Slowly backing out of my cabin, I made one last check; A Strapless, black dress, flowing all the way to mid-thighs, with black sandals to match, hoping it wasn't too over the top for my first performance.

This night was making me very nervous, but it was what I had been working so hard for.

At that precise moment, something or someone decided to bump into me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Slowly turning around to see who the voice belonged to, not that I knew anyone on this ship. I came face to face with a middle aged man whose smile was getting wider by the second.

"Oh, how beautiful," he purred in a long, deep voice.

Never understood why I only attracted guys like this? Ever since I could remember, the guys that hit on me were either too old or just too clingy. This guy was both! Why couldn't I attract guys my own age or just the ones that didn't look so lustful like this guy was?

Attempting one of those weak smiles, knowing it would barely lift the corners of my lips. "Thank you!" Hoping I sounded as polite as I could, but this moment was reminding me of the last time someone looked at me this way.

The way that other guy had been talking, it made me feel as if he was ready to have his way right there and then; that moment alone had almost put me off men completely! That was until I found someone better and this guy in front of me, certainly wasn't.

"Paul, Paul Mann!" He introduced himself as he continued to grin at me, like the cat that had gotten the cream.

Well, he certainly wasn't going to get what he wanted. "Rose..!"

Paul interrupted me. "Oh yes, you're one of our new singers; your poster certainly doesn't reveal the true you. Rose Carr, isn't it?"

"Rose Cara," I corrected him.

"Yes, that's right. Oh, I can't wait to see you sing."

"I think you meant, hear me sing," I corrected him, once again.

Paul's grin grew even wider as he started to lean towards me, which made me take a step back until my back collided with the wall... I wished it had been the door; then I could have closed it between us. Paul started to raise his hand to, it looked like he was going to touch me.

This guy was truly starting to freak me out. I started to slide my backside along the wall, hoping I could slip away from him. To my relief, he decided to place his hand against the wall, also stopping me in my tracks.

"No, I most certainly meant, see you sing." Paul continued to purr at me.

Why couldn't this guy get the hint and leave me alone?

At that moment, I caught sight of a pair of eyes that moved past my vision, I continued to follow those eyes as they made their way down the corridor; Those wonderful eyes seemed to belong to a guy about my own age with short, dark, blond hair, his hair lit up a golden colour under the spotlights above. I also noticed how his bright, blue eyes and that small, hint of a smile, lit up his face completely. That was until he disappeared around the corner.

Now that was one guy, I would like to attract, but instead I had to put up with one in front of me.

Taking that moment to turn back to Paul, who was now leaning even closer, he was still talking away as if he hadn't noticed my distraction.

"So, you will join me for a drink after your performance?" Paul was asking.

I truly don't want to spend another minute in his company, let alone have a drink with him.

"Is everything all right here?" Another voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned my head towards that voice and found myself staring into those same blue eyes I saw a moment ago.

"What's it to you, doc?" Paul answered him in an annoying tone.

The two guys turned to face each other, it looked like they were having a staring match; neither of them was blinking. I guess they must know one another... Why wouldn't they, they both worked on the same ship? They were also wearing the same, white shirts with the logo of the ship embroiled in them.

"I think you have paid enough attention to this young lady," the doctor finally added.

"We were just getting started." Paul, surely didn't know when to give up.

I could see they were close to fighting and I didn't want that to happen. "Guys!" I interrupted, hoping I could stop whatever was about to happen.

They both took that moment to look at me in shock, which made me feel like I had grown an extra head. "I really need to get to work," I continued to say.

The doctor took that moment to take a step back and stretched his arm out to the side of him. "Certainly, Miss Cara," the doctor calmly stated.

"I'll catch up with you, after all, this ends, that's if you're still around that is?" Paul said as I started to walk away from them both.

What had he meant by that? I guess he meant meeting up after my performance, but why did he say it like he did? I could feel a chill flowing through me, which quickly me turn back around, almost colliding with the doctor.

"Is everything alright, Miss Cara?" The doctor asked, with concern.

After a quick look behind the doctor, I noticed that Paul had already disappeared; I truly never wanted to see him again, anyway.

I looked back at the doctor and found herself staring into those blue eyes... Being this close made his eyes look like the ocean, I quickly looked down and away from those eyes, they finally fall upon his mouth, which were slightly opened, looking very moist; they did look so inviting!

Wait, what I'm I thinking? I don't even know this guy and was already thinking about kissing him. I quickly shook my head. "I'm fine. Thank you," I quickly added.

Why I'm I still standing here, staring at him? What must he think of me? I had to get away from him and quickly before I turned into a love-sick puppy myself. At that precise moment, I turned my back on him and continued walking down the corridor.

Now I'm being rude, but I still couldn't bring herself to turn back around, so I kept walking away, determined not to look back over my shoulder.

I slowly made my way into the lounge, where I could see lots of people waiting for me; that sudden feeling that always made me feel like running was slowly making a come back, but where could I run to this time? I was on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Not this time though! This was my dream, even though it was still a little hard to believe, but here I was.

"You're late, Miss Cara." An older woman approached me. "One thing you must never do is keep your audience waiting."

This was my boss 'the professor lady of the lounge'... Well, that was what she was known as. I could see why; she made you feel like you were back at school again!

"That is my fault, Mrs. Keats."

Now that voice sounded familiar and it was coming from behind me. I turned around to see the doctor step up beside me. Was he following me, or just coming this way himself? I truly hoped not, this was one guy I did like and didn't want him turning out to be a stalker.

"I wanted to make sure she was fit enough to go on stage," the doctor added after a silent pause.

"Whatever! I don't really care. I just want you on that stage, right away!" My boss exclaimed before walking away.

"Thank you, once again!"

"No problem. Now on you go," the doctor said as he gently placed his hand on my back. "I can't wait for your voice to blow me away," the doctor continued to say.

I slowly nodded my head and started to make my way through the crowds as the musicians on stage started to announce my arrival... I would really like to get to know this doctor; hopefully he will still be around after my performance.

When the people all around me started clapping, I knew I had to get my head out the clouds and start focusing on my performance.

I stepped up on the stage, behind the microphone and slowly lifted my head to face everyone; that feeling started washing over me again, I was trying my best to fight it, but it felt like it was taking over my whole body... This truly frightened me, I had never felt this scared before.

As the lights in the room started dimming, I took a deep breath and started looking around hoping it would relax me. I then caught sight of those blue eyes again... Even from across the room, I could see how bright they were; they were somehow shining like animals' eyes did in the dark. What was really strange though, those eyes were calming me down, slowing bring courage back to me.

I started singing and the musicians started joining in with me.

After a minute or two those blues disappeared completely. I started wondering where he had gone? The pressure in my stomach was starting to raise again. Why can't I relax, without those ocean blues?

I started looking around the room, hoping to find those eyes again or something that would help me. I then realised that everyone I looked at, started disappearing one by one.

Why was everyone leaving?... These people weren't walking away, they were just simple disappearing... No, this was just my nerves playing tricks on me; I hoped it was anyway. Of course it was, nobody can just disappear like that, get a grip, will you?

Before I knew it, there was no-one left in the room, not that I could see of anyhow and to make things worse the musicians behind me also took that moment to stop playing; I knew this was the end of my career... I never thought my voice would literally blow people away!

I stopped singing and waited for the lights to go back on, but for some reason they didn't. I then waited for my boss to live up to her name, but for some reason no voices came either. What the hell was going on? Where was my boss?

I turned around to face the musicians to see if they could tell me what was going on, or at less settle my fears. What I saw made a shiver go down my spine. I stared wide-eyed at the empty space behind me; there was no band, they had disappeared along with their instruments. This was all getting very creepy, I was really scared now... More than, I had ever been in my life.

I slowly turned back around hoping that everything would be back to normal and this has all just been my imagination running wild, but no, everything was still the same; no movement or sound, except for a soft vibration noise, which I knew was just the engines beneath me.

I couldn't possibly be the only one left, could I? No, of course not, it was just my mind playing tricks. Either way, where the hell had everyone gone?

 

2: 24...Hrs Earlier

"Rose, what's taking you so long?" My best friend called from the other room.

"Why won't this damn thing shut?" I mumbled to myself.

This suitcase was determined to fight back against my actions, but why? I hadn't packed that much, just the main things; for a two-week cruise. I won't let this damn thing beat me though, even if I have to break the zip. Well, I suppose that wouldn't be such a good idea, then I would have a broken suitcase and know-how of carrying my stuff.

"Get a move on..." My friend sounded impatient as her face appeared around the door frame. "Or the ship will leave, without you."

"This damn suitcase is too small!" I moaned back while trying to push it down harder.

"Here..." My friend appeared around the door frame completely. "Let me try."

My friend Kate was confident in everything, nothing was a challenge for her. With light blonde hair and bright green eyes, she was a catch for any man. That is one thing Kate has never been short of!

Kate strolled right over to me and opened the case completely. "Have you never packed a case before?" She asked sarcastically.

"Of course I have," I snapped back.

"By the looks of this, I'd disagree."

"O.K. Show me how it's done, Miss know-it-all." I slowly started crossing my arms in front of me, "Let's see you attempt the impossible." I knew Kate could do it, she could do anything; everything that I had seen her do anyway.

A wide grin appeared on my friend's face as she started to unpack the already jammed packed, suitcase. I knew she would fall for that; Kate could never resist a challenge!

As I continued watching Kate unpack my suitcase, I started remembering the day, I first met her; It was just over six months ago; It was a car accident that had brought us together, an accident I had been involved in; It was my parents' car that had somehow overturned. I don't remember much about what happened, just trying to get my parents to wake up, but deep down I knew they would never open their eyes again. That was the moment that Kate's face appeared through the smashed window, I will never forget that smile on her face as she started reassuring and helping me out the car, without causing any more injuries.

Also, if it hadn't been for her, I would have been dead too; at that very moment Kate dragged me away from the car, it had decided to blow up. My friend pushed me straight to the ground! That was the last thing I remember, until waking up in hospital and finding out that Kate had never left my side. Ever since then we have become the best of friends, sharing a flat together!

"There... That's how you do it," Kate interrupted my thoughts. "And look, the case closes completely, without forcing it."

I smiled at Kate, "What would I do without you?"

A wide grin suddenly appeared on Kate's face, before she finally stated what was on her mind. "You could take me instead."

"If you can fit yourself in there..."

Kate took that moment to interrupt me. "Is that a challenge?"

Now this certainly made me laugh, my friend sure was very amusing. "I doubt you can fit in there with all my stuff as well."

Kate started laughing along with me, before saying. "You could pack me, instead."

"There is no way you could fit in that case."

"Would you like me to try?" Kate lifted her right eyebrow, waiting for just that challenge.

I quickly dragged my case off the bed, before my friend even tempted to unpack all my stuff again. "Amusing as that sounds, it would only make me late."

"Spoilsport!"

Ignoring my friend's sad face, that I knew wouldn't last long, made my over to the door. "So, is there any chance we could get moving before the ship does?" I asked without turning back around.

"That's what I've been trying to get you to do, for the past half an hour."

"Let's get going then," I responded back, while grabbing my handbag of the side, before making my way to the main door.

Just as I approached the door, my case was suddenly snatched out of my hand before the door was opened completely.

"Come on slow, coach, you can drive." My friend stated as she rushed out the door, with my case knocking against her leg.

Kate knew very well that would never happen; I hadn't been able to drive since the accident and that wasn't from any injury, but fear alone! Just being a passenger was bad enough, but there wasn't much I could do about that. Not if I wanted to go 50 odd miles and only one hour and a half to do it in.

By the time I made it out the door, Kate was already leaning back against her car waiting for me, my case already packed away in the boot.

As I approached her, she reached her hand out towards me with the car keys dangling between her fingers.

"Go on, you need to start again sooner or later," Kate announced.

Kate always keeps pushing me, very gently towards doings things that I started to fear. Some of the things, she had managed to help me with, but driving was too much of huge step, for me anyway.

"No way, I can't lose you too," I stated. Deep down, I blamed myself for the accident; as I happened to be the driver of my parents car! Even though Kate kept telling me over and over again, that it wasn't my fault, I still felt guilty!

My friend took that moment to smile. "You could never lose me." Kate took that moment to move her arm back down and took a step towards me. "You're stuck with me now, wherever you like it or not," She continued to say.

"And I would like to keep it that way," I responded back.

"Oh, get in, before I start bubbling," Kate said, before turning to open the passenger door.

"That will be a first if you start before I do." My friend hardly ever cried, unless I started it, then she was sure to follow. Not that Kate was unemotional, but since I have known her, she hasn't had a reason to cry – Maybe that was about to change; we hadn't been parted since the accident, well not for more than one day anyway.

My friend stood there, holding the door open as I started to feel my own eyes moistening over, at the very thought of two weeks away from Kate. This surely wasn't the first time, I thought this, but the first time in front of Kate.

"Don't you dare start! This is suppose to be the happiest day of your life," Kate tried to remind me.

I quickly started to dab the corners of my eyes, gently with my fingers, to try and stop the tears from falling. "I think there is always a reason to be emotional," I said as I started to get into the car, but just before I sat down, I couldn't help adding one last statement. "But, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Mrs. Spock?"

A cheeky grin all of a sudden appeared on Kate's face. "If I was Mrs. Spock, I would have used the Vulcan pinch hold on you, by now," My friend stated before shutting the door.

As Kate made her way around to the other side of the car, I was thinking how lucky I have been to have a friend like her; she was always there for me and most importantly very amusing, which was exactly, what I needed.

When Kate got into the car, with that same grin plastered all over her face, I couldn't help wondering what I would do without her. This thought had been coming back to over and over again and it was scaring me, that it might just come true. I didn't have anyone besides Kate, not anyone that would be there for me. Since the accident I have been living a new life; I don't remember anything from before the crush – I must have only had my parents, as no one came looking for me or responded to any missing ads that were placed about. So I was ever so grateful for my friend to have stepped into my life at that moment.

"Now, let's get you, to your future career," Kate tried singing as she started the car and we were now on our way to my dream job; A lounge singer, aboard a cruise ship! "Your future career, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah! She continued to sing.

I truly had to get her to stop singing; her high notes were way too sensitive for my ears. "Please, can we leave the singing to me?" I interrupted.

"Go ahead, you're much better than the crap, they have on the radio, nowadays."

"I'd rather not." I truly didn't feel like singing, not when I was ready to jump out of this at any moment – Not that Kate wasn't a good driver, she always stuck to the speed limit, at least when I was in the car, she did. I knew Kate loved the trill of speeding, but she was very sensible about it.

"Let's see if we can find a decent, enough radio station then," My friend stated as she started messing about with the stereo.

I quickly looked away, it always gave me the creeps, when she didn't keep two hands on the wheel. Staring out the side window, watching the buildings and people on the side streets, until we come out into the countryside.

My friend started picking up speed and I turned back to face the windscreen, when I realised Kate was really putting her foot down.

I watched in horror as we started zigzagging between the cars. I could feel my heart racing as I started rocking from side to side, my seat beat was somehow stopping me from hitting the door.

What the hell was my friend playing at, this wasn't like her at all. "SLOW DOWN!" I heard myself scream.

For some reason Kate ignored me and we continued picking up more speed. My right foot was working overtime; trying to press the imaginary brakes, but no matter how many times I tried, the car still wouldn't stop! I quickly squeezed my eyes shut,wanting to block it all out completely.

I felt the impact, before the car started spinning around and around, out of control. There was another impact to the car, which caused us to stop completely.

Did I somehow survive this, like I did before? If I did what about Kate? At that moment I felt a rush of cool air against my face and my neck was really beginning to ache, or was it pain? I was so afraid to open my eyes, that was until I felt something land on my left shoulder. I quickly snapped my eyes open, to see a pair of dark green eyes glaring back at me.

"Are you alright?"

Kate! My friend had rescued me again. Wait a minute, she had been the one driving, that meant we had both survived. I felt relief on that fact, but still a little confused on the situation.

"Looks like you were having a bad dream," my friend continued to say, with concern written all over her face.

A bad dream! But it had felt so real, that couldn't have been a dream, could it? I slowly looked behind Kate, to see we were surrounded by cars, not crushed cars, but cars that were parked one after the other; We were in a car park!

My friend started to help me out of the car and I realised we had arrived at the docks. I must have fall asleep – Before I knew what was happening next, I was falling sideways, until I felt an arm around my waist, holding me up.

"Rose, what's the matter?" Kate asked me.

I started leaning back against the car as I realised my head was pounding and it truly hurt to hold it up right.

Did I really just dream all that and if I did, why I'm I suffering like this?