THE CRUISE

Ch 1

The sky was beautiful and blue as Katrina looked up. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees. Perfect way to start a vacation. She slammed the door to her car after locking her CD player in her glove compartment, grabbed her two suitcases and backpack and struggled forward. The butterflies in her stomach were tripling it seemed like. She was anxious but the prospect of a week on a cruise liner with nothing around but ocean did scare her. I guess it didn't help that she'd just finished watching Titanic the night before. Now, as she walked up toward the entrance to the ship dock she looked up at the magnificent ship. "It doesn't look any bigger than the Love Boat" she said paraphrasing a part of the movie. She smiled at herself as she struggled along to check in.

Jonathan stared at his brother as he unloaded yet another suitcase. "Are you planning on permanently living on this ship. You know we're only here for 7 days bro." Jordan waved his hand at his brother checking his luggage making sure he had everything. Jordan was known for his wardrobe fixation. Jonathan looked around his house before they drove here. No kidding, Jordan had brought just about every piece of his wardrobe on this trip. Not counting the numerous items he'd brought the week before. Jonathan had two suitcases and he planned on leaving the ship with the same two. "Let's go Jordan, the ship leaves in 2 hours." Jordan attempted to pick up all his luggage, when he fell over for the 2nd time Jon picked up his shoulder bag "You're on your own with the rest." And started walking towards the entrance.

Miguel tried for the 3rd time to call Jordan. He was standing at his car waiting for them. He looked at his watch and decided to just meet them on board. They all had rooms on the same deck, right by each other. He picked up his suitcases and headed toward the entrance as he anticipated the joyous life of 7 days on a cruise without working. It would be a first for him. This week he was going as an actual traveler, anything dealing with his job had been left at home or work. He had caller id so he already decided to not answer any calls from Florence. She could handle any kind of crisis that came up and he had faith in her. He planned on partying, exploring and relaxing and hopefully meeting some interesting people.

Suzi, Chrissy Celly, Mindy, and Kasey got out of the cab and looked up at the ship. "Shit. That suckers big!" Celly said looking over her sunglasses. "Fun in the sun, here the chicas come!" She pulled out her bags from the second Taxi that had to follow them for their luggage. "That ship won't know what hit it after we're through." Suzi said pulling hers out also. "Well as long as it's not an iceberg I'll be fine." Mindy said thinking of the fate of the Titanic. The other girls groaned and rolled their eyes. "Ms. Titanic strikes again. I swear Mindy if I hear one more reference...You're off the back of this ship just like all those others who met their deaths." Celly said. Kasey just stood there waiting. She was anxious to get on that ship and get to cruising. "Come on, come on. We have to meet Katrina, um...somewhere." Suzi looked disgusted. "Yeah, I can't believe she couldn't wait for us at the airport...some chica." Mindy thought about that "And our luggage would go where? I doubt her Neon is a transformer and pops into an Expedition at the touch of a button. Besides, she came from Vegas, I know she must be tired."

"But still." Suzi said. "I'm still not letting her off the hook about not coming to see me when she was in Texas. I had to come all the way out here to meet her." Then she thought for a second "Well under the circumstances, I'd have it no other way." They all laughed as they drag their luggage towards the entrance.

Joe walked onto the ship with his hat and sunglasses on. Twice someone asked him if his parents were with him "Do I look that damn young?" He said to himself. He walked down the hallway and into his room. He was about to enter when he saw Danny going into his own. "Dan man!" Joe dropped his bags and went to hug his friend. He hadn't seen him in so long. Luckily Donnie had been able to get in touch with him and tell him about their little get together vacation and Danny was all for it. He'd been out of the limelight for so long, and he missed the fellas. "Joe, what's up Mr. Stay the Same." They started talking and catching up since they were the only ones there.

Jordan and Jonathan walked up to the greeter. "Welcome to Royal Caribbean, I hope your voyage with us is pleasant and fun-filled." She said as she took their tickets and handed them each a brochure. Jordan's flirting tactics went into overtime as she smiled at the young girl and introduced himself. Jonathan laughed as she smiled at him and he knew she had no idea who he was. "Jordan...Jordan? Earth to Jordan" Jon waved his hands in front of his face. "Cruise, ship...leaving now!" He pulled Jordan inside as a courier took their luggage. Jordan walked behind Jon turning back to smile at the pretty lady. "This is going to be a long 7 days."

Katrina hoisted her shoulder bag up onto her shoulder one more time. She was slowly inching towards the entrance to the ship. "Looks like you need some help." She turned around to face none other than Donnie Wahlberg. "It couldn't be." She thought. Nah, he just looked exactly like him. "No I'm fine" she lied. "Not that far to go anyway, but thank you, Mr.?" She extended her hand to him "Wahlberg." He smiled at her. Oh My Gawd it was him! "You mean as in Donnie Wahlberg?" She smiled at him and shook his hand "In the flesh, and you are?"

"Oh sorry, Katrina. It's so nice to meet you. I am, was a fan of the group. I still am." She blushed as he smiled at her. He looked so damn good still. "And I've seen a couple of your movies too." He laughed at her. "I hope you liked them."

"Well I do, but why you gotta die in every one, man." They both laughed. "So what brings you here, on the boat?" She was curious and also anxious 7 whole days on a boat with Donnie. The girls were going to have fun with this. She thought of Suzi who'd probably faint and stay unconscious for the first few days knowing Donnie was in the vicinity. "...so we decided to get together and take a vacation at the same time."

She smiled at him as she came back to the present, she didn't get the first part of his explanation but she was just excited that he'd be there. She assumed that 'we' was him and his lady. Gossip! She couldn't wait to get back to that computer, she'd have some authentic Donnie gossip after this cruise. They walked up the ramp and were standing in front of the same lady who minutes earlier had taken Jordan and Jon's tickets. She smiled at them and said the same spiel as she took their tickets and handed them brochures. A courier took Katrina's luggage and left her with her backpack. "Well it was nice meeting you, maybe I'll see you around." She held out her hand again.

"Oh definately, you will." The look he gave her made her want to die. He looked at her over his sunglasses and she started to turn around before she totally melting. She understood why Suzi loved this man. She walked down the opposite corridor away from him and gasped for air.

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