At the Sunday divine service in the First Class Dining Saloon, Captain Mitchell was leading the group in the hymn 'Almighty Father Strong to Save.' Mia and Isabella sung in the middle of the group. Mentor Ji stood well back, keeping an eye on Mia.
Kevin had searched for Mia and upon running into a friendly maid called Lauren, he had discovered they were at the service. The stewards stopped him from entering and Mentor Ji heard the commotion at the entry doors. Kevin was dressed in his third class clothes, standing there with a hat in his hand as he looked out of place.
"Look, you, you're not supposed to be here," one of the stewards warned him.
"I was just here last night...don't you remember?" Kevin saw Mentor Ji walking towards him and pointed to him. "He'll tell you."
"Mr. Shiba and Mrs. Watanabe continue to be most appreciative of your assistance. They asked me to give you this in gratitude-"
He held out two twenty dollar bills, which Kevin refused to take. "I don't want money, I-"
"And also remind you that you hold a third class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate."
Kevin spotted Mia, but she didn't see him. "I just need to talk to Mia for a-"
"Gentlemen, please see that Mr. Douglas gets back where he belongs." He gave the twenties to the stewards, "And that he stays there."
"Yes sir!" They turned to Kevin, "Come along you."
And with those instructions, he was taken back to third class, Mia not seeing a thing as she continued singing.
At the gymnasium, an Edwardian nautilus room, there were machines people would recognize, and others they would not. A woman pedaled a stationary bike in a long dress, looking ridiculous. Cam Watanabe was leading a small tour group, including Mia, Isabella, and Jayden. Jayden was working the oars of a stationary rowing machine with a well trained stroke.
"Reminds me of my Harvard days."
Jason Lee Scott, the gym instructor, was a bouncy little man in white flannels, eager to show off his modern equipment, like his present day counterpart on an 'Abflex' infomercial. He hit a switch and a machine with a saddle on it started to undulate. Mia put her hand on it, curious.
"The electric horse is very popular. We even have an electric camel." Jason turned to Isabella. "Care to try your hand at the rowing, ma'am?"
"Don't be absurd. I can't think of a skill I should likely need," she retorted.
"The next stop on our tour will be bridge. This way, please," Jason explained.
Kevin walked in determination on the aft well deck, Mike and Antonio following him closely. He quickly climbed the steps to the B deck and stepped over the gate separating 3rd from 2nd class.
"She's a goddess amongst mortal men...or turtles, there's no denyin'. But she's in another world, bro, forget her. She's closed the door," Antonio told him.
Kevin moved furtively to the wall below the A deck promenade. "It was them, not her," he replied, still in disbelief that Jayden had gotten two stewards to escort him to steerage. He glanced around the deck for anyone. "Ready...go."
Antonio shook his head resignedly and put his hands together, crouching down. Kevin stepped into Antonio's hands and got boosted up to the next deck, where he landed perfectly over the railing, onto the First Class deck.
"He's not being logical, I'm telling you," Antonio said to Raph.
"Love ain't logical," Mike shrugged.
On the A deck, a man was playing with his son, who was spinning a top with a string. The man's overcoat and hat were sitting on a deck chair nearby. Leo emerged from behind one of the huge deck cranes and calmly picked up the coat and bowler hat. He walked away, slipping into the coat, and slicked his mask back to hide it. Then he put the hat on at a jaunty angle. At a distance he could pass for a gentlemen.
Casey Rhodws, the 21 year old Junior Wireless Operator hustled into the bridge and skirted around Cam' tour group to hand a Marconigram to Captain Mitchelle.
"Another ice warning, sir. This one from the 'Baltic.' "
"Thank you, Sky," Captain Mitchell glanced at the message then nonchalantly put it in his pocket. He nodded reassuringly to Mia and the group. "No need to worry, it is quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we are speeding up. I have just ordered the last boilers lit."
Cam scowled slightly before motioning the group toward the door. They exited just as Second Officer Bridge Carson came out of the chartroom, stopping next to First Officer Jack.
"Did we ever find those binoculars for the lookouts?"
"Haven't seen them since Southhampton," First Officer Jared reported.
Cam was hurrying through the deck, looking at his pocket watch as he went. "Mr. Watanabe," Mia spoke, "I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned...forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone abroad."
"About half, actually. Mia, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here. But it was thought...by some...that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled."
Jayden slapped the side of a boat. "Waste of deck space as it is, on an unsinkable ship!"
"Sleep soundly, young Mia. I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat you need." That was all the explanation Andrews could offer and no sooner had he arrived, he had departed.
As they were passing Boat 7, a gentlemen turned from the rail and walked up behind the group. It was Kevin. He tapped Mia on the arm and she turned, gasping. He motioned and she cut away from the group toward a door that Kevin held open. They ducked into the gymnasium on the Second Class deck. The room was filled with complex gym equipment, but other than that, the two of them were alone. Kevin closed the door behind her.
"Kevin, this is impossible. I can't see you." Mia knew she didn't want it to be that way, but it seemed that they were in two different worlds.
Kevin took her by the shoulders and stared into her lost eyes. "Mia, you're no picnic...you're a spoiled little brat even, but under that you're a strong, pure heart, and you're the most amazingly astounding girl I've ever known and-"
She had to stop talking before she can't bear it. She felt like a hot bout of shame crawling inside of her.
"Kevin, I-"
"No wait. Let me try to get this out. You're amaz-" he stopped with a sigh. "I'm not an idiot, I know how the world works. I got ten bucks in my pocket and I have nothing to offer you...and I know that. But I'm involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowing that you're going to be alright."
Mia felt the tears coming to her eyes as her heart raced to his confession. Kevin was so open and real...not like anyone she had ever known. She wanted to have Kevin closer to her. But she stood back and thought about all the trouble they had already caused. She was engaged, to be wed to Jayden Shiba. Letting Kevin pursue her would hurt too many people. It would get Kevin into more trouble. Jayden could call off the engagement, sending Mia and her mother into bankruptcy.
"You're making this very hard. I'll be fine. Really," she insisted coldly. Kevin didn't look like he believed her. There was only one thing for her to do for him to stay away. She had to put a nail in the coffin.
"I don't think so. They've got you in a glass jar like some butterfly, and you're going to die if you don't break out. Maybe not right away, cause you're strong. But sooner or later the fire in you is going to go out."
Mia opened her mouth to speak and had to swallow down the lump that had formed in her throat as he caressed her cheek. "It's not up to you to save me, Kevin."
"You're right. Only you can do that."
"I have to get back, they'll miss me. Please, Kevin, for both our sakes, leave me alone." She quickly exited the gym, wanting to allow some time for the tears stinging her eyes to disappear before she returned to the tour group.
The most elegant room in the ship, the First Class lounge, done in Louis Quinze Versailles style. Mia sat on a divan, with a group of other women arrayed around her. Isabella, Cassie Chan, and Lady Trini Kwan were taking tea. Mia was silent as a porcelain figurine as the conversation washed around her, feeling empty. She felt emasculated by Xever's behavior, and embarrassed that she could hold no control over anything in her life at present.
"Of course the invitations had to be sent back to the printers twice. And the bridesmaid dresses! Let me tell you what an odyssey that has been..." Isabella went on, Mia still silent.
Mia and her mother were having tea. The four year old girl, wearing white gloves, daintily picked up a cookie. Her mother corrected her on her posture, and the way she held the teacup. The little girl was trying so hard to please, her expression serious. A glimpse of Mia at that age, even at that time she was conditioning relentlessly...the pain to becoming an Edwardian geisha.
When she was with Kevin, she didn't feel the need to think about what to say or to mind her actions. It felt natural and right. She felt alive and that her life had a purpose other than to save her mother from debt. She calmly and deliberately turned her teacup over, spilling tea all over her dress.
"Oh, look what I've done," she said innocently, excusing herself to change.
Titanic steamed in the dusk light, as if lit by the embers of a giant fire. As the ship loomed, Kevin was there on the bow, right at the apex of the bow railing. It was his favorite spot. He closed his eyes, letting the chill wind clear his head. The wind whipped his mask behind his head.
"Hello Kevin."
He turned around, and there stood Mia. He could never tire of looking upon this breathtakingly beautiful girl in front of him.
"I changed my mind," she said simply.
He smiled at her, his eyes drinking her in. Her cheeks were a little red by the chill wind, and her eyes sparkled. Her hair blew wildly behind her. "Mike said you might be up-"
"Sssshh," he put a finger to his lips, shushing her. "Come here."
He put his hands around her waist, as if he was going to kiss her. His eyes were fixed on hers. "Close your eyes," he instructed softly. "Go on."
She did as she was told. He turned to face her forward, the way the ship was going. He pressed her gently to the rail, standing right behind her. Then he took her two hands and raised them until she was standing with her arms outstretched on each side. Mia was going along with him. When he lowered his hands, her arms stayed up...like wings.
"Do you trust me?" He asked sincerely.
"I trust you," she replied.
He put his hands around her waist to secure her position. "Okay. Open them."
Mia's eyes snapped open and she gasped. All she could see was the deep blue ocean in front of her. There was nothing in her field of vision but water. No ship, no ground, just her and Kevin soaring above the body of water. The Atlantic unrolled towards her, a hammered copper shield under a dusk sky. There was only the wind, and the hiss of the water 50 feet below.
"I'm flying!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Kevin!" She leaned forward, arching her back. Kevin rested his face on her shoulder.
"Come Josephine in my flying machine," he sang softly, making them both smile.
Mia closed her eyes, feeling herself floating waistless far above the sea. She smiled dreamily, then leaned back, gently pressing her back against his plastron. He pushed forward slightly against her.
Slowly he raised his hands, arms outstretched, and they met hers...fingertips gently touching. Then their fingers intertwined. Moving slowly, their fingers caressed through and around each other, Kevin embracing Mia and relishing the moment.
Kevin tipped his face forward into her blowing hair, letting the scent of her wash over him, until his cheek was against her ear. She turned her face towards him, the closeness keeping them warm. Her lips were near his. She lowered her arms, turning further, until they kissed passionately in their own sky high world. He wrapped her arms around her from behind, and they kissed like this with her head turned and tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the inevitable. They kissed, slowly and tremendously, and then with building passion.
The kiss was so powerful, both of them felt like one entity. As the ship sailed, the fast winds blew harshly on Kevin and Mia. But it didn't matter. Nothing else mattered at that moment other than the love between them. She could feel her heart pounding in this magical moment.
Kevin and the ship seemed to merge into one force of power and optimism, lifting her, buoying her forward onto a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear.
In the crow's nest, high above and behind them, lookout Wesley Collins nudged his mate, Alex Drake, pointing down at the figure in the bow. "Wish I had those bleedin' binoculars."
Kevin and Mia, still kissing at the bow rail, dissolved slowly away, leaving the ruined bow of the wreck...
Present
Mia blinks, seeming to come back to the present. She sees the wreck on the screen, the sad ghost ship deep in the abyss.
"That was the last time Titanic ever saw daylight."