Hey Guys! This is my first story ever published! It's going to be a multichapter, so get ready! If you want to know who inspired the characters, go check out my only other document on my page, OC Contest. This is sorta setting up the scene, and I hope to have the first chapter up tomorrow or the next day. Then, I plan to do at least a chapter a week! I hope you guys enjoy!

Ariana Mehta:

"Ria, hurry up and finish packing! I know you're just sitting there. C'mon, we're leaving tomorrow morning, and we can't have you lagging behind like last year!" Ugh. Ria shoved her favorite jean shorts into her suitcase. Family Vacations. Gotta love 'em. She rolled her eyes in spite of herself as she turned and grabbed her favorite sandals off of the floor, pushing them into the corner of her suitcase. "I'm packing, I'm packing!" She called back. At least we're going somewhere fun this year. She ran to her closet and began rummaging through her clothes, looking for her favorite dress. "MOOOOOM HAVE YOU SEEN MY DRESS WITH THE TURQOUISE BOW?" She waited a minute for an answer. "MOOOOOOM" she called again. Shreya, her older sister, turned the corner.

"Oh, I borrowed it for my date the other night. I took it to the dry cleaners, but I'm not sure if it'll be done by the time we leave." Shreya shrugged her shoulders before turning around and heading back down the hall." Ria sighed in anger before turning back to the duty at hand. Boy, was this going to be a fun cruise.

Breanna Hayes:

"Brandon, listen before you make any final decisions, let's just me and you go on a vacation!" Breanna begged once again. Brandon looked at her dead in the eyes. "Brandon, please…" She didn't want her brother to go through what she did. She was going to protect him, no matter what it took. "Brandon, come on. Just give it a little more thought. Let's go have fun, you and me, and then if you still want to join the reserve, I won't try and stop you."

"Why shouldn't I get to go?" Brandon asked. "Mom and Dad have done their part, you did yours, and Bruce…"

"Yeah, exactly. Bruce died." Breanna spat. She looked deep into Brandon's eyes before continuing. "I don't want that for you. Please, just take me up on my offer. I already have two tickets to go on a cruise. You might find something you like there. Maybe even something you love more than the idea of being in the Navy. Brandon, come on. You're only 17. Fresh outta High School. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Please."

"Well, if you already have tickets…" Brandon said. Breanna ran to him and leapt in his arms, crying tears of joy. He hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around his sister. "But, I'm not promising anything." Breanna nodded into his shoulder. She was going to make sure he did indeed change his mind.

Laura Martinez:

"Ugh, I'm coming, I'm coming!" Laura whispered to no one in particular. She ran to the counter, where her cell phone was ringing obnoxiously. She grabbed it and slid it unlocked. "Hello?" she asked as she turned and leant against the counter.

"Hi, I'm looking for Laura Martinez?"

"This is she. May I ask who this is?"

"Yes, this is Mark Sanger with Majesty Records. I am calling about a job opening for you. I am the director of entertainment on a Cruise Line, and I was wondering if you would be willing to fill an open spot we have on one of our ships. One of my scouts heard you sing in your college audition and suggested I give you a call." Laura stood there, listening intently to what the man on the other end of the line was saying. She had to control herself from squealing with excitement.

"Yes, I would love to! Can I get the details. Actually, no, can I set up an appointment to meet with you?" She reached for a pen and wrote down the address and time on her hand. "Absolutely, thank you so much! You won't be disappointed!" She hit call end and did a little happy dance! She knew leaving Cartegena, Columbia, to go to school in The States was the best choice she had ever made. "I have to call my father and mother!" she realized as she unlocked her phone. She couldn't wait to tell them about the chance of a lifetime.

Caroline Thompson and Miranda Winchester:

Caroline dialed her best friend of 8 years' phone number as fast as she could. It began ringing, and Caroline was about to leap out of her seat with excitement. "C'mon, Miranda. Pick up. C'mon, C'mon."

"'ello?" a very groggy voice answered.

"MIRANDA GUESS WHAT!"

"What? This better be important. You woke me up from my nap…"

"Oh, it's important. My dad just gave me two tickets to a cruise, and I decided that I want to take you! It can be for our friendshipiversary!" She waited for a response. "Miranda, say something." Miranda, however was deep in thought. She was really glad to have a friend like Caroline. They had been friends since fifth grade art class, even though they were polar opposites. And as the years has passed, their interests continued to drift apart. Caroline was outgoing, whereas Miranda was soft-spoken. Caroline was popular, whereas Miranda definitely was not. Caroline was confident, which is something Miranda lacked. But after Miranda's horrid past, she was glad to have a friend like Caroline. However, she wasn't sure that a cruise was the best idea… "Miranda, are you gonna say something?" Caroline asked, snapping Miranda back to reality.

"Huh, oh, I don't know… I just… I don't think I would like a cruise… Maybe we could go to the beach or something for our friendship—what was that you called it?"

"Our friendshipiversary is so much more special than a trip to the beach. Please come on the cruise with me, please please pleassssseee" Miranda sighed, knowing that Caroline was going to push until she got her way.

"Ugh, lemme ask my dad I guess. You can come over for dinner if you want and we can talk about it some more I guess." She listened to Caroline gush about how excited she was and how great this trip was going to be and how much fun they were going to have. After she hung up the phone, she sighed. She wasn't comfortable about this cruise at all. But she knew that Caroline wanted her to go more than anything, and she hated disappointing the only true friend she had. So she shoved herself off of her bed and headed down the hall to approach her adoptive father with the idea.