Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Eighteen: "A world class performance"

"Brooklyn, where did you find this?" asked my father when I presented him with the watch. He shot up from the bed, followed by his wife.

"I found it," I lied through my teeth.

"What?! Where?"

Nervous, my eyes darted back and forth. "It was just on the ground by the bar. You're welcome," I faltered, looking away from my parents.

"I don't know, honey. Do you believe her?"

Dad kissed the watch and then glared at me. "You sure you found it?"

I nodded with my lips pulled into a thin line. "It just turned up."

"Well I'm glad it did, this watch means a lot to me - it was your grandfather's. Thank you, Brook," Dad expressed, pulling my body in for a hug.

"It still sounds shady to me. Like, how'd it get out of the safe in the first place? It was obviously stolen, and not many people knew the combination," she went on. Then, she had a lightbulb moment. "Wait! Didn't those hoodlums overhear the combination?"

"Hoodlums?" I stared at her like she was dumb.

"The boy from dinner and his friend; on the first day, they bumped into you and I feared they overheard the combination. Michael, the Noah boy stole your watch," she insisted, gasping.

My eyes rolled. "Now you're just making shit up," I grumbled.

"Dad," I spoke to him, "you got your watch back. Isn't that all that matters?"

He looked at Mom and then at me. "Yes, honey, thank you."

I nodded my head and walked past them to retrieve the bottle of Jameson that I put on the stand.

"I was just about to send a search party for you." Noah greeted me at Cassie's door.

I shoved the handle of Jameson in his face and forced my way inside.

With a smile, I waved at Gael and Cassie who were sitting on her bed, just talking. For a second, I just stared and watched them interact. Cassie said she thought Noah and I were dating before, but by the way Gael looks at her, anyone would believe they were together.

"You're still alive, I see Mommy and Daddy didn't kill you," Noah stated.

"Not yet," I added, letting my hair out of it's high ponytail. I slid the pink velvet scrunchie on my wrist and sat down on the floor.

"Why the floor?" Noah laughed at me but sat anyway.

"What did you tell him?"

"That you stole it. They're pressing charges," I replied dryly. Noah knew I was joking and took the first drink when he didn't have a comeback.

"Jesus, Cassie, this room is-" I started to say but Noah cut me off.

He finished my sentence, saying, "depressing." Agreed.

"Well, you don't have to be in here," she sassed back. My jaw dropped but I knew she didn't mean it to be rude as it came off, that's just how Cassie is.

While I stood outside the room, Noah poked his head through the door to annoy Cassie and Gael.

"What, Noah?" Gael groaned.

"Cassie," Noah said, "he likes eye contact and to be called Daddy during-"

Embarrassed for Cassie, I pulled Noah by the hood on his pullover and stuck my head in to apologize on his behalf.

"What?!" Noah complained when I slapped his chest.

"Can't you see they wanna be alone," I nagged him. "Come on!"

***

"What's in here?" Noah wondered as we stumbled upon two large double doors.

He pushed them open and we saw that it led to an entertainment room - a theater.

"Ladies first," Noah gestured.

When I stepped forward, he mushed my head back and said, "You are not a lady."

I laughed and smacked my lips as I followed him around the dark room.

The doors shut behind us and made a loud sound that had me jump. I'd been so paranoid since the other night when I imagined that man-

"YO!" Noah yelled through his hands he had to his mouth like a megaphone. His voice echoed and no one replied or cut the lights on. He looked at me with his arms thrown up. "See, no one's here, scary."

I breathed out and walked through the aisles of seats. It would've been magical to see a play or live musical performance, I thought.

All of a sudden, the lights did cut on and a group of people rolled in.

"Hey! What're you doing up there?" A random man asked.

Clearing my throat, I went to the rail and looked down at them.

"I wanted to see the show," I said.

"The show's canceled," he barked.

"Yeah," someone else followed up with that statement, "not enough people purchased tickets!"

"Well, I'd like to see it. Please? I'm a dancer, I'm always on the stage, it would be nice to be on this side for once. What do you guys do?"

"Dance. Sing. Everything, actually," a black girl with a red curly Afro told me. Impressed, my facial expression showed that.

"Hey, Carter, we could use the extra practice," she said to the supposed leader of the group. He didn't look too thrilled.

"Yeah, Carter. I mean, we have all our stuff and the props are here," said another girl. She was pale and short and had blunt bangs cut just dangerously above her thin eyebrows. Carter bobbed his head. A second later, he was sold.

"We'll begin momentarily, Miss Dancer," the man named Carter said to me, bringing a grin to my face. I shrieked and pulled Noah with me to find a good place to sit for the show.
The only option I saw fit for us to sit was the loge. AKA, the opera box. Also also known as where Lincoln got assassinated. You know, the high seatings usually for the rich.

Noah kicked his feet up and didn't bother paying attention to the performance that was starting.

Upon hearing the music, a crowd formed below us.

Carter ran from back stage to see what was happening. He got all giddy and welcomed everyone in. Seeing the turn out, I got happy and felt like it was my doing. Had Noah and I not fooled around and entered, the actors would've let it stay cancelled.

The lights went down and dramatic music grew louder. It was starting. For some reason, I was extra excited about it. But like I said, it was nice just watching for once.

"Brooks?" Noah called my name out.

I stayed looking forward but responded in a whisper. "Yeah?"

"Why do you dance?"

My eyes blinked and I faced him. "My mom got me into it when I was really young. I mean, really young. And, I don't know, I'm good at it so I never stopped."

"So, she's one of those parents?"

I didn't say anything, my silence answered his question.

Noah leaned in and said, "Don't worry, just because I don't have a mom doesn't mean I'm going to tell you to respect yours. I think she's... yeah. Your mom is something."

That kind of made me smile. Someone else would've gave me a lecture about why I should be grateful for her before I lose her one day. Well I say someone should tell her to be grateful for me because she's driving me away and won't have me for much longer.

"Okay, I'm gonna get all corny here for a second but you can't judge me!" I said.

Noah held off his jokes and let me say what I was going to say.

"As bad as I want to go home - where I don't have to share a room with my parents - I wish I had more time with you guys," I let out.

Everyone in the theatre clapped so Noah and I looked and joined in, not even knowing what we were applauding.

When we stopped, Noah returned in my direction and said, "Yeah, I know what you mean. That was corny, by the way, that's twice now. But uh, I feel like I've known you and Cass forever."

Talk of Cass reminded me of Gael so I asked Noah about him. "He's really into her, huh?"

"For now," Noah told me. "Gael isn't exactly looking for a wife right now."

"Neither is Cassie," I defended her.

Noah chuckled at how quickly I got defensive. "Relax. I just meant he's-"

"He's a slut, yeah, I got that. What about you, that makes you one by association?"

"I'm sorry, didn't you kiss me?"

My jaw dropped. He had some nerve.

"Can you be serious, for like, one minute. Please. Will it kill you?"

He laughed and put his chin in the palm of his hands, watching me. "Okay, what do you want to talk about? I'll be serious, swear." His jaw clenched, waiting for me to spit out actual words.

"I don't know," I hesitated, twirling my hair. "Tell me something. Like, what are your plans when you get off the ship?"

"Probably just work. And no, you can't ask what I do. It's my turn: are you going to take your ex back?"

"Um, wow, that question. Aheh. Maybe? No? Why should I, he's a prick."

"He's a prick now, but you dated him for two years."

"Four," I corrected him in record time.

"Even worse. I don't see how you can be with someone for so long and then leave?"

My eyebrows furrowed upon listening to him rant. "It doesn't matter, it's over. And it's none of your business," I mumbled.

"You're the one who wanted to talk about shit," Noah barked, turning back in his seat. He got out his phone and didn't bother looking up again even to watch the show.

My face was twisted and I waited a whole two minutes to say anything back. "You're mean," I pouted, going ignored.

Before I knew it, there was a standing ovation and the curtains closed.

Noah yawned and stretched, his hoodie peeled up and I saw a chunk of his defined abs until he relaxed. He checked his phone for the time. It was getting late and I wasn't even as drunk as I planned on getting. I wanted to do something crazy for the last night but I guess Noah wasn't feeling it because he stopped drinking and the effect wore off on me, too.

"I can walk you back to your room," he offered.

"I don't want to go to my room, I want to stay up and cuddle with you," I beamed. "Just one more time."

Noah let himself smile. He said, "You got one more time to say something corny or I'm throwing you overboard."

***

As soon as we stepped inside, Noah turned on one dim light by his bed and started undressing. I found myself watching him lazily.

Snapping me out of it, Noah said, "Space cadet, the bed's over here." I blinked rapidly, trying to reel myself back in.

I removed my platform sandals and the cover-up over my mini black tube bodycon dress.

Wanting to be a tease, I got into the bed by first throwing a leg over Noah's body and straddling his lap for a second. Just as he looked at me in amusement, I rolled over and got on my side.

"Good night!" I exclaimed, giggling as I quickly got under the covers and made myself comfortable.

Noah just chuckled lowly and turned off the light so it was pitch dark with the exception of the moon light shining in through the port hole window.

One of his arms snaked under the pillow below my head, while the other pulled my body close as possible to his and rested on my upper torso. My backside was pressed up against him as our bodies perfectly aligned to be big spoon and I, the little spoon.

I swallowed and wiggled some, trying to get comfortable before he yelled at me. I smoothed the hair off of my neck and let it fan out on the pillow, or in his face, I didn't care.

"Brooklyn," he grumbled in this rasped deep voice like he was about to fall asleep.

Reacting to me twitch, Noah tightened the grip he had around my stomach. Wanting to get closer, if that was even physically possible, I wiggled back against him and he suddenly gripped my hip bone.
My mouth went dry but I tried swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Don't do that, Brooklyn," he said, his voice sounding muffled.

But I did do it again, only this time in a more obviously teasing manner.

"Do what?" I played dumb, batting my eyelashes.

"You know what you're doing," Noah groaned in my ear, sounding like Corpse Husband. I pressed my legs together as I felt myself getting uncomfortably ready between them.

At the same time, we aggressively went in for each other's lips. I reached back and grabbed a fistful of his hair and let my tongue explore the inside of his mouth.

Moans escaped my mouth as he led a trail of wet kisses from the corner of my mouth to my cheek, jaw, and neck.

As he rolled up my short dress with one hand, the other hand squeezed my breasts.

His breath washed over my shoulder and I breathed out, "I touched myself in the shower thinking about you." I don't know why I said it but I just did. He stopped and we met each other's gaze.

Noah said, "That's hot." I pulled his head back down, missing his lips against mine.
As the intensity picked up, his palm smoothed up and down my thigh until he came in contact with my soak-stained pink lace thong.

"Is this what you want?" he asked quietly.

"Y-yes," I hardly breathed out. He bit my ear and then my shoulder and dug his nails into my thigh.

"Open your legs for me." He spoke like he was trying to teach me how to do this, but his voice still made me shiver to my core. I did as told and he widened the gap, holding me down with his leg over mine on the bottom.

I grew impatient and tugged at my nipples.

Noah leaned up and kissed my neck again. He took his time as he stimulated my slit through my panties first. I squirmed and moaned his name aloud.

"Shut the fuck up," he growled, shoving the pillow in my face so I could bite it and make less noise.
His assertiveness turned me on even more. I started grinding against his erecting manhood and moaned into the pillow.

Noah pulled my panties to the side and and slid his finger against me one long time before entering. I arched and buried my face in the pillow.

"Fuck," he breathed out sensually, "you're so wet." Music to my ears.

I bit down on my smile and whimpered, "I wanna taste." So I held his hand and brought it to my lips where I sucked his middle finger into my mouth.

"You're so fucking sexy," he gritted, connecting with my eyes.

I giggled and opened my mouth for Noah to kiss me and when he did, our lip smacking echoed throughout the room.

His fingers pleased my clit better than I, or any other man, could've. I bit down on the meat of my inner bicep to contain my cries.

"Shit," Noah moaned in my ear, making my eyes roll back.

He started rubbing faster and harder in between the lips and I grabbed hold of his wrist as I felt myself about to release.

"Is this how you imagined it in the shower?"

"Mmm," I moaned, "better."

His other hand choked me and I announced I was about to finish.

"Cum for me, Brooklyn," he moaned in my ear, keeping the pace.

"Yes," I breathed unsteadily, "Right there!" I hummed as he hit my g-spot.

Suddenly, the door swung open right as I felt myself about to release.

Noah inhaled his frustrations and slowly took his fingers back. I banged my head against the pillow and just laid there until Gael said something or left.

"We're busy, get the fuck out," Noah barked.

"This is my room, too," Gael said, walking to his bed after letting the door close.

"Ugh!" I grunted. I grew impatient as the feeling of bliss was passing. I submerged my sweaty body under the blankets so I could make myself decent.

Seeing as how the mood was ruined and the asshole wasn't going to leave and give us privacy, I crawled off the bed and walked to the door.

"Good night," I mumbled, slamming my door on the way out.

And that was the last I saw of him - of any of them.

***

"-What a lovely cruise," Mom beamed as we pulled up to our house after the flight back to Texas from Florida where the cruise docked.

I hadn't said a single word to my parents since we left the ship, I was beyond exhausted but I just couldn't fall asleep for the life of me.

As shitty as it sounds, I did leave without saying bye to Cassie, Gael, and even Noah. Goodbyes would've been dramatic, it wasn't that serious. We had a good week together, sure, but all good things come to an end. All really good things.

The car stopped and Dad thanked our driver, Peyton who popped the trunk so we could get our bags.

Later that day I was already descending the stairs when I heard Mom call my name from the foyer.

Dad ran in, wondering why she was yelling so loud. "Where's the fire?"

"What?" I rolled my neck when I stopped on the tenth step or so and stared back at my mother.

"Get ready for practice, I hope you've stretched."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What, are you serious? It's Sunday, we just got back from vacation, I haven't fully even unpacked, yet!"

"Enough, Lynn. You had a whole week off, now let's go."

"No."

She gasped at my disobedience. "No? Brooklyn, as long as you live under this roof then you do what I say. And what I say is: stop thinking we're still on that ship because for the sake of vacation, I let a lot of your shit go, but the disrespect stops now. I've made myself clear. Go get ready, we practice in five-"

"I said no. I won't do it, I'm done."

"Brooklyn," Dad tried calming me down before saying something he thought I'd regret.

She raised an eyebrow and met me on the staircase. Getting in my face, she looked me up and down with disgust. "I'm not going to ask again. Go-"

I stopped her there and put my foot down.

"I'm moving out."