Happy Friday the 13th! So far the first one with no real bad luck! Lol. Enjoy the next chapter and please review.

Must I always have a reason for my actions?

When Megan finally left, Clarissa got off the couch and started to make dinner.

"I got tomato soup or chicken noodle soup. Pick one."

"I don't know, whatever you feel like making," Jack replied, stretching. "Tomato is my preference," he added.

"Alright, so tomato it is." Clarissa went to the stove and put the water up to boil. She took down two bowls from a cabinet above the stove and glanced over at Jack, seeing that he was watching her. "What?"

"Nothing. Must I always have a reason for my actions?"

"No, but when you stare at somebody the way you are it gets a person wondering," she retorted, causing a smirk to play across his tan face.

"Aye, but what if I'm looking in no particular direction and you just happen to be in my view?" he mused.

"Then I guess that's fine." She turned back to the can of soup and couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling, luv? Is there something funny about tomato soup?"

"Why are you watching me, Jack? Do you find me attractive," she teased. An awkward silence followed her sentence.

"Is the soup almost ready?" he asked, changing the subject. He wasn't watching her anymore, but instead studying his nails.

"Almost." She felt her cheeks burning as she finished up, carried a bowl to him and sat down. They ate in an uneasy silence.

It seemed like forever until Jack finally finished his soup, and he followed her into her bedroom.

"You know if you really want you can sleep on the couch," Clarissa told Jack, pulling back the comforter on her bed.

"I didn't bother you last night." He sat on the edge and pulled of his boots. She sighed and went over to the drawers, took out her pajamas, and went into the bathroom to change.

Jack sat there for a moment, unmoving, and thought about the Pearl. He asked himself the question he had been saying since he met Clarissa. Why am I here? Every time he contemplated the answer, he would wind up with nothing but frustration. He sighed heavily and crawled over to the pillows, where he slid under the covers and tried to fall asleep.

Clarissa came back to her room and found Jack sprawled out in the middle of the bed, snoring softly. At first she stood there, remembering that he was in desperate need of a shower, and debated with herself whether or not she should sleep on the couch. But something inside her made her feel differently, and as hard she tried to tell her feet to walk her to the couch, she found herself climbing into bed with him.

Just as yesterday morning, she awoke with her arms around him, her head tucked in the crook of his neck. His arm was wrapped around her waist, and he hadn't woken up yet. Still groggy from sleep and her conscious mind still not up, she snuggled into him and fell back asleep.

Jack awoke about half an hour later, and when he noticed Clarissa he smirked.

"Luv," he whispered, poking her lightly. "You're doing it again."

"Huh?" Clara opened her eyes groggily, positioning herself so she could see his face without picking her head off his chest. "Doing what?"

He paused. "Nothing my dear."

There was another long moment before Clarissa came to and jumped up, almost frightened. Jack grinned.

"Don't tell Megan," Clarissa ordered, almost pleadingly.

"Why would I be doing that?" he inquired, sitting up and letting his legs hang over the side of the bed.

"Just please don't say anything," she begged.Glancing quickly at the clock, she saw that it read 10:43 am and grabbed Jack by the arm. "Hurry up out of bed will you! Megan's gonna be here!"

"So?" he asked as she pulled him up. "From what I understand she comes here every day and you have no problem with it."

"Yeah but you need a shower. And something tells me you're gonna need help."

He looked at her pathetically as she dragged him down the hallway to the bathroom.

"And lets not make this a struggle, Jack," she said exasperatedly. "I'd like to get this done as easily and painlessly as possible." She turned the shower water on and proceeded to leave the room to let him undress.

"I don't trust that thing," Jack said uneasily, looking at the shower.

"Please it's a shower. All it is is water coming from the wall." She sighed out in annoyance when all he did was stare at it. "Must I be in the room while you go in?"

"I'd prefer that, luv."

With another sigh Clarissa leaned against the bathroom counter, arms folded across her chest. "Now undress yourself and get in."

"I can't take off mi clothes while you're standing right here!" he declared.

"Well if you want me to stay here so badly you're gonna have to. Or do you need help with that too."

"I can do that just fine," he replied curtly. He put his hands on his shirt and hesitated to take it off. With her patience running out quickly, Clarissa went to him and pulled it over his head. "You don't have to be so rough!"

"Well let's go! It doesn't take much effort to get your clothes off!" She moved to take off his pants and Jack grabbed her wrist forcefully.

"Fine you win. Now turn around so I can take the rest off."

She obeyed, and he took the rest of his clothes off and walked over to the tub. He did nothing but stand there and stare at the warm water.

"Are you in yet?" Clarissa asked, her back to him. "Can I turn around?"

"No!"

"Hurry up!"

"Wait! What about my hair?"

"What about it?'

"It'll get messed up when I wash it with shampoo," he said simply.

"Um no it'll be clean," she snapped.

"Yeah but the beads won't be the same," he insisted pitifully.

"What beads?"

"The ones in my hair!"

"I'm gonna turn around to see what you're talking about." She went to turn around.

"No!"

"Then I can't help you!" she yelled.

Pause. "Fine turn around."

She faced him, almost too quickly, and her breath caught in her chest. She couldn't breathe, just stare at his gorgeous tan body. The only noise she made was a almost pathetic sound from her throat as her eyes ventured below his waist. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Do you plan on staring or are you going to figure out what I'm to do about my hair?"

"Both," she replied quietly, walking closer to him. He took a step back and she snapped out of her trance. "I mean- Uh- Beads- Right- Why can't you just take them out?"

"You know how long it took to get everything in? You think I'm about to undo that?"

"We'll you have to."

"I don't want to."

"Too bad you are." She went over and started undoing the braids holding the trinkets in, and he jerked his head to the side. "Look I'll put them back in where they belong when you're done!"

"They better be in the exact spot..." he growled, allowing her to take out the others. It took longer then Clarissa anticipated (adding an extra unnecessary half hour or so to his 'quick' shower) before finally managing to take out all the braids and breads and such. She took her hands out of his hair and put them on his shoulders, her eyes locked on his body again.

"What is it about me that's so captivating?" he questioned, arching his brow.

"Well you so-" she cut herself off from what she wanted to say. "...Muscular."

He rolled his eyes again. "Can we just get this shower thing over with?"

She let go of him hesitantly, and Jack walked over to the tub. Reluctantly he pulled the curtain back and went in.

"You need help?"

"...Maybe."

"Jack it's a yes or a no question."

No answer. Just the sound of the running shower.

"That's it I'm coming in there with you." She threw off her clothes and pushed open the curtains, only to see Jack chewing on the bar of soap. "What the hell are you doing! You're not supposed to eat it!"

"It smells like coconut.."

"Coconut my ass, it's lavender scented." She grabbed it from his and picked up a bottle of shampoo. She squeezed the whole bottle into his hair and started rubbing it in.

"Did you even bother washing yourself with the soap, or did you just eat it?"

"...Just ate it."

Clarissa shoved his head under the shower to rinse his hair. "Dumbass! Close your eyes, it's gonna hurt!"

"I told you this was a bad idea- Ow! What the bloody hell are you doing to me?"

"I told you to close them." She took the soap and began washing him. "Why the fuck would you eat soap??"

"I didn't know it was the soap!" he yelled in his defense.

"Well what else would it be!" She stopped when she reached his waist and looked up at him. They stood there for a while before she handed him the bar. "I think you can do the rest," she said, almost embarrassed.

"Aye. I'd appreciate that." He took the soap and finished up. He was just about to step out when Clarissa pushed him back under the running water and conditioned his hair. She threw the empty bottle out of the shower and rinsed his head.

"Are we done yet?"

"Almost." She shampooed her hair and rubbed the bar over her skin quickly before turning off the water and pushing him out the tub. "Don't drip on the floor, take a towel!"

"I am!" he snapped, giving her one. He stopped and admired her.

"What?" Clarissa asked, smirking.

"Nothing." He dried himself, taking quick glances at the beautiful woman next to him. As he started to walk out of the bathroom, Clarissa grabbed his shoulder.

"Your hair is getting brushed," she insisted, pulling out a brush from the nearest drawer.

"But I don't-"

"I don't care. There's no way I can get the braids back in that rat nest without having it brushed."