Hey! Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I've been really busy lately with Marching Band and stuff. So, here's the next chapter!!

Wormtail

I groaned loudly as I felt the bright rays of warm sunlight fall on my bed and peak under my eyelids. I tried to pull my blankets over my head, but there was one problem: I was on top of them. I sat up slowly and a sharp pain in my head woke me up quickly.

"Damnit. Drank too much," I mumbled discontentedly.

"Morning sunshine!"

"Ugh, Shay, do you have to be loud and sarcastic when I wake up like this?"

Shay laughed. "It's your fault, Summer."

I scrunched up my nose in distaste. "You know I hate that name."

Again Shay just laughed at me in response. I got up slowly, trying not to make the pounding I my head worse.

"Hey, Wormtail," Shay started. I looked over.

"Yeah?"

"When are we going to try and get on Jack's crew?"

I grinned. She was anxious, I could tell. She wanted to get on that ship bad. "Tomorrow. Which reminds me. We need to get you some male clothes. But if I take you with me, they'll be suspicious of you buying them. So I'm gonna go out alone." I picked up my hat from the bedside table, tucked my long ponytail under my bandana, shrugged on my jacket, and walked out the door. I walked carefully down the thin, rickety stairs, wary of falling on my arse because of my aching head. I crossed the empty main floor of the Faithful Bride and opened the door, only to make my head spin more with the bright sunlight.

"Damn. I need another drink," I mumbled. I walked down the filthy streets, watching for any shop with men's clothes. I finally found a small shop that one of the Tortuga girls had set up to make a little bit extra money. She sold everything, including a bottle of rum that I desperately needed to ease the pounding in my head. I bought some clothes that looked like they'd fit Shay just enough to be a little big, hiding her womanly figure.

I returned to the Faithful Bride a little more coherent and carrying a box of clothes. I found Shay standing near the window, watching the shoreline.

"Here," I said, throwing the box on one of the beds.

Shay looked over at me and noticed the bottle of rum.

"You know," she started, "that will only get you even more drunk. What, do you walk around in a permanent state of pissed drunk?"

I grinned. "That's not very nice. Anyway, it helps my head after a particularly heavy night of drinking. Now, try those clothes on. We need to make sure they can stay on and be baggy enough to hide that you're a woman."

Shay walked over to the box and opened it. "I'll wait outside," I said. I walked out the door, taking a swig of my rum. Moments later, Shay opened the door.

"Very nice," I said. Shay wore a large white shirt with wide sleeves, brown pants tucked into floppy knee-high boots, and a long coat that hung down to her thighs. I walked in and closed the door before anyone could see her in those clothes with her hair still down.

"Now, do you want your hair the same length and I'll just tuck it into a bandana, or do you want me to cut it?" I asked.

"I don't trust you with scissors when it comes to my hair," she said. "I'll leave it long."

I nodded and picked up the bandana I'd bought. I tied Shay's hair into a high ponytail with a leather string, then wrapped the bandana around her head. Then I took the tri-point hat and plopped it on her head. Shay stood up to examine herself in the dust- and dirt- covered mirror.

"Nice job, Wormtail."

I bowed extravagantly. "Now, should we do a little searching around this cutthroat town for some weapons?"

Shay nodded and we left the inn, two women looking for a little adventure denied to the rest of our sex.