European Romance

Brandon and I start to walk away towards the common elevator room; they follow us closely so there is no possibility that they will lose us.

“Hi,” she starts, her voice as cold as ice, “I see you ‘don’t know him,’” she mocks.

“Elena…” Brandon starts.

“Brandon,” she interrupts with dramatic hand gestures, “I trusted you; I gave you my heart and you threw it away to be with some… gringa,” she sneers.

“Don’t call her a gringa,” he hisses.

While Brandon and Elena argue, Chet walks over towards me.

“You know, hot stuff, since they’re busy arguing maybe we can have our own little party…” He pushes me in the elevator against my will.

“Nic--” Brandon is cut off.

“Brandon!” I struggle, but it was too late. The elevator was closed and there was nothing I could do since he was blocking the door. He pushes the emergency stop button.

“Oops,” he smirks. “Looks like we’re stuck here for a while, hot stuff,” he smiles slyly.

“Don’t call me hot stuff because there is no way that I,” I say gesturing to my entire body, “will ever be yours,” I turn around,

“Ooh, feisty I like that,” he says as he hugs me from behind putting his arms in a most uncomfortable area.

“Don’t touch me there, creep,” I fidget uncomfortably

“Oh, don’t worry, babe, I’ll take it slow. It’s not one of those see-through glass elevators so we have a little more… privacy,” he grins maniacally.

I turn away from him and face the corner of the elevator. If he tries anything funny, I can kick him in a very sensitive area, if you know what I mean.

He comes up behind me and starts grinding up against me, and I see my chance. I quickly turn around smash his nose, and while he is in pain and shock, I kick his groin area. Chet is on the floor, grabbing his area that is in a great deal of pain, from what I can tell. Fortunately, I am able to press the start button for the elevator. It begins to rise and I click the nearest floor, number ten.

I rush out as fast as I can and go to the stairs. I run down two flights and find that Brandon and Elena are gone.

“What gives?!” I say to myself. “Brandon!” I call out, a note of desperation in my voice.

“How could you steal from him from me?” a voice hisses behind me.

“Elena, I don’t want to deal with your crap, where is Brandon?”

“He’s in my room waiting for me, he told me to deliver this message,” she winks.

“Yeah, since I would definitely believe that,” I take a wild guess, “he’s told me all your stories; the passion you had but the feelings he didn’t return, I’ve heard it all.”

“No you haven’t!” she screeched, “He’s mine!”

“You wish,” I smirk then walk away.

I glide down the hallway, leaving Elena surprised and breathless. I nearly sprint and I finally reach my room; with desperate shaking hands, I pull out my room key.

I enter in the slim doorway and see Brandon on the bed talking to my parents. He looks up his pale, sad look soon turns to relief.

“Nicole!” He yells excitedly, “Where the heck were you?!” He demands.

“Chet tried to pull a perverted move in an elevator but I smashed his nose and groin then ran out of the elevator,” I smile, keeping it plain and simple.

“You scared the... heck out of me!” he stuttered.

“As soon as that happened, I tried to press the elevator button but that one was stuck, so I came here, told your parents, and we were about to call the elevator operators,” he choked.

“Oh, Brandon, thanks so much, you’re too much,” I said, ready to break into tears.

“Nicole, it seems that you have a very responsible boyfriend,” observed my mother, “And,” she continued after sighing, “he has asked about the ‘engagement,’ not to young, of course you are only fourteen. But just to ensure that you are in fact, his, I will allow it. But again, no wedding for at least four years.” She said sternly.

“Yeah, no that’s what we were planning for anyway and I was going to talk to you about that, actually,” I laughed.

“Well, now that that is said and done, we should all go to bed. It has been a long day, and congratulations on your dance victory,” she smiles and then retreated into the bathroom, “Goodnight Brandon,” she called out.

“Goodnight, Mrs. Williams,” he smiles then looks at me, “I’m going to my room, night love!”

“Hey dad,” I ask quickly, hoping my parents wouldn't notice, then Idiscreetly wink at Brandon, “Can you please escort him to his room, would that be too much trouble? I’d do it myself but that doesn’t seem to turn out well so…”

“Sure,” he smiles. “Anything for my boy,” he laughs and they exit.

When Brandon is at the door, he winks and my heart turns in happiness.

That night, I dreamt better than I ever had. I have my own European Romance that is filled with action, comedy, suspense, and love. What could be better?!

The next morning I awake in a spirit of happiness. Suddenly, something occurs to me: I’m engaged and fourteen. That scary thought strikes me and begins to worry me. Moving too fast?! Yes. Well we’re not getting married for a while… maybe it’s not that big of a deal. I’ll sort it out with Brandon tonight…

It’s a day of cruising, so of course we missed the “Early Riser’s” breakfast. We head to the Windjammer for the morning buffet at twelve o’clock. Nothing says “Good afternoon!” like watered down coffee.

My family plans to hang around the ship, maybe be by the pool in the beautiful Mediterranean weather. I plan, of course, to hang out with my fiancé and just have a good time. Maybe see a show, the possibilities are endless!

After breakfast, Helena and Brandon come to our room and the adults leave with my brother to walk around the ship and give us some privacy which my mother was slightly reluctant about, but I reassured her nothing would happen.

“Oh,” Brandon collapses on the bed, “Last night was terrifying. I thought something would happen…”

“Brandon,” I say, laying next to him, facing him, “I love you. I can hold my own though so you should know that,” I wink.

“I think I could take you,” he smiles slyly.

“I bet you could but you won’t,” I reply knowingly.

“How do you know I don’t want to take you to my room right now?” He laughs.

“I know you do but you just have to wait about four years,” I wink.

“Playing hard to get, I like,” he smiles, making me chuckle.

“I trust you, Brandon,” I scoot closer and kiss him, “Even if you don’t trust yourself.”

“Very poetic and inspiring, babe,” he wiggles his eyebrows playfully.

“Oh shut up, dork,” I get up and lean against the wall.

He gets up and puts his arm on either side of my me and puts his face within inches of mine, pleading with his eyes for me to lean in. I finally give in and go halfway, waiting for him. He surprises me and pushes against me with a force that leaves me dazed. I’m lost in this kiss and I have to stop before it goes any farther.

Thankfully, I don’t have to say anything because my stomach growls and I give Brandon a earnest look.

“Fine,” he says in fake sadness, and stiffles a chuckle, “We can go get something to eat.”

I leave a note for my parents and we exit the room and go around the ship looking for a quick place to eat. We stop at a pizza kitchen and eat one of the greatest pieces of pizzas I have ever tasted.

On the way back, we see a ping pong table and I think it looks like fun and challenge Brandon. I have never played anything with a paddle or racket, turns out Brandon hasn’t either. Our constant struggle to hit the little flying white ball sends us both into a fit of obnoxious laughter and we give up before we embarrass ourselves anymore. And just for the record, I beat him.

We are in the elevator on the way down to the eighth floor from the noisy, crowded tenth floor. Instead of stopping at the eighth floor, it keeps going down to the sixth floor. We both find this odd but just laugh it off and I give him a quick peck before the elevator door opens.

When it does open, I press close immediately and press fifth floor to get away. I don’t want to see her face again, not after last night. The fifth floor doors open and Chet is standing there, grinning. Seconds later, Elena staggers up beside him. I decide to just face this now, so I grab Brandon’s hand, give it a reassuring squeeze, and we exit the elevator.

“What do you want that you have to stop us for?” I ask, annoyed.

“I want him back I thought you’d know that by now,” she snaps.

Brandon interrupts, “Well, you’re not ever going to have it. We are engaged so I’m sorry for both of you, but you’re too late.” At his first words, I start beaming and watch as Elena’s eyes wander to my hand.

“No she’s not! There’s no ring! Haha! I caught you trying to lie!” She says with such enthusiasm it’s almost as if she’s found a cure for cancer or maybe her serious case of retardation.

“Alright, first of all,” I step forward, “you don’t need a ring to be engaged, idiota,” I smile and step closer, making her lurch backwards, “and second, you heard him. If he wanted you, I love him enough to let him go, maybe you should do the same.” After my inspirational speech, I walk back to where my proud fiancé is standing, and kiss him with my newly found joy. I knew I was flaunting it and surely enough I’m pulled off of Brandon and smacked by Elena. I don’t want to deal with this drama, so I shove her with all of my might into Chet who is standing by the open elevator, grab Brandon’s hand and sprint.

We run down the hall to the center elevators and take the stairs up to the eighth floor.

“Nicole, that was brilliant!” he beams.

“And that kiss, gosh I was dazed,” he admits. His smile soon turns to shock and hurt.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You’re bleeding,” he says, dabbing at my bleeding lip or nose, I can’t tell which one.

“I’m fine,” I state, for because of the look on her face, I feel nothing but joy! Such drama, it’s quite annoying. I wonder how I will explain this to mama and papa bear, so to speak… No matter. Maybe it’ll stop bleeding by then.

I try not to make a big show of entering the room. However, all the lights are on, I tiptoe in… “NICOLE!” screams my mother, “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!”

That’s about what I was expecting…