Sink or Swim

8

I'm so tired but not at the same time??????

Jane's POV

April 11, 1912 - 12:45pm

I sighed as I leaned against the railing while Harry simply stood there beside me. We stood there in silence as we watched the ocean. I was about to speak when Harry suddenly spoke instead.

"Have you ever been to a party before?" he asked. I looked at him with confusion.

"Of course," I replied, "who hasn't?"

He smiled and shook his head, "I mean one that involves socializing, drinking, dancing, and the occasional fist fight?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head, "no."

He chuckled and nodded, "thought so."

I frowned and moved closer to him. He looked to me and tilted his head as his green eyes bore into mine.

"Why don't you show me what that's like?" I tried. He rose an eyebrow and looked at me.

"You really care for it? To see what the poor people live like?" he joked. I sighed and nodded.

"I will admit that I....would prefer to stay within my boundaries on this ship," I admitted, "but...if your life is as fun as you say it is, I'd like to experience it."

"Hmm," he hummed, nodding. I sighed and looked ahead. We stood there in silence again, simply enjoying the silence and the beauty of the ocean. 

"Would you like to see my area of the ship?" I asked, looking over at him. His green eyes flickered over to me and looked at me questioningly.

"Your area?"

I nodded, "our parlor, the dining area, there's a pool too somewhere apparently. We can go for a swim."

He smiled and shrugged, "truth be told ma'am, I don't have much swim clothes."

I smiled and shrugged as well, "well then, we'll just have to strip you naked."

His eyes widened as I laughed and shook my head. I walked around him with a smile on my face and turned around to look at him. I smirked as I held out my hand.

"Well," I asked, "you coming?"

He stuttered but nodded and followed along as he caught up to me. We walked along the deck and began our day.

~

I managed to find Harry some clothes that he could swim in near the pool itself. I didn't steal them. They were actually there for people to use in case they didn't bring their swim clothes. I had to buy them though, which wasn't at all a trouble for me. 

"Here," I said, handing him the clothes. We stood near the change rooms to the pool and I smiled up at him.

"Go change," I ushered, "I'll meet you out here."

He nodded, looking back to the clothes and then at me. Smiling quickly, he made his way towards the change room. He got a couple of glimpses from people, smiling awkwardly as they looked him up and down, no doubt due to his clothing. But I simply shrugged and walked into my own change room and changed.

~

I sat on one of the lounge chairs provided by the pool. I sighed as I lay back and closed my eyes, allowing the calming serenity of this pool wash over me. I smiled to myself as I lay there, waiting for Harry as well.

It seemed as though ten minutes had passed before I heard someone clear their throat. I opened my eyes to find Harry standing in front of me. He smiled uncertainly, looking himself up and down, shifting his swim pants a bit as he gazed at me.

"I'm uh...ready," he said. I smirked and nodded, standing up to face him. I smiled as I looked over his physique. He was very well built for a man his age.

And his stature.

I shrugged to myself and tried to put my surprise away as I made my way to the pool. I could hear his footsteps behind me as he followed and I sat down on the ledge, dipping my feet into the cool liquid. He sat down next to me, letting out a sigh as he set his feet inside of the water. I looked at him and he looked at me.

He smiled.

"I am sorry," I said, "about what I said."

"I forgave you, didn't I?" he replied, "it's all in the past now."

I nodded and looked ahead of me. I heard him sigh and he plopped into the water shortly after. I tried not to admire the way the water droplets would roll down his lean arms as he looked up at me, after clearing his face of any water. He smiled at me and moved closer. 

"Aren't you going to come in the water?" he asked, as he came to stand in front of my legs. He kept his arms to the side and his chest was only a short distance from my knees. I looked at him and nodded, soon falling into the water myself.

"You know," I said, after I dunked my head underwater to wet my hair, "at first I was nervous about what the people would think if you showed up here. Because you're not rich."

He looked at me with a grimace as I spoke, but I smiled at him, "but then I had no doubt because I knew that you didn't and wouldn't care about what they said."

His grimace faded and his smile soon returned along with a blush. I laughed as I swam towards the other end of the pool, turning to face him once I reached the other side. It was only us in here at the moment, which I found strange. But I didn't let it bother me. 

I was having fun. 

"You're being nice," he observed. I shrugged.

"You're teaching me how to have fun," I replied, "you're practically saving my life."

We laughed at my statement and I shook my head as it grew silent again.

"So," Harry murmured, "who's this man you're to marry?"

I sighed and slumped my shoulders, sinking down into the water so I was only visible by my head.

"His name is Mark Johnson," I began, "he works as a banker so obviously my mother is going to approve of him. He's the typical arrogant rich asshole. Apparently, he's supposed to have millions of girls flocking to him. As if that's supposed to sway me!"

Harry snorted and shrugged, "do you not love him, then?"

I looked at him, "love him? I don't even know the man!"

"Well who knows...maybe you'll fall in love with him."

I snorted.

"Or...maybe you'll fall in love with someone on this ship!"

I looked at him to find him beaming at me, "seriously?"

He shrugged, "why not? Hey, that's what I'll do! To help you have fun, I'll help you fall in love with someone on this ship."

I smirked and looked at him, "what if I somehow fall in love with you?"

Harry scrunched his nose, "I'm fairly certain we both are fine with just friendship."

I laughed and nodded, "very well then, Harry. Find me my prince."

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:)

I'm almost finished my English course. It's making me so happy omg. But I'm never doing a summer course again omg. It's so exhausting, you literally have no time for yourself.

Anyways, what do you think is going to happen?

Vote,

comment,

Love,

S.