Chapter 2

Tara surveyed the deck in front of her. It was hustling and bustling, with people of all different ages and nationalities hurrying on past, or just sitting and looking at the cool blue water. Her feet ached and she longed to sit down. But there were no benches up here on deck, and she couldn't go to her cabin. It was all the way down in steerage, third class quarters. The White Star Line officials had told the girls that they would be happy to accommodate their "unusual needs" as they put it, once they had accommodated all the other steerage passengers. Although Tara and Cate could both manage stairs pretty well, they had opted to stay with Mary and Kerry until the officials could carry the two girls down the stairs to the steerage quarters. Tara leaned over the railing a little so she could see the ripples in the calm water.

"Better take a good look. It's probably the last time you'll be up here." said a voice from behind her. Tara jumped at the unexpected sound. She spun around to face the unknown speaker, who she found to be startlingly good-looking.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" asked the boy. He was incredibly handsome, with dark hair and even darker eyes. His jaw was firm and square, and his olive skin was completely clear, with no trace of the usual blemishes and pimples of adolescence.

"It's no big deal." Tara stammered, acutely aware of the zits scattering across her own face. "I have a startle reflex...it comes with having a disability like mine, I guess. I have cerebral palsy, you know. It's a disability that affects my muscles and stuff. So part of that disability is a startle reflex. I jump at every little thing. So it's no big deal." As soon as she finished talking, Tara felt a blush creep up her cheeks. Oh, god, I was babbling. He probably thinks I'm mentally retarded. Well, that makes two people who I've given that impression to today. I'm on a roll.

"It's ok." the boy said. He smiled, and Tara nearly fainted. He had an adorable dimple at the corner of his mouth when he smiled. Then she realized he was talking again.

"Anyway, third class passengers aren't usually allowed up on deck. They have their own dining room and stuff down in steerage. So that's why I said this is probably the last time you'll be up here. So, are you Tara Kelly?"

Is that my name? Tara wondered for a minute before snapping back to reality. God, just because an extremely cute boy looks at me, I completely lose my head. I disgust myself.

"Uh...yeah." she stammered again. "Yeah, that's my name." The cute boy looked at her strangely, but went on.

"My brother wants me to tell you that he's ready to bring you and your friends down to steerage now."

"Your...brother?" Tara said faintly. She was having a bit of trouble processing information with the cutest boy in the world standing right next to her, talking to her.

"Yeah. My brother Ricky. He's a White Star Line official." the boy explained.

"Oh." Tara searched around for something more intelligent to say. "Okay." she added. "Tell him that me and my friends will meet him at the stairs in ten minutes."

"Sure." he replied. He hesitated for a minute before asking his question.

"Um...I know we just met and everything, but would you like to hang out tonight?" Tara nearly fell over. Oh my god, he's asking me out! Well, say something! Don't just stand there like an idiot!

"Uh...sure, I'd love to." she said. A thought struck her then. "But what about my friends? I don't want to leave them out." The boy smiled that adorable smile again.

"I have it all figured out. I have three other friends. We can quadruple-date."

"Cool!" Tara exclaimed. As the boy turned to leave, she caught him by the arm.

"Wait. You know my name. What's yours?"

"Oh." he said. "My name is Anthony. Anthony Marzocchi. Oh, and how old are you? Just out of curiosity."

"I'm..." Tara started. What's my name, what's my name! "13. Well, 14. Today's my birthday."

"I'm 16." Anthony replied. "Happy birthday, Tara. My friends and I will meet you in steerage, you're not allowed up in the first class where we are. See you tonight." Then he turned and walked across the deck. Tara stared after him for a moment, then raced to tell her friends that the cutest guy alive had just asked her out.

A/N: Thank you, goldenirishbelle, for lifting my writer's block! As always, review! Oh by the way, I made a few changes to Ch. 1 that you might want to check out. Review!