Episode 12: The Beautiful Lady Next Ship

My phone beeped as I was debating which words to use to ask Will what he really was. I, finally, tore my gaze from the sight of him being totally immersed in a book, thank God for that he didn't notice me drooling over him. His gorgeous features made it hard for me to think.

I checked my phone. A text from Joanne.

Party at 6 to celebrate your new job. Alfie's ship. When shall I pick you up?

An idea started taking shape at the back of my head and I smiled. I didn't need to know everything right away. I just needed to confirm that I wasn't wrong. That I was sane.

You don't have to. I am bringing a date.

I quickly texted back.

"It's scary when you smile like that. What evil plan's hatching in that tiny head of yours?" Will was looking at me. His eyes were captivating. I could so easily drown in them and willingly too.

"My friends are hosting a small party to celebrate my getting a new job. Do you wanna come?"

My phone started beeping crazily. Joanne, obviously, was dying of curiosity. So, Alfie hadn't told her anything about my handsome co-worker.

Will didn't answer for a long time. He seemed unsure. Nevermind. I would find some other way.

"It's okay if you don't wanna," I smiled and turned back to the paper I was holding.

"Okay," he said so softly that it might as well have been my imagination.

I turned to look at him but he was already absorbed in the book again, not leaving me any room to check if I had heard it right.

The big, antique wall clock chimed six behind us. Only in a town as small as this, does a library close at six in the evening. Not complaining.

I swung my bag as Will locked up the door. A warm breeze stirred up the fallen leaves of the driveway. And his smell flew all over me alongwith the warmth of summer. It was addictive. I was so tempted to touch his hair that it ached.

Will unchained his bicycle and signed for me to hop on. I flushed a deep scarlet and got on. I hoped he didn't notice as we rode into the night. The ride with Alfie was adventurous and reckless and a pure adrenaline rush but with Will it was a heart pounding, hair ruffling, warm and romantic ride. It was probably the bicycle. A little PG 13 but I found bicycles romantic. I preferred them to noisy, polluting motorcycles.

It took us a good thirty minutes to get to the dock. My friends were restless and kinda mad. But they maintained their composure infront of Will. Will, thankfully, smiled at Joanne and Larry like he was genuinely glad to see them. However, he looked at Alfie with caution and simply nodded.

Joanne looked at him with mouth wide open and then behind him mouthed at me, "Oh my God!"

"I know!" I mouthed back.

Alfie grabbed hold of my hand. He was very much aware that Will was eyeing us cautiously, as if any moment he would jump between me and him. I didn't understand why. Maybe he heard the rumours about Alfie who chose to ignore Will and dragged me to a side. "What did you bring him here for?" He was annoyed.

"He will get you what you want," I smiled teasingly.

"And what is it that I want?"

"Oh, I don't know. Is the lady of that ship coming today?"

Alfie was taken aback. He looked confusingly at me, then took a look at Will who was sitting beside Joanne still eyeing us and then asked, "What exactly is it that you are planning?"

"You'll see," I smiled again as Larry walked up to us and said, "Oh, it's not good. I've seen that smile before. That's the exact same face you used to make when you came up with something to land us in trouble. You're scaring me."

"Don't wet your pants? The washroom is just around that corner," I mocked and Alfie burst out laughing. Larry ignored my comment and went on, "Do you feel like Will's familiar? I feel like I have known him before."

"So, you fantasize about gorgeous guys in your dreams, I see. No wonder poor Joanne doesn't stand a chance," this time Alfie mocked him.

"Joanne's just a friend. Don't say such nonsense," Larry started to argue, quite seriously. But I had long zoned out. I was thinking about how Will never felt like a stranger to me. Then something dawned on me. Will had said the same thing earlier today as Larry about my scary smile like I was hatching an evil plan. When had Will seen me like that before?

"Hey, Ella? You still with us? Your date's looking at me like he's gonna rip my throat out," Alfie nudged me. I looked at Will and knew I should return by his side or risk losing Alfie.

I walked towards the side of the deck from where I could see the next ship and signed for Will to join me. I looked for any signs of that lady but the ship was uninhabited.

"You don't like Alfie much, do you?" I asked as Will stood beside me.

"No," he admitted, "his family has a bad reputation."

That was shocking. "Everyone in this town praised the Hursts. They are always hosting parties and pleasing the town folks."

I was well aware that behind us my friends were discussing about Will and Alfie was mimicking how Will gave him the creeps.

"Have you ever thought that maybe they are being so nice to hide their dark side?"

As a matter of fact, I did. But I also felt it hard to believe that Alfie could be a threat. Sure, he was reckless and obviously, not the best of students but he was warm and helpful and friendly. His parents, on the other hand, were something else completely.

"What kinda dark side?" I asked, trying not to look too interested. And at that very moment the ship beside ours, lit up. We both looked up to see a lady, the lady, walk in on the deck.

I looked at Will through the corner of my eyes. He, too, was shocked the way I was the first day. That's all the confirmation that I needed.

"Hey," Larry called to Alfie, "the lady of your dreams is here." They were also standing on the side of the deck, a little far from us. Whether it was to give us privacy or to have some distance between them and Will, was hard to tell.

Alfie pressed Larry's mouth shut but the lady had already heard them. She looked at them, looking least interested, and then her eyes fell on us, on Will and stood. She was better than us at hiding her real emotions.

I tried to hide my embarrassment of being caught looking as I called out to her, "Would you like to join us?"

Alfie couldn't believe she actually nodded yes. I could feel his jealousy towards Will beginning to show.

"Hello, it's a lovely ship you've got," the lady told Will. She had taken my place and sat herself beside him. I was beginning to regret this idea and I knew Alfie was glaring at me. I looked at him and smiled apologetically to say that this wasn't part of my plan.

"It's his ship," Will replied pointing at Alfie. He blushed at the sudden acknowledgement and Joanne and I shared a look saying, "Who knew this day would come too!"

"I am Amber," the lady said as we introduced ourselves.

"Do you sail?" Larry asked.

"No," Amber replied, a little sadly. "I am not exactly a sea person."

"That's crazy! You own a marvelous ship!" Alfie exclaimed.

"You're a high schooler, aren't you?" She asked. Alfie's eyes brightened, "So, you do know me."

"You're impulsive and immature. Anyone can tell."

Joanne and Larry were suppressing laughters while I looked at Amber in amazement which faded away as she turned to Will. "What do you do?" She asked him but it seemed like she meant to ask, "How are you here?"

"I work at the local library. Ella and I," Will added carefully. Smart boy. Joanne looked at him with admiration and approval.

Amber, however, didn't seem to take the hint. I got more than I had bargained for.

"So, how's it working there?" Larry asked me, thankfully.

"It's mostly empty," I replied.

"Not surprising. No one in this town really cares about a house full of books," Alfie commented.

"I love books!" Amber and I both shouted.

Joanne was laughing hard when Larry signed for Alfie to give up on Amber. He didn't stand a chance.

Will was smiling at me, I realized and I hoped I wouldn't start blushing there.

"Knock knock!" Joanne handed me a pizza box and I held it open for Amber and Will. Then I took the two slices left and passed them the coke.

As the two of them indulged in some kind of cryptic conversation of their own and as Larry and Alfie dug into their pizzas, I, finally gathered the courage to ask Joanne.

We excused ourselves to visit the washroom. "Do you really not see it?"

"I totally see it. I am not blind. She's hitting on your guy."

"And nothing else about her looks strange?" Or about Will?

"Yes, it is strange. She's probably the first female who has ever rejected Alfie. Her hitting on Will apart, she's kinda amazing."

We stared at Amber as we walked back from the washroom. She was amazing. She was beautiful and feminine and easily a heartbreaker. She could have any guy she wanted. With Will next to her, they looked like a picture-perfect couple. I hated to admit it but she looked better with him than I ever could.

"How long are you guys planning on staying here? It's getting really late. I am gonna leave," I announced.

"I should leave too," Amber stood up.

"I'll drop you. Where do you live?" Alfie approached.

"Will can drop me. My home falls in his way."

So, she met him like an hour ago and she already knew Will's address. Even I had no idea where he lived other than a crazy hypothesis. Will looked at me and I quickly looked away. "You will drop me. You picked me up today. It's only fair that you drop me home."

Joanne and Larry will go together. That was a given.

We said our goodbyes and Alfie sped into the night. I was hating how the night had turned out to be. I hated it that Amber was sharing our romantic cycle ride. I hated how easily I got so jealous of a girl I met only this evening and knew nothing about.

"You don't look so good," Alfie shouted into the night.

"Oh yeah? Speak for yourself!"

It was crazy how the streets were already half empty at 9 o' clock. All the shops were closing down and I was starting to hate this town.

"Hey, don't turn it on me. It was your plan."

"Well, my plan didn't involve her hitting on my man," I pouted. Or realizing how well they went with each other, like a set; a pair; a couple.

Why wasn't this wind helping in dialing down my thoughts!

"Hey, we are here," Alfie said softly. I didn't realize I was leaning on his shoulder, eyes closed.

I got off his bike and realized he had stopped two blocks away from my home. Gratitude flooded in me. Even this morning he had done the same.

Amber should see this side of him. She will never call him immature again.

"Thanks and sorry," I said handing him my helmet.

"A beautiful lady expressing her gratitude and apology at the same time, what a wonderful way to end my day!"

I pulled his cheek and smiled, "Pay half as much thought in your classes as you pay in making these cheesy lines and you will be a millionaire."

"Don't you know, I already am?" he winked at me, putting the helmet on and he disappeared into the night.