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Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Originals. I just like to play around with the characters sometimes. I only own the ideas of the story...well maybe not own. But they come from my mind in this particular story.

Chapter 7 - Tastes of Guilt and Victory

Hayley was in the midst of a very nice dream when she was awoken by something smacking her in the face. Her eyes flew open and she rolled over to come face to face with Keelin. Not just any Keelin. An angry Keelin. Something Hayley never liked seeing. They both were very well charged in the anger department.

"What the hell was that?" Hayley asked, looking around and noticing a pillow on the floor next to the bed.

"You had no fucking right to do what you did last night!" Keelin hissed, clenching her fists by her side.

Hayley narrowed her eyes, confused. "What are you talking about? What did I do?"

She didn't remember much of last night. Her mind was blurry. At least she didn't have a hangover headache again though. That was a definite plus. But she clearly did something to make Keelin this angry.

Keelin reached forward and handed Hayley her phone. "That ring a bell?" she asked sarcastically.

Hayley's eyes widened as the events of the previous night suddenly flashed before her eyes. Slapping herself on her forehead, Hayley groaned. "Oh god. I thought that was just a bad dream I was having."

"Think again!"

"Keelin, I'm sorry," Hayley apologized, handing her phone back to her. "I did not do that on purpose. It was the alcohol. I swear."

Keelin shook her head, snatching her phone back. "I can't believe you!"

Hayley sighed as she sat up. "I am not trying to start anything with you, but why does it even matter to you that I sent that picture of you and Freya to Sam?"

"Because it does," Keelin answered quickly, too quickly.

"That is not a real answer, Keels," Hayley pointed out. You do not love Sam. And we both damn well know that Sam is just using you.

Keelin stood there silently staring at her.

"I am not at all trying to excuse my actions," Hayley continued. "I'm just saying what I am thinking. You should at least think about my words. Is there a chance that you're actually not as mad at me for sending that picture and more mad at the fact that you now no longer have Sam to fall back on anymore?"

Keelin opened her mouth to say something but no words or sound came out.

"Again, I am not trying to start anything or excuse what I did," Hayley assured her. "I am simply just putting that out there."

Shaking her head, Keelin turned around and stormed over to the door. "I can not do this right now."

"Keelin, wait!" Hayley called after her.

Keelin stopped, her hand on the door knob, turning partially to look at Hayley. "Don't expect to see me for the rest of the day."

With that, she swung open the door and rushed out. The door rattled on its hinges as it slammed behind her.

Hayley huffed and fell backwards onto the bed. She reached behind her onto the floor to grab the pillow Keelin had thrown on her and slammed it down over her face.

~AllAtSea~

Hayley spent the next hour or two laying in bed wallowing over her drunken mistake. This was worse than sleeping with a random guy while drunk. Going behind her friend's back was way worse. Sending that make out picture to Sam seemed like a great idea in Hayley's mind at the time. Now not so much.

Sighing, Hayley sat up and proceeded to get dressed. Her wallowing all day was not going to help anything. She would give Keelin the time and space she needed. But that didn't mean she was going to sit around and do nothing. Nope. Instead, she decided she was going to find Elijah. She really needed someone to talk to.

Once she was dressed, Hayley left the room in search of Elijah. After a little while of looking around, she finally found him in the ship's library room. In hindsight, knowing he's a professor, she should've looked in the library right after she didn't find him in his room. But that meant nothing now.

"Hi," Hayley said as she fell back onto the couch next to him, crossing her arms.

Cocking an eyebrow at her, he asked, "Bad morning?"

"You can say that again." Hayley groaned.

"What happened?" Elijah questioned, closing the book he was reading.

"Well, first, Keelin woke me up at eight in the morning. Then she proceeded to get mad at me for a drunken mistake that I made last night. Which by the way, I am not saying that what I did was right, but I actually did her a favor."

"Why is she mad at you if you did her a favor?"

Hayley sighed. "I could have definitely went about it another way."

"That explains a lot."

"What do you mean?" Hayley asked, turning her head to stare at him.

"I did not hear exactly what was being said, but I woke up to Freya and Keelin talking out on the balcony. Your friend did not seem to be in the best of moods."

Raising her hand, Hayley said, "You are looking at the reason."

Elijah chuckled. "From what I have seen of your friendship so far, I'm sure you two will make up in no time."

Hayley frowned. "Usually I would agree, but I don't know about this time." With a sigh, Hayley said in a somewhat hopeful tone, That is unless Freya can manage to talk her down from the proverbial edge that I unintentionally drove her onto."

"That bad huh?"

"I caught her and Freya making out," Hayley informed him.

Elijah turned to her, his facial expression one of shock.

"I was going to tell you last night, but wanted to be sober so I could gloat about winning the bet and remember it." She sighed. "I just didn't expect for today to start off how it did."

"Why do I get the impression that you catching them has something to do with why Keelin is mad at you?"

Hayley turned away to hide her face as she quietly answered, "Because it does."

"How exactly?"

"I took a picture and sent it to Sam."

"Sam?"

"Did I never mention Sam to you?"

"Not that I recall."

"Must have been Freya I mentioned her to then," Hayley said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Who is Sam?"

Hayley looked back to Elijah. "Her on and off, not really ever true girlfriend from back home."

"They're off currently?"

Hayley nodded. "Of course! I would've never stood back and let her pursue Freya if she wasn't single," she assured him. "I've been cheated on and used before, I would never knowingly let a friend or someone close to be act in such a way."

Elijah smiled, happy with what she said.

"Yeah, so, I took a picture of them and sent it to Sam," Hayley admitted. "Apparently, Sam must've texted or called Keelin, and it all went downhill from there."

"I understand why she's not happy with you."

"I do, too," Hayley said, sighing. "I don't know if I'd get this angry though. Everyone knows Sam is not right for her. She knows it as well, whether she wants to see it or not."

"Sometimes you have to let people learn things the hard way," Elijah said thoughtfully. "Even if that person is someone close to you."

Hayley offered him a small smile. "I guess you're right," she agreed. "Thanks for listening to and giving me some advice for the future."

Elijah smiled back. "Don't mention it. I'm all ears anytime you need someone to talk to."

~AllAtSea~

Hayley spent a little while longer hanging out with and talking to Elijah before deciding to go back to her room. She really needed to think some things through without anyone else around. Maybe watch some tv and clear her head while she waited and hoped that Keelin would call her or return to the room. She knew it was highly unlikely at this point, but she could hope.

Exiting the elevator on her room hall, she ran straight into Freya.

"I'm sorry," Hayley immediately apologized. "My head is all over the place right now."

Freya nodded her head in understanding.

"Have you seen Keelin?" Hayley asked curiously.

"Not yet," Freya answered. "I'm going to meet her right now."

Hayley looked at the ground and anywhere but at Freya. "Do you at least know what happened?"

"Keelin texted me."

"Can you tell her that I said sorry again, please. I really do feel bad for hurting her."

"I will do that.

"Thank you, Freya."

"No problem."

Freya's phone dinged. "Well, Keelin is waiting. I should go."

Hayley nodded. "Okay. See you later sometime."

"You, too," Freya said, stepping around her and entering the elevator.

Once she heard the doors close, Hayley continued towards her room.

~AllAtSea~

Just as Keelin had told Hayley, Hayley didn't see her for the rest of the day. Well, not face to face. She'd seen Keelin with Freya when she'd gone to get something to eat. But she ended up getting her food and taking it back to the room. Hayley really did want to give Keelin her space.

By time the sun went down and the moon came up, Hayley felt like she had gotten cabin fever. A walk sounded pretty good to her. The fresh air and smell of the ocean would do her much good.

Changing into a comfortable outfit, she grabbed her phone and room key and left the room. She was surprised to find Elijah walking towards her as she turned to make her way down the hall.

She smiled. "Hello again, Elijah."

Elijah smiled back. "Hello again to you as well, Hayley."

"Are you going somewhere?"

"I was actually coming to see you."

"Oh? You were?"

Elijah nodded as he finally reached her, stopping in front of her. "I wanted to check and make sure you are still doing alright."

"Once a gentlemen, always a gentlemen."

"I aim to please." Elijah grinned before turning to a more serious expression. "Have you seen or heard from Keelin yet?"

Hayley shook her head and sighed. "I don't think I'll see her before tomorrow."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Hayley opened her mouth to say something else but didn't get the chance. Behind Elijah she heard two females laughing. The sounds got closer with every passing second.

Looking around Elijah, Hayley's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

Noticing the look on her face, Elijah turned to look towards what Hayley was gaping at.

What were the chances that Hayley would end up baring witness to Keelin and Freya going at it two nights in a row? Apparently very possible since that's what was happening right then.

Keelin and Freya stopped in front of Freya and Elijah's bedroom door, pulling apart just long enough for Freya to unlock the door. Once the door was unlocked, Freya grabbed Keelin and pulled her to her, kissing her like she was what she needed to breathe to say alive. Freya backed into the room, pulling Keelin with her without breaking the kiss.

The sound of the door slamming shut brought Hayley back to reality. She looked at Elijah just as he turned around to face her again. The look on his face, if Hayley had to guess, was the same look that she had on hers.

"Are you sure that you did not stage what happened last night in order to make sure you won our bet?"

Looking at him with a mock glare, Hayley replied, "I am quite devious, but I am not that devious."

Elijah cocked an eyebrow. "So you say."

"Haha. I would not cause a fight with my best friend just to win a bet," she told him. "And even if I was that devious, there is no way I could have ever predicted that it would lead to them hooking up."

"That is true," Elijah agreed. "Well, it seems I won't be going back to my room for a while," he mused.

Hayley nodded. "You can spend however long with me," Hayley offered. "I was about to go for a walk. You could come with and then we can come back and hang out in my room."

"That sounds good to me."

Smiling, Hayley replied, "Sounds good to me, too."

Reaching out and offering Hayley his hand, Elijah asked, "Shall we?"

Taking his hand without hesitation, not missing the electric like spark suddenly coursing through her body, Hayley responded, "We shall."

~AllAtSea~

"Thanks for keeping me company during my walk," Hayley said with a smile on her face as she and Elijah made their way back to her room.

"Anytime," he replied sincerely. "In fact, I have come to look forward to walks with you."

Hayley could feel the blush creeping onto her face. "Likewise," Hayley agreed. "Maybe we should agree to at least one walk together a day for the remainder of the cruise?"

Elijah grinned. "I much like that idea."

"Great. I will be looking forward to those walks," Hayley said, unlocking her room door. "Come on in."

The second they walked into the room, they could hear the noises coming through the wall. Freya and Keelin were extremely loud. Hayley hadn't realized just how close their rooms were before now.

"Not weird at all," Hayley said, trying not to laugh.

"Not awkward either," Elijah added, also holding back a laugh.

"So um... the pool on deck 12 is hosting an outdoor movie night tonight," Hayley said, already on her way to get her bathing suit. "We can go there."

Elijah didn't hesitate in shaking his head and agreeing with her. "I am up for anything that gets me out of here."

Pulling her bathing suit out of the drawer, she rushed to the bathroom, calling behind her. "Let me change into my bathing suit and we will go."

"Take your time."

Stopping and turning back, Hayley laughed. "In most cases I would take my time, but..." More noises through the wall stopped her from continuing her sentence.

Elijah chuckled nervously, looking anywhere but at her.. "I will be here."

"I will literally be just a minute."

~AllAtSea~

Arriving at the pool, Hayley couldn't not laugh as she caught sight of the movie screen. The movie playing out on the screen was not one she'd ever expect to see playing while out in the middle of the ocean. What was the person in charge thinking?

"What the hell are they thinking playing that movie?" Hayley wondered out loud. "Of all the movies they could choose, why that one?"

"The better question would be, why are so many people here watching it?" Elijah said with a chuckle.

"Maybe they are escaping their sibling and friend hooking up next door as well," Hayley joked, finding an unoccupied lounge chair and sitting down.

Elijah played along as he sat down in the empty one next to her. "In that case, they all came to the right place."

"Right." Hayley agreed, laughing. "Watching a movie about a ship that sinks while on an actual ship is so much better than listening to two people have sex in the next room."

"Especially if one of those people are family."

"Keelin is like a sister to me, so I kind of get what you mean. I have lived with her, more or less, my whole life. This is actually quite normal for her."

"Hooking up?"

Hayley laughed. "Being loud."

"Oh, yes, right."

They both laughed at that.

"I'm going to go float in the pool," Hayley said, standing up and stretching her arms. "Do you want to come with?"

Elijah shook his head. "No, you go ahead."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

"Suit yourself then." Hayley shrugged, pulling her cover up dress over off. She didn't miss the way Elijah's eyes roamed over her body. "See something you like?"

Elijah immediately looked up at her. The look on his face was a mix between shock that she'd seen him and also guilt that she'd caught him. She also saw a hint of appreciation.

Giving him a small smile, she assured him, "You don't have to feel guilty about looking me over. Trust me, you're not the first one to do it. You are however the first to actually look guilty when I caught you."

"I should not have stared without your permission."

"It's fine, Elijah. I promise." Hayley grinned. "I'm glad you like what you see."

Before Elijah could say something else, Hayley walked off to go get a pool raft.

~AllAtSea~

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to come relax in here with me?" Hayley called to Elijah who was sitting on the edge of the pool with his feet in the water. "It's very calming to float in a pool on a ship that's floating in the ocean."

"I'm good sitting here," Elijah replied, waving her off. "You enjoy the calming float."

"Suit yourself," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "A bet loser like yourself probably should sit on the side of the pool now that I think about it."

"What did you say?"

"You heard me."

Elijah stood up. "I did hear you. I just want to give you a chance to change your words."

Hayley raised an eyebrow. "Or what?"

"Or else."

"Or else what?"

Before she knew what was happening, a wave of water had her falling off of the raft she was on. Coming up from under, she spit out the water that got into her mouth during the tip over.

"What the hell?" she asked, erupting in laughter as Elijah swam over to her. "You could've warned me."

"I did."

"No, you didn't."

"I said or else."

"That could've meant anything," Hayley pointed out, moving her arms and kicking her feet to stay afloat. "I would have never expected that to mean you'd jump in and send me flying off my raft."

"Your reaction was much more real this way."

"You jerk!" Hayley exclaimed, pushing a wave of water at him. "See how you like it." She laughed splashing him over and over again a few more times.

"You better stop that," Elijah warned in a teasing tone.

"Or what?"

"Do you really want to do this again?"

Hayley grinned mischievously at him. "Or what?"

Once again, Elijah didn't give her any indication he was about to move in on her. She was again submerged under water, his hands gently on her shoulders, dunking her under.

"Damn it! I should've seen that coming," Hayley said, reemerging from below the surface.

Deciding that she wasn't going to get out smarted by him a third time, without a word, Hayley launched herself at him. She knew she'd taken him by surprise due to the fact she was able to take him under so easily.

That action led to what felt like hours of back and forth play in the pool. Hayley honestly didn't remember the last time she had this much fun and laughed with a guy. She had never had this kind of fun with Jackson. Elijah really did seem like a one of a kind guy in her life. Never had she met someone like Elijah before. He was often times so serious, but he could be so much fun, too. He was a little bit of everything. He was someone she could definitely see herself falling for. If she wasn't already.

"Okay, stop! Stop!" Hayley exclaimed, feeling her entire body almost give out; All of this fun was a big workout.

"Give up?"

Hayley shook her head. "I don't give up. My mind is all in it," Hayley insisted. "My body, however, hurts."

"Now we can't have that." Elijah smiled, moving closer to her.

"No, we can not. I'd rather not drowned from my body giving up and sinking me to the bottom."

"I'd go down and get you."

"I have no doubt that you would." Hayley smiled. "I can't recall a time that I'd had this much fun."

"Neither can I."

"I'm very happy that I decided to come on this vacation," Hayley said, feeling herself move even closer to him.

"So am I," Elijah agreed also seeming to move closer to her. "I almost didn't."

Hayley licked her lips, looking from Elijah's lips to his eyes and back to his lips before settling on his eyes. "I'm happy you did come."

A rush of excitement coursed through her body upon seeing Elijah's eyes travel the same path on her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't really want to kiss him right then. And it was clear he wanted to kiss her, too. But was it too soon? She'd only known him less than a week. Usually she didn't kiss someone this soon unless it didn't mean anything. This thing between her and Elijah felt like something. She wouldn't kiss him now and ruin whatever could be. As much as it pained her to do, she couldn't let this happen. Not this soon.

"We should probably go back to the room," Hayley said, breaking eye contact.

Elijah nodded his head in agreement.

Without a word, they both swam over to the ladders on opposite sides and climbed out of the pool.

"That was a close one," Hayley thought to herself making her way over to where there things were just as Elijah held out a towel to her. She took it, flashing a brief smile at him.

Hayley wasn't going to deny the fact that she was very much attracted to Elijah. But after all that happened with her ex, she didn't know if she could take another heartbreak. She and Elijah were bound to go their separate ways after the cruise was over. Hayley wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle it if she let herself get too involved with Elijah. A kiss would no doubt bring her that much more involved with him.

Judging by the way Elijah also pulled away, Hayley wondered if he was thinking the same thing. Hayley was suddenly more curious as to what Elijah's relationship status. He never mentioned a relationship. Him being a gentlemen and all, Hayley was sure he would've told her if he wasn't available. He didn't give her a player vibe in even the slightest.

Or maybe he was even in a similar situation as she was? Did he have an ex that he wasn't too fond of currently? So many possibilities. But Hayley didn't feel right asking him about such a thing. After all, it was none of her business unless he wanted to tell her himself.

~AllAtSea~

Arriving back to the room, Hayley made a beeline to the her dresser. "I should have something for you to wear in here," she said looking back over her shoulder towards him.

Elijah eyed her, looking a tad bit confused, "I'm not sure I'd fit into or look good in any of your clothes."

Hayley laughed, turning back to rummage through the drawer. "You might just be surprised."

"It wouldn't be the first time you surprised me."

"I assure you that it won't be the last either." Finding what she was looking for, Hayley turned and held out a pair of sweatpants to him. "Here. You can wear these."

Staring at her, he hesitantly reached forward and took the from her. Giving them a once over, he looked at her with an inquisitive expression.

"What?" Hayley questioned, shrugging her shoulders. "Men's sweatpants are more baggy and comfy. And they have pockets which for some reason women's sweats do not."

Elijah nodded. "If you say so."

"You can change first. I'll go second."

"I will only take a minute."

"I am in no rush."

~AllAtSea~

"You can sleep in Keelin's bed tonight," Hayley said when she returned from the bathroom. "I highly doubt that she will be returning tonight."

Elijah stood there staring at the bed hesitantly.

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing," he replied. "It's just that I am not sure that I feel comfortable sleeping in her bed without her own permission."

"Once again, you are a total gentlemen." Hayley smiled, walking over to her own bed. "You can sleep in my bed with me then."

Elijah coughed nervously. "Um. I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

Hayley rolled her eyes. "I promise I don't bite," she assured him, pulling the covers down. "Plus, I'm offering and I have faith that you will not try anything. Otherwise, I would not have offered."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

Nodding her head, Hayley replied as she crawled into bed, getting comfortable under the covers, "Absolutely sure." She patted the bed next to her. "I wouldn't say I was if I was not."

"If you are sure," Elijah said, making his way over to the bed.

Hayley laughed. "Just get in bed and go to sleep," she said, reaching over and turning off the lamp light.

She could feel the other half of the bed dip as Elijah laid down. A smile that she couldn't, nor even tried to keep from forming, came over her lips. Something about him being in the bed with her made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"Goodnight, Elijah."

"Goodnight, Hayley."

Anyone know what movie was playing? Let me know what you thought of the chapter!