Night of One Thousand Stars
By: T. E. Coleman
:Chapter Two:
It was so strange. It was like I was a totally different person, but I
didn't know who. There was still Maggie Bryant deep inside me, but I felt
another person taking over me. I was filled with this person's history,
happiness, sorrow, love, and life. I was not Maggie Bryant anymore, I was
Fiona O'Neil, and I was preparing to board the Titanic.
"Fiona!" cried the voice of a young man. "Fiona Darling, Finally I
found you. Emma and I just passed the health inspection, have you been
through it yet?" He asked. I rarely had any idea what he was talking about,
but I couldn't have answered him even if I wanted to because at that moment
he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a deep kiss. I was a bit
shocked at this, but he was a very good kisser so I let him at it. I
guessed he must be this Fiona girl's lover. I just hoped there weren't to
many more surprises about her, I mean me, that I'd have to find out.
He ended the kiss and smiled lovingly at me. A short, stocky girl ran
up to us. Her hair was blonde and frizzy, just like the boys so I guessed
this was his sister. "Sam, I see you found Fiona," Said the girl, which I
assumed to be Emma, giggling. "Come you love birds, lets board the ship
before it leaves for America without us!"
Sam took Emma's hand and slid his arm around my waist and lead us up
the boarding ramp. Two crewmen took our tickets, asked if we had passed
the inspection, and let us board the great Titanic. As we stepped inside,
we couldn't help but marvel at her luxury and size. It truly was amazing.
Another crew member came up to us and showed us down to our cabin in third
class. We came into a small room with two bunk beds, a sink, and a small
bathroom. Sam grinned. "Sure is better then that one we road once, remember
Emma? When Mom and Dad were still alive, god rest their souls." Emma and
Sam took a little moment of silence for their parents, and then set their
things down.
We were soon greeted by two other young men, one Italian and the other
Russian. The Russian introduced himself as Professor Nicholas Merovich, and
then he translated the Italian's greeting for us. "Well, Nick and Max can
have those two bunks" Sam said. "Emma, you take bottom and Fiona and I'll
take top." He added with a small kiss on my cheek. Well, tonight was sure
going to be interesting, I thought. I'd have to find some way to avoid Sam.
Nick and Max offered to show Emma around the ship, so Sam and I were left
alone. He began to kiss me, so I decided it would be best for me to leave
before he started anything. "Sam, I'm going to go up on deck and take a
look around, I'll be back soon. Why don't you, uh, meet some of the other
passengers. Great! Bye." I said, rushing out of the cabin.
I heard the door open behind me, and Sam called me to come back. I
quickened up my pace, turned a corner and ran up to the deck. It was quite
funny actually, Fiona running from the man she loved. But Sam was only the
man Fiona loved, not the man I loved. I was so busy thinking over the
situation that I bumped right into.
"Jonathan Long, Philadelphia's mining tycoon, at your service, miss!"
I had practically knocked him and myself over, and I wanted to keep right
on walking but instead, he decided to start on talking. "And what might be
your name, age, and class?" he asked, nosily. "I'm 23 years old, first
class!" Jonathan added. "And you can call me John." He smiled, showing me a
large set of perfect teeth. "I'm Fiona O'Neil, 16 years old, 3rd class. Now
if you'll excuse me-" I said, trying to walk off. "3rd class, really? By
your good looks I thought you'd be in at least 2nd, no matter. Say, how
would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" "I don't think-" "Please say
you'll come, I'd die without your company." He said, forcing me to stare
into his pleading, puppy dog face. He broke out into a grin. "Meet me at
the grand staircase at six, then, Fiona." I nodded slightly and was very
relieved when he walked off. That was a very strange conversation.
