The Things I've Never Done: A Caledon Hockley Love Story

Chapter 3: The Things We Find Below the Surface

It started with Y/N asking where he learned to dance, leading to them telling each other their lives before they boarded the Titanic, leading to funny childhood stories, and finally lighthearted teasing and jokes that only they understood. They had learned more about each other in the hours spent at that table than anyone had liked to know about them before; not Rose, Cal's arranged fiance, and not even Molly, Y/N's mother, who although loved her, does not know the trouble she has gotten into throughout her youth.

The pair, now in fits of laughter at one of Y/N's childhood stories, involving a pig, rope, and mud, had slowly faded, leaving them staring into each other's eyes fondly had soon ended with Cal's simple question, "What's next?"

Now we continue...

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<3rd Person Perspective>

Almost completely missing the question he had asked, Y/N snaps out of the love struck daze she was in. "Oh! Uh, it's a surprise! Just as we had entered here, you cannot know what it is until we get there," she answers, stuttering slightly as she regains her sense of dignity. She will not fall for a man, that's how she's lasted her whole life, not needing a man with her loving father's newfound fortune.

Nodding his head, he doesn't question her this time, simply standing up from his seat, intent on the mystery of it all. Y/N gets up as well, heading to the staircase in which they came. As Y/N starts up the stairs, she almost jumps at the sudden contact on her left hand, it now being intertwined with Cal's hand, and he continues up the stairs beside her.

Y/N looked at him, and blushed lightly. Before they walked down these stairs, he was imagined as a toddler, now, as they trek back up the stairs, she imagines him as a puppy with wide, creatively naive eyes.

He gives her the side-eye, unnoticeable to her, and smiles as he catches her tinted cheeks in his line of sight. But, for once in his life, he has nothing sly to say, instead even he is dumbfounded at the way her face seems to shine with the natural glow of her flustered appearance. 'Beautiful' is the only word that came to his mind.

Y/N however, did notice Jack and Rose. The pair entering just as they were exiting, laughing and completely in love. Jack also saw Y/N, but noticed who she was with most of all. She simply smirked at him, wiggling her eyebrows, drawing a mischievous smile from Jack, him turning back to Rose.

Taking Cal back up the grand staircase, the pair is careful as to not catch their peers' attention, especially as they hold hands in such a fond manner. They almost forgot that they had hated each other roughly this morning. Y/N leads him to the outer deck, towards the stern of the ship. There, the couple take in the blissful evening air, a beautiful sunset in perfect view.

"I know you have sour feelings towards him, but Jack had shown me something quite spectacular that I would like to pass on to you. Only if you don't mind?" Y/N asks, gazing at the slow swirls of colors in the dimming light of the sky.

"I don't mind," is all Cal answers as he watches Y/N.

"Great! But I can't exactly tell you to close your eyes since your way heavier than me, and I'm scared you'll fall of the ship," Y/N giggles, leading him to the fence of the stern. There, she motions for him to step onto the rails. As he does so, he steadies himself with Y/N beside him for support if needed. "Now, outstretch your arms, like a bird, and stare out into the sunset. Tell me what you feel!"

Following her instructions, Cal steadies himself and does exactly as told, eyes shining gold in the passing of the sun. "It feels..." he starts to say, "It feels like I'm flying. Like I'm free," he says with a smile, looking down at the smaller woman who was smiling back at him.

Cal, taking Y/N's arm, leads her up onto the rails in front of himself, holding her waist firmly against his broad chest. Her shocked expression soon settles as she sees the utter peace Cal had seemed to be in. He bends his head towards her ear, whispering, "Thank you." She simply smiles, leaning her head against his left shoulder, his head finding home atop hers.

As the sun has finally set, the couple get off the rails carefully, moving to the benches. They resume the position they were previously, except now, Y/N was beside him rather than in front, head underneath his.

"I know this was supposed to be about me, but is there anything in the world you haven't done?" Cal asks, slightly amazed.

Y/N considers him for a moment before she answers, "Yeah actually! You know the square things on the floor of the game deck?"

"Shuffleboard?" Cal finishes for her.

"Yeah! I've never learned how to play that, do you?" she asks curiously.

Cal giggles at this, "Yes, I have learned how to play that. Would you like me to teach you?"

"If you don't mind," Y/N answers, looking at Cal with adoration.

He doesn't answer, just simply takes her hand in his, so commonly now, as he leads her around to the bow of the ship where the games are splayed. Taking the shuffles, Cal instructs her throughout the game, the two laughing and teasing at each other's shots. High-fiving when either of them make a great attempt.

To say Y/N was bad was an understatement. Throughout the whole game, she had made the most terrible shots. Now, as she lines up her last one, Cal gives her a bit of encouragement, instructing her shots. Taking a breath, she does as told and makes the shot, screaming of excitement as her puck had finally made a place of the bard rather than the outskirts.

With this, she runs to Cal, hugging him tightly, the two of them giggling like little kids. Although Y/N didn't win, she had made an attempt and didn't mind losing to Cal. The two of them pull back slightly, enough to look at each other. Cal's heart does flips when he looks her in the eyes, seeing her beautiful e/c up close now, noticing the tiny flecks and sparkles usually hidden by her gorgeous lashes.

As the two move in closer, just merely a breath away, Y/N's heartbeat pounds in her ears, making her wondering if Cal could hear just how loud it was right now. Just as they go to lean in, a security member comes out, flashing a bright beam from his flashlight into the pair's eyes. "Sorry to bother you, we were just informed of a scream and came to check it out. I'll be on my way now, goodnight!"

Laughing, Y/N leads Cal to the entrance, leading him to his next mystery.

To be continued...

{1,143 Words} 

(A short one, I know. Next chapter makes up for it though!)