Hey guys! I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July! Here's the next chapter.

**Claire**

"So, how's it going with you and Cam?" Massie asked me, waggling her eyebrows. We were in our room getting dressed for dinner, and she had insisted that we look especially nice.

"I already told you last night, we're just going to be friends. It's not like we'll see each other after this, so I want to keep things simple," I answered with a sigh, adjusting my skirt in the mirror.

"Oh. Well, maybe he'll want to stay in touch after! Would you want to if he wanted to?" She asked, and I sighed again. I'd thought long and hard about this question, but eventually I'd forced myself to stop. It's not like there was even the option. But I looked up and she was staring at me, expecting an answer.

"Oh Massie, of course I would want to. But there is not even a chance that would be the case. I have a very hard time believing he doesn't have plenty of options back home; why would he want to keep up a long distance relationship with some girl he met on a cruise and knew for such a short time?"

"But he likes you! I can tell!" she insisted, and for some reason I got the sense that she was pushing this for some reason other than the fact that she wanted to get credit for setting me up with a guy.

"We'll see," I answered, wanting to end the conversation, "If he really likes me then he'll convince me of it himself." She shrugged and I knew she agreed. "What is the after-dinner activity tonight?

"Karaoke," she replied sitting up. "Claire, I know this isn't your thing, but like you said we won't ever see these people again. Promise me you'll sing at least one song?" Her big brown eyes were begging and I slightly resented her for the fact that I could never turn her down.

"Okay, I promise," I replied, knowing this was going to be a loooong night.

**Derrick**

"I'm nervous," Cam admitted to me, fiddling with his computer as he burned a disc. I patted his shoulder.

"You'll be fine, man. Claire is into you, you know that. You're just gonna have to show her how much you like her! A grand gesture, as Massie called it," I tried to reassure him. "After tonight, she won't be able to question how much she means to you."

"I know this will show her that," he nodded, and I felt better that he would go through with it.

My phone buzzed, and I checked to see that it was from Massie. I couldn't help but smile just at the sight of her name.

"Ugh," I let out a moment later after reading the message, "She says we should dress semi-nice." I turned to search through my closet for something to change into. Of course Cam simply reached into his closet and pulled out a dress shirt and nice jeans. Of course the kid had it easy; he always knew how to dress nicely.

"So, how are you and Massie planning to stay together after we leave?" Cam asked, startling me from my thoughts of what to wear.

"I mean, I have relatives in NYC. And we'll be out there next year to visit colleges. Until then, there's email and skype," I answered. Massie and I hadn't really talked specifics other than acknowledging that we should try our best to make it work.

Can had a small smile on his face, though he didn't say anything. I guess he was finally starting to really believe this could actually end up working out for him.

**Massie**

I was so excited all through dinner that I could barely eat. Cam and Claire were chatting across the table and I was glad that they were getting along so well despite the fact that they would both rather be more than just friends. Luckily for them, that was all about to change. I held Derricks hand and rested my head on his shoulder as he ate his meal, and every once in a while he'd give my hand a squeeze. I was so content and comfortable with him, knowing that he liked me because he knew who I really was and not just as another model-pretty Westchester girl.

Cam and Claire were so deep in conversation that they didn't get up to move when Ginnah started calling people into the Green Lounge for Karaoke. I allowed myself to admire how cute they were for a minute before taking charge again.

"Let's go, guys!" I clapped twice to get their attention. Derrick just chuckled next to me. They looked up, startled. Claire blushed slightly before exiting the booth but Cam's face was a mask. I positioned myself next to him as we left the dining hall, and nudged him with my elbow. He turned his head and raised his eyebrows in question.

"Showtime," I stated, realizing it sounded kind of cheesy. But I was so done caring about how everything I said sounded. It was so nice to not be on edge all the time about how every little thing I did would be received. I could finally be myself.

We sat towards the back of the room while Ginnah passed out lists of the songs we could choose, and I nudged Cam's arm. Then I leaned over him and tapped Claire's leg to get her attention.

"Hey, let's let the boys pick for us. Y'know, so it's a surprise!" I suggested, and watched Claire sideglance at Cam before nodding her consent.

"Sure, I'll do it," she agreed, shooting Cam a playful grin. He grinned back and I internally squealed. They were just too cute!

"You better pick well, Camster," I teased, "You know how important music is to Claire!"

He turned to her, looked straight into her eyes, and replied "I think I've got a good one in mind."

**Claire**

I loved seeing Massie this way, more joking and fun loving and less uptight about acting perfect. I was also glad to see that she and Cam were getting along well now that they weren't stuck in an awkward unrequited love situation. I could even feel myself opening up and relaxing; the boys were bringing out the best in us. Derrick and Cam got up to go request songs for us, and I was excited to see what Cam would pick. I knew he was one of the few people who'd ever really heard me sing, so he would be uniquely qualified to make a good selection.

"What do you think Derrick will pick for you?" I asked Massie, and she just shrugged. She was too busy looking longingly across the room to where he was. I felt a slight twang of jealousy. It was so obvious Derrick adored her right back. If only Cam was like that about me then maybe I wouldn't feel so sad all the time. I had come to realize that friends or more, it was hard to be around him and all of his adorableness and knowing it probably would never work out.

I was excited to sing though. I'd always wanted to be the kind of girl who was confident enough to perform, but I'd always stuck to more behind-the-scenes stuff. But here, where it seemed like half the kids were drunk anyway, I somehow didn't feel nervous. I was glad Massie had made me promise to do a song, because otherwise I probably wouldn't have volunteered.

"Hey," Cam said when they returned, sliding his arm around my shoulder. I leaned back into it instinctively, but once I'd realized what I was doing I didn't want to pull away. I just smiled up at him.

"So, I think Alicia is going first," Derrick said, motioning to where Josh was basically pushing her onto the stage. We all laughed and sat back to listen to the people going before us.

After Alicia, Chris, a group of jocks, and Libby and Alexandra went, it was Massie's turn.

"Here goes nothing!" She exclaimed as she got up, smiling extra brightly. I turned and shared a smile with Derrick as she walked up towards the stage. I was so happy everything had worked out well between them.

The first chords of I'm Yours by Jason Mraz played out, and Massie looked confused before recognizing it and jumping right in. She was loose, sort of bopping to the beat and she hit all the notes. She seemed very proud of herself when she finished, and Derrick had this giant grin on his face the entire time. Once he released her from a huge hug, she turned to me.

"You're turn, Clairebear," she tilted her head toward the stage and raised her eyebrows. I stood up slowly and her expression changed to a reassuring grin.

Cam squeezed my hand and whispered, "Have fun up there."

I walked up to the stage and silently thanked Massie for the idea of letting the guys pick. If I knew the song choice right now, I would be letting myself overanalyze it. This way I had no choice but to just sing.

The stage guy handed me a mic and went to go cue up the music. The TV with the words was on, but there were no words rolling yet. All of a sudden the first notes of a very familiar song played out. I looked to the lyric screen but it was still blank. And as my mind raced a mile a minute, I figured out what was going on. This was the song I'd been working on this whole cruise! I'd just finished it two days ago. How had they—my head snapped up and I made eye contact with Cam. He was giving me a thumbs up, and Derrick and Massie were smiling beside him. The lyrics were about to come in and I had no choice but to sing.

Friday night beneath the stars,
in a field behind your yard,
you and I are paintin' pictures in the sky.
And sometimes we don't say a thing;
just listen to the crickets sing.
Everything I need is right here by my side.
And I know everything about you
I don't wanna live without you.

I'm only up when you're not down.
Don't wanna fly if you're still on the ground.
It's like no matter what I do.
Well you drive me crazy half the time;
the other half I'm only trying to let you know that what I feel is true.
And I'm only me when I'm with you.

**Cam**

Claire's voice was perfection as she sang the song I'd swiped from her iPod. At first I was nervous she wasn't pleased that she was basically forced to sing one of her own songs, but as the verses went on I could tell that she was really enjoying the whole live performance thing. It was clear the audience didn't know the song as they sat through the first half just listening intently. But when the chorus came back in again people began to nod their heads and get into it. So far, everything was going as planned. I just hoped this was enough to show Claire how much I care about her.

So I pretended that Claire wrote "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" by TSwift. This story is almost over! I'd say approximately three chapters left, depending on how long I drag it out. Thanks for putting up with my sporadic updates!

Hugs,

Sky