I DO NOT OWN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS STORY BESIDES THE OC'S.
Tara's Point of View-
We got to the cruise ship just in time, I grabbed Chris's crutches and I looked to Alex who was still sitting there pissed off.
"Don't worry about him, he's not used to being snapped at." Chris said in a whisper.
"I didn't mean to snap."
"I know..." Chris said.
"You need help ma'am?" The guy asked as he held out a stool.
"Yes please." I said as he placed it in front of me, I pulled myself up and grabbed Chris's crutches dragging them with me up the ladder. I got to the top looking down seeing Alex and Chris climbing up the ladder. When Chris got to the top, I handed him his crutches and I stuck my hand out to help Alex but he ignored it.
"Alex dude, you don't have to ignore the lady, she was trying to help and protect me." Chris said.
"Whatever man." Alex said walking past us after he pulled himself onto the ship.
"Sorry Alex!" I exclaimed after him and nothing.
"Don't worry about him, he'll get over it…let's worry about my leg, I think it's drying." Chris said.
"Yeah, let's hurry." I said as we went and found a map finding a way to get to first aide, I led Chris to first aide and he was wincing from the drying of the cast, which led to the cast shrinking in on his skin and the stinging of the salt water in or on his scar and of the salt that was drying to his skin from the water.
"What's wrong?" A female behind the counter at first aide asked.
"Chris here went into the ocean with his cast…he needs a new one or a splint along with rinsing out his scar." I stated.
"Alright, Chris come on over here, I'll call the doctor down." She said as she led him to the one of two beds they had, I checked my phone seeing it was 6 PM now.
"You can leave if you want." Chris said as I slid my phone back into my pocket walking over to stand beside him.
"And leave you?" I asked smirking as I tried not to worry about Alex.
"Why do you care about me so much?" Chris asked.
"You haven't given me a reason not to and once a patient, always a patient." I said smirking.
"I would hug you but I'm in pain." Chris said as the lady rolled me a seat and I sat down holding Chris's hand. "Why are you holding my hand?" Chris asked.
"For you to squeeze when you get pain." I said.
"I'm a big boy and I'm not pregnant with contractions." Chris said when the door opened seeing a male walk into the room.
"What do we have here?" He asked as he went to the counter washing his hands and pulling gloves on.
"I got pushed into the ocean, my scar is stinging and the cast feels like its tightening." Chris explained.
"Let's see what we can do." He said as he pulled out his saw cutting off the old cast.
"Only if Alex was here to smell it." Chris said chuckling.
"He can smell the other one." I said rolling my eyes as the doctor got an anti-septic wiping his scar with them carefully to clean it out as much as he could.
"That is all I could do as far as cleaning it out, I can't cast it but I can put a splint on it. If I do a splint, you have to move a lot more slower and try your best to stay off of it." He said.
"So you just might have to get that wheel chair you have been fighting against." I said smiling.
"That might be the best if you want to be moving around for long distances." The doctor said as he pulled a chair up to the bed before grabbing things to put the splint on Chris.
"Do I have to?" Chris whined as I couldn't help but to laugh.
"Yes, you can thank Alex for being stupid for you." I said.
"Katie, can you get a wheelchair for me?" The doctor asked as he sat in the chair he had pulled up to the side of the bed to start putting the splint on Chris's leg.
"Yes sir." She said as she did what he said.
"When you get on land after this cruise ends, you would have to go get your doctor to put a new one on your leg for the remainder of the time."
"He will." I said.
"Am I?" Chris asked looking at me, I nodded and he looked at the doctor, "I guess I am."
"Well, have them check and make sure your scar isn't infected, we don't want that." He said as I helped hold Chris's leg still as the doctor wrapped the wrap tightly around the hard splint to hold the leg still. The nurse came back in with a wheel chair rolling it over to us, Chris moved himself over to the wheelchair and I propped his leg up onto leg extender.
"You hungry?" I asked as I begun to push him towards the door, I opened the door and pulled him through backwards.
"I could eat but I'll get room service, I don't want to burden you." Chris said.
"Your not a burden." I corrected.
"I feel like it and I want you to have the option to go to the ball and have fun without Alex or I, plus you need to go dry yourself off." Chris said as we went up the ramp that led to his room.
"If I leave you alone tonight, will you let me baby you tomorrow?" I asked stepping in front of him.
"Yes, have fun for me tonight." He said smiling.
"I will, where's your key?" I asked as he dug into his pocket handing it to me feeling how wet it was, I unlocked the door pushing it open, I held it open as Chris rolled himself in and I locked the wheels watching him move himself onto the bed and I moved his crutches aside. I helped him prop his leg up on top of some pillows before I moved the wheel chair so it won't be so much in the way "Call me, and you better not hesitate on doing so." I said smiling.
"I won't." Chris said smiling. I headed out of the room, now that I'm done worrying about him, I have to worry about my relationship with Alex, and that is if there is any relationship between us. I didn't stop to get my own dinner because I was so worried I couldn't eat, even though I should worry more about my son at home but I wasn't, I was worried about some random guy I met yesterday. I went up to my room trying not to let my worries eat me alive but it was. I put my stuff aside as I grabbed my pajamas. I went into the bathroom changing into them and hung up my swimsuit over the curtain pole of my shower. I walked out tossing my dirty clothes on top of my suitcase not even wanting to put them up. I climbed onto my bed just getting comfortable and was about to turn the television on when I heard a knock, it was kind of weird. I got up putting the remote aside getting up going to the main door not seeing anyone knowing that it must be Alex knocking at the connecting door. I slowly went to the door and timidly open the door afraid for Alex to see me in my pajamas.
"Alex?" I asked looking around the door and he was on the other side, he was wearing a black shirt with a tux top painted on it with his black hoodie that was underneath his leather one the other day and a pair of jeans, he was holding a rose that lights up that I saw in the souvenir store earlier today.
"I'm sorry about earlier…I never had someone snap at me and I now understand why you were mad. I'll apologize to Chris tomorrow because I put his health at risk. I hope you will accept this rose out of the kindness of my heart and I would love for you to accompany me to the ball. I would hate to waste rest of the night alone due to my stupidity." Alex said.
"I don't have any formal clothes." I said stepping out from behind my door.
"This is as formal as I get." Alex stated.
"Let me change then." I said excitedly but didn't want to show it as I grabbed a new outfit, a pair of jeans and a red blouse with off the shoulder long sleeves. I went into the bathroom changing, I freshened up and pulled half of my hair up into a clip I walked out of the bathroom seeing Alex laying on my bed flipping through the channels, "Don't get too comfortable on my behalf." I joked as I slid my feet into my tennis shoes.
"I won't." He said smirking as he turned the television off as I was grabbing my belongings, he finally handed me the rose and I carried it out of my room with us, "How's Chris?" Alex asked as he slid his hands into his pockets.
"He's confined to a wheel chair for rest of the trip, and when we get back on land he has to go to his doctor to get a new cast along with making sure his scar isn't infected." I said.
"Can he get infections just from the salt water?"
"Yep, if bacteria from that water gets into his unhealed scar it can cause infections and other issues, hence why people with casts need to protect such things." I said.
"Why'd you stop at nurse and EMT? Don't you want to be a doctor?" Alex asked as he pressed the down button for an elevator to come.
"I do but I don't want to work 12 hour shifts a day at the hospitals."
"Maybe you should work with TNA as our personal trainers and first aide crew to make sure we are physically capable to perform." Alex suggested.
"After this weekend I don't know if I can handle it." I joked as we climbed onto the elevator that had just opened before us.
"What do you mean by that?" Alex asked.
"I won't get work done with you and Chris wandering around."
"Am I distracting?" Alex asked smirking.
"In a good way." I said twirling the rose between my fingertips.
"You look absolutely beautiful." Alex stated as I blushed and we couldn't make eye contact.
"I try…"
"You don't have to try, your naturally beautiful." Alex added.
"I doubt that…" I mumbled as we walked off the elevator finally realizing how cold it was, "It's kind of chilly out." I said.
"Well, we are in the middle of the ocean." Alex said sarcastically.
"I know that." I said as I let him lead me to the banquet hall hearing the music softly playing inside, "Aren't we a little underdressed?" I asked stopping Alex from going in because I felt a tad uncomfortable in the outfit I chose.
"Trust me when I say, we aren't going to be the only ones in jeans." Alex said as he opened the door allowing me to slowly step into the room with him right behind me. "Exhibit A." Alex said as James walked by in a tank top, his tight jeans and a cowboy hat carrying a bottle of beer in one hand.
"Could his jeans be any tighter?" I asked.
"Yes, they can and it's not pretty. Come on, lets find a seat." Alex said grabbing my hand leading me to a table that sat two people, he pulled out my chair and pushed it in while I sat down before he sat across from me.
"Um, I think this is a buffet dinner." I asked looking at the long tables of food and people that were still serving themselves.
"Oh…right." Alex said as we stood up taking our plates to the buffet lines. "What's this?" Alex asked as he was stirring this noodle thing.
"I don't know…I don't want this, if it still has eyes I will never grab it." I said looking at a dish with fish in it.
"A good rule to live by." Alex said smirking.
"I thought so…as far as meat goes, I always do well done."
"Me too, I don't like the vampire feeling with all that blood other wise." Alex said as I put salad on my plate. "Your only getting a salad?" Alex asked.
"I don't see much of anything else I want." I stated.
"Dude, they got cinnamon rolls…cinnamon rolls!" Alex said excitedly.
"I'll have one." I said as he put one on my plate, "Sweets are my down fall." I said as I grabbed a cup of lemonade before heading to the table.
"I love cinnamon rolls, but I'm usually able to have them once a year or more, mainly around the holidays."
"Why's that?" I asked moving my napkin to my lap after I crossed my legs at my ankles.
"My mom makes them homemade for every holiday that I am home."
"Why is food so much better when it's home made?"
"I don't know why it tastes so much better, what is your signature dish?" Alex asked as I took a bite of my salad.
"I think mine would be fried peanut butter and jelly, I'm told it's to die for." I said.
"Did you say fried peanut butter and jelly?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, it tastes pretty good." I said.
"I may have to try that….I have a killer recipe for lasagna." Alex said.
"You like to cook?"
"I do but I don't have a lot of people to cook for and the guys don't know, if they do find out I won't be able to hear the end of it."
"I should hire you as a cook, I never seem to find time to cook."
"I may consider it." Alex said smirking as he took a sip of his drink.
"Who said I was actually going to hire you?" I asked smirking.
"I took it as an offer." Alex said as I could tell he was a little offended.
"It could be though." I said before I took another bite of my salad, Alex smiled as he took a bite of his food when a slow song came on and James walked up to our table with his beer still in hand.
"Sorry to interrupt your feast, but was curious if this pretty little lady would give me the privilege of dancing with me." He said. I looked to Alex unsure of to say yes or no, I wasn't sure if this was a date or how he felt.
"I don't mind." Alex said as he looked to me, even though his facial expression said differently.
"Sure, why not?" I said standing up walking with James to the dance floor. I placed my one hand on his pretty much bare shoulder and he rested his arm on my waist and our other hands connected. We danced for a few seconds not speaking to each other during that time.
"I'm not ruining anything am I?" James asked.
"No why?" I asked nervously.
"Well because we haven't spoken this whole song and between you and I, I think you and Alex have feelings for each other."
"Why do you say that?" I asked.
"This whole time you kept glancing at him with oogling eyes."
"I do not have oogling eyes." I said chuckling.
"I have a daughter, I know that look."
"How old is your daughter?" I asked curiously and trying to change the subject.
"She'll be six next month, you have kids?"
"Not really…" I said not wanting to answer truthfully afraid that he may tell Alex if I had answered truthfully.
"Not really?" James asked sort of confused.
"May I cut in?" Alex asked as he stepped up to stand beside us, I looked over at him kind of shocked but smirked a tad and his face was lit up a tad with a slight smirk as well.
"Yeah, sure no problem." James said smiling as he let go of me to let Alex step into his spot, Alex seemed kind of awkward and I know I felt just as awkward for no apparent reason, I was comfortable around James, Alex nervously reached out grabbing my right hand and rested his other on my waist before we slowly started rocking to the slow beat of the song when the song came to a stop no more than 10 seconds later, and we instantly let go of each other backing up a tad and he scratched the back of his head feeling more awkward. The DJ then put on one of my jams, 'Get Down' by Backstreet Boys, Alex turned to head back to the table, I grabbed his arm turning him back around.
"Where are you going? I thought you wanted to dance?" I said.
"I do but I'm not good at-" He begun before I interrupted.
"No one is good at dancing but it's my jam, please?" I asked pouting.
"Okay…isn't this your band?"
"Yeah, hence why it's my jam." I said smiling as I started to break into their choreographed dance that they do in concert, "Alex you got to thrust more…" I said.
"What?" Alex asked as he stopped.
"Look at James." I said looking over to James who was nailing the dance while dancing with another girl.
"How the hell do you know this dance?" Alex asked towards James.
"I got a wife and a five year old that is obsessed with every boy band alive." James said.
"I bet he enjoys it too." Alex whispered, I chuckled as he grabbed my hand interlacing his fingers with mine and he twirled me and spun me into his embrace before he untwisted me.
"How'd you know that?" I asked as our hands were still locked together and I stepped in front of him locking the other hand together.
"I know a little bit of dancing, I'm just not good at it." He said smiling as he pulled me closer to him by tugging me by my hands.
"I figured you'll be good considering you're in a band and you can recognize the beats to the song." I said smirking.
"I got beat, just not rhythm." He said as we both begun rocking to the beat until end of the song, I gave up trying to teach him the moves to the song. "Maybe you can teach me those moves, what was it?" Alex asked breaking our hand lock to try to mock my moves earlier, I covered my face from embarrassment but was laughing. "Was I close?" He asked as he looked to me.
"Somewhat." I said as we danced for what seemed like hours, I was leaning my head on his shoulder, my hands on his chest feeling my eyes getting heavy and his hands were wrapped around my waist tightly.
"You ready to leave?" Alex asked feeling his breath rustling in my hair, I lifted my head off his shoulder looking deep into his brown eyes.
"Yeah sorry." I said wiping at my eyes.
"No problem sweetie." Alex said.
"Sweetie?" I asked shocked.
"You let James call you it."
"But he's James." I said smiling as we grabbed our things heading out of the room instantly becoming cold, it was much colder than earlier. "Br, it's cold." I said rubbing my covered arms.
"Here, take my jacket." Alex said taking his hoodie off putting it over my shoulders, I pulled the edges closed with my opposing hands.
"Thanks." I said smirking.
"No problem." Alex said smiling.
"I'm sorry about earlier." I blurted out.
"Don't be sorry, you were right. I was being a jerk and I should have listened to you, people won't do that to their friends."
"I know you were playing around and I don't want to get between you and Chris's friendship due to my profession side." I said as we stepped up the couple of steps.
"You aren't getting between Chris and I." Alex stated.
"Has a girl ever gotten between you two?" I asked as we waited for the elevator.
"Once or twice, but we vowed to not let one do so again." Alex said as we climbed onto the empty elevator.
"Don't you guys get offended when the other tells you that they don't like such girl?" I asked curiously as he pushed the 4th button.
"It does hurt, we do get offended as most people would, sometimes we don't listen because we are both stubborn."
"How do you realize to break up with the girl if you can't trust your best friend? I mean, that must be a lot of apology's." I said.
"We do eventually break up with the girls or else I won't be on this 'singles' cruise." He said doing air quotes around singles.
"Ha ha." I said as we climbed off the elevator heading to our room.
"Any previous boyfriends I should know about?" Alex asked.
"None that is worth my breath." I said.
"I should be relieved about that huh?"
"I would be." I said smirking as we stepped in front of my door.
"Well good night Tara." Alex said as he leant forward wrapping his arms around me in a big hug and I slowly wrapped mine around his body giving him one back.
"Night Alex." I said smiling as I let myself into my room forgetting I still had his jacket, I hung it up to return to him the next day.