A/N: Here's the third chapter. Jimmy appears in this chapter and it's kinda fluffy at times. Enjoy!
Read and review please!


Chapter Three

(Ashley POV)

Ashley was asleep in the small cage. She felt a piece of straw fall on her face. She opened her eyes and saw a young boy standing over her. He was wearing a black hat wit sandy brown hair sticking out of from under it. "Are you Ashley?" he asked.

Ashley sat up, rubbing her eyes. 'Is this?...' Ashley leaped up from her laying postion. "You must be Jimmy?" she said holding out her hand. He shook her hand and nodded with a crooked smile. 'Oh my god. I just shook his hand. Oh my god.' Ashley thought.

Tori came out from the cage next to Ashley's. "Oh em gee! It's Jimmeh!" she shouted while pointing at Jimmy. Jimmy looked at her with a confused expression. "Sorry. I um, overheard you. Ashley, so you're working with him?" she emphasized the word "him".

Jimmy talked before Ashley could answer. "Yes ma'am. And you're needed in the galley captain said. Lots of hungry men," he chuckled.

Tori patted Jimmy's back. "Right Jimbo. And you can just call me Tori," she waved to them and walked up the metal steps. "I'll be in the galley." Tori left, leaving the two in the hold.

Jimmy adjusted his hat. "Ready for your first job, Miss Ashley?"

Ashley nodded. "Just call me Ashley," she blushed slightly and pulled a strand of hair into her face. "What are we doing?"

"Crow's nest duty. Hope you're not scared of heights."

---

(Tori POV)

Tori walked on the deck and began towards the galley. She saw Preston walking towards her and thought about going back down to the cargo hold, just to hide in a cage. Tori thought otherwise though. 'Must be outgoing. Must not be shy,' she thought as they got closer. "H-hey Preston," Tori smiled as she walked up to him. Preston looked lost in thought until she spoke, giving her a wave. "What are you up to?"

"Just um, taking things to the captain. He needed something from another crew member," he grinned.

"So you're his assistant?" she asked as she began to the galley once more.

"Uh, no. I haven't been an assistant for a few months," he looked at her curiously. "Where are you going?" he asked as he followed behind her.

"Galley. I'm the new cook," she smiled at him over her shoulder.

"That's great," Preston said happily. "Last cook used a lot of walnuts," he said, looking down at his feet as he walked. Tori walked into the galley and saw a few men sitting at tables. They looked at her with hungry looks. She walked behind the counter to where the supplies were and pulled an apron from a hook, tying it around her waist. "D-do you want some help?" he stuttered as he stood in front of the counter, leaning on it.

"Sure. If you want. I mean, it the first time I'm cooking for maybe thirty men," she joked.

Preston smiled. "Alright then," he said as he circled around and grabbed an apron off the hook next to Tori's, putting on the apron. Tori blushed as he walked up beside her and smiled at her.

---

(Ashley POV)

Ashley looked up at the crow's nest. It was maybe 5 or so feet overhead. Her hands got sort of shaky and she felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. 'You asked for it.'

"Go on then," Jimmy said behind her. "Just climb up."

Ashley turned and faced him, her expression very nervous. "I'm kinda...not good with heights or high up places."

Jimmy flashed her that crooked smile. "Go on up. The view from up there is beautiful."

She sighed. "I'll go, but when I'm at the top can you have Tori out here so I can tell her something?"

He looked at her curiously, but shrugged as he put his hands in his pockets. "Sure. But I have to be up there too, see."

She nodded and began slowly up the built-in ladder to the top of the crow's nest. Ashley kept looking straight up at her destination and thought, 'Keep climbing. Don't look down,' repeatedly in her head. She got to the top and pulled herself up, gripping the metal railing and looked down. Ashley saw Jimmy smiling up at her, with Tori and Preston to his left side. "Hey Tori! Guess what?" Ashley shouted.

Tori cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled back, "What?"

"I'm on a boat!" Ashley shouted with a grin.

She saw Tori shaking her head and beginning to make her way back to the galley. Preston was staring up at her, with a confused expression, and Jimmy was already on his way up to join her.

When Jimmy reached the top and climbed up he asked, "What was that all about?"

Ashley was laughing. "Just a joke, that's all. So what do we do up here?" she asked once she stopped laughing uncontrollably.

Jimmy leaned on the thick pole in the middle of the nest. "Watch for other ships and stuff. Be look-out really," he said as he pulled a book from his back pocket. Ashley noticed it was Heart of Darkness by Joesph Conrad. Her eyes lit up and her jaw dropped. Jimmy must have noticed because he asked, "Do you wanna read it with me?" His voice sounded a little shaky, but she nodded and they sat down with their backs against the pole. Jimmy opened the book and held it between them with a smile.

"I really like this book. I've read it before."

"So have I. It's my second time reading it."

"Same here. So where are you at?" Ashley asked.

Jimmy pointed at the dark bolded words 'Chapter Five'. "Not too far in yet," he said softly.

She shrugged and bit on her lower lip. "Is it okay if I read aloud to you?" Ashley asked nervously. Jimmy nodded with great enthusiasm and Ashley began to read.

---

(Tori POV)

Tori was washing up the few dishes that had been dirtied by the men when they ate their porridge. Preston was clearing the tables and wiping them down. 'He's really nice.' Preston was back at her side and pulling his apron off. "Thanks for the, uh help Preston," Tori said nervously as she dried her hands on the apron she was still wearing.

"I don't mind. I don't do a whole lot around the ship anyways," he joked. "I'd be happy to help with the meals."

Tori's cheeks obtained a dim blush and she nodded her head vigorously. "That'd be really cool. Thanks." Preston gave her a subtle wink and walked around the counter, then out of the galley. Tori leaned against the small stove with a sigh.

"What're you sighing about?" she heard a voice say. Tori, a little startled, jumped and both Ashley and Jimmy walking into the galley. Jimmy sat at a table nearest to the counter and Ashley approached Tori.

"Um...nothing." Tori said abuptly.

Ashley smirked. "It's Preston, isn't it?" she whispered.

Tori's eyes grew wide. "N-no. It-It's not," she stuttered.

Ashley shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Can we just have some food?" Tori nodded and turned around, filling two bowls with the left over porridge. She set them on the counter. "Thanks," Ashley said as she took the bowls back to the table. Tori took her apron off and joined them at the circular table. "How's life as the cook?" Ashley asked, raising her eyebrows at Tori.

"Kinda...fun. How's it being, uh whatever your title is?"

"There's no name for doing odd jobs," Jimmy said with his mouth full. Ashley gave her shoulders a shrug in response.

Ashley tried a spoonful of the bowl of porridge in front of her. "It's good." Jimmy nodded as he finished his food. Ashley looked over at him. "You eat fast."

Jimmy chuckled. "Well, you learn to do that when you're on a ship." He stood up and pushed in his chair. "I'm gunna go check the ropes on deck. Come out when you're done," he said as he ducked out the door.

As soon as Jimmy was gone, Tori leaned and whispered, "How's Jimmy?" Ashley mocked Tori and took another bite of her porridge. "Well?"

Ashley sighed. "He's fine," she said shaking her head.

Tori eyed Ashley curiously. "Isn't that why we came here?" she whispered.

Ashley scolwed at her. "Touche." She finished off her food. "I'll let you know when I make some progress," she smiled at Tori as she got up. "Gotta go help Jimmy. I'll see you later. Oh, and can you ask about where we're staying?" she asked from the doorway.

Tori nodded. "Yeah sure."

"Sweet. Later," Ashley said walking out of the galley. Tori made a small sigh as she picked up the bowls and took them over to the little sink behind the counter to wash them.