Chapter 6
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well, how'd yer date go las' night?"
"Fine."
"Gonna have t' give me more'n 'at if you don' wanna pay fer tha' beer, mate."
Will made a face. "Fine. We met at the restaurant, we had dinner, we went for a walk, we talked, we kissed, I walked her back to her car, we went home. Separately," he added, just in case.
"You ride yer bike?"
"Yeah."
"She laugh a' you an' call it a piece o' junk?"
"Why would she do that?"
"'Cause it's a piece o' junk, mate."
"No it's not. And no, she didn't. Actually, she liked it."
"Really?" Jack said incredulously. "So what's wrong with 'er, then?"
Will glared at him. "What?"
"She's seen yer shop, she's seen yer bike, an' she still wants t' go out wi' you? Something's obviously wrong with 'er."
"There's nothing wrong with her, Jack."
"You should let 'er see yer apartment. If that doesn' turn 'er off you, nothin' will."
"What's wrong with my apartment?" Will asked defensively.
"It's two rooms covered in black-an'-white photos."
"So? I like photography. What's wrong with that?"
Jack just shook his head. "Yeh got no money."
"I could get a bigger place if I wanted one. I'm just happy where I am, is all."
Jack snorted. "Good luck tellin' 'er that. 'ow much money 'as she got?"
Will shrugged. "I don't know. She works in a coffee shop – "
"Tha's not too bad, then – "
" – but her dad owns a chain of bookstores," Will finished lamely.
"A chain?" Jack said, laughing. "Yer screwed, mate!"
"Shut up, Jack."
"If she's th' girl yer gonna marry, you'd better 'ope 'er dad's payin' fer th' wedding!" Jack continued to laugh.
Will turned bright red. "Shut up."
Elizabeth was beginning to think that it might be time to find another place besides the sunroom to read.
Why is it, she wondered, that when someone is reading, other people assume that they won't mind being interrupted? She glanced up at her current source of irritation, James Norrington.
"Did you hear me, Elizabeth?"
She sighed. "Yes. Is it really any of your business how my date went last night?"
He shrugged. "I'm just looking out for you."
That's not really your business either, Elizabeth thought, frowning. But all she said was, "It went very well."
"Where did you go?"
She felt the irritation flare up again. "A restaurant. Riverview."
"I've never heard of it."
"It was nice."
"Uh-huh." He hesitated for a moment. "And what about this… Will Turner? What did you think of him?"
She wanted nothing more than to yell at him to go away and leave her alone, but she couldn't quite bring herself to do it. "I liked him. Quite a lot, actually."
"Did you kiss him?"
The impertinence of the question burst the dam of her self-restraint. She glared angrily at him. "Yes, I did. And yes, I enjoyed it, to save you the trouble of asking. Do you want to ask me anything else that isn't any of your business?"
James looked startled at her outburst. "No." He hesitated in the doorway for a moment, as if he was trying to think of something to say. But then, without a word, he turned and left.
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, wondering with some trepidation exactly how much of this conversation would reach her father's ears.
Her phone rang. She glanced down at the number on the screen and smiled in surprise. It was Will.
"Hello," she said happily as she answered the call.
"Hi." He sounded rather hesitant. "Is it crazy to call someone the day after a first date?"
"Maybe a little. But honestly… I'm glad you did," Elizabeth admitted.
"Is everything okay?"
Her heart warmed at the obvious concern in his voice. "It's fine, it's just…" She suddenly realized that she needed to see him again, to talk to him in person. He was so wonderfully easy to talk to. "Can – can I see you again sometime? Soon?"
"Sure. When?"
She crossed her fingers, hoped she didn't sound too needy. "Tonight?"
"Oh. Wow. Um, okay. I can do that. You know, you'd better be careful. People might think you like me or something."
She could hear the smile in his voice, and she laughed gratefully. She loved that he could make her laugh like that. "Is six okay?"
"Sure. Want me to pick you up? I've got a spare helmet."
"Are you offering to take me for a motorcycle ride the day after our first date, Mr. Turner?"
"I am. You seem like the adventurous type, Miss Swann."
She had to laugh again. "All right, why not? You be here at six, and I'll try to make sure my father doesn't have a heart attack when he sees your bike."
"Sounds good. I'll see you tonight, I guess."
"See you then."
"Bye, Elizabeth."
"Bye."
Five minutes later, her phone rang for a second time, and, to her surprise, it was Will again.
"Hello."
"Hi…" he said sheepishly. "I, uh… I need your address."
I know this one is pretty short and not a whole lot happens. I guess it's just sort of a bridge chapter. The next one's right back to the adorable fluffiness you know and love, I promise :)