I am here to update. This is a cause for celebration!

Disclaimer: I own a pirate plushie! It looks kinda like Rigetti...only one eye...I don't own pirates.

Oh! I just remembered. In the last chapter, if you went by logic, Mannie would have still been there when Jack kissed Charlie. Just imagine Mannie left before Charlie called out to Jack.

AGES: Charlie: 15, Jack: 21

Chapter Ten: If you leave, I'll follow.

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Three days till we reach Tortuga. Th' crew look happier an' happier as we gets closer an' closer. Im happy to be seein' Nan again.

She ain't gonna know what to say when she sees me!

I looks like a true woman now. Im right down proud o' it. Th' crew may not seem affected, but I knows they're just hiding their true thoughts abou' me.

Its hard work tryin' to get Jack to admit 'is feelings.

An' I still gots those blasted freckles!

Jack's changed too. He's a man now. He's all muscles an' so filled out..Sometimes I find meself starin at 'im while he works, me own job forgotten.

Me mouth goes dry when he turns aroun' an' his muscles ripple under 'is browned skin.

Its like th' days of endless watery vegetable soup, when we're almost to a port, an' when we get there we order meat thats sizzlin' an' drippin hot juice, we just grab that meat an' tear into it.

Jack is like that meat.

I swear, sometimes I want 'im so bad I can't remember what I was doin'. But Jack ain't mine. No Sir, he belongs to some belle in little ol' Tortuga.

I ain't sayin' he's actually faithful to her, I knows that he hasn't, but he goes to her most, an' she keeps 'im for days if she can.

I ain't goin' to be th' one to admit im jealous.

Jack hasn't kissed me none since me thirteenth birthday. Ive wanted 'im to lots o' times, but I guess Jack likes to keep 'is promises.

An' now? It wouldn' be right for a woman such as me to do somethin' so un dignifying. I gots pride you know. An' one day i'll have lots o' men want me.

Besides, Jack wouldn' find it attractive none.

Nope. Im goin' to wait for either Jack to come aroun', or some other deadly handsome man to want me.

I nod me head an' go back to eatin'.

I hope no one saw me starin' at Jack.

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We arrived in Tortuga just as th' sun disappeared. Th' crew whooped an' shouted, happy to be back. I was a bit disappointed, Nan would be asleep by now. I'll have to see her tomorrow.

I look over at Jack, an' sees he's countin' his coins, a look o' longing on 'is face. I feel me stomache topple over an' turn away.

He wants to see that belle.

Maybe I should follow 'im? Find out just who this woman is....

A bug lands on me nose, an' I wave it away. Damn bugs, always want to know other peoples business, can't mind their own.

I huff out a angry breath. Damn flies.

"Charlie? You alright?"

Mannie's arm slides aroun' me shoulders. I look up at 'im an' nod me head. He smiles an' pulls me toward his for half a hug. I suppose Mannie's been like a father or brother figure to me.

I would 'ave thought Jack to be th' figure, but things ain't turned out th' way I first planned.

An' I think I likes it better this way.

Mannie removes 'is arm, an' we walk off th' ship. I remember me plan to follow Jack an' look aroun' for 'im.

I hope he didn't leave already.

Just as I start to lose hope I spots 'im. I notice that he's all dressed up an' wonder if its a bit much.

Do women really care if a man looks that way?

I know I meself love to watch Jack workin' hard an' sweating. He always takes off 'is shirt. I smile with th' memory of a time when Jack's shirt was caught by a nail, an' he couldn't reach behind 'im to pull it off. He wound up strugglin' for several minutes while th' crew laughed an' I drooled.

I turn back to Mannie an' tell 'im im goin to visit Nan.

"I'll prolly stay th' night, ill be at th' ship in th' mornin'."

"Be careful."

I nod me head an' gently pat me concealed knife. I ain't one so stupid as to go about without protection. Often times th' alcohol blurs men's sight, so when they see a slight figure, they attack anyway an' figure they'll just find out who it is later.

An' no ones likely to come an' help. Not with how many get killed aroun' here. Sides, most women here be whores anyway.

Mannie sighs an' walks away.

Now time for Jack stalkin'. I turn aroun' an' catch sight o' him just as he turns a corner. I do a half crouching, half running thing towards that corner.

When I get to it, I peer aroun' it an' see Jack goin' round another.

I follow 'im down allyways an' sidestreets till he leads me past a group o' trees. I dash from tree to tree, tryin' to be as silent as I can.

She lives all th' way out here?? No that can't be right. This must be a secret meetin'.

I feel a surge of power go through me. Im a shadow, unknown, unheard, but there none th' less. An' im about to see two lover's secret meetin', an' ill learn all their secrets an' I could black mail them for somethin!

Shame I 'ave to know an' love one o' them...

A house looms between th' trees an' I feel me excitement overflowin'. Maybe she'll confess her undying love an' Jack will refuse it!

An' then he'll come back to me an' kiss me an' hold me.

Jack stops an' straightens 'is coat. He takes off 'is hat an' walks up to th' house. Th' door squeaks open an' I watch as Jack slides through.

Thats odd....

Wouldn't th' woman come out an' throw herself at 'im? An' why are those windows blackened?

I frown, knowin' this don' feel right.

Whats Jack gettin' himself into now?

I come out behind me tree, an' slowly step forward. I don' hear nothin'.....Maybe its his house? An' he just wants to sleep?....No. Th' door opened from th' inside.

I take a deep breath an' walk up to a window. I spot a patch o' un-blackened window an' peer through it.

I gasp.

Three men are sittin' at a table, th' only one facin' me is Jack, th' other two 'ave their backs to me.

I crouch down low an' noticed Jack's coat an' pistols gone. They must mean business if they 'ave to disarm Jack.

I can tell Jack's annoyin' them. His hands are making lazy motions as he speaks, an' I watch th' way he acts superior. That 'as got to sting th' other men's pride.

Then Jack tosses th' bag o' coins I saw earlier on th' table. Th' bag just sits there for a minute before a grubby hand snatches it up.

Jack looks smug an' leans back in 'is chair while th' men count th' money. It must be enough, 'cause I see th' men nod an' Jack leans forward to shake their hands.

Then he stands up an' walks out o' th' room.

I gasp an' stumble back. Whats Jack doin? Why is he meetin' with gold thirsty men? This smells like trouble an' I gets worried about Jack.

Jack.

Me eyes go wide an' I scamper into th' woods just as I hear th' door creak open.

Whew. He didn't see me.....

I frown. Should I tell Jack I saw th' whole thing? Would it be worth 'is anger? no.....I can't tell Jack about me followin' him.

I wait till I see Jack, an' follow 'im back into town. But Jack soon heads toward his favorite whore house, an' I turn aroun' an go to Nan's.

Whats goin' on Jack?

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I would continue, but im not feeling very well. But I have the next couple of chapters in my head, so I will update! And soon, since this will be on my mind until I write it down.

Man, I have so many ideas! I can't wait to show you guys what happens next.

OHH!!! Leave a review and tell me some ideas of what you would like to happen, IM OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS!!!