OCEAN WITHOUT DIRECTION

Chapter Five

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

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As much as I want to cry to scream to show how badly his reaction hurt me, I stay quiet. It has now been three hours since mine and Liam's fiasco, the sun is now high in the sky. No one knows, and I'm sure no one cares that I have spent those last three hours locked in my unit sitting on the balcony refreshing my mind.

The curtains behind me flutter gently in the breeze and my embarrassment has long gone, only replaced with sizzling fury. I get he's mad but there was no need for his stupid actions that hurt more emotionally than physically. Though now that I think about it, the side of my ribs sting a little bit from the shove he gave. On the outside I seem calm, on the inside I'm hurting.

"Xena?" voices can be heard outside of my door, along with hushed bickering. I feel like sitting and waiting for the irritating buzzes to walk away from my door, but even then, they don't leave. Heaving myself off of the chair I begin to unwillingly march over to the door and swing it open angrily. "What do you want?!" I whisper-shout, Virginia walks up to me and caresses the side of my face. "We were told you weren't anywhere to be found, so we were sent off to find you" Maggie explains easing my annoyance.

Exhaling deeply I move back onto my balcony and sit right down. "Why bother?" I sound defeated, "Why bother she asks" Emma states the obvious, "well because we care for you" she continues and I raise an eye brow at her choice of words. She smiles "you are not only our guest, but now these girls over here won't pipe down about how friendly you are. I know I haven't been the kindest soul on this ship." I laugh, "but I am willing to help care for you when needed."

Just when I began to wonder whether or not Maggie's words were correct with Emma coming around. I grin at her and wrap her up in an embrace, "thank you" I whisper in her ear before reeling away.

"Now tell us why you're in here by yourself" Carmen orders sitting down in a chair, peering past the glass doors. Groaning I make my way back into the room and sit down on the unmade bed.

"Long story-short, Liam had become very testy with me this morning, I tried asking what was wrong and all he did was shove me away and slam the door in my face. To make matters worse I don't even know what I did wrong" crying out I wipe my fingers across my face.

All of the maids look at one another, "he did look a bit rattled at breakfast time this morning." Looking up at all four ladies I can see each one of them nodding in agreement. Waving them off I begin to stand "who cares anymore, I asked multiple times but he was just too stubborn to tell me what was wrong."

They all shake their heads at me, "you're just as bad as each other I'd say." Gaping at them all I begin to walk off, "well if you're going to be that way I might as well go collect some edible supplies before returning back to my reflective ways." They all laugh and grab my shoulders.

The day seems to flow smoothly by then, I luckily haven't seen Liam which I'm thankful for. The maids had to continue their work so I was left alone for the rest of the day. Just as I'm beginning to slip away from the deck of the boat, a familiar voice calls out to me.

The Captain.

I begin to walk a little bit faster until I'm speeding past every person that comes my way. "Xena, no, please we need to talk" he speedily runs and stops me from escaping any further. Quiet murmurs from the by-standers echo around, so I do what I never planned on committing to. Pulling him into the closest empty room and spinning around to face him. "Explain."

"Oh my god Xena, do you know how hard it was to find you?!" I tap my foot impatiently "not the answer I was looking for Captain."

"Please call me Zack" rolling my eyes I begin to walk off and he grips my arm again before letting go.

"Fine Zack. Explain" He then decides to go into a lengthy explanation of last nights events. Honestly I don't know why I decided to give him a chance at explaining himself. "Look, Zack. You're a good guy" his face beams, "but I don't care what you have to say, everything that happened last night hurt me. Now I have lost a friend all because you couldn't stand to be in the same room as each other.

He scowls at me, "but I said sorry." Now he sounds like a child who got caught out on his wrong doings.

"I know and I thank you for that but no matter what, I won't forgive you. You publicly embarrassed not only myself but yourself in the process, and you left everything a few hours too late to apologise. Liam now hates me and I don't know what I did wrong."

He snickers and my brows knit together in confusion, "I'm not surprised he's acting like this. Same old Liam if I do say so myself." Shaking my head I open the door and walk out, glancing back at Zack who has his hands stuffed into his dress pants and his Captains hat slightly tilted on his ruffled hair.

What am I doing? Slowly I ask if he would join me at dinner time seeing as I don't have anyone else to escort me. Grinning he obliges and steps out of the room kissing me on the cheek.

As soon as he leaves, I touch the skin that had been affected by his kiss and smile. I don't forgive him but I am willing to move on. A few minutes pass and I'm still wandering aimlessly around the ship. Soon I enter my rooms and sit out on the balcony, the sun will be setting soon so I'll have to have the ladies come and help me get fitted into another gown.

About an hour passes and realising the time I race into my unit dialling the maids main number. When word was put through I was showered and ready waiting on my bed. Until an unexpected visitor arrived, Liam barged through my door and ceased his running in front of my almost bare body.

I quickly stand not knowing what to do. "Liam I need to get ready" he shakes his head and steps forwards "I'm so sorry Xena."

Glaring at him all I do is pray that the maids come soon. "Really that's as hard as you're going to try?!" he frowns and nods. Letting out a choked un-amused laugh I step backwards, "you hurt me Liam, you wounded me and that's all you can say. I'm sorry."

Silence follows like he expected those two words to fix everything. Just as I hoped, all four ladies come rushing to the door and stop when they see Liam's close proximity. "Out!" Emma orders pushing him roughly out the door, I almost feel sorry for him.

As soon as he's out of the way Emma turns and breathes out, "damn that man is handsome." A bubble of laughter creeps out of Carmen's mouth and soon we're howling with laughter.

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