Alone and Unloved no More - Part 6
Pretty much half-way there now! If you're even still reading this, I APPLAUD YOU
Chapter 6 - The Thimble
The day for sailing had finally arrived. Hook had gathered a large crew of men who were hungering to get off of the island, but couldn’t because they were too poor and unable to buy proper clothes for sailing on a merchant’s ship.
Ashanti’s hand looked and felt a hundred times better, and after her talk with Hook she felt ready to do work, to converse with her new crewmates, to bask in the sweet light of freedom. She was ready to be a pirate. Through the course of the week, Smee and Hook had taught her the parts of the ship, and how to understand what the captain’s commands meant. Ashanti wasn’t sure if she still understood it, but Hook told her she would understand eventually.
“And I’ll help you if you get confused,” he said, putting one arm around her shoulders. She smiled, and he added as an afterthought, “Love.”
She was thankful that was her nickname again. Hook nuzzled his cheek against hers and then walked away. Neither of them noticed he was breaking his promise he had made so long ago. Nor did Ashanti care…
Hook began taking names from his crew again, as he had forgotten, and explaining the rules of the ship. He then began giving his orders and running around the ship as motivation. The crew burst into action. Ashanti watched. She was happy to hear that sound again, of feet pounding against the deck, of Hook barking his orders, of all the crew yelling “Aye, captain!” in unison.
“Ashanti,” Hook said loudly, approaching her. She perked up.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Everything’s taken care of up here. Go down below and help Smee cook,” he said.
“Aye, captain!” she said, and ran down below deck. Hook sighed and watched her until she was completely gone, then moved up to the wheel and began steering. He suddenly realized what a blessing she really was. He had never had anyone in whom he could confide, except of course, for Smee. But Ashanti was different. She listened, and was interested, and understood, and comforted it, and… and he liked it. She was the kind of person he could tell anything to. Perhaps because she was just that kind of person, or perhaps because they were so close, or perhaps because of the simple fact that she was a woman. Their minds worked differently, didn’t they? From the moment he pulled her onto his lifeboat he noticed she was more tenderhearted than him. Of course, being around her had softened him quite a bit.
Suddenly he was snapped from his thoughts by a member of his crew walking up and requesting another job. It turned out this ship was smaller than Hook thought, and there was very little to do on it.
Ashanti was in the kitchen, cleaning the counters with Smee and preparing to cook whatever it was he had on his mind. Something about salmon and some of the veggies they had; Ashanti didn’t know, she hadn’t cooked much before this. In fact, this was about the only time she’d cooked besides baking cookies or something like that.
She opened up the pantry and pulled out a bag of some of their veggies, and set it on the counter. Smee laid out a cutting board and pulled out a long green stalk onto it. Ashanti wasn’t sure what it was. For the moment, Ashanti didn’t have anything to do. So she leaned against the counter and waited.
“So…” she said, “Lately, I’ve been trying to remember how I ended up on your ship. The Jolly Roger, I mean.”
“Sorry, lass. I don’t know anything. It wasn’t me who brought you. That will have been the captain,” Smee said, glancing at her briefly.
She blinked. “The captain?” she asked. Somehow she hadn’t thought about that.
“Said you’d been unconscious, but that’s all. He didn’t tell us ‘nything else,” Smee said.
“Oh…” She blinked again, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. “I was unconscious?” she asked.
“Aye. That’s probably why you don’t remember ‘nything,” he said.
“Well… how did he revive me?” she asked.
“He brought you on board and just started pushin’ on your chest. You spi’ up all that wa’er and got to breathing again like nothing,” he said. He pulled one of the salmon onto the cutting board now, after he had pushed the veggies away.
She was silent.
“You know he fancies you, lass,” he said, looking at her as though this was confidential information. She looked at him.
“Hm?” she asked, “He does?” Even if she had noticed it, she decided to progress on the subject. Maybe she could gain more information.
“Aye,” he said. He said nothing more.
She stared at him for a moment. “To what extent?” she asked.
Smee burst into laughter. “Oh, lass, I don’t know. You’d have to ask ‘im about that,” he said.
“What? How am I supposed to be that forward?” she asked.
“Lass, you’re a pirate now. You gotta learn to be forward,” he said.
“Right…” she said slowly, “But… that’s not the kind of subject you bring up out of the blue.”
“Aye, lass,” he said, “But you can’t learn about something if you don’t ask, right?” he said.
“I suppose so,” she said slowly. He smiled.
“Aye,” he said, “Now help me with this, will you?” he asked. She was shocked to find he was already done.
“What the hey? Then why did you need me?” she asked.
“I didn’t,” he said, “It was the captain’s idea.” She didn’t fully understand this remark, but he smirked at her, as though to indicate something. She stared at him. “Come on, lassie, get those plates for me, please,” he said, and picked the platter of food. She picked up the plates he had indicated and followed him to the tables, where she lead and he followed. She set out the plates and he put food on them. Then they went around and poured glasses of rum, for anyone who wanted any. Mealtimes were the only times they got rum, or wine, or any other alcoholic drink. When they were done with that, Smee sent Ashanti off with two plates of food for her and Hook, and a pitcher of rum.
She stumbled up the stairs onto the main deck, her hands full with food she was trying not to spill. “Lunch is ready,” she yelled to the crew. Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing and let the anchor down into the water so they could eat, before Hook even had a chance to tell them to. Ashanti somehow survived the barrage with everything still in tact, and walked up the stairs to the wheel, where Hook was standing, awestruck. He let go of the wheel.
“I didn’t even have to tell them. They just acted on instinct, love. Who knows why nobody wanted them, they’re great! I haven’t had to give them any instructions, they just know what I want them to do, and they do it. They know when something isn’t tied down right, or when something isn’t being done quick enough, or when something needs to be reversed, or done over again! They’re so good to me,” he said. She nodded nervously.
“That’s nice,” she said, gesturing to the food in her arms, “Could you please take this? It’s going to fall if nothing happens soon.” He nodded and took one of the plates.
“Of course, love,” he said, “Sorry.” He looked around. “Well, seeing as how I don’t have very much furniture in my bedroom, we’ll just eat on deck.” He waked down the stairs and sat Indian style on the main deck. Ashanti followed and set her food and the pitcher down on the deck, then ran back to the kitchen to get glasses and silverware. She came back and then sat down, imitating his position. She handed him some silverware and poured some rum into both of their glasses.
For a while it was silent. Ashanti was still thinking about what Smee had said. About her being rescued by Hook. It seemed stupid to her now, that she’d never thought about Hook rescuing her. But then again, she hadn’t really ever had time up until now to think about anything. Now that she was a pirate and not just a prisoner, would she have to ask to learn about something? If that was the case, she was willing to ask about her first minutes in Neverland.
She shifted in her spot. “So… Smee was telling me that… you were the one who pulled me onto the Jolly Roger,” she said. They glanced at each other.
“Aye,” he said uncertainly, “How in the world did you get started on that conversation?”
“I asked,” she said slowly, unblinking.
“Ah,” he said. He took a bite of his food, “Yes, I brought you to the Jolly Roger.”
“Can I hear the story?” she asked, “It’d be nice to hear how I was brought into Neverland.”
He scoffed. “Love, I don’t know how you came to be in Neverland. I just found you one day. I was rowing out to the island. When I go out to gather food, I go alone. I happened to glance to the side and saw you, just laying there on the surface of the water. Well, I thought you were dead, but I rowed over anyway, and when I pulled you onto my boat you were still warm. So I brought you back to the ship and revived you. It was easy. You still had a will to live, and all I had to do was force the water out of your lungs. What was the point of throwing you overboard after I rescued you? So I just decided that we’d put you in a prison chamber. Besides, throwing you overboard was out of the question - all of the men in my crew hadn’t seen a grown woman for who-knows-how-long. And then you woke up. I decided to just start you working right away, mopping. I’m sure you can remember everything after that, love, right?”
She nodded slowly, taking a sip of her rum. “Well, I guess I should be thanking you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here, would I?” she asked, looking a bit troubled by that fact. “Ever since I came here you’ve been looking after me. All I’ve done so far had been troublesome. I mean… Well… thanks…” She cast her eyes down guiltily, and when she looked back up she saw him smiling at her, his eyes glittering in the sunlight.
“You’re welcome,” he said, as though that’s all he ever wanted to hear from anyone. No one ever seemed to notice how much hard work he had actually done, let alone thanked him for it. He took a sip of his rum and went back to eating. She stared at him, her eyes wide. Somehow she was unable to pull her gaze away.
“Smee also told me… that I should ask about…” She blushed and he looked at her quizzically. “Uhm… Never mind…”
He stared at her, then shrugged. “You’re crazy, love,” he said, finishing up his lunch.
“Uhm… Could I have kitchen duty for dinner, as well?” she asked. He stared at her again.
“I… don’t see why not. Smee hasn’t always seemed that interesting to me,” he mumbled.
Thank you,” she said, giving him a small smile. He returned it. After a moment, he stood up, taking their plates. She grabbed the pitcher and the glasses and stood up after him. He led the way back to the kitchen and put the dishes in a large wooden bucket.
“Five minutes,” he said, realizing his crew was taking their time. Not that he cared, but he was used to eating quickly. And he knew these people hadn’t eaten in some time. He walked up the stairs back to the deck, Ashanti following close behind.
Now that she found out she could obtain information through Smee, she couldn’t wait for kitchen duty. She did whatever Hook told her to, doing as much duty as possible so she could pass the time quicker. And it worked. Before she knew it, it was time for dinner.
Although, whenever she tried to help Smee cook, he didn’t need it. So she simply provided company, insisting that they delve deeper and deeper into the subject of their captain.
“He tells you everything, doesn’t he?” she asked.
“Aye, lassie,” he said, still perfectly happy. It seemed he hadn’t even noticed about what they were talking about. He probably just liked talking about anything. “That ‘e does.”
“Well then,” she said, “What has he said about me? Tell me everything.” Smee glanced at her. Her eyes were wide and determined, her eyebrows raised.
“Lassie, I, uhm… Shouldn’t you just ask ‘im about that?” he asked.
“I can’t!” she said, “It’s way too awkward…”
“Well, lassie… I’m sorry. He figured you’d want to know about that, and ‘e told me not to say anything,” he said.
She stared at him, her mouth open slightly, “He figured I’d want to know? Holy shoot… I need to go ask him about that. You don’t need my help, do you?” she asked.
“No, lassie. You go off and ask the captain whatever it is that you need to ask him,” he said. She smiled and took off. He snickered. “Youth…”
She ran up the stairs two by two. “Hook!” she yelled. He glanced at her. She shoved him in the chest. “Why did you tell Smee not to tell me what you told him?”
He stared at her. “What?” he asked.
“I asked him to tell me what you said about me, and he said he wasn’t allowed!” she yelled.
“Love, please try and speak in understandable sentences!” he said, “And why are you so angry?”
“Okay,” she said, sighing, “Smee said you tell him everything.”
“Right,” Hook said.
“So I asked him what you said about me,” she said.
“Ha!” he yelled, pointing at her accusingly. “I knew it! I knew it, love! I knew you would ask about that!”
“So you told him he wasn’t allowed?” she asked.
“Yes!” he said, “Why would I want you to know what I say about you?”
“What do you say about me?” she asked.
“None of your business!” he said.
“It is my business! You’re talking about me!” she yelled. He stared at her.
It was silent. “You’re crazy, love! CRAZY!” he yelled.
“Crazy! Good, so that’s what you think of me!” she yelled.
“No, it is not! Why are you so interested in what I think of you all of the sudden?” he asked.
She gazed at him, her eyes wild. She debated quickly on whether or not to tell him, and it ended being more like a few minutes. Her eyebrows drew together.
“Because…” she mumbled. She took a step towards him. She couldn’t think about it, she just had to tell him. “Because I love you,” she whimpered. He blinked.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m not afraid of you! I love you!” she cried. He stood up straight.
“Is there such a fine line between love and fear?” he asked, not quite sure whether to believe her or not.
“Shut up!” she yelled, “I hope you’re not trying to be funny!” He just stared at her.
“Why… would I joke around with something as serious as this?” he asked.
“Captain!” yelled someone. Hook was relieved to find that no one had been listening to their argument. “We’re heading for some rocks, captain!”
Hook ran over to the wheel and succeeded mostly in steering them away from the rocks, except for a few scuffs. He stayed on the wheel, and didn’t look at Ashanti when she talked to him.
“I’m being serious!” she yelled. He ignored her. “Moment ruiner!” she yelled. He turned to her.
“I’m being serious, too, Ashanti,” he said earnestly. He said nothing after that. They just stared at each other. “Look… I need to tell you something.”
“Of course,” she said.
He took a breath to start speaking, but Ashanti was too quick. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his. For a moment both of them were frozen, silent. Ashanti’s eyes widened.
“I said shut up,” she murmured. Hook stared at her, stunned. He was at a complete loss for words.
“Dinner!” yelled a voice. Ashanti and Hook stared down at the source of the voice. It was Smee, of course. Thankful for a distraction, both Hook and Ashanti ran for the mess hall and sat at opposite sides of the table.
Chapter 6 - The Thimble
The day for sailing had finally arrived. Hook had gathered a large crew of men who were hungering to get off of the island, but couldn’t because they were too poor and unable to buy proper clothes for sailing on a merchant’s ship.
Ashanti’s hand looked and felt a hundred times better, and after her talk with Hook she felt ready to do work, to converse with her new crewmates, to bask in the sweet light of freedom. She was ready to be a pirate. Through the course of the week, Smee and Hook had taught her the parts of the ship, and how to understand what the captain’s commands meant. Ashanti wasn’t sure if she still understood it, but Hook told her she would understand eventually.
“And I’ll help you if you get confused,” he said, putting one arm around her shoulders. She smiled, and he added as an afterthought, “Love.”
She was thankful that was her nickname again. Hook nuzzled his cheek against hers and then walked away. Neither of them noticed he was breaking his promise he had made so long ago. Nor did Ashanti care…
Hook began taking names from his crew again, as he had forgotten, and explaining the rules of the ship. He then began giving his orders and running around the ship as motivation. The crew burst into action. Ashanti watched. She was happy to hear that sound again, of feet pounding against the deck, of Hook barking his orders, of all the crew yelling “Aye, captain!” in unison.
“Ashanti,” Hook said loudly, approaching her. She perked up.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Everything’s taken care of up here. Go down below and help Smee cook,” he said.
“Aye, captain!” she said, and ran down below deck. Hook sighed and watched her until she was completely gone, then moved up to the wheel and began steering. He suddenly realized what a blessing she really was. He had never had anyone in whom he could confide, except of course, for Smee. But Ashanti was different. She listened, and was interested, and understood, and comforted it, and… and he liked it. She was the kind of person he could tell anything to. Perhaps because she was just that kind of person, or perhaps because they were so close, or perhaps because of the simple fact that she was a woman. Their minds worked differently, didn’t they? From the moment he pulled her onto his lifeboat he noticed she was more tenderhearted than him. Of course, being around her had softened him quite a bit.
Suddenly he was snapped from his thoughts by a member of his crew walking up and requesting another job. It turned out this ship was smaller than Hook thought, and there was very little to do on it.
Ashanti was in the kitchen, cleaning the counters with Smee and preparing to cook whatever it was he had on his mind. Something about salmon and some of the veggies they had; Ashanti didn’t know, she hadn’t cooked much before this. In fact, this was about the only time she’d cooked besides baking cookies or something like that.
She opened up the pantry and pulled out a bag of some of their veggies, and set it on the counter. Smee laid out a cutting board and pulled out a long green stalk onto it. Ashanti wasn’t sure what it was. For the moment, Ashanti didn’t have anything to do. So she leaned against the counter and waited.
“So…” she said, “Lately, I’ve been trying to remember how I ended up on your ship. The Jolly Roger, I mean.”
“Sorry, lass. I don’t know anything. It wasn’t me who brought you. That will have been the captain,” Smee said, glancing at her briefly.
She blinked. “The captain?” she asked. Somehow she hadn’t thought about that.
“Said you’d been unconscious, but that’s all. He didn’t tell us ‘nything else,” Smee said.
“Oh…” She blinked again, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. “I was unconscious?” she asked.
“Aye. That’s probably why you don’t remember ‘nything,” he said.
“Well… how did he revive me?” she asked.
“He brought you on board and just started pushin’ on your chest. You spi’ up all that wa’er and got to breathing again like nothing,” he said. He pulled one of the salmon onto the cutting board now, after he had pushed the veggies away.
She was silent.
“You know he fancies you, lass,” he said, looking at her as though this was confidential information. She looked at him.
“Hm?” she asked, “He does?” Even if she had noticed it, she decided to progress on the subject. Maybe she could gain more information.
“Aye,” he said. He said nothing more.
She stared at him for a moment. “To what extent?” she asked.
Smee burst into laughter. “Oh, lass, I don’t know. You’d have to ask ‘im about that,” he said.
“What? How am I supposed to be that forward?” she asked.
“Lass, you’re a pirate now. You gotta learn to be forward,” he said.
“Right…” she said slowly, “But… that’s not the kind of subject you bring up out of the blue.”
“Aye, lass,” he said, “But you can’t learn about something if you don’t ask, right?” he said.
“I suppose so,” she said slowly. He smiled.
“Aye,” he said, “Now help me with this, will you?” he asked. She was shocked to find he was already done.
“What the hey? Then why did you need me?” she asked.
“I didn’t,” he said, “It was the captain’s idea.” She didn’t fully understand this remark, but he smirked at her, as though to indicate something. She stared at him. “Come on, lassie, get those plates for me, please,” he said, and picked the platter of food. She picked up the plates he had indicated and followed him to the tables, where she lead and he followed. She set out the plates and he put food on them. Then they went around and poured glasses of rum, for anyone who wanted any. Mealtimes were the only times they got rum, or wine, or any other alcoholic drink. When they were done with that, Smee sent Ashanti off with two plates of food for her and Hook, and a pitcher of rum.
She stumbled up the stairs onto the main deck, her hands full with food she was trying not to spill. “Lunch is ready,” she yelled to the crew. Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing and let the anchor down into the water so they could eat, before Hook even had a chance to tell them to. Ashanti somehow survived the barrage with everything still in tact, and walked up the stairs to the wheel, where Hook was standing, awestruck. He let go of the wheel.
“I didn’t even have to tell them. They just acted on instinct, love. Who knows why nobody wanted them, they’re great! I haven’t had to give them any instructions, they just know what I want them to do, and they do it. They know when something isn’t tied down right, or when something isn’t being done quick enough, or when something needs to be reversed, or done over again! They’re so good to me,” he said. She nodded nervously.
“That’s nice,” she said, gesturing to the food in her arms, “Could you please take this? It’s going to fall if nothing happens soon.” He nodded and took one of the plates.
“Of course, love,” he said, “Sorry.” He looked around. “Well, seeing as how I don’t have very much furniture in my bedroom, we’ll just eat on deck.” He waked down the stairs and sat Indian style on the main deck. Ashanti followed and set her food and the pitcher down on the deck, then ran back to the kitchen to get glasses and silverware. She came back and then sat down, imitating his position. She handed him some silverware and poured some rum into both of their glasses.
For a while it was silent. Ashanti was still thinking about what Smee had said. About her being rescued by Hook. It seemed stupid to her now, that she’d never thought about Hook rescuing her. But then again, she hadn’t really ever had time up until now to think about anything. Now that she was a pirate and not just a prisoner, would she have to ask to learn about something? If that was the case, she was willing to ask about her first minutes in Neverland.
She shifted in her spot. “So… Smee was telling me that… you were the one who pulled me onto the Jolly Roger,” she said. They glanced at each other.
“Aye,” he said uncertainly, “How in the world did you get started on that conversation?”
“I asked,” she said slowly, unblinking.
“Ah,” he said. He took a bite of his food, “Yes, I brought you to the Jolly Roger.”
“Can I hear the story?” she asked, “It’d be nice to hear how I was brought into Neverland.”
He scoffed. “Love, I don’t know how you came to be in Neverland. I just found you one day. I was rowing out to the island. When I go out to gather food, I go alone. I happened to glance to the side and saw you, just laying there on the surface of the water. Well, I thought you were dead, but I rowed over anyway, and when I pulled you onto my boat you were still warm. So I brought you back to the ship and revived you. It was easy. You still had a will to live, and all I had to do was force the water out of your lungs. What was the point of throwing you overboard after I rescued you? So I just decided that we’d put you in a prison chamber. Besides, throwing you overboard was out of the question - all of the men in my crew hadn’t seen a grown woman for who-knows-how-long. And then you woke up. I decided to just start you working right away, mopping. I’m sure you can remember everything after that, love, right?”
She nodded slowly, taking a sip of her rum. “Well, I guess I should be thanking you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here, would I?” she asked, looking a bit troubled by that fact. “Ever since I came here you’ve been looking after me. All I’ve done so far had been troublesome. I mean… Well… thanks…” She cast her eyes down guiltily, and when she looked back up she saw him smiling at her, his eyes glittering in the sunlight.
“You’re welcome,” he said, as though that’s all he ever wanted to hear from anyone. No one ever seemed to notice how much hard work he had actually done, let alone thanked him for it. He took a sip of his rum and went back to eating. She stared at him, her eyes wide. Somehow she was unable to pull her gaze away.
“Smee also told me… that I should ask about…” She blushed and he looked at her quizzically. “Uhm… Never mind…”
He stared at her, then shrugged. “You’re crazy, love,” he said, finishing up his lunch.
“Uhm… Could I have kitchen duty for dinner, as well?” she asked. He stared at her again.
“I… don’t see why not. Smee hasn’t always seemed that interesting to me,” he mumbled.
Thank you,” she said, giving him a small smile. He returned it. After a moment, he stood up, taking their plates. She grabbed the pitcher and the glasses and stood up after him. He led the way back to the kitchen and put the dishes in a large wooden bucket.
“Five minutes,” he said, realizing his crew was taking their time. Not that he cared, but he was used to eating quickly. And he knew these people hadn’t eaten in some time. He walked up the stairs back to the deck, Ashanti following close behind.
Now that she found out she could obtain information through Smee, she couldn’t wait for kitchen duty. She did whatever Hook told her to, doing as much duty as possible so she could pass the time quicker. And it worked. Before she knew it, it was time for dinner.
Although, whenever she tried to help Smee cook, he didn’t need it. So she simply provided company, insisting that they delve deeper and deeper into the subject of their captain.
“He tells you everything, doesn’t he?” she asked.
“Aye, lassie,” he said, still perfectly happy. It seemed he hadn’t even noticed about what they were talking about. He probably just liked talking about anything. “That ‘e does.”
“Well then,” she said, “What has he said about me? Tell me everything.” Smee glanced at her. Her eyes were wide and determined, her eyebrows raised.
“Lassie, I, uhm… Shouldn’t you just ask ‘im about that?” he asked.
“I can’t!” she said, “It’s way too awkward…”
“Well, lassie… I’m sorry. He figured you’d want to know about that, and ‘e told me not to say anything,” he said.
She stared at him, her mouth open slightly, “He figured I’d want to know? Holy shoot… I need to go ask him about that. You don’t need my help, do you?” she asked.
“No, lassie. You go off and ask the captain whatever it is that you need to ask him,” he said. She smiled and took off. He snickered. “Youth…”
She ran up the stairs two by two. “Hook!” she yelled. He glanced at her. She shoved him in the chest. “Why did you tell Smee not to tell me what you told him?”
He stared at her. “What?” he asked.
“I asked him to tell me what you said about me, and he said he wasn’t allowed!” she yelled.
“Love, please try and speak in understandable sentences!” he said, “And why are you so angry?”
“Okay,” she said, sighing, “Smee said you tell him everything.”
“Right,” Hook said.
“So I asked him what you said about me,” she said.
“Ha!” he yelled, pointing at her accusingly. “I knew it! I knew it, love! I knew you would ask about that!”
“So you told him he wasn’t allowed?” she asked.
“Yes!” he said, “Why would I want you to know what I say about you?”
“What do you say about me?” she asked.
“None of your business!” he said.
“It is my business! You’re talking about me!” she yelled. He stared at her.
It was silent. “You’re crazy, love! CRAZY!” he yelled.
“Crazy! Good, so that’s what you think of me!” she yelled.
“No, it is not! Why are you so interested in what I think of you all of the sudden?” he asked.
She gazed at him, her eyes wild. She debated quickly on whether or not to tell him, and it ended being more like a few minutes. Her eyebrows drew together.
“Because…” she mumbled. She took a step towards him. She couldn’t think about it, she just had to tell him. “Because I love you,” she whimpered. He blinked.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m not afraid of you! I love you!” she cried. He stood up straight.
“Is there such a fine line between love and fear?” he asked, not quite sure whether to believe her or not.
“Shut up!” she yelled, “I hope you’re not trying to be funny!” He just stared at her.
“Why… would I joke around with something as serious as this?” he asked.
“Captain!” yelled someone. Hook was relieved to find that no one had been listening to their argument. “We’re heading for some rocks, captain!”
Hook ran over to the wheel and succeeded mostly in steering them away from the rocks, except for a few scuffs. He stayed on the wheel, and didn’t look at Ashanti when she talked to him.
“I’m being serious!” she yelled. He ignored her. “Moment ruiner!” she yelled. He turned to her.
“I’m being serious, too, Ashanti,” he said earnestly. He said nothing after that. They just stared at each other. “Look… I need to tell you something.”
“Of course,” she said.
He took a breath to start speaking, but Ashanti was too quick. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his. For a moment both of them were frozen, silent. Ashanti’s eyes widened.
“I said shut up,” she murmured. Hook stared at her, stunned. He was at a complete loss for words.
“Dinner!” yelled a voice. Ashanti and Hook stared down at the source of the voice. It was Smee, of course. Thankful for a distraction, both Hook and Ashanti ran for the mess hall and sat at opposite sides of the table.