Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Fifteen: "Can't remember to forget you"

"Honey?" A voice sounded like a dream. "Honey? Brooklyn, baby, wake up." Oh. It was just my father.

I sat up too fast and banged my head on the close ceiling again.

"Aghh," I groaned, falling back onto my pillow.

Dad laughed at me but asked if I was alright. "You've gotta stop doing that," he joked.

"I'll work on it," I returned, rubbing my head. I had a splitting headache - I think they're called hangovers.

"What time is it," I asked, my voice barely there.

"Almost one o'clock. Are you okay, seasick?"

"Yeah, probably just seasick. Do you have some medicine?"

"No, not on me," he answered.

"You missed breakfast," Mom commented out of no where. "You should eat something, Lynn."

I twisted my mouth. "I don't like Lynn. Can you guys call me... Brook, or something?"

Dad and Mom exchanged looks.

"Sure," Dad agreed easily.

At the same time, Mom replied, "We've always called you Lynn, what's wrong with it all of a sudden?"

I cowered and let her win. "Nothing, sorry. Lynn is fine." She nodded and continued to accessorize.

Climbing out of bed, I picked out a wedgie from the romper I left on, and asked where they were going. My hair in a messy bun to the side on the top of my head.

"On a few excursions before we leave the island," Dad let me know. He sprayed cologne and checked his appearance in the small mirror hanging in the closet.

"I'd ask if you want to join but you're not even dressed, sorry," she said, putting on this sarcastic pout.

"Not interested anyway," I mumbled in response.

"Ready, hon?" Dad stood in the bathroom's doorway with his ankle crossed over the other like he was cool.

Mom popped her lips after applying a pink lipstick. She teased her hair a bit and then checked how her ass looked in the yellow printed sundress.

"Let's go, love," she beamed, taking Dad's arm.

They walked arm-in-arm to the door and Mom grabbed her purse and sunglasses before blowing me a kiss.

"Don't wait up," Dad boomed as the door closed, letting them up.

"As if," I murmured, my top lip curled.

The water droplets from the shower head rolled down my skin. It felt nice finally washing off the dirt from the long night before.

I kept my eyes shut as I pushed my hair all back and sucked my lips in.

All I kept thinking about was Noah. I couldn't believe we cuddled. Of course it was just the alcohol, but it felt nice.

My mind went back to the kiss. His lips were perfect against mine. And the way he held me, so strong and secure like he wouldn't dare let go.

I remembered his manly scent and bit down on my lip.

As I escaped to my fantasies, my hands roamed my dripping, soapy skin I'd just finished shaving.

I tuned everything else out and reminisced on the way our lips locked and tongues swirled against each other.

Getting an idea, my eyes flung open and I grabbed the detachable shower head.

Closing my lustful eyes again, all the cute things he told me ran through my head:

"You're cute"

"You've had a rough week, let me make it better"

I rushed to replace the shower head with my fingers, missing the pleasure I brought myself that fast.

Building up to bliss, I pressed harder and went faster. Full, I moaned and put my palm on the glass for support.

I was right there. The image on him on the beach - shirtless, his panty-dropping smile, piercing eyes, perfectly bronzed, oiled skin, those pink lips, how his dark curly hair was pushed back, and that dreamy body - was on my brain.

Imagining his husky voice in my ear, I moaned his name, my legs trembling. "Mmm, Noah," I gasped. "Noah!"

My eyes rolled back and I ripped my fingers away from my now overly sensitive womanhood.

The water had gotten cold and after a minute to clean down there, I turned it off and got out.

I stared at myself in the foggy mirror after swiping a hole so I could see my ashamed face. I am... a sinner.

While in the moment, that felt amazing, I now felt dirty and embarrassed. How am I supposed to face him now?

***

Dressed in a white halter-top mini dress, a gold anklet, and pair of black Kimmie's by Steve Madden, I walked to the lido deck for some lunch. The lido deck had food stands like burgers and desserts, as well as Italian and Mexican delicacies.
My hair was straightened and kept back by the glasses atop my head. I bothered to put on minimal makeup - light blush, feathery mascara, eyebrow gel, and brightening under-eye concealer (and translucent powder to set it.)

I was piling toppings and condiments on my beef Guy Fieri burger when someone reached for the mustard at the same time as me.

"Gail," I greeted him dryly, calling him the wrong name.

"Harlem," he played back, handing over the bottle of mustard so I could use it first.

"What a gentleman." I used sarcasm and gave him the bottle back after I squeezed a couple animated drops on my burger.

"How sad do you have to be to put a frown on your burger? Like, not a smile or a typical blob like normal people, but a frown," he went on, finding it funny.

I growled and slapped the top bun on my patty.

"Where's Noah?" I had to ask.

Gael put some onions and pickles on his tray. He cocked his head towards their table where I saw Noah stuffing fries in his mouth. I only watched him chew for a second but he was a good eater, I liked how his jaw moved and found it amusing that you could see his genuine love for whatever he scarfed down.

"Come sit with us," Gael offered, starting to lead the way.

"No, I have a thing," I lied poorly.

"Okay," Gael replied with a short laugh, "I'll pretend to buy that."

I scrunched my face at him and walked in the opposite direction to find a place to eat alone.

***

Night 6.

A warm hand on the small of my back made me jump, stopping me from entering the spa during the evening before it closed.

"Jesus Christ," I gasped, creating space between our bodies.

This guy is everywhere, I thought. How did he even find me?

"Woah, what's up with you?" Noah asked. "Why you all jumpy?"

"I'm not," I argued, covering my cleavage. He furrowed his dark brows at me, knowing that was a lie.

Ugh! There was no possible way to look him in the eyes after what I did this morning.

"I'm just a bit paranoid," I let out, "last night-"

He cut me off to say, "Was fun. We all got fucked up, remember?"

"No. I-I saw something and I'm sure I imagined it, but it was so real, ya know?"

He looked at me blankly and said, "No, I don't know. But you should hang out with us later; you, me, Gael, Cassie?"

"What are we, a gang now?" I scoffed, adjusting my stance.

A woman quietly said "excuse me" and went under Noah's arm to enter the spa.

"What, your parents yelled at you and now you can't be seen with us?"

I curled my face, offended. "No, they have nothing to do with this! I'm just tired of seeing you everywhere, damn. Like, why can't you and your friend go harass someone else?"

He blinked rapidly and let out a short chuckle. "What the fuck, we've been hanging out this whole time-"

"Yeah, not by choice," I snapped. "We're stuck on a fucking ship together, every encounter we had was just a coincidence. I just used you to get alcohol because I was too scared to buy it myself."
That's not a total lie, it's true that I didn't want to buy my own alcohol because my parents would probably see. I'm really scared of them, they have eyes everywhere. I think they planted a chip in me.

"Oh, damn. It's like that, huh?" He grumbled,
pressing his lips into a thin line as he towered over me. I looked away, trying to stay firm in my stance.

"Well fine, if you wanna act like a bitch-" he snarled, starting to walk away.

My jaw hit the floor. I dropped all the things in my hands and stomped my foot to protest. "I am not a bitch!"

"I didn't say you were, but if the shoe fits feel free to lace it up and wear it," he angrily came back, throwing his toned arms up.

Frustrated, I bent over and picked my rolled towel up only to throw it at his chest.
I then stormed over to him at the end of the hall and poked my finger in his chest, but as soon as I felt his rippling pectorals through the plain white tee he wore, I forgot why I was even so angry.

In all fairness, I wasn't mad at Noah, I just needed to get him off my case after fantasizing about him.

What is this stranger doing to me?

Seeing my demeanor changed, he put on a cocky smirk. "So about that kiss last night," he emphasized.

I was at a loss of words. "I- whattttt? No. You... We I didn't. T-"

"T-t-t" he mocked my stuttering and left me embarrassed. I only laughed and buried my face in my hands.

"Asshole," I teased, flirtatiously pushing him in the chest.

"No, but you did kiss me though," Noah made clear.

"Did you... did you like it?" I asked with innocence, staring down at the carpet.

"Hated it, you turned me gay," he played and I almost believed him. Silly me to think I'd get a normal answer.

"Me too, I think," I went right along, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, we probably shouldn't do that again," he countered, looking down at his hands.

I sucked my lips in and nodded. "Agreed. Ever again. That was soooo gross."

"Disgusting," he responded, swallowing. "I'm gonna get out of here before you try to do it again. See you at dinner tonight?"

Oh, shoot, I'd almost forgotten about that. It was the last day on the ship and the whole ship was supposed to attend the Captain's dinner, a formal event.

"Try not to!" I yelled after him as he cooly ambled away.

Noah looked over his shoulder and prolonged his grip on the wall before flashing an animated smile and finally disappearing from my sight.

This is your last night on the cruise, Brooklyn. After one o'clock tomorrow, he won't matter. . .