Going a Little Overboard

Going a Little Overboard: Chapter 1

"A cruise?" I asked in disbelief, flopping down onto my red comforter.

"Yes. A cruise for school, senior year! And you need more drawings anyway..." Blaine trailed off, looking at me hopefully. His blue eyes sparkling in the light from the setting sun.

"You're best friend status is about to revoked." I mumbled, giving him the pamphlet back.

I couldn't just up and leave for a year. Not in the state my mother's been in lately. Ever since my father started going on extended business trips she's been almost catatonic, sitting on the sofa staring out into the driveway. Waiting.

"You need this. You've been working too hard lately. And it's summer." He emphasized, his upside-down face making me giggle.

"I know. But you know how my mother is." I shrugged awkwardly from my half-on half-off my bed position.

"Get this. I talked to your dad." He waved me off when I shot him a glare. "You know your dad loves me. Anyway, he said it's great and you should go. And when I told him you were worried about leaving your mother here, he agreed to come back and stay for longer periods of time and leave for week-long trips instead of month-long ones. So?"

I rolled my eyes. Having male best friends really could be a drag. Especially since my cousin Lily moved an hour away.

"Please! You have to go, I won't know anybody." I sighed heavily as he pleaded.

"But, you know I don't really like boats." I pleaded, sitting up. I squeezed my eyes shut as the blood flowed downward almost painfully.

"Yeah, but you don't get seasick, which is a plus. Look, it's not for two weeks. I'll give you time to think about it, okay?" He said somberly, putting his hands on my shoulders.

I almost had to crane my neck just to look at the boy. And he wasn't even that tall, I was just just short, barely reaching 5'2

"Alright." I agreed, and he pulled me in for a hug.

"Your mom will be fine. I know it. Don't you want to get into your fancy school?" He said quietly.

I nodded. "Yeah. But you have to get into a school nearby. I can't be without my bestie!"

"I told you, I will. Stop worrying, I'm gonna go though." He kissed the top of my head and left, shutting the door with a soft click.

Walking over to my beside table, I picked up the pamphlet again. The school had requested me, and Blaine too. And if my dad was coming home, then mom would go back to her usual perky self. Not that I saw a lot of it.

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Two weeks later, and the day before we were to set sail, I closed the top on my last suitcase. Blaine still didn't know my decision. And from the way I'd been complaining about it, he probably thought I'd need persuasion.

When he walked through the door with a chocolate cake, I knew I was right. The ultimate tool of the male mind.

"Aw Blaine-y you didn't have to do that, I was going to go anwyay. But since you did..." I scooped the cake out of his hand and went into the kitchen.

My mom was flitting around the kitchen, preparing something for her beloved husband no doubt. Ugh.

"Hey mom. We're leaving for the school/cruise thing. Dad will be here by noon, I love you." I smiled hugging her tightly.

"I love you too honey. I'm sorry I've been weird... I just miss him. But he's back now. It's all going to be okay!"

I nodded, kissing her cheek as Blaine came into the room. "Ready?"