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Chapter 7: Acquaintances and Making Amends
Faith leaned against the railing of the ship, looking out over the endless ocean. She was glad she'd finally managed to get a moment alone after all the excitement of her first day on board. She'd left Abbi to serve the dinner and come up here to reflect.
She let the breeze caress her face as she listened to the somewhat muted sounds of the crew eating down below. She was due to be in Abbi's cabin when they came back to work, but she was not going to pass up this opportunity. She put a hand to her mouth and yawned widely.
"The fearsome piratess a little tired?" said a soft voice from just behind her. She started a little as Thomas came around to her side.
Nevertheless, she smiled at him. "Is that so awful?"
Thomas chuckled a little, looking out at the horizon. "It can be. Just be sure you get back to Abbi's cabin before you fall asleep. Captain Sparrow told the crew you weren't for touching, but I don't think many of them care."
Faith nodded and surveyed his profile. He was quite handsome for a pirate: clean-shaven, short brown hair, wonderful deep brown eyes which were both expressive and mysterious... Faith, realizing what she was doing, looked away and shook herself mentally. 'He's a pirate!' Faith reminded herself. 'Don't forget that!'
"That was very brave – what you did today with Scarsdale," Thomas said, turning to lean casually on the rail and face her.
"It needed to be done," Faith said simply, not sure she liked this subject.
Thomas smiled a little. "But that doesn't change the fact that you were scared to death. I'll wager you still are."
Faith gaped at him for a moment. Was she really that transparent? Then her mouth closed in obstinance. "I wasn't afraid. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!"
"I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself. What I doubt is whether or not you could actually kill someone if they ignored your warning."
"Well, hopefully you won't get the chance to find out," Faith said, smiling but not really answering.
Thomas nodded cheerfully, knowing Faith had closed the subject. Faith yawned again. "Maybe you should head to Abbi's cabin," he suggested with a small laugh.
Faith smiled again, something she found she did often around Thomas, and said good night. She went to the cabin and found it empty. She hoped that the long days of cooking and washing would get easier to bear with time.
Faith climbed into her makeshift bed and pulled the covers close around her. She was asleep before she could blink.
*
Abbi stood at the helm later that night while everyone else was at dinner. She knew that Faith had already gone to bed, so she had just left the crew to fend for themselves as far as the dishes went. It was Abbi's job to steer the ship while everyone else was occupied. She took her hair out of its loose ponytail and let the wind comb through it for a change. She was finally alone, ready to sort out her thoughts. What Jack had said to her earlier was certainly disturbing, and it had been nagging her all day. Of course, whenever she was around Jack, she always felt a little nervous – afraid of the next crazy whim he might act on. She couldn't help but smile at all the times she had thought they were doomed because of him and how during most of those times, Jack was so drunk he could barely see straight. She wondered how on earth Jack ever got the title of Captain. It was then that she remembered how Jack got them out of every situation, no matter how bad things seemed to get.
'Yes,' she thought, 'Jack may be a good man and pirate. He may be cunning and clever, but he is so arrogant and pompous at times that it makes me sick! Sometimes I wonder how this ship doesn't sink with his big head weighing it down.' Abbi chuckled at her own unvoiced joke when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"It's good to see you smiling again." Abbi turned around to see Jack leaning against the railing of the ship. Her manner became instantly icy, no traces of a smile left on her face. She turned back to the helm, choosing to ignore the idiot's presence. Jack gave a deep thoughtful sigh before asking, "Yer still givin' me the silent treatment, eh?"
"Abbi turned to look at Jack and put her index finger to the tip of her nose, obviously saying he was right. Jack moved in front of the ship's wheel, impairing her vision of where they were going. She averted her gaze and looked around him. Jack adjusted and once again blocked her view. Abbi tried again. This cycle went on for about a minute before Abbi lost it. "Move Jack, or I'll send you to Davy Jones' Locker!"
Jack brought his face close to hers and said, "You and what army?"
Abbi had had enough. She gritted her teeth as she made her right hand into a fist by her side. She brought it up, and it hit Jack's face and connected with the side of Jack's jaw. Jack fell back at the force of Abbi's punch, and Abbi had a smug and triumphant grin on her face. "Like I need an army! I've been waiting to do that all day," Abbi said, feeling much better than she had all day.
"I might've deserved that," Jack said, getting to his feet and rubbing his cheek.
"Oh, believe me, you deserved it!" Abbi said bitterly.
Jack glared at her. "I actually came up here to apologize..." Jack began.
Abbi was quick to cut him off. "Oh, well you're doing a marvelous job of it, I assure you..." she said, her voice dripping with angry sarcasm.
"WILL YOU LET ME FINISH WOMAN?" Jack yelled, letting his frustration get the better of him.
Abbi was so taken aback by Jack's sudden outburst that she jumped in surprise. She kept a stern face, however, and looked him in the eyes. She sighed heavily. "I'm listening," she said sincerely, crossing her arms and waiting.
"Thank you," Jack said, his voice now calm and quiet. "I just wanted to say... that... I'm sorry. I had no right to say to you what I did. I wouldn't let the crew get away with saying something like that to you, so why should I get special treatment because I'm the Captain?" Abbi raised an eyebrow. That statement was totally backwards coming from Jack. He chanced a look at her, and Abbi smiled, albeit reluctantly, in appreciation. "I guess I did it just to make you angry," Jack added as his own mouth quirked into a smile. "You're a lot of fun to mess with, I suppose."
Abbi chuckled lightly, feeling as though a ton had just been lifted from her shoulders. "I guess I am fun to poke and prod at, huh?" Jack smiled widely in reply. Abbi returned the gesture.
"Well, you better go eat before that other lass starts to clean up. I can take it from here," Jack said as he grabbed the wheel from Abbi.
"Thank you, Jack," Abbi said, deciding not to tell him that Faith was already asleep. She patted him on the back and headed down below.
Jack waited until Abbi was out of earshot to go back to rubbing the place where Abbi had decked him earlier. "Oy!" he sighed. "That lass is gonna be the death of me!"
~*~
Well, hope all of you liked it. There's more romance to come- we promise!
Pirate'sRedWinter: Will Jack and Abbi get together?!?!?!? Maybe... keep reading to find out!
We really hope to get more reviews from all y'all out there! PLEASE? Thanks in advance!
~Ary and Joey~
Chapter 7: Acquaintances and Making Amends
Faith leaned against the railing of the ship, looking out over the endless ocean. She was glad she'd finally managed to get a moment alone after all the excitement of her first day on board. She'd left Abbi to serve the dinner and come up here to reflect.
She let the breeze caress her face as she listened to the somewhat muted sounds of the crew eating down below. She was due to be in Abbi's cabin when they came back to work, but she was not going to pass up this opportunity. She put a hand to her mouth and yawned widely.
"The fearsome piratess a little tired?" said a soft voice from just behind her. She started a little as Thomas came around to her side.
Nevertheless, she smiled at him. "Is that so awful?"
Thomas chuckled a little, looking out at the horizon. "It can be. Just be sure you get back to Abbi's cabin before you fall asleep. Captain Sparrow told the crew you weren't for touching, but I don't think many of them care."
Faith nodded and surveyed his profile. He was quite handsome for a pirate: clean-shaven, short brown hair, wonderful deep brown eyes which were both expressive and mysterious... Faith, realizing what she was doing, looked away and shook herself mentally. 'He's a pirate!' Faith reminded herself. 'Don't forget that!'
"That was very brave – what you did today with Scarsdale," Thomas said, turning to lean casually on the rail and face her.
"It needed to be done," Faith said simply, not sure she liked this subject.
Thomas smiled a little. "But that doesn't change the fact that you were scared to death. I'll wager you still are."
Faith gaped at him for a moment. Was she really that transparent? Then her mouth closed in obstinance. "I wasn't afraid. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!"
"I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself. What I doubt is whether or not you could actually kill someone if they ignored your warning."
"Well, hopefully you won't get the chance to find out," Faith said, smiling but not really answering.
Thomas nodded cheerfully, knowing Faith had closed the subject. Faith yawned again. "Maybe you should head to Abbi's cabin," he suggested with a small laugh.
Faith smiled again, something she found she did often around Thomas, and said good night. She went to the cabin and found it empty. She hoped that the long days of cooking and washing would get easier to bear with time.
Faith climbed into her makeshift bed and pulled the covers close around her. She was asleep before she could blink.
*
Abbi stood at the helm later that night while everyone else was at dinner. She knew that Faith had already gone to bed, so she had just left the crew to fend for themselves as far as the dishes went. It was Abbi's job to steer the ship while everyone else was occupied. She took her hair out of its loose ponytail and let the wind comb through it for a change. She was finally alone, ready to sort out her thoughts. What Jack had said to her earlier was certainly disturbing, and it had been nagging her all day. Of course, whenever she was around Jack, she always felt a little nervous – afraid of the next crazy whim he might act on. She couldn't help but smile at all the times she had thought they were doomed because of him and how during most of those times, Jack was so drunk he could barely see straight. She wondered how on earth Jack ever got the title of Captain. It was then that she remembered how Jack got them out of every situation, no matter how bad things seemed to get.
'Yes,' she thought, 'Jack may be a good man and pirate. He may be cunning and clever, but he is so arrogant and pompous at times that it makes me sick! Sometimes I wonder how this ship doesn't sink with his big head weighing it down.' Abbi chuckled at her own unvoiced joke when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"It's good to see you smiling again." Abbi turned around to see Jack leaning against the railing of the ship. Her manner became instantly icy, no traces of a smile left on her face. She turned back to the helm, choosing to ignore the idiot's presence. Jack gave a deep thoughtful sigh before asking, "Yer still givin' me the silent treatment, eh?"
"Abbi turned to look at Jack and put her index finger to the tip of her nose, obviously saying he was right. Jack moved in front of the ship's wheel, impairing her vision of where they were going. She averted her gaze and looked around him. Jack adjusted and once again blocked her view. Abbi tried again. This cycle went on for about a minute before Abbi lost it. "Move Jack, or I'll send you to Davy Jones' Locker!"
Jack brought his face close to hers and said, "You and what army?"
Abbi had had enough. She gritted her teeth as she made her right hand into a fist by her side. She brought it up, and it hit Jack's face and connected with the side of Jack's jaw. Jack fell back at the force of Abbi's punch, and Abbi had a smug and triumphant grin on her face. "Like I need an army! I've been waiting to do that all day," Abbi said, feeling much better than she had all day.
"I might've deserved that," Jack said, getting to his feet and rubbing his cheek.
"Oh, believe me, you deserved it!" Abbi said bitterly.
Jack glared at her. "I actually came up here to apologize..." Jack began.
Abbi was quick to cut him off. "Oh, well you're doing a marvelous job of it, I assure you..." she said, her voice dripping with angry sarcasm.
"WILL YOU LET ME FINISH WOMAN?" Jack yelled, letting his frustration get the better of him.
Abbi was so taken aback by Jack's sudden outburst that she jumped in surprise. She kept a stern face, however, and looked him in the eyes. She sighed heavily. "I'm listening," she said sincerely, crossing her arms and waiting.
"Thank you," Jack said, his voice now calm and quiet. "I just wanted to say... that... I'm sorry. I had no right to say to you what I did. I wouldn't let the crew get away with saying something like that to you, so why should I get special treatment because I'm the Captain?" Abbi raised an eyebrow. That statement was totally backwards coming from Jack. He chanced a look at her, and Abbi smiled, albeit reluctantly, in appreciation. "I guess I did it just to make you angry," Jack added as his own mouth quirked into a smile. "You're a lot of fun to mess with, I suppose."
Abbi chuckled lightly, feeling as though a ton had just been lifted from her shoulders. "I guess I am fun to poke and prod at, huh?" Jack smiled widely in reply. Abbi returned the gesture.
"Well, you better go eat before that other lass starts to clean up. I can take it from here," Jack said as he grabbed the wheel from Abbi.
"Thank you, Jack," Abbi said, deciding not to tell him that Faith was already asleep. She patted him on the back and headed down below.
Jack waited until Abbi was out of earshot to go back to rubbing the place where Abbi had decked him earlier. "Oy!" he sighed. "That lass is gonna be the death of me!"
~*~
Well, hope all of you liked it. There's more romance to come- we promise!
Pirate'sRedWinter: Will Jack and Abbi get together?!?!?!? Maybe... keep reading to find out!
We really hope to get more reviews from all y'all out there! PLEASE? Thanks in advance!
~Ary and Joey~