All We Have to Survive is Each Other

by Halawen

Clare's family runs a ship, a floating school for bad kids and kids with a problems. A new school year is beginning and new kids are coming aboard. This year promises to be more adventurous and perilous than anyone can imagine. Drama fluff, smut, a bit of everything in this one. Please read A/Ns.

2. Stars are Dull Compared to Your Eyes

Hopefully everyone has seen the A/Ns and announcements regarding the short stories. If you haven't a couple things you need to know.

#1 ~ I took the number of revolving short stories down from 5 to 3 this should greatly shorten the length of time before the chapters.

#2 ~ All short stories will now be getting 2 chapters posted within 24 hours of each other. Less waiting and faster getting through the stories. Seeing as I have 50 short stories on the list that have been fully plotted and several that will probably be short stories on my plotting list.

Okay enough announcements, enjoy the chapter.

Ch. 2 Stars are Dull Compared to Your Eyes

(OWEN)

"Tomorrow we reach Honolulu Harbor," Captain Edwards says and everyone cheers. "Settle down there are rules and you can't just go wandering off by yourselves. We will be splitting into three groups, Helen and I will take one group, Peter and Darcy will take one and Jake and Clare the other. You may choose which group you want to be with. Helen and I will be taking a group to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling then lunch and after lunch we'll visit Pearl Harbor. Darcy and Peter will be hiking Diamond Head, after the hike you'll get lunch at the Diamond Head café. Then spend the afternoon at the zoo and aquarium. Jake and Clare will be walking to Manoa Falls, you'll take a dip at the falls and then have lunch in town before heading to Kualoa Ranch for a movie location tour and zip-lining. Whatever group you decide to go with we all meet at Ko Olina Resort for dinner and a luau. We'll be spending the night in port and sailing out first thing tomorrow morning which means no night shifts that night," he tells us and we all cheer again.

"The sheets to sign up for each group will be posted in the classroom. If you don't sign up for a group by the time we reach port tomorrow I will randomly assign you to a group," Helen tells us.

After dinner most of us go to the classroom to sign up for the groups tomorrow, Fitz and I immediately sign up for Clare's group. Jay signs up for her group too, so does Katie and Fiona. Adam and Grace both sign up for Darcy and Peter's group while Lexi, Amy and Alli sign up for the group that starts at the beach. Those with kitchen duty return to clean up before getting ready for night duty. Since I have second shift for night duty I read in my bunk until we're called up. Clare goes to the wheel and asks me to navigate, I'm not great at navigation, still learning the stars and everything. I look at the chart, use the tools and tell Clare what I think our heading should be.

"That's right Owen very good," she says proudly and it makes me grin. "You want to steer?" She asks.

"Yeah," I smile walking over to her, I expect her to move away from the wheel but she stays where she is.

"Stand behind me and place your hands where mine are," Clare tells me with a coquettish grin. With her eyes sparkling under the stars and that smile she's this beautiful vision and I step right behind her putting my hands right next to hers. "We just have to keep her straight and steady, keep your eye on the horizon," she instructs.

"It's hard to make out the horizon, and I'd rather keep my eyes on you," I reply and she elbows me lightly.

"Look at the constellations, the stars are reflected in the water but they only shine bright in the sky."

"Right now the brightest things I see are your eyes, no stars outshine them," I say.

"Boy you lay it on thick, you must have a bevy of girls back home," she remarks.

"I would if all the girls were as pretty as you."

"Owen," she giggles, "concentrate on steering the ship."

"Alright I'm steering," I sigh.

"Stay here, keep her straight and steady I'm going to check on the others," she tells me.

She slips under my arms and goes down to check on everyone else. She returns with Bianca, Clare stands with us while Bianca checks our course and heading by the chart and the stars. Clare sends Jay and Amy down to wakeup Darcy's group for watch, although Darcy is usually up first. When Darcy takes the wheel the three of us start walking back to the bunks but Clare stops me at the doorway.

"You lay it on pretty thick but you are sweet," she says gripping my jacket and standing on her tiptoes she crushes her lips to mine. I put my hand on her lower back and embrace her lips with mine, my tongue slowly licking over her bottom lip requesting access and to my delight she grants it. Her lips parting my tongue slides in tenderly and caresses hers, she pulls out of the kiss by tugging my lower lip evoking a wanting whimper from me and I want to kiss her again. Somehow, she manages to slip away from me before I can and she trots down the stairs.

"Now that was a goodnight kiss," I grin following her down the stairs. I get ready for bed and fall asleep dreaming of that kiss.

We're woken up a little earlier than normal and breakfast is protein packed. Glen and Helen aren't at breakfast as they are pulling us into port. Jake's night duty group could see it coming into view and they stayed on deck instead of going back to bed. After breakfast we disembark and get to the end of the docks, three vehicles are waiting to take the three groups. Jake and Clare get into a SUV with eight seats, Fitz and I take the middle seat, Fiona and Katie sit in the very back so Jay sits with us. Jake drives us to a trailhead and we get out, everyone is dressed in t-shirts and shorts, with tennis shoes and hats. Most of the guys are wearing their board shorts as their hiking shorts but Jake told us it's an easy walk and not a tough hike like Diamond Head. We hike through a lot of very pretty forest and lush greenery. When we get to the falls they are gorgeous, it's so green and lush with a perfect swimming hole. At first when we see it we're just in awe and then we strip down to our swimsuits and everyone jumps in the water!

The water is cool, and refreshing, it's like the perfect temperature. I dive in and come out just in time to see Clare emerge from the water. She emerges and throws her hair back, I watch the beads of water trickle down her chest. Fitz is watching her too, we look at each other and get the same idea, exchanging a nod and a mischievous grin we dive down and come up underneath Clare. Grabbing her ankles we hoist her up and toss her into the air, she shrieks but recovers and dives into water. She comes up and glowers at us.

"What? You look sexy when you come out of the water," I reply and we get smacked in the head by Fiona.

"You guys are pigs," Fiona snaps at us.

"Well I was going to kiss you both under the falls but not after that," Clare says sticking her tongue out at us. "Hey Jay, you w…" Clare begins but both Fitz and I are swimming over to her now.

"No, no you're not kissing him. We're sorry we'll be good," I plead with her.

"Yeah how can we make it up to you?" Fitz asks her.

"Well now you have them eating out of your hand," Fiona laughs before swimming off.

"Well I suppose boys will be boys, of course you have to catch me first," she grins disappearing under the water and swimming to the waterfall as fast as she can.

Fitz and I dive under the water and follow her to the waterfall. You can't go behind the water but you can get under it, she takes Fitz first, holding onto him and they share a salacious kiss. She releases him and grabs me doing the same, I hold her close and caress her lips, my tongue gliding in and dominating hers, exploring every inch of her mouth.

"Hey, we have start walking back for lunch soon," Jake calls to us and we pull apart.

"So, do you do kiss all the guys on every tour?" I ask Clare as the three of us begin swimming again.

"Not all the guys, I always have a few favorites though," she grins.

Jake whistles when it's time to get out of the water. We all hiked up carrying towels and we get out and dry off. We get our clothes and shoes back on, drink some water and start hiking back. Jake drives us to the town of Manoa and we get a plate lunch from a stand. After lunch we drive out to Kualoa Ranch and are taken on a guided tour of movie and TV sets filmed on the ranch and then do a zipline through Jurassic Valley. It was really fun and pretty cool to see all the familiar sets and sights. We meet everyone at the hotel for the luau which is really cool and there's some great food which is good because everyone is starving. Drew and Sean tell us about the beach, snorkeling and going to Pearl Harbor, Adam tells us about Diamond head and the aquarium. We stay on the beach for a bit after the luau ends, no one has night duty tonight so we can stay up a bit later.

"Hey Clare can you show me the constellations again?" I ask. She's sitting on the beach watching the fire.

"Sure we'll have to go down the beach a bit, away from the fire and the lights," she says as I help her up.

"Hey back in thirty to get back to the ship," Peter tells us as we start walking.

"I know Peter," she replies rolling her eyes. We walk down the beach a ways finding a darker spot and sit down. She knows I had no interest in the constellations and our lips attach, we kiss for a while but eventually she breaks the kiss to look at her watch. "We better start heading back," she tells me.

"Guess they'll come looking for us if we don't but I still say the stars are dull compared to your eyes."

(CLARE)

"Everyone we have a storm coming. Drew, Bruce, Manny and Fiona furl and douse the sails, the wind is going to start kicking up, the water is going to get rough," I command taking the helm from Adam.

"How can you even tell I can't see anything but dark ocean and stars. I don't see any point in taking the sails down," Manny snaps. She's had an attitude this whole time and we've been at sea for ten weeks now, she's not the only one Amy has too and the two of them hang out a lot.

"Have you sailed around the world? Do you know when a storm is approaching by the look of the sky? No, you don't," I answer for her before she can. "I've sailed these waters not you now I'm telling you get those sails down or the winds will hit and we'll be blown off course. Look at the instruments the wind is already picking up," I bark a command at her.

I'm younger and shorter than most of the kids we take on board but I learned how to command early. Manny sort of sneers at me but she goes off to do what I commanded her to with the others.

"I hate to agree with Manny but I don't see a storm either," Adam comments.

"Look at the sky, the whole sky, not enough stars on the distant horizon. The wind is getting stronger, you'll be feeling it soon I've been doing this a long time," I tell him.

Before they finish dousing the mainsails the wind is strong enough that they can feel it. The water is getting choppy and rough, the boat is starting to rock a bit. Manny refuses to admit I was right but she also stays near the rails as she gets sick.

"So, what do we do if there's a storm? I mean if we start getting rain or the water gets any rougher?" Drew asks.

"Storm watch is 30 minutes at time but we can handle this," I reply.

"Speak for yourself," Manny says before vomiting over the side again.

It doesn't rain but the seas are rough and everyone else is holding onto something. I have the wheel and no one else is getting sick but some of them do seem to be worried. I send Fiona and Adam down to wake third watch, just after I send them down Darcy comes up.

"It's going to get bad, better wake Dad when you go down," Darcy says taking the helm.

'Yeah," I nod and look at Manny. "You coming down Santos?"

"No I think I need the fresh air," she replies before vomiting over the side again.

"I'll get her some seasickness pills," I tell Darcy waving for Bruce and Drew to follow me.

"Is it safe to sleep?" Drew asks when they get to the boy's cabin and just as Owen and Jay are coming out.

"If you can sleep you should, we're probably at the edge of the storm now and it's going to get a lot worse. We may be called onto deck before morning if things get too bad. If you can't sleep and you want to be on deck you can stay but you really should get some rest," I urge them.

"Storm? I knew the boat was rocking more than it should be," Owen comments.

"You two get up for your shift," I tell him and Jay.

"I'd rather make-out with a girl if I can't sleep," Bruce mutters as he walks into the boy's bunk.

I shake my head and walk to my parent's room, I knock on the door softly before entering. Their room is dark but I stay in the doorway and call to them.

"Dad, Mom we're hitting a storm. It's not too bad yet but we're getting wind and choppy waters. The sails are down and Darcy's watch is just taking over."

"Thanks Clare, have Darcy give us an update in two hours unless it gets worse," Dad says.

"I will. Manny's getting sick on board I'm going to grab her some seasickness pills," I tell Mom.

"Thanks Honey, I'll check on her when we go on deck," Mom says.

I close their door and go to the infirmary before going back on deck. I give Manny the pills with some water and tell her she should try to sleep. Darcy has Johnny and Bianca on the bow watching the weather, Sean and Zoe are watching the instruments.

"Unless it gets worse Mom and Dad said to update them in two hours. Mom will check on Manny at that point too," I inform her.

"Thanks, you should get some sleep. Amy, on fourth turn of the hourglass Johnny will take the helm while I update the captain," Darcy instructs as I make my way down to the bunks.

I get downstairs and use the washroom to change into pajamas and get in bed. I'm able to sleep for a few hours but then I hear the call I was hoping not to hear.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK. EVERYONE ON DECK IN FIVE," I hear Dad yell. It scares most of the girls and they sit up rapidly, a few even fall out of bed.

"What the hell is going on and why am I being woken up so damn early? It's not time for my watch yet," Zoe complains.

"There's a storm we have to secure the ship and storm watch is every 30 minutes," I inform them.

Most of the girls are yawning or bitching about getting up so early but we get on deck on time. It's raining now, a few kids are missing and I presume them to be down with seasickness. What worries me is how worried Peter and Jake look, Mom and Dad are hiding it and I don't see Darcy she must be either securing something or with the sick kids. I go and stand by my brother and Peter.

"It's bad isn't it?"

"We're off course, Dad won't know by how much until we can see daylight because there's no stars. We heard chatter about a hurricane near Guam on the radio, a freak one," Jake tells me.

"But we're still two days from Guam," I remark.

"We were two days from Guam we have no idea where we are now," Jake whispers.

"ATTENTION EVERYONE," Dad bellows to stop the worried talk of everyone on deck. "Obviously we have hit a storm, more than the rough seas we hit on our fourth day at sea. The storm has already taken us off course and we will have to get back on course but right now the wind and waves are so strong we can't chart a course. This is a big one and we'll try to get around it but that won't be easy, if we bring up the mainsails it's going to blow us straight to the heart of the storm. Amy and Luke are currently immobilized by seasickness the rest of you are on storm watch of this moment. That means deck shifts of 30 minutes at a time and two teams each. Listen to me and my family when we give instruction, this is not the time to goof off or be lazy."

Dad assigns Mom, Peter, Jake and I various duties to secure the ship while he stays at the helm. He assigns people to our groups and we get the ship secured as fast we can. Then he assigns groups for storm watch. He and I take first watch with Dallas, Drew, Sean, Fitz, Grace and Bianca. Thirty minutes seems to last forever when you're on deck in the middle of a storm, using the current Dad is trying to steer us out of the storm but it's not easy and he's struggling to keep us straight. He lets Jake take the helm when he and Darcy come out for their watch. No one can sleep, it will soon be dawn anyway though you'd never know by the look of the sky, we go down to the galley for coffee and hot chocolate. With three shifts we're back on deck each hour and spend the next hour warming up.

"Shouldn't the sun be out?" Dallas asks when we go on deck for our second storm watch.

"It is but the clouds are so thick you can't see it," Bianca enlightens him.

"We're hitting some large waves, I think we may be hitting a second storm," Peter tells Dad as he takes the helm from Peter. Of course, with the storm everyone is yelling a bit.

"I know I felt them, get everyone into life jackets and ready the lifeboats," Dad instructs.

"Lifeboats?" Fitz asks. I don't answer him but I do hand him a lifejacket.

Peter and Mom go to find Darcy and Jake to get all the students into lifejackets while I get Drew, Dallas and Fitz to help me with life boats. We get them ready to lower but secured, they just have to be at a height where we can get into them. I turn to lead everyone to the two lifeboats at the back when I see a terrifying sight, a huge wave is about to crash into the boat at an angle.

"DAD!" I scream but it's lost in the storm and the wave hits us hard.

It crashes into the ship like a fist into a punching bag, the ship pitches to the side and we start sliding down the deck. People grab whatever they can as they begin to slide, I'm falling down the center with little to grab but suddenly feel my lifejacket tug. I look up to see Drew holding me with one hand, I smile at him and the boat starts to correct itself, it goes too far and we begin sliding the other way before the boat settles.

"Should we get below deck?" Bianca asks.

"No if the boat capsizes you get trapped, everyone will come up and go into Dad's office. Mom, Peter, Jake and Darcy are probably getting everyone up right now," I tell them yelling over the wind but I don't know how well they hear me.

I wave for them to follow me and start walking to Dad's office although the ship is rocking and lurching a lot. We don't even make it back before we get hit by another swell it goes under the boat sending us falling backwards. The boat comes crashing down so hard that Grace and Dallas are sent flying and we lose sight of them. I don't even have time to scream before we're hit again, the boat lists to the side, I lose sight of everyone as I go sliding. I hit the railing hard and it stuns me for a second, I try to hold on but I can't and I'm enveloped by the cold ocean water. I manage to swim away before the ship hits me and I'm trapped underneath.

I come to the surface and take a deep breath, the boat is turned, capsized and I can't see anyone else. There's a lifeboat nearby on its side and I struggle to reach it. The water is churning, the wind strong, it feels like trying to swim in drying cement. Just before I reach the lifeboat another head pops out of the water. It's Adam and I'm very happy to see him, we exchange the same relieved smile before I point to the lifeboat. We swim over and with some effort we manage to get the boat right side up. Adam is able to get his hands on the side of the boat and get himself in. I try but after the swim and holding onto the ship earlier I'm physically exhausted. I hang onto the side of the boat for a moment to catch my breath but when we get battered by another wave I nearly let go. Adam manages to hang onto me but he doesn't have the strength to pull me into the boat. Just as I'm trying to summon the strength to get into the lifeboat I'm propelled up from underneath and Adam pulls me into the lifeboat. I get in and look down to see Jay, I smile at him and then Adam and I help him into the boat as we get hit by another swell.

"If we get too much more water in the lifeboat we'll sink, we need to start bailing," I instruct them.

All we have is our hands so we begin bailing water to get out as much as we can before we start rowing to the front of the ship and away from the waves so we don't get so battered.

"Do you see anyone else?" I yell looking around but it's hard to see anything at all right now.

"No," Adam shakes his head.

"Clare keep a lookout for others we'll keep bailing water," Jay says and I nod.

I look over the water praying that everyone made it but all I can see right now is stormy seas and the overturned ship. My heart begins to sink as I fear we're the only ones to make it.

(PETER)

"Everyone get t…" I'm yelling when the ship suddenly rolls and we're all knocked around. Jake and I fall against the stairs to the deck, some of the students fall back into the dorm rooms or the walls. Those coming up from the infirmary begin to fall down the stairs again. Jake and I gab the banisters but the ship hits down hard and anyone not holding onto something is sent flying. Just as we start to get our footing the ship is hit again, we roll and then we're upside down.

"Are we safe now?" Alli asks.

"No the water will be sucked in like a vacuum and fill all the spaces with air; everyone we need to get out. Line up at the door, as soon as I open it we'll need to swim out, hold your breath and turn left or right to get to the sides of the ship. You might get disoriented, try to swim to the outer hull and use your hand to feel your way to the surface," I instruct quickly while Helen and Darcy begin lining people up two by two to get out.

My instinct is to get Darcy out first so she has a better chance but I know that's not right, Jake and I are by the door we go out first. The others wait a couple seconds and follow us out. You can't see anything but the ship is slowly sinking so there's a pocket of air as we come up. I take a breath and swim to the side, then I feel the ship's hull to get to the surface. I take a deep breath and ride a swell before looking around.

"PETER," Drew yells and I look over. He managed to get a lifeboat and get into it, he starts rowing to me and I swim to him, he helps me in the boat and I take a few panting breaths.

"Where's everyone else? Where's Glen and Clare?" I question.

"I don't know I haven't seen Adam either," Drew says and I can see the worry for his brother.

"If we can we should stay on this side, more people will be coming up," I tell Drew and he nods. It's hard to see too far ahead and I know some of the students are probably getting disoriented and going the wrong way or staying in the air pocket. Just as I'm considering swimming back to it I see something ahead of us. "That's Glen, he looks hurt," I say and we begin rowing over there. Glen has a cut on his arm and he's unconscious, Drew and I manage to get him in the boat just as we get hit by a wave which sends water into the boat. We start bailing out the water when Luke pops out of the water.

"Some of the kids are refusing to leave the air pocket, Darcy and Helen are trying to convince them to," Luke informs us after we help him into the boat.

"You two stay here and watch for people coming up, I'm going back to see if I can get the others out. I'll swim to the other side after to check over there. If the waves start hitting the lifeboat too much row to the bow, I'll tell everyone to head there. See if you can find another lifeboat," I instruct them and they nod.

I take a moment before getting back in the water, it's not exactly below freezing but it's not warm either. I take a deep breath and go under again, doing my best to find my way. When I come up in the air pocket Amy, Bruce, Katie and Alli are arguing with Helen and Darcy about leaving the air pocket.

"I don't want to swim, I can breathe here," Alli is saying.

"But you won't be able to for long. I told you everywhere with air is going to start filling with water. You'll get sucked down you need to swim. There are lifeboats and other people out there, now swim to the edge, take a deep breath and swim, or go down with the ship it's up to you. If you wait a minute you can follow me out," I order in the most commanding and authoritative voice I can to the students before looking at Helen. "Go that way, Glen's alive but hurt, he's in a lifeboat with Drew and Luke."

"Clare and Jake?" Helen asks.

"I don't know I haven't seen them yet. They know what to do I'm sure they're fine," I try to assure her although I'm praying that they are fine.

I swim to the edge, Alli and Katie follow me and Darcy, Bruce and Amy follow Helen. Darcy goes first, then Alli and Katie right after, I count to five and look around before going under again. When I come to the surface I see Jake helping Darcy into a lifeboat. Owen and Fitz are in another lifeboat helping Katie and Alli up. Also in Jake's boat are Bianca and Lexi, with Owen and Fitz is Dallas.

"Jake, have you seen Clare?" I hear Darcy ask him and he shakes his head.

"Everyone is out we should start rowing for the bow and get out of the waves," I tell them.

We start rowing, one of the lifeboats only has one paddle so people are using their hands. We get near the bow and see Johnny hanging onto the side of the boat by a rope. We help him into our lifeboat and he helps us row to the bow. Darcy, Jake and I are all very relieved to see Clare in a lifeboat tethered loosely to the forepeak to keep from drifting. Also in her lifeboat is Adam, Jay Sean and Grace. Jay tosses us some rope and we tie the lifeboats together. I tell Adam I saw Drew and he's in a lifeboat, so is Glen and Luke and that Helen, Amy and Bruce were headed that way. By my count that still leaves three unaccounted for; assuming that Helen and the others made it to Drew's lifeboat. The Fanga Dagen has four lifeboats each of which can hold eight people, more than enough for everyone on board. Now I just hope everyone made it out alive, and that we get rescued fast.

It's not an awful cliffhanger right? Well anyway chapter 3 will be up shortly.