-The Last Night-

"Oh, you had to be there man!"

"I wish I was." Zac chuckled as they walked through the front door of the house. "Mom! We're home!"

Zac and his friend, Andrew, entered the living room, flicking the television on. Andrew was Zac's new friend. They had met a few years ago, but never really communicated with each other until recently. Andrew wasn't really a quiet kind of guy. He tended to just blurt out what he felt within seconds after he felt it. That's what Zac liked about him. No beating around the bush. Zac didn't really know much about his family. He seemed pretty normal. Zac didn't need to know the details.

"What do you want to watch?" Zac threw himself down onto the lounge.

"Ugh, whatever," Andrew brushed his short brown hair out of his face.

"Okay, fine. Whatever." Zac got the remote and madly flicked through the channels until he got to MTV.

"Z-A-C! P-H-O-N-EEEE!" A voice shrieked from the next room.

"Blow my ears out next time, Avie. Who is it?" Zac got up from the chair and walked to the phone.

"I don't know. I think it's that weird girl with the high voice."

"Okay then, thanks Ave," he took the phone from her. "Hello?"

"Ummm. . . Hi, Zac."

"Marg?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Why are you calling?" Zac asked coldly.

"Well, I was thinking," she paused. "And, I don't really think that we see each other enough."

"Marg, that's cause I don't want to see you." Zac rolled his eyes at Andrew.

"Zac, don't be harsh. We've, you know, shared a lot together."

"Whatever Margo. I have never, or will never for that matter, share anything with you."

"Zac. Don't be so mean." Zac heard quivers in Margo's voice. Usually Margo would not react in this way. Something was up.

"Margs?" He asked softer.

"Yes Zac?"

"Perhaps you should go see a psychiatrist."

"Zac!" Margo shrieked.

"Well, it was only a suggestion!"

"Oh, shut up. Where's Tay?"

"In the ocean."

"Still?!" Margo was into shrieking this afternoon.

"Just leave Taylor alone Margo, he's not with you anymore."

"What?!"

"Didn't he tell you?" Zac paused. He probably shouldn't have gone this far. He hadn't really heard much from his brothers, but something different was going on and he figured that Taylor and Keryn's relationship had somewhat advanced.

"Zac?"

"What?"

"What do you mean, he's not with me anymore?"

Zac's eyes went slightly wide and he looked over at Andrew for some help. Andrew was completely into this conversation, like he was recording it word for word.

"What should I say?" Zac mouthed at him.

Andrew got up and came towards Zac, in one swift movement, he took the phone from Zac.

"Margs, baby. How you doin'?"

"Andrew? Is that you?" Margo asked, irritated.

"Speakin'"

"Put Zac on. I have nothing to say to you."

"Babe, relax, what's up?"

"I was having a conversation with Zac, put him back on," she demanded.

"You are seriously nuts Margo." Andrew took the phone away from his ear. "She wants to talk to you," he handed the receiver back to Zac.

"I have nothing to say to her." Zac groaned and put the phone to his ear again. "Zac?"

"What Margo?"

"We need to talk." Zac hung up. He was so sick of her thinking they had some kind of deep and meaningful relationship going on. The girl that he had eyes for had just been shipped off to another state with her family. Margo was the last thing on his mind.



"Suprise!" Taylor repeated, then he looked down. "Shit!"

"Oh MY GODDD!"

"What?"

"I knew that this was a bad thing!" Taylor huffed.

Keryn turned and faced the door. "No, no. Just let me calm down." She started to laugh. "Can you hold on a tick?"

"Why?"

Keryn started to laugh hysterically. "I'll be back in a second." Keryn started to run out of the cabin.

"Shit. Don't you dare bring Kayla back here!"

"As if Tay!" Keryn called as she was running down the hall.



"I don't care if you and Ike are talking" Keryn put her hands on her hips, "I need Kayla, and I need her. . . NOW!"

Ike got a look of fear on his face. Keryn knew she got her way. This was an emergency.

Kayla got up from next to Ike and started walking out the door with Keryn.

They leaned against the wall in the corridor.

Keryn went bright red.

"What's so important?" Kayla questioned, curiously.

"Umm. . . well. . . this is, well, hard," Keryn stuttered.

"Come on. . . get to the point." Kayla asked, dying to know the details of the situation.

"You know how we just came home?"

"Yeah. . . Yeah. . ."

"Well, I kind of went into our room,"

"And?" Kayla was anxious.

"I saw Taylor. Well, it was by accident. He had just come out of the shower and he was kind of wrapped in a towel."

"Yeah, so?"

"Until it fell off!" Keryn practically screamed.

Kayla eyes went wide. "Alllll of Taylor?"

"Yes Kayla, alllll of Taylor."

"He was standing there naked?"

Keryn buried her face in her hands. "Don't say it."

"Was there any particular reason why he felt so revealing today?"

"Kayla! It was an accident!" Keryn felt extremely embarrassed. "Besides, I hardly saw."

"As far as I’m concerned, you've had it coming."

"I've had. . . this. . . coming?" Keryn was confused. "What coming?"

"Keryn, go back to the room."

"Kayla?" Keryn still didn't get it.

"Go."

Keryn left Kayla and headed back down the corridor.



"Taylor?"

He was sitting on the bed in a huff. He looked embarrassed. "That kinda wasn't supposed to happen" he whispered.

He was wrapped in a robe now. Keryn's cheeks weren't as flushed as they were five minutes ago. Everything seemed comfortable.

"Tay, you're so cute."

He looked up at Keryn. He felt the urge to go and kiss her, he'd kiss her all night. But that would be wrong.

"Tay, what's the matter?" Keryn walked over to the bed and pulled him up, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "I love you."

Keryn felt a surge of butterflies race through her body. Is this even happening? Taylor looked down at her as their lips met. "I love you too."

"Sorry about that." Keryn whispered into his ear.

"Sorry about what?" He smiled, gently.

He kissed her again.

"I don't know."

"Are you. . ."

"Shhh. . ." Keryn cut him off, allowing him to pull her down onto the bed.

"I love you Taylor."

"I love you." Taylor leaned down and kissed her neck, then following a trail down to her shoulder. "Do you?" They were about to change their relationship even more. There could be no going back now. No one wanted to turn back though. It all seemed so perfect. Each of them, caught up in their own little blissful world. Not hesitating or regretting the feelings that would be passed next.

"Mmm hmmm..." He rolled her over and started brushing the hair out of her face. "It's all so perfect," he murmured.

The gentle rock of the ship. The gentle wind outside. The patter of rain. Forgotten.



"I-I-I-Ikeeee!" Kayla was jumping.

"What?" He looked up from the television, disinterested.

"You don't even realise do you."

He smiled at the way she was getting all excited. "Not even."

"I-I-Issaaaaac."

"Kayla, I have no idea what you are talking about," Ike started, getting up from his position on the couch. "And, I have a strange suspicion that I really don't want to know."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her on the forehead. "There are other things you could be talking about at the moment."

"They're finally doing it!" Kayla squealed.

Ike closed his eyes tight and started moaning. He put his hands over his ears. "Awww. . . Kaaaayyyllaaaaaa. Did you have to tell me that?" He collapsed onto the bed and started humming. "You could've told me afterwards, not during."

"Ike! Grow up!" Kayla laughed.

"Shuttt upppppp." Kayla ran over to the bed and jumped threw herself on top of Ike. "Oh, and then kill me, why don't you?" He cried.

"Do you realise something?"

"I hate to think," Ike laughed.

She playfully hit him on the arm. "It's our last night on the ship!"

"Oh yeah, so what does that mean?" Ike sat up, hopeful.

"Well, let's go to sleep, so that the last day can be more fulfilling."

"Oh, you really get out there and live girl," Ike crashed back down onto the bed, smiling.

"Oh shush," Kayla playfully hit Ike again. "I can't wait to get up and speak to Keryn." Kayla heard Ike loudly groan, which caused her to start laughing hysterically. "Oh babe, you are so funny."



Keryn woke up, expecting to hear the birds tweeting outside her bedroom window and the familiar sound of Kayla singing in the kitchen. All she felt was a strange rocking motion. It all came back to her when she saw her Taylor, sleeping soundly next to her. He looked so calm when he was asleep. She traced her hand over his face as last night came back to her. It finally happened. She couldn't help but smile as she kissed him and crawled out of bed. She dressed silently, trying not to wake him and then slipped out the door.

Without knocking, she opened what used to be the guys room to see if anyone was awake.

"Hello?" she whispered.

"Good morning smiley head," Ike grinned from the bed.

"I'm smiling?" Keryn tried to hold it in.

"No comment," Ike laughed, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "Do you want me to wake her up?" Ike asked, pointing at Kayla.

"Nah, it's fine," Keryn neatened her un-brushed hair. "I think I'll just take a walk." "Okay then, have fun."

"Shall," Keryn started to leave the room.

"Seeya soon."

"Seeya Ike." Keryn pulled the door shut and walked down the hall.



"Right, I'm off." Kayla got rid of the last of her toast and made a run for the door. "Ahh, but wait," she swiftly turned around, kissing Ike. "Bye bye Ikey's. I'll be back soon."

"Have you packed yet?" Ike inquired.

"No, all my stuff's next door. I still have till this afternoon though."

"Come back soon Kayles, we don't have much time left."

"I know that," she started. "I want to spend every last minute with you as soon as I get back."

Kayla let the door close behind her and made her way up to the top deck, looking for Keryn. After about five minutes she spotted her next to the pool, basking in the early morning sun.

"Keryn!" she called, walking up to her. "What are you doing up so early?" Kayla started to giggle.

"Admiring the sun," Keryn started. "Watching the beautiful shores of California drift by as we wait to dock. Letting the wind lightly blow in my face. You?"

"Well, aren't we awfully chipper this morning?" Kayla laughed. "I was looking for you actually." Kayla sat down on the ground, next to Keryn's chair.

"Waiting the arrival of juicy gossip, I gather?" Keryn smiled, adjusting her sunglasses. "Oh, no. That's none of my business." Kayla drew out sarcastically. "I wouldn't even know what happened after I saw you last."

"Yes Kayla, it happened."

"Yeeeeeek!" Kayla cried. "You guys are so cute."

"No Kayla, not cute," Keryn laughed. "Hot!"

"Oh shut up, I'm jealous."

"Hey, he's mine!" Keryn laughed.

"Have you spoken to him yet?" Kayla asked.

"No, he was sleeping when I left."

Kayla looked behind her. As if on cue, a person was walking towards them. "Well, here he comes Kezz, this is like the major moment in history about to happen," Kayla gasped. "And, oh God, I'm sitting here."

"Oh this is awkward. What do I say?" Keryn panicked before Taylor reached them. "Just smile and nod, making random eyelash flutters. It will work."

"Hello my two, lovely ladies," Taylor emerged.

"Taylor!" Kayla overdone, as if she hadn't seen him in three years.

Keryn smiled, nodded and waved from the chair she was laying in.

Taylor looked at her and then looked away, shuffling his feet on the ground.

"Why didn't you wake me this morning?" Taylor asked.

"Oh, umm. Cause you were sleeping," Keryn stammered. Well, that was a stupid thing to say, she thought to herself.

Kayla observed the uncomfortable conversation and thought of Ike. She had to leave these two and get back to him. "I'll see you guys later," she started to walk off. "What are the plans for tonight?"

Keryn turned over and looked over at Kayla. "They," she pointed at Taylor, "are staying at ours tonight and flying out tomorrow."

"That's right," Kayla said. "Have fun!" She disappeared down the other end of the deck.

"So," Taylor swung his arms from front to back.

"So," Keryn repeated him.

"I wonder how Zac's doing...."

"Yeah, I often wonder that myself," Keryn laughed.

"I wonder how you're doing."

"I'm doing just fine."

"Well, that's good."

"What about you?"

"Oh, fine."

"Excellent."

Taylor pulled Keryn up from the chair and took her in his arms. "I'm glad we finally realised," he smiled, taking her sunglasses off.

"You're so amazing," she fell into his arms as the early morning sun shone down on them.



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