Norrington's Darling

An Unusual Occurrence

POV: James Norrington

I was plagued by guilt the following day. I'd slept in fits that night and my sleep had come in brief intervals. I was bleary-eyed and exhausted when the call went up to get up on deck as the sun broke through the morning cloud cover.

With a heavy sigh and a groan, I forced myself out of the hammock. My limbs felt like dead weight and my heart was just as heavy. I didn't want to see Zuri's scornful expression. I didn't want to see her glare. I didn't want her to be angry.

But if I wanted her feelings toward me to change, I would have to do something about it myself.

I clung to the one hope that I would be able to get her back by the single thread of hope I had—that her jealousy meant she still cared. But I added to that the second piece I had thought of just last night in one of my intervals between sleep when I was staring awake at the planks—Zuri hadn't specified if our relationship was done or not. Maybe that meant she wasn't willing to get rid of it just yet. Maybe that meant she wanted me back.

Of course, all of this "hope" could be the signs I'm finally cracking and going crazy, but it's worth a shot, isn't it?

I hauled myself up out of the hammock when I was stopped by Sparrow. 

I looked up at his face.

He was grinning that same-old Sparrow grin, the gold teeth flashing even in the dim lighting.

"What do you want, Sparrow?" I growled.

Jack poked me in the chest. "You—messed—up." He punctuated each word with another poke.

I sighed and all the fight rushed out of me. "Yes...I did."

Sparrow's expression was unreadable. "Is Zuri being overdramatic about it, or did you actually rip her heart to shreds?"

I sighed. "I actually ripped her heart to shreds."

"I've heard her side of the story," Sparrow said. "Tell me yours."

Despite the fact I had never thought Sparrow would ever listen to me, I told him everything.