Misconception

Chapter 14

Isabella leaned sleepily against the rail, her hand cradling her cheek as her eyes wandered aimlessly over the ocean waves. The air was chilly as it hit her exposed arms but she was too tired to move yet. She hadn’t slept at all last night. Her mind kept replaying Jack’s late night visit in her bed and she hadn’t been able to fall asleep. She was edgy and very suspicious of every move he made because of that kiss he had given her. Another peculiar thing had happened since that night; he was keeping a distance with her and he didn’t bother her at all. It was like she was invisible to him. The problem was that even though she knew that she ought to be glad that he was not focusing his attention on how to get a rile out of her, she felt the complete opposite. She felt kind of uneasy by his behavior and if she knew any better she’d think that he was ashamed of his actions. But of course that couldn’t be the case. Something else was going on and she wanted to find out what.
“What the hell are you doing, lass?” Gibbs asked as he walked over to her and looked at her. She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to look at him.
“Um…looking at the sea?” she offered while stifling a yawn.
“If you keep leaning over like that I fear you’ll become the fish’s dinner.” He said and she sighed.
“I just didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Why don’t you go to bed then?”
“The Captain’s ordered me to cook tonight.” She said sharply and she glared up at Jack who was at the helm, staring right ahead.
“He told you that?” Gibbs asked with a frown.
“No, he sent Grog to tell me. I’m going to the galley in a few minutes although I have no idea what to make.” She yawned again and Gibbs smiled sympathetically.
“Just some broth would be great, lass. It’ll warm us right up.”
“I guess…” she muttered just as Jack left Cotton at the helm and made his way down the stairs.
“Gibbs, take the helm from Cotton in an hour. I’ll be in me cabin.” He said to his first mate as he passed by them on his way to his quarters, completely ignoring Isabella who was trying to make eye contact with him.
“Aye, Captain. Any special desire for dinner? The lass’s cooking.” Gibbs called despite Isabella’s glare but Jack only shrugged.
“Whatever…” and he shut his cabin door closed.
“Now there is that.” Isabella pointed at the closed door and Gibbs looked at her, “Why is he doing that?” she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“What?”
“He’s ignoring me. It’s like I don’t even exist.”
“And that bothers you because…?” Gibbs asked perplexed.
“Because since I am taking orders from him I expect to at least be acknowledged by the captain of the ship! He cannot just order me around and the pretend like I don’t even exist.” She spoke loudly the last sentence, hoping that Jack would hear but if he did he didn’t show it.
“Eh…right. Maybe he’s just upset. Probably has a lot on his mind.” Gibbs tried to find a reason.
“Really? While I don’t? Have any of you got any idea of what he’s done? He’s kidnapped me! He’s going to sell me back to the Stevensons like a piece of meat!” she exclaimed and Gibbs looked around the deck for help.
“Um…I am really not sure how to respond to that, lass.”
“Don’t. I’ll get my answers somehow.” She said as she turned on her heel and headed for the galley, angrily stomping her feet on her way downstairs.

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Isabella slammed the tray of broth and water on top of Jack’s desk causing him to jump. He looked up and briefly locked eyes with her before he returned to his charts.
“Thanks.” He mumbled as he buried his face deep in his maps with his compass in hand.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she looked at him and then at the charts.
“Nothing that would interest you.” He said without looking up and her anger flared.
“Really? Fine. Then tell me something that would interest me. Like when will I be back in London and off your bloody ship? Or maybe you could tell me your plans with the money you plan to receive from kidnapping me? Or maybe, just maybe you could tell me why you’ve been acting like I am invisible?” she spat and his back tensed. His eyes focused on a spot on the map but he didn’t respond. Isabelle patiently waited for an answer but when it didn’t come she narrowed her eyes.
“Well?” she pressed but he just looked up and stood up.
“Thanks for dinner.” He said instead with a blank expression.
“You’ve already said that!” she exclaimed as he made to move past her, “Hello?! I am talking to you!” she grabbed his coat sleeve and his impossibly dark eyes drifted to her hand clutching his coat. His gaze traveled up her hand to her arm before he finally looked her in the eye.
“Your point?” he asked calmly and she threw his arm away from her.
“You have no right to ignore me!” she croaked and he sighed.
“I was under the impression you wanted to be left alone. I thought that you didn’t like me. At all.” He said wearily.
“I don’t like you! But you can’t pretend like I don’t exist. And when you want me to do something I’d appreciate it if you told me yourself instead of sending messages with the crew.”
“Fine.” He stated impassively and his blank expression enraged her even more.
“Am I boring you, Jack? Because you sure as hell didn’t give me that impression three nights ago!” she exploded and his eyes went wide, perfectly breaking his impassive facade.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He recovered quickly and she looked at him incredulously.
“I know you came to my room on your birthday night. I know you kissed me when you thought I was asleep.” She stated boldly and he stiffened.
“Okay, you were awake. So, what? I have to fuss over you just because I was drunk enough to kiss you? Please, get your head straight, lass.” He scoffed as he sat back down and forcibly brought the tray of food close to him, staring at its contents with blazing eyes.
Isabella gaped at him before she straightened and nodded.
“Alright. Glad we cleared that out. I will get my head straight as you instructed and you will keep your bloody hands and mouth away from me! Understood?” her hands were shaking from anger and humiliation but she hid them behind her back to conceal it.
“Dully noted.” He said as he dipped his spoon in the broth and looked at it like he wanted to kill it for even existing.
“Fine.”
“Fine.” She shot back before she stormed to her room and made to close the door, only to remember that it couldn’t close properly.
“And fix the bloody door!” she called loudly before she sat on her bed and fiercely hugged her pillow with both of her hands.
Later that night she would finally admit to herself that his comment hurt her once again. She didn’t try to figure out the reason why though. She didn’t want to know why it bothered her so much because she was terrified of the answer.

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Isabella was idly rolling an apple on top of the table with her hand when a terrible noise caused her to jump and yelp. Cotton who was with her in the galley stood up as well and looked at her with wide eyes. He made a motion with his hand for her to remain where she was but the Grog came running in the galley with his pistol in hand.
“Attack! We’re under attack!” he cried and if Isabella wasn’t so scared she would have laughed at his extremely high pitched voice.
“What? Who?” she asked instead and he took a huge gulp of air before he responded.
“Pirate ship! No idea who but that was definitely a canon that his us!” he said before he disappeared upstairs. Cotton made to walk away but when Isabella tried to follow him he shook his head.
“But…” she trailed off when he glared at her, “Fine.” She relented and he nodded before he walked out of the galley.
Isabella listened carefully at the commotion that started and she bit her lip when she heard Jack’s voice barking orders at the crew. She pressed her back against the galley door and cautiously peered outside. No one was down there. She pulled her head back and remained there for a while. Suddenly the voices stopped and she listened for anything that could pose a threat. She heard none and she decided to leave the galley despite her fear. She tiptoed towards the stairs that led to the upper deck and when she arrived she climbed them up slowly.
“I have given you a fair warning, Jack but you still think I am joking. I am not. I want my money back! The money you stole.” Isabella was shocked when she realized that the voice was feminine. She stepped onto the deck and her eyes briefly locked with Gibbs who shook his head wildly at her. She ignored his silent warning and stepped forward. An arm landed heavily on her neck and rough fingers threaded into her hair, causing her to gasp.
“Oi! Cap’n! I think they’ve been hiding treasure down there!” the man holding her laughed and the woman turned towards them. She was beautiful in a wild way and her deep green eyes stared at Isabella with curiosity.
“That’s a girl, Lewis. Since when do you keep girls aboard your ship, Jack?” the woman turned to Jack who was frozen and looking at Lewis’s hand which was gripping Isabella’s hair tightly.
“Since women decided to become Captains. How did you get your title, Joan? Murdered the previous captain?” Jack asked and the woman snapped her fingers towards Lewis’s direction. The man tightened his grip on Isabella and quickly put a knife against her neck, pressing the blade hard against her skin. Isabella gasped in fright and looked at Jack whose eyes were narrowed into slits.
“Let her go or you’ll never get your money, Joan. She’s part of me plan.” He said suddenly and Joan raised her eyebrows at his words.
“Really? You intend to sell her?”
“I kidnapped her. I’ll have me ransom for her soon.” He responded and Isabella cringed at the coolness of his words.
“Really? So she’s a prisoner. What is she doing wandering the ship then I wonder…” she trailed off as she looked at Isabella and then back at Jack, “Oh, I see. Friends with benefits perhaps?” Joan asked and Jack shrugged.
“None of your business what she is to me. So, kindly let her go.”
“When am I going to get my money, Jack?” she persisted instead.
“Soon.” Jack’s tone was crisp and low as he looked at the knife in Lewis’s hand.
“How soon?”
“Very soon. In a month.”
“Very well. Let the girl go.” She ordered and Isabella was thrust forward. She caught herself by curling a hand around the rail and Jack made to step forward as if to catch her. Joan chuckled and he paused.
“Always too soft, Jack. That’s what always gets you into trouble. That and your lies.” She added as she stepped back, “Back to the ship!” she barked and Isabella watched with relief as her men retreated back to their ship.
“Mother’s love, Jack! How much money did you take from her?” Gibbs asked immediately.
“Oh, shut it already! I’ll give her the bloody money in a month like I have already agreed.” Jack snapped as he walked towards Isabella.
“Are you alright, love?” he murmured as he brushed his fingertips over the red spot on her neck.
“Fine. He was pressing too hard is all.” She replied as she rubbed the spot.
“Captain?” Gibbs spoke up again.
“What?” Jack responded as he pushed Isabella’s hair behind her ear gently.
“Your hand’s bleeding.” Gibbs said and Jack looked down.
“Oh, right. Just a scratch.” He waved Gibbs’ worry away by wiping his bloody hand on his breeches.
“I can clean it for you.” Isabella spoke before she could think and Jack looked at her.
“Fine.” He said and then his eyes widened at his own words.
“Come on then.” She muttered as she walked towards the cabin with him on her heels.
Once they were inside, she soaked a cloth in water and brought it to him.
“So you owe her money. That’s why you kidnapped me.” She stated as she sat next to him on his bunk and took his hand in her lap.
“No. I have the money. I just want to have more before I pay her back.” He said simply and she gaped at him.
“You have the money? And you risked the lives of your crew for nothing then?” she was shocked.
“We’re pirates, Bella. If I gave her the money now what would I get? But if I wait till I got me ransom then I will not even notice the amount missing from me possession.” He shrugged and she blinked.
“I see…You are still so certain that they’ll give you the money.”
“I am. Desire is a great incentive for a man, love. And from what I gather Stevenson’s son has got it bad for you, lass. No surprise there.” He stated as his eyes moved over her twice.
“That’s ridiculous. He’s never showed any interest towards me.” She shook her head and he laughed.
“That’s because you’re oblivious to everything and everyone around you.” He said smiling and she paused.
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve no idea, have you?” he murmured as he reached with his callused hand and touched her cheek softly, his eyes staring at her intently.
“Jack…?” she was beyond confused by his words. Did he mean that he himself…liked her?
“I understand him though…” he continued as he caressed her face, “I’d pay for you as well.”
“Pardon?” she blinked rapidly and it broke him from his daze.
“Right. Never mind, love. Me hand, please?” he said with a smirk and she gazed at him with confusion for a while longer before she started cleaning his hand.
“I still think you’re mistaken…but anyway.” She shook her head. She could still feel his eyes on her as she worked on his hand, “So, does this mean that you’ve decided to stop ignoring me?” she asked and he chuckled.
She felt him shift next to her and before she knew what had hit her, she felt his lips against her forehead. She froze as she felt his warm lips pressing against her cool skin and his injured hand turned in hers so he could wrap his fingers tightly around it.
“I’ve decided to never ignore you ever again, love.” He murmured softly and the corners of her lips turned upwards despite herself.


End of chapter 14