The Cruise Ship Chronicles

Chapter 6 - Vitamin Sea

Hey guys! I have been setting this up for a while now, but now we are now in 2011! No more age changes for the rest of the story! YAY! Unless I do an epilogue, but that is an entirely different issue. For anyone who is confused, Victoria and Brandon are now 16 (making Chris 18 and Mike 14). So, without further adieu...

March 2011

*BRANDON'S POV*

Another March, another cruise, and boy, was I sweating it. I decided that I should try and make things happen between Victoria and I. I mean, now, things could actually work out. Unless she rejected me. I always came back to the depressing realization that our friendship could be utterly annihilated if my feelings were not reciprocated. 

This time around, Mike and I had our own suite aboard the ship. I think my parents finally realized that two little kids sharing a bed in a room with their parents was fine, but forcing two teenaged boys to make that squeeze was a complete absurdity. In fact, for the past few years, I had been making a pallet on the floor to avoid getting cozy with none other than Mike the womanizer (who I was positive would rather be snuggling with a "hot babe" than me). At long last, freedom.

As I sat on my bed, gazing out at the ship's harbor, I found myself wondering what exactly this trip could entail. If things went well, I could spend our first ever two-week cruise romancing Victoria. I mean, I had thirteen days and fourteen nights to make it happen instead of the usual six days and seven nights, Mike already has his sights set on a red-head on deck five so he'll be out of my way, I have more privacy, and the potential for greatness is a lot higher than usual. But if things went poorly, Victoria could hate me forever, ergo causing Mr. and Mrs. Hall to hate my guts, therefore I'd get beaten up by Chris. The last thing I needed after a blow to the ego was a blow to the face. 

I told myself I would just roll with the punches, but I couldn't help it. I walked a very thin line, and if I teetered, things could be bad. And I didn't want bad...I wanted Victoria. I felt like such a girl! 

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

Victoria Hall

Text Message (1)

A little faster than normal, I unlocked my phone and read the message.

Went to your parent's room. I didn't know you had your own room! They said yours was a few doors down but I didn't want to knock on the wrong door. Come on out?

I rushed to the door, and opened it. I let out an audible gasp when I saw her. It sounded so cliche, but Victoria was just one of those girls that got more and more beautiful everyday, and this time around, I was prepared to make sure she knew.

"My god, Victoria! You look lovely."

She brought her hand to her face as the apples of her cheeks began to grow pink. "Well hello to you too, Sailor." 

"Sailor?"

"Your new nickname." Victoria grinned. "I'm digging that shirt by the way."

I glanced down and realized my striped v-neck had a small anchor embroidered above my heart. "I've never really had a nickname...I like it!"

"And speaking of dashingly good looks, you ditched the glasses?" Victoria asked, pointing at the bridge of my nose where a pair of glasses would be. Good looks? It sounded like a step in the right direction to me.

"Nah, I still wear them from time-to-time to give off the cool, hipster vibe. But generally it is just easier to just wear my contacts."

"Makes sense. It's a good thing I like Sailor Brandon as much as Hipster Brandon!"

I laughed. "I guess so."

"Could you guys stop flirting out there? If you want to get all up on it so bad, I'll get out of here." Mike called from inside the cabin.

"Ignore him," I said quickly to Victoria. "We're leaving now." I added, directed at Mike.

I shut the door, totally mortified. "I'm sorry, Victoria. You know Mike."

She laughed. "Get 'all up on it'? That's a new one. I may have to use that one!"

 I was thankful that Victoria had such a wonderful sense of humor, otherwise I may have socked my brother. "Shall we?" I asked, allowing her to walk in front of me down the hallway.

"We shall." She grinned in reply.

*VICTORIA'S POV*

I couldn't help but ask myself if this tension between us meant the feelings were mutual. Never had we ever been so flirtatious. Maybe when Mike said Brandon was complete enamored by me he was telling the truth. My heart leaped at the possibility.

We made our way up to the top deck by the pool and decided to get smoothies. I was elated when Brandon went ahead and ordered me a "Vitamin Sea" - oranges, mangoes, acai, strawberries and with vanilla yogurt. I loved that he remembered my favorite drink. I was pretty sure I loved everything about him.

"You remembered my smoothie order," I pointed out.

Brandon shrugged. "Of course I do. I pay attention."

I laughed and tossed my hair over my shoulder. "You really are something, Brandon." I said, pulling him into an embrace. God, I loved the feeling of his arms around him.

"I have a Vitamin Sea for Victoria!" Called a blonde barista boy, frantically waving the drink through the air.

I grabbed it from him, took a huge sip and rolled my eyes back in pleasure. "Oh my gosh, it is still, like, the best smoothie I've ever had."

Brandon laughed at my dramatic reaction. "Was that your reaction to the drink or were you having an orgasm? Jeez!"

I promptly smacked his arm. "Hey, I just haven't had one of these in forever. If you wanna see me orgasm, you have to at least take me to dinner first!" I grinned at my own cleverness, simultaneously shocked at my emerging promiscuity.

"So be it. I'll be at your room at seven thirty." He replied with a coy smirk. With that, he backed away and turned towards the elevators.

I stood there, alone and awe struck. What just happened?