Thicker Than Water – Chapter Ten – You Think I Wear This Dress Cause I Like It?

As soon as he arrived in Port Royal, Jack didn't even wait for the ship to be fully tied to the docks. He jumped off and made his way to Walters-Churchill School for Girls. Jack couldn't believe that his daughter was a prissy little girl that went to private school. Well she'll be just lovely to have on board, won't she? thought Jack.

Jack had decided to go to the school by himself. Any of the other men would probably scare the girls away because of their looks. Or smell. Or both. Elizabeth couldn't come either because she obviously would not stick to his plan. Being sulky about Will, and all.

So all by his lonesome he walked up to the massive brick building and was about to knock the knocker when he heard a girl's voice from behind him.

"Who are you?" She asked.

She looked to be about fourteen or fifteen and was wearing a white frilly dress with a blue ribbon in her chin-length hair. Freckles were scattered over the bridge of her nose, and she wore a look of utter disgust.

Jack stared at her as though she were a very strange bug. "None of your business." He said and turned back to knock the knocker.

"Well then, what are you doing here? You look familiar…" This girl just wouldn't go away.

"I've come here for my daughter. Now, if you'll excuse me—" Jack raised the knocker.

"Your daughter?" The girl asked, taken aback. "Who's your daughter?"

Jack put down the knocker once more and turned from the school to the girl. He pointed to the girl, "Do you…" He pointed to the school, "Go here?"

The girl laughed, she had a sharp, sarcastic bark of a laugh. "You think I wear this dress 'cause I like it?"

Jack took a good look at the dress and made a face.

"Yes, I go to this school," The girl said.

Jack had a strange feeling that this girl was his daughter. Her personality and wit, the way she hated conformity. She was obviously supposed to be in class right now, it was the late afternoon, which means she probably snuck out.

"What's your name, girl?" Jack asked, anticipating the name 'Rebecca.'

"Ryesen." She said, defensively.

Jack was thoroughly disappointed. He was so sure that this girl was his daughter. He could have gotten along with her. She even seemed like fun. What the bloody hell am I saying! Seemed like fun? Jack, mate, I will not allow you to become emotionally attached to these things people call offspring. It's not…natural. Jack was confused. He couldn't figure out why he had gotten so excited when he thought this girl might be related to him. I'm just here for the map. Nothing else. He reminded himself.

"Ryesen." He said, trying to put a smile on his face. "Do you know Rebecca?"

Rebecca was such a boring name. Why couldn't Ryesen be his daughter?

"Yes, I know Rebecca. Why do you ask?" Ryesen asked, cautiously.

"Tell me about her. Is she like you?" Jack was truly curious.

Ryesen eyed Jack suspiciously, but said, "No, she's too afraid of breaking the rules." She laughed. "But I think that she wishes she could be more free. She doesn't like the idea of being stuck in one place too long, although she's been in this school all her life."

"How would you know that she doesn't like being in one place too long, if she's been in this school forever?" Jack asked.

"Our equestrian class in the morning has a view of the harbor, and she's always monitoring what ships enter and leave. Every day she has a new plan to escape. She never does, though, since she's afraid of getting in trouble."

Now this sounded more like his daughter. Well, except for that whole "afraid of getting in trouble" part. But he could work with that.

"Ryesen, I need you to do me a favor." Jack leaned in closer to Ryesen and lowered his voice.

As Jack whispered, Ryesen's face slowly lit up. A few times she gasped in excited disbelief, and as soon as Jack finished speaking, Ryesen said, "I'll do it. Just tell me when."

"Tonight, preferably."

"Done." Ryesen said, now glowing with excitement. "Nice meeting you, Captain Jack Sparrow."

"And you, Ryesen. I pray we meet again." Jack put his hands flat together and walked backwards, watching Ryesen hurriedly sneak back into the building.

Now all he had to do was wait. And pray. And drink. Rum preferably, but he wasn't too picky at this point.