Unsinkable

April 13th

My subconscious reminds me that today will be one of adventure and clarity. I wake myself up with my own giddiness. The sun has just started to peek over the waves letting in a thin ray of light into my cabin. I push myself from the warmth of my bed and throw on a robe before sitting at my vanity. I let my hair tumble from its braid. Brushing it out I'm relieved of the tightness on my head. I let it hang loose while I dress. Knowing it will be a day of heavy activity I put on an older dress and boots as well. There will be time this evening for fine gowns and dainty shoes. As I find my last button at my collar there's a knock at the door. 

Connor's the first one to arrive. He stands in similar attire. I smile looking him up and down. I made decision to completely forget of the night before. "Feels like home." He says, realizing I'm eyeing his outfit. I take a deep breath in, returning to my mirror where my pins wait for me. He'd left the night behind him as well and I'm very grateful for it.

"Feels comfortable to me." I say twirling the first tuft of hair up and out of the way. No corset or tight pins in my hair. I can breathe. I can see Connor watching me from behind as he closes the door and politely steps to the side against the wall. 

With my hair done partly up and my shoes on I turn to Connor. Rob would be here any moment. I smile and clasp my hands in front of me. Looking up I notice his collar's folded at an awkward angle in one spot. I shuffle forward pointing at it. As I approach him he straightens his neck. He keeps his eye on me as I stand on my toes to reach him. I tussle his collar straightening the crease. My finger gently brushes his neck and I nearly freeze on the spot. I find myself catching his eye and we're left looking deeply at each other. I'm conflicted. I could reach up and kiss him right now to reaffirm to him what had transpired the night before or I could lower back to my heels and avert my eyes... but then what. 

Thankfully I don't have to do either as there's another knock at the door. We jump apart, I to the door and him back to the side. I don't look at him again as I open the door to Rob. Stepping outside I feel Connor close behind me. The three of us walk down the hall as Rob lays out our day. I can't seem to focus, I glance up at Connor only twice but he's looking ahead. I snap myself forward and engage with Rob. He's lit up talking about his daily work, how he has a mate that will cover him for the day, and of course his love for the ship and sailing in general.

As we walk along the sleeping ship my thoughts of romance and the future are left behind me. Descending into the lower decks my curiosity comes full force when we stop at what seems like a closet. Rob pulls out his keys, "This is a crewman's hallway. It allows us to get where we need to go without being truly seen." He holds the door open for the both of us.

Several stewards give us odd looks as we make our way along the cramped passageway, until, that is, they see Rob in which case they turn their attentions away. Our first stop is the second class kitchen where we get several annoyed looks from the chefs.

Rob holds our little party to the wall as the kitchen staff goes about their work. "We can't bother them too much." Rob begins, looking from us across the white tiled floor. "They'll no answer very many questions... especially during this time of the day, but I promise your curiosities will be entertained." He leans closer to me and smiles. I smile but have to turn away for fear of my cheeks turning red.

The rest of our early morning is spent in the crew hallways and quarters. There are plenty of smiles to go around, and after Rob introduces us as 2nd class, hard working people we're instantly brought into the group. Even now as we sit at a long table in the crew mess hall we're invited in the conversation which is more than I could say of my own company above decks.

Connor has been rather quiet this morning but among these men he's brightened a bit. His Irish sensibilities really shine through amongst people of our own nation. In fact all those around us are Irish except for Rob who I've come to find is from the States. It causes me to look at him in a different light. Of course he hadn't had any European accent but I hadn't placed him as a thoroughbred American.