Disclaimer: Don't own Jack or Will or Vicki. Or probably myself. But these ideas our all us baby, so no stealing (wink, wink) ya know what I mean. On a more serious note, I would like to say sorry once again to my co-writer. She knows what for. Okay, here's one of my very long chapters, two more to come.
"I can't believe it." I exclaimed disgustedly tossing aside a magazine, for the thousandth time, "One day out and they've already been invited to the hippest club in town…"
"We were invited too." Vicki reminded me from Will's lap.
"Only because your man insisted. If it had been up to Sparrow he would have picked up all those women he met in the lingerie section."
Jack grinned recklessly, "Was tha' a bad idea, lass. It made perfect sense ta me at the time."
"Oh grow up." I sneered, knowing he was still trying to get my goat over the memorable towel incident in cruel and unusual ways (even for him), "We have bigger problems on our hands."
"The demon monkey?" Will volunteered.
"Goin' home?" Jack leaned forward hopefully in his seat.
"Think bigger."
"Aha, I 'ave it! Where's all the rum gone?" Jack tried again failing miserably.
"Jack drank it all." Will whispered behind his hand confidentially.
"We already knew that." Vicki admitted.
"There really wasn't any doubt he was the culprit, was there?" I asked.
"Whatever it'is ye be wantin' ta say, lass, could ye hurry it up? Yer borin' me ta tears. I've better things ta do with me time than listen ta yeh prattle on." Jack interjected rudely.
"Bob the Builder doesn't come on until three, Jack." Vicki told him. He slumped in his seat at this reply, having discovered the show only yesterday, and found it to be quite hilarious.
"The big problem," I readdressed all those assembled, "is what are we going to wear?"
"Oh, Jesus," Jack expelled in a rush of air from his lungs showing his irritation, "yer a nice chap an' all but why did yeh put me in this 'ell with this curse o' a wench? Why not Singapore four years ago?" Jack asked of the ceiling dramatically as if the almighty was indeed residing in Vicki's attic. "Tha' was a good time ta be a pirate, remember?"
"Spare us the sob stories, Sparrow. We don't care." I sneered.
"I've got the perfect shirt for you." Vicki informed Will gaily, ignoring all else in the room.
"Wha'?" Sparrow posed, "No clothes for litt'l ol' Jack?"
I shrugged my shoulders refusing to be baited, "What's the point? You'll just end up taking them off before the end of the night."
"Yeh seem pretty sure o' yerself, lass. I wouldn't let yeh near me with a ten foot pole, least of all near enough ta remove me blouse."
"I wasn't including myself in your perverted plans of bliss for this evening. I have plans of my own for tonight, Sparrow, and the best thing about them is that they have nothing WHATSOEVER to do with you!" I sputtered at his put down, "NOTHING!"
Well that seemed to likewise hit a nerve with Jack, because he replied snidely, "I don't bloody care wha' ye do, lass, because me…I'm getting' pissed drunk an' who know wha' I migh' do."
Yeah! Well…well what? I thought up a lie quick.
"Well, I'm going to stick my tongue down ten guys throats!" I exclaimed trying to beat him, although my own announcement shocked even me. I'd WHAT?
Not being one to take even something less than that lying down, Sparrow spat, "Well, I'm goin' ta fondle fifty lasses!"
"Well, I'm gonna have wild, rough…animal sex…WITH A PERFECT STRANGER! BEAT THAT!" I crowed triumphantly.
Jack's face turned a ruddy color and screwed up in a look of intense anger. I waited smugly for his return serve.
"Well…I'M goin' ta 'ave frantic, dangerous FORNICATIONS with TWELVE perfect strangers….ALL AT THE SAME TIME! HAH!"
My mouth sought to work for a moment or two. And then I went cold. I replied icily enough to save what was left of my dignity, "That must get to be old hat, doing the same thing every night. Do what you fucking want. I've washed my hands of you." I said turning away and making my way up Vicki's stairs to change.
"I wish you guys would just kiss and make up already, anymore fights and I'm going to get one hell of a migraine." Vicki muttered.
"Never!" Jack shouted.
"Not in a million years!" I brandied back, turning at the top of the stairs bent on ending this stupid thing one way or another, with me having the last word…preferably.
"Not if ye were the last WENCH on Earth!"
"Not if you were the last HUMAN on Earth!"
"I'd pick stingy ol' stick in the mud COMMODORE Norrington before ye!"
"Oh is that so? Well, I'd pick traitorous, murderous, mutinous CORPSE Barbossa before you!"
"Ye sickenin' SHREW!"
"Satin Jacketed ASSHOLE!" Hey, I was getting the hang of this…
"Yeh cheap, cheatin' CHIT!"
"You philandering FATASS!"
"Come on," Vicki said calmly, pulling Will to his feet, "I'll show you what you can wear tonight."
"What about…?" Will indicated our growing fight with amusement at our disturbingly descriptive insults and alarm at the increasing possibility of a fisticuff match.
Vicki waved a hand dismissively, "They'll be at it for hours."
They pushed past us on their way upstairs, ignoring the heated things being shot from point of the stairs to another.
"BANANNA MONGER!" I screeched.
"BUGGER BRIDGETTE!"
"Yeah, well…you can just take your PRECIOUS PEARL and SHOVE IT, Bucko!"
"Ye leave me Pearl out o' this, yeh ill tempered bitch!" He pointed a threatening finger in my direction.
"Call me a bitch, will ya? Well, poo all OVER your busted ass SAILBOAT…AND YOU!"
Jack and I kept our distance from one another for the rest of the early evening as I was ritually primping myself, and he most likely was ritually drowning himself in spirits, yet again. Quel shock.
Vicki was already dressed in some classy jeans, a pair of turquoise strappy sandals, and matching top with a plunging neckline and open back. An outfit that suited her skin, form, and set off the drastic darkness of her hair, while promoting the almost azure green of her eyes. A light dabbing of glitter was spread over her shoulders. As she would say it was "SPARWKILY!" Will's tongue had nearly rolled out of his head when she had emerged from her room in such startling attire. She was helping him get dressed now…in the bathroom…alone. Will either wanted to be jumped and eaten alive or he really was a simpleton (which I had not doubt of; Vicki and I both agreed some point prior to this that Will probably didn't even know the correct definition of 'ravage.')
Smacking my lips together after applying a nude shade of lip-gloss, I winked at my reflection, snatched up my purse, and shrugged on my shin length coat. Vicki might have been able to pull off the natural goddess look but I had to work at it, so I was the last one out.
"Alright, let's get this show on the ro-whoah…" I stopped short on the stairs, looking down on the gathered party there.
Vicki was as she had been when I had last seen her hours before, but the men had undergone a transformation, a metamorphosis if you will. Will's appearance was drastically altered by the addition of a black T-shirt, claiming "Mine", to the pair of jeans we had bought him earlier today.
Jack could have passed off as Johnny Depp in his jeans, boots, and white sleeveless T, which hid under a long sleeved brown button down shirt, if it hadn't have been for the sharp quality of experience behind his eyes. Now, I know everyone thinks, "But Johnny Depp is Jack Sparrow!" but you're all dead wrong.
Jack does resemble Johnny D with accuracy, this is true. But the true nature of Jack uttered no cry near to Mr. Depp. It was something I forgot occasionally; Sparrow might have been given a certain life by an actor, but he was more than any predetermined action or line. Much more, and he would always, always be a pirate. There was no breaking character with this man.
"Pick up yer feet, gel. The night awaits…" Jack sent up the stairs to me. I could almost imagine for a moment that he might have been waiting specifically for me, but a jarring beep of a car horn dispelled the very insinuation from my mind. Those easy prep sluts were waiting impatiently outside. Those were the real reasons Sparrow was desperate to claim the night.
"…as do our foine female companions. Let's not keep them waitin'."
Vicki sent me a pitying glance as Sparrow bounded out the door and down the steps to throw himself into the car. I ignored it. I didn't need pity. I needed a shot gun to set Sparrow right, and a shovel to destroy any evidence of having done so.
"You look very lovely, Miss Rachel." Will intoned politely as I descended the stairs, trying to keep my mind from other things. It was a kind gesture from him, one that only soured my already curdling mood, but I forced myself to smile.
"Thanks."
"She looks like a damn ho-bag under that coat." Vicki said frankly, pulling back the coat, I covered myself quickly.
"Not quite the words of I was thinking of, Victoria, but correctly potent none the less." He added coughing back a chuckle.
My thanks came more dryly that time. "Come on, let's get this over with."
"Forget him, Rachel." Vicki said taking my arm and marching me to the door and down the steps, leaving Will to lock up behind us. "There are lots of guys galore in the world. Who needs one lousy, good for nothing, Captain Sparrow?"
Will jogged over taking his place beside her, and led her gently into the car. I followed reluctantly.
"Only a masochist would need that." I agreed sliding in.
I emerged from the vehicle like a drowning woman, gasping for air. Goram! And I thought Sparrow had used his charms on me in the old days. That man could lay it on thick, make no mistake, and he had emptied his whole jar of charisma into that car.
Vicki and Will scuttled out quickly as well, in an effort to put a continent between them and the heaving air of Sparrow's attempts and successes at winning over our chauferer's hearts…and hormones.
Speaking of which…here came the merry band now…Sparrow's arms around each twig like waist. Laughing, joking, teasing…nuzzling…groping…Ack! Ack! Gag me!
"Fuckin' A…" Vicki muttered, sidling up to me, "We're not even in the club yet…"
I clenched my coat closer around me, as she drifted back to join Will. What did I care if Sparrow did certain unmentionable things (that shall remain unmentioned)? It was his life. What was I, his mother? No. It was as simple as that. Jack was his own man, free to do what he wanted…like slapping the brunette's backside, earning a giggling shriek in response.
My ears burned as my confident stride stalled at the sound.
"Ye alrigh' there, love?"
I didn't turn because I had a sneaking suspicion he knew just how uncomfortable his sexual misdemeanors made me feel, and that was a satisfaction that I was not giving him tonight.
"Never been better!" I threw ecstatically over my shoulder, knowing my voice would cover the lie, where my features could not.
"Glad ta 'ear it. Shall we then?"
I gestured for him to swerve around me and move ahead, his leggy cargo with him.
"Much obliged." He murmured, a cat like grin twitching the corners of his mouth.
"Anytime." I muttered, flinging a pesky windblown bit of my hair out of my face.
Vicki hurried up to me, Will lingering an appropriate number of steps behind us. The good ol' boy seemed to understand the limits of the best friend conversation zone. Now, I ask you, why hadn't I fallen for Turner, instead? He was a good clean suitor of the non bastard variety.
Vicki shared a sweet comforting smile with a with a shrug of her shoulders to show, I should just blow the whole thing off and have fun when a steel like whisper from ahead of us reached my ears.
"You went out with HER?" The brunette hissed scandalized at something Sparrow had whispered to her.
"Aye. Twas' terrible…"
She glanced over her shoulder at me, disgusted, and then turned back to him, "Did you lose a bet or something?"
Sparrow merely let out a hearty laugh at that.
I was just about to throw myself at the girl and cripple her with a fatal kick of my heels, when something distracted me.
An electric blue wad sailed past my right eye, nearly hitting me in the ear but instead stuck efficiently in the brunette's hair, who put a hand to it. A scream rent the air as she discovered the bubbliest piece of Bubblish Bubble Gum embedded in her perfect locks.
I swung an amazed gaze at Vicki.
"Damn." She growled, no sign of regret in either her tone or features, "I was aiming for Jack's dreads. Sorry I missed."
I held back a giggle, "No, no. I think you hit the mark."
"That bitch!" The older/brunette hissed fingering her once glorious hair, now reduced to a gummy mess. She turned and made as if to move toward a confrontation with Vicki.
And suddenly Will was there, pinning her with a cold glare. It didn't even sound like Will when he spoke. He sounded…intimidating…and that was fucking scary. His voice was controlled but hard.
"It would be wise if you didn't take that next step, milady…"
Sparrow darted brief glances to and fro, as if this could get interesting.
"I can handle her, Will…" Vicki assured him, rolling up non-existent sleeves.
The brunette hesitated.
"Turn around and walk way." Will growled, "Now…"
"Come along, love…" Jack said, wrapping an arm around her again. "The eunuch is small but 'e's fierce. Best ta do as 'e says."
With a withering glance and a flick of hair that was somewhat dulled by the gum blob, she consented and walked into the club with Sparrow.
Will relaxed his muscles.
"Should've just hit her." I commented.
"I totally could have taken her, Will."
"I know that, Victoria." Will turned, "But murder would do nothing to improve the evening."
I looked after the direction the others had disappeared to, "I doubt anything could improve the evening." I muttered dejectedly.
"Oh, I don't know about that, Miss Rachel." Will gallantly offered out an arm, as Vicki took his other one gently, "Would you allow a Blacksmith to escort you inside?"
Wishing it was someone else's arm I accepted, "I'd be honored."
You know if you walk in a over 21 club with an Orlando Bloom look alike they don't ask for I.D.?
Life was pretty sweet, all things considered.
"Honestly, I'll be fine! You guys go and rock it. I'll just hang out here." I said tapping the bar fondly and assuring Vicki and Will for the hundredth time so far that night, that I would kick it by myself should they want to dance.
We had lost Sparrow in the throng of writhing, contorting bodies of the dance floor. Dragged under, with no resistance, the moment he sauntered in the door. He had yet to resurface.
I had removed my jacket to reveal my outfit finally because of the heat.
"If only Jack had waited long enough to take a hit." Vicki remarked at the dress unveiling, "You know he would be nowhere near those other girls, if you had let him see you." She reminded me.
"He could see me anytime he wanted,' I murmured, fingering the short hem of the little black number, "but he'd rather drool over someone else. I don't care."
"Do you actually believe yourself when you say stuff like that?" Vicki posed.
"Yes." I muttered.
"Rachel…"
"I DON'T CARE. Now go dance, you morons…"
"Rachel?" A new voice entered the scene.
I turned at the call and my heart jumped into my throat as I spat out the water I had just taken a tentative sip of. I choked on my words as they piled up in my mouth, but only his name made it through.
"Ben?"
He nodded his head and strode over. Huge grin reminding me of…everything I had felt for him before. I remembered he was tall, broad chested, a bear of a boy. His scraggly brown hair was the same as when I last saw it, and his goatee finally fit him now.
Quickly putting my glass down I met him halfway. I felt shock lace through me like an electrical voltage. It had been years.
"My god, it's been an age!" I exclaimed enveloping him in a hug. His hands made butterflies fly wild in my middle. I shouldn't have been surprised; after all he had been the first…my first. The first guy who hadn't been a storybook character or movie star that had made me exuberantly happy to see or be near.
Five years before I had ever heard the name Captain Jack Sparrow.
We pulled back, but he kept one of my hands in his.
"I know. It's so good to see you again after all this time. I didn't think I'd see you again."
That open smile! I had forgotten…
"Me either." I admitted still bowled over, "This is just…wild!"
A cough interrupted us. I turned and recognized Vicki. I had completely forgotten we had an audience.
"Who is this?" She asked in an 'ooh-la-la' tone.
"God, I'm such a spaz." I groaned, turning to introduce them. "Ben this is Vicki and her…friend Will. Vicki, Will…this is Ben."
"No last name?" Vicki inquired.
"If you can believe it, I never asked him for it." I chuckled, "Ben went to our middle school, Vicki and moved about after two quarters. We were kinda…"
"An item." Ben offered up. "It's nice to meet you both."
Vicki gave him her hand and shook it strongly, "You mean you guys went out?"
"No, no…but we did cause a lot of talk…" Ben replied suppressing a smile.
"Outrageous flirting, mostly." I confided to her.
Will took his hand next. It was a friendly but guarded shake. Will looked at me as he made his judgment on Ben.
"You'd best keep him away from Jack if you want any peace tonight, Miss Rachel."
"If Sparrow gives you any lip, tell him to get bent." I snapped, fed up with being unhappy. I was young, and I was moderately pretty, and right now I wanted to dance.
I remembered the first time I had ever met Ben. First day of school and I had pledged an oath I would be more outgoing that year. Everyone was sitting in the auditorium, waiting for the teachers to direct us to our classes as our schedules were screwed up. The girls next to me had been whispering about the hottie behind us. I had caught a peek of him, and I knew they weren't lying. I made up my mind then and made a fearless decision. I swung around in my seat. I think I surprised him. The look on his face had been priceless.
"Hi." I had stuck out my hand, "I'm Rachel."
And he had smiled offering his own hand.
"Ben."
And the rest as they say, is history. A short lived history, but a well remembered one.
As I looked on him I felt the bravery of that year attack my sensibilities.
"Hey, Ben?"
"Yeah?"
I grinned, "Wanna dance?"
He was already pulling on my hand, luring me onto the dance floor where Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" was playing.
It was so good to be with him again. It felt so good. I had missed him so much.
This was real. HE was real. Sparrow was just a caricature of someone; he was one dimensional and utterly predictable. I didn't need another obsession now, what I needed was a boyfriend. A true blue boyfriend. And Ben was the perfect candidate. First love's never really leave.
As luck would have it, the song changed to Beyonce's "Naughty Girl." Let it be known I am your typical white girl, so I can't dance…obviously; however there is one type of song I can get my funk on with. Harem seduction dances. It's all in the hips. Hips to hypnotize. I've surprised many a guy with this transformation from goody girl to daring sex pot.
So when the song started up, what else was I supposed to do? I turned up the game. The song had just about drawn to a close when I spotted Sparrow a few feet away staring at me.
I was stupid. I was so elated with seeing an old flame, I forgot just who Sparrow really was. I told you I pushed it from my mind frequently, but Sparrow was a pirate. Through and through. And I should have taken that into account before I waved him over to meet my old crush.
Staring stonily, he made his way toward us with such a controlled black calm; I should have known right away something was wrong. But as I said before, I'm stupid, and I waved him closer still.
"Hey, Jack!"
It was only when he was about two feet away I dimly realized, 'Shit…this is going to be bad."
(JACK'S POV)
"I swear on me honor I'll be back soon enough, me lovelies. Just off ta get meself a drink…" Jack promised the lasses, "Meanwhile, enjoy yerselves…" He grinned wildly.
"Alright." The dark haired lass cooed. Wha' was 'er name? Elaine…Elaina…Daniella…somethin' like tha'. It had flown from his mind already. "Hurry back."
"Don't keep us waiting," the other one husked, "and bring your gorgeous friend with you."
Chuckling, Jack sidled up to the bar, ordering a healthy round of beverages. He kept his eyes on the girls. Enjoy themselves, they were. The sight of both of their limber assets entwining…sweet sirens, it was enough ta make a man give up Rum! He took a long swig of liquor. Not quite.
Suddenly the Fraser gel and the lad were at his elbow. The gel followed his line of sight.
"The girls showing you a good time, Jack?" She asked, a rather sneaky tone sliding in among the question.
"As a matta o' fact, they are." He replied steadily. No doubt she was about ta prattle on about his cruel treatment of 'er infuriatin' mate. But to his astonishment she made no statements of the kind which immediately set him on edge and incurred his suspicion as to why.
"Where is the distressin' crone?" He inquired glancing about. He hadn't seen head or tail of the annoying chit since they had entered the dance hall. If he were truthful with himself, and being a pirate such a thing bein' against the rules, he would admit he had not really sought her out. " 'as she been whinin', 'eartbroken because I won't dance wit'er?"
"Actually no, Jack…" He felt the stomach dropping sensation grow inside him at her words, "she seems to be handling it all pretty well, considering. She ran into an old friend." She nodded off to her left.
Jack followed her gaze. At first he couldn't spot what she was indicating to, but then there was a slip of black that caught his eyes. It flittered through the moving shapes of dancing couples, and he narrowed his eyes to slits trying to catch it. A familiar laugh sounded. A laugh he knew all too well. The same one he had heard a thousand times before, on his ship, in Port Royal, in the face of danger or when he did something incredibly stupid or endearing…It was his laugh. The laugh she saved for him. Why was the wench usin' it now?
His eyes locked on his elusive target, and he nearly dropped the bottle of ale in his hand, instead he grasped at it with a shattering hold as he realized the bewitching vixen he was gazing after was his bonny lass.
Prayers to the old gods, he should 'ave demanded her to remove 'er jacket before they had left the house. Should 'ave ripped it off 'er frame. If he 'ad, he would never have let her out of the door looking…looking so tempting…
The dress, he assumed it was a dress but he had his doubts, was enough (though hardly enough in some ways) ta still a pirate's breath in 'is lungs. It was black. Black, like the pirate flag, a black rag that reached to her lower thighs; cut in a stylishly torn fabric, allowing more skin of her legs to peek through the ripped folds. A matching bodice, thoroughly laced, accented her overly generous curves. There were no sleeves to this satanic piece of sinful cloth, but a bit of it encircled her neck, tapering off to cover one shoulder, baring her pale other shoulder to the spinning lights. And then there were the shoes…they were weapons unto themselves. Ankle like things that laced up, and sharp enough to spill a man's blood from 'is throat.
Jack found himself drinking her in, even at this distance. Her hair was hanging down her back in loose waves, wild and untamed. Her full lips glistened nudely in the shadows; there was kohl on the bottom lids of her eyes giving her a look of smug satisfaction…as if she were fulfilled. And the blush staining her cheeks was not applied…but invoked. Someone had made her face burn. Over all the lass looked like she had just been taken inta a dark corner an' had been right and properly ravaged…but not by him.
HE wasn't grasping the swell of her hips to guide her closer. HIS fingers weren't brushing against the dress, hiking it higher. HE wasn't whispering words against her tilted neck. And why WASN'T he? Because HE had been REPLACED by a BOY. A mere boy.
She was dancing with the broad shouldered youth, making movements enough ta cause a priest ta drop a bible…more than once. A scourging fire burned Jack's blood making him see dancing black spots and then a violent red infiltrated his line of sight, leaving him momentarily blinded. His teeth ground together, earning him a sharp glance from the Fraser gel at his side. He could 'ave sworn he felt more than saw the wench smirk, but he paid it no notice. He had his own lass to deal with.
She was not supposed to dance like that ever! And never with anyone besides him. She was not allowed to…He was unable to voice in words the extent of his outrage at this display. He heard her laugh again, and he went deaf and numb in his fury. That laugh. HIS laugh was bein' used on a scrawny pup o' a boy. He wouldn't stand for this…
Slamming his bottle on the table top, he strode into the confusing mass of weaving bodies to throttle the gel…an' the know-nothin' boy who had taken 'is rightful place. He dimly heard the Turner boy shout something at his back, but continued on regardless, harshly pushing people out of his path; his mind bent on only one thing.
Pain.
A world o' pain.
(VICKI'S POV written by Rachel)
"Do try to control yourself, Jack. He is just a boy after all." Will called after Jack's retreating fuming figure. "Try not to harm him too much."
" 'Bout damn time…" Vicki muttered. She turned grinning wildly to Will's earnest face, "Hey, you wanna learn how to freak, Will?"
"Freak, Victoria?" He asked brow quirking up in a question.
"Love to!" She cried eagerly, pulling him to his feet. "It's really easy, all you have to do is…can we help you?"
Little Miss Blond and Brunette were mucking up the proceedings.
"Where's Jack?" The brunette asked, while the light haired doe eyed one ogled Will.
"Oh, he's probably off doing his girlfriend in the bathroom."
"What! Who? Why!"
"What: Bathroom screwing. Who: his girlfriend, my friend, your enemy, Rachel. And who can say why but I bet the ultimate reason is because they've got this whole sexual tension thing and it's been ready to burst like a piñata for days now."
Vicki took a huge breath and continued while she kept a close eye on the blond who was inching nearer to Will.
"And speaking of tensions. There's some I want to clear up just between us girls…" at that she pulled back and dealt a blow right to the brunette's nose, "That's for being a whore!" She then turned and shielded Will as she hit the blond square in the jaw, "And that's for being stupid…and I don't like your dress!"
Stepping lightly over the prone and beaten bodies of the false faced beauties, she tugged a stupefied but impressed Will behind her.
"Now where was I? Oh yes…you just back it up…put your back into it…" Vicki sang in a low voice as she pulled Will closer.
Who would've thought William Turner could freak up a storm?
Just a little note to bear in mind, all the insults Jack and I exchange came from Vicki's mind. So worship her genius. Bow down before her might...and...um...review!