(Next day)
Louise woke up from Gene's very loud fart that someone on the other side of the ship could smell.
"Ugh Gene!" Louise groaned.
The two were the only ones in the small room. It was 10:24 a.m.
"Hey, when a Gene gotta go the Gene goes," Gene smirked.
"There's only one Gene," Louise smiled.
"Sorry for waking you."
"You could have just tapped me." Louise stood up, wearing just her long black with white flowers nightgown that Linda bought her.
"You came home real late last night."
After Louise left, Bob talked to the kids about the restaurant and told them everything will be ok. They didn't go after Louise, because Louise was well known for running off upset and going after her wasn't going to help anyone.
Once she came back, the family like everyone else on the ship was asleep. And good thing they were, because the man who escorted her wanted to be one hundred percent sure she was safe and she didn't need her family learning the lie that she knew they wouldn't be dumb enough to believe. So she changed and crawled into her bunk under Tina's.
"Where did you go?" Gene asked as he ate a whole mini chocolate chip muffin in one bite.
"I just went down the hallway for a while and calmed down," Louise lied.
"Oh," Gene shrugged. "What are we doing today?"
"I don't know, we can play tag again or something."
"Ok my boogers are ready. I'll give you a one minute head start."
"No boogers this time Gene."
He didn't listen.
"60...59...58," Gene started counting down.
"Damnit Gene!"
"57...56...54...53."
Louise grabbed her hoodie and black flats and ran out the room. She quickly put her shoes on as she ran down the hall and up the white metal stairs. Louise didn't know what number Gene was on, but all she knew was no Gene booger was going to touch her. She reached the decks and turned back to see if Gene was behind her. No one was. Gene was slow even while running, so she would have all the time she needed to relax. Louise walked around watching people, people laughing and enjoying their time. Louise was in her own thought as she wandered.
Minutes of wandering the ship, she came back to the spot of that night. The back of the ship.
Louise grabbed the railing, standing in the place of Logan. She looked at the water she was almost in. She closed her eyes and listened to the ocean waves hitting the the ship. She was frozen in this moment until a voice shocked her back to reality, making her jump. She turned around, ready to see a Gene with a booger on a finger, but instead was the suited man from that night. Lester Fletcher standing tall in front of her. He had a look of disapproval and disgust on his face.
"I thought I'd find you here, looking at the water again?" he asked with a mean tone in his voice. It was clearer than glass that he did not like her. Not at all.
"What can I say? Beauty is my weakness," Louise smirked.
"Isn't it everyone's? Well, I hope beauty can wait for tonight. Sir Logan has invited you and yourself only to dinner with his family and the captain tonight." Lester handed her a gold envelope. Louise looked down at the envelope.
"Logan?" She smiled.
"Yes, he invited you to dinner, probably to show everyone he's a hero."
Her smiled disappeared.
"Yes, a hero," she nod. "I don't think I can make it."
"I think the ocean will be fine with one less set of eyes. And think you've seen enough of water for a long time."
Louise gave a fake smile.
"Everyone will be having dinner, you'll just be eating with the upper class and the captain."
"What time is this dinner?"
"9, 9 tonight," Lester answered.
"Can I think about my answer?"
"My job is to invite you, not to care if you come. So you have the invitation, meaning I have done my job. Come or do not. Guess we'll know your answer at 9." Once those words left his mouth, he walked away, leaving Louise alone again, but with her looking at the envelope and thinking of her answer, she thought of Logan. And her train of thought was put on hold.
Louise had a mission. She forgot about the Gene hunter ready to booger her the second spotted. Louise walked all over the decks looking for someone.
Logan Bush.
She finally found him in the mid front of the ship, sitting in one of the white long lawn chairs, alone. He was in a white dress shirt and black pants. In those clothes he wasn't tanning or trying to. Louise quickly walked over to him, but Logan didn't notice her presents until he looked up from his phone.
Logan smiled at the sight of her.
"Hello," he said with a grin and put his phone in his right pocket. "Great to see you."
"Can we speak?" Louise wasn't going to waste time.
"Ok," he nod move over on the seat.
"Let's walk."
He nod and stood up next to her with a leather folder under his arm. They started walking silently until Louise spoke.
"You know I never got to thank you for saving my life."
"Now would be the perfect time."
"Thank you," she smiled.
"For?"
"What?" she asked confused.
"For what? What are you thanking me for?"
"For saving my life."
"Oh, did I do that?" he smiled.
"Duh," she laughed.
"Well then you're welcome."
"And for lying, I know that must have been sooo hard," she smirked.
"Been lying since I was born."
"Oh really," Louise asked sarcastically.
"You don't know me."
"Oh I know you, Barry."
She remembered his embarrassing middle name.
Logan laughed. Guess he wasn't ashamed of it anymore.
"My parents are so stupid," he said.
"Aww. Well if it helps, I love Barry."
"Logan Barry Bush?"
"Yep."
"Well, you're the only one."
"What?" she smiled. "Not even the soon to be Mrs. Logan Barry Bush?"
"I don't know, never told her."
"Ashamed or something?"
"Just didn't get around to it."
"How do you not get around to your full name?"
"I just didn't tell her."
"Well that isn't weird," she said sarcastically. "Tell me you at least you know her middle name."
"Something with a M, I guess," he shrugged.
"Wow," Louise laughed.
"Stop it," he smiled.
"Are you ever going to tell her?"
"Don't think so, why do you care?"
"I'm just saying, you're marrying this girl right?" he nod. "Then she should know. Really she should have known on the first date. If I was dating someone I'd-" he cut her off.
"Are you dating anyone?"
Louise laughed.
"No," she shook her head. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know, just curious," he shrugged.
"Well if we're being curious here, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what?"
"Are you happy?"
"What?"
"Are you happy? Yes or no?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Why would you not have answered already?"
"I am."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"But are you actually happy?"
"I said yes," he raised his voice.
Louise suddenly stopped walking.
Logan turned to her, walking back.
"Don't yell at me," she said.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Logan, are you happy?" she asked again.
"Yes."
"Logan Barry Bush, are you happy?"
"What do you want from me?"
"An answer."
"I said yes."
"I want the truth."
"I'm telling you the truth."
"Logan, I know we haven't seen each other in years, but I know you."
"Do you?"
"Yes, I know that 16 year old devil and I know you were happy. You had that light in your eyes. That light that shined brighter than the sun itself, but now nothing. So don't stand here and lie to my face."
"I'm fine."
"That's not what I asked. Are you happy?"
"I'm fine."
"Being fine and happy are two different things."
"Well then I can't answer that question."
"Yes you can."
"Then I don't want to answer."
"Why?"
"What gives you the right to ask me that?"
"The same right you have asking me if I'm seeing someone. Curiosity."
"Well be curious about something else."
"Fine," Louise shrugged.
"Thank you."
"Do you love her?"
"What?!"
"Do you love her? Your fiancé?"
"I'm marrying her."
"That's not the question."
"Why do you care?"
Louise shrugged.
"I don't know, curious."
"I only asked you one question."
"Actually you asked two."
"What?"
Louise showed him the gold envelope.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"If you answer the question."
Logan sighed.
"The answer doesn't matter."
"Yes it does."
"No it doesn't. No matter what I say, she'll be Mrs. Logan Barry Bush and I'll be married."
"What?"
"Do you know you're the first person I've talked to outside of this group circle I found myself in? My opinion stopped mattering once I met Charlotte."
"Your fiancé?"
He nod.
"You know hope?" he asked.
Louise nod.
"Why the caged bird sings or why the lost dream?"
"You read poetry?"
"Helps me think, passes the time. You know why they hope?"
"Why? Why do they hope?"
"Because of hearts. Funny you know. The mind it's so controlling, controls everything in the body, except the heart. The heart does its own thing. Even when the mind says it's over, give up. The heart says try again, keep going. The heart hopes even when everything else shuts down."
"Do you hope?"
"Everyone does. What do you want?"
"What?"
"What do you want to have one day?"
"My phone back."
"You hope you'll get it back. Sometimes you hope and don't even realize it. Everything you dream of, your goals, everything you wish for. You hope to have."
"What do you hope for?"
"That my voice will be heard."
"I hear you," Louise smiled.
Logan smiled back at her.
"Wanna see something?" Logan asked.
"What?"
"Come on," Logan told her, walking over to a row of white long lawn chairs, sitting down on one. Louise followed and sat down next to him. Logan handed her his leather folder.
"What is this?" Louise asked.
"Open it and see."
She did. It was a stack on drawings. The one on top was a man and a child on his shoulders. A father and daughter.
"Who are these people?" Louise asked smiling at the work.
"I don't know, strangers."
"They look so happy."
"Because they're real people. I drew this this morning. A father playing with his daughter."
Louise looked through the stack. Some of a rose or another person happy. She stopped once she saw one of a nude woman. There was no face. Louise looked up shocked at Logan.
"Is this?" Louise asked.
He shook his head.
"No, Charlotte won't let me draw her," Logan answered.
"Then who is this?"
"I don't know, another stranger."
"You draw nude strangers?"
"If they let me."
Louise kept looking, all the pictures after were a nude woman body part.
Louise stopped again on one of a woman's hand.
"Why just a hand?" she asked looking up him.
"Because it's beautiful."
"Do you know her?"
"Cinnamon."
"What?" Louise asked completely confused.
"Her name."
"Her name is Cinnamon?"
"Yep."
"Who names their child-" he cut her off.
"She's a hooker."
"Oh."
"Yeah a hooker with one arm."
"What happened to the other?"
"Her pimp cut it off."
"Oh."
"Yeah, cut off her beautiful arm. So I had to draw the hand before it was gone. I paid her two hundred dollars to draw her hand?"
"Did you sleep with her?"
"What?! No, she had herpes."
"Oh my goodness."
"Yeah, so I wasn't going to risk it with a condom."
"Sleep with the other's?"
"I didn't sleep with any woman I drew."
"Curious."
Louise went back to looking through them.
"They're all beautiful. You're amazing." she closed the folder and handed it to him. "You really are," she smiled.
"Thanks."
Louise stood up.
"Well, I guess I agreed to a dinner."
"You're coming?"
"We made a deal."
"You don't have to," Logan stood up.
"A free dinner, I'd have to be crazy not to agree," she laughed.
Logan laughed too.
They started walking again.
"You know I didn't see any animals in that folder. Do you draw them too?" Louise asked.
"No," he shook his head.
"Why?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"Can you draw them?"
"Yeah if I wanted to, what? Have a request?"
"My sister loves horses."
"Mmm, I'll think about it. Good choice. Horses are amazing. Ever rode one?"
"No."
"You should one day."
"Maybe you could teach me how."
"What about Tina?"
"I rather have you."
"Ok, I'll teach you, but no both legs on one side. One on each."
"Ok."
"Gotta ride like a cowboy not a woman in some romance movie."
"You gonna teach me how to ride like a man," Louise laughed. "I'm gonna be a tough cowgirl."
"Yep, I can teach you how to do everything how a man would do it."
"Burp?"
"If you wanna know."
"Good, because I wanna do a fart way better than my brother."
"Done."
"He's the king of farts."
"Not when I'm done teaching you. Anything else?"
"Teach me how to do a master spit, all I can do is baby spits."
"Got'ca, come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to one of the railings.
"Now?"
"Yeah. Ok so you have to push all the spit to the back of your throat. Then strongly push it out your mouth. Watch me." Logan did the steps, then spat out a big spit ball out into the ocean. "Now you."
Louise started the steps, but was interrupted by Logan.
"No you have to put it all the way back." He put his fingers on the front her neck. "Okay now spit." She did. It wasn't as strong as Logan's, but was good. "You're getting better, now you vs me, let's go!"
They both started spitting in the ocean. Soon people began staring. But they were too busy laughing and spitting. Too busy to notice that Cynthia and her crew, Dodie and Aubrey, were walking up to them. Once Cynthia saw Logan she gasped and almost fainted noticing he was with Louise.
"Logan!" she gasped behind them.
Logan quickly turned around to see his disgusted mother.
Louise gave her last spit, but it didn't make it pass her face, then turned with Logan.
"What the hell is happening here?" she hissed.
"Nothing," Logan quickly answered.
"Who is this?" Cynthia looked at Louise.
'Nice To see you too, you bitch,' Louise thought with the fakest smile she could make.
"Louise Belcher, a friend," Logan answered.
The name didn't look like it rang any bells.
"A friend? Her?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes, a friend who will be joining us for dinner tonight."
"Oh." Cynthia looked Louise up and down. Noticing the nightgown that was being wore for a dress. "Just hope she has clothes for the event. Logan! Let's go you have a meeting with - Sully," Cynthia snapped and started walking again.
"Bye," Logan sighed following his mother. One of the two followers left. Dodie stayed smiling at Louise. She looked at least 43.
"Hi, name's Dodie, but everyone calls me Dod." She had a country accent.
"Louise."
"Why what a beautiful name. Do you know what you'll be wearing for tonight's dinner?"
"This," Louise shrugged.
"Oh sweetie let me help you," she begged.
"Huh?"
"What size are you a three or four? I'm a four. I bet you could fit me, come on let's pretty you up."
Dodie grabbed her arm and pulled her.
"Wow, you're strong," Louise said as she was pulled.
"Having five boys makes you strong."
"Oh my gosh, don't you know of a product called condoms?"
"Once you're married you throw safe sex out the window."
"Awe, ok you're hurting me."
"Sorry, guess I'm really strong," Dodie giggled.
"I'll say."
xXxXx
"There!" Dodie cheered. "You look beautiful, you'll be the prettiest woman there."
"I don't think I should up stage Charlotte," Louise smirked.
"Well I tried to dress Charlotte, she didn't listen, so you up stage the crap out her. Plus this dinner isn't about her."
"I'm not even sure I should go to this thing."
"What?! Is it Cynthia? Trust me she may look scary and she is."
"Well that was helpful," Louise laughed.
Dodie laughed too.
"You don't worry about her or anyone else."
"Do you think Logan would like this?"
"Why do you think I picked it?" Dodie smirked. "Okay now mirror time." Dodie pulled Louise to the full size mirror on the wall in her suite.
It was a velvet V-neck long dress with sleeves that stopped right above the elbow. Her hair was down in beautiful big curls. Finishing the outfit with black 2 inch heels.
"Wow," Louise gasped looking in the mirror.
"That's what everyone will be saying," Dodie smiled in her orange long dress.
"This is amazing."
"Thank you," she bowed. "Guess envy's coming to dinner too."
Louise laughed.
"Well come on before we're late."
Louise smiled at herself in the mirror one more time before they left.
"Come on, let everyone else see you," Dodie laughed.
xXxXx
They walked to the dining hall together. When they arrived t was 8:58, so they were on time. Dodie rushed to a man in a grey suit, who Louise guessed was her husband since she kissed him.
Louise walked down the polished wooden stairs slowly, trying not to fall in the heels. Most of the people who were joining them were already sitting at the large table.
Logan turned back in his seat next to Charlotte and saw Louise struggling to safely walk down the stairs. He stood up from the table, making everyone at the table turn to see what caught his eye. Logan was breathless just like everyone else.
Dodie smirked at the response of her work.
Logan walked up to Louise.
"Wow," Logan gasped.
"Close your mouth," Louise smirked lifting up his jaw.
"You look so- wow."
"Logan, you're drooling."
He wiped his mouth.
"We should go sit down," Louise whispered feeling everyone's eyes.
Logan nervously nod.
"Well here goes everything," Louise said to herself as they walked, listening to her heels as they hit the wooden floor, but her heart beat being the loudest thing she hears.
"Here goes everything," Logan thought to himself.
xXxXx
End of Chapter 3
a/n: I know posting this chapter is really early. It's like 1 in the morning, but I was just soo excited about this chapter. I couldn't wait it update this story! And I can't wait for next Thursday, now it's becoming my new favorite day. I hope you guys enjoyed. And that you have a happy new year! Please Review. Next chapter coming soon.