4

Stargazing

Jack walked on the beach in Port Langosta, his head pounding in confusion. The port was busy as usual, the tropic port cooling as the sun began to fall below the horizon; Jack sighed as he watched. Something within him was glad to be on land, away from the fury of the sea and the uncertainty of his life's fate. The land meant safety. That little jar of dirt wasn't security enough for him, even if Tia Dalma believed in its truth.

He was walking away from the business of the seaside village; away from the noise and chaos, to find a place to think. "I need to think for once in who knows how long!" he thought as he took off his boots, letting his bare feet sink into the golden sand.

He continued to walk until he came to a curve in the beach where large rocks sat half submerged in the foaming surf. He picked a rock and plopped down with a sigh, allowing his feet to hang in the water. "Ah, this is nice, if only I had the rum!" he said to himself, a smile forming on his lips.

He sat there, debating with himself for hours, until soon, he was talking out over the ocean, his voice rising and falling in frustration.

"Ok, so maybe I've changed, but how?" he said, waving his arms around. "I couldn't have changed so much that saving my own life isn't what I truly want! Could I?"

He looked around. The sun had completely disappeared from the sky, being replaced by the glorious light of the moon. The moon seemed closer than usual, reflecting off the water with brilliant glitter. The sky was perfectly cloudless, allowing you to see the stars in all their brightness.

"Beautiful!" he admired.

"I had no idea you were a stargazer as well, Captain Sparrow." said a voice from behind him. It was too dark to see her face but Jack knew exactly who it was.

"Elizabeth?" he asked, trying to sound unexcited but failing terribly.

"Yes…I love the stars on nights like this…don't you?" she walked over, sitting on the rock next to him. His heart began to pound. "What are you doing, Jack?" he asked himself. "Don't get all dismantled by her presence! Not until you've figured things out!"

"Oh, umm…yes…love them."

"I used to spend hours on the balcony in my room, gazing out over the stars!" she explained, smiling in the darkness.

"Really?"

"Yes, it was…relaxing when the life of Governor's daughter got too stressful."

"Ah, I see…is it still stressful?" he asked, not knowing where his fascination came from. "What are you doing!? Don't ask such questions!"

She stared out over the water, sighing as water covered her tiny bare feet. "Not so much anymore."

"Oh."

They sat in silence, gazing at the sea and the stars above them. Jack, meanwhile, battled with himself. "Calm down…just breathe and everything will be fine." he instructed, before disagreeing. "No, she's only a foot or so away from me and you want me to be calm!?"

She looked at him, an eyebrow arching in curiosity. "Are you all right?"

"Umm…" he thought for a minute, wondering if he really was. "Yes, I'm fine."

She continued to look at him, her lips forming into a smile that he couldn't read, even if it would have been daylight.

"What are you smiling for, love?" he asked, thinking it may be a safe enough question to ask.

She thought for a moment. "Well, I'm just wondering what's changed about you over these past few weeks. You're different." she explained, looking back at the water covering her toes.

"I am?"

She laughed. "Very!"

He looked at her and then back at the stars above, wondering what she was thinking. "How so?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out."

"She's thinking about me?" he said to himself, the thought lifting his spirits. "But is that a good thing? And, what will happen if she figures out that I've been thinking about her lately?"

He looked down at her, smiling to himself. "Have you figured anything out?"

"Well," she began. "I've been a bit confused since that storm and your concern for my safety."

He looked away, worried that she may see through his exterior and read his thoughts. "Really? Well, I told you that I was worried about having your dear William to answer to if anything whatsoever happened to you." he hoped he sounded convincing.

"I don't really believe you." she smiled, stubbornly. "I think there is more than you are letting on!"

"Oh you do, do you?" he turned to face her, finding her closer, staring right into his eyes through the darkness.

"Yes!"

"Well, I…can assure you that there is nothing more than what I've told you." he said, using his persuasive voice, hoping she would change the subject.

And it worked for a few minutes, but she had changed to a subject much worse than the first. "I heard you." she said simply.

He raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"A few nights ago, I heard you at the bow. You were dreaming and mentioned a girl that you denied you loved. And for some odd reason, I believed you were talking about me."

Jack sat in shock, his eyes growing wide, but he soon changed his expression. "Look what you've done now, Jack!" he thought. "Now she knows you could feel something for her!" then he paused for a moment, a new thought arising. "Do I?"

She looked up at him, waiting for at least one simple word. "Oh? Did I?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, and I know you know what I am talking about, Jack."

His heart began to pound when she said his name, making his stomach form into butterflies. "I'm too old for this feeling!" he thought to himself, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. What makes you think I'd tell you about it?" he said rudely, trying to act like his normal self.

"Jack, you can try to hide whatever you're feeling, but at some point, it will get to be too hard for you."

"Oh, you think so?" he laughed as he stood, deciding it'd be best if he left. "Jack, you know she's right!" his conscience said, making him stop walking. Elizabeth ran to him, standing in front of him. "What do you need now, love?" he asked, frustrated.

"The truth!"

He looked down at her, his heart pounding as he looked into her eyes. He wanted so badly to take her into his arms, to hold her close and never let her go, but he knew better. "I don't love you." he looked away so she would not see his saddened face and walked away. "How long can I live with this lie?"