A/N; So I wrote this up today while my power was out. 9Thank goodness for my school cpu and battery life!) don't know where this is going. Might add something funny tho in time...Heh heh heh.... (evil Face) So read, reivew, and enjoy!
Chapter Eight
(Tori POV)
Tori walked into the galley first, ahead of Preston, Ashley, and Jimmy. She made her way over to the counter and quickly put the pot of water on the stove. She watched as the three sat down at a table right by the kitchen area. Tori looked at them as she turned the stove on. 'Someone's a little blushed.' Ashley's face was a tender shade of pink, Jimmy was smiling at her, and Preston was cleaning off his glasses diligently. 'I like it here. Probably a little too much.' She got out four cups for coffee and lined them on the counter. "Coffee?" Tori asked.
"Please," Preston said, looking up at her with a squint.
Ashley nodded as Jimmy shrugged and said, "Sure."
Tori looked down and saw the water begin to boil. She turned off the stove and mixed the coffee into the water, stirring it lightly. She leaned down and sniffed the concoction, smelling the aroma of a strong and plain coffee. Tori poured some into each cup and brought them over carefully to the table on a round serving tray. The three each took a cup, leaving the last for Tori. She reached over and put the serving tray back on the counter before taking a drink from her mug.
"Mmm. It's good," she heard Preston say. Someone coughed loudly, sounding a bit obnoxious. She looked up and saw Jimmy, giving her an innocent look.
"Sorry. I ain't used to drinkin' this stuff." He smiled warmly at her.
Ashley shrugged. "Hey. I'm not either, but it's something, right?" she asked, shooting him a sideways glance. "So," she began. "Tori got some courage and sang that song, huh?"
Tori smiled nervously. "Yeah. I dunno it just popped into my head."
"What song was that? I've never heard it before," Preston said.
Tori looked at Ashley and they exchanged nervous looks. "Uh…" they stammered.
"It's a good song!" Ashley exclaimed as she put her head down on the table with a thud.
Tori snickered and Jimmy looked at Ashley with concern. "You okay Ashley?" he asked, putting a hand on her back.
She jolted up. "I'm uh, good." She shot Tori a stern look before taking a swig of her coffee.
---
(Ashley POV)
The group eventually disbanded and went their own ways. Tori stayed in the galley to clean up, Preston to his room, and Jimmy and Ashley went on the deck. They were laughing at a weird fish they saw until someone behind them cleared their throat. The two whipped around and found Captain Englehorn, smoking a cigarette and looking off to the side. "Excuse me," he said, "But can I borrow Miss Ashley for a few minutes?"
Ashley looked at Jimmy with question and he gave a nod. "Okay," she said as she walked towards Englehorn. He moved and began to walk aside of her.
"I would like to ask you something, if you don't mind," he said calmly as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Sure. Ask away."
"Is Miss Tori…involved with anyone?" he asked with a slight hesitation in his voice.
Ashley gave him a sideways glance. "Why?" she raised an eyebrow as she asked. 'Why's Englehorn asking about Tori? Oh, he's got the hots for her. Forgot.' He didn't answer. Englehorn stayed quiet as they continued to walk across the steamer's deck. "Uh, I'm not too sure. Preston and her are close, but it could just be friendship I'm seein'."
Englehorn nodded. "Thank you," he said with a hushed sigh. He stopped in front of the door to the galley. Ashley eyed him suspiciously. He turned back to her and said quietly, "Please do not tell her I asked you this."
Ashley nodded. "Sure cap'n." Ashley grinned before skipping off, making her way back to Jimmy. 'Boy will he get a kick outta this.'
---
(Tori POV)
Tori was wiping down the rest of the tables and heard the door to the galley open. "Kitchen's closed for the night." She turned and saw Englehorn standing by the door, with his hands in his pants pockets. "Oh, hullo captain! Do you need something? Kitchen's closed, but if you want a drink…" she rambled on until he interrupted her.
"I don't want a drink, but thank you," he chuckled. "I actually came to talk to you."
She looked at him nervously. "You're not firing me are you?" Tori asked quietly.
He laughed and shook his head a bit as he adjusted his hat. "No. You're best cook I've had on board for a while."
"Oh okay," she continued to wipe down the last table. She finished quickly and threw the damp rag onto her shoulder. "What do ya need then I've kinda gotta…"
Preston walked into the galley while she was in mid-sentence. He smiled and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "Ready?" he asked, glancing at Englehorn.
"Yep." Tori walked around the table and tossed the rag on the counter. "Can we talk tomorrow captain?" she asked as she walked past him.
"Uh, sure," he said in his gruff accent. Tori and Preston left the galley and walked down the hallway.
---
(Ashley POV)
Ashley skipped as she approached Jimmy at the railing of the deck. A wind kicked up and her hair went in her face. She stumbled and fell against the rail of the deck with an "oof". "You're clumsy, eh?"
She made a gesture of small with her fingers. "Just a bit." She grinned at him and returned his hat to his head.
"Thanks," he said with a smile. He put a hand on his hat, adjusting it slightly, and then put his hand back on the rail of the deck. "Didn't think you'd ever give it back."
Ashley rolled her eyes and said, "I would've given you it…eventually." She shot him a sly grin and ruffled her hair. "Ugh. Sea water kills my hair. It's frizzing."
Jimmy looked at her softly and she felt a hand brush through her hair. "But your hair's very nice."
"T'was under the hat," she said under her breath. Ashley yawned and rubbed her face. "It's been a long day."
"It has. Off to bed then?" Jimmy asked.
'Damn. Forgot we have to sleep in the same room. That's just swell.' "Yeah," she said hesitantly. "You can go on ahead. I wanna stop and see Tori quick about something." Jimmy gave a nod and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek. "Don't get lost now."
She smiled as he began to walk away. "Won't." 'I hope.'
