Marti was sat on top of Jack's cabin, wither legs dangling over the edge. Ana saw her and went to ask her if she had seen Elizabeth. When she reached her, she realised that Marti only had one shoe on. Her red and white clad foot was swinging, and she had her boot in her hands.
"What's up?" She asked Marti, who was holding her boot with a look of deep concentration on her face.
"Bloody Clay ripped me boot." She said, huffily, "Ripped the laces clean out. Now I have to fix it."
"Make him do it."
"Tried that. Says he's to busy." Then she began a steam of Spanish profanities directed to Clay. Ana held up her hands,
"Woah, save that for him." Ana said, "Have you seen Elizabeth?"
"I've had it with bloody English women." Marti said. "That's a no."
"I'm half English you know."
"But the better half of you is Spanish. That makes up for it." Marti said seriously. "I never understand English women."
"I don't think I can help you there. Look how I turned out." Ana said, "Well, have you seen the Captain then?" Marti nodded, and kicked the boards where her feet dangled.
"He's in there. I'm tryin' to see how long it will take me to drive him to insanity by kickin' his wall." Ana nodded,
"There's a productive thing t' be doing."
"Aye. That's what I thought." Ana shook her head and knocked on the door to Jack's cabin before entering.
Jack looked up from the map he had been studying.
"Find out anything worth knowin'?" He asked her. Ana was about to answer, but pulled open the door again,
"Marti, go annoy some one else please?" She said. Marti saw the look in her friends eyes.
"This a bit of a private chin wag session?" She asked, casually, then slid down to the deck. "Alright then, I'll go find Elizabeth for you."
"Quick, some one tell her t' run an' hide," Jack said, "Teeny's bored." Marti stuck out her tongue before she left. "I should 'av her thrown off me ship." Jack said when she had gone.
"Probably." Ana agreed,
"So what did you find out?"
"She's a very high strung English lady, the whole, oh I say thing going on. But, I don't think she's a bad person. She doesn't hate me anyway." Jack raised his eyebrows momentarily,
"You'd be the only one then." He said.
"I just think maybe she's heard some bad things about pirates." Ana said, seriously, "I thought she'd warm up a bit if she came to eat with the rest of us, but she won't leave the cabin."
"Bloody women." Jack said, and caught Ana's eyes avoiding his. "What?"
"What, what?"
"What was that look for?"
"What look?"
"Ana Maria, don't play dumb with me. It won't work." Ana glanced behind her and made sure the door was shut.
"Captain, if you don't mind me saying this, why do you care about her? You said yourself that the bet…"
"Oh, the bet," Jack shook his head, "You know not to take any notice of me when I'm that drunk. I got no intention of wastin' me time seducin' some English brat." He said, "She'll fall head over heels for me anyway. All women do eventually."
"Except me," Jack let out a quick snort of laughter,
"Liar." He accused her, "I'm not usually one to bring up the past Ana Maria, but…" Ana cut him off.
"That's quite enough of that thank you," She said, "So why do you care about Rosaline?" Jack shrugged,
"I don' know," He said, "Just thought I'd take a healthy interest in me new cargo, is all." Ana inspected him carefully,
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Ana Maria, you are avoiding the point of the conversation." Jack said, in a tone that told her the matter was not up for discussion.
"Alright," She gave in, "It's just, I saw something in her eyes, when I mentioned joinin' the crew. It's prob'ly nothin'." Jack gave her a questioning look and she continued, "But when I mentioned it, she looked scared, not like, disgusted or anything, but genuinely terrified of being with us. I really think that she might have a bloody good reason to hate pirates." Jack frowned,
"Go on…"
"Well, that's it really. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I think it's important." She paused, "There is something more to this than a 'healthy interest' isn't there?" Jack didn't answer at first.
"I'm not sure," He said, "but when I am, I'll be sure to tell ye straight away, lass." He frowned again, as if considering something he had dismissed before, "Was there anything else?"
"I just said I'd get her some clothes from Elizabeth, and take her some food." Ana said, "Maybe you should…"
"I think it'd be safe for you to take care of that," Jack said, "I don't want anymore of me ship's ornamentation smashed against the door frames." Ana smiled,
"Aye Cap'n," She said, and before she left the room, she turned back, "I think… that with time and patience, and maybe a reason not to hate pirates, she might come round." Then she shut the door, leaving Jack to his thoughts.
Good to hear you enjoyed chapter 16 Rae Roberts! Jack's disgraceful, isn't he?
Keep reading, keep reviewing, and above all, keep enjoying!
All my love,
Savvy Z