“When you talk to me....it’s painful, you don’t know what you do to this heart of mine.
Oh,...trying to make this one dimensional, ....the way I feel sexual.”
When the light would bounce of his blue eyes, she swore she saw dolphins swimming under a full moon. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, and that’s just the way she wanted it. The lights were down low, the music was blaring, and Jackie could feel (in more ways than one) that Nick was happy to be with her. She kept rubbing up against him and it was evident he was enjoying her unwavering, hasty motions.
“Ah, the many benefits of dating a dancer.” Nick thought.
She turned around and brought his arms up around her waist. They continued to move together until Amber’s song “Sexual” ended. The next song was “Boom, Boom, Boom” by the Vengaboys, which soon turned out to be a favorite of the crowd’s.
“Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, I want you in my room. We’ll spend the night together, from now until forever”
Nick leaned down to whisper in her ear with a sly grin, “I can’t wait to get you into my room.”
“Patience, Carter, patience.” She turned back around and as she did she took a quick glimpse at her watch. 2:30! It couldn’t be! Although when Jackie and Nick were together time did have a way of slipping by unnoticed.
“Ohmigod, Nick! It’s gonna be 3:00!”
“Are you serious?!” Nick looked at his watch. “How’d time fly by so fast?!”
“Dunno. Wanna sit down?”
“Yeah”
The couple pushed past all the couples on the floor, and headed towards the table where AJ, Emily, Joey, JC, Howie, Kevin, and Lance sat. They seemed to be enjoying the evening all together. Chatting it up with one another and drinking. It was apparent some people had just a little too much to drink. Kevin, Howie, JC, and Lance got up to check out the action outside.
As Nick and Jackie made their way closer to the table, Jackie said tugging on Nick’s arm, “Ohmigod, look at Emily and Joey!”
“Holy....”
“They’re all over each other! I gotta check this out!” she said pulling Nick over with her.
“What’s goin’ on?!” she asked what seemed to be an annoyed AJ.
“Joey was on a mission to get Emily drunk, and he achieved that beautifully.” AJ explained and pointed to the two taking shots of Vodka, with their arms entwined.
“Look at ‘em! They’re both piss-drunk!” Nick interjected.
“Man, how am I gonna fix this one!?” Jackie said walking over to them.
She grabbed the small glass out of Emily’s hand and set it down on the table. As soon as she did this, Emily picked up an already lit cigarette and took a long drag. She turned back towards Jackie and exhaled in her face.
Shocked, Jackie turned to Joey and yelled, “Are there any other tricks that you teached her that I should know about?!”
“Hey,.......... hey,...... hey,..... hey.....J taught her that one.” a very drunk Joey answered.
She turned to AJ and gave him an enraged look.
“Sorry, but I was fiendin’ for a stoge. So I lit up and she asked to try........sorry!” he tried to compensate.
“Ugh!,” she sat down, “Ya know what, you go ahead and get as drunk as you’d like. But when your laying down next to your toilet, puking your guts out, don’t even fuckin’ consider calling me!”
Disgusted with the three of them, she got up and went to the bathroom. Nick called after her but she kept on walking.
“Hey Joey,..wanna go back to my room and do........,” Emily looked at AJ and Nick. “..stuff.”
Joey’s eyes widened and he quickly nodded his head.
“Um..Em.. I don’t think you really wanna go do stuff. How ‘bout we all sit here and talk until Jackie gets back?” Nick offered.
“How ‘bout you shut the hell up and get the fuck outta my face!?” Emily shot back, her blood-shot eyes staring back at Nick.
“Yo, fuck you! I was jus’ tryin’ to help!” Nick said rolling his eyes.
“Yo, calm down!” AJ soothed. “I have a bad enough headache as is, I don’t need to hear this shit!”
“Sorry, AJ.” Nick uttered. AJ nodded his head and turned to see a girl approach him.
“Hi! You’re AJ McLean, aren’t you? I’m Nella. Wanna dance?” the impressive brunette asked.
AJ took one last drag of his Marlboro Light, before putting it out, gave Nick an I’ve-been-waiting-for-this-all-night-long look, and got up to hit the dance floor with the rather busty bombshell. Nick smirked. His attention was later diverted by the sight of his loving girlfriend making an entrance back into the ballroom.
As she stormed up to the table, Nick could clearly see how upset she really was.
“Let’s go.” Jackie said tight-lipped.
“Okay, baby.”
“You guys have fun tonight.” she said in the direction of Emily and Joey. They giggled in response. Jackie rolled her eyes and sighed. Nick got up from the table and took her hand.
“Let’s go.”
________________________________________________________________________
As she ran, her breath grew shorter and shorter. Finally, with a heavy thud, Felicia fell to the ground. Hardly being able to choke out a sob, she sat, with her knees drawn to her chest, catching her breath. The wind blew violently against the ship, sending her hair to whip around her face. Having caught her breath, she sobbed uncontrollably atop the barren deck.
“What have I done!? How could I have done this!? I’m a terrible person.”
She started to wipe the stinging tears away and thought once more, “Pull yourself together! Stop it!”
She reached up with a free hand and found the side of the wooden railing and pulled herself up. She fumbled with her pocket and finally found the card key to her room. Once again entering the main hallway, she located the nearest elevator and pushed the button until the green light blinked and the doors opened.
“Ding!”
Felicia looked up and saw exactly who she didn’t want to see.
“Felicia! Ohmigod! What happened!? Are you okay!?” a very concerned Jackie asked.
It’s not like she didn’t want to run into Jackie and Nick, but just not now. She didn’t want to see anyone right now or have to explain what had happened. The only person she wanted was Joseph.
Wiping her eyes again she said, “Nuthin’. I’m fine....really.”
“Sure?” Nick asked obviously not believing a word she said.
“Yea,..sure. I really don’t wanna talk either.”
“Okay. If you say so.” Jackie said trying to understand.
“Um..Jackie..please don’t get upset or anything but..um..I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Joseph needs to see,.....I mean I need to see Joseph. Is that okay?”
“Yea, sure, sweetie, but if ya need anything I want to be the first one you call. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Ding!”
“Well see ya.”
“Bye”
________________________________________________________________________
“Do you see them?” Brian asked Wanda.
“Nah......Oh, look..there’s AJ!” she said pointing.
“Let’s go over.” he said taking her by the hand.
They reached the table and Brian pulled up a chair for Wanda. AJ lit up another Marlboro Light.
“So what have you two been up to? I mean it took you long enough to get here.”
“We were,....um...” Brian faced flushed a deep shad of red. Wanda shared his embarrassment. AJ looked at the two.
“Forget I asked. No need to explain.” he said smiling and taking a drag of his newly lit cigarette.
“So where’s Jackie?” Wanda asked.
“She left with Nick ‘cause she got pissed at Em and Joey.”
“Where are they?” Brian asked.
“They were here a minute ago.” AJ scanned the room. “There they are over there.”
Wanda and Brian followed AJ’s finger in the direction of Emily and Joey. They were on the dance floor, dancing very close together, both looking like they were going to pass out any minute.
“What the hell got into them?” Brian wondered out loud.
“I’m guessing somebody had jus’ a ‘lil too much to drink.”
“You guessed right.” AJ said, leaning back in his chair.
Emily and Joey spotted the three of them and started stumbling toward the table.
“Wussup...wussup...wussup..party people!” Emily screamed while wiping her mouth. Joey just stood there next to her cracking up.
“Listen guys, and Wanda........me and my pal Joey over here, are gonna head back to my room and throw ourselves a ‘lil party of our own...if ya know what I mean!” she said laughing as if it was the funniest thing ever said.
“You do whatcha gotta do.” Brian said still not believing what he saw in front of his eyes.
“Latas!” Joey said as Emily dragged him away from the table.
“Ohmigod!” Wanda said with her mouth hanging wide open.
“I know.” AJ started to put out his cigarette. “Well kiddies, I’m jus’ about ready to make my grand exit. Care to join me?” Wanda looked at Brian. He nodded his head and stood up. She got up too, and linked her arm with his. They walked out into the crisp ocean air and inhaled the wonderful scent.
“So what are we gonna do now?” she asked Brian.
“Whatever you wanna do.”
“Well I don’t know about you guys,....but I happened to have a beautiful girl, by the name of Jade, waiting for me in her room. So if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go and make someone very happy tonight.” AJ said walking towards the elevator.
Wanda and Brian both smiled. “You do that AJ and give me the details tomorrow morning.” Brian called out to him. Wanda hit Brian’s shoulder. He laughed. The elevator arrived and AJ waved as the doors closed. Wanda and Brian started walking around on the empty unlit deck until out of the corner of Wanda’s eye she spotted something.
“Brian, what is that?”
“I dunno....”
As they walked closer to the dark mass on the floor, it occurred to them that this lifeless form on the floor wasn’t just that.....it was Justin’s body.
