“Candace,” Brian said, the only one who didn’t address her as Candy. “I’m glad you’re here. I already trained Johnny, and he is a quick learner. But I need you to take over the bar while I go count receipts.”
“You got it, boss,” Candace said, giving him a mock-salute as Brian disappeared into the back. She smiled flirtatiously at Johnny. “So I guess it’s just you and me.”
Another couple of hours passed by, and Candace spent the majority of them shooting innuendos and sexual comments his way. Johnny flirted back, of course, and found himself enjoying her company… up to a point. He was a smart bloke, and knew, if anything, this woman was the female incarnate of himself. While he liked the qualities in her that he admired about himself, he found the conversation was lacking something, although he wasn’t quite sure as to what. And even though she seemed to get much attention from the patrons sitting at the bar, Johnny felt himself grow bored and his eyes began to search the bar for Izzy. He couldn’t quite explain it, but she was interesting to him, and she didn’t have to say anything. Currently, she was laughing at something one of the patrons said to her as she took their order, and he couldn’t help but allow a tiny smile to touch his lips.
At that moment, Zach appeared at her side, and Johnny felt his body tense and his dark eyes narrow on their own accord. He intricately watched as the two interacted, and for the first time that night, he noticed a clear, fake smile touch Izzy’s lips. It was obvious to see that she was trying to be cordial, but there was a pain that flashed in her eyes, and once again, Johnny felt himself frown. Oddly enough, it would seem that he really did not like to see the woman hurt.
Almost as though she knew he was watching her, Izzy lifted her eyes to Johnny, and when they met, she gave him a smile and an inquisitive look. He read it clearly – was he okay? He nodded and gave her a small smile in return, and nodded at her with the same questioning look – Are you? Izzy’s smile widened, touched that he took notice, but she nodded and then turned, heading back to take more orders.
So many emotions were swirling in the pirate; many he had never felt before and many he never wanted to feel. He couldn’t quite understand it. He had a willing, and very good looking woman standing next to him, just waiting for him to say the word and she would give herself to him. And yet, he couldn’t get the other woman, the one he probably had no sexual chance with at all, out of his head and away from his thoughts.
Chapter 13
The night was a lot more fun than Johnny had originally anticipated. It was interesting to learn the many different ways to mix different drinks, and he decided that when his shift (as he learned it was called) ended, he would try some of those new drinks, though wine was most preferable for him. Brian was quite an interesting character; there were times when Johnny thought Brian might reprimand him for something (such as his charming behavior), and other times, he felt as though maybe he and Brian might have the opportunity to actually be friends. The older man was very dry with his wit, and anybody could tell how protective of Izzy he was, looking after her much like she were his own daughter. As Johnny watched their interaction, he felt some unfamiliar feeling stir inside of him, and as he continued to think on it, he realized that he wanted to have that sort of relationship. He had never really thought of having kids. In fact, he had been fully against it; if he thought women might depend on him, then having children would surely tie him down, hook, line, and sinker. And yet… well, maybe if he found the right woman.
Did you just say that you would give monogamy a try, Johnny Clover? a very surprised voice inside Johnny’s head asked, almost appalled at such a notion.
Johnny pointedly ignored a question, and shifted his glance to the young woman next to him. Candy, as she had told him to call her, could be quite the little minx when she wanted to be, and she was also a coy distraction. But Johnny had been around the block a few times, so to speak, and as a result, he could see through her many accidental touches and her subtle (and sometimes very blatant) innuendos. Not to say that he didn’t enjoy this sort of attention. It had been a few days since Johnny was properly fawned over by a member of the opposite sex, and luckily for him, Candy was pretty as well as obviously experienced in manners of a sexual nature. He wouldn’t mind having a little fun with her…
But is she the right woman? another softer, logical voice asked.
Johnny actually shook his head at such a thought. He may have been more opened to having children, but that didn’t mean he wanted them now. No, he decided, she probably – most definitely – wasn’t the right woman when it came to that aspect, but he knew he could potentially have a lot of fun with the wrong woman.
It was two o’clock in the morning when the bar closed, and Brian went in the back to count inventory and money while his employees cleaned up the floor. Candy was teaching Johnny how to wash mugs, where to place them when they were dried, and what to do with the liquor. At first, he watched her and followed her directions, but then Izzy walked out from the back with cleaner, a couple of wash rags, and what appeared to be currency of some kind.
Candy followed his gaze before glancing up at him. “It’s her turn,” she explained softly. Johnny glanced down at the woman, his brow furrowed. “Every night when we close, somebody gets to be in charge of the jukebox so we get music when we clean up.”
Johnny watched with absolute fascination as Izzy slipped the silver coin into an oval-shaped machine and extended her long index finger in order to press two white buttons. Within moment, a steady beat filled the bar and soon, a singer started singing.
Candy rolled her blue eyes, but a small smile was on her face. “She always chooses this song,” she murmured.
“She loves dancing to it,” Candy continued, but Johnny couldn’t hear her. His dark eyes were focused on the woman out on the floor, simultaneously cleaning and dancing along to the song. Her moves weren’t provocative, but they were slow and sensual, and he could instantly tell how moved she was by the song. Her eyes were closed and the edges of her lips were curled up in an enjoyable smile on her face. She was completely lost in the melody, and he couldn’t help but watch her.
Izzy was simply mesmerizing.
--
“So how did you like it?” Izzy asked Johnny as the two headed out into the cold night. She bundled into her nice, warm hoodie as she glanced up at him from the corners of her eyes.
“That woman Candy,” Johnny began, pulling out a slip of paper, “gave me a slip of paper with a bunch of numbers on it, similar to that of that lovely waitress we encountered while we were breaking our fast.”
Izzy snatched it out of his hands, and using the street lights, saw that it was, indeed, Candy’s number. She rolled her eyes and handed it back to Johnny. “Well, there’s a surprise,” she muttered.
Johnny instantly picked up Izzy’s sarcasm, intricately webbed through her usual cheerful tone. He glanced down at her. “And why do you say that, darling?” he asked her.
“Because she gives everyone her number,” she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “When Zach and I first started going out, and people who worked with us knew we were together, she still hit on him – err… charmed him? – practically right in front of me. Zach knew better, though.”
“Says you,” Johnny said, not realizing the effect he had on her. “Who knows what went on without your knowledge, hmm?”
Izzy glanced up sharply at him. “Oh, that’s right,” she murmured. “You would know, wouldn’t you?”
“Now don’t get upset with me, love,” Johnny said, instantly able to read the offense she took clearly on her face. “My lifestyle is just different from yours, is all.”
“I just don’t understand though,” Izzy said, genuinely concerned as she gazed at Johnny’s profile, hoping to catch some sort of tell. “How can you do it?”
“Do what?” Johnny asked, stopping for a moment. Izzy positioned himself in front of the pirate, and Johnny tilted his head to the side, causing locks of
hair to fall into his face. She might have studied how beautiful he was had it not been for the serious subject they were talking about.
“I mean,” she said, her face reddening due to the personal experience. Luckily, the night easily masked this, though Johnny could clearly see the way her brown eyes turned rather glassy. He frowned at this; he didn’t like seeing her hurt, especially if it was because of him. “How could you knowingly hurt somebody? How could you pretend you love somebody, and then turn around and say the exact same thing to another woman? Haven’t you ever been in love?”
“Absolutely not,” Johnny said, completely affronted at such a notion.
A sad smile touched Izzy’s lips, and her eyes swept over to the ocean, calmly rolling to the shore before being pulled back into the ocean, only to be pushed back to the shore. “So you wouldn’t understand,” she said simply before crossing her arms over chest and turning back around.
“Understand what, exactly?” Johnny asked, placing his hand on her shoulder and turning her around. His eyes immediately locked with hers and she tried to read them. However, it was almost as though they were speaking two different languages because what he saw in her golden orbs, he couldn’t quite decipher.
“You’ve never been in love,” Izzy tried to explain, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You wouldn’t understand what it’s like being hurt by somebody you love. You wouldn’t understand what it’s like being completely overwhelmed by one person, willing to do anything for their happiness, willing to die for them, knowing they would be saved. You wouldn’t understand because you’ve never experienced it.” She paused and gave him an even stare. Finally, she sighed. “If you’re just looking for fun without any sort of commitment, then Candy would definitely be the person to call. But if you’re actually willing to let yourself fall in love, if you’re willing to understand that what you do to other women actually have consequences… You may not understand, but it hurts. Imagine your heart being ripped straight out of your chest and then being chopped up into a million pieces.”
“That much, ay?” Johnny asked, wincing a bit.
“Try ten times worse,” Izzy replied firmly. “It’s the worst kind of betrayal.”
“Then why would I ever want to fall in love?” Johnny asked her. “Especially knowing that there is a chance that I could get hurt?”
“Because it’s the best feeling in the world,” Izzy said with a nostalgic sigh.
“I highly doubt I will ever understand the concept of love, darling,” Johnny said, scratching his head.
“You will,” Izzy said as the two began to start walking again. “Once you find the right woman.”
Chapter 14
It had been three weeks since Johnny’s debut in the New World, as he liked to refer to the twenty-first century. The trio that consisted of Johnny, Izzy, and Bex were at a table in a casual restaurant called Islands, waiting for their orders to arrive. Johnny was absolutely fascinated with the layout design that resembled Hawaii. Izzy had insisted that Johnny try a good cheeseburger, and not the ones from their work either. So there they sat, chatting about pointless things but having fun nonetheless.
In the three weeks that Johnny had gotten there, he and Izzy became quite close. The pirate had yet to actually call her friend aloud, but he felt the attachment he had with her, and remarkably, it wasn’t as bad as he once thought. Even Bex the Minx, as he called her after she ridiculed him with the whole Johnny Straight-Tooth name, was slightly growing on him. However, he especially liked the times when it was just Izzy and him. She taught him so much about this new and fascinating world, and he always seemed to have a really good time with her. He also loved watching her dance, whenever they closed up the bar.
Speaking of which, he was quite the barman now. Many more women started coming and requesting that he serve their drinks and whatnot, and even though he reassured them that no, he was not this Johnny Depp character, they didn’t seem to care. Many people requested pictures with him, and he happily obliged. He got lots of money in tips, and after Izzy had taught him how this currency worked, he started buying things for himself, helped with the rent, and even opened a bank account.
As he sat back thinking about this, he realized that he wouldn’t be as comfortable here as he was now without Izzy. Subconsciously, he began to gently gnaw on his bottom lip as his brown eyes flicked to the woman who was currently sitting next to him, taking a sip of her milk. Yes, he definitely considered her a friend, a very close one, in fact. He didn’t know what would be of him without her, and though this new relationship between them scared him, he was ultimately grateful for it. If anything had happened to her… Well, he didn’t even want to think about such notions.
Johnny turned his head slightly so he could look at Izzy’s profile from a different angle, taking in everything about her. She was unlike any woman he had ever met. Her beauty was quite natural, and it was easy to tell that it spread inside her as well as outside. He noticed many things about her that he seemed to have no trouble remembering, whether it was that she liked to wear her hair down most of the time, even though she had a striking face. Her favorite color was green. She loved to read, which amazed him to no end because many women from his time were barely able to learn anything, let alone enjoy reading. She did not like wearing make-up unless it was a special occasion because she hated taking the time to take it off. And she loved that song, ‘Come Together,’ and as a result, loved to dance to it. He loved watching her dance. Come to think of it, he loved watching her do a lot of things…
“So,” Izzy said, turning to face him. Her eyes emphasized the delighted sparkle in the brown irises and he found himself staring at it as she asked her question. “How are things between you and Candy?”
“Who?” Johnny asked, frowning a bit as his brow furrowed.
“Oh, ew,” Bex said, rolling her dark eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. “You have a thing for Candy? That’s just gross. You do know there are sexual diseases here, don’t you?”
“What?” It would seem Johnny could only enunciate one-word questions, too baffled to elaborate.
“If you don’t wear protection while engaging in sexual behavior here,” Izzy explained, her cheeks slightly red as she explained this, “then you run the risk of getting a girl pregnant or contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Some are treatable and go away, some are treatable and last a life time, and some can kill you.”
“So… sex can kill here?” Johnny asked, his mouth gaping at such an extraordinary notion.
“Absolutely,” Bex said, nodding. “But we have protection.”
“Protection?” Johnny asked, now turning to Izzy for further explanations. She always seemed to have the answers.
“Condoms, when used correctly, are ninety-nine percent effective,” Izzy explained. “It protects you and your partner from sexual diseases as well as an unexpected pregnancy. Birth control is only for women, and while it doesn’t protect STD’s, it does protect against pregnancy – if used correctly of course.” She noticed Bex’s amused look at her explanation, and gave her friend a face. “I’m taking Human Sexuality, okay?”
“We should get him some condoms,” Bex suggested, “and show him how to put them on using a banana, like in high school sex-ed!”
“Oh my gosh,” Izzy said, her hands masking her flaming cheeks. “How about you teach him?”
“Would extra small work?” Bex asked.
“I can assure you that it would absolutely not work,” Johnny all but growled, not quite sure what she was talking about, but felt the need to defend any sort of size jest. “And anyways, so condoms are necessary to use for the rest of your life, then?”
“For you, yeah,” Bex said, remembering the conversation they had a few weeks ago.
“It depends,” Izzy gently corrected, managing to look Johnny in the eyes. “If you are with a person you trust enough to know that they’re not going to cheat on you, then it’s okay to not use condoms. Howev
er, it would be wise for the woman to continue birth control lest she wants to all but guarantee a pregnancy.”
Once Johnny processed Izzy’s new information, he immediately grabbed her wrist, his dark eyes urgent. “Darling, we must get you to a physician!” he exclaimed, obvious worry in his low voice. “What if you are dying and you don’t even know?! We must get you a cure” -
“What are you talking about?” Izzy asked as Bex tried to contain her laughter.
“You said if you trust someone, you won’t use this protection, or whatever you call it,” Johnny said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You trusted Zach, didn’t you? And look what he did. Now, no more arguing, we are getting you to a physician right now.”
Izzy’s face darkened to the darkest red it could muster and she glanced down, completely oblivious to the wicked glint in Bex’s dark eyes. Johnny’s worry could not escape her sharp gaze. Now this was certainly interesting.
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