Hello…I know I haven't updated in months, but I assumed you would forgive me. This chapter only took me a day, but I feel it will satisfy anyone! Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own POTC or its characters, but I do own Bella and Oliver!
Chapter Three
Oliver and I stared at each other for what seemed like hours, my mouth was dry and my throat felt swollen. I thought of what to say but I choked them down again before they even had chance to escape. When I was about to actually speak Oliver beat me to it. "Umm… so you're a…a girl." It was quite obvious considering the situation before us, but I guess he wanted to confirm it.
Suddenly I was in panic, "Yes, but don't tell anyone! Because if people found out…I, I, I wouldn't even know what would happen, but I do know that it wouldn't be good. Right?" The words flooded out of my mouth in a highly squeaky manner.
"No, I won't tell anyone, but answer a question for me. What drives a young woman on a pirate ship? I'm just curious." He asked genuinely curious, I could tell by how his eyes burned into mine as if trying to find answers.
Somewhere deep down inside of me I felt like I could really and truly trust him to keep his word. "Well if you really want to know, I came aboard to find my father."
He nodded his head, "Logical enough," We stood in an awkward silence for minutes. I couldn't even breath, my chest was constricting my lungs and I felt faint. "Well I bid you a good night…" Oliver paused and let me finish the rest of his sentence.
"Bella," I smiled, "But do you have to leave already?"
"I'm sure my mother wouldn't be too happy if she found me gone," he took a clumsy step backwards, "Oh, here is something for your hair." Oliver gave me a smile and handed me an awkwardly shaped object. Then he turned around and walked down the stairs.
After he left I looked down at my hands and found another hat, except this one wasn't made of straw.
The morning after the sun was shining through the cracks of the ship and the gentle lulling was enough to put anyone back to sleep, but I was up as soon as my eyes lids opened. The night before was playing in my head to vividly I thought I was reliving it and just as suddenly I had a horrible thought. What if someone found out? Or worse, what if they all knew?
I told myself I was just being silly and built up enough courage to walk up the stairs; before I even entered the daylight though, I needed to secure my hat on my head. Once that was accomplished I pushed the door open with my wobbling arms, I was expected to be plummeted to the ground by several heavyset men as soon as I step foot on the deck. But to my surprise I was greeted by golden sunshine that radiated off the aqua blue waters of the Caribbean. Which washed away all my worries, it was just that beautiful.
A bucket of paint and a brush were thrusted into my hands by some unknown man; with that I was sent to work on the rails of the ship. I put a fairly large glob of paint on my brush to begin with and then slapped it on the wood, but some slid into the water below. Leaving a circle of black in the middle of the ocean, "You there!" Startled, I turned around to face a man with a straggly beard and magnificent bright blue eyes shaking a crooked finger at me. "Don't waste that paint! It's one of the only buckets we got!" Then without another word he stepped back and left me alone.
Not wanting another warning like that, I put a very small amount on the tip of the brush and swept in gently across the wood. At this rate time seemed to pass by slowly at first, but once I concentrated enough on my task the minutes just seemed to tick away. Then before I knew it I was done with all the rails of the ship, but my hand was mighty soar.
I brought the bucket and brush to the store room and was yet again startled by another voice, "Well, well."
The bucket and brush dropped out of my hands and I spun around to look at the voice's owner, I was relieved to find out it was Oliver. His brown curls and eyes made him such a relief to look at after being around old dirty men all day. "You scared me." I said putting my hand to my heart for emphasis.
He smiled at me, "I am surprised to see you out and about today, I was expecting you hide down below."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "I'm not a coward you know."
"Oh, I never thought you were, but I just…" Oliver trailed off his sentence; I couldn't tell if he truly didn't know what he wanted to say or he just didn't want to offend me.
I picked the bucket and brush off the ground and put them in there rightful place, then I looked back at Oliver. He was staring back at me in an odd sort of way, "What?" I asked.
"Oh, it's nothing really. I still can't figure out what drives a young lady on a ship." He paused and toyed with a key that dangled off his belt. "I know that you're in search of your father, but I have sneaking suspicion that there's something more." Then he looked at me once more and left the store room.
I was shocked, how can he figure me out. I was in search of my father, yes, but I told him that last night. There was something else I hadn't told him, another force that drove me out to sea and that was…adventure. I lived for the thrill of the chase or just to be in combat and to have the wind whip my curls around my face, to smell the fresh sea salt, or have the sun beat down on my back without mercy. All these things were what I craved for and longed for. But I never told anyone my secret wanting, that's why I couldn't understand how Oliver could possibly look down in me and see my desires written across my face. It scared me, I felt vulnerable at the very thought.
Later on that night I was enjoying the breeze out on deck and watching for whales of any sort. It was amazing how just a few days ago I was sitting in my shabby house in Tortuga waiting for my mother to arrive home, now I was sailing through unknown waters. It thrilled me to be experiencing what I dreamed of my whole life. I smiled at the thought, "You, sailor." Yet another time I was scared by a voice behind me.
I turned around…again, to be faced with the Captain himself. His dread locks and trinkets hung around his face, but some were held up by a bandanna. He sure did look the part of a captain, which intimidated me even more. "Yes sir?" I asked cautiously.
"You do not own your own sword?" He asked, pointing down to my empty belt.
"No sir, I don't."
He shook his head, "I've never met a sailor who does not own his own set of equipment." At this time he was sweeping the ship with his eyes. He spoke to a short chubby man, "Gibbs, could you please fetch me a sword from my room."
The man, Gibbs, nodded and then trotted off the deck. The Captain leaned against the rail next to me and we just waited silently. I assumed the sword Gibbs went to fetch was for me, but a thought crossed my mind. What if the sword was to kill me, because I didn't own my own? It seemed silly for me to even think this, but it was plausible. Anything could happen on a pirate ship. I panicked for a second or two, and then I realized the Captain would have just used his own sword to kill me. I sighed with relief.
"Here you are Jack." Gibbs returned with an old sword, but the metal still shined. Any sword is good for me, I thought.
"Good, this will do." Captain Jack said as he took the sword from Gibbs. Then he handed it to me, "This is yours now, I only did this because you look to young to acquire your own and I wouldn't want to leave you without a weapon."
The sword felt heavy and awkward in my hands, "Thank you sir." I said, staring at my sword. Captain Jack didn't smile, but he gave me a hard smack on my back and left. I have my very own sword! I was bursting with pride and excitement, but that was soon vanquished when I remembered…I don't know how to use one.
I glanced around the ship to make sure no one was watching, and then I tried swinging at the nearest crate. Except when the metal hit the wood the sword fell out of my grasp and left my wrist throbbing with pain. I tried helplessly over and over again, but it was no use. I couldn't make a mark on the wood; I leaned against the rail and felt defeated by a box!
Just when I thought I'd given up, a figure stepped into the moon light. "Looks like you need a teacher." Oliver smiled down at me.
Just when I was about to turn him down and tell him I was capable of teaching myself, he reached out his hand to lift me up on my feet. Maybe he could actually help me, "Thank you, I would like that."
"Great we'll start tonight." Enthused, he took out his own sword and started showing me all the parts. Then we moved to grip, then to movements. It took us over an hour until I could hold a sword correctly let alone do movements, but Oliver was very patient with me and never yelled.
Just when we were going to call it a night, I asked him, "Could I at least try a fight."
He stared at me, "You want to try and fight me?"
I knew I wasn't even close to mastering the sword, but I could still practice. "Yes, you'll take it easy on me right?"
He nodded and motioned to bring my sword up in ready position. Then we started, my sword clanked with his first and I was so thrilled that I almost forgot to block his next thrust. But I managed again to block it; my adrenaline was pumping so hard that my mind went fuzzy. Then I felt a blow on my leg, he had hit me with the blunt side of his sword; which left me so shocked I fell right on my backside.
Oliver chuckled, "Your first lesson. It wasn't that bad, but you have some work to do." Again he held his hand for me and I took it, getting up on my feet turned out to be more difficult that I thought.
I managed to get to my bed, which was a spare hammock I found and hung up in the storage room. As I lied there I reran my whole lesson through my head, it was amazing how much I learned in that short of time. There was something that stuck out at me though and it is what I thought most valuable. It was to never be taken by surprise either it was by swords, people, or voices!
So how was it? Please review I love the support, it's what keeps me motivated!