Author's Note: Update. Woot! I loved all of your reviews btw. Keep them coming please XD.

Chapter Twenty: Crazy

Rise and fall. Rise and fall. Rise and fall.

Lainey decided she liked the way the sea worked. She was leaning against the side of the ship, watching it. Up and down, up and down- it was so perfect. Nothing complicated it, nothing bothered it, nothing stopped it.

Lainey knew she was not like the sea at this moment. Something was complicating her, something was bothering her, and yes, something was stopping her.

"Bloody Jack Sparrow," she said, but her voice was a mixture of bitterness and warmth.

Yes, Jack Sparrow. She was trying not to think about him. She couldn't forget the previous night though, when he had been playing about with her, so gentle and relaxed.

But how could she care for a man who told her a story she couldn't believe? She told herself if she didn't trust him, she couldn't care for him.

More than that, how could she care for a pirate? Pirates didn't care for anybody. But he had shown her he cared...

Bloody Jack Sparrow.

She was joined suddenly by Will Turner, who popped up at her side. She looked at him, surprised, but glad to see a friendly face. There was something inexplicably likeable about Will. Maybe it was the softness of his face, the almost boyish look in his eyes. Lainey liked the way his hair tumbled down.

"Hello, Will," she smiled.

"Good day, Miss P-"

"Lainey." Lainey smiled. "There's no need for formalities in a place like this, I feel. Especially not in the mood I'm in today." She turned her eyes back to the water.

"Oh?" Will asked. "What mood would this be?"

To tell Will or not to tell Will? He would probably just tell Jack. They were best friends, after all. She swallowed. "I don't know. I'm confused." She forced a relaxed smile. Then a thought struck her- Will was a pirate. She could find out some information about pirates and women from him. "Er- do you have a wife, Will?"

"Not quite," Will smiled, eyes twinkling as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. "I have a woman who is soon to be my wife. She lives in Port Royal- the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann."

"Is she beautiful?"

"Very." Will smiled delicately. "Quite a hellcat at times, mind you."

Lainey sighed. It was obvious Will loved this Elizabeth a lot. You could tell from the look in his eyes as he thought about her. So maybe it was possible for a pirate to love one woman. But then again, there was a lot of difference between softly-spoken Will Turner and insane, flirtatious Jack Sparrow.

Oh, what was she thinking? She couldn't have feelings for Jack, as she didn't trust him or believe his story. And that was that.

"Did Jack tell you about Evaneta?" Will asked suddenly.

Lainey looked at him, startled. "Y-yes, he did."

"You didn't believe him?" Will asked.

Lainey shook her head. She could see the look in Will's eyes, so disappointed, and she looked away, lips pinched.

"But why not?" Will asked, clearly shocked.

"He said I'm a princess," Lainey said, shaking her head. She looked at Will, trying to make him understand. "Me. I'm Lainey, I work in a tavern, I'm a serving wench. I live in poverty, I'm average-looking."

"Jack disagrees," Will smiled, and Lainey blushed in spite of herself, cursing herself. "But seriously, Lainey, I promise you this- Jack has not lied."

Lainey couldn't think of anything to say. Why would Will lie? Why would Jack lie? But it couldn't be true- it was too insane to be true. She shook her head.

"What were you thinking about before I got here?" Will asked, eyes twinkling. "You seemed... engrossed. Was it a certain pirate Captain, by any chance?"

Lainey knew her cheeks were crimson. Was it so obvious? "I- I don't know what you're talk-"

"Sure." Will grinned, then walked away.

Lainey watched him go. She felt like shouting at him that he was wrong. But she knew deep down he wasn't. She was falling for Jack- and it was pointless denying it, wasn't it?

It was funny- she had hated him so much.

But last night... she had felt so, so close to him. Even after he had told her that story.

She would remember if she was a princess! Gosh, she would remember.

Lainey wanted to remember. Jack had said he was going to make her remember.

She wondered what he had planned. A funny feeling washed over her, one of anticipation. She was going insane. She had to be going insane.

Still, tonight would decide everything.

Next chapter preview...

She turned her head to face his, her legs feeling weak. She wasn't really sure what was happening. His face was before her own, his eyes looking longingly into her own, outlined with their kohl so attractively. A gold tooth slid out to nibble on his lip, before he leaned closer to her... and she wanted him to kiss her, she really did. She was standing on her toes, raising her mouth to his... her eyes half-closed...