Katie heard the two sailors talking and at first it didn't click as to what they were saying. She knew that she didn't have a lot of time to get back to the others before they were going to start lunch, but what they said bothered her enough that she needed to see what they were talking about.
Katie walks up to the sailors and asks, "Did I hear you say something about Jake?"
The sailor gave her the biggest smile thinking that if she was willing to do Jake, she might be willing to put out for the rest of the sailors as well. He had been warned by Will to leave the girls alone, but if she was coming onto him then he thought who was he to refuse her? After all, there was no mistaking the look of a girl who had just been with a guy. He took a step closer to Katie and she immediately wanted to take a step away from him, but she needed to know what they were saying. So, she let him get closer when every fiber of her being was screaming to back away.
The sailor was very confident after all most of the time Jake was spending his time as the mop boy. Which was the lowest position that a sailor could have, and anyone should look better than that. As the sailor drew close Katie took a good look at him. He was of average height, and he had started forming a belly since they had been eating so well, but he was by no means overweight. His medium-length dark hair was slicked back, with a bandana on, to keep it out of his eyes. He was dressed more or less like all the others with nothing much standing out about him except he looked kind of dirty. As he drew close Katie caught a whiff of him and it smelled like he had not bathed in a long time. Katie stopped breathing, when he started talking to her his breath was like something had crawled into his mouth and died. She had everything she could do not to cover her nose.
Katie could not help but make a face that she tried to hide right away. She wanted to know what they were saying about Jake and didn't want to have him distracted or saying anything more than he had to. This time Katie took advantage of his attraction to her. She knew that he was not part of the crew from last time. So, she asked nice and sweetly batting her eyes and giving him one of her best smiles, "So you were talking about Jake? What was that you said?"
The sailor had a huge smile on his face and looked like he had already convinced her to sleep with him. Then said, "We were just talking about how Jake can chalk up another one. As we know exactly what you two were doing. Since that boy doesn't know how to take care of a woman properly. Especially since he keeps sleeping with all these old hags, but you sweet thing. I could really show you what a lover should be." As he smiles at her it looks like most of his teeth are busted and blackened.
Katie's stomach instantly turned, not only by the thought of even letting this guy get close to her. But by the thought that Jake had started doing a whole bunch of women. Based on the things that Jake was doing to her this time she knew that the disgusting guy was speaking the truth.
Katie heard the other sailor say, "Yeah he has one about every trip now. I don't know how he is doing it. It must be that innocent face of his, and the fact that he is not all that busy when he is not training."
This was too much for Katie, it hurt her heart knowing that he was just sleeping with anything that came along. Katie heard a noise as Jake came out from behind some of the crates and she looked at him. He had the smile of the cat that ate the mouse. He had not noticed Katie standing there, the sailor was blocking his view of her. He thought that she was long gone not standing there talking to them.
The one sailor, knowing that Katie was standing there, and Jake couldn't see her said, "I see you got another one, and this one was a real cutie."
With a huge smile, Jake bragged and said, "Yes she sure is, and I think this one is in love with me and will do whatever I ask whenever I ask it. She is wrapped around my finger. She is just dying to sleep with me every chance she gets."
At hearing Jake's words Katie was devastated and couldn't bear to hear anymore as she took off running crying hard enough it was hard to see.
The dirty sailor let out a loud laugh as he saw her go running off. He said to Jake, "I think you stepped into it that time."
That cracked up the two sailors seeing the tears on the girl's face and the look on Jake's face as she took off running down the hall.
Katie didn't stop until she was in front of her door. She stood there as the tears went streaming down her face. She had thought that he wanted to build a life with her, or at least she was thinking that she did, until now. She took a couple of deep breaths and wiped her eyes. She tried her best to gather herself, but it was not long before she saw Jake heading for her.
There was no way that Katie wanted to face Jake at this time. So, she opened the door before he could even get close.
Katie opened the door and went in. She saw Gina and Mia standing there and they were looking very guilty about something, but as soon as they saw her their expressions instantly changed. To one of concern, they noticed that she was upset, and she was crying.
Gina went running over to her and immediately hugged her holding her tight asking, "Are you okay? What happened?"
Mia moved closer she was not sure what she was supposed to do. So, she just joined in the hug. The three stood there hugging as Katie tried to calm herself down enough to even talk to them about what was going on.
Gina could tell that she was really upset so she tried rubbing her back to comfort her. But it didn't matter what she was doing, Katie was just too upset to talk. Gina just had to find out what was making Katie so upset. So she broke the hug and the three took a seat in the hammock.
Gina sat on one side of Katie and Mia sat on the other, they both took her hands trying their best to comfort her. Gina gave her hand a gentle squeeze letting her know that she was there for her in whatever way that she wanted or needed.
Katie looked up at her with tears still streaming down her cheeks. Gina knew that this had to do with Jake in some way. It was the only thing that would put Katie in such a state. Gina said, "It will be okay. I will help you get things better no matter what it is."
Gina was thinking that Katie and Jake were busted doing something or caught just after. She figured that Katie was worried that they were going to punish Jake or kick him off the ship. Gina knew that between Snow and her they could change the captain's mind so that he wouldn't get punished.
At first, Katie couldn't even speak, but then she took a deep breath and was able at least to start talking. Katie told them everything, about how after she did everything with him, she found out that Jake had been doing all kinds of women passengers. To make matters worse he was even bragging about doing her to the other guys saying what he did with her.
Gina was appalled at hearing that. She had thought that Jake was a good guy. It was a different story for Mia she was thinking that he looked like the typical male piece of trash that she had learned a long time ago was not any good. Mia wanted to say bad things about him, but she held it all back. She knew that saying bad things about him, or how she could have guessed that he was going to do something like that. Would not have helped and probably even made Katie feel even worse.
Gina knew how much Katie's heart was breaking but she didn't know of anything that she could do to make her feel any better. Gina held her tight patting her back just letting her know that she was not alone and that she was there to help in any way that she wanted.
Just then there was a tapping at the door. Katie knew who it was but refused to say a word. There was no way that she could handle talking to him now. Gina asked, "Who is it?"
Jake said in a very quiet voice, "It's me, Jake. I was just wondering if I could talk to Katie for a little bit."
Katie started crying even harder, shaking her head. Gina looked at her and said, "Katie doesn't want to talk to you. You need to go away."
Jake stood there and said, "Come on, all I want to do is talk to her. I need to explain things."
Katie shook her head vigorously and Gina said, "Katie doesn't want to talk to you and I think you should go."
Jake said, "Come on. All I want to do is just talk. I am sure that I can explain everything if you just listen."
From behind Jake Snow asks, "Just what are you doing at my door? I thought that they said for you to leave, and you better go if you know what is good for you." Snow gave him one of her most stern looks letting him know that the captain would hear about it if he didn't comply.
Jake jumped and just about shit himself right there as her voice was not just intimidating but was right by his ear. Jake stuttered out "Yyess yes mam I am going." He trembled and took off running to get as far from her as he could.
Mia let out a little scream in surprise as the door opened. Snow gave her a stern look as she furrowed her brow saying, "That will be enough of that."
It didn't take Snow long to look at the girls and see exactly what was going on. Snow said, "Gina and Mia you go to the galley and go help with lunch it looks like I need to have a talk with Katie."
Gina gave her another hug but was reluctant to let go of her hand and go but one more look at Snow changed her mind. Gina dropped her hand and said, "I am here for you."
Mia dropped her hand right away, there was no way that she was even going to try and show any kind of resistance with Snow looking pissed. Or she was going to question anything that she was telling her to do.
Snow said, "Go on I will send her to you once we have had our talk."
As soon as they were out the door Snow had Katie explain exactly what happened and it was more or less what Snow had been expecting her to say. Snow asked, "Do you know what you want to do about it? Do you want him punished?"
Panic set into Katie. She had no idea what she wanted to do. Jake was no longer the one that she loved. He had broken her heart, but she still had feelings for him. She didn't want to see him punished. She knew that he could easily be kicked off the ship, ending his career, and ruining his life.
Snow was glad that she had not become spiteful, because that just affects your life making something that was bad into something that would be even worse. Snow knew that it was something that she could carry on for the rest of her life. Snow didn't even wait for her answer and said, "Okay you don't want to see him punished, but you are still hurting."
Snow pulled her into her arms and said, "I know it hurts now but you will find a better love out there and one that doesn't break your heart. It hurts but that is why it is called a crush. I know you are smart enough to have already figured out that it was not going to work out with him. You are not the type of girl that would be happy only seeing him one or two days every 2 to 4 months. I am sure that you realized that you couldn't be with him if you were on the ship."
Katie looked up into her eyes as more tears rolled down her cheeks. Katie knew that she was right about everything but that did not stop the pain. Snow held her close and rocked her a little knowing that was the best that she could do for her now. Snow held her tightly till the tears dried up and she started breathing easier and said, "Well one thing that will help is for you to stay busy. So, no more sulking for now. Go down and help the others I am sure that they could use your help by now."
Katie gave her a nod, still not wanting to talk all that much, and left to go join the others. Snow just shook her head as she watched her leave.