Chapter 24
Allie was adjusting one of the sails when she saw Will climb up over the side of the ship. She grinned and scurried down the rigging. When she hit the deck, she ran and caught up with him.
"How'd it go?" she asked with a grin, certain that she already knew the answer. He didn't respond. Instead, he just brushed past her and headed down the stairs towards his room. Allie stood there, totally confused. After a moment, she realized that Liz hadn't come back with Will. She turned and ran to the side of the ship. Allie looked down and saw Liz struggling up the rope ladder. She reached out a hand and helped haul her friend up. Once Liz was securely on the deck, Allie grinned.
"So, what happened? Details, girl!" Liz just looked at her friend. Her lower lip started to tremble, and she burst into sobs. Allie's eyes widened and she put an arm around her friend. This was not the outcome she expected. "Come on, Liz. Let's go to my cabin. You can tell me everything there." Allie walked the girls to her room, Liz crying the whole time. When they got there, Jack was attending to some business at his desk. He turned when he heard them enter. "Jack, would you please give us a moment?" Jack stood up and walked over to Allie and Liz. He noticed Liz's tear streaked face.
"Is everything alright?"
"I've got it under control. Just let me handle it," Allie answered. Jack looked doubtful but decided to leave anyway.
"Alright, ye know what yer doing." Jack kissed Allie then left to find Will. Allie led Liz to a chair and sat her down. Then Allie handed her a clean handkerchief from her drawer and went to sit on the bed.
They sat there in silence for what seemed forever to Allie, Liz just sat there wiping at the tears still falling from her eyes, not speaking at all. Finally, Allie decided that Liz wasn't going to give any information voluntarily, and that she would have to be the one to talk first to her friend.
"Liz, please tell me what happened out on that island. I thought that Will planned everything perfectly. You should have returned in a state of euphoria, not acting like someone just ran over yer cat." Liz sniffled and stared at her friend with expressionless eyes. There was still no response from her lips. "Liz please! You have to tell me what happened!" Allie almost yelled. Liz looked up with misery now in her eyes.
"He hates me Allie. He never wants to see me again. He hates me," Liz said just above a whisper. Allie was very confused.
"Who hates you? Will? That's impossible! That boy would do anything for you. He loves you." Allie walked over to Liz's side. More tears slid down Liz's cheeks.
"Not anymore." Allie grabbed her friend's hand.
"Liz, what happened?" Allie asked gently now. Liz looked up at her friend.
"I told him." Allie was confused.
"Told him what?"
"Everything." Liz continued by telling Allie everything that had happened that morning.
"Will, I love you. But there is something I have to tell you." Will looked confused and a little scared. She was supposed to answer him positively with no hesitation.
"I hope it's yes," he said feebly.
"Will, seriously--there's something you need to know about me first." Liz looked him right in the eyes. "But first, I want you to promise me that you will not interrupt me." Will nodded slowly.
"You have my word, Princess." Liz took a deep breath. She knew she had to do this but it was so hard. Liz tried to gather her thoughts. Then she stood up and started pacing back and forth in front of Will. After a few minutes, he stood up as well and captured her by the arms. He looked directly into her eyes.
"What is it, Sweetie?" Liz was still taking deep breaths, like she couldn't get enough air. "Breathe, Princess. It can't be that bad." Liz took a shuddering breath and began.
"Will, I'm not exactly from around here." Will smiled.
"It's alright, Liz. I still want to marry you. I could already tell by your accent you were from America."
"No, I'm not. I mean, well yes, I am. Just not the America that you're used to." Will was puzzled now.
"What do you mean?" Liz placed a finger on his lips, signaling him to be quiet.
"You promised you wouldn't interrupt, remember?" Liz paused, then took another deep breath. "I'mfromthefuture." Will furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Pardon me?"
"I'm from…the future." Liz said slowly this time. Will instantly looked at Liz, waiting for her to carry on. "I was born in the year 1985." Will just stared at Liz in amazement not knowing whether she was making it up or if she was merely insane, but she continued on, ignoring his eyes. "Allie and I don't know why we're here exactly. It's like we fell through time. One minute we were home in Rexburg and the next minute we were on the Pearl. I don't know how it happened--all I know is it did." Liz finally looked at him. "Do you have any questions for me?" Will glared her.
"And what was the date when you 'fell' through time onto our little ship?" he asked sarcastically. Liz answered truthfully.
"January 9, 2004." He was silent. Liz put her hands on Will's face. He shrugged off her touch.
"Don't touch me." Liz was shocked.
"Will," she said breathlessly, trying again to hold him. Once more he shrugged her off.
"You know you are really something." Liz looked at him not knowing what he was talking about. "If you really didn't want to marry me all you had to do was say so. You didn't have to make up some fabricated fairy-tale to turn me down. I'm a man. I can take it, it's not like you were that important to me." he said as a single tear fell down his face. He turned away from her. "I never want to see you again." With that he began packing their belongings.
"I tried so hard to make him believe me, Allie. He just wouldn't listen," Liz said as her tears began to flow heavily again. Allie just sat there in shock, not knowing what to do. So she decided to do the only thing she could think of at the moment. She wrapped her arms around her best friend, led her over to the bed, and simply held her while she cried until she fell asleep.
Allie left Liz sleeping on the bed and went to go find Jack. She found him right as he came out of Will and Liz's cabin, a grim look on his face.
"Me first mate's not happy, darlin'. When he's not happy, he doesn't work very efficiently. And it's something yer friend did. She made 'im so mad tha' he's currently packing his bags to go sleep with the crew." Allie's mouth dropped open.
"Something she did?" she exclaimed. "She just told him the truth." Jack's eyebrows furrowed.
"The truth about what, luv?" Allie paused.
"What has Will told you?" she asked cautiously.
"Only that he's mad at Liz. He won't tell me why though." He crossed his arms over his chest. "But apparently, ye know what she told 'im. Let's have it." Allie tried to feign innocence.
"What ever are ye talking about?" she asked. Jack gave her a "nice try" look. She sighed. "Jack, I…I'm not the girl you think I am." Jack was puzzled.
"What does this have to do with Liz and Will?" he asked. Allie held up a hand.
"What I'm about to tell you is very similar to what Liz told Will. I only ask that you not interrupt me." Jack nodded. Allie took a deep breath and tried to calm her shaking nerves. "I'm from the future." Jack's eyebrows rose in surprise. He certainly hadn't been expecting that. Allie continued.
"Liz and I somehow fell through a crack in time or something like that." She looked at Jack. "We're from the year 2004. We fell off our balcony and landed on the Pearl."
"But the clothes that ye was wearing…" Allie cut him off.
"We had just come back from a costume party. I had gone dressed as a pirate, and Liz went dressed as a lady of high society." Jack was silent as he processed the information.
"Well, tha's interesting," he finally said. Allie was astonished. It almost sounded like Jack believed her.
"You believe me?" she asked. Jack smiled.
"Luv, I've dealt with undead mutinous pirates before. Anythin' is probable." Allie grinned, relieved that Jack had believed her. Then her face fell as she remembered the predicament that her friend was currently in.
"Well, that's what Liz told Will. But, unlike you, he didn't believe her." Allie fell silent, trying to think of a way to help out Liz.
"So, what do ye propose we do, darlin'?" Jack asked. Allie shook her head.
"I've no idea," she said, looking dejected. Suddenly, her face lit up and she grinned. "I've got it!" She pulled Jack close and whispered the plan in his ear. When she pulled back, she saw a sly grin form on Jack's lips.
"It jest might work, lass. Ye can talk to Liz once she wakes up. But ye should talk to Will now." Allie nodded.
"Alright. Wish me luck!" Jack leaned down and kissed her quickly, then headed up the stairs. Allie took a deep breath, and knocked on the door to the cabin.
"Whoever it is, go away!" Allie cocked an eyebrow and knocked again. She leapt back in surprise when the door was yanked open. Will glared down at her.
"I do not want to hear or talk about Liz, Ms. Hudson," he spat. He started to close the door, but Allie stuck her foot in the doorway so that he couldn't.
"Believe it or not, Mr. Turner, but not everything is about Liz. I came to ask you a favor." Will sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sorry, Allie. I'm not in a very good mood right now, but I shouldn't be taking it out on you." Allie smiled kindly.
"It's alright. Look, there are some crates that need moving down by the brig, and I was wondering if you'd help me move them in an hour or so." Will nodded.
"I'd be happy to," he said. Allie grinned. Perfect.
"Great! Just meet me by the brig then." Will nodded again, and Allie went bounding up the stairs. She wanted to find Jack and let him know that Part One was complete.
An hour later, Allie somewhat reluctantly shook Liz awake. Liz slowly opened her eyes. When Liz realized where she was she frowned.
"It wasn't a nightmare, was it?" she asked sadly. Allie shook her head.
"I'm afraid not. But you can't worry about that now. Jack wants to talk to you in the brig."
"Right now?" Liz asked sleepily. Allie nodded.
"Aye. Right now."
"What for?" Allie shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. All I know is that he wants to talk to ye."
"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes," Liz said. Allie nodded.
"Okay. See ya later." She turned and left the room. She bumped into Will. "Oh, Will. I'm sorry. I'm running a little late. Can you meet me in the brig in like, ten minutes?" Will nodded.
"Of course." Allie grinned.
"Thanks!" she said. She watched him leave, then ran down to the brig where Jack was waiting for her. "Hey," she said, leaning in a giving him a kiss. Jack wrapped his arms around her as he deepened the kiss. Allie pulled back when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She grabbed Jack's hand and they ducked behind a few stacks of crates.
Liz walked into the brig and sat down on a crate that was in the cell. Allie grinned.
"Perfect," she whispered. "Now we wait for Will." Their patience was rewarded a short time later when Will came down the stairs. He saw Liz's form sitting in the brig and figured that it was Allie. The second he stepped into the cell, Allie and Jack leapt out from behind the crates and slammed the door. Jack stuck the key in the lock and turned it. The two of them stepped back, grinning. Liz looked up in confusion when she heard the door clang shut.
When Will realized that he'd been deceived, he wasn't too happy. He whirled to face Liz.
"You planned this, didn't you?" he stated more than asked. Liz didn't say a word. She and Will both turned to face Allie.
"Allie, what's going on?" Liz asked slowly. Allie grinned.
"Isn't it obvious?" Will rolled his eyes.
"Obviously not, since we're having to ask." Allie sighed dramatically.
"Jack and I are not letting you out until you at least become friends again." Jack reached over and took her hand.
"Let's leave them be, luv. Good luck you two." With that, they left Will and Liz to work things out alone.
When they got back to their cabin, Jack sat down on the bed. Allie, however, immediately started to pace back and forth, biting one of her nails. Jack watched her for a minute, amused. Finally, he stood up and gently took her by the arms. Without saying a word, he leaned in and kissed her. Allie kissed him back for awhile, then pulled away.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" she asked, referring to Liz and Will. Jack nodded.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, darlin'. Don't worry about it." Allie sighed and looked away.
"I can't help it. She's my best friend. I can't stand to see her so depressed." Jack reached out and took Allie's hands in his.
"Luv," he started, and Allie looked at him, "everythin' will be fine. Liz and Will can't stay mad at each other forever." Allie looked into his deep brown eyes hopefully.
"You really think so?" When Jack nodded, she smiled softly and hugged him. "Thanks, Jack. Ya always know just what I need to hear. It's probably one of the reasons why I love you so much." Jack's eyebrows shot up when he heard Allie say those words. He pulled back so that he could look at her.
"Did you just say that ye love me?" he asked, making sure that he heard correctly. Allie thought back on what she had just said. She gasped and turned a little red as she realized that she had, indeed, just told him that she loved him. She looked at him warily.
"Um…yeah, I guess I did," she said slowly, unsure of what his reaction was going to be. A grin gradually formed on Jack's face.
"I love ye too," he finally said. Without giving her a chance to reply, he leaned in and caught her lips in a gentle kiss, in which he poured in all of the love that he felt for her.
After Will watched Jack and Allie leave, he turned back to Liz, a sneer on his face.
"Will, I'm sorry," Liz said quietly, looking directly at Will, pleading with her eyes for him to believe her.
"Well, sorry doesn't quite cut it, Princess." Liz visibly flinched at how cold the word princess sounded now. She tried again.
"You have to listen to me. I'm telling you the truth," she begged. "Why would I lie to you?" She walked up to him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. For a split second he kissed her back, then suddenly he shoved her away.
"I don't know. Do not expect me to know how your spoiled little mind works. You're just used to everyone obeying your every whim and command. Here's a quick revelation for ya: the world does not revolve around you. I won't fall for your charms any longer." He paused for a moment, then continued, looking straight at Liz. "I swore women off long ago, but somehow you got under my shields. Never again will I fall for a woman. And this time, I mean it. Never again." Liz spoke up.
"Will, I…" He held up his hand preventing her from going on.
"I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved with you. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that you would be nothing but a troublesome, lying wench. Just like another Elizabeth that I knew." Liz gasped. How could he compare her to somebody like that? After everything they shared together. Anger welled up in her like she'd never known before. Liz looked down at her balled fist and noticed the forgotten ring still on her finger. She slowly unclenched her hand, and took off the diamond. She chucked it with all her might at his chest, then socked him in the nose. His head snapped back as one hand flew up to clutch his bleeding nose. Will looked at Liz in shock.
"I hate you," Liz said, barely above a whisper, tears streaming down her cheeks. He watched with wide eyes as she slowly started to fade from view. A few moments later, she was gone. Liz had disappeared.
Will just stood there, staring at the empty space where Liz had been standing only seconds before. He heard a pair of boots come running down the stairs. Jack immediately looked at Will, eyes disbelieving.
"Allie's gone."