Thank you all for the alerts/favourites/reviews! I'm not as pleased with this chapter, mostly because I'm exhausted from revision today but I thought I'd get it written anyway! Negative criticism welcome too. I can take it ;)

Disclaimer: Unfortunately haven't acquired the ownership of Skins since yesterday. Working on it.

"Why do you keep looking around all the time?" Freddie questioned through a mouthful of toast, not swallowing his current bite before taking another. Nice.

I took a bite of my own breakfast, giving me time to formulate an answer in my head. Not for Freddie, as such, but for myself. Why did I keep looking around all the time? Probably the same reason I spent the majority of the night tossing and turning and sighing with frustration when sleep just wouldn't come. And the same reason I actually took more than 20 seconds to apply make up this morning, providing Freddie with apology material: compliments. It was also probably for the same reason that I wore a dress that showed just enough cleavage to be enticing yet appropriate. And-

"Nai, seriously. It really pisses me off when you ignore me like that" Freddie interrupted my thoughts, his expression a mixture of exasperation and hurt. "I thought we were alright now? Agree to forget the proposal, enjoy the cruise, and maybe you'll let me back into bed, remember?"

I smiled, my mind drifting back to our conversation this morning.

"Babe, I'm sorry about last night. I got a bit ahead of myself, I know it's a bit soon but I really do love you" I heard the voice of my boyfriend, and automatically rolled over to face him and respond. Only to remember that in my ultimate motherbitch state last night, I'd demanded that he sleep on the floor. Of a cabin. On a cruise ship. Okay, so probably not my kindest of moments, but for some reason I couldn't stand the thought of sharing a bed with him last night. Probably the same reason… let's not get into that again.

"Shit, did you really sleep there all night? I feel like such a bitch. I should be the one saying sorry" I responded, sitting on the edge of the bed to see Freddie doing the same on the floor, his eyes only half open and his hair sticking out at all angles. He really did look cute.

"Can we just forget this whole thing even happened?" He questioned hopefully, reaching out to stroke my foot affectionately, finally looking more awake. "I just want to enjoy the rest of this cruise with you, girlfriend or fiancé"

I grabbed his hand, kissing the back of it before nodding. "Sure."

"Thank god for that" he sighed dramatically, wiping pretend sweat off of his forehead. "If you hadn't agreed to make up I'd have to put the ring to use and propose to someone else on the ship, just so I wouldn't waste this expensive engagement present!"

I scoffed and slapped his head playfully, grinning as a relaxed smile spread across his face.

"Breakfast?" he questioned, standing up and stretching his aching (oops) back.

I chewed dramatically, pointing to my mouth with my fork and making animalistic noises that resembled either someone with their mouth too full to talk or a distressed hostage with tape over their mouth. Swallowing exaggeratedly, I sighed.

"Patience is a virtue" I quoted wisely, ignoring him rolling his eyes. "Besides, I'm looking around because I wanted to see what else was on offer for breakfast seeing as you went to the buffet for me without asking! What if I hadn't wanted eggs?"

"You always want eggs."

"Not today. Today I want, uhh… croissants." I respond childishly, catching a glimpse of someone with the unappealing breakfast on their plate. I study it more closely. "With jam. Or honey."

"Naomi Campbell, not once in the two years I've known you have you even mentioned croissants. In fact, I'm not sure you even got the pronunciation right."

"Fine, I'll get my own croissant" I huffed, pushing my plate of half finished egg towards him and smiling sarcastically before walking towards the canteen area. If I'm honest, I'd never even considered trying a croissant before, but the whole ordering for me without asking? Not appreciated.

Grabbing a new plate and joining the back of the short queue, I glanced around briefly once more, my gaze stopping on Freddie, who had retrieved a book from his bag and was leisurely sipping his coffee whilst reading it. I turned around again to see that it was my turn to pick.

"Umm, one croissant please. And a bit of, uh, jam. Please." I stuttered, hoping that jam wasn't the world's most unacceptable and revolting spread to have on a croissant ever. I felt myself longing for eggs.

"Didn't pin you as a croissant sort of girl" a familiar husky voice next to me stated, almost causing me to drop my newly acquired breakfast in shock.

"Oh yeah? What sort of girl did you think I was instead?" I respond with a grin, stepping aside slightly to allow the queue to move along before the croissant-server-dinner-lady-thing's glare burnt a hole in my face.

She looked thoughtful, pausing to choose the full English option before moving closer to me. To make room for the other people in the line, obviously. Not for any other reason.

"No idea. Just not croissants." She stated simply, and I internally cursed my stomach for the already present butterflies in my stomach fluttering wildly at the fact she knew something about me. "Too posh for someone who deems bare feet and skinnies appropriate attire for a cruise." She added with a wink.

"Very funny"

"I try."

And then we just… sort of looked at each other for a bit. I watched as her eyes swept down my body, just like they had done last night, this time with a different look in them that I just couldn't place. Wanted to be able to place. Her eyes lingered on certain areas before returning to mine, a faint blush on her cheeks. I made a mental note that it looked adorable, before scribbling out the mental note and instead noting the words 'straight' and 'boyfriend'.

"I see you took my advice and didn't jump?" she broke our temporary comfortable silence, picking up a slice of French bread from her plate and taking a small, delicate bite. Then licking her lips. Oh yeah, she'd asked a question.

"Well, it was more Leonardo DiCaprio's advice, but if you want to play the hero, that's cool" I teased. "I was fine. Like I said, just needed some fresh air."

She looked unconvinced, but dropped it, sensing my uncomfortable shifting. She nodded slowly and then her eyes lit up slightly, as though she suddenly had an idea of some sort.

"Are you eating alone?" she questioned, attempting to maintain the air of nonchalance she'd previously kept up so flawlessly, but instead allowing a tinge of hope and vulnerability to creep into her tone.

I swallowed slightly, wondering why I felt so guilty for telling this complete stranger that I was in a relationship and on this cruise with my boyfriend, who last night had actually proposed to me, hence my damsel in distress appearance on the deck.

"I'm not, actually. I'm here with my…" I debated lying, telling her he was my friend, or even my brother, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Why would she care anyway? "boyfriend." I finished, gesturing over to Freddie, who by now was making a tower out of my abandoned toast.

I watched her closely as she tried to mask her disappointment, but I distinctly saw the playful glint in her eye distinguish slightly, her hopeful expression turn blank, before she replaced it with a winning, albeit fake, smile.

"Right, yeah, of course. Anyway, I'm gonna sneak this food back to my cabin. Bye." She said almost monotonously, her previous flirtatious nature completely gone. I deflated slightly, my eyes on her back as she retreated again.

Hope welled up inside me as she stopped suddenly and turned to face me, walking a couple of steps closer so she wouldn't have to shout.

"Please bring my jacket to next meal time, just so I can have it back. Like I said, it's my favourite."

With that, she disappeared again, this time faster and more determinedly. I bit my lip and replayed the conversation in my head, vaguely annoyed by her hot and cold manner, before turning on my heel and walking back to the table to enjoy (perhaps) my croissant.

I, personally, like croissants. In case you were wondering.