"Are you even listening to me?"

Elizabeth pursed her lips tight together as she resisted the urge to smack the girl in the face. Alice Prichard was, unfortunately, who she'd be sharing a cramped cabin with for the entire voyage. Elizabeth had been looking forward to meeting her roommate, dreaming of a close friendship in which she could confess her other job aboard the Titanic, a secret she felt unable to share with the other gossiping girls.

However, she had now come to the conclusion that she would rather run naked through the first class smoking room than share her innermost thoughts and feelings with this monster.

It had all started when Prichard had walked in, nose wrinkled in disgust as she looked Elizabeth up and down. "You are not really Elizabeth Fallows are you? Only you have the same demeanour as those despicable bellboys and you have dirt on your apron."

A rather awkward silence spread round the room as Elizabeth spluttered and stuttered, words failing her for once. She wanted so desperately to cut the girl into shreds with a witty comment but she could find none, only confusion as she tried to recall the last time someone had been so blatantly rude to her on their first meeting.

Prichard rolled her eyes at Elizabeth's silence, unaware of the hatred brewing under the surface. She turned sharply towards the doorway to bring her multiple bags into the room just as Elizabeth managed to aggressively mutter "so sorry Miss Prichard, I was unaware your duties as my roommate consisted of commenting on my appearance." She smirked. "If we are trying to be helpful towards one another then I should let you know your drawers are as visible as the ones on those whores at Southampton fish market."

Prichard turned around in anger but Elizabeth merely smiled sweetly and returned to reading her book, rejoicing in the fury the other girl emitted.

20 long and tedious minutes had passed since then and Elizabeth had continued reading her book, a happy escape into the world of fantasy from a dark world of nerves. She was revelling in the freedom her feet were feeling from her boots that were slung under her bed.

Elizabeth hadn't expecting stewardessing to be this tiresome, and all she had done was changed some bedsheets. She had thought stewardesses were weak, that hardly any stamina was needed for dressing ladies in their evening gowns. However, the 4 hours she had spent this morning secretly yawning away whilst the matron instructed them through the White Star Line Steward Policies had been very draining. That's why she was thankful for the brief moment of peace and calm, not having to worry about Mister Murdoch or whether she had been too impertinent with Mister Lightoller. Her hat was strewn somewhere underneath the narrow bed and spare for the intense gossiping by Prichard, Elizabeth was content.

The other girl had been unpacking her entire home it seemed, organising it all rigorously into categories, the black and white uniforms that had been ironed to perfection hanging alongside a dozen dresses, all in varying shades of pink. Prichard stared at her wardrobe proudly before glaring nastily at Elizabeth's suitcase which was still full of her meagre belongings, scrunched up satin and pearl dresses her mother had forced her to take hidden underneath creased uniforms.

Never one for order or organisation, her parents had thought it a wonder their daughter was so fascinated by ships and their army-like officers. Many tutors had commented on Elizabeth's "lack of structure", "unwillingness to have a clean and tidy workspace" and her "inability to walk down a corridor without falling over."

Yes, she had been scolded for her clumsiness and messiness many a time but the traits still prevailed, exasperating those around her who desperately needed order and a sense of grace in their lives.

Prichard shook her head and closed the wardrobe. "I said, are you even listening to me?"

Elizabeth slammed her book shut ferociously and turned her head to glare at Prichard. The girl was being extremely irritating and Elizabeth, famously, had a very very short temper. There was no one here to chastise her for impertinence, no father to banish her to her room, no mother to hiss for her to apologise, no Sam to make her feel guilty with his aura of disappointment.

She was free from first class strangling and able to speak her mind- something that had been hidden from her in the past as her family tried to mould her into the ideal lady. And so she took a big breath in and hissed "I'm sorry, it just takes me a while to process such idiotic comments."

I don't know how much longer I can stand this, she scathingly thought. We haven't even set sail yet and already I want her to fall overboard.

She tried to ignore Prichard's heavy sighs and sniffles, instead turning her body to face the wall, counting to 10 in an effort to calm herself. It was an action her mother used to make her do when her tutor had complained of impertinence. "No man will ever want to marry you Elizabeth, if you cannot keep that mouth shut! Have some self-control girl, you are not a squalid fisherman's daughter."

1

2

3-

"I don't understand why you're being so unkind to me."

No Lizzy, calm calm.

4

5-

"I have the mind to report you to the matron, she'll get rid of that lousy attitude of yours"

Lizzy think of the bridge. Deep breath.

6-

"Maybe she'll room you with that Mabel Bennet, she seems like the sort of girl you'd get along with."

Deep breath in, deep breath out Elizabeth.

7-

"Right then," Prichard huffed, hands on hips in annoyance, "I'm off to go and meet Annie at the baths. I'll be back by half past if-"

It was like a racehorse had been released from its pen. Elizabeth's eyes flew open and her body whipped round suddenly, turning to face Prichard with a look of growing horror on her face. "What's the time?"

"What?"

"The time!"

Prichard picked up the small black clock off the drawer and answered in confusion, "5 past one?"

Bollocks.

Elizabeth nearly choked on her own spit as she flew off the bed, hitching her dress up past her stockinged knees in an effort to find her boots. She grunted and groaned as she patted for them, sitting cross-legged in a very unladylike manner as she slung them onto her feet.

Ripping the duvet off the bed, she nearly cried out in despair when she saw her hat, creased and dishevelled, there was no way it would stay on her head the proper way like that. Choosing to leave it on the bed, she pushed past Prichard who took to staring down the corridor in shock as Elizabeth sprinted down there, dress held mid-calf as she ran like her life depended on it.

It probably does if this Murdoch has anything to do with it.

Elizabeth had been so sure she would be able to make a good impression on the officers. She had even practiced her bloody curtesy for God's sake! For months she had been trying to persuade every man she knew that, as a woman, she was just as able to assist the officers as any other man. Even though she was a woman, she still possessed the ability to be punctual and presentable- two things which she currently appeared to severely lack.

Elizabeth had wanted so desperately to convince the officers she was fit for the job, entirely sure that they had already decided she was a inconvenience. Groaning, she realised this "Will", who sounded like he already hated her, would despise her even more! Her hands shook as she thought of the looks on the officers' faces, disgust and embarrassment at their new colleague.

At least Lightoller will be glad to see me, he'll probably find it funny, the bastard.

Sweat dripped down her red forehead as she skidded round the corner of B-Deck, praying there would be no crew on the stairwell. She was in no fit appearance to be presented to anyone- hair frazzled, cap missing and, most scandalous of all, dress held above her knees as Elizabeth tried desperately tried to free herself from the constricting heavy material in an effort to run faster.

She had enquired about the possibility of wearing trousers, an item of clothing that she dearly loved. However, a strongly worded letter arrived a few days later, no the Line did not allow women of any role to wear trousers- what a surprise.

Trousers didn't restrict her like dresses and corsets did. They allowed her to feel equal to the men and powerful. They also made her feel safer, it wouldn't have happened if they weren't able to touch her body so easily, caressing their fingers all over her-

No Elizabeth Fallows. We said we'd never think about it again.

Her parents and Sam, when he was alive, had both shrieked in horror whenever she used to raise the possibility of wearing trousers.

"My daughter, the fiancée of a respectable banker will not be trapping about the town in trousers." That was the lecture she used to get whenever she mentioned the dreaded t-word. She had even tried explaining that they made her feel safer after the thing, but mother, like she usually did when the topic was brought up, shut her off with a glare and a slap.

Wondering the current time, Elizabeth made a mental note to acquire a watch whilst on the voyage, thinking that it would probably make her stewardessing shifts a lot easier if she could count down the hours till she was on the bridge- and obviously a watch would allow her to be punctual.

Panting like a dog, her eyes lit up as she hurtled out of the stairwell and onto A-Deck, the bridge visible and glowing gloriously in the spring sunlight. Yes, yes Lizzy, you're going to make it! Keep at it, you'll be fine.

Feeling butterflies in her stomach, she realised her happiness was melting into nervousness again, hands trembling despite the sweat covering them. She hoped against hope that the officers wouldn't be pricks towards her, that she wouldn't embarrass herself any more than she already would do by turning up late and that Mr Murdoch wouldn't be disgusted by her.

Oh bloody hell.


"Well? Where is she?"

Murdoch tapped his foot impatiently, nervously adjusting his ever impeccable tie.

Lightoller rolled his eyes in annoyance once more, stirring his tea calmly. "Will, stop stressing will you? You're putting me on edge." He tapped the spoon on the rim of the cup and daintily placed tea to his lips, mouth retreating back quickly as he realised it was still scalding hot.

Will merely scowled and rolled his shoulders back in an attempt to loosen up the tension that had been building up inside him ever since Lights had returned an hour ago.

Lightoller placed his cup firmly on the table and stood up, arms crossed indignantly across his chest. "Oh for heavens sake Will! What's the matter with you? You've been acting strange ever since I returned and Miss Fallows will be here any minute now so bloody lighten up will you!"

Will glared at his friend and hissed through clenched teeth. "That's precisely my points Lights, she will be here soon and I'm going to have to meet her! And if she's anything like you've said I don't think this meeting will be a happy one."

"Oh Will come on, she's not that bad-"

"You said she joined in with your little sarcastic banter! That she made some joke about you being a prick!"

Lightoller sighed deeply. "Yes, but-"

"Well that is bordering on disrespect in my opinion! Answering back to her superior officer? No no, if she tries any of that impertinence with me I'll-"

"Will!" Lightoller grabbed his friends arm in an exasperated manner. "It was just bloody banter alright! I only told you all so that you would know she can take a joke, she's not some stuck-up toff."

Will shrugged his friends arm off and chose to stare out of the window, wishing more than anything that they could just get underway, be sailing through the fine blue sparking ocean. But then I'll have her with me, he thought tersely, thinking of all the disruption this addition was going to cause.

Will shared the same opinion as the majority of men his age- women should not be doing men's jobs. It was nothing personal, just a fact he had been brought up with. It had been all find and dandy when Lights was in charge of her. He had quite enjoyed taking the kids out of him, conjuring up crude jokes that made the then First Officer turn red in embarrassment, spluttering to Will to shut up.

But now it was himself who was her mentor- and it wasn't as funny anymore.

Will had known from the beginning that knew the girl would be a nuisance. Only a complete lunatic would've dared to enquire about such a position. A stewardess and an unofficial assistant officer? The idea itself was incredible, not even Ada, with her vivid imagination, could've conjured that up.

Permanently by his side, he'd have to teach her the ways of the ocean when all he would want to do is be left to his own thoughts of disappointment and a cup of sugary tea. She would be a permanent reminder of the reshuffling, of the title he had held proudly before it was snatched away, shoving him with bloody First Officer.

What a bleedin' pisstake.

And that was how he felt before Lights had reported back to the lads, face eager to update the crew on the girl. Will had been praying that she'd be demure, shy even, like James had said. A quiet personality would've suited him just fine, no badgering on at him to answer any questions, no disobedience or insubordination.

"Well, she rolled her eyes at me. And she called me a prick."

That's when Will knew such prayers would not be granted. From Lights' description, she was his living nightmare, cheeky and not afraid to bite back with a witty quip.

Shuddering, he wondered how times had changed, if he had called his superior officer a "prick" on their first meeting, 16 year old William Murdoch would've been sent straight back to Dalbeattie with no money and a cheek ready to be slapped by his mother. He was a strict man and impertinence from any junior officer would be dealt with swiftly. And that included girls who tried to force their way into his world.

Lightoller hissed at his friend in hushed undertones. "Give her a chance Will, you've already decided she'll be a mistake and that's not fair."

"But she'll be a nuisance, following me around like I'm her mother, expecting me to teach her things any other male sailor her age would already know."

Lightoller smirked. "Well I always knew you had a mothering instinct in you mate."

"Oh piss off you-"

"What colour did you say her hair was again sir?"

Eager Harold Lowe interrupted the banter. His squished cheek was resting on his hand, eyes glazed over in thoughts of the girl.

"Oh Jesus Christ Harry! Don't start lusting after her mate."

"I only want to know what colour her hair is-"

"Yes, and he's already told you twice, it's bloody brown, the same as yours, now shut up."

Lowe shot James a glare before returning to his daydreams. "Oh, I hope she's pretty."

Lightoller turned back to Murdoch and rolled his eyes. "She'll be calling harassment if he keeps on like this."

Murdoch snorted.

"Maybe, and then she'll go away."

"Oh Will-"

"I'm joking. How old did'ya say she was again? She'll probably be a bit too old for him won't she? Not that they can court anyway whilst working."

"Hard to tell mate. Anything from 16 to 20 I'd say."

Murdoch huffed. "Oh that's brilliant, not just an unruly girl but an unruly girl who's also barely an adult. How bleedin' fantastic-"

A rather strange noise had just entered the ears of the men in the mess room. Deep breathing mixed with the sound of heavy flat-footed steps seeped from the tiny open window that looked out onto the rest of A-Deck.

Lowe sat up rather excitedly, taking his cap off only to ruffle his hair up, anticipation evident in his glowing eyes. "Do you think it's her?"

Before any of the men could answer, the door to the officers mess flung open, hitting the wall with a deep thud.

A deep silence flooded the room as both the girl and the men stared at each other curiously.

Oh bollocks. Please tell me this isn't her. Please, please please. She hasn't even got her soddin' hat on.


A/N

Hey everyone! I originally intended to include the officers meeting Lizzy in this chapter but I got a bit too carried away so... you'll have to wait!

I was intending to publicly reply to all your replies on here but as I`m currently writing this I am in a MASSIVE rush so please excuse me until next week! Reading all your lovely reviews keeps me motivated so please continuing reviewing and thank you to all of you who have done already!