Chapter Five

(Tori POV)

Tori had followed Captain Englehorn through the door into the narrow hallway. He stopped at the first door and opened it. "Right by the galley. And I'll arrange for someone to leave you a set of clothes," he said as he moved aside for her to look around.

Tori stepped in, looking at the small area she would call her room. "Thank you captain." He replied with a smile as he put his hands in the pockets of his pants and exited the room. Tori looked at the small mirror hanging by the door and noticed her face was blushed. 'Damn... Was that noticeable?' She sat on the small bed behind her with a sigh. 'I guess I soon should get back to the kitchen.' She stood up and removed her brown coat and hat, throwing both on a wooden chair in front of a small vanity. She left and made her way back to the galley.

---

(Ashley POV)

Ashley was leaning on the counter in the small kitchen. She and Jimmy were waiting for Tori to return to give her the fish. 'Yuck. Fish.'Ashley made a sour face at the thought. Tori walked in the galley and looked surprised to see them. "Tori!" Ashley shouted, raising her arms in the air. "Take the fishies."

Tori put on her apron and joined them behind the counter. "Fish?"

Jimmy nodded. "We catch fish from time to time. For meals." He held up the bucket and handed it off to her. Tori looked at the bucket with disgust. "Oh and you have to clean them and stuff," Jimmy trailed off. He turned, looking at Ashley. "Let's go," he said with a slight head tilt.

Ashley nodded and followed Jimmy. "Bye Torence," she said over her shoulder. She heard Tori groan as they walked out of the galley. "What we gunna do now Jimmy?" Ashley asked as she held her hands behind her back and walked next to him.

"I was thinkin' I could show you where my...err, our room is," he said pulling his hat down to cover his face from her view.

'Aw. He's so cute.' Ashley followed behind him into the hallway and held in a laugh. They walked down the narrow hall for what seemed to be hours until he stopped in front of a door, hesitating. Ashley wasn't paying attention and bumped into him. "Oops." She blushed madly. "Sorry," she mumbled as she took a step back while he opened the door and went in first.

Ashley looked around the room as she stepped in. 'Kinda bland,' she thought as she looked around the rusty colored wooden room. Jimmy took his hat off and set it on a desk as he sat on his bed, which was next to the desk. Ashley walked over to the desk and saw it was adorned with books. "You really like to read, huh?" she stated with a giggle.

"I do," he had gotten the book out they were reading before and put it with the others. "But that one's my favorite one. Heart of Darkness, there." Ashley nodded and scanned over the other books. "So uh, you'll be sleepin' on that bunk over there," Jimmy said, motioning towards a bed at the opposite side of the room.

"Mkay..." Ashley set eyes on his hat and reached for it slowly with a shaky hand. Jimmy swiped his hat before she could get it. She looked over and saw him holding it protectively. "C-can I...?" she pointed to the hat.

Jimmy looked at her with slight wonder. "Why?"

Ashley shrugged. "Please?"

He sighed. "Fine, but only for a few minutes," Jimmy told her as he handed the hat to her.

She took the hat and put it on her head. Ashley grinned. "How's it look, Jimmy?" she asked while sort of dancing around the room.

Jimmy laughed. "It looks mighty nice, Ashley." He was grinning as she danced around. His happy expression turned sour and he scrunched up his nose. "What's that smell?"

Ashley stopped dancing and sniffed the air. Something smelled as if it was burning. She groaned, "It's prolly Tori. Let's go see." Jimmy got up and she followed him out of the room.

---

(Tori POV)

"Waah! Preston, is it out?" Tori cried from behind her hands. She covered her face with her hands when she saw the flames out of shock. It sounded as if Preston splashed the frying pan of fish with water. Tori heard the sizzle and slowly brought her hands down. "Sorry," she trailed off and blushing slightly.

"It's alright," Preston reassured her as he sat the empty water bucket down. "We'll just have to make something else to make up for the fish that got burned."

Tori nodded swiftly and looked in one of the cabinets that held food. "How about we…I dunno, make some rice?" she suggested.

Preston joined her in front of the cabinet. "You're the chef," he said. "Rice it is."

"Tori, what the hell was on fire?" Ashley said as she and Jimmy burst into the galley. She held her hand on her head to keep the hat from flying off. Jimmy stood next to her, a bit out of breath.

"Just a few fish, that's all," Tori said with a sheepish grin. "I got distracted." Ashley laughed and leaned on the counter. "Isn't that Jimmy's hat?"

"Yeah, It's my hat alright," Jimmy said looking sideways at Ashley. "Can I have it back yet?"

Ashley stuck her tongue out at Jimmy. "Nope."

He fumed at this and looked to Preston. "So you're helpin' the cook now?"

Preston gave a nod. "Yep. I don't have many other jobs so I figured I'd help."

Ashley smirked and looked at Tori. "Isn't that nice of you Preston," she glared at Tori.

"Don't give me that look Kernsy," Tori grumbled to Ashley.

Ashley smiled deviously and looked at Jimmy. "Let's go sit and wait for supper to be done." Jimmy gave a nod and followed Ashley to a table.

Preston leaned over to Tori. "Those two seem to be attached at the hip. Should I make anything of it?"

Tori shrugged. "It could be because they're so close in age. Or height. Maybe she likes him or something." 'Thought I already know the answer to that one.' She smiled as she watched the two at the table laughing about something. 'Kinda cute couple, if you ask me.' Tori's gaze turned to Preston, who was cleaning up the burnt fish. Preston turned and she flipped back around to the counter to focus on cleaning the rice.

"You got the rice?" he asked.

"Um…Yeah," Tori stuttered.

"Okay. I'm going to go talk to Jimmy for a minute. I'll be right back."

"Alright," she nodded and watched him walk over to Jimmy. Preston whispered something to him and Jimmy excused himself, leaving Ashley lone. She was still wearing his hat, too.

Ashley got up and walked over to the counter. "I sense someone has an infatuation," she sang.

"What are you talking about?" Tori asked as she dumped the water from the bowl, being careful not to dump the rice with it.

"Preston. He totally likes you," she whispered with an eye roll.

Tori snorted, "Yeah. Uh huh. Sure. And what about Jimmy, huh? It seems like he likes you. A lot."

Ashley glared. "Really now?" The sarcasm in her voice was thick and she pulled the hat down. "I have his hat," she said happily. Tori rolled her eyes and transferred the now clean rice into a pot , bringing her mind back to cooking and not burning another meal.


A/N: I quite liked this chapter. Stole'd Jimmy's hat too. XP Sorta cliffy. Wonder what Jimmy and Preston are talking about?...
Please review!!