Chapter 3 - Stewed Lamb Brains

I wouldn't be surprised if she has a concussion! I swear Englehorn, they could have killed her!"

"Hardly Mr. Dehnam. It was an accident, I'm sure she will be alright."

May's eye's felt heavy, and her head was throbbing terribly. Her eyes fluttered open slowly but surely, surprised to be staring up at a ceiling.

"Fuck." May muttered bitterly, in response to the sudden rush of pain.

The room was silent for a moment, "Well, she's awake."

Clenching her teeth, she moved up slowly, leaning against the hard bedpost. She was in room, that she did not recognize at first glance. Surrounding her bed, were the Captain, Hayes and Dehnam, who had a very overdramatic relieved expression on his face.

"Glad to see you are alright Ms. Beaulieu. I apologize for my men's behavior-" Englehorn began.

"Sure as hell he is, I thought I lost my photographer for a minute!" Dehnam declared.

May rolled her eyes, "It's going to take a lot more than a bump on the head to kill me Carl."

Hayes raised his eyes conspicuously. "I'm afraid it is more than a just a small bump," He explained, passing over a mirror to May, "You hit you head on the side of a steel storage crate."

Dehnam's eyes shifted nervously to Englehorn, as May grabbed the mirror.

Looking into that mirror, it was much worse than she would have expected. Although the pain seemed to be just about right. There was a long gash from right below her left eyebrow, that curved slightly and finished at her upper jaw-line. There didn't seem to be any blood escaping from the wound at the moment, but it was still slightly swollen.

May's mouth remained open, a terrified look in her eyes as she examined the wound.

Englehorn coughed lightly, "I must get back to the deck, I am sorry once again." He nodded goodbye and left the room.

"Wait! Englehorn!" Dehnam called out, managing to escape the room.

Soon enough the only ones left in the room were May and Mr. Hayes. Breaking from her trance, May set the mirror down on her lap, a small, sad frown on her delicate face.

"It is not very deep, there shouldn't be a scar when it heals," Hayes added thoughtfully, "It was much worse when Jimmy found you."

Her eyes widened, "Jimmy?"

He gave her a curious glance, "Yes, he was walking by when he saw you lying unconscious on the ground, with those two idiots arguing beside you. He seemed quite worried about you," Her expression became more interested, "Have you met him already?"

She tried to conceal the blush that was forming in her cheeks, "Um, yes, last night I spoke to him, although I didn't actually see him..."

Hayes looked to her, confused, "Well, he's probably around on deck, if you'd like to speak with him later." He smiled calmly, "He was very worried about you, you lost quite a bit of blood."

Her face turned pale, "Blood?"

He chuckled, "Yes, don't worry though, you'll survive."

May exhaled deeply, "If you say so," She whispered quietly.

Hayes walked beside her bed, and sat down beside her. He lifted her chin lightly, and examined the wound, "I should probably put some gauze on it, then perhaps we can go see if Lumpy decided to put something other than walnuts in his porridge," He chuckled softly.

She couldn't help but grin when he laughed; he certainly knew how to lift someone's spirit.

It turns out that Lumpy had decided to change up the menu that night. Although May was pretty sure that stewed lamb brains weren't any better.

And so, she sat on the lonely side of the deck, frowning softly and holding her grumbling stomach.

When May had reappeared back up on deck, Ann seemed quite happy to see she was alright. Jack had teased her about her clumsiness, earning glares from her. Sure she was slightly clumsy, but this time it wasn't entirely her fault. She was going to have a long scar, and two grown men constantly apologizing to her, to prove her point. The man, who accidentally hit her, was named Martin, and the one he was arguing with was Peter. They had a slightly rough exterior, but they actually seemed to be quite nice. Although it was extremely annoying having them follow her around constantly.

Finally she managed to escape from them, when dinner had been served and they returned to the galley to eat.

'This trip isn't exactly turning out like I planned,' She thought with a sigh, as she watched the clouds move slowly over the darkening blue horizon.

"It's a little early to watch the sunset, don't cha think?"

May turned quickly, she knew that voice.

Standing behind her was a boy. Well more like a young man. He looked to be about one or two years older than her. He had scruffy light brown hair, and light blue eyes that shimmered in the late afternoon light. He stood out among the older men on the steamer, mostly because, as much as she hated to admit it, he was fairly handsome.

May blushed and pushed away those thoughts, "Perhaps, but there isn't much else to do," She laughed softly.

He looked at her with his eyes dramatically widened in surprise, "You really think so?" He walked over to the rail on the edge of the steamer and gazed out to the never ending ocean, "Well I guess to a rich little city girl this rusty steamer wouldn't seem like much..." He teased lightly.

"Now wait a minute! I'm not just a city girl, and I'm hardly rich!" She said, her tone indicating she was somewhat offended.

"Not just a city girl, eh?" Jimmy turned to face her once more and smirked cheekily, "Well you sure look like one.

May pouted her bottom lip playfully, "What's wrong with what I look like?"

She became increasingly self-conscious as Jimmy looked her up and down, smiling all the while, "Well, for one your hair's too tidy... and only a city girl would wear such a pretty dress on this filthy ship."

May blinked at him, ignoring the small compliment and pretending to look overly offended, "Well! I was about to ask if you'd like to sit and keep me company, but I'm not so sure about that anymore!"

Jimmy seemed convinced by her shocked expression, "Sorry, I just... I didn't mean anything by it, I'd liked to sit with you...I mean I'd keep you company if you want," He stuttered quickly.

May glared at him, her face still completely serious, before she burst into a fit of giggles.

'Oh god, I sound like a city girl.'

"I'm just teasing you!" She declared happily, patting to a spot beside her on the crate she was sitting on, "I'd love the company."

Jimmy gave her a confused look, before chuckling and sitting down beside her, "Are you sure you don't work for Mr. Dehnam as an actress? You're pretty convincing."

She nodded slowly, "Nope, there's nothing in this world that I'd rather do more than photography, I've been doing it ever since I was five."

Jimmy looked pretty interested when he heard this, "Really? I've never really seen a camera before, they must be expensive."

She smiled warmly, as if thinking of a pleasant memory, "My mother gave me my first one, and it was my fathers before The War. He was really into photography; he loved how you could capture a memory, in just one photo, and keep it with you for the rest of your life." She frowned as she muttered the last words.

Jimmy looked into her eyes, trying to figure out what she was thinking, "Anyways," She continued with another small grin, "Thomas owns a small camera store in New York, and after he started letting me work for him, he would give me Cameras and equipment as pay." She explained.

"Is it hard?" He asked, with curiously written on his face, "Using a camera I mean."

"Once you understand how it works, it's pretty straight forward," She looked down to her fidgeting hands, "Maybe I could show you sometime?" She offered shyly.

A wide grin spread across his face and May could practically feel her cheeks turning red, "Sure! Maybe tomorrow! Well if you're not busy working on the film."

May chuckled at his enthusiasm, "Alright sounds good. I have a scrapbook in my room as well; I'll show you some of the photos I've taken."

Jimmy was about to respond when someone else's voice bellowed throughout the deck.

'Jimmy!'

Jimmy turned around tiredly, "Yes Mr. Hayes?"

Mr. Hayes appeared from behind the doorway to the hallway.

"Lumpy needs your help in the galley, those dishes aren't going to clean themselves!"

He sighed and turned back to May. She shrugged her shoulders, "At least you'll have something to do," She offered with a helpful grin.

"I'd much rather sit here with you," He muttered quietly.

"Hm? What was that?" She asked, although she was pretty sure she had heard him right.

"Eh? Nothing," He gave her a crooked smile, "I'll see you later May!" He yelled as he began to run off.

"Bye Jimmy," She whispered, although he was already long gone.

May had never really had a friend her own age before, and she never had she ever met someone who was actually interested in learning about photography. She had a feeling she was going to be spending a lot of time with Jimmy on this trip.

May turned back to the darkening sky, beaming with delight.

"So I see you've taken quite a liking to the girl," Hayes teased, before taking a spoonful of porridge.

"Yeah she's really neat," Jimmy said excitingly, "I mean I always thought girls were suppose to be annoying and only interested in money and clothes, but she doesn't care about any of that stuff, she's practically a professional photographer."

"Now who told you that?" Mr. Hayes laughed.

"Well, from what I've heard from the crew at least," Jimmy responded, scrubbing the pot clear of any lumpy remains, "They talk about how women exist only to screw up our lives." He chuckled at the last bit.

"Well that's because most of the crew are as old as the venture itself, bitter and used up," Hayes boomed with laughter, "You should be smarter than to listen to them, they know nothing about women."

"So I'm guessing you do then?" Jimmy gave him a teasing smirk, drying the pot.

Mr. Hayes pulled a slightly serious face, "Now is not the time for that story." But Jimmy saw him smile momentarily before he got up from his chair, "I'm heading up to work with the captain, you should be up in the crow's nest until sunset then you can sleep for as long as you want."

"Aye-aye sir," He saluted him in response, getting suds all over his forehead.

"After you're done the dishes that is," He exclaimed quickly, before leaving Jimmy alone in the galley.

Jimmy looked over at the tall pile of dishes beside the sink and sighed deeply, this was going to be a long night.