Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original POTC characters…otherwise I would be making a real book or movie…not fan fiction. I hold all rights to my original characters.

Chapter 3

While I waited for him, the phone rang. I grabbed the one from on top of the TV and answered it, "Hello?"

"Hello, may I speak with Sarah?"

"Speaking."

"Hey Sarah…It's Lee. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out…catch a movie?"

Now, before you judge me and think I'm a complete bitch, Lee is my ex. I kinda rushed into a relationship with him a year or so back, then realized it was a big mistake. Obviously, I broke up with him…but he's never stopped bugging me, trying to get back together with me. I mean, this is more than a year later and he's asking me out to the movies like nothing happened. He's an okay guy, but just somehow got the impression that I have an everlasting, immortal love for him. Consequently….

"Hey, you know what movie I'd love for you to see? It's called 'Bugger Off". I think it'd be best if you went to see it by yourself. Think of it as a learning experience."

"Sarah, you aren't serious, are you? Why won't you come out with me? You haven't had a boyfriend since me, and it's been a year and a half! That's gotta say something!"

"All it says is that I learned something from our relationship and I'm a bit more selective. I don't rush into stupid situations anymore Lee, stop trying to drag me into one!"

"But Sarah…You know how much you mean to me, you know you changed me. I know that deep down inside, your heart is crying to be back with me. Why don't you listen? I just can't get you out of my head; I can't stand it when you act like you don't care. I hate it when you hide your feelings for me."

"Lee, get it through your fucking head. I act like I don't care because I really don't. I'm not hiding anything, I just don't have any damn feelings for you! Is it that hard to understand that even coming up on two years after I broke up with you that I don't like you?"

"Sarah, I understand. You just need more time to think about it. Just take some time, think about what I mean to you. Think about all the things I've done for you."

"I don't need more time to think! I stopped thinking about it more than a year ago. You mean nothing to me, and you're just making go from neutral to hating you when you bug me like this. Can't you see that I have No, None, Zip, Nada feelings for you?"

"Sarah…You don't understand what you've done."

"SHUT UP! Listen, I can't and won't ever go out with you. Besides, I've got a date tonight with a very sweet guy, and I quite like him, thank you very much. There's nothing you can say or do that'll make me come crying back to you. Goodbye."

I hung up and slumped on the couch, seconds away from tears of frustration and sadness. I didn't like hurting him…But there's no way in hell I'll ever get back together with him. I tear ran down my cheek and I saw Jack standing in the doorway with a shell-shocked face.

"I…I'm sorry Jack. I wish you hadn't seen or heard that…I---" That's all I could get out before a sob wracked my body. His eyes widened and he rushed to sit down next to me and pull me close to him with his arm around my shoulder.

As my tears stained his, my brother's, shirt, I realized how comforting he was. Very few people know how to console me when I'm like this…and then here's this guy. His arms felt so right holding me…I wanted to stay there forever. Even after my last tear dropped, I stayed close to him, snuggled in his arms. He made me feel like nothing could go wrong…

"What's a date?" I hadn't thought he'd pick up on that…damn. "Well Jack…It's when two people who like each other go out together…hopefully to have fun."

"By like, are you referring to friends or lovers?"

"Well, eventually lovers if the date goes right…"

"So it is like courtship, yes?" I blushed. "Well, sort of. Most of the time it doesn't end up in marriage—it's more like an experimental stage. Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you hate what you've gotten, and hopefully one time you'll get exactly what you need, your true soul mate. That's just my opinion though…I'm a hopeless romantic."

"Sarah, I apologize for coming into your day at such a critical time. Truthfully, I find myself wishing you were not courted, but--" I nearly gasped at his last statement, but he was getting up. I found myself desperately wanting him to stay, so I grabbed his arm. "Wait, Jack. I…I sort of lied to Lee. I don't really have a date…I just spun us hanging out at my house into a date…I hope you don't mind."

He flashed me a mind-boggling smile and retorted, "Me? Mind going on a date with you?" He caught on to modern day language quick…smart cookie…yum.

"Well, um…If you want--" I stumbled before he interrupted me with a curious sheen in his eyes.

"So I was the guy you were talking about?" I blushed as he stared deeply into my eyes. I didn't feel like bothering with any stupid hemming or hawing—he deserved the truth. I took a deep breath and said, "Yeah. You're the guy I was talking about, and I meant every word." I finally took the time to look him over in modern day clothing, and damn…I found myself going pink just thinking of all the things we could do…yum.