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- TRANSATLANTIC -
CHAPTER 1: SETTING THE COURSE.
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She stood on the balcony, steaming mug of strong coffee cradled in her small hands, as she looked out in front of her.
Blue.
Most pure hue of cerulean blue surrounded her. Wherever her eyes ventured. A strong, but soothingly cool breeze weaved itself into her long chestnut brown hair and seemed to play hide and seek with it for a while, tussling and caressing it with its soft touch.
Lisa's hand lazily moved the playful streaks off her eyes and around her ears in a futile attempt to tame them. Breeze seemed to take a slight offence and dove right back in with more determination.
Setting the cup down, she took off the scrunchie-turned-temporary -bracelet from her wrist and once and for all bound the disobedient locks. If Breeze could pout, it would do so at this point, but since it was but a wind, it moved to a different target, dancing with the colorful beach towels hanging loosely on the other balconies, before it disappeared altogether.
"Honey? Have you seen my aftershave?" Banging and drawer shuffling was heard from the bathroom in the suite and a minute later a face and a body came out looking like a lost puppy.
Lisa turned from the blissful sight and walked into the room looking at the man in question with a raised eyebrow.
"I swear this thing has something against me. I keep putting it in one place and it's totally gone five minutes later." The large towel-clad man muttered half to himself scratching his wet untamed mop.
"Maybe it's because you think you put it in one place but you actually put it somewhere else, like... oh I don't know, the kitchen counter?" Lisa quipped, feigning shock.
Big man raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Kitchen counter? How the hell did that get there?"
Lisa just shook her head as she walked over to the small counter and exchanged her cup for Adam's aftershave, holding it up with a bemused smile.
"Thanks babe. You rock my world." He took it from her kissing her cheek affectionately before disappearing back inside the steaming bathroom.
"Yep, that's me: Rocking Lisa. Whoo-hoo!" She accented her last word with fingers curled into a "rock on" sign.
"You sure you don't want to come with?" he asked from the bathroom.
Lisa considered for a brief moment. It was only day two of their twenty-four day transatlantic cruise to Barcelona and she didn't really feel like starting it by sitting at the bar, observing her man frown at a deck of cards. She felt very, very bad the second the thought left her mind. 'God, I'm a horrible, horrible girlfriend.' she scolded herself mentally.
"Nah. I think I'll pass. I'm gonna go and "rock-on" by the pool for a while and then catch some rays."
Adam's head stuck out of the bathroom. "You sure? Cause I can always go tomorrow. We could spend the day together. Just... laying there... in the sun... doing... nothing..." His expression turned sour but he made a damn good job of hiding it.
Lisa kept from laughing. She had to give him points for trying though. It was actually cute how hard he tried not to sound bored by just talking about it.
"I'll be fine by myself. Besides I know how long you've waited for that. You deserve it. So go and have fun, ok? And no. You're not a bad boyfriend for abandoning me." she added seeing his worried expression. "I'm ordering you to go and have a blast."
He only needed to be told once. Shooting her a wide grateful grin, he popped his head back to the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later all dressed up and ready to take on the day.
Lisa waited for him with his wallet and a key card. "Try not to take all of their money on the first day, ok?" she said pushing him out of the door.
"Ha-ha. You slay me, babe."
At the doorstep, Adam turned abruptly and swooped her into his arms, eliciting a small squeak from the tiny brunette. "Did I tell you how much I love you today?" His husky voice in her ear sent shivers down her spine and she had to close her eyes to get herself under some sort of control.
She pretended to think this one over. "Not that I recollect."
His lips descended on her shoulder and he nipped at her soft flesh before biting into it playfully.
"That's for being a stinky little liar, Miss Reisert." Then he crashed his lips to hers in a possesive manner, leaving her breathless and vibrating with pure desire. "And that's for being the most amazing woman on the planet." And with that he left, smirking to himself when he heard her mutter 'teasing bastard' under her nose as she rubbed her still tingling shoulder.
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The elevator pinged once and 'deck 11' light flashed overhead before the door swooshed open and Lisa stepped out onto the thick maroon carpeted floor. Beach bag hanging loosely from her shoulder she made her way through the corridor, her flip flops clapping against her feet. She pushed the heavy door open and putting on her sunglasses to shield her from the merciless rays of the mid-morning sun, Lisa stepped out and straight into the paradise.
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"Good morning, Miss. Can I get you anything?"
As soon as she sat herself down on one of the deckchairs, a young man barely above twenty approached her, his crisp white apron almost blinding her with its sheer whiteness. Lisa was taken aback as she stared dumbly.
"Your bar is open already?" She blurted out before she could catch herself.
The waiter flashed her his pearly whites. "We're off-shore, Miss. International waters. Normal rules don't apply. You can get anything, anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is ask." he explained, grinning conspiratory.
Lisa found herself smiling back. Now this was more like it. "Allright." she acknowledged approvingly. "How about a Seabreeze?"
The young man's lips quirked into a knowing smile and much to Lisa's surprise he bowed low before her, eyes never leaving her face. "Your wish is my command, my lady."
He disappeared for a moment and then he was back and bowing low presenting her with a reddish-orange drink litterally on a silver platter.
Lisa laughed out loud at his theatrics and accepted nodding her head in obvious admiration and aproval.
"My name is Daniel. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything at all." He offered, eyes lingering on hers a bit too long than necessarry.
In the next five hours and three Seabreezes later- courtesy of ever-present Daniel - Lisa bathed twice in the refreshing waters of the crystal blue pool and almost managed to burn the skin off her back when she fell asleep. She blamed the latter on the alcohol - it always made her sleepy. But all-in-all, the day couldn't have been more perfect.
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Lisa was lost.
Her second day aboard the cruise ship and she was already lost. It was her own fault of course. Her nagging need to 'explore'. That and the humming presence of sweet Seabreezes in her system. Hence the idea of 'exploration'. Should've gone with Adam. she muttered to herself as she rounded yet another corner in vain search for an elevator or someone to guide her to one.
Where in the world was she?
What had started out as an innocent walk around the ship - hmm, wonder what hides behind this door - she thought to herself as she stepped through. The door closed behind her with a loud click and would not open. Only way out is forward – turned into a full on self-rescue mission.
Countless decks later and about the same amount of corners-turned-corridors -turned-more-damn-corners Lisa was positive she was lost. Not one soul passed her all the time she's been wandering. Which was a bit weird considering the ship held over five hundred passengers, third of which consisted of the crew itself. She remembered passing the door marked 'engine room' about half an hour ago - I must be somewhere near the bottom, she mused to herself. Then more bare, white-painted corridors followed.
Staircase.
Lisa grinned satisfied.
It was short-lived.
It led only one deck above but it was better than staying way down there, where she could hear - or so she was telling herself - the ocean waves crashing against the metal that made for the walls.
Crew headquarters followed. Of course with no one in plain sight. Do they ALL have to work at the same time? she grumbled to herself as she made her way through yet another corridor.
An elevator! At last!
Almost running she punched the button to call the contraption down and waited.
Patiently.
Finally!
Door opened. Lisa jumped in and leaned her head against the cool metal surface of the service elevator.
Saved!
Never again.
Flip-flop feet tapped unawares against bare green laminate as the heavy machinery made its way upwards to take her away and whisk her back to the paradise.
The elevator stopped once.
Not where she wanted it to.
Ping.
Door opened.
Lisa blinked.
Jackson blinked back.
Then she opened her mouth.
He moved like a lightning, clamping his hand over her open mouth and shoving her back into the elevator and didn't stop until her whole being shook from the impact as her sun-burned back hit the cool metal.
The door swooshed closed with a familiar 'ping'.
The contraption resumed its slow ascend back to the civilization.
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He stared.
Completely gobsmacked at the sight before him he stared openly not even trying to hide his obvious shock.
Lisa.
She was here. Why was she here? After all this time? She should not have been here. Questions raced through his mind as he tried to focus - FOCUS! - but he couldn't, because Lisa - Leese - stood right before him, mere inches from his face, here large green eyes blinking rapidly, staring back curiously.
She was even more gorgeous than he remembered.
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She wasn't scared. It surprised her. Maybe because her brain hasn't really started to process what her eyes were seeing.
Jackson?
No. It couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She was tired from wandering the lonely corridors and she was seeing things.
You're dead. They told me you died. There was a funeral...
His eyes... So pale. Almost crystalline.
So pretty... So familiar...
She felt him press closer. Felt his heart slamming wildly in his chest.
You're here. You're real.
Her mind was slowly catching up. And so was her body.
You can't be.
No.
No, no no... There was a funeral!
I know! I was... I SAW!!
Panic started setting in.
Close. Too close. Can't breathe...
She felt dizzy. Her head was spinning.
No no no no... not again. Please God...
Can't cry... Won't let you see me cry... not again...
So, so tired...
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He felt her chest against his own - when did I get so close to her? - starting to raise and fall unnaturally quickly, her heart hammering through the soft fabric of her dress and vibrating right through his own shirt and joining his own in a twisted dance.
The elevator started slowing down, approaching its destination. Loud voices just outside the door. Laughing.
Sharp intake of breath followed by something wet dripping on his fingers resting still on Lisa's mouth.
Tears.
Jackson stared transfixed, trying to will his mind into thinking.
She knows! Can't let her go! STOP HER!
Elevator stopped.
All-too familiar sound of ping shattered around them letting him know he was out of time.
Do something!
Before he had a chance to act Lisa beat him to the punch by folding like a wilted flower in his hands; unconsciousness finally claiming her oxygen-deprived body.
The door swooshed open.
Four waiters and two waitresses stared at the man cradling the girl in his arms like a gentle concerned lover would.
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