Eva was awakened by the sound of growling and snarling.
"Keep it down you smelly runt," she complained before noticing the hammock above her was empty. "Izzy?" she asked before sitting up.
"Hiya Eva," said Izzy as she was sitting with Zeke between the 2 beds. "Okay Zekey, try it again," she said holding up a crude drawing of a chair.
"What are you doing?" asked Eva as she stretched and swung her legs out of the bed.
"Izzy promised the Captain she'd get Zekey's brain back to normal so she's teaching him to speak," said Izzy as Zeke snarled something. "No Zekey; its sitty thing, si…tee thing."
"What time is it?" Eva asked as she noticed Ozzy was still sound asleep.
Zeke snarled something.
"Zekey says its half 7," said Izzy nonchalantly.
"I still can't believe you can understand him," said Eva as she walked over to the bathroom. "I'm getting a shower then going for a run. I'll let you know if our stuff is here yet when I get back."
Zeke growled something that sounded like 'ooh'.
"Zekey asked if you could bring us some fruit for breakfast," said Izzy selecting another card with another crudely drawn picture on it.
"Do I look like a waitress?" snarled Eva. "If you want something you can get it yourself when we meet the others for breakfast."
"Sorry Zekey I tried," said Izzy turning back to the feral teen. "Okay, this is a sleepy thing, slee…pee thing."
"I thought he couldn't speak properly before," said Eva closing the bathroom door and locking it. "Now she's teaching him her way of speaking I doubt anyone will understand him ever again."
Eva turned the shower on and got undressed.
"I just hope my other sweats get here soon otherwise I'll end up stinking like Zeke," she said before stepping into the hot water and letting the tension that had been building up in her muscles for the past 24 hours wash away.
Eva's run was in her opinion, tedious. She didn't have her MP3 player and so the run felt more like a chore than a way of loosening up. The only thing of note she saw on her morning exercise was Sierra on deck with Cody. He appeared to be helping her learn to walk without her crutches and she seemed to be making progress as she was only using 1.
'To think he couldn't stand her when World Tour first started,' she mused while ignoring their pleasantries and carrying on with her jogging. 'Guess you can't count on who you end up being friends with.'
"Greetings Miss," said the Doctor as she was entering the Infirmary. Eva nodded in her general direction. "Good to see you getting a good cardiovascular workout."
"Yeah well I'm a stickler for routine," said Eva as she stopped and began jogging on the spot.
"You'll be happy to know your friends are feeling much better; I was rather hasty in thinking it was Hypothermia but you can't be too careful at sea," said the Doctor smiling.
"Well you're the Doc, Doc," said Eva as she felt an unusual sense of relief.
"Please call me Jen," said the Doctor.
"Will do Jen, now if you don't mind I've got a run to complete," said Eva as she started to leave.
"No worries my dear, also will you let everyone know that Captain Halder said all of your personal effects arrived last night and are in storage room 6 ready for you to collect," said Jen as she entered the Infirmary.
"Thanks Doc… Jen," said Eva smiling as she went on her way. 'Looks like things are looking up, I should have my MP3 for when I hit the gym later' she thought while she carried on running.
"That lazy worm," Eva complained as she, Chris, Chef and all the shipmates bar those in the Infirmary and Ozzy headed towards storage room 6.
Eva had informed everyone about their cases arriving and they were all on their way to collect them.
"Maybe he's a college boy," suggested Noah as he walked beside her. "You know they often complain about having to get up first thing in the afternoon."
"He was out the second he got in bed last and was still sleeping when me, Izzy and the runt left for breakfast at half 8. I wouldn't be surprised if he was still in bed when we go for lunch," said Eva fuming.
"On the plus side he wont be bothering you on this cruise if he always asleep," suggested Noah as he tried to calm her down. "Besides, I think we should focus on getting our stuff. I don't know about you but I need to get into some different clothes soon."
"I'm more interested in my MP3 player," said Eva as everyone arrived at storage room 6 to be met by the crewman they recognised as Wyatt. He was standing next to an open door that showed bags and cases inside a square room.
"Okay everyone when I call your names I want you to come and get your cases," said Wyatt lifting up a bag and reading the name tag. "Tyler."
Tyler walked forward and grabbed his bag while Wyatt continued to read tags.
"Noah, Lindsay, Heather, Owen," said Wyatt as people collected their belongings before eventually Eva was the last person without her case.
"Well," she said crossing her arms and stomping her foot.
"Eva right?" asked Wyatt as he went into the storage room before stumbling out while struggling to carry Eva's case. "I left this one for last cos no one could manage to carry it for more that 5 seconds; someone dropped it and nearly broke his foot."
"He'd better not have damaged my weights," growled Eva.
"I thought you won last night and earned full access to our facilities, including the gym?" asked Wyatt as he closed the storage room door and began to lock it.
"Yeah I did, but I still wanna keep my own weights to use once the gym is closed," said Eva picking her case up effortlessly.
"Or if you don't win the access prize," suggested Wyatt.
"Never gonna happen," said Eva confidently.
"I don't know, Mr and Mrs. Masterson said you only managed to win cos that red haired girl sang a song on the fly and Ozzy broke out Britannia," said Wyatt before Eva's glare stopped him dead. "I must have been misinformed," he said holding his hands up defensively.
"Damn right you were," said Eva as she adjusted her grip on her case. "Now if you don't mind I'm taking my case to my room, grabbing my MP3 player and then hitting the gym."
"By all means don't let me detain you," said Wyatt as Eva left.
"Has she gone?" asked Wayne as he peeked out from around the corner.
"Dude if she learns it was you who broke something when you dropped her case you're a dead man," said Wyatt pointing at the retreating Eva.
"Great, all I need is another one of them trying to kill me," said Wayne as he slumped against the door of the storage room.
"So you don't know what cracked?" asked Wyatt.
"Dude, I only heard an unhealthy noise, I didn't dare look," said Wayne worriedly.
"So what you gonna do?" enquired Wyatt.
"I'm gonna do the right, just and honourable thing to do when you might have ruined someone's property," said Wayne as he stood proudly.
"You're gonna deny you ever knew about it," stated Wyatt.
"Pretty much," said Wayne as he turned on his heels and ran.
"Nice knowing you dude," Wyatt chuckled before going back to work.
Eva was actually surprised to see that Ozzy wasn't in the room by time she got back. His guitar case was missing too.
"Must be off being all arty and musical, trying to get the girls to fawn over him" she groused while putting her case at the foot of her bed and unzipping it. "Jerk," she said while rooting around inside her case for what she was after.
"Hey Eva, whaddya think?" asked Izzy as she opened the door to reveal she was in her swimming suit. Zeke, who was currently playing with the bobble of his new beanie, was sat behind her.
"About what?" asked Eva casting a cursory glance over her shoulder before noticing that Zeke was in a harness and Izzy had hold of the lead that was attached to it.
"Izzy managed to get Zekey a lead, Zekey won't be running away now," she said smiling.
"Izzy, I guarantee the second people see a redhead in a bikini who's got a teenaged boy on a black leather lead you're going to be thrown in the brig for public indecency," said Eva trying hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness.
"You think Izzy should go back and change it for a red one?" asked Izzy with a perplexed look.
Eva burst out laughing which caused Zeke to jump.
"Sorry girl but you are absolutely nuts and I can't help but love you for it," said Eva wiping away a tear in her eye.
Izzy was the only person Eva knew who could get her to burst out laughing and she cherished that about her.
"Ozzycus said Izzy was nuts as well when he walked past her before," said Izzy as she swapped hands on the lead.
"Is he bothering you? Want me to rearrange his face?" asked Eva suddenly getting protective.
"No, Ozzycus looks fine as he is; rearranging his face, though cool, will only make him into a Picasso and Izzy doesn't want that," said Izzy causing Eva to chuckle slightly.
"Well just let me know if he does bother you, I'd be more than happy to use his face for punching practice," said Eva as she finally found her MP3 player.
"Why does Eva always threaten to hurt Ozzycus Maximus? Did he steal your puppy?" asked Izzy as she crouched down on all fours and mirrored Zeke.
"If you must know," said Eva sticking the MP3 in her pocket and heading towards the door. "He's similar to the biggest douchebag I've ever met in my life and I know he's gonna end up being a jerk as well."
"Izzy thinks he's nice," said the redhead letting Eva out the door and close it.
"No offence, but you think bacon dunked in milk is nice as well and we know how that turned out this morning," said Eva recalling Izzy's breakfast shenanigans.
"Do not diss the holy bacon and milk combo platter," said Izzy with a deadly serious tone.
"Where is the lazy worm anyway?" asked Eva trying to change the subject away from breakfast.
"Ozzycus said he was going the Infirmary," said Izzy as she tugged on Zeke's lead causing him to follow the two females as they began walking.
"Crap, I wanted to go and speak to Jen as well to see if she had any energy drinks I could have," cursed Eva as she grimaced.
"I'm pretty sure they sell Blue Cow energy drinks in the gift stores," said Trent as he appeared behind Izzy and Eva causing them to jump.
"Where did you sneak up from?" asked Eva as her heart beat settled.
"Our rooms are along the same corridor, I was just passing through when I happened to catch the tail end of your conversation," said Trent flashing a smile.
Eva knew he wanted something from the awkward silence as he followed them.
"Anyways," he drawled out. "Do you happen to know where the new guy is? I wanna see if I can strum a few chords on his guitar."
"Izzy thought you already owned a guitar," said Izzy as Zeke occasionally stopped to look through windows.
"I do, but didn't you see it last night? The guy has a Gibson Les Paul, that's some seriously sweet guitar playage," said Trent before whistling.
"They're all the same to me," said Eva shrugging.
"Well to a fellow guitarist it's a serious opportunity; it'd be like the Olympics loaning some top notch training equipment to your local gym," said Trent trying to offer a simile to Eva.
"It that good eh?" asked Eva she raised a surprised eyebrow.
"It is; so can you please tell me where he is?" implored Trent while holding his hands up in a begging position and shooting them puppy dog eyes.
Eva took in a long breath before releasing it sharply.
"The Infirmary," she said eventually.
"Thanks," said Trent smiling before he left the trio and headed to the Infirmary.
"Well at least there's someone else who like's Ozzycus eh?" smiled Izzy as Eva stormed onwards.
"Eh?" growled Zeke.
Both girls were too preoccupied to notice.
"You're serious?" asked Duncan between chuckles.
"Scouts honour mate," said Ozzy as he was setting up a small amp in the Infirmary room that Duncan, Gwen, Geoff and Bridgette were currently occupying. "She proper stuck her foot out and wellied Beth into the pool."
"Well I don't think it's funny," said Bridgette as she rubbed the bandage that was around her head. She had been knocked unconscious for the whole night and had only recently regained mental semblance after the painkillers Jen gave her had kicked in.
"I know; it's hilarious," said Duncan before laughing again.
"You sure you should be laughing like that with your condition?" asked Geoff as he took another tissue and blew his nose.
"Dude I'm fine, I've felt worse after a late night party at my pal Joey's; I'm just ticked off that we couldn't compete this Season," said Duncan as he rested his head on his hands.
"I know, that 3 week First Class prize sounds pretty sweet," said Gwen trying to stifle a cough.
"I'm sorry bout that an all," said Ozzy looking at Geoff. "I got your place an I still don't feel right over it."
"No worries bro, you were being threatened by Eva, braver men woulda caved," said Geoff grinning.
"You could always quit and let Geoff take his place back. You wouldn't have to put up with Eva if you did," suggested Bridgette.
"I don't quit. Ever," said Ozzy in an incredibly serious tone.
"Let the guy compete Bridge, he managed to win the First Round on a team with Izzy, Eva, Sierra and Zeke; anyone that can do that has earned his shot," said Geoff trying to defend Ozzy.
"I know, that music was something else," said Trent as he walked into the room. "How is everybody?"
"The same as we were 5 minutes ago when Ozzy asked us the same question," said Gwen pulling her blanket tightly around herself as her face hardened.
"I was just asking," said Trent defensively.
"So this lot tell me that ya can play and are a pretty crackin musician mate?" asked Ozzy as he could feel the tension between Gwen and Trent. He'd have to ask about it later.
"Sure am, got me a Martin DX-K1 in my room," said Trent proudly.
"Smashin guitar mate; you got the striker plates off it like Trigger has?" Ozzy asked as everyone bar him and Trent stared blankly as the conversation continued.
"Nah dude, I prefer Nina without any damage," said Trent smiling.
"Named your girl Nina eh? My ladies handle is Britannia cos she rules," said Ozzy as he offered Trent his guitar.
"I like that name," said Trent as he carefully took the guitar like it were a newborn. "It's 9 letters long."
"Not the 9 thing again," said Gwen exasperated as she pulled the covers over her head.
"So she's a Gibson?" said Trent admiring the feel of the instrument in his hands.
"Too true mate, a custom Gibson Les Paul 59, she's an exact copy of Miss Pearly Whites with a Union Jack paint scheme to make her my own," said Ozzy beaming.
"You mind if I take her for a test run?" asked Trent with a hint of hope in his voice.
"Well I came here to entertain the wounded," said Ozzy jokingly. "Don't see why you can't join in."
"Any requests?" asked Trent with a slight hint of humour in his voice as he strummed a chord.
"Yeah, start talking normal, what's a Trigger Gibson or a Pearly Les White?" asked Bridgette as she held her head from the sudden influx of Trent and Ozzy's conversation.
"How bout we just do some calming jams?" suggested Trent as he winced at Bridgette's incorrect guitar names.
He started playing.
