Sometimes alcohol is the push we need to do what we can't do sober...
But, does it have to get to that point?
Where do we get courage the rest of the time?
Heart. Don't fail me now.
Lights hung in both sides of the pool on the stern of the ship. The chorus of Like Ah Boss blasted from the speakers, the ping pong table had turned into a beer pong table, the milkshake bar had turned into a real bar and most importantly, the alcohol was well hidden in ice containers with a 'fish' label. As long as nobody had too much to drink and the staff didn't suspect anything, they would be fine; of course... 60 teenagers alone in a ship... what was the worst thing that could happen? As far as the staff knew, it was only a small party.
Rose arrived to the entrance of the RMS with her hair down in beachy waves, a stunning red short dress that showed off her curves and a low v cut neck that accentuated her features, combined with black heels. Jack complimented her, struggling to get the words out of his mouth. "You look beautiful, more than usual, you are always beautiful"
Rose blushed and took his hand, he led her to the outside deck, the music getting louder as they got closer. They approached the snack table when the sweet acute voice of Chef Cartmell's daughter exclaimed:
"Uncle Jack!"
"Cora? What are you doing here? Where's your dad?" Jack answered, troubled
"Daddy said I could get a snack if I finished my cereal"
"Where is he?"
"In the kitchen... Who are you?" Cora asked innocently. Of course, she hadn't seen this person before, the logic thing for her was to ask who she was.
"Cora, this is Rose"
"Hi auntie Rose" Jack's eyes grew open. She thinks we're together? God. Rose is wearing her ring... she's going to think we're married now! Wait... does she know what a ring means yet? The single idea of marrying Rose sent chills through his body.
"Hi beautiful! it's so nice to meet you!"
"Hey! Have you seen Fabrizio? I've been looking everywhere for him" Helga arrived accompanied by Tommy
"Is it safe for a toddler to be around us while we drink?"
"I wouldn't know Tommy... because we are NOT drinking." Jack said, emphasizing the last words. Luckily, Tommy got the hint. Jack saw out of the corner of his eye the little girl was reaching out to grab a brownie... his experience knew better.
"Wait! Cora! Um... the brownies are yucky, we don't eat them"
"But i want a brownie..."
"How about we dance instead? Yes? Sounds fun?"
Cora giggled and took his hand to lead him to the dance floor where they danced to a couple songs, Jack twirling her around. Tommy invited the girls to sit at a table and brought them drinks and chips.
"I'm gonna dance with her now, okay?" Jack said to Cora, who showed a disappointed look on her face.
"How about we go to the dining room and play with your dolls? Yes?" Helga interfered. The young one gave Jack one last glance
"You're still my best girl Cora" the toddler smiled and followed Helga inside to another deck. Dutty Wine started playing. Jack grabbed Rose's hand and led her to the dance floor.
"Wait! I don't know the steps"
"Neither do I, just go with it"
Rose stood puzzled in the middle of the dance floor, she felt like a fish out of the water... Jack started dancing around her, shimming his shoulders and making faces in an attempt to make her laugh. She watched diverted how the other one moved.
"I can't do this!"
"We're gonna have to get a little bit closer" he placed a hand on her back and moved her body closer. When he was positive she wasn't uncomfortable, he started moving his hips side to side. She followed his movement and rested her arms around his neck.
Jack's hands traveled to her hips as they kept dancing. "Don't think" he whispered on Rose's ear. The fierce redhead turned around, made sure Jack's hands were still on her hips, and started moving against him.
They didn't last dancing like that for too long, eventually Jack turned around and swung her across the floor. A couple of songs later, they started to play an Irish gig, Tommy jumped delighted to the dance floor along with a few other Irish guys, they seemed to be in their own world. So as Jack and Rose. Jack started Irish dancing, Rose took off her shoes and imitated the footwork, God she's amazing, hethought, then grabbed her hands and spun her around until they ended up falling in each other's arms.
The pair got thirsty and sweaty, and the song had ended. Jack spotted a table, collected two red cups and gave one to Rose, who finished the drink in less than 9 seconds, showing off.
"What? You think a first-class girl can't drink?"
They laughed. Some guys were arm wrestling on the high table and spilled beer all over Rose's dress. Jack told them off and tried to fix the mess; although the beer was clearly spilled in the front, he made sure there was none of it on the back, teasing her to see how she reacted.
"So" Rose screamed, making sure her voice was louder than the music "you think you're big though man?" the cocky girl grabbed a random guy's cigarette and took a big drag "Let's see you do this"
In her stocking feet she assumed a ballet stance, arms raised, and went up on pointe, taking her entire weight on the tips of her toes. The guys gasped at her incredible muscle control. She came back down in pain and laughter. Jack caught her.
"Aaah! I haven't done that in years!"
When Tommy finally arrived, he pulled Jack to the side, indicating it was a delicate matter.
"I found Fabrizio, he's on the basketball court with some girls... he's acting really weird"
Jack understood it was frowned upon when a guy was in a relationship and he was surrounded by girls in a party, but he trusted his friend. To calm Tommy's nerves, he agreed to go check on him. Besides, he hadn't seen his friend all day, he wanted to make sure he was doing alright.
"I'll be right back, alright? Stay with Tommy"
He told Rose, and with a nod from Tommy he left to the basketball court.
The group was talking somewhat uproarious, undoubtedly drawing attention to anyone than passed by. Fabrizio spotted Jack from a distance.
"Hey Jack! Come join us!"
"Hey... girls can I take him for a quick sec? Thanks" The other ones teased him. Don't they know he has a girlfriend? Jack thought
"How you feelin'?"
"I'm feeling fabulous darling, how about you?" The other one was taken aback by this new attitude
"How much have you had to drink?"
"Just a couple of shots and a few beers, nothing too bad"
"What? We all agreed to sticking to 2 beers per person. This is not like you" Jack scolded
"Oh c'mon, we just wanna have fuuuun" he sang the last part, moving Jack's arms along with him. Jack wasn't having it. His friend's seductive looks wouldn't change his poker face. He had left Rose, whom he had invited.
"Please tell me you did not try the brownies"
"I tried one, but I didn't like it" Jack sighed. His friend was under the influences of substances he hadn't consumed in his life. They had talked about this many times, Jack tried to educate Fabrizio in some things, and advised him when and how to try this stuff. He also knew for a fact Fabrizio hadn't had dinner, another reason why he shouldn't have abused. If someone from the ship's staff saw him, they would all be sunk.
Excusing himself, he escorted his best friend to their cabin so he could cool off. He ignored the teasing in the background. As carefully as they could, they made their way to the cabin. Fabrizio swore he hadn't felt this good in his life. Jack listened to the rambling as he turned on the shower.
"Come here, you're drunk"
"Wait, what?"
"You're gonna take a shower"
"Step out of the bathroom then"
"You can't even walk straight, I'm scared you're gonna fall-"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WALK STRAIGHT?"
"I MEANT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. What are you talking about?"
"I just... just... I'll shower if you want but step out of the bathroom"
"Dude, I won't leave you alone all drunk and high"
"I'M NOT HIGH!" Fabrizio shouted.
To say Jack was perplexed was an understatement. They were silent for a minute... until the Italian explained "I said that because I didn't want the girls to think I was... well... a pussy"
"Why would you care what other people think?"
"I just... I don't know"
Fabrizio broke down in tears. He sat on the couch. Not long after, Jack joined him and put a comforting arm around him. "I didn't even drink the two cups... I drank one." Jack knew his friend wouldn't break his promise.
But that only meant he was just uninhibited. He was being his most sincere self.
Jack understood what he had done. And he surely felt miserable about it. Don't judge other people, it was as simple as that... if Fabrizio wanted me to know something, he would tell me... but Jack wasn't born yesterday. He recognized the panic when he undressed in front of his friend, he just hadn't thought about it too much. Although he also knew the young one didn't have any brothers or sisters, so the obvious reaction would be a little embarrassment.
Just. Stop assuming things.
Fabrizio was his best friend, and he loved him as such. He couldn't stand to see him cry, to see him broken. Why was he broken? Could it be the same reason Jack ran away from home all those years ago?