Thank you very much for your comments!! I am really surprised to find out that people did read and enjoy my story!
Last part, I wanted to give Jeanette one more chance but then I couldn't handle it very well and run out of ideas on how to have her actually use her chance. I hope you'll like it :)
I feel so stupid. I am in front of the Pearl, standing behind some piles of nets, trying to be kind of hidden. Been waiting for some time there.. Jack -of course- is not anywhere near. I've been waiting more than enough, I say to myself. And, what if I go to the tavern? All in all, he said "At the ship, or, in the tavern". Haven't I been already ridiculous enough? I ask myself.
The answer is obviously that no, I can take some more embarrassment, for I find myself entering in the tavern a bit later. Jack is not there, but... the old man... apparently one of Jack's mates. Maybe I could use some dignity, I ask myself. It's totally not me, this behavior. However, I walk carefully towards the old man, looking around nervously to make sure that Jack or any of the girls are not around.
- Ermm...sir?
- Yes, miss?
- Err... may I ask you, sir, I mean..., could you maybe... err...
- Gibbs, miss, he smiles benevolently. Joshamee Gibbs.
- Nice to meet you, Mr. Gibbs. I am Jeanette, I say, somewhat relieved.
- Are you not the lass that was searching for the Captain, two months ago, at the port?
- Yes sir, I was. I'm still looking for him. Captain Sparrow. Do you know where is he?
- Aye, missy, Cap'n is a tad occupied right now. Want me to buy you a drink?
Do I? I ask myself. Do I want to lose the opportunity of asking a lot of questions about Captain Jack? And what if he comes back to speak with his mate and finds me right there? Oh don't worry, he probably won't remember you, anyway, said an upsetting voice inside my head.
- Yes, I'd love a drink, I smile to the old man.
Mr. Gibbs did not let me down. He is a man who loves telling stories and who likes speaking about Jack.
-He [Jack] has been planning this 10 years. He had learnt everything possible about the Curse and he had gathered information on whose blood was necessary to lift it. Then, a day before a great ceremony in the fort of Port Royal, he managed to find the dress that the Governor wanted to dote upon his daughter and replace it with an identical one, only several sizes smaller, appropriate only for a lass no more than 12 years old. So, Jack was waiting close to the Interceptor, knowing that the Governor's daughter, unable to even breath in this dress, would fall in the sea.
- But... why did he want the Governor's daughter to fall in the sea?
- Aye, I'll explain you... Because, the only living person who could lift the Curse was madly in love with said lass, and, since she did have the medallion, Jack has predicted that Barbossa would mistake her as the person they were looking for and the kid in love with her would run to Jack for help. Hence, Jack would have the kid with him and be able to bargain with Barbossa.
- But, but... How did Jack know that the girl would lean against the Fort's wall and fall?
- She used to lean against that wall every time she was at the fort, hoping to see me at the dock, says a sneering voice behind me.
Gibbs grins and I -once more- blush. Jack puts three pints of beer on the table and sits next to me.
- I expect we be ready to sail at dawn, Mr. Gibbs?
- Aye, Captain, everything is ready.
- Need to find two or three more men to join our crew..., said Jack thoughtfully.
- We have three kids already, sir. Recruited them when you were with the blonde lass.
- Good, are they any good?
- Aye, sir, each of them is worth as half the crew of the Royal Navy.
- I know I can always trust you, sir, says Jack, satisfied and he takes a long sip of his pint.
Well, that is a progress, I say to myself. Of course, I'm not with Jack the way I hoped I would, but, here I am,between two pirates that they totally ignore me and talk of their plans as if I was not there.
- Shouldn't we go back to the ship, Jack, says suddenly Mr. Gibbs.
- Aye, it's late already.
They both get up. I do the same, confused. Mr. Gibbs offers me a handshake, while Jack gives a quick half-hug and shuffles my hair.
- Goodbye, luv.
They left. I stand there, with my half-finished pint at hand, not knowing what to do, feeling like I'm going to cry.
After some minutes, the realization strikes me. He's leaving and, by Mr. Gibbs words, they'll be away for more than a year. I might never get to see him again. I feel my eyes filled with tears, mainly out of embarrassment, but I have no time for these, now. I run to the port. There, the ship with the black sails and Jack's and Mr. Gibbs' shadows on the road.
-Jack! Jack! Captain Sparrow!
I reach them padding, Jack looks surprised for once and waves to Mr. Gibbs to go on.
-Is there something you want to tell me, darling?
I can't speak, I haven't recovered my breath yet. What exactly am I trying to do? Jack's face suddenly turns serious and he puts a hand on my shoulder.
-What's troubling you, luv?
-Captain Sparrow...
-Jack, sweetheart. For cute girls like you, it's just Jack.
-Jack... I whisper.
-Yes, Jeanette? What can I do for you?
I take a deep breath.
-You're leaving at dawn?
-Yes.
-Would you..., I mean will you..., I mean... I am free tonight, Captain and I'd love to accompany you until dawn, in my room or in the town, if you would like my company.
He looks, once again, taken aback. He regains quickly his speech, as always.
-Now, that's interesting.
He leans against me and kisses me. He does have a bad breath, but his kiss feels so good. He pulls me against his body, he puts his hands around my head, then around my back... I don't know how many minutes we're kissing, then he breaks first. He smiles. I smile too, a silly, happy smile.
-I promise you that next time, luv, next time I'm around here I'll spend all my stayin' with ya, he says.
I stay there, dizzy, with the taste of his kiss still on my lips. He disappears in the ship.
******
Three years have passed since the moment Jack Sparrow kissed me. I'm not in Tortuga anymore, I live now in Haiti and haven't seen the Cap'n since. I'm sure he won't remember me, if I ever get to see him again. I have a lover now, a man of the sea, like Jack, but, unlike him, my fiance is a honest merchant and we'll soon get married.
Except if, before my wedding day, I see the black sails of the Pearl again, approaching the port and a certain handsome Captain willing to keep his promise...