3

The Dance

Jack sat in his cabin with a bored expression on his face, humming to himself in an attempt to amuse himself; a rum bottle hanging from his hand. But the well-known shanty was not enough to erase the puzzling thoughts running through his head.

"'I thought you could never trust a pirate.'" Jack mocked. "What is she thinking? Does she mean to do what she does…umm…what exactly is it that she does?"

Jack stood, his eyes widening at the thought that maybe, just maybe, Elizabeth was just toying with his emotions.

"Yes, that's it…that's all it is…it's a…game!" he laughed, grinning at his usual genius. "She means to lure me in. To distract me from what I really want…But what is that?"

He paced back and forth, the bottle shaking in his nervous hand and the little trinkets in his hair clanged against one another. He didn't know what to think. What was it that he truly wanted? What was it that his heart truly desired?

As he settled back into his chair to think about the past few weeks, a noise came from above deck. Jack looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. "Not another fight!"

Jack set his bottle down on the map-filled desk and made his way up the stairs to the deck.

"Stop your bloody fighting men! Can't we have one voyage without any blasted…" he looked at his men and listened for a second, awestruck. Music was playing, the men dancing madly about the deck, tripping over lines and their own feet. Bottles of rum scattered the rails and slippery floor; the moon lit the deck perfectly. But something was missing…someone was missing.

Jack looked around, searching for the young creature he had been so confused by, finding her at the bow, gazing out over the waters beyond, singing with a melancholy sway.

"You do not care to join the party?" Jack asked, coming up next to her, grinning.

"Too many things on my mind."

Something inside Jack told him that it was not time to tease. "Ah, of course. You worry of your dear William. But something inside me wonders, why are you always ending up on my ship with my crew? Why are you always putting your life and Will's life at that, in my hands?"

"Well," she smiled, holding in a giggle. "Something draws me in. I don't know what…whether it be your sense of fearlessness, your genius for finding a ton of trouble or the fact that no matter how much trouble you get yourself into, you always get yourself out of it."

Jack chuckled. But before he could reply, Mr. Gibbs came bounding toward them, laughter echoing in the air.

"Cap'n, the men wish you to dance, Sir. No askin' me why…they just be wanting you to join the party, as it were!"

"Understandable," Jack looked from Mr. Gibbs to Elizabeth, uncomfortably. "If Miss Elizabeth will care to join the shindig as well, then count me and my rum bottle in!"

Elizabeth turned around, amusement written across her blushing face. "No rum, Jack. You shall be sober tonight if you wish my attendance!"

Mr. Gibbs looked nervous as Jack stepped closer to Elizabeth. "Is that all you ask, love? Well by all means, take all the…good and tasty rum and store it in the cargo! I shall dance sober tonight!"

"You heard the Captain! Take the rum away!"

Jack rolled his eyes, mumbling to himself, "Again she did it! What is it about her that's making me give up my…oh rum! Oh bugger I gave up the rum?" He shook his head as he made his way back to the small party.

Three men sat on barrels playing lively tunes, and the crew formed a circle, laughing at one another's two left feet. Jack laughed as he walked around, stealing glances at Elizabeth's smiling face. James Norrington stood a few feet away from her, gazing at her with longing.

"What's he thinking?" Jack asked, disgusted. He walked over to the three men and instructed them to play a slow song, an idea coming to mind. "Genius!" he said proudly.

The men played the requested song with many mishaps, but Jack paid no mind, he could only watch Elizabeth. He watched as Norrington began to move closer to her, a smile creeping across his stern features. He had to stop him.

"Lizzy, care to dance?" Jack asked, offering his hand.

Elizabeth looked at the hand, shock filling her eyes as she thought. "Umm, sure Jack."

He took her hand, smiling on the inside at his triumph. But now he was faced with another problem; could he dance?

He led her to the center of the circle, grinning nervously as he took her waist with his other hand. He bit his lip as he started to move his feet, trying not to look fearful.

"You're a fine dancer, Jack." she commented, looking up into his eyes.

He had never noticed her eyes before, how they glistened, until now. He was lost. Captivated. Stolen.

"Why…thank you love…"

The song continued for several minutes, his heart pounding the whole time. As the band finished the tune, he stopped, gazing down at the eyes he had just now fallen into. He couldn't think. He could only look deeper into the golden flakes in her eyes.

"Jack?"

"Yes, love?"

"Could you let me go?" she asked.

He shook his head, tearing himself from his daydreams. "Oh…yes…sorry!"

He ran from the circle and down to his cabin. He closed the door quickly, resting against it as he caught his breath. "I'm not…This can't be…I shouldn't have danced…but…it was so, so perfect." he sighed. "I can't really be feeling this way, can I?"