A/N: Enjoy. Haven't done one in a while, but of course PotC inspired
me. Along with Kay! Lol. Review and let me know if I should waste more
time.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. So if you sue me it'll really just be annoying since court starts early and I don't.
"Step one, two, three. Back one, two, three. Perfect Laurel!" a voice like nails on a chalkboard rained down on my ears. I rolled my eyes at Victor, my dancing partner. He snickered and mimicked under his breath, "Perfect Laurel! You're so perfect! Let me drop rose petals wherever you step to show my adoration for your perfection!"
I punched him discreetly in the back with my fist and separated when the bland music slowed down. Ms. Slant smiled and clapped her hands before briskly walking to the middle of the marble floor, the six other boys and girls gathering around. "Good job, class. Before I let you leave as I see your carriages are waiting I must inform you of something. As saddened as I am to say this, I must. I am to leave for England to take up a job as a governess and will not be able to teach you anymore. Your parents have been notified and assured that each young lady and gentleman in here can now dance beautifully."
Victor's mischievous green eyes widened and we grinned at each other in hidden jubilation before the maniac of a teacher let us walk out into the fresh summer air. My carriage was waiting at the end of the row; the gleaming brown horses looking irritated to be out in such heat. I commiserated with the beasts, as my own tightly fitted dress held so many yards of heavy fabric I felt as though I would faint.
Turning to my friend I curtseyed good-bye and muttered, "Thanks for not stepping on my feet today."
He looked indignant and placed a hand on my shoulder, leaning close, "It was no problem. Laurel. you know, I've told you this before. and I really don't want to seem forward. but we've been close for so long and don't you think we could be."
I cut him off gently, "Victor, I'm sorry, you know we aren't more than friends."
His sweet smile faded and he nodded before flashing me a real grin, "Good-bye my lady"
I waved good-bye and let the footman help me into the crimson interior. While inside I pondered what I had just told Victor. He was such a nice boy, a sought after one for sure. When we had been little he was a gawking awkward boy with knock knees and gaping teeth. Soon though he had grown into a tall, green-eyed, devastatingly handsome man of nineteen who was routinely followed down the street by giggling young women. But while his smile was perfect and his humor like my own he remained the little boy I had known.
Feeling confused, I glanced into the oval mirror in front of me and grimaced. Laurel Elisa Brinkley stared back at me, her dark brown curls framing a gently curved chin housed on a well-structured face with a "classic" nose, big blue eyes, long black eyelashes and naturally high cheekbones flushed pink. I was told by my parents, by my relations, by everyone that I was beautiful. I wouldn't deny it. But what my mother and father gave me physically upset me. I was locked up in a gilded cage because they were afraid if they let such a colorful bird fly away it would get lost forever.
Just as I was thinking these thoughts the carriage stopped in front of our mansion on top of a large hill overlooking the port. Our town of Lark Haven was on Lark Island in the Caribbean, an English settlement my father Hugh Brinkley was sent over to be governor to when I was but three years into life. Ever since I've lived in the same house with the same people for the sixteen years I've resided on the stretch of island paradise.
"Darling!"
Dust swirled as the large door stood ajar with my mother standing in it, "Hello mother."
She had a smile on. A smile that showed all of her teeth in contrast with her porcelain English skin she so cherished. Knowing my mother all too well I approached warily, at the same time wishing I could run inside where it would be somewhat cooler.
"Laurel dear, now I know you must be perfectly exhausted from your lessons, but do come in. Your father and I must speak with you immediately. And I've had Pamela make us some lunch."
Me being the fool that I was, I followed, knowing that it must not be good, but not wishing to face my mother's stubborn wrath when faced with refusal.
I was right.
"You want me to do WHAT??" I screamed in a very unladylike manner. The crystal chandelier shook above me and the rich oak table shuddered at my shout.
My father looked at me with sympathetic eyes, eyes that he passed on to me. I wished for brown ones. "Laurel, Victor Egrets is a wonderful young man. You're practically twenty, and unmarried. I thought you would be happy with this match. He was supposed to propose today."
I thought back to when he attempted to speak to me. And I thought it was just another proposal for a petty beau! How daft I had been! Hadn't I noticed the strange spark in his eye?
Suddenly I felt claustrophobic, trapped in my own body. I looked at my mother who looked ridiculously and primly hopeful and my father who was silently apologetic. I looked at myself in the wall to wall mirror, my life flashing before my eyes and ending up here, me sitting in a blue expensive dress that I couldn't breathe in being made to marry my best friend. Practically like my brother.
I had to get out.
Standing up very calmly I nodded to both my mother and father, "Thank you for your attempt to marry me. I will consider. But now I must leave."
With that I walked calmly out of the room. As soon as I heard them get up in confusion, I sprinted as fast as I could out the front door. The yellow Caribbean sun beat down upon me as I gathered my skirts in the crook of one elbow and skidded down the long dirt carriage way. I felt my loose curls come undone from their bun atop my head and tumble down, bouncing at the middle of my back. Dust kicked up into my face and coated the pretty blue dress that I so hated. Glancing back I realized I had run so far that I was near a back cove and no one was in sight. Slowing down I looked out and spotted a dock with a few Navy ships but no guards on it.
The rough wood poked into the parts of my delicate slippers I had torn as I walked down the long dock to the end. Sitting down and kicking off the white slippers into the water I watched them sink down into the blue abyss. What would I do now? I'd run away, but now I was stuck. There was nowhere to go.
Almost simultaneous with that thought came a whisper behind a stack of barrels, "Ay, miss"
I glanced around quickly, heart pounding. Standing up, I ignored the immediate acquisition of a splinter in my toe and said loudly, "Who's there?"
There was no answer. I cautiously crept around the barrel stack when all of a sudden a large hand clapped over my mouth and another around my waist. Screaming as loudly as I could, I attempted to kick whoever had seized me. But the tight hold on my mouth proved my voice soundless and the individual was strong. Not to mention my dress prevented much more movement.
As soon as I stopped struggling as much a round and warm voice spoke beside my ear, "Sorry love, didn't mean to do that, but you see I'm a bit wary of having a lass yell when they see a pirate behind barrels. And I need yer help."
At the word pirate my eyes got huge and I started to scream again. The unknown man spun me around, still holding fast to my face and waist. Suddenly I was staring at the handsomest man I had ever seen. His cheekbones were high, with tan and slightly weathered skin. His eyes were a deep brown, so deep they were like peat bogs that I had heard of, sucking you in. His lips were nice and firm, surrounded by a black mustache leading to a goatee of sorts. His black dread locked hair was pulled back in a red bandana with beads hanging from different places.
Sensing my shock he gently and slowly let go of my mouth, his own face unreadable. "Well aren't you a pretty little thing."
I felt indignation rising, "And aren't you a forward little thing?"
He grinned a lopsided grin, revealing a few gold teeth. He then looked regretful and reached behind him. I glanced, confused, at his hand. He leaned very close to me, so close that if I had so much as breathed we would have been lip locked. "Sorry, love, must do this."
And then everything went black.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. So if you sue me it'll really just be annoying since court starts early and I don't.
"Step one, two, three. Back one, two, three. Perfect Laurel!" a voice like nails on a chalkboard rained down on my ears. I rolled my eyes at Victor, my dancing partner. He snickered and mimicked under his breath, "Perfect Laurel! You're so perfect! Let me drop rose petals wherever you step to show my adoration for your perfection!"
I punched him discreetly in the back with my fist and separated when the bland music slowed down. Ms. Slant smiled and clapped her hands before briskly walking to the middle of the marble floor, the six other boys and girls gathering around. "Good job, class. Before I let you leave as I see your carriages are waiting I must inform you of something. As saddened as I am to say this, I must. I am to leave for England to take up a job as a governess and will not be able to teach you anymore. Your parents have been notified and assured that each young lady and gentleman in here can now dance beautifully."
Victor's mischievous green eyes widened and we grinned at each other in hidden jubilation before the maniac of a teacher let us walk out into the fresh summer air. My carriage was waiting at the end of the row; the gleaming brown horses looking irritated to be out in such heat. I commiserated with the beasts, as my own tightly fitted dress held so many yards of heavy fabric I felt as though I would faint.
Turning to my friend I curtseyed good-bye and muttered, "Thanks for not stepping on my feet today."
He looked indignant and placed a hand on my shoulder, leaning close, "It was no problem. Laurel. you know, I've told you this before. and I really don't want to seem forward. but we've been close for so long and don't you think we could be."
I cut him off gently, "Victor, I'm sorry, you know we aren't more than friends."
His sweet smile faded and he nodded before flashing me a real grin, "Good-bye my lady"
I waved good-bye and let the footman help me into the crimson interior. While inside I pondered what I had just told Victor. He was such a nice boy, a sought after one for sure. When we had been little he was a gawking awkward boy with knock knees and gaping teeth. Soon though he had grown into a tall, green-eyed, devastatingly handsome man of nineteen who was routinely followed down the street by giggling young women. But while his smile was perfect and his humor like my own he remained the little boy I had known.
Feeling confused, I glanced into the oval mirror in front of me and grimaced. Laurel Elisa Brinkley stared back at me, her dark brown curls framing a gently curved chin housed on a well-structured face with a "classic" nose, big blue eyes, long black eyelashes and naturally high cheekbones flushed pink. I was told by my parents, by my relations, by everyone that I was beautiful. I wouldn't deny it. But what my mother and father gave me physically upset me. I was locked up in a gilded cage because they were afraid if they let such a colorful bird fly away it would get lost forever.
Just as I was thinking these thoughts the carriage stopped in front of our mansion on top of a large hill overlooking the port. Our town of Lark Haven was on Lark Island in the Caribbean, an English settlement my father Hugh Brinkley was sent over to be governor to when I was but three years into life. Ever since I've lived in the same house with the same people for the sixteen years I've resided on the stretch of island paradise.
"Darling!"
Dust swirled as the large door stood ajar with my mother standing in it, "Hello mother."
She had a smile on. A smile that showed all of her teeth in contrast with her porcelain English skin she so cherished. Knowing my mother all too well I approached warily, at the same time wishing I could run inside where it would be somewhat cooler.
"Laurel dear, now I know you must be perfectly exhausted from your lessons, but do come in. Your father and I must speak with you immediately. And I've had Pamela make us some lunch."
Me being the fool that I was, I followed, knowing that it must not be good, but not wishing to face my mother's stubborn wrath when faced with refusal.
I was right.
"You want me to do WHAT??" I screamed in a very unladylike manner. The crystal chandelier shook above me and the rich oak table shuddered at my shout.
My father looked at me with sympathetic eyes, eyes that he passed on to me. I wished for brown ones. "Laurel, Victor Egrets is a wonderful young man. You're practically twenty, and unmarried. I thought you would be happy with this match. He was supposed to propose today."
I thought back to when he attempted to speak to me. And I thought it was just another proposal for a petty beau! How daft I had been! Hadn't I noticed the strange spark in his eye?
Suddenly I felt claustrophobic, trapped in my own body. I looked at my mother who looked ridiculously and primly hopeful and my father who was silently apologetic. I looked at myself in the wall to wall mirror, my life flashing before my eyes and ending up here, me sitting in a blue expensive dress that I couldn't breathe in being made to marry my best friend. Practically like my brother.
I had to get out.
Standing up very calmly I nodded to both my mother and father, "Thank you for your attempt to marry me. I will consider. But now I must leave."
With that I walked calmly out of the room. As soon as I heard them get up in confusion, I sprinted as fast as I could out the front door. The yellow Caribbean sun beat down upon me as I gathered my skirts in the crook of one elbow and skidded down the long dirt carriage way. I felt my loose curls come undone from their bun atop my head and tumble down, bouncing at the middle of my back. Dust kicked up into my face and coated the pretty blue dress that I so hated. Glancing back I realized I had run so far that I was near a back cove and no one was in sight. Slowing down I looked out and spotted a dock with a few Navy ships but no guards on it.
The rough wood poked into the parts of my delicate slippers I had torn as I walked down the long dock to the end. Sitting down and kicking off the white slippers into the water I watched them sink down into the blue abyss. What would I do now? I'd run away, but now I was stuck. There was nowhere to go.
Almost simultaneous with that thought came a whisper behind a stack of barrels, "Ay, miss"
I glanced around quickly, heart pounding. Standing up, I ignored the immediate acquisition of a splinter in my toe and said loudly, "Who's there?"
There was no answer. I cautiously crept around the barrel stack when all of a sudden a large hand clapped over my mouth and another around my waist. Screaming as loudly as I could, I attempted to kick whoever had seized me. But the tight hold on my mouth proved my voice soundless and the individual was strong. Not to mention my dress prevented much more movement.
As soon as I stopped struggling as much a round and warm voice spoke beside my ear, "Sorry love, didn't mean to do that, but you see I'm a bit wary of having a lass yell when they see a pirate behind barrels. And I need yer help."
At the word pirate my eyes got huge and I started to scream again. The unknown man spun me around, still holding fast to my face and waist. Suddenly I was staring at the handsomest man I had ever seen. His cheekbones were high, with tan and slightly weathered skin. His eyes were a deep brown, so deep they were like peat bogs that I had heard of, sucking you in. His lips were nice and firm, surrounded by a black mustache leading to a goatee of sorts. His black dread locked hair was pulled back in a red bandana with beads hanging from different places.
Sensing my shock he gently and slowly let go of my mouth, his own face unreadable. "Well aren't you a pretty little thing."
I felt indignation rising, "And aren't you a forward little thing?"
He grinned a lopsided grin, revealing a few gold teeth. He then looked regretful and reached behind him. I glanced, confused, at his hand. He leaned very close to me, so close that if I had so much as breathed we would have been lip locked. "Sorry, love, must do this."
And then everything went black.