Disclaimer: I own it all! haha... yea, not really...
Chapter Two: One Drink Can't Hurt
True to his word, an hour after they finished their discussion and Jack left to deal with his crew, a hardy-looking girl by the name of Anamaria arrived at the cabin door, arms laden with pirate clothing.
"The captain told me to inform ya that this will be yer permanent room as long as you're stayin' on the Black Pearl," said Anamaria, her face unchanging. "He also said that once you are dressed, yeh can join the rest of the crew in the room below us for dinner."
"Thank you," said Jade, relieving the girl of her burden. "But where will the captain be sleeping?"
"With the rest of us," she answered plainly.
Jade glanced around a bit awkwardly as Anamaria stood stone-faced in the doorway.
"I'm really glad there's another woman on board." Jade tried to sound friendly, "Someone to talk to besides the boys."
"I suppose," she replied. "See ya at dinner."
With that, Anamaria left Jade to herself once again, feeling rather downhearted that she had been so cold. Maybe she just didn't trust her yet. After all, it was a bit suspicious for Jade to have suddenly shown up on the Pearl with the feeble explanation of having been randomly left in the middle of the Caribbean with not a ship in sight. And now, she even had Jack giving up his entire cabin simply for the benefit of one woman guest.
She began to examine the clothes strewn across the bed and felt a bit hesitant putting them on. The red blouse was rather flowy and for any reason should she choose to bend over, a great amount of cleavage would be revealed. Not that she had much anyway…
The brown, slightly patchy pants were a bit tight, but that's usually the way she liked them. To finish the pirate getup, Jade wrapped a bandana around her head, letting a few strands from her bangs hang in front, and dipped her finger in the black coal from the fireplace to rub under her eyes in a great imitation of Jack.
She felt like she kind of resembled the girl from Evanescence, with slightly frizzier hair, as she caught a glimpse of herself in a strip of metal around a cabinet. Jade sighed and sat on the bed.
I can't believe I'm actually lying in the bed of Jack Sparrow, wearing real pirate clothing, about to meet him for dinner…. Did he mean for me to be there at a certain time? Jade questioned herself, leaning back into the feathery pillows.
"I kinda remember where their little eating place was," she said aloud. "I think it's called the "galley" or something."
Her trip to the galley was silent for the most part and Jade wasn't really sure about where she was going until she met a pair of double doors that emitted loud laughter and the sounds of scuttling chairs.
She cautiously let herself in as the room quieted at her entrance. She gave a shy smile and excitement bubbled in her stomach when she spotted Jack grinning widely where he sat, feet propped up at the end of a long, wooden table.
Jade looked over to where Anamaria was sitting in the seat closest to Jack's end, glaring up at the intruder.
"Ah… Miss Johnson! Pleased ye could join us," Jack greeted her, gesturing for her to take the empty seat across from Anamaria.
She silently obeyed as Jack told the crew, "Yeh remember that I told ya all of Miss Johnson's unfortunate… accident. But I hope ye can accept her as part of the crew until she departs at Port Royal.
Jade frowned. I'm leaving at Port Royal? He didn't happen to mention that during our last meeting.
"And to Miss Johnson," Jack held out his large flag of rum towards Jade. "May yer stay be as pleasant as it gets on me pirate ship… Drink up me hearties, yo ho!"
"Yo ho!" echoed the crew, each mirroring Jack's grin as they took a swig of their own drinks. All continued to help themselves, drinking merrily, except Jade who would either mindlessly pick at the grub on her plate or shift her gaze to Jack and study his features as they lit up at something Anamaria had said.
It didn't take long, however, for Jack to notice her distraught behavior.
"Somethin' wrong, luv?" he asked, leaning towards Jade in the smoothest fashion.
"Huh? Oh! Well… no, I'm just… not very hungry," she finished lamely, blushing at having been caught staring. After all, no one could argue that Jack was more appetizing than food.
"I see ya haven't e'en touched yer rum," Jack said, suddenly remembering when he saw her brows furrow. "Oh, forgive me. I forgot ye didn't drink."
He grinned when she remained silent and looked away at Mr. Gibbs who was chuckling lightly with an animated pirate sitting next to him.
"Wouldn't hurt to try it just this once, would it?"
At this, she returned his gaze and saw a daring, mischievous, and possibly lust-filled glare to his deep, chocolate brown eyes… the same ones she had stared into while pausing her T.V. screen every time he appeared. She almost smiled at the memory and began to think how much better looking he was up close…. There was a distinct charmingly rouged look about Jack that drew her to him.
Honestly, the only thing that kept her from pouncing on him and kissing him senseless, like she'd imagined doing in previous fantasies, was not only the fact that everyone was watching and might think she was a bit crazy, but that he did have a reputation of being a womanizer. Had she given into this desire at some point, it would be quite easy for him to break her heart for the next beauty or whore that walked into his life.
To make it worse, she would eventually have to return to the time where she belonged. Therefore, there were many reasons to keep herself guarded, as love could only lead to regret and misery in the end.
Suddenly, a loud, bark-like laugh from a rowdy, drunken pirate across the table broke her from her thoughts. Jade jumped as she realized she'd been staring… again! But then, so had Jack….
"I suppose one drink couldn't be too horrible," Jade said finally, smiling as she accepted his offered mug.
After all, if she was ever going to taste the stuff, who better to get pissed with then Jack Sparrow! He'd given her no reason not to trust him thus far… and he'd been loyal enough in the movie.
Jack's eyes widened as he watched the petite girl in front of him chug down a whole thing of rum. Apparently she was thirstier than either of them had thought.
Once finished, Jade put the mug down and smiled lazily at him. "Actually, that stuff is quite good. May I have another please?"
"Of course, luv. Plenty more where that came from," Jack told her as he refilled her glass before throwing back his head of dark dreadlocks and downing his own rum.
Jade ordered glass after glass, giggling madly, from Jack who happily obliged. Before she knew it, Jade was horribly drunk, dancing and clapping merrily with all the pirates around her. One of Jack's crew owned a Spanish guitar, in which he played for the whole galley. The tune was so loud and joyful that it could be heard throughout the entire ship that night.
After a while of dancing, Jade, although as drunk as she was, became aware that some pirates were beginning to grope, whispering crude offers in her ear. For this reason she was all too happy to accept Jack's request to join him on deck.
"Shall we?" he said in attempt to sound gentleman-like, which caused Jade to burst into a fit of giggles.
"Of course, my deeeear Cap'n Sparrow!" she drawled, linking arms with him as he lead her up top.
The rush of night air was relieving from the smelly, rum-scented pirates below.
"You'll have te forgive me for me men." Jack turned to watch her, a hint of concern in his eyes. "It's been quite a long time since we've been in the company of a young ladysuch as yerself, Miss Johnson."
"No need for formalities, Captain Sparrow," she said, staggering away from him only to catch herself on the railing. "Call me Jade."
"Aye. And I'm Jack," he replied, walking over to her and resting his elbows on the railing.
"So you are… " she closed her eyes, drinking in the smell of the salty sea, the sound of the crashing waves, and the presence of Jack Sparrow all the while thinking there was not many who could experience moments like this.
The full moon reflected across her face and Jack saw a very dreamy look come over the girl, her large, round eyes relaxed.
A soft humming from the guitar drifted up to the deck and Jack decided to take his chance.
"Care for a moonlight dance, m'lady?" Jack made a dramatically low bow and waved his hand in a twirling motion out for her to take.
Laughing, Jade took his hand and replied, "I'd love to… but I must warn you, I'm terribly clumsy and hardly know how to waltz."
"That's quite alright, darling," Jack reassured her, meeting her eyes with a grin. "Just follow my lead."
Jack was a surprisingly good dancer, for being a pirate anyway, but of course she assumed this went along with his whole charming gig to get her in bed. However, the rational Jade was put aside, as well as these kind of thoughts, while the alcohol in her triggered the loud laughter that erupted when Jack swooped her so low as to where the tips of her hair swept the ground.
What began as a generally formal waltz, turned into a massive giggle fest in which Jade took the lead and positioned Jack for a hilarious imitation of the Tango.
Cheek to cheek, Jade propped their clasped hands far in front of them while she drug the two of them across the deck, stumbling as she went.
They became so caught up with each other and their dancing that Anamaria's entrance went completely unnoticed.
"Captain?" she asked uncertainly. Jack promptly turned toward the voice, dropping Jade to the ground.
"Ow!" Jade cried, steadying herself only to smack the man in the back of the head for his carelessness.
Jack's hand flung to his neck, ignoring Jade as he gestured towards the other woman in a drunken manner. "Ah! Anamaria… Lovely to see yeh! We were jus'… "
"Having a moonlight encounter?" she finished for him with a quick, forced smile.
"But we weren't doing anything of the so-" Jade stopped shortly as Anamaria sharply turned towards her.
She narrowed her eyes and continued, "Be careful with this one, Miss Jade. Pirates don't mix well with ladies… "
Jade raised an eyebrow. Where did that come from…? Was Anamaria actually in love with Jack? Was this the reason she was being so distant? Anamaria was jealous? But all this thinking was giving Jade a gigantic headache and she was suddenly aware of how truly exhausted this had made her. She decided that maybe it was best she turn in for the night.
"Well, this has been an… interesting evening. I guess I'll see you people in the morning!" Jade announced, quickly making her way back to the cabin in what she deemed to be a dignified manner. Her legs, however, failed her as she tumbled into a barrel and banged her forehead on the edge.
"Damn!" she cursed in a loud whisper and continued down the stairs, cheeks flaming.
Jack bit back a grin as Anamaria glared after her, "So I suppose this is becoming a routine, then? Charm 'em, screw 'em, and leave 'em?"
Jack narrowed his eyes, for once looking truly hurt at her words. "You really misjudge me intentions, Ana."
"Don't call me that," she snapped. "Just leave this one alone. She's not some whore you picked up in Tortuga."
"I don' think it's up te you to tell me what te do, now is it?" Jack frowned. "Besides, yer absolutely right. She's no whore and I don' plan on treatin' her like one! 'Scuse me."
Jack roughly pushed past her and followed Jade below deck. Anamaria looked after him, a slight smile evident on her lips. Hopefully he meant what he said.
A/N: Thank you so very much to the two people that actually reviewed! ;) All those who didn't, please do so. It is very encouraging to know that people are actually reading your story… But yes, this was an interesting chapter to write. There's much more to come! If you want it that is…
Peace, love, and chocolate,
Nique