Chapter
5: Touchy
I don't open my eyes. My head is
spinning. I still feel dizzy. But I push that aside and concentrate.
What were they talking about? Will being here for the vase or a
reason behind it. Ok, so if he's just here for the vase then that
shouldn't be a problem. Who wouldn't want a vase like that? But, if
he's here for a reason behind it then I can't think of any other
reason. Unless one of them tells me the reason...
One of them
is still in the room. I don't know who. Will or Jack? My eyes are
still shut. I don't dare take a peek because they'll know that I
heard everything and I don't want them to know.
Whoever it is, he
walks a few steps towards me. I can feel him looking at me, over me.
Then he crouches down in front of me. I can feel a hand near my head,
touching my hair. Stroking my curls, twisting his finger gently at
the tips of my hair. Who is this? I want to look. Will? Who is it?
Then, I feel a finger draw a circle on my bare shoulder. My dress
must've fallen off my shoulder or - hang on, do I even know what I'm
wearing? Just as I'm thinking, I feel a finger gently outlining my
lips. My body is stiff. My heart skips a beat. I feel so much tension
and curiosity. Who is it? The touch is so soft and so caring. Will?
He's touching my lips; he's drawing my lips... I don't know what to
feel. I feel tense, I can't move because I'm 'asleep', but I also
feel a rush, something fast moving through my body... his touch feels
good... but I also feel suspense. Is it Will or Jack? And if its
Will, will I fall for him now? Now, will I start liking him? But,
I've been more interested in-
Just as my mind races, I feel his
hand clasp mine - and I feel cold against my fingers.
Jack.
His
rings. The silver. The metal. It was him all along. It must be. Jack.
Jack? I'm trying to calm down. I can't. Jack?
It's Jack.
Definitely. His hair, his bandana, and his beads - ok, I know I don't have to list everything but I'm just making sure. His back is to me and he's opened the wardrobe and is looking through it. I quickly close my eyes again. He thought I was asleep. Aha. He doesn't know. I keep my eyes shut. Just thinking about his touch. His hand. Him. Touching me.
Its only the second day I've known him, yet once again, he's left me with something memorable on a grotesque day...
I must've dozed off again because I can feel someone tapping me awake. I slowly open my eyes and come face to face with my caresser. He sighs.
"We was startin' to get a bit worried, love. You've been sleepin' for ages."
I smile at that comment.
"So I have." I yawn and stretch and he watches my chest as it rises and falls. "Excuse me Mr. Sparrow, I have eyes you know."
He grins.
"I know. Jus' making sure you're awake." He sits down on the edge of the bed. "Feeling alright?"
Now that he's come to mention it, my head still hurts.
"Head still aches, a bit."
"We've got something for ye for that."
When he says 'we' I hope he means Will. They can't still be arguing.
"Gibbs!" Roars Jack. Scaring the life out of me. Why's he yelling? What is 'Gibbs'?
"Yes, captain."
Oh, so its 'who' not a 'what'. In enters that burly man I saw earlier yesterday. I think it was yesterday. What is it today? I guess it's the next day... See how you think after a hangover?
"Have you made that concoction I told you to make?"
"Aye, captain. Its here." Gibbs comes forward with a mug he's holding. He hands it to Jack. Jack hands it carefully to me.
"Drink up." He says to me.
"Captain, we're having problems with the sails. They need you to up on deck."
"Watch her for me, Gibbs." Jack leaves and closes the door. I'm left with Gibbs - and this smelly drink.
"We weren't properly acquainted." Gibbs walks to me and shakes my free hand. "Gibbs."
"Crystal." He sits down opposite me on the chair. I sip the drink. And choke.
"Yuck! What is this? Its absolutely disgusting!" I splutter; the taste is vile. It's this watery substance but it definitely isn't water. Gibbs chuckles.
"It's the best thing for ye. Special."
"Ok, now I don't want to know what it is."
Gibbs chuckles again. He has a hearty warm laugh. Very sunny.
"Don't worry, I was given special orders not to tell ye what it was anyway."
Oh! Now I want to know what it is! What did Jack give me?
"What is it?" I ask eagerly.
"My lips are sealed." Smiles Gibbs, "Although, egg yoke, vinegar and grapefruit can be helpful at times."
I laugh. I think we're going to get on.
"How long have you known Jack?"
"Long time. A very long time. Years. We go back."
I nod. He can spill the beans on Jack then, definitely. If he's known him for ages, a bit of prodding around in their history can't do any harm, can it?
"Has he ever done anything really crazy?"
"He is crazy. Very courageous, Jack is. Will go to any lengths for whatever he wants. Have you heard the story of this ship? The Black Pearl?"
"No."
"No? Well, he-"
The door opens and Jack comes in.
"Thank you, Gibbs, that will be all."
Gibbs nods at me and leaves. Jack takes a look in the mug.
"Drink up, love."
"It tastes horrible."
"I know it does, I have it all the time, love."
"What's everyone doing?"
"Preparing to leave."
"Is it evening?"
"No, its early afternoon but we're just getting ready everything."
"Where's Will?" I just realised, I haven't seen him the whole day.
"Why d'ye want to know?"
Huh? What? Why do I want to know?
"What am I not allowed to ask?" I ask. This is a bit odd.
"He's packing. He'll be back on my ship by nightfall."
I consider this. What's up with this ship? Wasn't he complaining to Will to wash his mouth or something on this ship? Will can't treat him a certain way because he's the captain? What's that all about? And what's wrong with asking where Will is? I might stick to the subject. I'm asking an innocent question.
"Why is Will coming?"
"'Cause I invited him."
"I noticed that. Why did you invite him?" I wonder how much info he'll give me or if he'll give me the truth. I'm already shocked that he honestly told me that he invited Will and not me.
"I invited him for your protection. Plus, we might need him. He's a blacksmith. Also, if I didn't, he could've easily have ran to the guards of Port Royale and demanded to have you returned. Then I'd have the navy on my back 'cause I'm a pirate. They'd be glad for a reason to track me down."
These were all good reasons, probably the truth, but compared to what I heard, this isn't the full story. I don't want to push it because he might guess that I heard what they said.
"Do you want Will to come?"
"Aye, I do. And no, I don't."
"What kind of answer is that?" I have to ask; after all, it doesn't make any sense. I would've said it more politely but it kind of slipped out. Also, I'm not happy about him questioning my questions on Will.
"A truthful one." Jack sits down on the chair opposite me. I can't read his face. But I can read his eyes - he looks a bit annoyed. Well so am I. Maybe its because I'm asking so many questions. Maybe it's the questions I'm asking. Truthfully, I don't want Will on this voyage. Not at all. I wanted it just Jack and me. I was going to tell him this - now - but I've changed my mind. I'm not going to let him know. If he wants to get annoyed with me over Will then fine, let him get annoyed. I'm not going to justify anything because I haven't done anything wrong. And telling him that I don't want Will on this trip will seem like I'm justifying something.
"How big is this ship?"
"Very large. She's the fastest ship on the sea."
"She?"
"Aye, She."
"Is it old?"
"Not quite. She's young compared to other ships."
She. I'm getting annoyed. He looks as if he's also getting even more annoyed than he was before.
"Why are the sails black, Jack? How can you sail with sails like that? Could you not afford proper sails, is that it? It's not even a decent pirate ship. 'She's' quite plain, isn't 'she'-"
"She's not plain! She's beautiful! And I'm the one who likes black sails!"
There's a horrid silence. Jack stands up and goes to the door, opening it. He glances at me. He leaves and slams the door.
What is his problem? I might've said 'she' a bit exaggerated, but what the hell? It's just a ship. Just a boat. Wood, for goodness sake! Ok, I admit that I said that thing about black sails just to get on his nerves and I asked that question on purpose. No need to bite my head off with a reply like "She's beautiful." Its just wood. He didn't have to shout at me! Who does he think he is? 'Captain' Jack Sparrow, probably.
Why is he so touchy? He's obsessed. That's what he is. Obsessed with this stinking ship. I look at the mug, and pour the remaining liquid onto the wooden floor of his 'beautiful' ship. My feelings towards him have completely changed. I can't believe that before I was hanging onto his touch and so glad that he was caressing me. Now, I'm completely angered and annoyed. He can't talk to me like that. I already told him that I just met Will. Does he not believe me? And this ship IS plain. What's up with this ship?