Returning the equipment she had used to the shed onboard, Talisa took a moment to wipe her brow and catch her breath. She rarely complained when she got to work aboard a docked ship in peace, it was rare and awfully peaceful compared to some other days spent in the middle of the ocean, or during horrid weather. As she prepared to leave the girl dug out her latest novel, Anne Frankâs Diary was her third book in a row of biographies which she had read lately. Moving down the walkway, Talisa walked and read, as she always did, her pace slow and her attention gone from the rest of the world. It was pure chance that she had to watch her step half way down the docks, glancing up, eyes landing on the person coming towards her. At first she was sure she must be dehydrated or something. Or maybe that was more of a hope than anything else. Because the last person she had expected to see coming towards her was her brother.Â
Feeling a whole lot all at once, the sandy blonde came to a sudden stop, her hands shaking as her mind spun. In part she just.. wanted to run. Away. Now. Firstly because she was convinced he wouldnât want to see her. And secondly because she couldnât decide if she wanted to see him. At least not without any mental preparation. But there was nowhere to go without seeming like she was doing just that, running off with her tail between her legs. No, Talisa thought. She refused to be the one to slink away. It was not as if she was the one who had done something wrong or self serving. It was so easy to tap into all that anger, all that sense of betrayal which she had never truly dealt with. But as Clayton came closer, and she noticed heâd gotten at least three feet taller, acquired some facial hair, not to mention muscles, it was hard to ignore that ache inside. Hard not to admit, at least to herself, that she had missed him. Her eyes still big and wide, she met his gaze with her own. âHi there..â The words were quiet, even a little hopeful. Stupid girl.. What were the odds that he had thought about her? That he had missed her?Â
Clayton didnât typically hang around the docks, there was no point when the captain didnât plan for any voyages. But a ship had docked earlier with supplies and Clayton was asked to help unload. Seeing as how those supplies were for everyone on the island, including him, and he wasnât in the mood to have some of the other pirates mad at him, he agreed. He was making the last of his rounds, heading back to the ship to grab the last box when a timid voice grabbed his attention. He had noticed the blonde earlier but he didnât pay her any mind since she was engrossed in her book. But now that he was stopped, there was something recognizable about her but he wasnât quite able to place it. âHi,â he said in return, confusion in his voice on why the girl felt the need to greet him in the first place.Â
He took another step to continue walking but paused mid-motion, turning his head back to take a second look. His eyes narrowed as he studied her facial features, a picture forming his head of the last time he saw the girl. It was over a decade ago when he was leaving his sister behind on the ship that captured them. With eyebrows raised in realization and a chuckle escaping his throat, he shook his head, almost in disbelief. âI guess you survived then.â Maybe not the best thing to say to the sister you abandoned 13 years prior but the sense of family was gone. For Clayton, his crew was his family now.Â