A/N: I actually had fun typing this up. I was singing the song as I wrote this which inspired me to use it. Tori wanted a dance thin like in the movie and I thought the song fit. It's from the Across th Universe soundtrack (Don't own it!) and I lovee it. Anyways. Please read, review, and enjoy! :)
Chapter Seven
(Ashley POV)
She leaned against the counter with a grin. Ashley just told Tori about everything her and Jimmy said up in the crow's nest. "Yeah. I heard the beginning part up until he told you how he felt," Tori said casually.
Ashley's eyes grew wide. "What? Eavesdropper!" she whispered strongly.
Tori finished washing up a pot and put it on a rack to dry. "Hey. I helped you. I told him he should tell you."
Ashley stared at her friend, a dumbstruck look upon her face. She stood up straight. "This is why you're me best friend," Ashley said in a mock Scottish accent. Tori laughed and Ashley felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She turned and saw Jimmy, grinning at her. "H-hey Jimmy," she smiled.
"C'mon. Skipper said we could have music and they're about to start." Jimmy looked as if he just was told the greatest thing in the world.
Ashley saw a glimmer in his eyes and grabbed his hat, placing on her own head. "Tori, meet you out there," she said, holding onto the hat and trying to prevent Jimmy from taking it back. Ashley saw Tori give her a nod and she darted for the galley door, running into Preston. "Damn. Sorry Prest," she told him as she scrambled past. Ashley caught sight of men around the bow of the deck in a sort of semi-circle. 'That must be where the music is gunna be.' She made her way over quickly, hearing Jimmy shout at her about his hat. Ashley managed to make it there, tripping over her own feet as she reached the men. She held her balance and stood up straight, noticing the men begin to play. "Do you guys know 'The Dawn, The Sea, and the Sky'?" A few of them looked at her curiously. 'Crap. That's like seventy years ahead of time…' She laughed nervously and said, "Never mind. Just play something." The few men with instruments began to play and others began to clap to the emerging beat. Jimmy made a move for the hat and Ashley spun, deflecting his hand away. She looked at him with a grin. "Dance?"
Jimmy gave her a look of approval. "'Course," he said holding out his hand. Ashley put her hand in his and he pulled her to his side.
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(Tori POV)
Tori and Preston were walking out of the galley. She saw Ashley and Jimmy begin to dance. He spun her in a circle and she broke away, waving her arms in the air. Tori heard the music and smiled. Preston walked past her and joined the forming circle. Tori watched as the men cheered the two on as they danced around. Tori fumed a little. 'Share the attention, Ash.' She looked up and saw the balcony-like thing. "Hmm…" Tori hurried over to the steps and walked up. When she got to the top, she had the perfect view. She could see Jimmy, who was doing a sort of tap dance; Ashley, who was watching him and doing a shuffle; and the rest of the crew, clapping and smiling. Tori shut her eyes and heard the music. She opened her mouth and began to sing. "What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?" her voice was soft, but everyone turned, looking at her. Tori saw Ashley smile and wink, signaling to go for it, and she continued on, gradually getting louder. "Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key. Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends."
"Oh. She gets high with a little help from her friends," Ashley chimed in, taking a step forward and smiling wide.
"Ooh, I'm gunna try with a little help from my friends," Tori continued on as she bolted down the steps and made her way into the circle. She looked at the men playing instruments. They gave her a confused look but heard her tempo and went with it. "What do I do when my love is away?"
"Does it worry you to be alone?" Ashley sang.
"How do I feel by the end of the day?"
Ashley hurried to her side and leaned, looking at her. "Are you sad because you're on your own?"
Tori smiled at her and they sang in unison. "I get by with a little help from my friends. Yeah, I get high with a little help from my friends. Oh, I'm gunna try with a little help from my friends."
Tori saw Jimmy watch them and step back, blending into the circle of men. "Do you need anybody?" Ashley sang strongly, looking at Tori with a questioning look.
"I need somebody to love," Tori said in a musical tone, looking at Preston briefly, who was next to Jimmy.
"Could it be anybody?" Ashley belted out.
Tori shook her head and sang, "I want somebody to love."
The two sang in unison again. "Would you believe in a love at first sight?"
They broke off and Ashley went on. "Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time."
"What do you see when you turn out the lights?" Tori sang, looking at Ashley curiously.
"I can't tell ya, but I know it's mine," Ashley said musically, winking at Jimmy as she approached him. She pulled him into the circle and danced around with him as she sang.
Tori and Ashley began again. "I get by with a little help from my friends. Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends. Oh, I'm gunna try with a little help from my friends."
Ashley pulled apart from Jimmy and pointed at Tori. "Do you need anybody?"
Tori stood still and sang softly, "I need someone to love."
"Could it be anybody?" Ashley shouted in a musical voice.
"Ohh, oh, oh," the two climbed up the musical scale. "I get by with a little help from my friends," the rhythm began to slow as they continued on. "I'm gunna try with a little help from my friends. Try with a little help from my friends."
Tori walked over to Preston and pulled him in the circle, swaying to the slowing music. "I get by with a little help from my friends, a little help from my friends," Tori's voice grew softer and she smiled at Preston, who was watching her intently.
"Friends…" Ashley trailed off just as Tori did. Tori let out a relieved sigh as the crew clapped and roared madly. She looked over at Ashley, who was hugging Jimmy and looking very happy, and smiled at her. Ashley glanced over and gave a thumbs up. Tori looked to Preston and kissed him on the cheek. The crew members with instruments flared up again, playing a tune as everyone tapped and clapped. Tori noticed Jimmy and Ashley were dancing again. She looked to Preston and pulled him into a dance.
Preston fumbled over his own feet. "I'm not used to dancing," he whispered.
"Just go with it," Tori whispered back.
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(Ashley POV)
'Wonder if she sees Englehorn staring a hole through them?...' Ashley held onto Jimmy's hand as he twirled her. She noticed Captain Englehorn clapping along happily, but staring at Tori and Preston intensely. She shook her head as she saw Preston trip again. 'Good thing that man has balance.' Ashley snickered to herself as Jimmy hoisted her into the air. She shrieked as he spun her. Ashley kept a hand securely on Jimmy's hat she still had on, and had a grip on the collar of his blue shirt. He put her down gently and she felt sort of dizzy, but she saw him flashing her that smile. Ashley smiled at him as she kissed him quickly on the lips, feeling her face heat up. Behind her she heard Tori hooting. She rolled her eyes and shook her head at her friend's response. 'Then again, the whole damn crew is doing that too.' She turned to Tori, who had a fist in the air and a hand locked with Preston's, and stuck her tongue out with a silly face. 'If only this was happening in our era…' Ashley turned back and got enveloped in a hug from Jimmy, half pulling her towards the edge of the circle. She followed him and they sat down by the door to the cabins, panting from the dancing.
"Wha…What was that for?" Jimmy blushed.
Ashley smiled. "Dunno. For dancing with me?"
Jimmy turned to her and grinned. "Works for me," he shrugged and leaned forward, catching her lips with his. Ashley's felt her face grow warm again as she moved closer towards him.
A voice overhead said, "Excuse me," awkwardly.
The two broke apart and saw Tori and Preston standing over them. Ashley's eyes grew wide and she looked down, pulling the hat over her eyes. "Sorry," Preston said. "Just thought we'd ask you two to join us in the galley," he said uneasily.
Ashley opened her mouth to speak but heard Jimmy say, "Sure."
'Stupid Ashley. Stupid stupid. Stupid…' She felt a hand link with hers and tug, signaling for her to get up. Ashley looked up and saw a bright faced Jimmy. "Sorry," she muttered as she picked herself up. They walked hand in hand behind Tori and Preston to the galley.
