Chance put his arms around me while I was lost in thought. I turned around and smacked him hard across the face.
"HOW COULD YOU HAVE LEFT HIM LIKE THAT?!" I screamed.
Chance didn't say anything. He rubbed his face while giving me the most hurt look ever.
"If you're not going to defend yourself then there is no reason for me to even try anymore. I'm sorry but, our engagement is off until you start telling me the truth." I walked up to him, took the ring off my finger, then put it in his hand.
I walked out to the deck where Levi was standing. I put a hand on his shoulder and he turned to smile at me.
"You know you didn't have to break it off with your fiance for me." Levi stated nonchalantly.
I gaped at him while my jaw practically hit the floor.
"I heard you yelling at him in the cabin." Levi said while laughing at my expression.
"Just so you know I broke it off for me, not for you." I said.
"That was a lie."
"Okay! Part of it was for you but…"
"But what?"
"But I am sick and tired of not being told things or lied to."
"Do you love him?"
"What?! Of course I do! Why would you ask something like that?!" My inner fire rose to be the size of a big bonfire.
"I was just asking because I've been in a relationship similar to this one."
"What happened?" My inner fire instantly extinguished.
"I broke it off not long after we got engaged, just like you did."
"Why?"
"You ask a lot of questions! I broke it off because I felt like I couldn't trust him. Like he was hiding something from me." Levi said.
"I'm sorry..." I began but Levi interrupted me.
"Before you even ask; I'm not gay. I'm bi."
"I don't care about your sexuality, even though it's awesome that you know who you really are."
"I appreciate that. You still shouldn't have broken it off with him. You need to give him a chance."
"I already gave him a chance! All he did was keep secrets from me! What did you think our fight was about?! Who dresses better?!"
"Jeez! Calm down! I'm not lecturing you, I'm just trying to help you see the bigger picture."
"I don't need your help" My inner fire was blazing and there was no one who could stamp it out. Except for maybe him.
Melyssia,
"Stop it!"
Melyssia…
"I said stop! I don't want to talk to you right now!"
Melyssia… I love you.
I began to shake my head furiously as I tried to get his voice out.
I love you so much it hurts sometimes. Whatever happens next, I hope you remember that.
I looked up to see someone standing over Chance with a gun pressed to his skull. I saw their finger slowly close on the trigger. I felt myself running towards them to protect the man I loved.
"No!" I shouted.
I heard the gunshot, yet Chance was still breathing. I heard a body hit the water and roll down the underside. Eclipse walked out of the shadows with a gun in his hand and tears streaming down his face.
I ran to Chance, who had now stood, and threw my arms around his neck. I kissed him. Hard. He held me for a second before setting me down gently on the deck. He turned away while working a muscle in his jaw.
I knew that look, He was ignoring me.
I saw a deep-set purple bruise on the side of his face. It looked an awful lot like my hand-print. Then I realized how hard I had smacked him earlier during our fight. He continued to walk below deck where the bunkhouse was.
I sprinted after him and had just made it down the stairs when he started closing his door. I slammed my body into it and stuck my boot-clad foot in the doorway.
"We need to talk." I said, a little too harshly.
"Are you sure you didn't come to break my heart again?" Chance spat back.
"I want to apologize."
He was silent for a moment.
"Chance?"
"I'm listening."
I took a deep breath. Preparing for whatever happened next. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see how he reacted.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you nor smacked you. I love you and you shouldn't do those things to the people you love. It was unacceptable and I'm sorry."
I felt strong arms wrap around me as I looked into Chance's loving gaze. He pressed a soft kiss against my forehead as I wrapped my arms around his tiny waist.
"I love you" he whispered.
"I love you more" I whispered back.
"I love you most," he said, pulling back slightly to look at me.
"You can't."
"Why not?"
I imagine I had a big grin on my face when I said what comes next. Please don't judge me for what I say, it is a little cringy.
"Because I love you mostest."
"That's not a word."
"Yes, it is!"
"You're so cute when you're angry." Chance patted my head a little.
I felt my inner fire settle a little, it didn't burn as hot as it had before. Chance tilted my head up a little and started covering my face with kisses. I reached my hands up to his chest and started walking forward. Chance knew what I was planning to do and softly said,
"Not a chance."
I left out a loud displeased groan.
"Why?!"
"Because my room's a mess." Chance winked at me before shutting and locking the door.
I kicked the door for good measure and heard Chance's soft laugh inside. I turned around and walked back up the stairs to the main deck. I found Levi standing by the railing, holding a squirming Eclipse.
"What's going on?" I asked
Levi turned to face me and I realized that Eclipse was trying to throw himself off of the boat. I motioned for Levi to let him go and I walked closer to them.
"Just let me go! Please!" Eclipse pleaded softly.
I could see the tears streaming down his face as he gripped the railing with a deadly grip. Levi loosened his grip and Eclipse tried to jump over the railing. I grabbed Eclipse in a big hug and we collapsed onto the deck. I felt Eclipse's back heave as he sobbed. Hearing him be like this, made me cry a little too.
I don't know how long we sat like that. It was probably only for a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity.
⬖⬘⬗
I felt an arm wrapped around me when I woke up. I tried to be as still as possible as I came to. I felt the bed shift and a warm kiss planted on my cheek.
"Good morning, gorgeous."
I rolled my eyes as I turned to look at Chance. I pressed a small kiss on the corner of his mouth before I realized all that had happened the night before.
I shot out of bed like a missile and immediately took off toward Eclipse's bedroom in the bunkhouse.
I guess I should probably explain here. Chance and I are staying in a bedroom off of the wheelhouse while the others are staying in the bunkhouse below deck. Since Chance and I are the only couple on board, they unanimously, except for Melody, decided that Chance and I should get the bedroom that had a queen sized bed by the way. Don't ask me how you get a queen sized bed on a boat, that is beyond my mental capacity.
Anyways, long story short: Chance and I made up, we are reengaged and we managed to get Eclipse to bed after he tried to throw himself off of the boat because he shot the guy that was going to kill Chance. Why does he feel bad about that? I have no idea! I mean, I get that he feels guilty for killing another human being, but if he hadn't taken that shot Chance would be dead. Chance and I spent most of the night talking about what we were going to do about our wedding once the time arrived. We also talked about what we wanted at our wedding.
Anyways, you are all probably wondering how Eclipse is doing, so let's get back to the main storyline here instead of me making kissy faces at Chance who makes them in return. Aw! He's so perfect! Please give me a moment while I mentally bash my head against a wall for ever saying that out loud. Do not tell Chance that I said that! The last thing I need is for him to find another thing to tease me about!
I burst into Eclipse's room to find a still sleeping Eclipse and a very surprised Melody. I mouthed an apology and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How's he doing?" I whispered, gesturing to Eclipse's inert form.
"Not very good. He cried until he fell asleep and woke up screaming a few times during the night." Melody whispered back.
I reached over and grabbed her hand.
"Everything's going to be okay, we just need to give him a little time."
Melody nodded at me before getting up and walked to the door before saying,
"I'm going to scrounge up some food, see you in a bit?"
I nodded and she was about to walk away when she added,
"You know, Chance is very lucky to have you."
Then she left. I was absolutely dumbfounded after hearing what she had said. Melody had always been so careful of how she said things and how she acted. She was definitely changing, she was growing up. I had to do everything in my power not to cry.
Eclipse shifted in his sleep and mumbled something under his breath. I leaned closer and heard,
"The horse is what I was trying to jump for."
I jumped back when I realized that he was awake. Eclipse cracked open his luminous setting sky blue eyes and smiled at me. I felt my face flush and smiled nervously when I realized that this was the first time I had ever seen him smile.
"Wha- What horse?" I managed to stammer out.
"The one in the water." He replied.
Eclipse's eyes moved to something behind my head.
"Oh. Hey, Chance."
"Wha- Chance?" I called out, confused.
I looked back to see Chance standing in the doorway. He walked in and shut the door. I was curious about what he had to say to us.
"Eclipse is right, there was a horse in the water." Chance said calmly as if this was an everyday occurrence.
"What?! We are miles off shore! How can a horse survive all the way out here?!" I shot back.
"Because it's not a horse." Chance said.
"It's a hippokampus." Eclipse stated simply.
I felt like I was about to pass out. I eventually let myself fade into the darkness.