Chapter 14
There was a constant tapping or knocking on wood. Mari groaned as she was aroused from her nightmares.
"Hey love, are you hungry? It's the last meal for a while." Jack said. Mari groaned irritated.
"Just leave me alone to my insanity." She snapped.
"I guess you might have been half right, I do get too nosy. But hiding is not your answer, love. Besides, Tim is hiding too, so we're a crew member short." Jack said.
Mari just groaned again, not really caring if he threw her overboard. After a few minutes of no reply she figured he had gone back down. She sighed and sat up. What did he care anyway? All he had to do was drag Tim out of bed. She looked around, nothing but wide open ocean, she smiled, comforted by Orion and the sea. The breeze whipped through her hair and refreshed her. She knew Jack was right; she couldn't stay in up here until they hit land but she didn't want to face Tim, what would she do or say?
"I guess I'll just tell him the truth Orion, I don't feel the same way about him. But it's going to hurt him. Things won't be the same with him. It won't be like before, but even if I don't tell him it won't be the same." Mari sighed heavily lost in thought.
Will came out of his came and walked with Gibbs and Cotton down to the galley. He looked around for Mari, but didn't see her, he didn't see Tim either, and he didn't miss meals.
"Hey Gibbs, have you seen Mari or Tim?" he asked.
"No, but they'll probably be down in a few minutes." Gibbs said, and he was half right. A few minutes later Tim trudged down into the galley. He looked as if he had seen a ghost. He was white as chalk.
"Man overboard" squawked Cotton's parrot.
"Mother's love, what happened to you Tim?" Gibbs asked.
"You look as I you've seen the devil himself."
Tim looked up at Will for a minute then looked away shaking his head as he slumped into a chair.
"Is something wrong with Mari?" Will asked, guessing part of the reason he had looked at Will. Tim just shrugged.
"All right crew, eat up and get back to work. Most of it is sail work and deck work. Mari's got the observation covered." Jack said and they all ate quickly and left to get to work.
The noise of the crew working brought Mari out of her thoughts and she grabbed a spyglass and began looking around for anything. Orion flew off to do his part off the work too, scouting ahead. About ten minutes later there was knocking on the wood; it was Will, coming to check on her.
"Hey are you ok? You didn't come down to dinner." Will asked. Mari shrugged.
"I'm fine, just a little shaken, ended up falling asleep up here and had some bad dreams."
"Is that all of it?" Will asked, sensing a bigger story behind it.
"That's all I want to discuss." Mari said, her tone making it clear she did not want to discuss whatever it was that led her to retreat up here. He sighed.
"Ok, I won't pressure you," he grabbed her hand reassuringly. "But I'm here now if you ever want to talk." Will said then climbed back down to help the crew.
Mari smiled at the thought and was sorely tempted to tell him but then thought better of it. Suddenly Orion was back and screeching loudly. Mari hastily looked off in the direction he was sitting. Through the spyglass she spotted an island.
"Land ho off the port side!" Mari shouted. (that's the left side of the boat)
Jack had been thinking about what he had seen with Mari and Tim, when he had kissed her the monster inside of him had nearly broke loose and was ready to keelhaul Tim. Then when Mari called out he snapped out of his thoughts and took out his spyglass, sure enough it was land, but as it the one they were looking for? He quickly took out his compass and looked at it.
"Bring this ship into port off the port bow!" Jack shouted, everyone quickly set to work.
Tim came up on the crow's nest side and stopped just below the rim.
"Mari? Mari I'm sorry for what I did. I just, I don't know." Tim muttered. Mari swallowed hard, she had expected this, but that didn't mean she was prepared for it. She sighed heavily and swallowed.
"Tim, I'm sorry, I really am. But, I just don't feel the same way, you're more of a friend to me. I mean a really good friend, but I don't think it is love. I'm sorry, really I am." Mari said, fighting back tears. She knew what she was doing, she had been there before, but she also knew it would hurt them both much worse if she started living a lie.
"I understand, I apologize for putting you in that position. We should get back to work." Tim said, his voice was cold, and hiding how he really felt. Mari swallowed, it's for the best, they were only friends. She waited a few minutes then swung over the rail and slid down on the lines.
Will could tell something was wrong between them when Tim and Mari let down the longboats but didn't say anything to each other or even look at each other. He was about to comment but he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Wait for the opportune moment mate. Otherwise you could unleash all hell." Jack said as he staggered into the boats. Tim decided to stay aboard and watch the boat, keep it ready incase things went ill.
Ok that was the new chapter, hope you all like it.
Fictionfrek101: Thank you for you reveiw. glad you still like it.