The (Not So) Perfect Princess

We're saved

A jolt went through my body, and my eyelids flew open. I immediately leaned onto my side and hurled up an unimaginable amount of sea water. It was horrible-a little like dry heaving-but when I was finished, I found I could breathe easily again. I was vaguely aware that I was laying on something hard and rough, I was dripping wet from head to toe, and someone was holding my hand tightly. I couldn't catch a glimpse at who it was before my vision began blurring again. The person sitting next to me squeezed my hand reassuringly right before I passed out.

The next time I woke up, every part of me ached. Every muscle, every ligament, every atom, it seemed, throbbed to the beat of my heart. My back was stiff from lying on the hard ground for who knows how long, but I could barely muster the strength to move, much less stretch. My eyelids felt heavy, but I forced them open, and found myself staring up at Q. His curly-ish, Carmel colored hair was dry and sticking up all over the place. His chocolate eyes were wide, unblinking, and locked on me. His dimples were accompanied by his trademark smile that I hadn't seen in what seemed like forever. Overall, Q looked so relieved I thought he was going to cry.

"Hey stranger," I rasped, my voice hoarse. "Long time, no see."

He squeezed my hand tight. "Too long. Way too long." He looked like he was going to say something else, and I was about to ask what, when he did something that surprised me. Without any warning whatsoever, Q leaned down and kissed me, full on the lips. Everything around me immediately sharpened, like someone had turned on the high definition. I just now realized that the sun was out, warming me. I could hear the distinct sound of waves lapping against wood. The boards creaked and groaned under me, and I soaked it all up, took it all in, breathed in the perfect moment.

Much too soon for my liking, Q pulled away. At first his expression was pure joy, but that soon melted into horror.

"Avani, I am so sorry," he apologized frantically. "I-I should have asked you first. But this feeling just came over me, and I-I don't know, I just-"

"Q," I scolded, making myself sit up, even though it hurt. "You don't have to ask me."

Q's expression softened a bit. "You.....what?"

"You don't have to ask me," I said again. "It works the other way around too-just watch."

I pulled him closer to me, met his lips to mine, and our breath became one. I liked how he kissed; it was soft and gentle and made me feel fuzzy inside. Not forced and awkward like my parents, but not eating-your-face-off either, like I'd unfortunately witnessed a guard and maid do. No, Q's kiss was light, but still full of compassion.

Slowly, I sat back.

"See?" I said, a smile playing across my lips. "I didn't ask you, and you didn't mind, did you?"

Q's dimpled grin had returned. "Not one bit, Avani."

The floor beneath me lurched, and I gasped.

Q quickly put his hand on my shoulder to steady me.

"What was that?" I breathed.

Q shook his head. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

I gave him an incredulous look. "Why shouldn't I? The floor just moved."

Q smirked. "We're on the ship, dummy. Ships move sometimes."

First I squinted at him, and then looked at my surroundings in bewilderment. Sure enough, I was sitting on the deck of one enormous boat. It had to be close to 800 feet long, and even from where I was sitting, I could tell the thing was moving pretty fast. Puffy, white clouds flew by overhead, and a warm wind blew through my hair.