The Space Between Love And Hell

Chapter 12

I stepped out of the steaming shower, dripping wet. How am I supposed to go about this? I dried my feet on the fluffy beige towel, while also wrapping a white towel around myself. I stepped onto the cold tile floor and over to the mist-coated mirror. I used the palm of my hand to wipe away enough of the mist to see my face through the streaks my fingers left behind.

The bright yellow light wasn't unflattering, per se, but it gave a bit of an eerie tint to my copper skin. I wrung out my hair and watched the droplets fall onto the mat in front of the sink without a sound. I picked up my purple comb and calmly ran it through my hair, finding it satisfying as it went from slightly wavy to stick straight with every stroke.

I slipped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, which I just realized was quite the color contrast. The light was more of a white than yellow, and the walls were a light grey as opposed to the bathroom's navy blue walls. I made my way across the carpet, tugged my suitcase out from under the bed with more force than necessary, and carefully unzipped it.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little on edge because of what happened yesterday, and I was still trying to make sense of the images I'd rememebered. It was like when I saw him, I'd only remembered the good things about him. Now, I thought, these flashbacks that I was getting could be the things I purposely forgot.

But either way, I had to gain their trust. And the only way through these two was romance. A pop of bright blue caught my eye as I searched for something to wear. I pulled it out, revealing the tiny bikini.

I shook my head, laughing.

No way. Absolutely no way.

Fifteen minutes later I was standing in front of the pool, arms crossed across my chest, feeling very exposed. The bikini was super tight fitting, hugging me in the most inappropriate ways possible.

I'm sorry, Mom.

I noticed a flash of white to my left and turned to see Collin sprinting down the hallway, Vance close behind him.

I still couldn't believe how much these two ran. I'd never seen Leo run.

"Vance!" I called out, loud enough to turn heads, and therefore loud enough to get his attention. He slowed down, looking around for the source of the noise.

I lifted my arm in a wave, signaling for him to come here. He jogged over, looking very . . . attractive in his tight fitting tank top and shorts.

"Eve!" he said breathlessly, stopping in front of me.

I put my hand on my hip, clearly displaying the bikini and running my other hand through my hair in the cutest way I could manage, I guess.

After regaining his breath, he stood up straight, flashing me those lovely teeth.

He then looked me up and down, quickly the first time and not so quickly the second time. He then crossed his arms, likely trying to flex based off the way he was looking at me.

He cleared his throat, fighting very hard to keep his eyes on my face. It was flattering, sure. But it was also kinda gross in a way, like I was just an attractive body to him; another "pretty thing" to look at.

I forced a smile, remembering that this is what I had to do. I needed to remember, and I needed to learn.

If this is the only way, then so be it.

I walked towards him, getting right up in his face.

Which was difficult, considering our height difference. We're going right in for the kill. Straight to the point. We were just going to get this over with.

He gulped as I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, something a friend of mine from highschool always did to get what she wanted.

Long story short, it worked for her.

And I was pretty sure it worked for me too.

I was staring deeply into his eyes, those blue, blue eyes that looked just like Leo's.

I took a moment to take in his face, the way the light shone on his perfectly tanned skin, the way I could see his somehow perfect jawline because his head was tilted a little, the way the left corner of his very-kissable lips tugged upward in a little smirk.

This is going to be fun.

"Vance?" I whispered, and smiled, having him right where I wanted him. He nodded, keeping eye contact. I rested a hand on his shoulder, ignoring all the eyes I could feel on us. "Do you wanna . . . go on a date?" I made my best doe eyes, trying to look as innocent as I could.

Don't worry. I'm definitely not asking because I have every intention of forcing information out of you.

He smiled, taking a strand of my hair and tucking it behind my ear.

I remembered my first day here, on a call with Sam. I was totally going out with my ex-boyfriend's brother. At least it wasn't because I liked him. Somehow, though, I was really giving myself The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes.

It was just weird because I distinctly remembered saying I was not going to date him. I knew that it was only one date, but it still felt really weird.

I am never doing this again. I wonder how Conrad must feel. This is really mean.

My internal argument was cut off by Vance, who had finally made up his mind. The way he was looking at me made me think he knew this wasn't just a date.

"Tonight, 8:00." He then turned and walked away.

See, I'd seen that in movies more than once. It pissed me off, though. Like, you tell me what time, but then you don't tell me where. He'd better not expect me to run around the entire cruise looking for him.

Because I wasn't going to.

I shook out my hands, turning around and walking away. Everyone is pissing me off right now.

As I got back into my dorm, something felt off. I opened the door, walking in slowly. Everything was exactly how I'd left it. I let out a sigh of relief, trying to calm my nerves.

There's nothing wrong.

I threw my suitcase onto my bed, looking for clothes for my date thingy. I grabbed my phone from my bedside table, anxious to get out of this bikini, which had certainly served its purpose. For the rest of the trip.

I slipped on an oversized Metallica shirt and clicked on Sam's contact. She answered on the first ring.

"Heyyyy girl!" I smiled, having missed her voice.

"Hey," I said, throwing clothes out of the suitcase.

"What's up sweetie?" she asked. I sighed, ready to give her the whole story.

"I'm sorry, you did WHAT?" I flinched, even though I'd been fully aware that this would be her reaction. It was scarier whe she wasn't talking. "So you asked out the hot guy--Collin's brother--right after you found the dimond ring Collin gave you?

"That's what I thought, too," I chimed in, only to be met with:

"Do not interrupt me. So now you're going on a date with Vance, to . . . what was it? Get information? Girl, that's like, worse than Belly."

I sighed, knowing full well that what she was saying was true, but also internally laughing at how we were comparing that show to real life.

"I know. I feel really weird doing it." I had opted to not tell her about Leo, mostly because I didn't know what to say. "Anyway, I was just called to keep you updated, but I have to pick out some clothes. Bye!"

"Wait, girl! What outfit are you wearing--" I hung up, smiling. I knew she wouldn't be offended. That was just how she was.

What am I wearing?

I dug through my suitcase and found that I had nothing that would work. I stood up, wiping my hands on my shirt.

Time to go shopping, I thought wearily. I walked back over to the door and paused, scanning the room one more time.

Maybe if I had seen what was wrong, I wouldn't have left the room.