*This isn't one of my best writing's. Personally, I think it's one of my worst. Other's think it's written very well, but we
all have our opinions. If you are going to keep up with the episodes, then basically you have to read this one, so you
won't get confused. I think these are going to turn out very well, when I get into around maybe the 9th or 10th episode.
I hope you enjoy them and please send me feedback, either in the guestbook or to me at my email address. Thanks!*

The Way You Said Hello -Pt 1-
 

            I was with my best friend at the time. It was finally a get away from everything that had ruined our friendship in the past. We made a pact to stay friends forever and we planned to keep it that way. So, this was our way of re-newing our friendship. We were on a cruise that left out of Florida to go to Mexico. We had never done this before, because for one... we never had the money, but we sure did now. The ship was beautiful, so was the ocean and it's scenery. The cruise had just started, Hayley and I were tired as ever. Flying all the way from California, stopping in Texas for about 2 hours, making our way to Florida, making a stop in Miami then finally on the ship... it was exhausting.

            "Hey Cay, wait up!" I turned around to see Hayley struggling to hold all her luggage. I only brought a suitcase large enough for an average amount of clothes and a small tote bag.

            "Well, damn if you wouldn't bring your whole house with you, then you wouldn't need me to wait up."

            "Shut up, Cayla and help me carry some of this." She said getting irritated.

            "Hiss, scratch, scratch. Sorry." I laughed picking up one of her bags.

            "Thanks smart ass."

            "No problemo."

            We walked around the boat for about a hour trying to find our room, the ship was so big that you could easily get lost on it. It was elegant though. We had an ocean view cabin, in room 203. We finally found it, opening the door we were in shock. The room was full of beautiful colors, a white leather sofa, a rather large screen television, a full kitchen, 2 beds, 2 baths, and a small jacuzzi in sectioned off part. I never imagined it to be like this. It was like living in a movie, in high class. God, it was beautiful.

            "Damn, dude. This rocks!" Hayley yelled throwing her bags down and leaping on the nearest bed.

            "For real. I really didn't think it would be this nice. I just thought it would have been a small room, with a microwave, 2 broken beds and small cabinets. But hell no, this is the whole 9 yards." I walked around the room, checking things out.

            "Hey, what's this Cay?" I came out of the back room where the jacuzzi was, seeing Hayley at the night stand in the middle of the beds, holding a small piece of paper. "Woah, this is great!"

            "What? What is it?" I walked over taking the paper from her hand.

            "We're invited to a party the first night we come aboard." Hayley smiled.

            "Well, I'm tired but I'm going. Anytime I can catch a party, I'll be there."

            "Do we have to dress up in our best clothes?"

            "Hell if I know. It's your first time and it's my first time. I'm going casual. I don't care what people think." I stood up moving closer to the door.

            "You coming with me?"

            "Where you going?"

            "Out. I don't know where. Just to check things out and get me something to drink."

            "Nah, I'll just stay here and get things settled in. You go check it out and tell me about it when you get back."

            "Alright Hayley. Now if I get raped, abused, hurt or handcuffed... I'm blaming it all on you, cause you didn't want to come with me."

            "Whatever Lil' Cay." She laughed at me as I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.

            When I came out of the room, there was a gorgeous guy to my left coming out of his room, too. He smiled and waved.           

            "Hey, how's it going?" He asked with a country accent. It wasn't like most southern accents, this one was cute.

            "Fine, just fine. You?"

            "Great. I'm ready to party tonight! You going to the party?"

            "Ah, yeah I think so."

            "So, I'll see you there... um...?"

            "Cayla."

            "So, I'll see you there Cayla?"

            "You know it." I smiled and started to walk away.

            "Oh, is it your first time on a cruise?"

            "Yeah, yeah it is. I'm just going to look around for now."

            "Oh, I've been on many cruises. You want me to show you around a bit?"

            "Sure, if you've got time... uh?"

            "The names Brian and I have all the time in the world." He said walking down the long hall of doors, with me following behind him.

            He went on to show me the kitchen and dining area, the 2 outdoor pools, the place for small kids to play, the indoor pools, spas and jacuzzi's. This was definately going to be a great trip.

            "This is a great cruise to go on. I usually travel this same cruise line often."

            "I don't have money to do it. My friend and I worked up some money without spending too much, so we could take this one small trip to get away from every thing else in our lives."

            "Do you go to college?"

            "I used to, but I quit. Most people regret it, but I don't. I'm happy with the decisions I make, you know what I'm saying?"

            "Yeah. I got you."

            "I'm going to get back to the room though, Brian. Thanks for showing me around, it was great meeting you. I'm sure I'll see you at the party tonight, right?"

            "Yep, I'll be there. Some of my boys are going to be there too. We're going to rock the place." He smiled showing pearly whites.

            'Mmm, damn he's fine, sweet and got a good heart. Why couldn't I ever find a man like this back home?'

            "Oh, that will be great. Thanks again Brian." I said walking off back towards my room.

            "Your welcome, Cayla!" He yelled as it echoed through the halls.

            I reached the room and the TV was on, and Hayley was laid out all over the couch. I flipped the TV off, grabbing some clothes, heading to the shower. The shower was huge too. Damn, how good did every thing get? I felt the water trickle down my spine and my mind went back to remembering things back home. Things I didn't even want to think of to ruin my small vacation. People I didn't want anything to do with anymore, heart breaking memories, and terrifying past times. It all crept through me slowly, like a drug. It hit slowly then all came at me in a rush. I brushed the thoughts from my mind, turning off the water. I had to get ready and party hard tonight. I just hope I didn't get to drinking. If I had one, it would end up being 101. I finished getting ready in the bathroom. I opened the door and to my surprise Hayley was sitting on the couch in her 'party clothes.'

            "Damn, it took you long enough."

            "I didn't even think you were going. You were sleeping hard."

            "Yeah, I'm going. You just behave tonight, Cay."

            "I will. I always behave."

            "Well, don't drink too much, okay?"

            "Yup, you got it."

            "You ready to go, Cay?"

            "Yeah, I'm ready to get my par-lay on. Ah-ha." I smiled bouncing towards the door. I opened the door, letting Hayley out so I could lock it from the outside.

            "So, we meet again." A voice came from behind me. I turned around to see Brian once again.

            "Hey, Brian. You heading to the party?"

            "Yeah, that's where I'm going. You ladies on your way there, too?"

            "Uh huh. Oh, Brian this is my best friend Hayley. Hayley this is... uh... well a new friend of mine, Brian." She gave him a small smile, shaking his hand.

            "It's nice to meet you, Hayley." Brian smiled widely. "Well, why don't we move along downstairs, ladies?"

            "Let's go." I said cheerfully. It had been forever since I had been to a party. I was always working or busy with shit that I never had time to actually have fun. I was sure going to make the best of it tonight.

            The three of us walked down the stairs seeing every one laughing and dancing. People were drinking, neon lights were glimmering off wine glasses a disco ball was in the middle of the dance floor. It looked like a club with a huge pool. In the middle of the boat under a shaft, there was a large bar. I took in every thing I was seeing. I was going to have a good time tonight, dance, and drink. I was just about to walk towards the bar and Brian grabbed my hand.

            "Show me what you got on the dance floor." His eyes glistened, smiling at me.

            "Alright. Let me get a drink first. Where's Hayley?"

            "No. You aren't drinking. Hayley already warned me about that, and look right over there." Brian pointed along the side of the dance floor to where many booths and chairs were set up. "There's Hayley. I told her I was going to get you to dance with me. So, let's tear it up, Cayla." He smiled pulling me towards the middle of the floor.

            "I can't dance to this, Brian."

            "Sure you can. It's a remix of some song."

            "Well, I know that much." I laughed slighty when he pulled me closer to him as he danced.

            'Damn, this boy can dance. Damnit Cayla! He's perfect!' I laughed a little to myself as I started to move to the music. I think I can dance good, but sometimes it's just hard for me to get in to it, if I don't like the song. Finally, the song went off and the bass line of 'On Point' by Lil' Flip started playing. Every one started whistling and yelling 'YEAH!' This was one of my favorites dance songs. My eyes lit up as I started to get into dancing more.

            "You can dance, girl. I told you." Brian smiled as I turned around having my back towards him. He put his hands on my hips and we moved in rhythm. We weren't really dirty dancing or anything, just having fun. We moved closer to each other as I could feel Brian on my back side. I turned around to face him putting my right arm around his waist. I looked into his eyes heavily. He looked back with a goofy smile. I held myself with that one arm around his back and let my body fall quickly towards the ground, then coming back up, closer to his body, real slow. We were starting to get an audience, but hell I was having fun. They were all making 'oohs', 'aahs' and 'uh ohs.' It was great, finally being able to be free and let loose. Dancing was a great passion of mine, I loved it. I looked up at Brian as he had a shocked, but yet half smile on his face.

            "Damn Cayla. Get ya groove on!" He laughed putting both hands on my waist and letting them slide down to the lower part of my back.

            'I'm gonna slow it down a bit because I know some of ya'll are getting fired up out there.' The DJ said smiling down at Brian and me. 'Let me see what ya'll got on this track, aight?' He pointed towards us as Brian shook his head. 'Here it is, my man Usher with 'You Got it Bad' check it!' The music starting playing and Brian looked into my eyes, still holding my lower back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and started to dance slowly, not taking my eyes off of his. I pulled myself closer to him, bending my knees slightly, getting into the beat of the music. Brian started to really get hype too, so I put my left leg in the middle of his and sort of straddled his left leg as he was doing mine. We were moving slowly, and every time the drum would hit in the song, I'd snap my back moving closer and closer to him. The song soon ended and another remix of some song played. Brian grabbed me and hugged me pulling me off of my feet. I accepted his hug and started laughing as I held on to his neck.

            "Okay Brian! Put me down!" I yelled still laughing.

            "What? Never!" He smiled making a funny voice. He let me down and I walked behind him putting my left hand in the middle of his chest and my face on the his left cheek.

            "What a great way to be greeted, Cayla."

            "I know, isn't it great?"

            "Yep. Hey, there's some of my boys!" Brian yelled. I followed his gaze and saw some guys waving to Brian. They were laughing, and giving him thumbs up.

            "Cool. Why don't you go over there to them and I'll go talk to Hayley for a while?"

            "Alright. I'll find you in a few minutes."

            "Okay,  Brian. See ya!"

            "Bye Cayla."

            I started to walk over towards Hayley, but something inside me was wanting a drink. So, instead I walked over towards the bar... ordering something small. Just a screwdriver. It wasn't much. I sat down on one of the bar stools after ordering, spinning around facing the dance floor watching everyone.

            "You can dance really well, you know that?"

            I turned to my right seeing a guy with a white see through shirt and some blue jeans on, holding a Martini glass. He took a sip and sat it down on the counter as he spoke to me again.

            "You can dance. Did you hear me?"

            "Thanks." I blushed.

            "Yeah, well I give applause to where credit is needed." He smiled crookedly.

            I started to laugh a little, "well thank you. My names Cayla, and you are?" I asked putting forth my hand.

            "Ale... AJ." He said shaking my hand.

            "It's nice to meet you, AJ." I looked at him closely, he was definitely my type of guy. He had dark brown hair, a nice shaped goatee, sunglasses on, and had a small thug appeal to him. I liked the bad guy looking type and I always got screwed over by them. They are the sweetest person you will ever meet, until they get what they want from you, then they leave you.

            "It's nice to meet you also, Cayla."

            "Here you are Miss." The bartender handed me my drink. "Thank you."

            "Did you ever take dance lessons or something?" AJ asked, taking a small silver case out of his pants pocket.

            "No."

            "Oh, well you've got talent." He said, opening the case, taking out a cigarette, putting it to his mouth.

            "Thank you. I mean, I just get this rush when I dance. I feel great."

            "Yeah, I know what you mean. You smoke?" He lit the cigarette taking a long inhale.

            "I do, but I'm trying to quit all my bad habits. I shouldn't even be drinking."

            "Me neither. But it's all good. I don't want to sound a burden but I'm just curious, are you here alone?"

            "No. My friends here with me."

            "Oh, okay."

            "What about you?"

            "Yeah, I came alone." He took another inhale of his cigarette.

            "Oh..." There was a silence between us, except for the music.

            "Wanna dance?" He asked setting his cigarette in an ash try, picking up his martini glass taking a sip.

            "Aww, I'm sorry. Not right now."

            "Come on. I've already seen you dance your ass off." He slid his sunglasses down on the bridge of his nose.

            "Nah. I would but I've gotta go find my friend."

            "Okay, I'll make you a deal. When you find your friend, drink a little bit and do whatever else you want to do. Come back and I'll be right here waiting on that dance from you. Sound good to you?"

            "Alrighty. Sounds good AJ." I hopped down from the bar stool taking my drink with me. "I'll be back later, and you BETTER be here."

            "Ah, I should be. But if I'm not... I'm in room 178. Come find me there." He smiled at me taking his sunglasses off, which revealed beautiful dark brown eyes.

            "I just met you, and you expect me to come to your room? I don't think so."

            "Ah, I won't hurt you. I'm innocent. I swear. If I wanted to take you away, I could have already done that. I had plenty of chances to do so.”

            “Yeah, yeah. You just better hope that you’re sitting right there when I get back, or else there isn’t any dance between us.”

            "Oh, that's how it is, huh?" He picked his cigarette back up with his open hand.

            "Yeah, that's how it is." I smiled and walked away.

            I went towards the direction I had seen Hayley when I was dancing with Brian. When I found my way over to where she had been, the booth was empty with 2 beer bottles sitting on the table. Hayley didn't drink... she just smoked a lot. So, I decided to go find her, but of course I didn't have to look far. She was out on the dance floor. I just thought I'd make my way back over towards AJ and let him have his dance now, but I couldn't. Brian had already found me.

            "Let's go dance, Cay. I told the boys about you, they said you seem really great. I couldn't find one of them, but he can learn about you later."

            "Nah, Brian I can't dance right now."

            "Oh, come on, Cay."

            "I promised..."

            "Come on." He said interrupting me and pulling me towards the dance floor. I looked over towards the bar and sure enough AJ was still sitting there looking at me and Brian. We stayed in a gaze for a while until he broke it, and picked up his martini glass finishing off his drink. Brian kept pulling me further and further into the crowd of people dancing, it got to where I couldn't see AJ anymore for all the people.

            "Hey Cay! This shit rocks, dude!" I turned in the opposite direction of where I had been looking for AJ and saw Hayley standing beside me.

            "Yeah, it does." I forced a smile.

            "I saw you dancing earlier, you was tearing it up." She smiled. "I'll let you two get back to dancing." She looked at Brian then back at me before putting her attention back on her dancing.

            "Cay, are you alright?" Brian asked turning my face towards his with his hand.

            "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I urged a smile again.

            "You just seem out of it now."

            "No, I'm fine Brian. Let's dance."

            "Well, damn woman that's what I've been waiting on this whole time." He laughed pulling me closer to him. The DJ put a slow song on as Brian and I danced to it. I looked over to where Hayley had been and she was dancing with a tall dark headed man. I turned my head looking back at Brian, he was looking at Hayley too and smiling. The dark headed guy, smiled back giving Brian a thumbs up.

            "You know him, Brian?"

            "Yeah, that's one of the guys I'm real close with. That's Kevin."

            "Oh, nice. Are all of you exceptionally good looking or is just what I see?"

            "You think Kev's hot?"

            "I didn't say hot. I said exceptionally good looking." I laughed a little.

            "He's my cousin, so whatever you see in both of us... it must run in the family." He snickered a little and pulled me closer to him. I put my head on his shoulder as we slow danced.

            "It must run in the family then."
            "Don't get any ideas. He's married." Brian laughed.

            "Are you serious?"

            "Yeah, his wife is here." I took my head of Brian's shoulder and looked up at him.

            "Um, excuse me?"

            "No. No. No. He's not a player. He's not trying to get with Hayley or anything. She came over there with me when I went to go talk to my boys. Kevin asked her why she wasn't out there dancing, and she said because she didn't have anybody to dance with, so he offered."

            "Oh. Well, ok that makes sense. Sorry. I'm just used to meeting jerks."

            "Yeah, I know what you mean. Well, with girls of course. I'm glad I met you, you're cool as hell."

            "Thanks Brian. You're like the first guy I've met in a long time that's sincere."

            "Aww." He smiled pulling me in for a hug.

            "Sorry to interrupt this love fest, but Hayley's going to go over here with me to Howie, Nick and Kristin. Come over there if you want Brian." Kevin sweetly smiled at Brian and I.

            "Okay, Kev. Kevin this is Cayla, Kevin this is Cayla." Brian said introducing us to each other.

            "Nice to meet you, Cayla. We've heard and seen a lot about you." He put forth his hand to me. I let go of Brian, blushing at Kevin's comment, shaking his hand.

            "Nice to meet you, too. Hey, a first impression is everything." We all laughed.

            "Well, ya'll going to come over there?" Kevin asked.

            "Yeah, you want to go Cay?" Brian asked looking at me.

            "Sure, I'll go meet every body."

            "Great." Brian took my hand leading me over to meet all his friends.

            We walked through the crowd of people and towards a group of people talking, sitting at a table beside the pool. There were 2 guys and a girl. That had to be the people Kevin mentioned. There was one guy with dark curly hair, another one with short blonde hair. They both appeared sweet. The girl with them had blonde hair, she was pretty. Not a slut and not a prep.

            "Hey bro!" The blond headed guy said to Brian.

            "Hey Nick. Cay, this is Nick, Nick meet Cayla."

            "Hey sup, Cayla?" He smiled at me.

            "Not much."

            "Coolio."

            "Guys, this is Cayla. Cayla that's Howie, and this is Kristin." I waved and smiled sweetly as I could. They welcomed me with warm smiles and 'heys'. We sat around talking for a while. Nick was goofy as hell, but he was cool. Howie was very quiet, unless it came to defending himself to Nick's comments. Kristin wasn't very talkative, I could tell that when I first saw her. She appeared real shy. The moonlight was showing in the star filled sky over the ocean. It was beautiful.

            "If ya'll will excuse me, I'm going to the rest room. I'll be right back, Bri." I got up from the chair I had been sitting in. Many people have already turned in and went back to their cabins, but a lot were still partying the night away. I turned over my shoulder every now and then to make sure Brian wasn't watching where I went. I had to find AJ, not a rest room. I walked over towards the bar where he was sitting. I knew before I even went over there that he wouldn't be sitting there drinking or smoking anything. The bar tender looked at me momentarily while he was wiping off the counter.

            "You looking for the guy you were talking to earlier?" He said keeping his face focused on what he was doing.

            "Yeah, actually I am. Do you know where I can find him?"

            "I don't know exactly where he might be, but the last thing I heard him say was ' just like all the others. I'm getting out of here.' But hon, there's not that far he can go. He for one, can't get off this ship. So, he's around here somewhere. Good luck in finding him."

            "Yeah, thanks." I turned around walking off. I went in the opposite direction of Brian, I just wanted to be alone. Things had been happening too soon and I needed some time alone. I hadn't even been on the cruise one day and everything was forming too quickly. I walked and walked until I came to the back of the ship. I stood there holding onto the railing looking up at the sky for a long time. It was so peaceful, so calm. Memories started to flood my mind, I huffed putting my head down on my hands, still clinging to the railing.

            "I heard you were looking for me."

            I brought my head from my arms a small amount, cutting my eyes to the right of me, I saw AJ standing there.

            "AJ..." I quickly stood up straight. "Yeah, where'd you go?"

            "Just walked around to clear my head. I need that every now and then. I figured you'd be off with Brian for a while having the..."

            "Wait, wait, wait wait, wait, wait. Rewind... you know Brian?"

            "Yeah, him, Howie, Nick, Kevin... all of them. Their my best friends. They didn't mention me when you were talking to them?" Question filled his, non covered, brown eyes.

            "Well, Brian sort of did. He just said he couldn't find one of his 'boys' but that's about it."

            "Go figure." He huffed looking off into the distance.

            "Look, AJ... when I went to go find Hayley, my friend. She wasn't there and I was on my way back to come get you to dance when Brian already found me, insisting that I come out there with him and dance."

            "It's quite alright. Brian's like that. There's always other dances. I was just looking foward to dancing with you tonight, but the music's starting to suck. They need to play some slow stuff, they should know that people are getting tired of dancing to fast shit."

            "Yeah... that's for real."

            "So, are you and Brian an item or something?" He finally turned back around to look at me.

            "No. Just friends having a good time together. I can't say we're that great of friends because we only met today."

            "Oh, okay."

            "Well Age, you want to go get a drink at the bar?"

            "I'd love to mah laday." He smiled putting out his arm for me to loop mine through his. I took advantage of the moment and did it, walking slowly back to the bar.