Chapter thirteen

I don't like being rushed, but Charlie and Ben made sure to really push me and order me around so we could quickly board the ship, settle in our cabin, and get dressed in our swimsuits.

I pat down the fabric subconsciously, trying not to seem too nervous, but Ben comes up behind me and looks at my reflection in the mirror like a proud father would. I laugh at his antics.

"What the crap are you doing?" I ask him.

He scoffs playfully. "Nothing," he lies. "Can't I admire how good-looking my friend is?"

I hit him hard on the shoulder, making him recoil, but I know he's not hurt. "Don't joke around."

Charlie exits the bathroom, looking slightly worried, announcing possibly the worst news I've heard all day: "We're late."

Within the next few minutes we're up on the top deck, finding our way through the billowing crowds of people. We're lucky we didn't board the ship so late, or we wouldn't have been able to move at all.

The full, burning sun in our eyes and the music blasting through the speakers is enough to pump any boring individual up, and the fact that at any moment I could spot Tasmin hypes me up even more. The sea-salt breath enfolds me as I step out from under the canopy, and I take a big whiff in through my nostrils.

Just as I'm starting to get slightly impatient, I hear a familiar voice call out to us, announcing, "We're over here!" It's Lilli, and she's waving her arm up and jumping to get our attention. As we approach them, my eyes are trained on Tasmin, and Lilli says to us, "We saved your seats, but there weren't many left. Sorry 'bout that."

"No problem at all," I tell her, and give Tasmin a goofy grin that she turns away from to hide a smile.

As my skin slowly burns I set up all my belongings onto the beach chair, which is like fire against my fingers, and I feel the sudden urge to leap straight into the pool to cool myself off and feel that relief we all beg for on a hot summer's day.

When I look up I see her. The hot Australian sun coats her completely now, and the deep blue of her swimsuit contrasts her pale skin, her small freckles highlighted perfectly. I wanted to see her face a second ago, but now I'm very appreciative of her floppy beige hat hiding my red from her vision.

Lilli appears behind Tasmin and lifts her chin and I'm exposed to her bluebell eyes, wide and as beautiful as shiny sapphires.

"You remember these guys, don't you?" Lilli asks.

Clearing her throat, the beautiful girl responds, "Are you kidding me? Of course I remember them."

Lilli rolls her eyes and responds, "Then you should talk to them! It's been so long since we last did. This is a great opportunity to meet old friends, don't you think, Taz?"

She nods.

Taz… Tasmin… I know this name very well. We meet again, Tasmin Kelly.

"It's nice to see you all again," Emily exclaims, clearly very excited.

"Yeah, definitely," Ben replies.

There's an awkward silence as we all struggle to come up with something to say, but Lilli breaks it again. "Come on, let's get ready to jump in the pool," she says, pulling something out of her bag. "Sunscreen, guys, sunscreen!"

I'm alone with Tasmin now. It turns out that our old friends managed to save three chairs, one of which is occupied by Charlie and Lilli, the second by Emily and Ben, and the last one by Tasmin and I. Not that I'm complaining.

"So, you're Harry?" Tasmin asks, and I watch as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

I gulp but nod. "Yeah," I say. It's going to be hard to speak to her. "And you're Miss Tasmin?"

A giggle escapes her mouth and then she's nodding back. I smile at her.

Individually we prepare to take the plunge, but Tasmin is taking her time setting out all her things. I can't help but watch as she neatly spreads her striped towel, then placing her phone screen-up on it. Off come the sandals, and finally her hat, right on top of her phone.

I swallow hard and feel a grin spread across my face. I've seen so much, and I'm still tempted to watch more. I swallow hard.

I'm completely mesmerized when in one second her hair is out and flowing and in the next, it's up, tied back by a yellow scrunchie.

We lather ourselves with a thick layer of sunscreen, as instructed by Lilli, and then we're all glancing longingly towards the pool.

"So, are we gonna go swimming or not?" Ben yells.

We all let out a huge cheer, and then we're lined up at the front of the pool, staring down into a sky blue pool, with clouds in it.

I'm taken by instinct and reach down to take Tasmin's hand. She jumps about five inches, and immediately, as if someone had just dropped a bucket full of red paint on her, she's blushing. I smile at her. I'm not supposed to be here for fun. I promised myself not to let my guard down, but I blame this girl's smile.

"You look kinda hot," I say without thinking.

She turns from a tomato to a beetroot, and I almost laugh if I hadn't just blurted my stupid thoughts aloud.

"Sorry!" I spout. "I meant to say…!"

Tasmin stops my blabbing with an abrupt but bright smile.

"I see that you haven't lost your accent," she teases.

I shoot her a pout.

"Let's go, guys!" Emily screams.

Right up at the edge of the pool now, the slight movement of the boat coats our toes in cold wetness, and we all shiver at the sensation.

"Three…" Emily starts the countdown. "Two…" I bend my knees. "One…" Take one last glance at Tasmin. "GO!"

Jump!