Chapter 7

My sleep that night was still restless but this time it was not dreamless, I was getting flashing images, snapshots per say of my future, or how it could be, but there were those moments that could only happen in dreams which are impossible but still seem terrifyingly real. I was sat in a gold seat with cream ribbons tied to the back, being forced to watch the wedding of Will and Elizabeth, but whenever I tried to make an escape or move the decorative ribbons became restraints, tying me to my seat forcing me to watch the ceremony, the ribbons becoming tighter and tighter suffocating me as the scene became happier and my face was fixed in a permanent smile not that any of the guests in the wedding seemed to notice me I was invisible.

I woke up gasping in my room on the bed in my room, the sheet wrapped tightly around my body like the dreaded ribbons. I was drenched head to foot in a cold sweat, banishing the disturbing dream to the back of my mind I proceeded to get ready to meet our (if Jack had got one) newly acquired crew. After unravelling myself I managed to make myself look more presentable finding a hair brush in one of the dressing table drawer, I roughly pulled it through my newly shorter cut hair.

I stepped out on deck squinting into the blinding sun, it was barely ten O'clock and it was boiling already today was going to be a scorcher. I tied my bandana more tightly to try and protect myself from sunstroke, wanting a hat I sighed and strode over to Jack and Will who were already stood in front our new crew. They all had something odd looking about them, one short man, some with eyes which skittered about like he was mad. Other than Jack, Will, Gibbs and I...Ok maybe not Jack; there was only one normal looking guy.

"Ah Lydia, nice of you to grace us with your presence this morning," Jack said to me seriously but with a hint of amusement in his airy voice, I scowled at him and folded my arms. Gibbs carried on showing off the crew he had found to us. I stood with a bored expression examining my nails ignoring their conversation until they reached the "normal" man, who I gathered to be named Cotton. Cotton opened his mouth after having Jack scream in his face when he didn't reply to him; this exposed the little stump which used to be his tongue. Ok that's what's wrong with him, but who would want to chase the Black Pearl? You would have to be crazy or extremely bored to do that, I assume I'm the first one, crazy...in love that is. Jack got slapped again by a girl who's boat who he had stolen, I liked her she wasn't afraid to stick up for herself and more sensibly than me had a hat. I trudged back onto the ship and plonked myself on a barrel in the corner of the deck; I was not a morning person, after watching the crew set sale, the day seemed to pass by quickly with no events of real significance. Jack examined his compass a few times, I then moved my focus to Will who had begun training with his sword, I let out a little contented sigh after a while when he undid a couple of his shirt buttons. At this Jack turned to me and cocked and eyebrow, this was becoming his routine whenever Jack caught me examining Will.

I felt a pink flush creeping up my cheeks, and I quickly averted my gaze out to the horizon, it wasn't until then until I noticed how truly beautiful Caribbean sunsets actually were. Sunset was always my favourite time of day but I never noticed how much I loved it, never like this. I don't know if it was the sea, the view, the prospect of freedom, or maybe just sunstroke that made me realise how much I wanted this, this twisted thing that is piracy I never belonged on land. I always wanted to be at the docks or the beach, but I realised that I could never live properly on land for good anymore, I loved the sea now too much. Maybe I was turning into Jack, I don't know Will had always wanted land and stability, but to me he would now just be an added bonus. I still loved him with all of that a fifteen year old could, but this was bigger than us.

Maybe this was true love, the sea and I, the sea could never betray me, hurt, me or break my heart. All it could do was sink me, I clambered onto the ships railings and sat this way for a while with my legs dangling over the side. After an hour or two Will seemed to recognise my existence again and he came rushing over pulling me by waist and plopping me unceremoniously on the deck on my bum. I seem to be spending more and more time on the floor with a sore arse! I sat there scowling at him angrily, he told me I was careless and one immense wave could pull me over the side; where I would drown. "I don't see that many huge waves out there" I said derisively.

"That's just you though, isn't it Lydia, you're so immature." He trudged off again and just to be stubborn and defiant I rolled my eyes and sat back down in my original position, refusing to let any man tell me what to do. I knew I was being watched; I turned round to see Jack grinning at me roguishly.

"Pirate" he called. With a wave of annoyance and bravery I held my hand up over my right shoulder and stuck my middle finger up at him, making him hoot with laughter. Every time I was angry it only seemed to amuse him.

"You seem troubled love." Said Jack as he wandered up next to me, he eyed me cautiously but continued nonetheless "I didn't think you'd be swearing at me, and to be honest I'm a tad insulted that you could do that to dear old Jack, who put a roof over your head and gave you what you wanted. Your freedom" I glanced up Jack it was clear he was teasing, but what he was saying really did strike a chord in me, he was looking after me, and being kind to me, even bought me rum, instead of for him. That showed jack liked you and even though it was vile to me it showed just how he wasn't.

"'I'm sorry Jack," I whispered my eyes had gone from their usual chocolate to what probably resembled puppy that had just been kicked. "Am I really that immature? Will said I was. He will probably always think I'm just some annoying girl tagging along with him, hindering him, a thorn in his side.

"Love I don't think William thinks that, he is just tense at the minute worrying on how he is going to save his lady love." He paused studying my face and when he saw it darken at the mention of Elizabeth he continued, "He probably doesn't want to be worrying about her, me betraying him, his heritage as well as the prospect of you drowning yourself."

"I'm not moving!" I said a little too loudly, Jack's eyes showed humour in them as he continued studying me.

"I never said you should mover darling" he chuckled. I thought for a minute about what Jack had just said and it seemed very honest thing for him to say.

"Are you going to betray Will and I?" I whispered glumly.

"No, no love, it's probably all he was thinking is all" Jack rambled Nice Save Jack. This showed how none of us were guaranteed safety or even friendship from Jack. I've just not got to become too attached to Jack, but that doesn't mean I cannot enjoy his company.

"Jack, why would Will be worrying about his heritage?" I questioned crinkling my brow and tilting my head to the left in a way in which I was not aware that Jack found adorable, making him value this girl even more than he already did. However he would never say as it took weakness, to admit liking someone and maybe even wanting to be their friend.

"Well love, Will's dear old Dad was a pirate, and now I think about it; he was probably one of the closest things I had to a friend." The pirate mused stroking his braded beard as he did.

"You knew Will's Dad. He was a Pirate, that's so amazing! I wish my Dad was a pirate." This encouraged eagerness and newfound life in me, and to Jack this proved too things. One that I was going to be a pirate through and thorough even if it wasn't in my blood, and two that I truly loved Will ;if just discussing his family brought such light back into my eyes, then even if he couldn't see it and possibly even me to some extent, my love was true.

"I knew his Mum too" laughed Jack his kohl lined eyes dancing.

"Liar." I laughed pushing him away from me "besides shouldn't you be doing something like steering this vessel." Jack shrugged, "I can't be around you too long anyway, the smell from your lack of personal hygiene is making me quite light headed" I teased putting the back of my hand against by bandana in a mock faint. At this Jack grabbed the back of my waist coat and shoved be forward off the rail, and just before I fell into the sea below grabbed my arm yanking me back roughly and what felt like dislocating my shoulder in the process. I held it pretending to cry.

"You'll live love, and don't pull that face with me. You've hurt me too, just my pain is emotional" he whimpered wiping away a fake tear. I laughed at him, and turned back to the ocean I liked it like this just me and the ocean, I may even be able to deal with Jack too. I'm too mad at Will he can't be in my pirate fantasy, for the moment anyway. What I didn't notice was that Will had seen the whole display of playful banter between Jack and I. Therefore Jack putting me in danger angered him severely and so he marched up to him on the poop deck and engaged himself in a full blow argument over me. I didn't notice them as I was too absorbed with the view.

I don't know how long I was sat out there, perhaps all evening, I even watched the stars, determined to not be told what to do, to be a different sort of girl to prissy Elizabeth. I went to bed ignoring Will and not saying goodnight and still I was not feeling right or one hundred percent myself. But better, I needed Will a lot but maybe I needed this more needed this more right now the just me a ship and the sea...Freedom.