*whistles nonchalantly* Sooo...it's been a while, eh? Look, I'm really sorry and I don't even have an excuse except I got my AS results and they were better than expected so then uni applications came and time flew and until I got a couple of favourites recently I had almost forgotten this story! This chapter is insanely short, but it's just to keep you guys (if any of you remain, that is), going for a few days before the next part comes up. Sorry again! Oh, also, I haven't checked this for mistakes.
"Shit, bollocks, wank, fuck, shit!"
That was my wake up call the following morning. My eyes remained closed and I simply turned away from the noise, snuggling further into the covers. Freddie was always clumsy; this was hardly out of the ordinary.
Except…Freddie.
My eyes flew open as the previous night's events came flooding into my mind, although I stayed facing away from my boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend. I was suddenly filled with conflicting emotions. Firstly, disappointment, regret and resentment at the man now swearing softly under his breath as he moved around the room. Then, guilt on my part, as I recalled the time spent kissing a woman I hardly knew on the same night that my two-year relationship fell to pieces. Finally, I my stomach bubbled with the excitement common in 14-year-old girls when they are overcome with the anticipation of seeing their latest crush again.
I continued to lie there for a few minutes longer, attempting to answer the numerous questions that the rational part of my brain was throwing at me, whilst simultaneously trying to quell the excitement; it was hardly appropriate in the situation. I couldn't help but be concerned that the feelings I was having for this stranger were being intensified by the setting, and that the problems Freddie and I were having at the moment were only temporary, and things would go back to normal when we returned home.
But then the thought of returning home to normality, to routine, to the thrilling life of a Bristolian receptionist, quite swiftly rid of those concerns. It was fair neither to Freddie nor myself to continue the way we were, and ending it was the right, if not only, decision. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to turn over and face reality.
"Freddie, I –" I paused momentarily, firstly noticing Freddie's blood-shot eyes, before taking in exactly what he was doing. "You've officially gone insane."
"What?" he glanced up at me, continuing to walk around the room, limping slightly. I could only assume that was the reason for the long list of obscenities that had awoken me.
"You're packing. We are on a cruise ship, and you are packing. Yes, we had an argument and broke up and you slept on the floor and, by the look of it, cried, but really?" I paused to take a breath and gesture to the half-filled suitcase. "Unless there's a helicopter on its way to this ship as we speak to return you to dry land, or you have become an exceptionally good swimmer, then you have gone insane."
Freddie smiled weakly despite himself, dropping the T-shirt that he was in the process of packing onto the floor.
"I'm not planning on swimming all the way back to Bristol, Nai," he started, but was interrupted by my scoff. He could barely do a length at the public pool back in Bristol, I hardly suspected he'd drastically improved now. "I popped out this morning, checked about spare accommodation, and it turns out there is another cabin. I tried to pack when you were asleep, but I stood on your fucking hairbrush. How you put that through your hair without slicing your head, I'll never know."
I felt a pang of hurt, both at the thought of him trying to leave when I was still asleep and the idea of him leaving at all. Things may not have been perfect, but we'd been together a while. He was all I really knew.
"Right, so you slipped the bloke some money and he probably grouped a few guest parties together so that you could have a room. All that fuss, and I'm sure Effy would have taken you in if you'd only asked!" I responded sarcastically. I knew I had no right to be like this, but I was truly offended that he was leaving without a word to me in the morning. I sighed and my bitter expression softened at the look of guilt and distress on his face.
"I'm so sorry, Naomi. I figured you'd prefer me to leave as soon as possible. I was doing what I thought was best for you," he defended his actions, returning to his packing with a sniff. "I know you think I'm a dick, and I am. But I still always want what's best for you. Always."
Biting back a snide comment about his romantic and girly tendencies, I nodded briskly and stood up to get dressed. I was about to remove my top when I suddenly felt highly uncomfortable, and ensured my back was to Freddie whilst I threw on some clothes.
"I know, Freddie. I'll see you around." I said before leaving the room and closing the door quietly behind me. I leant my back against the door, covering my closed eyes with my hands and sighing heavily.
"Ugh, what the fuck am I going to do?" I muttered to myself.
"For starters, you can stop talking to yourself, because you'll make very boring company over breakfast if that continues." My hands dropped from my face and my eyes sprung open at the familiar husk of Emily's voice. "Then, go straight back into your room and grab some shoes, because this, young peasant girl, is getting repetitive."
I scowled mockingly at her for a moment, before I couldn't keep it up any longer and my face broke out into a lazy grin. I turned to open the door again before the prospect of re-entering Depression Central made me rethink my actions.
"Or, you know, you go bare feet. I heard cave girl is in." Emily said cheerily, before walking off down the corridor. I stared after her, dazed at her ability to transform my entire mood in a couple of seconds, before noticing that she'd stopped and had turned to look at me, an amused expression on her face. "Well? You coming?"
I glanced at the door to my cabin once more, then back at Emily, before the gentle and hopeful glint in her eyes made the decision for me.
"Of course. However, this floor is fucking freezing, so a piggy-back would be much appreciated." I joked, walking quickly to reach her as she continued towards the food area.
"In your dreams, Campbell. Come on, before all the croissants are gone."
End of Part 1 ;) I've always wanted to say that. I'm clearly easily pleased, christmas must be so easy for my parents. Speaking of which, Merry Christmas everyone!