hope when NOBODY else reviewed! THANKS!
Pirate'sRedWinter: We didn't forget about you either! Thank you so much for your review! It's kinda scary how much you and Abbi are similar in looks, but hey- it was bound to happen sooner or later! Hope you keep reading & reviewing!
Thank you to all of our readers who didn't review, but we would love you more if you did (hint hint nudge nudge)!
Happy trails!
~Ary & Joey~