Stuck In The Middle With You

(Formerly known as 'The Vase Of Mortule') - No flames – just R&R please!

Chapter One: Knock Knock

My window is broken. My dad has locked me in my room. And my mum is on the other side of the door telling me that there's a gentleman here to see me. Welcome to my life in the Caribbean. I'm having problems all over the place and my latest one is my dad not being able to trust me. He thinks that I go out at night and trade things and sell them. Not exactly. I go out and trade things and sell them and drink. Not until I get drunk... Just before I end up getting completely drunk...

"There's no use telling me that, mother, father's locked me in!"

"He just doesn't like you creeping out all the time... You know how protective he is! Anyway, it's Will Turner at door. Quick! Put on a nice dress! He has something for you!"

"I'm already wearing a dress!"

She's always like this. Every time Will comes. Although, half the clothes I have are men's clothes.

"Unlock the door." I yell. How's she going to do that?

I hear the scrape of the key not able to believe that dad actually left the keys with my mother. I walk out and see Will standing near the door looking undeniably handsome. I feel a pang of nervousness as I walk down the stairs towards him but usher it away. I'm half not attracted to him.

"Good evening, Crystal. You look lovely."

But still half attracted. This is only the third time I've spoken to him. Or, that he's spoken to me. He's holding a box. Oh no! It's my sword. I've just realised! Mother is going to kill me! She doesn't even know I have a sword let alone that I needed it repaired!

"I've brought your-"

"Could we step outside, Will? Its rather warm in here." Let him walk out the house, let him walk out the house, let him walk out the house...

"Its actually warmer outside, Crystal. The heat is very thick tonight."

I could kill him. I really could. She's still at the top of the stairs listening. Why are my parents so nosy?

"Would you like a drink in the kitchen then?" My eyes are wide trying to pass the message, please understand Will... He's frowning at me. I can't believe this.

"Um, yes, alright. Yes, I'll have a... a drink."

We walk to the kitchen and I shut the door. I turn to him and say,

"So, what happened to my sword?" He's standing inches away from me and he smells of lovely freshly cut wood.

"Well, it was snapped in half when you gave it to me and it wasn't repairable so I have to give you a new - "

We hear a very loud "knock knock knock" on the front door.

"I'll get it." I reluctantly turn my back on thee sleek'n'slender Will and open the kitchen door and march to the front door.

When I open the front door I see the most fattest and dirtiest pirate ever holding a lilac vase, with the most gorgeous pirate I have ever seen standing right next to him. I turn around to see if my mother is still at the stairs, which she isn't, and signal to Will that I'll be two minutes.

" 'Ere," The fat pirate is pointing at me but I can't take my eyes off the pirate next to him. Who is he? "You sold me that... that... vase. That cracked vase. I want my money back."

I stare at him. The fat one, I mean. Hard. I swear I've never seen either of them before in my life. How do they know where I live? If they're taking the mick they ought to know that my father will be back soon and would slaughter both of them. Maybe I could get him to spare the black-haired one for me...

"Who are you," I have to ask, "and when did I sell you that vase? How do you know where I live?"

The gorgeous pirate smiles at me and takes off his gorgeous hat and bows.

"Captain Jack Sparrow." He says. "This is Bob Brook. You sold him this vase two nights ago near the dock in the presence of him and I. I believe you were completely drunk and you gave Bob your address just in case."

I'm trying to resist inviting him - them - in. Just as I think that I could hide them in the kitchen, I hear footsteps and turn to see Will approaching me with his sword in his hand pointing it firmly at Bob.

This is going to be a long night.

"Will, I think you're misunderstanding - " I begin, but Will has to interrupt me. How rude. I only met him yesterday.

I was out selling valuables two nights ago (according to Jack) down at the docks. I was down there, and usually I trade goods and then drink but I decided to do it the other way round. I can't remember a thing but all I know is that I woke up in my bed the next morning with my sword snapped in half. I didn't even know that swords could brake. So, I took it to Blacksmith Will Turner and told him to deliver it to me when it's repaired. He was shocked to see a girl handing him a sword (which I also found rude).

I got the sword in a trade a few months ago. I've been practicing with it ever since. My dad only caught me creeping out the house a week ago. He doesn't know that I've been doing it for months. I hang around with soldiers, merchants, and pirates... just different people in general. Good people. Not rich boring people. But people who have tales, stories, something interesting to say. I go to the docks to trade because that's my unboring way of making money and meeting new people. Its better than having to clean and be a maid lolling around all day with people who order you around. I need that night time freedom. Just something different. Just something that I actually like doing.

We live very near the sea. All you have to do is walk down some streets behind our house and you're at the docks full of boats and people with laughter and singing everywhere. Even strangers welcome you. You can see the ocean and ships from my bedroom. The pirates come by ships. Not evil pirates. Friendly pirates who just need somewhere to stop and get a drink. You can't call them all bad. They can't all be the same.

But clearly Will doesn't see it like that.

"They are pirates," Spits Will, looking at Bob. "They're here to rob you. Move aside, I'll handle this."

How can someone so undeniably handsome be so undeniably stupid? He's threatening Jack. My heart beats faster. Bob isn't actually taking any notice of Will at all. He's staring right past me near the stairs. Jack, however, is watching me, waiting for me to say something. The beads in his hair stand out against his tanned face. I think I now believe in love at first sight.

"Will, I think I actually know th-"

"They're pirates, Crystal, and cannot be trusted." Will points the tip of his sword at Bob's nose and at the same time Jack puts his hand on his sword which causes Will to point his sword towards Jack. Will's trying to protect me. That's so sweet. But I don't want any protection against Jack.

"You better put that away, boy, before you poke someone's eye out." Jack says calmly. He doesn't even seem bothered. He looks at me and winks. A beautiful smile spreads across his tanned face and I catch a glimmer of gold in his mouth. I think I'm going to faint.

Will notices and draws the sword closer to Jack's nose. Jealous. He must be. If he scratches one part of that amazing pirate's face I'm going to smash that lilac vase in Bob's hands over his head.

"I don't take too kindly to pirates." Snarls Will, surveying Jack up and down as if he was beneath his feet.

"Well, I don't take too kindly to..." Jack looks Will up and down in a drunken manner and not being able to see what Will is, settles with, "... you." He then looks at me with his charcoal eyes and says, "So if you would be so kind to give back the money Bob paid for the vase, we'll be on our way."

That would be fine. If I knew where the money was. I can't remember anything of two nights ago and so I must've sold this vase (which I traded for) to Bob and spent the money on... drinks.

But then a sudden thought hits me. Panic spreads through my insides... What if they really ARE pirates? Like corrupt, manipulative, evil pirates? If I tell them that I don't have the money, they might kill me. They might take me hostage... Or steal my belongings... Bring their entire pirate friends to blow up my house...

"Err, the money??" I repeat, my voice six-notches higher. I think they can tell. Jack is looking deeply into my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts. He seems to be considering something. My hands are shaking. When he stared deeply into my eyes it felt as if he could see me. Not just see me, physically. I mean see deep into my heart, my mind, and my fears. Like all he had to do was lock eyes with me and now he knows everything about me. He can read me like an open book.

Bob turns to look at me, acknowledging me. "I want my money back." He growls, a menacing look in his eyes. Oh God, he's going to do something! I should've listened to Will, I really should've.

"Bob, just keep the vase," Jack's talking to Bob but looking at me "I'm sure your wife won't notice."

"No!" Roars Bob, "I want my silver pieces back NOW!" At this, Will swings his sword at perfect timing towards Bob's throat, but Jack pulls out his sword quickly and blocks it. I grab the lilac vase and smash it hard on Bob's head. Bob crashes face first onto the floor making the foundations of my house shake. For some reason I'm panting, out of breath, and as I catch Jack's eye I see disappointment in them. Before I can say something, Will takes the opportunity to try to attack Jack again but Jack blocks him and advances on him. They battle out in the space between the stairs and the kitchen. I'm actually grateful my house is quite large otherwise one of them could've easily have killed the other by now. I shouldn't be thinking that.

Swords swoosh and clang and I'm stuck standing by the open door clueless on what to do. Will and Jack. Fighting. I have to stop them. But how? I felt bad about Bob when I looked in Jack's eyes. I should've known that Jack wouldn't have let Bob hurt me.

While they're clashing swords I try to hoist Bob out the way. He's too heavy. I very very very slowly drag him to the window right of the door, opposite the stairs. I quickly shut the door. I drag Bob behind the curtain to hide him. What else am I supposed to do? My Mum might come downstairs any minute and dad might knock on the door. Where is my mum anyway?

Suddenly, the sound of metal stops and I hear a loud thud. Hurriedly, I fight my way out of the curtains to see Will sprawled on the floor with his sword still in his hand and Jack standing next to him with a long bloody scratch on his face. What did I say earlier about a scratch? Oh well, its a pity I've already broken the vase.

Jacks eyes are now upon me. And I can read them. He's not going to hurt me.

"We should - " I begin, pointing at Will's lying body and then pointing to the kitchen.

"Aye, we should." Replies Jack. I walk over and we hoist up Will. We take him to the kitchen. I don't know what to say. Fortunately or unfortunately, there's a knock at the door. We place Will on the table and I stare at Jack. I've just realised how many layers of clothes he's wearing. We look at each other. I completely forget about the door until, as if tonight could get any worse, I hear a voice.

"Mary? Mary?"

It's. My. Dad.

I can't take this. I look around at Will's body; pirate Jack, the curtain hiding Bob and myself. My dad is going to lock me in my room for the next decade. Everything is wrong. It's hopeless. But not for Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Look, I'll hide Will's body. Close the kitchen door. I'll hide too."

My dad's voice can be heard through the other side of the door. "Mary?! It's Charles. I'm back. Mary?"

I have no other choice. I run out the kitchen close the door and face the nightmare. I walk up to the door. And open it.

His happy face changes into a confused one. "Crystal? What are you doing down here? I thought I locked you in your room!" He's staring at me in outrage. I gulp.

"Look, mum unlocked my door and-"

"She what?! Where is she?"

"She's... She's upstairs. Yeah. She's in the bedroom. Look, father, I can explain-"

"Wait here. I'll deal with you in a minute." He marches up the stairs. I run into the kitchen. Will's body is no longer on the table but my sword in its box still is. I look round and see Jack cramming Will's body into a cupboard.

"Just an arm to go, love."

"Look, Jack, forget about that! You're going to have to go and hide in my bedroom!" Ok. I don't know how that slipped out. What am I suggesting? But he has to. Otherwise we'll both get killed.

"What?"

"My dad's coming. It's the room at the top of the stairs. Take that box with you. Go!"

Jack dashes out the kitchen with my sword leaving Will's arm hanging. I can't believe that Jack is going to my room. I run to the other side of the kitchen and stuff Will's arm in the cupboard and slam it shut.

"Crystal?" My dad calls.

I run out the kitchen and see dad at the bottom of the stairs. I glance at the curtain. Bob's well hidden.

"Go to your room NOW."