A/N: Heyas! Back with the second chapter! Thank you, oh so very much for all the reviews! I had 12 reviews and it was only my first chapter! You have no idea how all of you made my day, when I had so much notifications ^.^
Well, I shouldn't keep you waiting, but i bet some of you didn't even read this part, but enjoy!
Oh and one more thing, the people who can see a pun in the story lines, and tells me where it is in their review, I will dedicate the next chapter to them! =D
(Don't own any SoN characters or story lines, and definately don't own Titanic or its content, if i have copied any.)
Ashley closed the door to her room behind her, relieved that she wasn't involved in the discussion that Aiden and his 'friends' were having that involved oil companies, money and other stuff that she had no interest in.
She decided to take a short stroll towards the deck, where fresh air and the beautiful afternoon sun would be. While she walked, she noticed how elegant the interior actually was. The walls around her gleamed of pure white, with small windows that looked out to the sea. Chandeliers lit above her head glamorously and paintings hung on the walls adding a touch of vibrancy to her surroundings.
"Good day to you, madam" A man greeted her with a smile and a tilt of his hat. He wore a thick grey suit, and Ashley was surprised how he was not sweating on the brow.
"Good day to you too, sir" She smiled back, and carried on walking. Then the smell of sea hit her nose and she breathed in a sense of relief.
She was on the high deck, where only the high class patrons were allowed accessed to. A man dressed in a clean white shirt and black pants was holding a silver plate with several champagne glasses filled with beverage. He held it in front of her, asking her if she would like one.
"No thank you, it's a bit too early for me" Ashley declined politely.
She walked to wear the rails were, and placed her arms over it, watching the horizon. The sun was about to set, and the view was extraordinary. It was the only thing at the moment that made her feel free and at peace.
Seagulls squawked above her, and one person was lucky enough to have their droppings land on their head. The woman that was metres away from Ashley's left, began to wail at what she thought was her misfortune.
"That bloody bird just made me its toilet!" She yelled. Ashley watched as her maid quickly wiped the dropping from her hair.
"That's a good sign! Something good will happen to you, my dear. Should be thankful it made you it's personal bathroom!" An old man who was sitting down, yelled, while others around her laughed. Ashley couldn't help but laugh a little too.
"Leave it, Martha! I'm going to take a shower instead." And she stomped off, muttering obscenities while she did so.
Ashley tore her gaze away from the sulking woman and looked down at the bottom deck, where the middle and lower class people were situated. She watched a young girl and boy play tag with each other. Chasing the other to the edge of the deck, and laughing when one was caught and they switched roles.
Oh how I envy you lucky children! To be young, wild and care free it must be so wonderful. What I would give to be in your position.
She thought to herself.
She placed her chin on her right palm, and sighed. Then something caught her eye.
A blonde girl wearing grey pants and a white, worn out long-sleeve shirt, was talking happily to a black woman opposite her. They walked side by side, and the blonde girl suddenly did a jump, making the girl beside her laugh.
Ashley raised her head like a dog on alert. She couldn't help notice how unique this mysterious blonde looked. Something about her struck a chord deep in Ashley's heart, and she developed an ardent curiosity to want to know more about her.
There were many people who also seemed to notice that there was a coloured person on board, and that a white folk was associating with them. Though rather than embracing this new, brave behaviour, they laughed, sniggered or made crude remarks behind their back as they passed.
The brunette on the other hand, hated how close minded and ignorant those people were, and scowled at them.
She continued to stare intensely at the blonde. Then, as if she could sense that Ashley was staring at her, the girl turned and their gaze hit one another like a magnetic spark that could no longer be controlled. She felt her breath catch in her throat, at how beautiful the blonde girl was, now that her face was in full view, gleaming in the afternoon sky.
I never thought a woman could be so eye-catching...
They stayed like that for a moment. It was as if the world around her disappeared and it was just the two of them standing, with only the other person within their vision. Ashley had never felt so entranced, so alive by the look that she gave her. But the beautiful moment was cut off, as a familiar voice interjected her vision.
"There she is! My beautiful brunette, Ashlina!" Aiden said, and kissed the crown of her head.
Ashley turned for a moment to greet him, but when she turned back, the woman that she had just saw was gone, and so was her friend. She cursed slightly, a little disappointed that he had to interrupt at the wrong moment.
"I beg your pardon?" Aiden asked her.
Oh dear, I hope he didn't hear me. Make a lie, Ashley, make a lie!
"I said are you done with your little chat?"
"Oh! Ahahah yes, I am. You should've been there! We were talking of our future plans and what to do when the dollar rises...."
But Ashley didn't bother to listen. She went looking back out to the bottom deck, searching to see where the woman had gone, but all she saw were a crowd of people standing behind the rails, watching the sun set. Not one resembled the beauty that the girl she saw, had.
Perhaps, it was my imagination. Perhaps I didn't see her at all. That's right, Ashley, forget her. You love him, and only him. You're not a lesbian, you just find her rather attractive, that's all. Ugh the word, even disgusts you!
"So what do you think?" Ashley heard him ask. Giving up at the thought of finding her, she finally concentrated her focus on him.
"What do I think what?"
"Well, do you want to have dinner with them tonight at the grand hall?" He gave her a perplexed look.
"Oh umm, of course." She replied, though still unsure who 'them' was.
"Great, because I already said yes."
Ashley rolled her eyes. Then what was the point of even asking me?"Now come along my love. There is a man who wants to give us a private tour of the liner. Tipped him a dollar, and he was no doubt very pleased." Aiden took her by the waist and guided her back into the corridors, where she would be walked back into a cage, and locking her in once again.
"Hey, Spencer...is everything okay?" Chelsea asked her friend.
Ever since Spencer saw the unknown brunette standing over the rails on the top deck, she hasn't been able to think straight. She knew she could feel many eyes watching her, of why some white person was talking to a coloured folk, but it was her, who watched her not of that reason, but because...well Spencer didn't have the real answer of why she did.
In all my life, I don't remember seeing someone so beautiful...
"Spencerrrr..?" Chelsea asked again, this time waving her hands in front of her face.
"Oh, sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you if everything is okay, but I guess you already answered that."
Spencer smiled at her friend and apologised for being a little detached from the real world.
"Chelsea, I'm getting hungry, do you want to get something to eat down from the dining hall? I heard they're serving sloppy Joes tonight!" She asked.
They were sitting on a bench on the side of the boat, looking over the sea. The night sky was settling in, and by the watch it was five in the afternoon.
"Actually, I think i'ma head back to the cabin. I'm starting to get sick of people staring and making fun of me."
She replied poignantly.
Spencer shared her friends sad look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Chelsea...Did you want me to join you then?"
Chelsea shook her head, and then stood up.
"No, no! You've done enough, just by standing by my side. Go enjoy yourself for the rest of the day. I'll manage."
"Okay, well at least let me walk you back to the cabin" Spencer offered, and stood up as well.
Chelsea couldn't say no, even if she wanted too, because she knew how stubborn her friend was.
After Spencer dropped Chelsea at their cabin, darkness spread over the sky. Night had finally settled in. She made her way down to the food hall, whistling as she did so and greeted people as they passed her.
Upon arriving at the dining area, she hastily picked up her plate and grabbed whatever food there was before her sight. She had never seen so much food of the highest standards in such a long time, and there it was, the food she had been looking forward to the most; a sloppy joe.
"God, how I've missed you." She talked to the burger that was held in her right hand.
With her plate piled full of various things, she took a seat at a table by the window and wasted no time eating.
A man in his late forties, with a rugged look, curly black hair and a smile slapped across his face, was standing beside her. He was watching her eat for a moment, with a plate of his own in his hands.
"Is this seat taken?" He asked her.
She stopped eating and looked at the man for a moment.
"Aw yours" She replied with a mouthful.
"Thank you" He said. He placed the plate before him and took a seat.
Spencer just nodded, and carried on eating.
The man opposite her, took out his knife and fork, and placed one each on either side of the plate. Then fluffed out a white napkin and tucked it in his shirt.
"Are you with someone, or are you on this voyager alone?" The man said. He picked up his utensils and began cutting up his steak and potatoes.
Spencer gulped the food that was previously in her mouth.
"I'm here with my friend, who at the moment is in our cabin. She lost all her appetite after how people treated her."
"Ahh, please send her my wishes and regards. It must be hard to be around such close minded and racist people."
"Wait, you know the person that I'm on about?"
"Why yes your friend, the black girl. You've been the news on the boat. A white folk associating with a coloured person, it's all that I've been hearing since three. I must say it is quite admirable, your behaviour."
Spencer said nothing. She took another bite into her burger.
"I see you've got quite a stomach there, for a young lady."
"Hadn't had breakfast or lunch, so you could say I'm a little famished"
"Ahaha! I know the feeling. See there is a welcome dinner for the highest and wealthiest patrons tonight at eight, in the grand hall, but my stomach couldn't wait that long." The man patted his stomach.
"And besides, I like the typical Englishman's food. The fancy caviars and truffles aren't really my cup of tea"
Spencer laughed.
"So let get met this straight, you're a wealthy man, hanging around us middle and low life class people, eating average men food, when you could be eating whatever you want? What gives? This certainly isn't your sort of area."
"Well, let's just say, I've been there before, and for a long time too, so in all honesty, these people are more of the people that I fond being around with."
The blonde girl smiled at how noble and humble the man was.
"Sorry, but I didn't get your name, sir?"
"Oh, how rude of me! Arthur Wookridge, but please, call me Arthur." Arthur held out his hand before her.
Spencer shook it in return.
"Spencer Carlin, and no, you are not welcome to call me Spencer" She joked.
"Hahaha, you truly are an amusing young lady."
"Thank you, Arthur, at least I try to be."
The man smiled at her, and continued eating.
Spencer drank from her glass and took a spoonful of creamy mashed potatoes into her mouth.
The two people continued to talk of their lives, until the clock struck half past seven, and it was time for Arthur to depart.
"Well, Miss Carlin, I must say, I enjoyed our chat. We should do this another time." He stood up, then pushed his chair in.
Spencer followed suit, but this time held out her hand to him first.
"It was a pleasure talking to you too, sir."
They said their farewells and departed their ways. Spencer walked out into the docks, breathing in the fresh cold air. The cold hit her cheeks the moment she stepped outside.
Maaan, did I eat a lot!
She thought to herself, patting her stomach.
There was a bench that she saw, at the very front of the ship, and decided to head on over. Her hands went inside her pockets and withdrew a short white stick, filled with tobacco. A ship man on his break was standing metres away from her, smoking on his cigarette.
"Sir, do you mind if I could borrow a match?" She asked him politely.
The man agreed, and lighted her cigarette. They briefly talked, and then Spencer walked away to her designated place.
She lay down on the bench, her left arm behind her head, making it her pillow. She sucked and blew out smoke from her cigar, while watching the starry sky above her.
"The Ship of freedom huh? What a shit name for a boat." She laughed to herself then sucked one last time, before throwing the finished smoke into the sea...
So what do you think? =D
I know it's a bit slow, but I swear in the next few chapter's you''ll see them together A LOT more.
Please review! AI adore all your comments, good or bad :)
Thanks for reading it also!