Love Boat (Tom, Ben, Zac and Joel story)

First date

*Joel*
I don't understand why I am so nervous. I have only been waiting five minutes, for crying out loud, and it isn't like I haven't been on a date before. As long as I go in with zero expectations, a sense of humour, and a glass of wine, I almost always have an okay evening, sometimes even a nice one.

My friends have had the good judgement and had quickly stopped asking to much about the date, seing how damn nervous I am.

What if we just never click enough to warrant anything more than one date. I chuck my phone back in my pocket and clasp my hands tightly in front of me, in an effort to put a stop to my non stop fidgeting.

I take a deep calming breath, and when that doesn't work my eyes sought for her down the right corridor, not seeing her but when I turn my attention back to the elevator door, there she is.

"Hi Joel". She says sending me a kind of shy smile. She looks absolutely beautiful in a short white dress with some ruffles on the chest and a black trim turning into a strap around her slender neck. Her hair cascading over her shoulder like a waterfall of dark curls.

I am a little unsure what to do, but pull myself together and gives her a soft hug. "Hi Joslin. You look amazing".

"Thank you, it really is nothing special. You look really handsome yourself". She say smiling softly and without thinking I brush of my white shirt. It is paired with black slacks. Feeling a suit might be overdoing it on a cruise.

She holds out her hand and I take it in mine, feeling my heart speed up considerably. I hope I have made the right choices, not knowing much about her. She looks at me. "So what are we doing ?"

"Well, it's a surprise. Come on we are going this way". I gently pull her along with me. I had understood that her brother might not be to happy about her dating, so I had come up with something that would have us alone, with no one to tell on her.

"Joel ! Are we going ice skating ? But the skating rink hasn't opened yet". She said nervously staring at the frozen floor in front of her. "I don't know how to skate."

She gives me a small smile, the kind that makes my legs feel like oatmeal, and I reach for her hand. "I can teach you, my dear". I respond, mirth now shining in her eyes as she takes my hand and hesitantly taking a step further.

"Here, sit on the bench". I tell her softly, before going to grab some ice skates and sitting down next to her. Handing her the skates and a new pair of socks from the gift shop.

She looks at the sock smiling, the are red with little white hearts, then she checks the skates. "I don't know if it is scary or very cute that you picked the right size without asking".

"What about going with cute ?" I say sending her a very hopeful smile. Truth is I had been guessing and been lucky.

She giggles and pulls of her sandals, sliding on the socks and then the skates. "Okay then, let's go with cute for now".

I lead her onto the ice and slide slowly further from the edge. She is stiff, but otherwise trying hard not to show her nerves. I take her other hand, and says softly, so as not to disturb the serenity. "Spread your legs a bit, so your feet are aligned with your shoulders. This will give you more balance."

She glances at me, before hesitantly doing so, wobbling a bit but staying steady. I let go of her hands, causing a squeak to come out of her as she stands straight. And I reassure her. "You're doing great".

I smile again, while she glares at me. "Don't patronize me". She mutters, and looks back down at her feet. "Okay, I'm standing, what now?"

I push myself in a wide circle around her, she pouts adorably at me as I instruct her. "Lean forward a bit, to keep your balance, and slide your feet just a bit. Not forward, but out, so you move". Demonstrating while I talk. "When you want to go faster, move your feet faster, and when you want to slow down, stop moving and coast".

I stand a bit straighter and turn, coasting back to her. "You can do it". I finishes, and I reach for her hand, hoping it will give her a sense of security. She smiles softly, and her bright eyes is shining at me.

Finally, she shakes her head and take my hand. "Fine, but if I fall, I'm calling my brother to come kick you," She says, without much real venom in his words, actually she is giggling.

After some very close slips, were I manage to keep us both from ending in a bundle of tangled limps. She manages to start skating around without falling on her ass, and laughs she laughs as I chase her. We skate in circles for a while, before stopping in the middle of the plane of ice.

She leans against me as the most natural thing in the world, and I hold her close. "You're cold". I say absently, pushing closer. My mind occupied with having her in my arms.

"You are very warm". She responds, looking up at me. She was a sight for sore eyes, her cheeks flushed from both the cold and from laughing. I can't stop myself but lean down planting a little kiss on her head, and she pushed her face further into my chest to hide her blush.

"Shut up". She says, looking up at me, still all flustered.

I only chuckle. "I didn't say anything, my dear".

She softly responded. "You don't have to, I can feel the doubt wafting off of you". She muttered. "Stop doubting yourself so much.

*Joslin*
"Hey". I say quietly after a moment.

He looks down at me. "Yes ?"

I swallow. "I, uh". He purses his lips and pulls back a bit, looking at me for a moment before looking about, as if to see if anyone is watching. Then, when he looks back at me, I stretch up on my toes and kiss him right on the lips, very softly.

His grip on me loosen in shock, and I wiggled out of his arms and skate away, laughing, "Catch me if you can!" He shakes his head and chases after me, smiling wider as he gets closer to catching me.

When he catches me I stumble and we end up in a heap on the ice, him on top of me. He chuckles. "Whoops, I guess you have to call your brother on me now".

"I much rather do this". My hands cradles his face, the stubbles on his cheeks tingling my palms as I pull him down to kiss him softly.

A small happy sound escapes his chest, his lips soft against mine, feeling like they try to form themselves after my lips. My hands having slid around his neck, holding his mouth against mine.

The kiss getting more intense and I whimper when he pulls away. "Sorry, but I have dinner planned and you risk getting sick laying here on the cold ice".

He helps me up, giving me a soft lingering kiss before we slide to the bench, changing back to our own shoes. He puts back the skates, and take my hand, leading me out of there.

"I hope you are okay with going to my room. I wanted to make it private". He says looking nervously at me, biting his lip in the cutest way.

I squeeze his hand. Actually it is perfect. I don't really want people telling my brother. "It is totally fine Joel, no problem at all".

*Joel*
I feel like I am floating on air. I can't believe she kissed me. She actually seems to like me. I can't believe my luck here.
As I open the room, I send a small prayer that Zac hasn't overdone it. He had promised to set up a picnic on the small balcony. That is why we needed to get back, before it started attracting seagulls.

"Oh shit". I mutter to myself as I step out on the balcony. Zac has so overdone this. Looks like he is trying to get me laid or something. Having one half of the balcony filled with a mattress and a lot of pillows, a string of lights hung above, which is smart, as the sun is setting in the horizon.

She looks around, her eyes shining. "Oh Joel it is so amazing and very romantic". Then she grabs my shirt, pulling me into a passionate kiss that makes my toes curl and my blood run hot and I send Zac a very friendly thought, apparently he knows what he is doing.