To Love A Pirate

Chapter 2

The ship moaned making her tumble out of bed. Groaning she sat up, she checked her hand to make sure it wasn’t bleeding then stood up. She dusted herself off and fixed her hair a little. Andy didn’t mind, she was used to getting woken up like this. When she slipped out into the hall and out onto the deck it was still dark. She sighed and felt the peace and relief rush into her like a waterfall.

          This was one of her favorite moments of the day. When the ship was fast asleep. No one was awake, except her. And that gave her the option of thinking for as long as she wanted. The cool air brushed her cheeks in a subtle embrace. She smiled and took a deep breath.

          The waves pushed hard onto the ship again and she fell backwards. But this time she felt warm, firm arms catch her. She opened her eyes to see Ash smiling at her.

          “Hey, Andy. What are you doing up?”

          “I was about to ask you the same thing.” she smiled. Even thinking alone is dull knowing you could think with a guy like Ash.

          “I asked you first,” he made a pretend mad face and then they both burst out laughing. She could feel his breath on her face, and shivered inwardly.

          “I was woken up by the tipping of the ship, you?”

          “I couldn't sleep. I got that—” he wasn’t going to say his name out loud. He knew It upset her. “jerk on my mind…”

          “Jasik…” she looked down. Her heart felt as if it were going to rip out of her chest and fall into the ocean, never allowing her to feel happiness again.

          “Yeah, well don’t let him get to ya too badly,” he shrugged playing around again. “If he does, I’ll sock him in the mouth!”

          She smiled and looked out at the ocean again. Even though she’d never been on land for more than a day, she couldn’t picture herself off the water. It was her life. She loved every moment of it.

          She saw a black figure on top of the water sailing towards them. She squinted her eyes to see the shape of a boat. Her stomach lurched. Giving Ash an alarming look she quickly pulled out of his arms. She ran and banged on her father’s door. He groggily opened the door rubbing his eyes.

          “What is it Andréa?” he saw the worry in her eyes. “Nightmare?”

          “A ship is headed this way. That warning note? I think it was real!” she was panting. Not from running but from freight. She felt the air around her had turned icy, and she could see black stars in the corner of her vision. She could pass out at any moment.  

          “Get to your room. I don’t want you out here during a fight—”

          “Fight?!” Her voice cracked. “What about Ash!?”

          “He’s a strong lad. He can handle himself.”

          If she never saw Ash again…She turned and ran off, trying to keep her heart beat from overwhelming her. She could get the picture of Ash on the deck, a sword plunged into his stomach as a man laughed ofer his unseeing face. She stumbled over to him tears in her eyes. “Ash—I have to hide in my room. I want you in there with me! I don’t want you to fight! Please! I’m begging you…”

          He knew she was desperate, and even he didn’t want to fight. This would be his first to actually participate in a scuffle. But you had to start somewhere.