I give my mom and dad one last tight squeeze before turning and walking up the dock towards the S.S. Tipton. I don't know how I had convinced my dad that it was a good Idea to let me go on holiday with the rest of the candy counter girls at the Tipton for the first month of the summer, but some how I had. Do you think the staff discount helped in any way?
I tugged nervously at my teenage mutant ninja turtle beanie; it had Donatello face printed on it...Yes I agree I am totally awesome, as we entered the foyer to the ship. Maddie was blabbering on about how excited she was to be seeing London again and Millicent had just fainted again after some kid asked her did she know the way to the bathroom. Maddie had just stopped blabbering about London long enough to do, what she called 'eye flirting' with one of the cruise staff who was sorting out the pamphlet rack, god I hate doing that job back at the hotel, apparently Mr. Moseby would not approve of my technique...well is he my boss? I don't think so, yikes he's walking this way hide me!
"Madeline, ," he greeted warmly with open arms hugging her, "Oh hey Millicent!" he greeted cheerily waving down at an unconscious Millicent before turning to me "Ahh Maxine, how are you finding it at the Tipton, I didn't get time to make sure you had settled in before jetting off to the ship." He concluded turning to me, I waved shyly, creeping out from my hiding place behind Maddie.
"Hey there, Mr. Moseby!" I dragged out "It's been good, I mean, all the girls helped me settle in really fast, and the new manager," I started struggling over my wording, trying to find an appropriate description, "well he's just something else!" I finished nodded my head in satisfaction.
"How is Skippy getting on with his new responsibility?" Mr. Moseby inquired jutting out his bottom lip causing him to look rather intimidating.
"Truthfully?" Maddie asked, grinding her teeth together, squinting her eyes, and scrunching up her features.
"Lie, please humor me Madeline," he stated, still sporting the glum look on his face.
"Brilliant Mr. Moseby, he's a natural, he took to managing, like a duck takes to water, Mr. Tipton made the right choice in promoting him to save money in training a proper Manager." I exaggerated, causing Mr. Moseby to let out a whimper.
"Excuse me ladies, while I go drown my sorrows over a packet of spinach jerky," he managed to get out before dropping his face in his hands, letting out a strangled cry of despair and pushed his way through us.
I shivered slightly before Maddie linked her arm through mine laughing slightly leading me in the direction which I presumed our cabins were.
"Why does he insist on calling me frickin' Maxine, I actually think I preferred it when he thought I was a dude," I cried out rolling my eyes, Maddie let out a titter of laughter as we entered the elevator.
3333
After I had spent a good ten minutes unpacking (I think that's sufficient enough time to spend on boring stuff like that, don't you agree?) and changed into a pair of denim shorts, a red vest top and converse, I headed to the sky deck in search of the smoothie's I had spotted a few of the other cruise goers drinking.
When I reached my destination I was made aware right away that this was designed for entertainment purposes specifically, due to the screaming children, over chirpy entertainment director, and the old granny doing...is that tai-chi? I shook my head slightly, letting a slight giggle escape my lips before I headed towards the Smoothie bar, were a blonde teenaged bar tender had his back turned to me.
I sat at the left hand side of the bar, staring intently at the menu, procrastinating over my many choices of smoothies, not even noticing when the bar tender turned around awaiting my order, until he greeted me.
"What can I get you sweet thang?" he asked me causing my attention to snap from the lit up menu board, who did this dude think he was? Or what century did he think we lived in?
"A bucket" I smiled sweetly at him "So I can barf in it!" I finished going to turn on my heel and leave until my gaze settled on his doe eyed expression, I'd know that expression any were "Zack?" I whispered, how could I forget he and Cody were attending school here, why were they still on the ship? It was summer.
"Yep that's my name, don't wear it out!" he smiled, running his index finger under his name tag, rocking slightly on his feet.
"How come you're still on the ship? Its summer, shouldn't you be back in Boston?" I asked curiously, ignoring the fact he seemed oblivious to who I was.
"We make another stop at Boston at the start of august for a week, so saying as me and Cody could use the money Mr. Moseby is giving us for working here, and the fact that I still haven't paid of what I owe him" I looked at him confused at this point, he just held up his hand shaking his head slightly, "Its complicated, So anyway, me and Cody figured we should just stay on the ship until August!" he finished, shrugging his shoulders lightly.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" I demanded, amused by the fact he was unaware of who was standing in front of him, after what had almost happened between us the night before he left.
"Course I do!" he bluffed making a buzzing noise with his lips "Your that girl, from that place, I haven't seen you since that one time," he tried chuckling nervously, "I'm sorry, no, I have no clue who you are, should I?" he give up slumping his shoulders and pushing his hands in his shorts pockets. I crossed my arms aggressively across my chest and glared at him, trying to pass my hurt of as anger. Just at that moment, Maddie and Millicent arrived on the deck, Millicent shying away behind Maddie.
"Max!" Maddie cried out waving over at me I ignored her still glaring at Zack who had a look of relation spreading across his face. "Hey, you found Zack!" she smiled leaning over the bar and wrapping him up in a tight hug,
"Yeah, I found him alright," I stated softly, backing away slowly, as Zack pleaded with me to stay through his eyes, I shook my head slightly "guess you didn't mean what you almost said that night," I shrugged as I turned and thought back to that night.
All I seen was red as I stomped towards a certain blond haired twin, who was shooting hoops alone in the local basketball court near the park. After I was through the rusting, rattling gate, I stormed straight over to said twin pushing him flying, sending the basketball half way across the court.
"What the hell Max!" he demanded confused, as he straightened out his clothing and balanced himself, so his selfish butt wouldn't meet the concrete ground.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I growled, using over the top hand gestures and pacing in front of him "Was I not important enough?!" I questioned, stopping in front of a still utterly confused Zack.
"What are you talking about Max?" he asked after a few seconds of silence, hearing nothing but my uneven, raged, breathing.
"You're leaving for Seven Seas High tomorrow!" I answered quietly "And you didn't tell me, you big, stupid, insensitive jerk!" I screamed, hitting him with every insult. Zack held his arms above his face protecting himself from each blow.
"Max...Would you...would you stop hitting me!" he roared, eventually grabbing hold of my hands with his. "Who told you?" he asked softly, looking intently into my eyes, leading to me having to shake the fantasies out of my mind and answer him.
"Tapeworm let it slip, telling me he'd known for weeks now!" I cried out in frustration, "And then Bob and Barbara informed me, but when Jessica and Janice told me to let you know they wish you luck, I knew there was something up, why didn't you tell me?" I asked again, a little softer this time. "Do I not at least deserve a goodbye?" I inquired taking a few steps back, along with a few deep breaths and scrunched my eyes shut...Gellar's don't cry, Max Gellar most definitely doesn't cry!
"That's what you think? You don't deserve a goodbye?" he asked softly, dropping my hands. I felt a soft raindrop fall on my forehead as I re-opened my eyes.
"Well, why else wouldn't you tell me?" I asked him in an uneven tone of voice.
"Because," he sighed running his hands through his hair in frustration "Because Max, you deserve so much more than a simple goodbye from me, and it would just be too difficult for me to even begin to describe to you how much you mean to me and how much I'm going to miss you!" he exclaimed grabbing me by the shoulders. I blink at him a few times before scrunching my features up in disgust.
"Oh please Zack, don't give me that bull..."I started before Zack heaved a heavy sigh, rolling his eyes, ducking his head and capturing my lips with his, causing my eyes widen in shock. As I tried to wriggle my way out of his grasp, he wound his arms around my waist, pulling me tightly to him, making it virtually impossible for me to escape...even if I had wanted to. I felt myself relax against him, my eyes fluttering shut and my lips finally taking part in this rather enjoyable activity. Our lips molded perfectly together as they moved in sync. I let my hands slid up his chest to run through his hair pulling him closer. He obviously took this as a good sign as he smiled slightly against my lips, letting his hands travel up the back of my shirt and trace the small of my back. As his tongue hesitantly prodded my lower lip, a slight sigh escaped my mouth as I opened it slowly and let him explore the inside of my mouth before meeting my tongue in the middle. When breathing no longer was an option and more of a necessity we both pulled away, chests heaving up and down, with confused expressions on are faces.
"Well, that most definitely was better than the first one." He breathed out, a shy smile appeared on my lips as I ducked my head slightly, "Hey, are you crying Max?" he asked leaning his forehead against mine, putting his hands at either side of my face using his thumb to brush away my straying tears.
"No," I lied jumpily, "It's the rain!" I said, pointing up at the falling droplets.
He laughed at me slightly, before capturing my lips in a soft, chaste kiss, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," he whispered softly to me.
"Why didn't you just say to me?" I sniffled.
"Max, you heard what Patrick said on our first date" he said using the term loosely "You're out of my league!" I rolled my eyes at him.
"I'm here now, you've showed me how you feel, now just say it" I whispered nodding my head encouragingly at him, he looked at me panicked shaking his head vigorously, I leaned in closer to him, "Zack, tell me how you feel, and I'll wait for you to come back of this summer, I love you Zack, now it's your turn!" I continued "three simple words Zack," when he still seemed to hesitated I added "Just eight little letters and I'm all yours"
"I...I...L...I" he stumbled over his words, looking in my eyes pleadingly, when I noticed how painful it was for him I backed out of his arms, shaking my head.
"Thank you Zack, at least I know now," I said making an attempt to leave, "Have a nice life," I whispered before leaving him alone in the empty basketball court. And that was the last I heard of him.
That was until now! I bet this was all planned! Maddie's in for it now!
