Chapter fifteen

After a series of games under the full sun, after we've each had at least four go's at playing Polo in Marco Polo, we all fall back against the cold tiles of the pool, making way for the smaller kids who have decided that we aren't so scary and obnoxious when we're half-dead.

I rub my eyes with my fists, trying to blink away the salty liquid blurring my vision, and spread my arms on the tiles, savouring the refreshing coolness on the underside of my arms and the heat of the sun on top.

It is very loud on the top deck, with people chatting and the eardrum-shattering hot hits of Australia booming, but I try to drown out those noises with my thoughts. It's not until a minute later when I feel a rumble from beneath me. No. Not from beneath me. From within me.

"Hungry, guys?" Ben's asking.

I lift my head to see him helping Emily up, and Lilli glancing longingly towards the ice cream store nearby. Harry is looking that way too, and turns to me, his eyes lighting up. I chuckle.

The ice cream shack is just opening up, and as we rush over we can clearly see the freeing breath of the ice cream escaping into the hot air.

Harry forgot his ID card, so I happily pay for his ice cream and mine. I obviously get Cookies And Cream, because it's the best flavour ever, and I'm stupidly flustered when Harry orders the same thing.

"It's my favourite flavour too," he tells me, smiling bright. "I guess we're twins."

I smile back at him, but there's something different about him. Something I can't pinpoint, and something I might spend nights dwelling over. It might just be the many ways he's changed since childhood, like the rest of us, but it's much different from that. His smile has always been bright, a flashing beacon of promising light, but it seems dimmer now.

We were all so enthusiastic not too long ago as we thrashed in and around the pool, but now we're all slouching on our chairs, licking at our ice creams in silence. Even so, I could already guess that Emily was going to break the silence.

"WHAT A COINCIDENCE!" she yells and everyone flinches.

"I know right?" Charlie chimes in, swallowing another giant scoop of ice cream. "Who knew?"

"Hmm," Lilli hums. "How long has it been since the last time we saw each other?"

I think for a moment before answering, "Five years?"

"Yeah, something like that," Harry agrees.

"Well, what've you guys been up to? Any big achievements? Or did any of you get a part time job?" Lilli asks.

We end up spending quite a while discussing our lives for the past few years. The school camps we've been on, the interesting people we've met, Lilli's exchange student program, the wacky and slightly disturbing high school stories, and so much more that when we're finished we're even more worn out from before.

After another awkward silence, Charlie points his spoon at Harry accusingly. "This is both Ben's and British Boy's first cruise."

We all gasp. In Australia one of the most preferred holidays are cruises. If you haven't been on a cruise for the first eighteen years of your life, you're missing out.

"Seriously?!" Emily exclaims.

"No way," Lilli says.

I just stare at Harry, but Ben seems quite uncomfortable.

"So, guys, how are you finding your first cruise?" Lilli asks.

"It's pretty cool. But seeing you guys again has probably made it ten times better," Harry responds shyly, and Ben hesitates but nods in agreement.

After ice cream, we gather up our stuff, draping our towels on our backs, and start on back to our cabins. Emily starts whining when we start crossing the deck.

"Oh, why didn't we just exchange numbers in primary school?! We could've spent our free time during high school hanging out! How fun would that've been?" she says, adding a few childish groans here and there.

"How about we go hang out now?" Charlie suggests.

"We can't," I say. "We'll sail off soon and then we'll have our life safety procedure at our muster stations. I think it best if we all go shower and get fancied up for dinner," I explain to them.

"UGH!" Emily growls. "I absolutely hate the safety drill. Can't they make an exception for the people who've already been on a cruise a million times?"

Everyone nods in understanding, but Harry looks plain confused.

"What's… the safety drill?" he inquires.

"Tazzie can show you later," Lilli says, probably in an attempt to give me an excuse to talk to him later.

But something comes to mind. "Hey, we may not be in the same muster station, remember?" I remind her.

"True."

I turn to Harry. "Your muster station is the spot in which you meet with about half of the people on your deck. There are several muster stations located throughout the ship to ensure the safety of the passengers aboard. During the unlikely case of an emergency, we are called to our muster stations, and this makes it easier for the staff to count us and tell us important information. Plus, the muster stations are right next to the lifeboats," I explain. "I know I sound like a robot saying all this, but I've heard it a million times," I say.

Harry shrugs. "Sounds important."

"Yeah," Lilli agrees. "I think we should all go and see each other at the muster station later."

Everyone nods, but suddenly, Lilli's remembered something. "Wait, what deck are you guys on?" she asks the boys.

"Ten," they say in unison.

"Oh, so are we!" Emily tells them.

"Yeah, what room number?" Lilli asks, but instead of waiting for a response, she picks up Charlie's lanyard and reads the ID card. "Wow, guys, this is a big coincidence because we're only three doors down from y'all."

We all cheer. It's nice to know we'll have some friendly neighbours on this ten-day cruise.

Lilli turns to the boys, glaring at them. "You guys better not play Knock And Run on us in the middle of the night," she warns them.

They all give each other knowing looks, Ben smirking and replying, "You have no promises."