Chapter 1: Encounters of the B-Ball Kind
The breeze whipped her hair around. Blinded by her renegade locks, she snatched at them until they were secured safely behind her ears.
Having regained her eyesight, Cairo carefully surveyed her surroundings. So far, no Lacey. Where the hell could she be, she thought to herself. Being as impatient as she was, Cairo was about ready to murder Lacey on sight. She'd been waiting for about twenty minutes.
Taking a deep sigh, Cairo looked out at the sparkling blue waters. The air was fresh, the sight was magnificent and the sun was beaming. The only cloud in her sky was the absence of her best friend, who seemed to be missing in action.
At that thought, Cairo laughed to herself. Serves me right for letting her talk me into this, she thought ironically.
A few months ago, Cairo had made an ultimate decision about her future. She was going to relocate from her apartment in Toronto, to Orlando, Florida. Lacey had insisted on a special trip for the two of them, as a last farewell. They ended up on a cruise-liner, on a seven-day cruise, in the Florida area.
She couldn't believe it. Only three days left, and then Lacey would head back to Toronto, and she was going to her new house. Her family was totally against her decision, but she was 19. They couldn't stop her.
It won't be forever, she told herself. She frankly doubted that she would last half a year.
"Kay! It's about time I found you! You'd think after four days of this ship, we'd have an idea of where of everything is, but NO, I still get lost," Lacey said, all in one breath, as she came up behind Cairo.
"I told you I'd be on deck," replied Cairo, bristling at Lacey's unrepentant use of her most despised nick-name, "Lacey, why can't you just call me Carrie, like everyone else?"
"Because then I'd be like everyone else!" was Lacey's logical reply.
"Of course. So, what do we have planned for today?" Cairo asked, to change the subject.
"Well, you wanna go do that scuba diving thing, and I'm going shopping, when we dock at that island-thing," Lacey replied, leaning over the edge of the guard rail, looking down at the water.
"Island-thing? Now that's creative. It's a Key, my dear. Like the Florida Keys? Ring a bell?" Cairo asked, gazing side ways at her friend.
"Yeah, sure. Anyway, why don't we crash poolside for awhile? We have a few hours until we dock. I can check out the hot guys and flirt shamelessly, while you tick away at your little notebook," Lacey suggested.
"Little notebook? Learn the lingo my dear. It's a Notepad, not book. Also known as a laptop. Yeah, I guess we could do that. I have some ideas floating around. It's about time I got started writing again," Cairo sighed. She hadn't had one decent idea since she completed her last manuscript.
"Okay, I'll go grab some chairs, and you can go get your computer," Lacey said, taking off in the direction of the pool. Rolling her eyes at her friend's hurry, Cairo turned towards the direction of her room.
* * * *
"I can't believe that you're leaving me!" Lacey cried the day that Cairo had told her she was leaving Toronto.
"Lacey, listen. I can't rely on you for everything. I need to depend on myself for awhile," Cairo replied.
"But why Florida? Couldn't you choose somewhere closer?" Lacey said, quietly.
"No. It's just what I always had in mind for the perfect spot to write in. I need this, Lacey. I haven't written anything in months, and it feels like someone's cut off my legs, or something. I just don't feel whole without it. And it scares me. I hope that a change of scenery and some isolation will change that," Cairo explained.
"But why Florida?" Lacey repeated.
"Do you even have to ask that? It's the ocean, you know it is." "You're kidding me, right? You're leaving all of us just so you can go write by the ocean? Are you mad, 'cuze I'm seriously debating on whether or not to admit you," Lacey said, pacing about the room.
"I can't live here anymore. I just can't. Everyone tries to take care of me all the time, and I need to be on my own. It won't be for long, I promise," Cairo pleaded. Lacey sighed and sat down.
"I know. I think I always knew that you'd eventually go off to be by yourself for a few months. I'm just surprised that it's taken you this long. I'm gonna miss my favorite room mate, Kay," Lacey said.
"I'm your only roommate," Cairo replied, smiling through a few tears.
"Cairo, I understand, but does Brad?" Lacey asked hesitantly.
"I haven't told him yet," was her reply.
Suddenly, Cairo was on the floor of the corridor that she was walking down, jarring her out of her daydream.
"Oh my god, I think I killed her!" someone called out, astonished. She shook her head to clear her vision. She looked down the darkened hallway, seeing a tall figure running down to where she was. When he reached her, he extended his hand to help her up. She gripped it, and he pulled her up.
Then she was on her feet, gazing into the bluest eyes she had ever seen, set in a face framed by jet-black locks.
"I am so sorry about that, I didn't see you. If I had, I wouldn't have gone for the three-pointer," he said, smiling sheepishly.
"Three-pointer?" she asked, as he gestured towards a basketball rolling away from them. "And you were aiming for?"
"Garbage can. I know, way off. But, as I said, it's dark down here," he explained, turning around to chase his ball. When he moved, she saw the desired target a few feet ahead of her.
"Interesting choice of basketball court. I must say for what you lack in aim, you make up for in creativity," she said, gazing into those blue eyes. He looked really familiar, but she just couldn't place where she'd seen him before.
"Play where you can, best motto to live by. I'm actually just waiting for a friend, who is late, and well, I didn't see anyone down here, so I thought, why not?" he said, blushing slightly, looking at the ground.
"Well, next time, warn me before you start a pick-up game in the hallway," Cairo said, good-naturedly.
"No problem. Once again, I really am sorry. I didn't catch your name," he trailed off.
"That's because I didn't mention it. Hi, I'm Cairo," she said, extending her hand.
"And I'm, uh, Neil," he said as they shook hands. "Cairo? That's definitely -"
"Unusual, I know. Weird parents, what can I say?" she broke in.
"Hey boy, you're late. We're gonna loose our court!" a voice yelled from the end of the hall.
"I gotta fly. I guess I'll see you later, Cairo," he called over his shoulder, as he ran off to meet his friend. Cairo laughed to herself as she watched him run off. Then she turned and walked to her room. Lacey would be about ready to get mad, she thought as she walked.
* * * *
When she finally reached the pool and found where Lacey had hidden herself among the crowds, she was right about Lacey.
"What took you so long? I'm been checking about all of these guys by myself! That's no fun, because I look like a freak unless I'm with someone," she complained.
"I was attacked by a basketball-yielding, black-haired, blue-eyed beauty," she explained as she flopped down on the lounge chair.
"Ooh, spill," Lacey said, full of forgiveness, as long as it involved a hottie.
"Not much to spill. I'm walking to our room, next thing I'm on my ass, with this guy chasing after a basketball helping me up. It was all quite funny," Cairo explained.
"Kay, you get all the luck. Was he cute?" Lacey asked.
"The usage of the word 'beauty' would lead some to believe that," she said.
"But it leaves so much more to be described. You're not worthy of a cute-guy encounter. Come on, give me something else to work with here!" Lacey pleaded.
"I can't say anymore, because I didn't notice anymore. Plus, I'm not single, so what use is it to notice anything?" asked Cairo.
"You're not serious, after what he pulled?" Lacey asked.
"I'm not going to break up with him for that. I knew where he stood about me leaving, so I'm just gonna have to give him time to deal," Cairo said, looking away.
"Kay, he didn't even come to say good-bye. Christ, he didn't even call. Look, whatever you decide on that matter, I'll support you, but he's being a selfish asshole, and he's not worth your time," Lacey said.
"You can't help who you love," Cairo said quietly.
"I hope one day he realizes what an asshole he's being and grovels for forgiveness. Anyway, I'm gonna go for a dip. Hottie, deep-end. Plus, I can tell that you're just dying to pull out that computer. Well, write a good part for me!" Lacey said, standing up. Cairo did what she said, and sat there staring blankly at the empty screen.
"No," he said.
"What do you mean, no?" Cairo demanded.
"I said no. You are not leaving. You are not moving. I can't believe you're even thinking about it," Brad yelled.
"You can't tell me what to do. Brad, can't you see that I need this? I haven't been...right, for a long time, and I think this can help," she said, quietly.
"Why are you being so selfish?" he demanded.
"I'm being selfish? You're the one that doesn't want me to leave, that wants to keep me from being happy! Why can't you see that?" Cairo pleaded, tears welding up in her eyes. Brad turned away from her and stood up, looking out the window.
"Then leave. Carrie, if you think that this will make you happy, that you can't be happy with me, then leave. But I can't promise I'll wait for you," he said. Cairo's eyes widened. That was not what she expected.
"But Brad-" she began.
"You HEARD me. Leave," he said. She stood up slowly and walked to the door.
"I love you Brad," she said, trying hard to keep her voice from breaking.
"Just...just go," was his reply.
"Hey, daydreamer, wake up!" she Lacey yell, before she attacked a helpless Cairo, flicking her dripping wet fingers in her direction.
"Ahh! Watch the keyboard!" she cried, ducking to prevent any damage to her computer.
"Relax, I didn't hit it. Anything interesting?" Lacey said, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself.
"No, not really. It's too distracting around here," Cairo replied.
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