Overboard

OVERBOARD

by

Sandra Madera

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY

Sandra Madera on Smashwords

Overboard

Copyright © 2011 by Sandra Madera

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you
would like to share this book with another person, please purchase
an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're
reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased
for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and
purchase your own 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.