Rum's Effect on Love
Chapter Two

"Lexi, what say you we sail to Tortuga and enjoy the women?" Jack asked, obviously completely smashed.

"Jack, you should know by now that I don't enjoy women that way… But I could enjoy you…" she replied, the last part in a whisper.

"Well… We could find you a nice pirate lad… Off to Tortuga then?" he asked hopefully.

"Tortuga…" she said.

"Tortuga!" Jack cried with glee.

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When the two arrived in Tortuga nearing midnight, Lexi decided that she would avoid the Tortugan men, but she couldn't stray away from the rum. As she and Jack entered the Faithful Bride, they were greeted by a waterfall as a bucket on the doorframe tipped over. Thoroughly soaked and her clothes sticking to her body, she ran back to the Black Pearl and grabbed a shirt of Jack's and put it over her tank top.

'It smells like him… Well, actually, like rum, but its still Jack's shirt…' she thought with a smile. She returned to the bar, and joined Jack at a secluded table in the rear.

"Another round for me and the lass!" Jack shouted to the bartender over the chaos in the dwelling.

"Jack… Can I ask you a question?" Even though she was in the company of a Pirate, Lexi still felt the need to be polite.

"Lass, you just did… But I'll warrant another one…" he answered.

"Ha, ha, ha… Very funny… Where are we staying tonight?" she asked somewhat concerned as a man was thrown through a table.

Jack's face exhibited an expression of confusion, which faded quickly when a sly smirk budded on his tan skin. "Well, I have a few places in me mind, Miss Lexi."

"Oh really?" Lexi replied, a curious smile spreading on her own face. "And what would those places be?"

"It depends on how well ye trust me…" he said, continuing to smirk, grabbing Lexi's hand and leading her out of the tavern through the rear in a drunken swagger.

"Jack… Where are you taking me?" Lexi asked, intrigued by his mysterious actions.

As the pair rounded an alley corner, Jack stopped in a dark corner and looked around to ensure they were alone. When he was positive that he would not be overheard, he whispered in her ear, "I know what you don't want me to know, and what your father doesn't want you to have."

'For a drunken pirate, he sure knows how to confuse a girl,' she though as she pulled away from him and flashed him a bewildered smile. "Jack, whatever are you talking about?"

"Why, Lexi, the rum, of course! You've become addicted to it!" he screamed, and Lexi was sure that all of Tortuga could hear.

'Oh, why can't he just keel over and die!' she thought with embarrassment.

As if on cue, Jack slumped over, his head landing on Lexi's shoulder. She instinctively raised her arms to catch him, saying out loud through a smile, "Jack, I believe you, my dear man, are the one who has the love affair with rum."

AN: WOW! I cannot believe how long I put this story off! I actually forgot that I had started writing it… I apologize to all of you readers who wanted me to update (what, it's only been over a year and a half! I mean, come on!), but I got extremely busy and everything… Well, anyways, I don't know how often I'll be updating this, since I have a whole slew of Harry Potter stories in the works… But, honestly, I'll try to update this one a little more regularly than I have been... So, hopefully you'll hear from me soon! 33 Cari