Author's Note: Ha Ha! The long awaited (for you and for me) chapter 13. Solia's POV. I think you'll like it. So read and review. Thanks again to Livi for the idea. So here you go...
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I went to bed exhausted from the day. So much had happened. I thought about everything Anamaria had told me. "I've seen Jack with women before, so I know he acts, but with you he's different. He's not himself...I just wanted you to know that." Was she telling the truth?
I want to believe her, I want to believe that he's different, that he's changed, but his reputation proves otherwise. She's like his sister, just like you and Johnny...friends, nothing more. You knew everything about him, so she should know about Jack. Listen to her, and give him a chance. I don't know how I feel about him, how can I give him a chance? I don't know how I should feel about him.
Maybe I overreacted. It's not like he hurt me, and it's not like you didn't enjoy his kiss. I...I didn't know how to react. I shouldn't have hit him.
Maybe I didn't overreact. "What did you think you could come along with no strings attached?" What did he mean by that? Is he going to turn me into his whore? His plaything? Was that one of the strings? Listen to yourself! You're acting like he raped you or something! He didn't. All he did was give you a kiss. One little kiss...
I am. I'm overreacting. I don't think Jack would hurt me. If what Anamaria said is true...I should give him a chance. Are you entirely sure that you trust him? I don't know. If he wants me to trust him he'll apologize, and I settled with that. If he wants me to trust him he'll apologize. I drifted off to sleep. A dreamless sleep.
I woke up the next morning, got dressed and went to breakfast. Ana was there sitting next to Jack. He looked over at me, but didn't say anything. Why didn't he say anything? He went on talking to Anamaria, who at least acknowledged my existence and said good morning. Maybe I should talk to him. I mean, I overreacted. Apologizing to him would just be admitting defeat. Defeat? What was the competition? Some silly, childish game where we wouldn't apologize or even speak to each other? I don't want that. I don't want him to touch me, but I don't want him to disappear completely. No. I'm going to talk to him.
"Good morning Jack." Plain and simple. No apology, just a simple good morning. I mean, do I need to apologize to him? Is it really necessary?
"Morning." That's all he said. It kind of hurt me because after I stormed off yesterday he didn't even come to see what was wrong. At least with the mopping incident he came to see me, came to apologize, proved he cared. I mean, is this even about an apology anymore? I just want to know that he cares. I don't think he does. There's this little part of me that believes that I'm some spoiled bitch. I could see how that could happen, I wasn't the nicest person.
"Ana, could I talk to you for a minute?" This funny look comes over her face, but she agrees. We walk back to my room, and I lock the door. I don't want Jack to find us. I don't know what to say to him. "I thought you said he was different."
"What do you mean?"
"You said he was different around me. I don't know. I just...I kinda thought he would apologize. I don't even know if it's about the apology anymore. It just..." She gives off a slight chuckle, which confuses me. "What?"
"Nothing. He is different around you, but Jack...Jack's not too big on apologies."
"Oh." What's going on with me? Yesterday I couldn't stand the bastard and now I want him to apologize, want to be reassured that he even cares...
"Just, don't be fooled by what Jack doesn't say. Keep in mind he's new at this."
"What? New at what?" I am totally lost. What have I gotten myself involved in?
"Feelings basically. You know about his reputation, that's why you're skeptical, but what you don't know is that Jack is going through the same thing." Jack's wondering about me? Is this for real? Wait. Why do I care? Stop arguing with yourself. You care about him. Just admit it. The sooner you admit it, the sooner your misery will end.
"Really?" I hope she's telling the truth. I don't like the silence.
"Yeah. Listen. I'm not telling you to go apologize to him, but don't be too hard on him either. He's trying. He's trying to make you happy." I thought I heard a hint of sadness, but maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me. I'm the one sad, not Ana. He's almost her brother for crying out loud. She would know. "Yeah. Don't be fooled by him. Beneath that hardcore pirate exterior, he's pretty nice. Right now he's just trying to find himself." She smiles. I'm pretty sure I imagined that earlier. She's practically out the door when I hear her say "Give him a chance." I just stare off towards the wall, thinking about every word she just said.
"Yeah, thanks." I respond so softly, I can hardly hear myself. She closes the door, and I get up from the bed. I want to go talk to Jack, but what am I supposed to say? Tell him what you told yourself. You didn't mean to overreact. You just did it. He surprised you. Although it was a pleasant surprise wasn't it? God, I hate this! I have to stop second guessing myself. I walk over and open the door and Jack is pacing back and forth. When the door opened, he stopped and looked right at me, I couldn't even pick out the emotion in his eyes, it was so mixed. Why was he standing there? "Were you listening to us?" I shout at him, and he doesn't answer. "Jack! You were eavesdropping!"
"No! No I wasn't. I was just..."
"Stop lying to me Jack! I know you were listening." You're overreacting again. He shouldn't have been listening! I have a right to overreact! What if we were talking about something else? His face is covered in defeat. He takes a deep breath and then answers me. I'm just surprised that he didn't run away. Maybe that does prove that he cares about you. He didn't run did he?
"I can't figure you out! What am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to apologize every time I offend you? I don't eavesdrop very often. I...I just need some indication that you won't hate me forever." Is this a hidden apology? "If it makes you feel better, I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I was wrong, okay. You looked so beautiful standing there..." The anger fades from his voice. "...I'm sorry. I'll never kiss you again." He doesn't mean that does he? What the hell are you saying? "All right?" He can't figure me out? He wants to figure me out? I couldn't tell if I was smiling or not, but I could feel my own anger disappear as I looked into his eyes.
"Okay." He smiles, and I can feel myself smile too. "So what happens now?"
"Well, I'd like to kiss you again."
