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  OVERBOARD

  by

  Sandra Madera

  Edited by Susan Blevins

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  PUBLISHED BY

  SandraMadera.com

  Overboard

  Copyright © 2011 by Sandra Madera

  Ebook Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be altered, re-sold, or given away to other people. This story is FREE and does not require payment. If you’re reading this book and did not download it from SandraMadera.com or other legitimate online bookstore, please download a legitimate copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  * * * * *

  Special thanks to Susan Blevins for lending her superb editing skills. I really do appreciate all of your help.

  * * * * *

  Brenna Maren looked at the sunset from atop a group of large boulders on the beach. Hearing the waves break against the shore in a rhythmic fashion, she couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of peace. Growing up in St. Augustine, the beach was apart of her everyday life. At any point in her young life, it was not uncommon to find Brenna sitting on the sand, soaking up the rays of the bright Florida sun. Even in the most hectic of times, the scenic view always made her feel instantly at ease. Life had been pretty hectic the last couple of weeks as she prepared to go on a sailing trip with her friends before she headed off to college.

  Feeling strong arms wrap around her waist, Brenna nearly jumped out of her skin, forgetting that her boyfriend, Dylan, was standing behind her. “Ready to head home?” his voice whispered in her ear as he nuzzled her neck.

  “In a minute,” Brenna responded, wanting to enjoy the last few minutes of the sunset.

  Dylan Brooks had been Brenna’s boyfriend throughout all four years of high school, but she often wondered if it was time to move on. Dylan was as handsome as he was intelligent. He had an angular face, green eyes and black hair. His skin was golden. His physique was muscular and lean, standing six foot tall in height. He was physically perfect; yet, Brenna felt something was wrong with her prince charming. Dylan had changed a lot over the last year of school. He had grown distant. He used to be talkative and agreeable, but in the past year, he seemed increasingly guarded.

  “Around this time tomorrow we’ll be sailing to the Florida Keys,” Brenna commented, brushing away the strands of brown hair the wind had blown across her face.

  Brenna was not the most beautiful girl in high school. That honor went to her friend, Marissa Seaton. Yet, there was something quite pretty about her kind face. She had large brown eyes which sparkled with life. Her hair was the color of mahogany, falling limply to her waist. Her skin was like caramel. Her body wasn’t as curvy as Marissa’s, and she often felt self conscious about wearing a bathing suit next to her statuesque friend. Standing at five foot four inches, Brenna barely weighed a hundred pounds and still appeared to be a prepubescent teen. She had tried to put on some weight, but it seemed that she was doomed to look like a stick figure for the rest of her life.

  “Yeah, I was thinking about that,” Dylan responded unenthusiastically. “Are you sure you want to sail all the way down to the Florida Keys?”

  “Yes, aren’t you?” Brenna said, turning to face him with narrowed eyes.

  He raised his hands defensively. “Don’t get mad,” he said calmly. “It’s just that... it’s going to be a long trip. The five of us are going to be stuck on a boat together and in one another’s space. It might get a little claustrophobic. Don’t you think?”

  “No,” she answered abruptly. “Orman’s boat is huge!”

  Orman Hurley was the richest kid in school. His father was a multimillionaire and treated himself to expensive toys which Orman had access to. Mr. Hurley’s crew had been preparing the yacht to set sail for a few days although not all of them would be on the boat once it set sail. They were running on a skeleton crew which was composed of a captain, first mate, and cook. Orman felt a skeleton crew would ensure them most privacy.

  They were heading out the following morning with no parental supervision. It was just them and the crew. Everyone was looking forward to getting away, but no one more than Orman. He couldn’t wait to show his friends all the hot spots once they reached Key West.

  Averting his gaze, Dylan didn’t respond.

  “I am looking forward to this trip. This is the last chance we have to spend time together before we all go our separate ways.”

  “I know that, but I have a feeling this trip is going to turn out to be a disaster,” he said pensively.

  “Don’t be so... melodramatic. What could possibly happen?”

  “Never mind,” Dylan muttered, shaking his head before plastering a phony smile on his face. “Everything is going to be fine. It is going to be a wonderful trip.”

  Brenna knew that he didn’t mean what he said. He was not looking forward to this trip, and she didn’t know why. At this point, she didn’t care. She was tired of his attitude. She was tired of trying to understand his point of view. There was no understanding Dylan. He had changed to such a degree that he was no longer the person she fallen in love with. All she wanted to do was set sail, forget about her problems with Dylan and start her week of fun.

  * * * * *

  The next morning was chaos. Brenna had gotten off to a late start when her alarm didn’t ring. When she was finally packed and ready to go, her car wouldn’t start. She tried to call Dylan on his cell phone to ask for a ride, but he didn’t answer the call. She had to take a cab to the marina where the yacht was docked.

  Dragging her luggage behind her, she followed the directions the dockhand gave her at the gate. There were so many yachts of all sizes at the marina that Brenna couldn’t spot Orman’s. Feeling as if she had gotten turned around, she was about to double back when she heard her name being called.

  Brenna turned around to see Marissa, running towards her.

  Marissa Seaton was perfect in every sense of the word. She had a body that drove guys crazy and a personality to match. She was tall and thin, but she still had the womanly curves which Brenna lacked. She had beautiful blue eyes that always garnered attention and plenty of compliments. She had one of those toothy smiles which lit up her whole face.

  Marissa wore her dirty blond hair up in a pony tail and wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup, but she still managed to look like a professional model. She wore a pink bikini with white jean shorts, showing off her naturally slender frame.

  “Working on your tan already?” Brenna asked, smiling.

  “Of course, why waste a second of my vacation?” Marissa retorted once she reached her. “I saw you from the deck. The boat’s this way.”

  Marissa helped Brenna with her bag and led her to Orman’s yacht in the opposite direction.

  “A man at the gate gave me directions, but I must have gotten turned around,” she told Marissa, feeling the warmth of the sun on her tanned skin and raising her face to the sky momentarily to meet its rays. “I guess I don’t know left from right anymore. Has everyone else arrived?”

  “Yeah, like an hour ago,” Marissa answered with a laugh. “I saw your room key still hanging from its hook. That was the only clue that you hadn’t arrived. The boat is so big we could all do our own thing and meet up after we reach the Keys.”

  “Well, I’m so sorry for being late,” she told her apologetically. “Everyone must be so mad at me.”

  “Don’t even worry about it. We kind of expect you to be late,” Marissa teased, flashing a toothy grin in Brenna’s direction. “You are kind of known for it.”

  “Did Chelsea arrive?”

  Contemplating, Marissa raised her eyebrow and stared up at the sky. “Chelsea? Oh, yeah. The girl you met last year at that summer camp you
work at,” she said, appearing unsure. “Chelsea Erving, right?”

  “Yeah, she was in charge of the eight year olds and I was in charge of the six year olds. We just really hit it off and we’ve kept in touch ever since. I invited her. I think she will fit right in with our group.”

  “I don’t know how you can still work at that camp after... the accident.” Marissa shook her head as if shaking away a negative thought.

  “It’s my job, Marissa. I look forward to looking after new campers every year. I am not going to let one bad thing stop me from doing what I love.”

  Shocked, her friend gazed at her as if trying to register this new information. “One bad thing? You are over it, aren’t you?”

  She nodded, tiring of the subject. “Life goes on and you just have to go with it.”

  “Yeah. Okay.” Marissa looked at her skeptically. “Well, I haven’t seen Chelsea but she might have gotten passed me. I will ask Orman if he has seen her, but he wants to get out as soon as possible. If she is not here yet, we might have to ditch her.”

  “I am sure she is here,” Brenna told her matter-of-factly. “She is always on time for everything. She may have just gone to her room. She is not that social, but once you get to know her she is really sweet.”

  Marissa led her to a large cruise ship that was docked on the deep end of the marina. “What is this? I thought we were taking Orman's yacht to the Keys.”

  “Orman's dad retired a cruise ship from circulation so Orman thought it would better for us to party on.”

  Brenna smiled. “He was so right. This ship is awesome,” she said, walking up the aluminum ramp onto the large vessel. “This is the biggest boat I’ve ever been on.”

  “I think it is the biggest boat any of us have ever been on,” Marissa responded, reaching the deck first. “Welcome to the millionaire lifestyle. A girl could really get use to all this splendor.”

  “She sure can.” Brenna said absentmindedly, looking around the deck for her boyfriend. “Have you seen Dylan? I tried to call him this morning and he didn’t pick up his cell.”

  “Yeah, he arrived an hour ago with—,” Marissa began but stopped. “Why don’t I show you to your room? Then you can unpack and find Dylan?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Sure.”

  Marissa led her through the reception areas and into the hall where there were elevators. “There are five levels. Top is for crew; the captain and first mate. I am second level - south. You are just below me.”

  “Do you have my key?” she asked as they boarded the elevator down.

  Marissa reached in her pocket and handed her a key with a white tag. “302.”

  “Who am I bunking with?”

  “No one,” her friend answered, pressing the button to the forth level. “Everyone has a wing. Orman didn't want anyone stepping on one another’s toes. Besides, there is more privacy that way.”

  Brenna smiled. “This is way cooler than a small yacht,” she commented and allowed her eyes to drift to Marissa’s wrist. “You still have it!”

  “Of course,” Marissa said warmly, cupping the charm bracelet which hung from her wrist delicately. “My best friend gave it to me.”

  “I gave it to you in the fifth grade. I didn’t think you still had it.”

  Marissa’s smile faded. “Just remember one thing when Chelsea arrives.”

  “What?” she asked, suddenly concerned by the sadness in Marissa’s eyes.

  “That I’m your best friend,” Marissa finished in a small voice, her eyes reflecting her preoccupation.

  Brenna launched herself atop of her grand, king-sized bed, allowing her body to sink into the pillow-top mattress. Her muscles instantly relaxed, and she felt suddenly at peace.

  Marissa had left her to unpack, but she didn’t feel much like unpacking. She felt like relaxing and sleeping her vacation away. Before she could get too comfortable with the idea of wasting her vacation, she sat up in bed, scanning the contents of her room with her eyes.

  The suite was quite large for a room on a cruise ship and had its own private bathroom which was a perk for Brenna who had to share a bathroom at home. Her room was sparsely decorated with a few pieces of furniture which were dated but usable for their intended purpose. There was a sitting area in the far side of the room with a cream colored couch and a mahogany coffee table. In the corner, there was a wooden writing desk next to a wall of sheer curtains. Shafts of bright sunlight penetrated the flimsy fabric, filling the room with warm sunlight.

  Curious, Brenna stood and walked over to the curtains, pulling them apart. Sweet, she thought excitedly, smiling to herself as she realized she had a private deck.

  Opening the sliding glass door, she stepped out into the balcony. Seeing the marina fading into the horizon, a feeling of tranquility washed over her. She was leaving behind St. Augustine and all of her stressors along with it. It was time for her to rest and digest before her yearly stint as a counselor.

  Feeling the breeze whipping around her tresses softly, Brenna felt more at ease. She momentarily closed her eyes. Inhaling the salty air, she exhaled her breath slowly, feeling the tension lift from her body.

  Wanting nothing more than to curl up in her bed, she stepped into her suite and closed the glass door behind her. It was then she heard the moan.

  Brenna spun on her heel and fearfully looked about the suite. With her heart beating hard within her chest, she recalled that she was isolated from the others. She knew all the other rooms in the corridor were vacant. Taking a few cautious steps forward, she approached the door of her suite and turned the knob slowly. With increasing trepidation, she stepped into the hall and quickly realized she was alone.

  “Hello?” she called, her voice bouncing off the walls of the empty hall.

  A muffled cry broke the silent and still corridor.

  Brenna’s head shot to a neighboring suite. Taking small, hesitant steps, she knocked on the door of suite 304. When she was not met with a reply, she tried the knob, and to her surprise, the door was unlocked. “Hello?” she called into the darkened room.

  “Brenna?” a small voice questioned.

  Recognizing the voice, Brenna darted into the room, struggling to see through the darkness. Her eyes focused on the figure that reclined on the bed in a fetal position. “Chelsea?”

  “Yeah,” she whimpered.

  Walking over to the windows, Brenna pushed aside the heavy curtains, allowing the sunlight to pour into Chelsea’s room. “What are you doing in bed? Get up! I want to introduce you to all my friends,” she told Chelsea, approaching her bed.

  “I can’t!” Chelsea cried. “I am so sorry, Bren. I just feel so sick.”

  Standing over Chelsea, Brenna inspected her friend and instantly realized she was not exaggerating. Chelsea looked horrible. She appeared disheveled and her skin was paler than usual, taking on an ashen appearance. Her eyes lacked the ability to focus, and her eyelids appeared heavy as if it took a great effort for her to open them.

  “How? Do you have the flu?”

  “I think I am seasick,” she replied, cradling herself. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

  “How? We just left port!” Brenna covered her friend with a warm quilt. “I wanted you to meet my friends today, but it can wait until tomorrow. Just get some rest and you’ll feel better in the morning,” she reassured her.

  Chelsea nodded. “I hope so.”

  * * * * *

  The next day, Chelsea’s health had not improved. She could barely hold any food down and her seasickness had kept Chelsea isolated from all the festivities. Brenna felt bad about leaving Chelsea, but she made Brenna promise to have fun for her and Brenna intended to do just that.

  By the time Brenna reached the dining hall, the rest of her friends had already begun eating their breakfast.

  Feeling calm and relaxed, Brenna stood by the buffet, filling her plate with eggs and bacon. Before taking her seat, she poured herself a mug full of coffee, sensing that caffei
ne would be necessary to get through the rest of her day. “Good morning,” she greeted, her voice bouncing off the walls of the nearly vacant dining room.

  “Good morning, Bren,” Marissa greeted back, smiling. She was already wearing her bathing suit, appearing ready for a day of lounging about the deck.

  Seated next to Marissa, Dylan looked up from his plate and glanced at Brenna, appearing disinterested. He was still dressed in his sweat pants and white tee. His hair was sticking up, and his eyes were still heavy from sleep. “Mornin’,” he muttered, taking a sip of his orange juice.

  Brenna rolled her eyes, taking her seat. “Good morning, Dylan. I didn’t see you yesterday. Nice to know you’re alive,” she said sarcastically, glaring at him.

  “I saw you last night at dinner,” he said quietly.

  He knew that was not what she meant. Dylan hadn’t spent any time with her since they set sail. When she left Chelsea and found the others lounging at the pool, she decided to join them. Rather than hold a conversation, Dylan immediately launched himself into the deep end and swam laps. At dinner, he was quiet and only responded to direct questions with one word answers. Brenna felt neglected. It was almost as if he was avoiding any interaction with her altogether.

  Ignoring Dylan’s bad mood, Brenna looked over at Orman who had his head in his hands, covering his handsome face. “What’s up, Orman?” she asked with a teasing quality to her voice. “You look like you just snuck into your parents’ wine cellar and drank every bottle while you were there.”

  Across the table, Orman looked up momentarily, glancing at Brenna with his glazed over eyes. “Close. I got into the bar in the dance club downstairs,” he said with a slow smile. “I’m still hung over.”

  Orman always blushed when he smiled which was quite endearing. All the girls at school chased after him and it wasn’t just because his father had money. He wasn’t bad to look at. His skin was fair, and his hair was sandy. He was awkward as if uncomfortable in his own skin, but at the same time, he wasn’t insecure. There was something handsome about Orman. It could have been his blue eyes which seemed to be as bright as Caribbean waters. It could have been his tall and lean physique. Orman wasn’t mysterious looking like Dylan, but he had other qualities which made him irresistible to the opposite sex.