The Beautiful Waves

Author: Mistress Daphine Zobar

Rating: Teen

Remember, I own nothing.

"Well, love, I might as well get to the point," Jack Sparrow said, taking a swig of his rum. Meileine looked up from the rum she was sipping. She liked rum as much as the next person, but she couldn't hold her liquor as well as the next person. This was why she was sipping and not chugging away.

"Hmm?" was all she could say. She honestly didn't know what he was about to say. In her heart, she was hoping that whatever he had to say would involve them being together again. But she couldn't see why he would want her back again. It wasn't that she left the ship in a fit or a fist-fight. But she couldn't see why he would need her. She thought he had made that clear a long time ago.

"Don't worry, love," he said. "If ye intend to leave, then I won't have any more use for ye now will I?"

Unless…

"Ye know as well as I do that, being the great pirate that I am, I've always felt a need to go after the greatest treasures that lay scattered all over the world." He opened his arms for emphasis. Smiling, he took another drink from his mug. "And this time, I've me sights set on a treasure that's fit for a king. Savvy?" Meileine nodded. "And in order to get me hands on that treasure, I'll be needin' the help of one VERY special person: me favorite lil' thief." He leaned towards her and gave her his classic, toothy grin. "What do ye say, then?"

Meileine had stopped pretending to pay attention to what was on the table by the time Jack spoke his last sentence. All she could do was stare at him and try to keep a straight face. She tried to analyze what he had just told her with both her mind and her heart.

I should be glad he'll be wantin' me to join him. Even if it's for another of his treasure hunts. But that's what makes him a pirate. That's what makes 'im "Captain" Jack Sparrow. He loves the sea and he loves treasure. An' besides, I haven't gotten a proper chance to be usin' me skills in a while. But why me? Why a thief? She decided she would ask him. Knowing the captain, he was prone to getting himself and those he worked with in a lot of strange trouble.

"But why me? Why a thief?" She took another sip of her rum.

Jack sat back into his seat. Well, there's the lil' lass I remember, he thought, smiling. Never the one to completely jump off ship without knowin' a bit or two 'bout the water below. And she didn't say "no," which means she's still weighing her options. Well 'en I'll just have to be puttin' 'em to both our favors.

"Let me answer your second question first 'n foremost. It was with great fortune that a few weeks ago, I stumbled on meself the secret to getting' to long, lost treasure. It's on an island not too far from here, 'n I can show ye the map once we get on board. That is, if ye still be willin'ta join me." He paused, staring at her.

"Go on," was all Meileine said.

Jack smiled and continued with his story. "Now, from what I've been 'earin', that treasure is heavily guarded by the inhabitants of that there isle. The treaure itself is in the heart of the island. And this is where you come in, love." He clasped his hands together and pointed at her. "I need you to help me sneak on over and through the island and help me grab onto that treasure. Savvy?"

Meileine thought it over. "How much bounty are we talking 'bout here?" she asked. She knew she couldn't lift a mountain's worth of gold and try to sneak away without making some sort of ruckus. Too much gold might be too risky with only two people. Jack looked at her and smiled.

Great, she thought. I hope he's not thinkin' that I'm only in it for the booty.

"Why, love, there's enough gold and glitter to pass around threefold."

"And what of this here island? And the security 'round the treasure? You ain't even told me the name of the island." It wasn't that she was suspicious of Jack, but she knew better when it came to this rambunctious pirate. She wanted to know what kind of mess she was getting herself into.

"Aye, Mei, ye be right," he said, finishing off his rum. "Now here be the first catch: I ain't tellin' ye anything till ye agree to join me." He trusted her, of course. He just knew that he wouldn't be able to lure her in if she knew all of what she was getting herself into.

And Meileine knew that. She could tell that they both had the same cogs turning in their heads. They were playing a game of the mind. Each knew the other's limits, and Meileine knew that Jack would never give her all the details until the very end. All that mattered now was trust. She did trust Jack, but only so well and so far. Did she trust him enough to let him drag her onto another perilous adventure? Her heart said yes, but her mind was still thinking it over.

I suppose I've no choice then, eh? She took out her hand. "We 'ave an accord."

Jack took Meileine's hand in his and, instead of shaking it, brought it to his lips and kissed it. Meileine tried not to blush, but allowed a smile to come out.

"Splendid," he said, releasing her hand and digging into his bag. He placed the appropriate number of shillings onto the table and stood up, Meileine following suit. "We set said next week. Think ye still got what it takes to sail that high seas in search for great fortune?" It wasn't so much of a question as it was a dare.

"Captain," she answered with mock-hurt in her voice, "don't ye know who I am? Surely ye know ye be trustin' me?"

"Of course, m'lady," he laughed as they exited the cantina.

An' that's why I chose ye, lil' Meileine. 'Cuz I know ye wouldn't betray me. He sighed.

We be knowin' each other too much, too well.

OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooO

In my hand-written draft I had put this as the first sentence of the author's notes: "The reason why this chapter's so long…." When I write up my drafts, they always look so long and I think to myself, Wow, this is a long chapter, and it gets me by surprise to see that when I type it out that no, it isn't very long. I suppose that's why my paragraphs are so short. But if I just did it on the computer from the off then I think I'd feel pressured to make the paragraphs longer.

With that said, the reason why this chapter is so "long" is because I want to get to the adventure and romance already! Even though I had put "Drama/Romance" as the genre, it looks like there's going to be more adventure than I previously thought. The problem is that now I'm stuck in a rut: do I tell the story of what happens to Meileine and Jack during the week that the Pearl is being repaired and restock? That way, there can be more romance and drama early on, and then adventure once they sail off. Or should I just go straight to the adventure and wait until later to explore their romance, or have a little romance during the adventure, or a lot of romance. Or I could do a little of each, of course. I just don't know. Please comment and give me your suggestions! They would be most appreciated.

It seems like Jack only wants Meileine for her role in the mission. Will he eventually fall in love with her? Why would he? Is he in love with her? Does he know that she's in love with him? Would he return her love? These teasing questions seem to be more dramatic than the actual story, haha. We'll wait and see.

Thank you again to my wonderful reviewer, The-Pirate-Lass!

Mistress Daphine