This has nothing to do with the word in the title, but I couldn't find one to match this, and I really do kind of like it, so here we go. I do say the word once, so I guess it counts. I should rename it Deal... but I can't change the challenge. XD
Cold
"Elizabeth, I want you to accompany the boy. He'll be your charge. Take care of him," my father told me. I nodded obediently and watched the sailors take him below to take care of him.
That was the beginning of our friendship. After he had been properly taken care of and somewhat dried, I wandered below decks to where he was sitting in the galley, munching on some stale bread. With a small smile, I sat down in a chair next to him.
"Hello, Will," I said warmly. He looked up at me, his intriguing dark brown eyes sizing me up.
"'Lo," his hoarse whisper was barely audible. He resumed his small meal and the room was silent. I sat quietly, hands fidgeting in my lap. It had been a long time since I had encountered a person my age, since we had been sailing for Port Royal for over a month now. In my mind, this new and mysterious Will would accompany me and keep the boredom away. We would have a grand time together, playing pirates, reading, exploring the ship, doing whatever we wanted. Of course, it was not what a proper young lady would do, but I was far from proper and Father knew it. After minutes had passed sitting in silence, I decided to voice a question.
"Do you like books?" Will's eyes lit up a bit.
"Yes. Although, I'm not a very good reader. Mum couldn't afford to buy many books, and she didn't have time to teach me," he confided, a little embarrassed. I smiled comfortingly.
"I have some books from England, but they're mostly about pirates. Maybe we could read them together, although I know most of them by heart," I chattered away. Will gave me a small, somewhat sad smile. "What's the matter?"
"I don't know if I want to read about pirates."
"Why not? They're fascinating!" He shook his head and looked down.
"My ship was attacked by pirates," he muttered, staring at his bread.
"You were attacked by pirates? What happened? Why did they attack? What did they look like?" A million questions ran straight from my brain to my mouth. Will chuckled a bit.
"It happened all so fast. I don't remember much, except the water was really cold," he admitted, finishing up the last bit of bread. I stood up to get him more.
"Why do you think they attacked?" He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I… I don't know," he spoke at last. I handed him another chunk of bread and he took it eagerly.
"Still, though. Attacked by pirates! What I wouldn't give to have an adventure like that," I sang in a dreamy voice, twirling around the galley. "It would start with pirates kidnapping me and taking me hostage!" I stopped and stood near Will. "And then you could come and rescue me."
"Me?" Will raised his eyebrows. I nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes. And then, we would defeat the pirates and find all their gold. And, you can't forget the best part: the hero gives the lady a kiss." Will's face went red, and he looked down at his bread again.
"Sounds like an exciting adventure," he managed to mutter. I laughed.
"It would be grand!" I flopped rather unladylike into my chair again and looked at Will. A gleam in his eye foretold a challenge.
"What if I get captured by pirates before you? After all, I am the one who has actually encountered the filthy beasts," he asked, straightening up in his chair. I frowned, thinking.
"We'll make a pact, right now. If either one of us gets captured by pirates, the other one will rescue them. Deal?" I asked, extending my hand. Will smiled and grabbed my hand in his.
"Deal."
It was a grand start to a lifelong friendship, but that deal made the day I found him floating on a piece of wood on the crossing from England would change the course of both of our lives eight years later.
