chapter five      A couple of days after the 'event' in the hot tub, the boat moored in Morocco, and the ships inhabitants spilled out like a plague amongst the port city. Everyone spent the day site seeing and shopping in the marketplace. That night everyone came together for a traditional Moroccan dinner and entertainment.      Everyone was already at the restaurant, seated, and in the process of ordering when Emma arrived.      "Oh look who's here," Camille muttered behind her menu to her little tag-a-long friend, "the 'African Queen'." The two girls snickered behind their menus.      "Emma, love," Charles called out, "we were worried you were lost or something."      "No, I was just visiting some old friends and I lost track of time, sorry." She moved towards one of the pillowed seats on the floor.      "No need to apologize Em," Will said from across the table, "you're here now, that's all that matters." She smiled at him and he at her. She was grateful for the dusky candle-lit glow of the restaurant; it properly concealed her blushing cheeks.      Everyone ordered, and then turned to face the open area where the belly dancers were going to perform. Just before the performance started, a young man the same age as Will and Emma came over to the table.      "Emma? Is that you?" he asked, his voice thick with an accent. Emma quickly spun around.      "Ahmed! I can't believe it!" She jumped up and hugged her friend. She turned back to the table and introduced him. "Everyone, this is my friend Ahmed. Ahmed and I went to school together when my dad was stationed here." They all said their hellos and introductions; even Camille managed to be polite.      "So, you going to join us?" Ahmed asked, motioning to the stage area.      "Join you with what?" Emma asked.      "Don't play dumb Emma, you know as well as I do that you're a terrific dancer, so come on!" A horrified look came over Emma's face.      "No! No! Absolutely not!"      "Oh why not?" Will asked.      "Because I haven't danced in years, I don't have anything to wear, and because I don't want to."      "Ah, come on!" Ahmed pleaded, "We have plenty of extra outfits, and belly dancing isn't something you just forget Emma!" She looked at Ahmed's begging eyes, and then turned to see the same thing on Will's face. She rolled her eyes.      "Fine!" Everyone cheered as Ahmed dragged Emma backstage to change. Within a few minutes the restaurant went dark and soft native music began to filter through out the restaurant as the members of a band walked up to the stage. They played for a few minutes before the dancers emerged from behind a red silk curtain. The lower halves of their faces were covered with a sheer cloth, so it was hard for Will to determine which one was Emma. Within a few minutes, they removed the face coverings and their shawls, and Emma, being the only pale one, was easily spotted.      The dancers shimmied and shook for nearly twenty minutes. At times the music was fast paced, and at times it was slow. The whole time, though, Will was mesmerized by the rhythmic flow of Emma and her body. When they were done, Will stood up and gave them a standing ovation. .:.      Later that evening when they were back on the boat, Will bumped into Emma on the way to his stateroom.      "I had no idea you could dance like that," Will said, color flooding his cheeks. Emma smiled.      "I have moves you've never seen before," she said, play seduction toying with her words. Will smiled a sly smile and looked her up and down.      "I'm sure you do." Emma looked away, clearing her throat. "Um…I'm sorry for the other night. I was in the wrong. I should have called you; I should have kept in touch. I've just been distracted lately."      "I can imagine," Emma said, shuffling her feet.      "You know, I wish you'd give Camille a chance, I really like her." Emma sighed and sat down on one of the benches on the deck. Will walked over to her and sat down next to her.      "So you're really serious, huh?"      "Yeah, you could definitely say that."      "How serious?"      "Serious, serious."      "What's that?" Will looked down at his feet. "Come on Windsor, just spit it out."      "We're sleeping together." Emma's heart stopped beating. She swallowed hard, swallowing her tears.      "Well, that is serious, isn't it?"      "Yeah."      "And how long have you been together?"      "A few months."      "You think she's the one Will?" He scoffed.      "How the hell am I supposed to know?"      "Well, you're fucking her, you should know something."      "Wow, way to make me feel like shit."      "Sorry, you just caught me off guard, is all."      "I don't know Em…it's weird, part of me really likes her…and part of me…"      "Just wants to fuck her?"      "Pretty much, yeah." They both laughed.      "You're a guy, how else are you supposed to think?"      "Don't go male bashing on me!"      "Sorry, sorry," she said, holding her hands up in surrender.      "But really, I don't know how to feel. Sometimes I get the feeling that she's just using me-"      "You think?" Emma interjected.      "Pretty obvious, huh?"      "Yeah, it is."      "I have a hard time dating, and you know, finding the right girl, so when I found her, it just seemed so easy."      "Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was too easy? And that maybe it was too easy for a reason?"      "No. I should have though."      "Yeah you should have."      "You going to lecture me?"      "No. Why would I? I'm not your parent Will, though sometimes I feel like I have to be. I'm here as a friend, and as a friend I'm telling you she's using you. When she looks into your eyes, she's not looking at you, she's looking at dollar signs."      "I still care about her."      "I'm not saying that you shouldn't. I'm just saying, be careful. Girls like her are a dime a dozen, I just don't want to see you get hurt. Okay?"      "Okay." .:. back