Chapter Twenty

Curiosity

Don't own Red Bull or Fort Snelling. But I love to drink RB!

By the way, the story's going to get a little more sexy from here on out (I think...may take a few more chapters, but it's starting here).

Kate was not a morning person. She hated all things about the morning. She hated how some people were so cheerful at 7:45, like Will. And she had always tried to not be cranky in the morning; she had even tried extra hard today seeing that it was her and Will's first morning together as a couple.

After dancing, they had sat on the couch together and talked for a while until they decided to go to sleep. Each had slept in their own beds, even though Kate said that she would only sleep and not "sleep" if they decided to share a bed together. Will declined, saying that even sleeping in the same bed was only for marriage.

Today was the day Will would go for his job interview at Fort Snelling. He said that he wasn't nervous, which was fine, since he probably didn't really know what to expect. Kate had said that there was nothing to worry about, that he would get in just fine.

"I'm tired," Kate said, taking a drink of Red Bull.

"It's because you haven't had a decent breakfast," Will said.

Yes, Kate hadn't eaten breakfast, but she normally wasn't a breakfast person. If she did eat something, it was usually light, like an apple or an orange.

"I told you, Will, don't worry about me. I'm fine." She smiled, trying to convince him. "Really. I have a granola bar with me."

He held one of her hands and looked into her green eyes. "I do, though, Kate. I can't help it."

"Well," she said, leaning closer to him. "Don't. I'm a big girl."

Melissa's car pulled up the driveway. Jack did not look happy today. Once he stepped out, Kate saw why. His bandana was taken out of his hair, revealing a tan line across his forehead, and he was put in modern-day clothes, compared to yesterday's pirate regalia. He was in a – dear God – a pink shirt and jeans. Really. A pink shirt.

Kate couldn't help but laugh. "Melissa!" she said, walking over to her side of the car. "What did–" She let out a laugh, then had to try and compose herself. "What did you do to him?"

"Well, he's going to out in public, what do you want him to wear?"

"I get what you're saying, but...a pink shirt?" She laughed again when she saw the look of misery on Jack's face. "What did he do to you?"

"Oh, what, it's punishment?"

"Sure not a reward. Look at him!"

Melissa glanced at him, then shrugged. "He'll live. I have to go to work. Tell Will I wish him luck with his interview."

"But he doesn't know you–"

Melissa rolled up the car window, drove away, and waved.

Kate picked up her black purse and slung it over her shoulder. She tried to hide a smile as she saw Jack. God, he looked unhappy...but something about it was so funny! And she wasn't the only one. Will was crying with how hard he was laughing.

"Alright, Will," she laughed. "Time to get Captain Pinky to Fort Snelling."

"You!" Jack pointed a finger at him. "Ye're not funny, missy!"

"Sorry," she said, drawing her lips in a thin line to keep from laughing. "We have to get going. His appointment is at 9:00, and if we leave now, we'll make it in time." She opened the garage door and unlocked the car.

Jack raced to the shotgun seat. "Front!"

"The correct term is 'shotgun!'," Kate corrected.

"Who died and made you boss?" Jack said.

"Davy Jones," she smiled.

"That is not funny!" Jack said, his voice dripping with anger.

"Yes, it is, Jack," Will said, getting in the back.

"And you!" Jack turned around. "Ye're not helpin' either. Now where's that monkey, I need to shoot somethin'. Or maybe I'll just settle for shootin' the eunich."

"Jack!" Kate said sternly, backing the car up. "Shut up or I'm stuffing you in the trunk."

"And the trunk is where, love?"

"In the back of the car behind Will. Imagine it like the brig, except a lot darker, drier, hotter and a lot more uncomfortable. Now, Jack, wouldn't you mind being quiet?"

Jack sent a death glare out of the corner of his eye to Kate. "Ye're too bossy."

"No, I'm not," she replied.

"Yes, you are. Otherwise you wouldn't have threatened me to a place worse than the brig."

"I am not," she said, trying not to add more fuel to the fire.

"Ye're sleepin' with The Whelp, aren't ye?"

Kate was halfway down the street when she heard him say that. She slammed on the brakes, so much that the three of them were thrown forward. Kate gave him a cold stare. "You. Out of the car."

"What?" Jack asked innocently. "I didn't do anythin' wrong! It was a question."

"I don't care if it was a question!" she said through gritted teeth. "You don't ask if I'm sleeping with someone. Now get out."

"And you 'on't 'ave t' tell me–"

"I'll tell you what. I'll be nice and have you sit in the back. Will, if you could be a dear and come sit in the front with me..."

"Somehow I think 'e'll be more than a dear," Jack muttered. "Y'know, I was here in the front so that ya didn't make the same mistake dear Melissa almost made yesterday."

Once Jack and Will had changed spots, Kate asked, "What mistake?"

"Oh, nothin'," Jack said nonchalantly. "Just don't take yer hands off the wheel and do not have yer first mate kiss ye while ye're steerin'...or shotgun partner...whatever they call it..."

Fourty-five minutes later, the group had arrived at Fort Snelling. Will had said that he would find Jack and Kate when he was done with his interview. Kate said that they would be touring the gift shop area and might be outside waiting for him.

The gift shop had a group of what appeared to be forth-graders in it all buzzing with excitement. Jack and Kate decided to go outside and wait for it to thin out before they went through the shop.

Kate was scolding herself for not wearing a tank top. She had already done the best she could in a short skirt, but it wasn't enough with a semi-thick t-shirt that said "I Got Me A New Boyfriend" from the boy/girl dance she was required to wear for her senior year.

"I'm not," Kate said. "I'm not sleeping with Will, you pervert. If you needed to know."

"There's my answer, love," Jack said. "That wasn't so hard, now was it."

"Will insists on being pure until marriage. Even when I asked if he wanted to just sleep with me last night, not 'sleep.'"

"And ye're tellin' me this why?" Jack asked. "I'm supposed to make it better by ravishin' ya in a bathroom?"

"No. I just feel like...you know..." She shook her head and laughed. "Why am I telling you this?"

"You're bored and curious."

"I'm not bored, it's been four days."

"Not with Will," Jack said. "Ye're tired of not doin' yer womanly deed by makin' babies."

Kate laughed. "I guess you could put it that way."

"You, eh, still got yer flower?" he asked.

Kate looked up for from digging her flip flop into a crack on the sidewalk and looked at Jack. "I beg your pardon?"

"You know..." Jack gestured to an area below her waist. "Your flower."

"My virginity?" Kate stifled a laugh. "I'm not so sure you need to know that."

"Ya told me that you're spendin' the evenin's thinkin' what could be, but ya won't tell me whether or not ya have a flower...A very special flower that you can only give one person. Now, love, do you still have that flower?"

"I can't believe that's what you call it, but, yeah, I still have my flower." She laughed. "Why are you asking me about this?"

"Don't you kind of want to give that flower away? Aren't you tired of carryin' it everywhere y' go?"

Kate looked away and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear to hid her blushing face. "This is none of your business.

"Aren't you even a little curious?" Jack asked. "Freedom, you long for it...you don't have to wait for Will...have me whenever you want..."

The truth was, Kate hated being a virgin. Scott, her ex, had wanted to wait until they were in college. Now she was stuck with someone else who wanted to wait, only this time it was longer! And now she was being offered freedom...she could do whatever she wanted with Jack.

What was she thinking?! She loved Will! And Melissa, her best friend, loved Jack...and who exactly did Jack like?

"Why are asking me this?" she asked.

"One word, love: Curiosity. You long for freedom. To do what you want because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist."

Was Kate curious? Yes. Was she having thoughts that a best friend should not have about their best friend's boyfriend? Yes. God, she was so going to burn in hell for this.

"And you're asking me this...because you're curious, yourself?" Kate asked, her green eyes flickering with lust. "Curiosity." She moved closer to him. "Is Melissa boring you?"

"Well, she sure's not fulfillin' my needs!"

Kate knew that she had Jack. He was right there, in the palm of her hand. She knew he wanted her...now the choice was her's. Will was away on his interview and wouldn't be back for a while, no one was around...but that would be cheating! And Kate would never think of cheating.

Would she?

God, she was supposed to hate this man! Just an hour ago she was yelling at him because she was accusing her of her and Will sleeping together. Why was she not yelling at him now when he brought up the idea of them sleeping together?

"Curiosity," she smiled. "You're going to want to know what it tastes like."

So wrong, Kate thought, feeling his hand on the back of her neck. So right, though...Curiosity will taste like Heaven...

She leaned forward and closed her eyes. So close to kissing him...

"Mommy!" a little boy's voice said. "Icky!"

Kate's eyes shot open to look at Jack's. She noticed that they were the color of chocolate. And his lips...they were so close!

Kate looked at where the voice came from. A brown-haired boy with an a newly bought Union cap in his hand was pointing at the two of them. Great. They were busted by a little boy who thought kissing was icky.

The mother (Kate guessed) gave them a disapproving glare before taking the little boy by his hand and directing him inside.

Kate scooted away from him and ran a hand through her hair. And she was so close...! She didn't care, she was still going to do this. She was going to end her curiosity if it was the last thing she did. Jack was right: one day she wouldn't be able to resist it.

Kate sat in silence as she waited for Will to say that he got the job. But really...what was she waiting for? The curiosity to be cured?

That only took one step, and Kate could do it right now if she wanted.

Kate's Blog Entry

I want Jack!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I'm going to go out of my mind! God, why didn't I just kiss him at Fort Snelling? We had to wait ten minutes afterwards for Will...he got the job by the way. But I really don't care about that, because I just want to kiss Jack!!! And possibly do other things that I should not be thinking about with my best friend's boyfriend...Why am I attracted to him all of a sudden? What is that make women want him? I'll let you know when I figure that out...I was so close, too!!!

No. I will not let myself keep thinking about Jack. I love Will. I love my boyfriend, I love my boyfriend...Yes, exactly what my shirt says: I got me a new boyfriend. Indeed. And I love him. I love him very, very, much. The thing is, I do love him. That's why I can't figure out why I feel this way about Jack.

I don't blame Elizabeth for kissing Jack. I mean, she got to kiss him right before he died...Oh my God! What if Will finds out that I lust Jack? What if he reads this? Worse yet, what if Melissa reads this?!

XOXO,

Kate