Yay! Finally finished the first chapter~! Sorry if it took some time to publish this. I try to re-read the whole thing to see if I had any typos. Hope you don't mind the lengthiness of my story. Eventually, this would be the average length of the chapters to follow. I then realized how short the prologue was... (T_T) anyway, hope you enjoy the plot!


-Elliot-

"Elliot, dear. It's time to wake up!"

I opened my eyes and saw my mother, with a smile on her face. I scanned the room for a while and then closed my eyes back to process what I just saw. 'Where am I'

"Elliot! Don't go back to sleep, please. We need to change Harbors already. Come on, we're already at the city." My mother yanked me up, ruffled my hair and then handed me my glasses.

"Okay, I'm coming," I got off from my bed and stretched for a bit. "Right, I remembered now," I muttered myself.

My sister, Natalie, got this illness that she doesn't even know about. My mom asked grandpa and I to keep quiet about it. The island we're from is the closest population to the city's population. So now, we need a more underpopulated and close to nature living for her. If anyone asked me, I don't mind… I guess.

Natalie's sickness did her right in, alright. She now spends most of her precious moments in the city being at the city port toilets. I do try to be a responsible older brother even before Natalie has out grown my height. However, even without trying, she has also dominated that feeling of control and practically took my rights as the eldest! Since now that she's at her weakest, I shall take full command once more!

Feeling at ease and that tint of responsibility, I took the passenger log and requested a room for four. After conversing around the shop owners at the port, I found out that only the city port caters cruise ships to venture out the vast ocean. Out of boredom, I tried carrying as much luggage as I can like how Natalie does it. However, if I'm aware that she's around, I'd quickly revert back to carrying my own luggage. I know how she tends to get really pissed off if I copied her or anyone at that matter. You could say that she was the bully of her class.

Once Natalie got fully acquainted with the city port's toilets, we boarded the ship. I went ahead to look for our designated cabin and quickly brought our luggage in. Tired as I was for so much muscle work, I took the sofa closest to the window and viewed the busy harbor folks.

As I was scanning around, something quickly caught my attention. It was a red blazing red bandanna that I had always wanted. The bandanna was worn by a girl that quickly ran out behind the rows of shops near the port gate. When I tried to look more closely at the situation she was in, it seems like she was trying to get away from someone. She looked at the direction towards the port's gate as if she was trying to check if anyone was following her. However, there was no commotion anywhere.

I could see that the sailor in front of the boat was shouting or announcing something, and then quickly the girl with the bandanna went nearer to the sailor and started signing in the log. Even from a distance, with my thick-lens glasses, I knew for sure that this girl was very beautiful. Even with a bandanna, her long brown hair gently swayed along the ocean breeze, her eyes were like sapphire, clear and innocent! But then, with a flickering second, I saw sadness in those eyes. Despite the cute smile she gave, making that sailor blush, her eyes were not sincere for that smile at all. She just seems to look so tired and worn out… "Shoot… There I go again," I said to myself. 'Guess I've been reading too much books lately…' Nevertheless, I'm sure of one thing that had happened in those series of events… I started to have a crush on her.

.

My family finally reached the room and settled down as well. The captain announced through the speakers that we're to embark from the port, Harbor 1. Within a heartbeat, the ship started to move.

Mother was patting Natalie's back as she clings to our mom's arm. I smiled at the scene when suddenly my mom faced me with a gentle smile on her face, "if you like, Elliot, you can look around the cruise ship."

"Yup! Don't be such a sour plum and try to meet some people on board, Elliot-boy," Grandpa Taro encouraged as he pointed towards the door.

I unconsciously smiled and said my thanks as I exit the room to venture out and maybe, just maybe, I would be able to meet the bandanna girl. First, I went in a room that seemed to be the Ballroom or Function Room of the ship. There were some people occupying the seats near the bar. I looked around and took a seat at the bar. I was delighted to see such a beautiful interior design of this place. The bartender offered me a complimentary drink but I had to reject it. "I'll come back later." I promised him as he smiled his business smile to me and went to attend his other guest or customers. Well, in real disappointment, she wasn't there. I decided to look around the deck since she was there the last time I saw her.

Reaching the deck made me nervous but just as I thought, she wasn't there anymore. I looked everywhere and concluded that she might be in her cabin. Without further hope, I checked the rest of the facilities that the cruise ship could offer. Later on, I remembered that complimentary drink and went back to the bar.

There were more people now and it was making me really nervous. I'm not that fond of crowds so I decided to get my complimentary drink later if there were fewer people at the bar. However, my decision was rendered useless as I saw a familiar red bandanna sitting at one of the tables near the bar. There was a more mature-looking girl talking with her, thinking that I shouldn't approach them in the end. However, my luck must be working that day since the mature-looking girl saw me and asked me to come and sit with them with simple hand gestures.

Confused as I was, I went nearer and stood beside their table. "Um, what can I do for you?" I accidentally asked, very waiter like.

The mature-looking girl burst into laughter as the bandanna girl panics, trying to stop her companion for acting rudely. "I'm sorry," she pats the bandanna girl's head and made a gesture asking her to scoot nearer to her seat, which was obediently followed by her, "I just thought that you might want to join us since you didn't have any company. Please sit down and join us." She then taps on the table directing to the empty seat which was right across her. "Or maybe you know each other?"

Bandanna girl and I quickly shook our heads. She then looked at her lap as she felt embarrassed more than she should have been. After a few seconds of the mature-looking girl and I admired her shy and cute manners, she suddenly looked up as if she remembered something. "Ah! Please have a seat if you want."

"Yeah," the mature looking girl faced me, "come on and join us!"

I sat down and joined their table. Silence filled the couple of seconds between us until the mature-looking girl got irritated and started the conversation.

"So! Ah, hi! Um… what are you doing in this cruise ship? You are here for a reason, right?" She stated, leaning forward on the table with much interest in her eyes. "Well, since I started this topic, let's see... I'm here for a job. Partially, I'm an escort for a really important business man so at my free time, like this, I tried looking for some company and I found you both!" She then pointed at my directions, like a signal that it was my turn.

I collected my thoughts for a few seconds before starting. "We'll, in my case, I'm here with my family. My sister is kinda sick and our home town wasn't the best environment for her, so, we're trying to find an underpopulated island to start living in."

"Wow, a new island filled with adventure and possibly, you might even find love~" the mature-looking girl mused.

I can't help but laugh it off. Seconds later, we looked at the bandanna girl as she stared blankly at us, confused.

"Ah, it's my turn..." she realized and started. "Well, I'm sort of on an adventure to find happiness!"

"Don't you mean love?" the mature-looking girl asked.

"Hmm... I don't think I'm ready for love right now, after all, the guy I've been in love for so long just got married to his coworker. To think, we were together much longer than his new wife but I guess he was dense and didn't realize it or I'm just not good enough." She then smiled, strongly accepting her fate.

"Oh," was the only thing the mature-looking girl managed to say.

I wanted to encourage her badly that I said without thinking, "then, we'll be your new friends. Let's gather here again during our free time. We'll make happy memories to start your adventure to happiness!"

I only realized what I just said when she looked at me with her innocently beautiful sapphire eyes. Thankfully, the mature-looking girl spoke up.

"He's right. You have us! And I'll make sure you are going to enjoy this cruise! And if we somehow find the right island, then off you go~! But now, live up to the moment. There is no point to cry off about your worries if you already have such a wonderful resolve!"

I nodded. "Yes, your strong for just accepting things like that. Whether it's the right choice for you to go on a journey or not, you'll really never know unless you try it!" I smiled, feeling a bit hot on my cheeks.

"Thank you for your encouragement. My family may worry about me but I just can't think that I'll be sane after all that, if I didn't leave." She laughed.

The mature-looking girl felt satisfied with her answer and checked the time on the bar's clock. "Wow, it's almost time for the food. I have to go back. Maybe we can talk again next week about these stuff."

"Why next week? Are you busy with your escort that long?" I inquired.

"Oh, not that. I have other things to do in this trip." She winked at me and at bandanna girl.

"I see, please take care," the bandanna girl responded.

The mature-looking girl blushed a bit and looked at bandanna girl a bit more closely. "You're not here with anyone, right?" She quickly asked.

"Umm... Yes. I came here alone."

"Good, come with me, maybe you can be used..." The mature-looking girl grabbed the bandanna girl's wrist. "We'll see you next week, honey!" She addressed to me before pulling the bandanna girl along, heading towards the door going out of the ballroom.

I just shrugged my shoulders and decided to head back to the room, somewhat excited for the next week to come.

.

When I reached the room, Grandpa Taro was wearing a very formal attire with a suspicious looking bow tie pattern under his collar.

"Elliot, where were you? It's almost the starting party of the cruise. Hurry up and get dressed. Natalie are you done in there?" My mom fussed.

I quickly grabbed my suitcase and took my tux out. I really find this weird. Formal's not my thing, especially when the natural color of my hair is rosy, or to be more accurate, pink! But I guess I don't really have a choice in that matter, plus, the two girls I met didn't comment on my hair.

Natalie came out of the bathroom wearing a red dress with brown and pink laces belted around her waist. At least it went well with her hair.

I quickly changed into the tux and went back to the ballroom.

.

The ballroom was packed! People are filling up the whole room. Mom was holding both Natalie and grandpa towards our designated seats as I followed quickly behind them. There were a variety of people on board that somehow, it made me look unnoticeable. There were people who naturally has blue hair, spotted one with a crazy shade of green... I never knew that there's just so many interesting people. I always thought that the town we lived in was already it. The ocean is so vast and there are so many people with so much stories to tell.

"Come on Elliot, sit here since it has your name on it." Mom pointed.

Natalie was looking at me strangely. I can feel that she's about to glare. The moment I sat down at my seat beside her's, she leaned closer to ask.

"Why have you been looking around? Did you meet anyone in your venture from a while ago?"

I sighed. She was getting too close again... "Natalie,you don't need to push me. Yes, I met some people and got to talk to them... What's wrong with that?"

"Oh," Natalie backed away, giving me more air, "nothing, it's just that you are not really good at making friends as far as I can remember."

"H-hey! That's not a nice way to say that..."

"So you admit to it?" She quickly asked.

"Urgh..." I'm running out of words to quickly finish this topic.

Natalie was still looking at me when suddenly she shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, let's say that you did make some friends... What's their names?"

"Names?"

"Yes, names."

It strikes me strange enough that the whole time we talked, I can only clearly identify them as mature-looking girl and bandanna girl. I find it more convenient to describe them but I'm sure that it's not the most polite way to address them as such.

"I see." Natalie leaned on her chair.

"But you know, it's hard to ask for their name and under those circumstance, I don't think that there was room for introductions." I explained.

"Then, why don't you introduce yourself in the beginning?"

"Right... Like I said, I didn't really have the time."

Mom looked at us and smiled. It was that smile that clearly says that she's happy that we're talking. I guess I really should stop arguing with Natalie. I'm the older brother, I shouldn't be childish! I really have to train hard to not get easily annoyed with Natalie.

"Good morning to everyone~!" The announcer at the stage greeted. "I'm sure everyone got their schedules as they boarded the ship, right? So we are officially starting the Cruise of you Life~! We have special activities, programs and other accommodating facilities for our dear guests to enjoy during this cruise!"

The announcer went on with her greeting, entertaining the people with a few jokes along with the greeting. The food was then served and my attention stuck to the food. I was feeling a bit hungry.

"Look, Elliot, they are about to present this trip's mascot!" Natalie elbowed me, making my pasta almost stain me.

"What mascot?" I asked as I focused my attention to fixing the pasta from any threatening stains on my tux.

"Weren't you listening? They said that every Cruise they pick out a person who will act as the mascot. Some kind of a thing that the company made to help the guests to participate. That lucky person gets to know every part of the ship and gets really special access to stuff!" Natalie fussed as she somewhat slapped my shoulder.

I can't help but smile. She was practically excited. I mean, you can see it in her face that she's getting excited. The glint in her eyes, slightly blushing... I just wish she could act like this more often. It's what a younger sister should act like!

But for something that she'll get all hyped about, maybe I'll listen to the program for a while.

"So, our mascot for this trip will be... Chelsea!" The announcer lifted her arm, which was followed by a pop of confetti coming out from the sides of the stage as a spotlight focused on a petite girl with a bandanna on.

My jaw dropped. It's bandanna girl! What's she doing on stage? I looked at Natalie who was somewhat squealing along with the crowd. "Her name's Chelsea?" I asked in curiosity.

"No, silly!" Natalie let out a sigh. "That's what you get for not listening at the program. They just explained that the mascots are decided by the gender of the chosen representative. Chelsea if it was a girl and Spencer if it was a boy."

I was about to asked why but Natalie had guessed that I really didn't listen to the program. Slightly blushing, Natalie continued, "it's because the owner of the whole shipping company has two kids, Chelsea and Spencer. The mascot has to be addressed accordingly as a way to also secure their privacy. Anyway, most of the chosen mascots are on this cruise alone, so it's a way that they don't feel left out from the activity. It's really nice of them to do something like that."

"I see. Then, I guess that solved one of my problems." I said as I quickly scooped up the pasta into my mouth.

"What problem?"

"Hmm... This Chelsea mascot is one of those friends I met a while ago. At least I have a name to call her rather than bandanna girl."

"Unbelievable, Elliot! You shouldn't be like that. Bandanna girl... That's so rude."

"Well, like I said, there wasn't a chance to ask and no one else here is wearing a bandanna like her."

Natalie looked around and admitted the fact, "you're right, I guess... I might have described her like that, if given the chance."

I looked at the stage again and noticed that "Chelsea" was feeling quite embarrassed from the stage. She seemed to be struggling about something with the announcer but gave up and held the microphone. "Hi, I'm... Uh, I'm Chelsea. I hope that you will be satisfied with me being the mascot!"

The atmosphere changed. I could practically feel myself smile, simply looking at Chelsea's shy, smiling face. Same goes with some of the few faces I saw in the other tables in reaction to her smile.

.

The next day, we had this certain activity that taught us about ships and did some drills. We were all spontaneously grouped together. Natalie wanted to join but her vision was going in circles after the seeing the first round of participants. The sea was not helping her.

Later, during lunch time, I found out that Chelsea was bound to sit at different tables every meal so that everyone would be able to get to know the mascot. I'm just glad that she seemed to be enjoying the whole thing. However, it made me worry a bit. Will we still meet after all that? She might not need to meet us anymore since she's meeting with a lot of people by being the mascot.

Time seemed to fly by quickly. We passed through an island or two but mom and grandpa wanted us to enjoy the trip first. They did take note of the islands where they think is a good place to start so that they can choose or talk about it. Anyway, it's not really my business. Two more days and its the free-time day. I hope that they will show up...

.

It's finally the day. The sky was still pretty dark. I couldn't sleep at all. I went up the deck and looked at the vast expanse of the sea. After a moment of silence, I heard some clanking of steps heading towards my direction. I looked at whoever was coming and was quite shocked.

"Chelsea?" I asked, calling out to her.

"Oh, hi! Didn't expect to see you here so early. Although, we never did set a time when we'll meet up again." She walked up beside me and leaned on the railings. "But I'm glad I met you here, any suggestions of the time? I can pass it on to her..."

I looked at her and apparently, she also doesn't know the other girl's name as well. "How about breakfast? Let's eat together on a table. No one really is around for breakfast."

"Yeah, the official seating arrangements only follows on lunch and dinner. It's still three in the morning, we'll meet around seven then?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Anyway, you're up early today. Was something bothering you?"

"Huh? Oh, um... Nothing much. I just suddenly couldn't sleep so I just walked around to see the scenery and all that."

"Okay, if something's wrong, you can just tell me! I'm the mascot, Chelsea! I'm suppose to have this strange power to vanquish loneliness and negative feelings!... Or something like that." She giggled.

I smiled. "You're really adorable, Chelsea."

She looked at me with a very shy expression. Her cheeks were slightly turning pink under the moonlight.

I let out a chuckle and patted her bandanna wrapped head. "Wish my younger sister would learn from you. Anyway, I'll go back to the room. My mom might worry if she wakes up and sees that my bed's missing me in it."

"Okay, see you later then! I'll just stay here a bit more longer." She waved me goodbye and I waved back in response.

When I returned in my room, I couldn't help but stay awake. 'We're going to meet up later, I can't believe it!' These words kept ringing in my head for an hour or so. I was just so happy. I mean, sure, I met some people during the activities but I feel that meeting with them is a totally different thing.

I didn't notice that my mom had woke up and only noticed her when she was staring down at me on my bed.

"My, my... Elliot dear, you're awake already at this hour? It is so early." She said as she covered her mouth as she felt a yawn coming out. "Or maybe you didn't sleep, now that's not a good thing to do."

"Morning mom. I just woke up early. The friends I made from last week had planned on meeting up today so I just got excited." I explained.

"Oh, friends! That's good, Elliot! So what do you plan on doing today? The schedule does show that every Tuesday is our free day to do whatever we please."

I sat up and courteously asked my mom to sit beside me as we converse. "Well, we just planned on talking. We only had a few minutes to spare last week so we hoped to have breakfast together. And just so you know, mom, one of those friends is Chelsea, the mascot."

"Wow! She seems to be a nice girl, make sure you be nice to her, she is traveling alone you know. Well, you better take a bath then! Still a few hours off before you meet with them but why not be there early? They might have nothing to do early this morning, so you can make use of the time and start getting to know each other."

I nodded and stood up for my clothes, "oh, what about you, mom? What's your plan?" I asked out of curiosity. I wouldn't want to miss out on family time as well if they are going to do something interesting.

"Oh, don't worry about us. Your grandpa and I was planning on looking at the gallery and then he wants to use those water therapy things. Natalie wanted to look at some stuff in the open kitchen, so you can do what you want."

"Okay, I just asked so that I generally know where you all are in case I need to find you. Well, I'll be in the ballroom I guess. If there are any changes, I'll leave a note here on my table." I tapped the side table near my bed.

"Alright, go on. Have fun Elliot. I'll do it likewise if there are some places we intended to go!" My mom giggled as she walked out of my room, hearing her mumble, "this is so fun," as she left.

.

I arrived at the ballroom and true enough, Chelsea was already there, looking at something. As I went nearer, I realized that she was holding some photographs.

"Hi again, Chelsea! What are those?" I greeted as I cautiously sat at the seats around her table.

"Oh, hello," she greeted as she smiled at me. "These are some of the photographs I had when I was younger. I took all of them from my family. I'm sure they don't have an extra copy of these."

"Whoa, what's up? Everyone's here already!" The mature looking girl suddenly popped out and quickly grabbed a seat across me.

"Morning!" We both greeted in unison.

"Um, this may well become an issue but I think it's not just me who realized that we don't even know each other's names yet." I quickly followed up.

"That's true!" Chelsea almost instantly agreed.

The mature-looking girl smiled. "Well, you know, it's going to be unfair since our little mascot here, Chelsea. She couldn't reveal her name as a form of protection of the cruise thing."

"Hmm... That's quite true. Actually, I don't really want to be the mascot but it did help me solve my worries on doing the activities alone."

'Hm... That would be quite troublesome,' I thought but suddenly something occurred to me. "Then how about this, let's give each one of us our own nicknames, just to have something to call us with." I suggested.

Chelsea once again followed up, "I agree! It's kind of rude to know each other without... um... properly addressing one another!"

Both mature-looking girl and I was slightly enchanted with her quick yet nervous responses. She really tries to participate at the conversation now. She's really cute, trying to put up a strong front despite that you can see the shyness in her facial expression.

"Okay, then how about this, let's name each other." The mature-looking girl leaned on the table, raising a finger to the thought. "Although, hope you can stick with the name Chelsea. It's already there, so why bother?"

Chelsea took a few moments to consider it before agreeing. "Alright, then what about for you guys?"

"Wow, now that I think about it, it seems hard to find a name for myself..." The mature-looking girl crossed her arms, deep in thought.

"Well, I don't think I'd mind if you girls decide what to call me." I said, trying not to sound so worried. "I mean, I would feel more relieved if I don't have to name myself, that's all."

"You're absolutely right. Then, I vote on calling you... Theodore!"

"Theodore?" Chelsea asked. "Why Theodore?"

"Hm... I don't know. That name just really gives you this impression of a person with eyeglasses, right?"

"Well, I don't mind." I said, quite relieved of the name.

"Okay then," Chelsea clasped her hand in agreement. "Then for you... I'd go for something with a "J" like Jenny or something."

I nodded in agreement. Sounds like the perfect name for a mature-looking girl like her. Especially today, with her hair braided like that, it just made the name more fitting her. I would have called her Katrina if we did this the first time we met since her hair last week was styled so professionally. But now, she looks like your average teen.

"Jenny it is!" She giggled, "then let's have a little game. If we are able to meet each other, any time, let's try guessing our names. Whether you found out about it or you've searched it, that's the first thing we should greet with one another. If we guessed right, admit and submit to their command!"

"S-submit? Like a consequence?" I asked, quite shocked to how this conversation turned.

"Yup! Just one command, and you must follow it through! Come on, it will be fun! It shouldn't be any grieve command like jump off the plank!" Jenny couldn't help laugh at the thought.

"Sure, why not?" Chelsea answered. "It our own weird way of greeting one another!"

A chuckle escaped me, "by saying random names to one another when we meet?"

The three of us started laughing. It would be fun to do something like this.

"Okay, now that that's settled, lets have some food." Jenny stood up and grabbed the menu, handing it to both of us.

.

"So by the way, I heard you were both talking about some photos... What's that about?" Jenny asked as she ate her omelette.

I looked at Chelsea as she quickly tried to swallow the sausage she just ate when Jenny asked. "Oh, that's just some photos of me when I was younger." She took them out and showed them to us.

I looked through some of the photos, "hey Chelsea, when you said you got all of them, you meant all of them?"

"Yup! My family doesn't have any of my pictures from when I was younger." She replied.

"But, why?" Jenny asked. "Was there some bad relationship between you and your family?"

"Oh, nothing of that sort." Chelsea took a sip from her drink before continuing, "it's just that I didn't look like that for the past four years. I only reverted back when I boarded the cruise ship. So, if you show these pictures to my neighbors and school mates, they practically don't know who those are in the picture. No kidding."

"Gee, I wonder what you looked like at the most recent. You know, before now." I laughed at the thought of my words as I exchanged the set of photos with what Jenny has.

"Yeah, I'm quite curious how you can say that you look different. I mean, looking at your cute kiddy photos, it resembles you, no doubt about it." Jenny commented as she was now excitedly scanning at the pictures.

"Hm... I think I have one photo here, although it's the one with the guy I liked..."

You can clearly see Jenny, without hesitation, greatly shifts her interests from the photos at hand with the said picture. "Do you mind showing the photo?"

"Of course not, wait, I know it's here somewhere... Ah! Here." Chelsea took out a photograph from her rucksack and slid it across the table for both of us to examine.

The photograph was clearly recent. The setting was in an open field. There were many guys in the picture, goofing off, but you can easily spot a couple getting too friendly with one another. But looking at it more closely, the expression of the guy -brown hair, taller than the whole group and wears a very out of the place attire- was somewhat convincing to say that he was struggling as he held the girl in his arms around her waist. Ironically, the girl -blond, quite pretty and dressed in a very city "usual" attire- was enjoying the whole thing like the rest of the group.

I took a quick glance at Jenny and it seems that she was also transfixed at the couple. I searched the photo again for Chelsea as I noticed that there were also a number of girls in the photo. There was one who closely resembled her but it was definitely not her. There was another girl at the left most corner who was cheerfully smiling, wearing a more casual attire. After searching for a few more minutes, Chelsea laughed at our seriousness in doing the search.

"Come on, I couldn't be that hard to find in that photo!" She giggled and leaned forward to get a good view of the picture as well. "Anyway, I'm guessing that you already saw me in the picture at your first look."

"You mean this blond?!" Jenny quickly pointed, hoping that she was wrong but the smile in Chelsea's smile was very heartbreaking, I have to admit.

Eventually, the words escaped me in my state of shock, "like, seriously, you... This?"

"I don't look like her, right?"

I nodded but Jenny has more pressing concerns and wouldn't be satisfied with simply agreeing to the fact.

"But seriously, what is this? That dude's like holding you all over and he goes on marrying a different girl? I mean, look at the other guys who looks jealous of that... That bastard!" She then made a very unsatisfied look until she focused more closely to the fact that that blond girl in the photo was the very same brunette girl sitting in front of her. "Then again, wow Chelsea! You don't look anything like this now." She concluded as she faced me with a confused expression plastered in her face. "This friend of ours must be some magical girl from afar away kingdom from some town, right Theodore?"

Just for the fun of it, I nodded. "Yes, the sea itself is quite a mystery!"

Chelsea pouted but later on, after those few seconds, we all burst into laughter. She then picked up the photograph and sighed. "I guess the sea is a bizarre place."

"Cheers then for a new and bizarre life, wherever the sea can bring us!" Jenny raised her cup towards us and made a toast.

.

After we had breakfast and talked about a lot of nonsense that Jenny thought of talking about, I headed back to our cabin. Upon entering, I was welcomed by a deranged looking Natalie kneeling on the floor.

"Oh, you're back so early!" She quickly followed up as I stared at her.

"Should I even ask what you were doing?" I asked as I closed the cabin door.

"I-it's nothing... I was just bored and looked through everyone's stuff for something entertaining..."

I looked at the scene once again with more of my usual critical searching abilities. Clearly, she wasn't looking at everyone's stuff yet since only her stuff along with mine were the only things touched. I then caught sight of my books that was clearly rummaged.

"And my books?" I asked since I know Natalie was never interested in them.

"Oh... Um, I was playing with them. They just looked too arranged and I don't see the fun in reading them!" She stood up and leaned at the wall, folding her arms crossed as a sign of irritation to my meddling questions.

I let out a sigh and noticed that she slightly twitched at the sound of it. She was now clearly trying not to make any eye contact with me. I went nearer to my stack of books and I could actually quite feel that she's nervous about something. I scanned through my books and noticed that it was in perfect condition. That is clearly something that wouldn't be the outcome of Natalie playing with them due to the fact of irritation she feels at the sight of my book's orderly stature.

I then considered that she might have been interested in reading some of the novels I had brought with me. If I guessed wrong then she wouldn't mind me saying what I want to tell her so I said, "just make sure you put them back to how I arranged them after reading. It's not that hard of a task, is it?"

I turned to her to see her reaction and it was surely one that I have never saw before. She looked at me so dumbfounded! She opened her mouth to say something but suddenly closed them and stared at her pair of shoes. I thought that it would be courteous to wait a bit since she didn't storm off with an angry presumptuous answer that she usually does in reaction to me concluding matters. It made her quite anxious in retrospect.

I sighed and picked up my stack of books to return them in my travel bag, restricting them any further possible damages that may occur in the open.

"Wait! C-can... Can I really borrow and read them?" She asked with her face fully flushed from embarrassment.

I smiled for learning that she didn't hate books as I had previously thought. "Sure, why not? I trust you can keep them in their prime condition if you had been sneaking for a read." I went to her and placed the bunch beside the table on her side of the bed. Then, I handed her this classic book called "A Farmer's Tale". I always noticed that some one has been flipping through them.

"Wait, did you know that I was reading this?" She asked as she grabbed hold of it.

"Nope. But it always seemed to be used by someone and I'm guessing, as usual, that it wasn't mom or grandpa who's been looking through them. So I assumed it was a very cute, little... Thief that goes into my room and reads it, given the opportunity." I shrugged my shoulders. "Don't worry, I never assumed it was you." I walked towards my bed and closed my eyes, trying to contemplate everything that had happened today.

"T-thanks."

I opened one eye to see what her face looked like when she gave her thanks but I missed it and now I see her happily reading the book. She's already halfway through the book! No wonder she had been preferring to stay inside the cabin on activity time. But this is obviously surprising... She seems to be really acting like what a younger sister does. Getting all shy with borrowing my stuff... Before, she just takes things and use them without my permission. Moreover, she seemed to show complete disgust at books... She seems like a different person all of a sudden... The sea sure is a mysterious place.

.

The following week, Natalie was being nice with me! We suddenly started hanging out in between breaks. She'll even ask about some stuff with the detective books she started reading from my collection and talk about it... What's more shocking is that she seems to really understand my point of view in most of the matters about the plots, and at some things in general! I'm in tears! Although, she still gets bossy and demanding at times but, I really feel that our relationship is getting better. Mom is also delighted to see us together like what siblings should be doing. It was already Monday and it was quite hard to believe that the week went by quite fast. I'm really enjoying my time with my sister.

Dinner time came and Natalie and I was getting our food at the buffet table.

"Hey, how do you read this dish?" She asked.

"Parfait?"

"Par-fey... I thought it was par-fayt. Why is the "t" silent? Shouldn't they have spelled it... without it in the beginning to listen the confusion of the pronunciation!?"

"Well, it's French, so we really can't do anything about the spelling."

"..."

"Ah, did you know that parfait came the word perfect? It's because they really enjoyed this dish and considered it as perfection."

"Really? That's kinda amazing then. The perfect desert!"

"Why don't you try it. It's just like a fruit sandwich only that it doesn't use bread. I think you'll like it."

Natalie eyed the mysterious dish and took one. I laughed at her reaction and she pouted in reaction.

"Alfred!?" A voice behind me said, obviously addressing to me.

I turned around and realized it was Chelsea! Must think of a name... "Caitlyn...? But no, you didn't guess it."

"Haha, you either." Chelsea smiled and looked at Natalie. "Hello there! Hope you enjoy your trip here!"

Natalie nodded and replied, "same to you too."

Chelsea waved and proceeded to her table.

"Ah, wait here for a while, Natz." I handed her my plate and ran towards Chelsea. "Um, Chelsea, you don't mind if my sis comes along tomorrow?"

"Hm... Sure, why are you asking me for it. It's not like I have a say to allow it or not you know..." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, will we have breakfast together then?"

"Sure, if Jenny's available."

"Okay. Got to go to my table, there's a special activity I was assigned to do."

"Okay, see ya and have fun!"

I walked back to Natalie and she handed me back my plate. It was clear in her face that she was upset, being somewhat left out like that.

"Was that about your meeting tomorrow?" She asked.

"Yup!" I said cheerfully that she somewhat really felt angry about it. "Why, hope you don't get angry though..."

"Angry? I'm not angry... Who's angry, why will I be?" She quickly added and walked towards our table.

I caught up with her and said, "well... It's because I asked her if you can come and join us tomorrow without asking your permission." I smiled at her as she did a one-eighty degree turn.

"C-can I?!" She quickly exclaimed without realizing it. "I mean... Isn't it your meeting time with them? Wouldn't I be a bother?"

I took her plate and placed it on the table along with mine. "Come on, why would you be a bother? I didn't ask you to join us before because you seemed to have some plans already. I did ask mom if you had plans. Come on, sit down already!" I chuckled as I sat down after she did . "You know, I never knew that you were this silly!"

"Hey! I'm not silly..." She pouted and began eating her dinner.

"Yes you are!" I picked my fork up and quickly said, "I mean, why wouldn't you be if you have a silly brother like me."

Natalie looked at me and smiled. "Ah, by the way, why did she call you... Alfred?"

I almost let the grilled fish fly through the air from my mouth by just preventing myself from laughing. "Urgh... Ehem, ah... Well, you see, we still don't know each other's real names and we decided to make it into a game of some sort to guess it."

"Oh, I see. So Alfred was her guess... And so with your Caitlyn?" She continued to eat the last pieces of meat on her plate.

"Yup, so, right... You can't say my name in front of them. Same goes with you! There will be some consequence if one of us was guessed correctly."

"Wow, that seems to be really fun."

"Yeah, but it's hard to think up of names. Anyway, we meet at breakfast."

"Huh? There's no breakfast schedule, right?"

"Exactly, that why we can meet together."

I finished the food on my plate, and like it was some sort of signal, Natalie stood up as we both decided to chat about what else we talked about earlier on as we headed back to our cabin.

.

The next day, Natalie and I were the last to arrive. Jenny and Chelsea was already seated on a table. As we approached, Jenny suddenly stood up and pointed at Natalie.

"I name you... Natasha!"

We quickly froze. She almost got her name right! That was scary beyond any plausible reason at all!

"Ah, then... Hello, my name is Natasha," Natalie quickly accepted and did a small bow. "Hope... You don't mind me joining."

"None-sense!" Jenny quickly led Natalie to sit between Chelsea and her. "I guess you already know Theodore," she quickly pointed at my direction as I had no other choice but to sit across Natalie and beside Chelsea and Jenny's opposite side.

"Yo." I greeted her like I've never met her in my whole life.

"And you already know me as Chelsea, so we sticked to it... and she's Jenny"

"Aw, come on Chelsea! I had the whole night to plan my introduction when I found out that we'll have a new friend joining us..." Jenny pouted and continued to mumble to herself, "and then you go on introducing me in such a simple manner... That really makes me look quite boring and..."

"So, anyway, are you feeling any better?" Chelsea asked.

My jaw dropped.

"What? I'm not sick! Did you tell them something... Theodore?!"

I'm dead. She also really hates me talking about stuff about her. She was pretty much upset to think that the whole moving to a different island was her fault and now I have to quickly come up with something...

"Oh, wait, that's not some personal matter... like... kind of question I'm asking. Please don't fight." Chelsea intervened. "You see... as the mascot, the clinic also tells me to look out for those who easily feel seasickness and you submitted one of those requests when the activities started, right? And I just thought to ask if you're... feeling better..." She quietly faded into mumbling whatever she wanted to clarify.

"... Right, I forgot about that. Thanks for your concern, I guess." Natalie looked at me, mouthing the words 'sorry.' She then went back talking to Chelsea and Jenny, "I feel much better, you can say that I kinda got used to it."

Chelsea smiled. "That's good to hear then. So what are we going to talk about this time?"

"Hmm. We have a new member, is there any thing you want to talk about?" Jenny asked Natalie.

Natalie was deep in thought, "birthdays... How about your birthdays? When are yours?"

"Oh, that's a good one, maybe we can celebrate some of our birthdays now." Jenny said.

"You start, Nata-sha!" I reminded her, almost saying her name.

"Hm... Mine's on Summer 28," Natalie announced.

"And mine is on youthful Spring 15!" Jenny mused.

"I'm Summer 21." I simply said.

"Mine is... Um... Gee..." Chelsea was struggling on saying her birthday, cheeks getting red every word she said.

"What's wrong Chelsea?" Natalie asked.

"Come on, it's just your birthday!" Jenny encouraged, smiling at her.

"5." Chelsea quickly said as she started fumbling her hands with great interest.

"..." We were all patiently waiting.

"Geez... It's Winter 5!"

"Well, that wasn't hard, was it?" Jenny smiled.

Clearly, silence was still in the air.

"Hold up!" Jenny stood up, hitting the table with a bang, "that's the very first day the three of us met each other!"

"Yes, that's a clear fact of things..." I let out a sigh.

"Well then, come on! Next topic." Chelsea quickly advised.

"What next topic? You came on board the cruise and spent the whole day with me, pushing you around, convincing you to be our mascot when you could have celebrated your birthday! Chelsea! I'm baking a cake!" Jenny started to storm off, kitchen-ward.

Chelsea quickly stood up and gave chase. "Come on, Jenny... You know, that's why I tried not telling you. I know how much you're caring for me already." She caught Jenny's arm and continued on, "anyway, meeting with you guys,"she looked at me before returning to Jenny, "that was one of the best gifts ever! I couldn't ask for more, really."

Jenny looked at Chelsea's idiotic smile and decided to walk back to the table. After taking her seat, she crossed her arms and said, "don't you think this is over! We'll meet here after dinner. There must be a cake!"

"Alright, just don't announce it, okay?"

"Umm... then," I smiled at Chelsea when I said, "Belated Happy Birthday!"

"Happy birthday~" Natalie greeted, followed by Jenny.

.

Later that night, we did gather again to eat some cake for Chelsea's birthday celebration.

"So Chelsea," I asked after eating some cake, "how old are you?"

"Hm... I just turned sixteen." Chelsea answers like it was nothing.

"What? Sixteen?! I'm seventeen this year..." Natalie trailed off, thinking hard of the difference they had between them.

"I'm twenty already." I said, just for the sake of everyone knowing my age.

"And I'm seventeen!" Jenny said, smiling happily.

"Didn't you mean last year?" Chelsea said, giggling.

"Hey, I'm not that old! Though yeah, I'm already eighteen and the year is ending and I'll be nineteen soon~" Jenny raised her spoon, feeling that being nineteen was a great achievement.

"By the way, what do you do here, Jenny?" Natalie asked.

"Hm? Why do you ask?"

"It's because you really were able to get three whole different cakes just to celebrate Chelsea's birthday."

"Hehe, that's the power of being a mature adult, kid!" Jenny boasted, clearly rubbing it to Natalie's face that she was older.

"Actually, she's the head chef in the cruise!" Chelsea nonchalantly announced.

"Chelsea... Please stop being such a know it all. Revealing the mystique in my character." Jenny pointed. "I did follow your command so stop tormenting me, please!"

"Wait, Chelsea found out your real name?" I inquired.

Chelsea continued savouring the cake, giving Jenny liberty of wanting to answer or not.

"Yes, she found out. It was more or less announced in the starting party. But my name was already guessed so you can't command me anymore, got it!"

"Oh, so your name is Rosalind?" Natalie quickly answered.

"Yup! She's very famous for being a close friend of the gourmets! Quite popular in the city, if you ask me." Chelsea said as she ate another spoonful, sealing her mouth from any further conversation.

"How did you know, Natz?" I asked.

"Eh? How could YOU not know, Theodore!" Rosalind quickly said and pointed a finger towards me. "It was announced at the party!"

"For any further comments you would like to give regarding the food, please feel free to comment. In this cruise, our ever famous head chef, Rosalind, welcomes your comments or recommendation for the full enjoyment of your stay here."

Everyone turned to Chelsea as she quickly closed her mouth with the spoon inside it.

"Wow Chelsea. I think you said the whole thing precisely from what the host said." Natalie commented.

"Yeah... Almost too precise... I'm so going to guess your name, you watch out!" Rosalind said with quite an evil plot tone in saying it.

"I see." I said but Rosalind's glaring eyes went back to me.

"Anyway, Theodore, how did you not know my name again?"

"I..."

"He wasn't listening to the program." Natalie cuts in, as her way of still belittling me. "He might have never known that Chelsea's the mascot if I didn't tell him to listen."

Rosalind laughed with my sister as they continued talking about my bad sides. I'm human anyway, I don't really care if they did... Or maybe it's because Natalie had given me too much criticism that my esteem couldn't get any more lower than it is.

Chelsea was still playing with the spoon as she looked at me.

"Um, is there something wrong?" I asked her.

She took the spoon out. "How about Ralph?"

"Urgh... Wrong..."

"Hmm... Alex, Chris, Pa...trick?" She placed the spoon back and continued glaring at me, still thinking up different names.

I'm starting to get the idea that she wants to guess my name to boss me around. Scary, I can feel a sweat dropping...

.

That evening ended really late. Eventually, some of those people who helped Rosalind bake the cake came and ate with us. Later on, Natalie was already feeling sleepy, so we excused ourselves. Before we went in the cabin, I somewhat heard Natalie say thanks to me. I smiled and said, "anytime," whether she heard it or not.

We kept bumping with each other this week. I saw Rosalind bring out some of the dishes for lunch on Thursday. Chelsea, on the other hand, greets me with more unheard names on the hallway almost everyday since then. While Natalie becomes more participative on the games.

It was Monday and on one of the occasions that I met Chelsea, I greeted her.

"Sunshine! Morning."

"Philip! Ah! Are you saying that sunshine's a name? That's kinda weird."

"But hey, it's possible, you know."

"Alright, um, by the way, I think Natasha and I don't really get along while she gets on fine with Jen... I mean, Rosalind." She corrected herself shaking her head. "I wonder why."

"Ah, my guess is she can't stand your cheerful personality. I mean even she despises me trying to be positive but then again, she must be just shy with you. She doesn't really have a good record in trying to make friends."

"Oh, really? So we're kinda the same then?"

"What? Chelsea, your good at making friends, I mean, you are a very nice person!" My cheeks started to feel a bit hot. "Well, I hope you know what I mean. Whether being the mascot changed you or not, I think you're good at making friends more than Natz and I do."

"Thanks. Anyway, lets meet up at the same time tomorrow." Chelsea looked through a nearby porthole. "Hm... Maybe I'll stay at the deck later, anyway, see ya!"

"Same here!" I waved at her and went to our cabin.

When I entered the room, Grandpa Taro was all over the place.

"What's wrong, grandpa? Why are you packing our stuff up?"

"Elliot boy, you're here! Hurry up and keep your stuff. A great storm is coming, I'm sure of it, my guts are telling me that our journey with the cruise ends here."

"Come on Elliot, pack your stuff. I don't know why but I think we better follow what your grandpa says. Anyway, there's nothing wrong in keeping your stuffs together in case the storm comes or not, right?" Mom gave me a quick hug and went to gather the rest of our stuff back into our luggage.

I looked around and went to keep some of my laid out stuff. Natalie had already neatly packed all my books and wrapped it with some plastic wrapper so that they won't get wet.

This was really getting serious.

.

Who knew that we would never meet each other again tomorrow.


Whew! Not really satisfied with how it ended in this chapter but i guess things happen at random in life! If you have any suggestions, I would gladly read them!

I didn't think that I would finish typing this chapter! There was just really many more to do at a cruise but I'll keep it at that. Either way, I had fun writing this chapter but i kept getting more ideas and started writing chapter 3 already... you'll soon know why! Thanks for reading! On to the next chapter then! Hope won't stray to chapter 3 ...m(_ _ )m... Must concentrate on chapter 2

I updated the last part, it feels better this way showing how most of their stuff survives later on^^

Feel free to comment!