Verde

Chapter 13: Chase Garcia

     Below deck was a completely different story from above deck. The corners were clean, the cabins crisp, and the walls white. Not surprisingly, the boat hadn't sprung any leaks and was still in perfect condition - science couldn't stop chemical reactions of water on metal, but it could create the impeccable sea-faring vessel that was ready to sail again after over ten years of neglect. 

     "There you are Cassi," Alison called, walking towards her.

     The hallways were barely feet across, with doors on ether side, leading to rooms. There were only ten cabins in all, so there were three trainees in each, while Alison had slept in the controls room the night before.

     "Let me see your watch."

    Cassidy slipped the watch off of her wrist and handed it over to Alison. She could feel Chase's presence behind her. He had let go of her hand back on the short flight of stairs leading to the lower deck.

     "Here," Alison handed back Cassidy's watch. Chase's arm reached around Cassidy, giving Alison his own watch.

     "I'll go now," Cassidy mumbled. She squeezed awkwardly past Alison, not even looking at Chase on the way to the cabin she shared with Kiera Wilcox and Shannen Tyrell. They were alphabetically arranged to avoid drama over splitting up friends.

     But inside, Cassidy found ten people. Obviously, it would take more than new sleeping arrangements to split up friends.

     The entire human contents of Elle's, Dan's, and Chase's cabins were crammed into the tiny room, sitting thigh to thigh on the two sets of bunks - nailed to the walls so the whole thing wouldn't tip over - and balled up on the floor.

     "What -" Cassidy didn't know what exactly she was supposed to ask first. What were they doing here? Why were they here? How did they all manage to fit?

     Instead of speaking, she just surveyed the faces. Elle had brought Nisha and Brooklyn Graves; Philip and Terrence had tagged along with Dan; and Reed and Creighton were leaning against the far wall, their knees pulled in as they waited for Chase to return. Kiera and Shannen were sitting on one of the top bunks together, their legs dangling off. They looked like they had just been there all along, watching from above as more and more people streamed in and tried to cram their ten bodies into a cabin meant for four at the most.

     It was silent.

     Cassidy shrank into a corner, sliding down the wall.

     It was still silent. Everyone was looking at her, but they turned away, one by one, as she met their eyes.

     The door knob turned, and Chase stepped into the room. He smelled like the ocean.

     Stop it, Cassi.

     No surprise registered on his face at the sight of the eleven others packed into the cabin. With him, they had a complete twelve. 

     "All we need is cake," Chase voiced, "for it to be a party." He hopped onto the ladder leading to the top bunk not already occupied by Cassidy's roommates. 

     "What's going on?" Cassidy hadn't meant to sound so scared as the words come out. 

     But what could she do, really? There were eleven sets of eyes on her, and she didn't know why.

     "Guys, lay off," Chase said from his perch. He leaned back and covered his eyes with his hand.

     "Yeah, she's not who you're mad at - none of this is Cassi's fault." Dan backed him up and reached over to squeeze Cassidy's hand.