Zoey

He took me to the deserted far deck and we leaned against the railing. The fireworks were amazing and enchanting, but they would be over soon. Watching them with him added to the whole magic of the night, and it was not going to last much longer.

Sean glanced at me a few times, but wouldn't make eye contact. For a sweet talker, he wasn't being very talkative.

Well. I didn't care. Be direct, I told myself. Show some MOXIE. Whatever moxie means…

The next time he looked over at me when he thought I wasn't looking, I leaned into him.

But he put a hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"Um," I muttered, pulling away from him.

"I'm sorry," he said, firmly, quickly and helplessly.

"No, I'm sorry," I insisted, embarrassed out of my mind. To top it off, the rain was starting up again.

"Zoey," he began, gesturing weakly and putting a hand to his face.

"Why did you almost kiss me back there?" I demanded, trying my best to ignore the blood rushing to my face.

"Because I like you!"

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because Tamira was there."

"And you didn't want her to think you were over her," I said. "Just in case she changes her mind and decides she wants you back."

"Zoey, don't make judgements. You don't even know Tamira. You don't understand the friendship me and her have."

"I'm stating the facts, Sean."

"You know, who cares if I kiss you?" he snapped. "I'm shipping out in less than two days and I'll never see you again. A kiss would just end up a bad memory."

I stared at him in awed disbelief. "A bad memory," I repeated, unable to believe those words had come out of his mouth.

He groaned as if he was very tired. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Really? Well I'll be damned." Scoffing, I spun around and began to walk away.

"Zoey--" he said desperately.

I turned around, lifting my arms and letting them fall at my sides in a weak I-don't-get-it gesture. "I can't believe I let myself fall for you, Sean," I said, and then turned away again.

"I just don't want to miss you!"

His voice cracked when he called after me. But I had tears in my eyes and I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "You're gonna have to starting now," I murmured.

Sean

Steam from my coffee twisted and curled in the air, but I wasn't drinking it. I would be up all night thinking about Zoey anyway so I figured I didn't really need a caffeine jolt.

Max Ballard walked into the café and grinned at me. Not a good sign. Max didn't like me, or anyone else for that matter.

"Hanlon," he called. "Did you chase away that chick everyone was talking about?"

I shot him a look.

"What, did you make a mistake and talk? You know girls don't like it when you do that, Sean." He tilted his head and smiled. "Actually, I did see a girl leave the boat about twenty minutes ago. She looked like she was ready to burst into tears. And then I think she did."

"Ugh…" I slammed my head down on the table and didn't move.

Note to self: Ow.

"You're never gonna see the chick again anyway, why are you all GRR?"

My voice was muffled due to the lack of space between my face and the table. "Because I like her and she's SPECIAL."

"Oh my God," he muttered. "You're like a soap opera."

I didn't look up but I knew that he was gone. I can't say I was disappointed. Max's cloud of gloom rains on everyone within a five foot radius.

I continued to sit there motionless, my nose squished against the table, occasionally sighing.

"Hey, Sean?" Tamira's calming voice called, cautiously gentle. "They're closing right away."

"Let them arrest me," I mumbled.

"Um, do you want more coffee?"

"No."

"Do you want…a pillow?"

"No."

"Do you want a friend?"

I wanted to smile for her, but I stayed as I was, sprawled out lifelessly on the table. "Sit."

She did. "Look, Sean, I don't know what happened, but I'm sure it's not the end of the world."

"I made Zoey cry."

"Oh," she murmured, and then tried to sound chipper as she punched me playfully in the shoulder. "Did you beat her up or something?"

"No. I'm just an idiot."

"You're not an idiot, Sean."

"I thought she could help me get over you even though I knew I would only know her for three days and so I wanted to kiss her all freaking day and when she tried to kiss me I pushed her away and told her I couldn't because I didn't want to miss her and now I'm all blah."

"Awww!" a bunch of voices chorused.

I shot up in my seat to see Denise, Cassidy and Jimmy standing around my table.

"Augh!" I squawked. "Tamira! Why didn't you tell me you weren't alone?"

She gave me a bashful half-smirk. "You didn't ask?"

"Come here, little buddy!" Jimmy cried tearfully, reaching his arms out to me.

"Step away from the merchandise," I snapped before he could touch me.

"Sean, I never knew you had feelings!" Cassidy exclaimed. "I always thought you were just a walking talking hormone with strange taste in clothes."

Denise shook her head. "What were you thinking getting involved with a girl from a different country anyway?"

"I wasn't THINKING," I barked, standing up and brushing past all of them. "I was FEELING."

"Awww!"

"Shut up!"

"Awww!"

"I'm going to bed," I grumbled.

"To think about the one that got away in PRIVATE?"

"No, to elaborately plot your deaths."

"Awww! He's blushing!" Cassidy cried.

"I am not!"

"Look at him blush, you guys!"

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU," I yelled, exiting the café as quickly as possible.

"Ewww!" I heard Cassidy say. "Did he say he's still not over you? I'm so sorry, Tamira."