Just Cruising

Chapter 5: Day II

"Rachel..."-my brother said, placing two fingers on his brow and resting his head into a thinking-like position-"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!" I just winced at his explosion of nerves.

I took a baby step away from him. He could be down right frightening when he's angry.

He just collapsed on the bed, laying on his back and placing his arms to the sides of him. I sighed and sat down on the couch.

"Sam, I know it's weird that your baby sister is in a relationship"-

"Rachel, your seventeen! For goodness sakes! I think you should wait one more year, just one more year, to get a boyfriend. That way, you would be respecting mom and dad's rules, and you wouldn't get into trouble." I perked up at this.

"Wait, mom and dad don't know about this?" I asked, incredulously.

Sam shook his head then sat up to looked me.

"I've been distracting them everytime we're together. When you send your 'lover' doe eyes, I change the conversation to the business, or something boring that mom and dad are fine taking about. It's really hard, Rachel, and its really annoying."

My eyes widened in shock. I felt so guilty for putting Sam in that sort of situation. I just hung my head is shame.

When I looked up Sam was kneading his temples like he does when he has a head ache. I sighed heavily and said, "Rachel, just be careful. That's all I ask. I don't need out parents raising hell over your head for making a mistake this stupid."

"Then what do you expect me to do?!" I asked furiously.

"Just tell them. Tell mom and dad about whats-his-face, or break it off. But if you don't, I'm telling you right now, it will come back and bite you hard in the ass. So watch what you do." Sam gave me a hard stare, being extra serious.

I nodded my head. I wanted to take my chances to tell my parents, but I could just imagine their crazy reaction. And if I broke it off with Jacob, it would be so awkward! This was just more complicated than necessary.

Sam stood up and looked at me and said, "I'm going back to dinner. I made an accused about you saying earlier that you felt seasick, so I said I would go check if you were ok. Be happy I've saved your butt so many times, but my patience is running low, so make your mind, fast." And with that, he left.

I fell on my back and huffed out my breath. Then I got up and changed into track capris, bandeau and a muscle top. I grabbed a hoodie and zipped it up. I laced up my running shoes and stepped out of my room, making sure I had my key card in my pocket.

I always went for a run when I was frustrated. I'm not the most athletic person you will ever meet, but I could run when I felt like it.

I jogged up the stairs to the highest floor, jogged up tot he upper deck, and started day rounds. I made it around four times but I still couldn't decide what to do. I regretted not bringing a water bottle, but I shoved that thought aside and burst in a run.

I made it ten more laps around when I felt my muscle scream at me.

I collapsed on a lawn chair and breathed heavily, huffing and puffing, feeling m lungs contract and expand over an dover again.

After three minutes, I got up to see no other than Jacob looking at me. He was smirking.

"I never took you for a runner." He said.

"I usual don't run. Unless, of course, I'm frustrated." I countered.

His eyebrows rose, and he looked a bit perplexed.

"Now why would you be frustrated?"

And I looked up and gave him a half smile before saying, "If only you knew about what predicament I was in."

"You could elaborate?" He said, confused.

I sighed again and stood up fully and started walking towards my room. I started my story with the discussion I had with Sam. Jacob just nodded and listened intently.

When I got to the part about not knowing whether to tell my parents or 'break-up'(we were never officially together).

After the whole roller-coaster, he nodded and said, "I can make your life easier, you know." I looked up at him in confusion.

"I can just break up with you, and you can live nice and happy, and I can avoid you for the rest of cruise. Then you could go home, and remember as the guy you shared a kiss or two with on this vacation. You can't even remember his name."

I looked up at him, hurt and upset and angry.

"Now why would I do something like that?! Why would I throw away someone this nice just because my parents don't approve of their baby girl having boyfriend before her eighteenth birthday! You know my birthday's less than two months away,so whats the big deal of I cheat a bit. No. One. Cares! Or atleast, no one should care!" By this time I was seething with rage. Jacob took a caution step away from me, clearly frightened by my state.

I took a calming breath and let my hands out of their fist form. I looked up at him and half-smiled.

He half-smield back, and soon I found my hand wrapped in his, and it felt warm and cozy and safe. I felt right at home with him. It was a nice feeling.

We walked like this all the way to our rooms. Then we hugged and said goodnight. During the hug though, I whispered in his ear, saying I could never let him go so easily. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at this statement. When we let go of each other, he grabbed my shoulders and crushed his lips to mine. I froze and when he let me go, he twirled me around like a ballerina and pushed me forward. I took a tentative step down the hall, blushing, and I made my way to my room. When I unlocked the door, I stepped in to find my brother half asleep on the bed. I smiled, changed, and went k bed myself. Tonight was definitely something to ponder upon.