Chapter Four
(Tori POV)
Tori finished washing up the bowls and spoons that Jimmy and Ashley used and was now removing her apron. 'Gotta go talk to Englehorn about a place to sleep. Can't forget.' She hung up the apron and walked out the door an stepped onto the deck. Tori looked around and took a deep breath. The salty air around her was warm and the sky was a bright shade of blue with a few scattered white puffy clouds. 'Life on the sea is pretty.' She started towards steps to get to Captain Englehorn's room and she saw Preston carrying a barrel out of the corner of her eye. "Preston! Do you need some help?" Tori called as she ran over to him, holding the hem of her dress down.
Preston shook his head as he struggled with th barrel. "I-I'm alright. It's fine."
Tori let out a laugh. "You don't look fine. Look like you're havin' a tough time there actually," she said as she took a hold of the barrel's side. "Let me help." Tori and Preston managed to maneuver the barrel to the other end of the deck.
Once they put it down, Preston let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks Tori," Preston pushed his glasses up on his nose and patted the side of Tori's arm. He smiled at her and said, "Well, I better get back to work. Lots of stuff to move."
"O-okay," Tori turned and ran up the steps to Englehorn's room. She stopped, leaning against the wall as she caught her breath. Her face was feverishly blushed and she looked down, noticing that there was a bit of soot on her dress. Tori brushed off her dress and turned, seeing the door to Englehorn's room was open a crack. She rapped softly on the door.
"Come in," the familiar german accented voice said. Tori walked in and saw the captain at a desk, writing on a map. She cringed slightly when she remembered his accent. Captain Englehorn turned and smiled when he saw her. "Can I help you with something, Tori?"
Tori shivered. 'Accent...' "Um...yes. A-ashley and I need accomidations," she managed to say. She laced her hands behind her back and nervously picked at a nail. "We sorta forgot about that..."
Englehorn nodded and picked his hat off the table, placing it on his head securely. "Wait," he said with confusion in his tone. "Where did you sleep last night?" he asked as he stood up.
"Er... We sorta slept in the cargo hold," she grinned.
He looked at her, surprised it seemed, with a small frown. Captain Englehorn shook his head in detest. "That simply won't do. I'll show you to a cabin. You can have the one by the galley. I'm sure Jimmy's room has the extra bunk still, too."
Tori's eyes grew wide. 'Splitting us up? Teh dynamic duo will be far from each other? Gasp!' "Alright," she said reluctantly. "Oh and I sorta don't have any other clothes than this," Tori ruffled the skirt of her dress slightly.
The captain's lips curled into a smile. "We have some spare clothes on board. Come, let me show you to your cabin," he said as he walked past her out the door.
"O-okay," Tori blushed a little bit and followed him out the door.
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(Ashley POV)
Ashley was helping Jimmy bring in the fishing nets. A few fish were attached to the last one they were pulling out, still flopping a bit. "Ew," Ashley groaned as she pulled her side of the net. Jimmy laughed at her as he hauled the rest of the net over the side of the boat. "Don't laugh," she pouted as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I don't like fish. At all."
"Well that's a shame 'cause I think it's gunna be supper."
Ashley scrunched her nose up at his words. "Gross." She watched as Jimmy pulled four fish out of the tangle of the net and put them in an empty bucket. "What are we doing with them?"
"Takin' 'em to the galley for now. Tori'll decide what exactly to do with them," he told her as he lifted the bucket and moved it aside. "Let's get the net away first."
Ashley nodded and picked up the brown worn net. She and Jimmy pulled it over to a box and then put it in, being careful not to knot it. Once it was away, Ashley stretched upward and yawned. "I'm not cut out for this," she giggled.
"Then why'd you come on board?" Jimmy asked as he picked up the bucket once more. He started towards the galley. Ashley quickly followed him. "I mean, why come aboard if you can't work?"
"I had my reasons," she said, eyeing up his hat deviously. Ashley noticed Tori and Captain Englehorn coming down the steps. "Tori!" Ashley shouted. Jimmy stopped and turned, looking at what she was. Englehorn and Tori walked down the steps and approached them. "What's going on, Captain?" Ashley said in a faux British accent.
Tori narrowed her eyes at her while Englehorn said, "I'm just showing her to her accomidations."
Ashley made a slight frown. "What about me?"
Tori's smug look turned very cheerful in an instant. "Jimmy, is there an extra bunk in your cabin still?" Englehorn asked. Jimmy nodded and wiped his free hand on his jeans. Captain Englehorn looked at Ashley. "You'll be staying with Jimmy since you two have the same job."
"Doesn't it make perfect sense?" Tori cooed behind him evily. Ashley glared at her and felt her cheeks and ears grow warm. "We'll be seeing ya!" she said following Englehorn past the galley and through a random door.
Ashley growled and turned to face Jimmy, who looked a bit embarressed himself. 'I don't feel so bad then. It'll be weird staying with a guy. Especially Jimmy...' She smiled at him reassuringly and he gave her an all too familiar crooked smile. 'Maybe it won't be so bad.' Ashley watched as he picked the bucket up again and followed him into the galley.
A/N: Lol. Weird moments. Have you got the pairings down yet? Review please.
