Bridget grinned and took her arm, leaning her head on her shoulder a minute. “I’ve missed you too! The ship was so empty without you there!” This was a half truth; she spent an awful lot of time with Starkey after Zelda had left, to the point she was almost always with him. She glanced at Zel a moment, wondering if she should tell her; if she could tell her. If she was going to tell anyone about it, it’d have to be Zelda. Maybe Stacy too, but she had a feeling that talking about sleeping with a pirate wasn’t something Stace would want to discuss. “Meet any guys here, yet?” She blurted out so suddenly that she frowned at herself before throwing on a winning smirk.

“Oh, yes please!” Bridge felt her mouth water, and suddenly she was very hungry. “Let’s go get some now,” she suggested, pulling her dad’s card from her pocket and waving it back and forth. “We should build a pillow fort tonight too! Remember the ones we used to make on the ship?” Those nights were some of Birdie’s fondest childhood memories; building sheet tents and forts to block out the scary thunderstorms outside, or just to have a little secret space to share their wishes and hopes.

Bridget rolled her eyes, but laughed. She knew it was true; she was her dad’s little princess, and while sometimes it felt like he was a little overwhelming with the gifts and all, she knew she could get most anything from him. “Really?? I can’t wait to see it then!” Birdie had always loved sweets growing up; any time they made port, she would ask her dad to bring back candies and pastries and pies. Cookson had always been a little miffed at that, ‘what’s wrong wit th’ thins I bake ya, eh?’ She would be completely content for a week just staying in her room, sucking on peppermint sticks and plucking little chocolates from a box like one might pick flowers. 

Bridget chuckled, grateful that he took care to help her feel better, and not stupid about it. Her brother would’ve laughed at her, even though she doubted he knew any more than she did. “Right,” she shrugged. “I’ve never been particularly great with geography, but I suppose that’s something I’ll learn about next year in one of my classes,” she added, looking at her feet. She held onto the towel on either side of her shoulders, and then flossed it back and forth gently before glancing up at the clock. “Want to go get smoothie bowls?” Birdie asked suddenly, remembering a little place in town that sold them.

“Greece! That’s cool,” she replied, determined not to glance at his pectorals again. “I’ve always wanted to visit there,” Birdie commented thoughtfully, and then had to think hard about his question. Her father never really explained how they got to Neverland exactly. “Well,” she started, and then frowned, giving a little sigh. “I’m not sure. It’s an island; my father keeps his maps and charts to himself, so I wouldn’t be able to point it out.” She felt herself blush a little, suddenly very aware of how little she knew of the place she called home.

It shouldn’t have surprised Birdie how much bigger his hand was compared to hers, but it did, and she suppressed a girlish giggle. When he said his full name, she couldn’t help but appreciate how well it complemented him; golden name, golden physique. She shook his hand perhaps a moment too long, lost in thought, until she realized he’d asked a question. “Oh,” she let go of his hand and smiled. “Neverland,” she replied and then nodded at him. “What about you?”

Bringing a hand to the back of her neck, Bridge smiled up at the man, before pulling the towel off her shoulder. “I’d just like to get some energy out at the end of the day, and still be able to keep up with the folks back home when I go back,” she stated, tilting her head slightly. “I’d love for you to help me tone up a little,” she added, lids lowering slightly as she contrarily gave a demure smirk. “I’m Bridget by the way,” she told him, reaching out a hand to shake.

“Yes! I missed my roomie on the ship,” she told Zel, and there was only a tiny part of that which was false. The tiny part being, without Zelda there, she had been able to sneak Starkey into her cabin quite a few times. Stop thinking about him, she scolded herself. She’d decided to try and forget about him, and come up with all sorts of ways she’d ignore him when she returned. He had been one of the ones to encourage her to attend school in front of her father. To Birdie, that was a clear signal that he wanted her to leave. It was probably for the best. “I think we should have a big sleepover tonight! See if we can run into some shops after our drinks and bring loads of junk home! I wonder what they’ve got in these shops for chocolate,” she mused aloud, finding herself desperate for something sweet.

Bridget nodded as Zelda talked about her friend and smiled, picturing her alongside a bumbling companion, much like Birdie’s own father. She suddenly missed Smee with all of her heart, and wondered if his kids were attending Elias too. “I’m glad you’re here,” she grinned, shrugging her shoulders up to her ears, before taking another drag. “I’ve missed you madly, my dear,” she added, leaning over and giving Zelda a smooch on her temple, keeping her cigarette extended away from her friend. “Really? That sounds like so much fun! I slightly wish daddy had sent me with you now,” she chuckled taking another puff. “What else did you do there?” She asked, pulling her knees up to her chest. She wanted to make up for lost time, but she got the sense that it may take more than just an afternoon of gabbing. “We should get some drinks later, what’d’you think?” Birdie asked, tilting her head slightly.

Birdie shrugged; people could get used to anything if they tried it long enough. “I guess so,” she replied, the click of her lighter ending her thoughts on the subject. She breathed in, feeling it ease her worries a moment, and then let them out, deciding not to worry about it. Her mind turned to Starkey, wondering what he was up to. They’d never been exclusive really, but he was fun to be around, and always made her feel slightly normal. On the ship, she was the Captain’s daughter, but when it was just the two of them, she was just Bridget. She liked that. “So, made any friends here yet?” She asked, tilting her head. “Missing your old school?” Bridge didn’t know much about where Zelda had been sent by her father, but she knew it was some sort of academy. 

“Yeah, Blake told me that we should bring them just in case; I’m getting a back ache from the mattress in my room,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I know, I know,” she laughed. “I guess I’m a bit spoiled from school on the ship; I feel so confined in these classrooms. I don’t feel like I’ll ever get used to it.” Sighing once more, Birdie pulled her cigarettes out of her pocket and put on between her lips. She almost lit up, but she glanced over at Zelda and wondered if it was more than just her clothing style that had changed. “Do you mind?” She asked, lighter poised.

Bridget sighed and smiled, glad to know she wasn’t alone in starting school so far along in the year. She shrugged at the comment of it being good here; she couldn’t help feeling a little disturbed by the idea that they were all forced into attending this weird school. Was that something that people could actually do? Or was it just because the headmaster claimed that he had created all of their parents. It was bizarre to Birdie, but she didn’t want to think about it too much. “I guess it’s alright. I’m going to set up my hammock on the beach for the summer, I think. I can’t wait until classes are done,” she sighed, leaning her head back against the back of the bench.

Bridget laughed a little, shaking her head. “We were in Neverland mostly; got our summons a little late when we made port in Tortuga a couple months ago.” Birdie sighed, leaning back on the bench, legs spread a little wider than was considered ‘lady like’, and swung her knees back and forth into each other. “Cor, I miss the Roger,” she sighed, wanting to be back home. What she would give for another day on the island, or sneaking around with Starkey, or beating Smee in a game of chess. 

“Oh yeah? How’s everyone?” Birdie asked, feeling slightly jealous that she’d received a letter, although knowing it was a silly thing to be jealous about; she’d only just arrived. Bridge shoved her hands into her jean jacket pocket and plopped down beside Zelda on the bench. 

Bridget pressed her lips together to stop the grin his comment had caused. “I’ll be sure to work it,” she replied, cocking a brow and facing him a little more head on. As he said that it’d take much longer to get anything close to what he was at, a teensy, competitive part of her was offended, until she pictured herself with arms like his, and she laughed. “Oh, I’m not going for that sort of look. Not that it’s a bad look, it’s a really, really...” she trailed off a moment, eyes set on his toned arms, before slightly shaking herself and smiling up at him. “Good look for you,” she finished, and then chuckled despite her brain bouncing on her for a moment.

Bridget smiled, grateful to have bumped into someone that seemed to have so much knowledge of the place. “I’ve never focused on anything specifically before, but lately I’ve just felt a little weaker than usual.” On the Roger and the island, Birdie spent a lot of time lifting heavy items, running through the woods, eating a diet of fresh fruit and fish. Every day was filled with some sort of physical activity, but in the few weeks she’d been at the school, her muscles hadn’t been put to good use at all. “You think I should focus on my legs?” She asked, glancing down at her legs, and then over her shoulder to see her backside, inadvertently propping her bum up on full display for the stranger and anyone else that might have been looking. “Could use some muscles; how long did it take you to get these?” She asked, turning her gaze back to the guy’s arms, and motioning with her hands to his biceps.

Turning away from the ridiculously muscled gym goer, Birdie let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding in, and headed in the direction of the locker rooms. She’d started slow, but spotting the labeled towel area, walked with confidence. Bridge smiled as she walked back to the elliptical and wiped down the handles. “I’ve never been to a gym before! I was feeling a little lame since I’ve gotten to school, and my brother suggested I try working out,” she shrugged, giving another smile as she finished toweling off the machine. “Any suggestions?” She asked, slapping the towel backwards over her shoulder, eyes trailing to his arms a moment, before meeting his gaze again. She unconsciously stood a little straighter, wanting to give a better impression.