Haruhi tapped her mechanical pencil against soft notebook paper as her eyes reread the same paragraph in her history textbook; unsuccessfully trying to ignore the boisterous students seated a few tables away. Their voices carried like obnoxious car alarms; unpredictable and deafening. Even in University she couldn't find a quiet haven to study. She sighed, disgusted how she couldn't escape the privileged and their ignorant antics, even in Ouran University's grand library.

Another round of raucous laughter again broke her concentration as she turned the page in her textbook. She should have known with a week before summer vacation the aristocratic students would abandon their educational obligations and treat every inch of campus like a social gathering. No matter where she ran for peace and quiet she couldn't escape the jovial celebration and though she too looked forward to the well-deserved summer break she needed to use this time efficiently. She still had a history essay draft to edit and finalize before the due date.

In front of her rested her history textbook, an open spiral notebook with notes sloppily written on its first page, and color coded post-it tabs littering the highlighted section in her textbook. She focused her mind on her studying, her eyes never leaving the glossy pages, for Haruhi wanted to end the spring semester on top of her class. She couldn't risk earning anything less than a perfect score otherwise she would lose her full scholarship and as she neared the end of her first year in university she couldn't risk compromising her education. Her strict priorities and self-discipline earned her the opportunity to attend Ouran University and she would make sure she graduated alongside Japan's finest; the elite's heirs and heiresses of Japan's future.

A soft jingle sounded in her backpack, breaking her focus again, and at that moment she gave up in trying to study for the afternoon. She would have to wait until tonight when her father left for work to seclude herself in her bedroom with blissful silence. Only then could she truly lose herself in her studies.

She slammed her textbook closed, drawing a few confused side glares from neighboring tables, and reluctantly reached into her backpack to pull out her flip phone, the same phone the twins gifted her back in high school. She flipped it open with her thumb and quietly groaned at the name boldly displayed on the screen. Hesitantly, she tapped the notification.

.

Tamaki Suoh

2:16pm

Haruhi! Kyoya and I just came up with a brilliant idea!

We're all going on a cruise next week for summer!

Pack for warm tropical weather, we're leaving Sunday morning!

Don't forget our weekly get-together today. Coffee shop, as always. See you soon!

.

The only reaction she could muster was an unenthusiastic eye roll. She should have known Tamaki would try to monopolize her summer. Ever since she was forced to join the Host Club her free time has been compromised, held for ransom by six wealthy bastards. She appreciated their friendships and has learned to tolerate their unique personalities but her lethargic spirit often begged for a break. She rarely had the energy or mental stamina to keep pace with them but nonetheless they've managed to drag her from the comfort of her apartment to act as an unwilling participant in their many adventures.

She considered attempting to resume her studies despite the rowdy tables nearby when two seniors approached her table; a blonde holding a pink stuffed rabbit and a tall brunette with his satchel swung over his shoulder.

"Haru-chan, are you ready to go yet?" Hunny asked with an enthusiastic grin.

Haruhi nodded and began piling her textbooks into her satchel. After struggling to wrap the rigid satchel flap over the thick books she managed to click it closed.

She stood to join them but before she could grab her satchel from the tabletop Mori snatched it first and effortlessly threw it over his other shoulder. Haruhi looked at him confused.

"I can carry my books, Mori-senpai." She eyed him curiously.

He shook his head. "It's heavy. I'll carry it." He simply explained and left it at that. Haruhi conceded to his manners, sighing before following the two out of the library.

Warm sunlight washed over her porcelain skin as she stepped onto cobble stone. Spring has long passed, replaced with a festive summer, and Haruhi was thankful for the warm beautiful weather. It would make their walk to the coffee shop all the more pleasant.

Fully bloomed sakura trees lined their wide pathway, scattering their delicate petals in the light breeze. Haruhi loved cherry blossoms. She thought of them as summer's snow with how the grass and sidewalks rested beneath a blanket of pink flowers. Today she happily walked through her summer's snow, even lifting an open palm to catch the pink snowflakes as they danced through the air.

While Haruhi distracted herself with nature Mori watched her with the slightest of smiles tilting his lips, his relaxed gray eyes tracing the sunlight haloed around her shoulder length hair. He admired her for so many reasons, some complimenting her years of dedication to her family and education and some considered more cosmetic, and it all wrapped up to one single truth; he loved her. Mori has loved Haruhi since his senior year of high school; when he first met her. And time has only sweetened his affections. He watched her blossom into a beautiful young woman the past few years; watching her once shapeless figure blossom into slender curves, proving her womanhood. Personally he felt her physical maturity complimented her intellectual and mental maturity as well. Though she held onto her lethargic spirit Mori noticed a spike in her motivation over the years. She grew more determined, more goal-oriented, more passionate about what deemed important; whether those things be good grades or something more abstract.

Mori has known for a while what kind of feelings he held for her but what kept him from exposing his heart was the mere fact he didn't know how she felt. Just how Mori perfected his stoic shield Haruhi also hid behind a wall of indifference. She rarely expressed her emotions unless seriously provoked and Mori didn't want to push her towards that edge just to satisfy his curiosity. He concluded long ago that if his love was meant to be requited then fate would play her hand. If not, then he'd learn to accept their destinies. For now, he was content with being her close friend, having the privilege of watching her catch cherry blossoms as if they were snowflakes.

Twenty minutes later Haruhi found herself sandwiched between the Hitachiin twins in a horseshoe booth. How she wound up sitting between the devilish pair remained a blur but there she was, gripping a tall glass of iced green tea with both hands while the twins suffocated her personal space. Seated on the other side were the remaining former hosts; Hunny, Mori, Kyoya, and Tamaki, in that order. They casually sipped their drinks while making light conversation about the nice weather and end-of-term projects. Tamaki spoke of his business ethics professor and his demanding nature throughout the term. Kyoya scolded Tamaki for expecting university to be as lenient as high school. All the while Hunny and Mori silently provided balance in the ambiance, sipping their iced coffees between bites of lime cake.

The smell of robust coffee beans wafted from the front counter, light chatter carried from nearby tables, and bright sunlight shone past the tall windows' drawn linen curtains; a scene Haruhi has become very familiar with. Tamaki insisted that everyone would meet in this coffee shop once per week. Fearing his family would split apart in university he demanded for everyone's cooperation and time, solidifying their promises with his infamous puppy eyes. So, once a week they purchased a seasonally appropriate beverage and took their seats in the same round booth situated in the far back corner to maintain their close bonds.

Hikaru took a large sip of his caramel frappuccino topped with extra whipped cream and leaned into Haruhi, "Are you excited about the cruise?"

Haruhi glanced between Hikaru and Kaoru, unamused, "I'm not going on the cruise."

Kaoru swirled his straw around the ice in his cup and rolled his eyes, "Don't be a party-pooper, Haruhi. You have to go. We're all going together."

"No, I don't have to." She argued. "I won't be forced onto a boat."

"Then who will keep us entertained?" Hikaru whined, biting his straw out of bad habit.

Haruhi scowled and offered a shrug, "That isn't my problem to solve."

"They're right Haruhi. We will all participate, together." Kyoya wrapped his hands around his cup's sleeve and tapped the cardboard bottom on its edge against the tabletop. "We've respected your personal space and haven't forced you to hang out with us, resulting in us rarely seeing you. You owe us this." He studied the small brunette positioned directly across from him and noticed her shift uncomfortably in her seat. He smirked at successfully cornering her into their demands. When Haruhi began her first year in university she dove into her studies with unparalleled focus, securing her rightful place as top of her class, but consequentially letting her social life suffer. If it weren't for the weekly meetings at the coffee shop the former hosts would never see her.

"Have you or Tamaki considered what I may have planned for my summer?" Haruhi squared her sight on Kyoya, narrowing her eyes in annoyance.

Tamaki rested his iced mocha latte on a paper coaster and leaned forward with his forearms resting on the tabletop, "Why wouldn't you want to spend your summer with us? Just imagine all of the fun things we could do together." He pointed his finger at her accusingly, "You've isolated yourself all year. We rarely ever see you."

"You see me every week senpai." Haruhi deadpanned.

"Yeah, we see you begrudgingly slurp down an iced green tea for an hour. That's not considered spending time with us." Kaoru sneered.

"Yeah," Hikaru added as he slouched into the booth, "and you only show up because Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai have to fetch you."

"They do not fetch me." Haruhi scoffed. "I have always gone willingly."

Hunny drained the last of his iced coffee and finished with a satisfied sigh before addressing Haruhi with his large doe eyes. "That's not what they're referring to, Haru-chan. If it weren't for Takashi and I holding you accountable you would probably never show up." He offered her an apologetic shrug and dove into his second piece of cake, generously provided by a barista, and purposely ignored her persecuting glare.

Haruhi groaned her growing frustration, peeved by how observant her friends were. Sadly, she knew Hunny's words to be true. If it weren't for them finding her either in the library or after class she wouldn't remember to attend the gatherings. Not that she'd purposely avoid her friends but that her busy mind would easily forget anything not concerned with her studies.

"It's not that I don't want to see you guys. University is just so demanding. I had to stay focused or else I'd fall behind on my goals." Haruhi tried to amend.

"Well," Kyoya began, hoping to reel in the stubborn brunette, "this is your opportunity to make up for lost time."

Kaoru nodded, "He's right Haruhi. You owe us this. We've been patient with you and now with summer break about to begin we should make the most of it."

Tamaki clapped his hands in agreement, "We should celebrate this long testing year of university! We've all worked very hard and we deserve this cruise." His bright azure eyes found Haruhi finishing the last few sips of her drink and once she noticed his staring he offered a sheepish grin; a nervous plea for her compliance.

Haruhi groaned, rolled her eyes, and buried her face in her palms, her dark hair veiling her blushed cheeks. After a moment of anxious silence she emerged with a twisted frown skewing her lips and something darkening her chocolate eyes.

Kyoya easily recognized that something for he saw it numerous times. As the recently announced heir to his father's empire he began his training as the new Ootori head last year, resulting in many board conferences and one-on-one contract meetings with potential business partners. His father often passed him the difficult clients to study how his son would handle the situation and every time Kyoya proved himself as an Ootori. When the difficult client counter-offered their gracious deals Kyoya swept in with manipulative tactics that could make a politician cringe. When everything was said and done Kyoya would look into the client's eyes and see the very same something that now inhabited Haruhi's chocolate irises; defeat. The corner of his lips turned up in a private smirk.

Haruhi breathed out a long exasperated sigh before addressing the six young men around her, "I have one condition; I will not be forced into a bikini."

She fixated her eyes and a stiff finger directly at the twins, silently calling them out for their many previous attempts. Since their second year in high school Haruhi transformed into a beautiful young woman; one who would never be mistaken as a man again. Her widened hips, curvaceous waist, and rounded chest helped her become the Hitachiin twin's most desirable model. Once or twice Haruhi gave into their demands and allowed them to use her body as their mannequin but when they tried to slip her into lingerie she was no longer a willing participant, accusing them of crossing a boundary line.

The twins didn't appreciate the special attention but couldn't stay mad for long. Somehow they all convinced Haruhi to take a cruise with them and for that they shared a wide toothy smile.

"Yay! We're going to spend our summer with Haru-chan!" Hunny cheered. He glanced up at Mori to catch his reaction and was pleased to see a small smile cross his cousin's lips. Hunny knew about Mori's unrequited love, he's known for a while even without Mori having to confess his feelings, and seeing his smile filled Hunny with boundless hope. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer that this summer might bend fate in his cousin's favor.

"Thank you Haruhi! I swear to you, you won't regret this!" Tamaki promised. Whether he could deliver this promise was something he didn't consider because right now he only had one thing on his mind. "This summer is about relaxing and shaking off the stress of university. It will be a wonderful experience for all of us. Just imagine being surrounded by miles of open sea, the brisk wind playing with your hair while your tired lungs breathe in the rejuvenating salty air. Imagine sun bathing atop the open deck with a refreshing coconut daiquiri glistening beside you while island drums softly play in the background. It's the perfect vacation for seven hard working students like us." His eyes traced the textured ceiling as images of a glistening ocean played before him.

"That would be nice…" The twins mused simultaneously.

"Not to mention we'll have the boat to ourselves." Kyoya added, pulling out his signature little black book from underneath the table and flipped through the pages with his thumb.

"What do you mean Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi was more shocked than confused. It wouldn't surprise her if her rich friends managed to buy out an entire cruise ship for their selfish pleasures but she knew them and this tactic was far beneath them.

Kyoya settled on a page and bookmarked it with his finger. "I mean, we will be boarding my family's personal line of cruise ships. It is the first of its kind; an autonomous driving vessel. If all goes well it will be the first in the world to set sail without a crew."

"Wait, wait…" Hikaru regressively held up his hands, "You aren't using us as guinea pigs for your family's investments again… are you?"

Kyoya chuckled and shrugged his guilty admittance, "I wouldn't say we're using you as guinea pigs but rather giving you a once in a lifetime opportunity to make Japanese history."

Haruhi raised her hand, "Excuse me, but what is an autonomous driving vessel?"

"Yeah, what exactly are we getting into here, Kyoya?" Kaoru demanded.

Kyoya raised his hand, asking for everyone's undivided attention, "An autonomous driving vessel is a boat that doesn't require manual maintenance. The main control unit is programmed with radar, lidar, and sonar technology along with a solar powered odometer and a specially designed GPS system."

"Thank you Kyoya-senpai, now could you please explain it so we can understand?" Hikaru jested.

Kyoya sighed and adjusted his glasses, "Think of it as something similar to a self-driving car."

Hunny's eyes lit up with interest, "Oh, so the boat will drive itself? I'd like to see that."

"I never thought to ask until now but Kyoya, why did your family create this autonomous driving vessel?" Tamaki leaned into the booth's cushioned back while crossing his arms over his abdomen.

Kyoya reviewed the scribbled notes written in his black book before turning to face Tamaki. "You've seen my family's artificial beach, correct? These cruise ships are an extension of the same idea. Originally we were satisfied with the attention our artificial beach was gaining but soon my father asked a crucial question, 'why stop there?' He met with several shipwrights reviewing designs and blueprints for the world's first autonomous driving vessel for remedial purposes. You see, these ships will be used as therapeutic vacations. Our guests can enjoy a luxurious cruise with the advantage of privacy. Without a crew present there will be no one to meddle with their space. They will be free to do as they please, therefore offering a rejuvenating voyage."

"I wouldn't categorize that as therapeutic." Haruhi grumbled under her breath.

"Wait Kyoya, does that mean we won't have any chefs or maids to prepare our meals and maintain our cabins?" Kaoru asked, dreading the suspected answer.

"That is correct Kaoru, we will have to feed and clean after ourselves."

"I hardly consider that a vacation." Kaoru pouted. "What if we get hungry in the middle of the night? What if we stain our clothes? You expect us to take care of everything?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. After all, we have an experienced housekeeper joining us." Kyoya offered Haruhi a devious smirk and in return her agitated expression proved her distaste for his cold humor.

"Haruhi is not our maid." Mori stated, adding his voice to the conversation for the first time since they all sat down.

Hunny fervently nodded, "Takashi's right, Haruhi will also be treated as a guest. She isn't coming to clean up after us."

Haruhi groaned, wanting to protest on her behalf, but a small voice in her head made her reconsider objecting. Her friends, as talented and gifted as they were in the professional fields, didn't have an ounce of knowledge when it came to cooking and cleaning for themselves. If she didn't volunteer to help once in a while they would probably starve themselves of decent nutrition; mainly relying on instant ramen and rice. As much as it pained her, her friends truly needed her, and though that wasn't the reason she was being asked to come along it would eventually become a perk of her presence.

Kyoya returned his black book to his satchel and folded his hands neatly on the tabletop. He cleared his throat, again asking for everyone's attention. "To give you all an idea of what our trip might look like I'll provide a recap of this cruise. We will board ship the day after summer break begins. Pack however you feel necessary but do not bring everything you own; the boat is not as large as the average cruise ship and cannot fit your entire wardrobe. For the next few months we will cook for ourselves, entertain ourselves, and maintain ourselves. We will occasionally stop at designated docks to restock on supplies but other than that we will remain on the water. When my father's shipwrights are satisfied by its performance we will be directed back to where we originally boarded, thus ending our trip. Now, how does that sound to everyone?"

He surveyed his friends as they digested this information and slowly they began nodding their approvals.

"So I guess this is really happening…" Haruhi sighed with exasperation. "I'm going on a cruise."

The following week passed by without rhyme or reason, the miniscule daily details lost in a whirlwind as Haruhi worked tirelessly to finish the spring term with a perfect grade. She managed to complete her essay and chapter reading before their deadlines and to her relief they were graded and returned to her with commending comments, praising her fluidity in her writing. It was enough to ease the stress she's harbored since the beginning of the term and allowed herself to look forward to her next great adventure.

Surprisingly as time passed she found herself growing excited for the cruise. At first she regretted her decision, afraid the secluded time with her friends would slowly drive her into insanity, but as the days passed she began to look forward to the quiet vastness of the sea. She imagined herself reading a book on a lounge chair in complete unadulterated silence; the only sound being the waves gently crashing against the ship's aluminum. She had to admit, it was rather tempting, and so when the day to board ship finally came she felt better prepared than she had originally expected; eager to learn how relaxing a cruise could be.

The morning of, the Fujioka household bustled with raging energy as father and daughter rushed to finish filling her suitcase. Ranka had been insisting on a purple knee-length summer dress handmade by his good friend Misuzu. Haruhi reluctantly let him stuff the fabric into a corner of her suitcase purely for that fact and that fact alone. If it were just another dress on a store rack she wouldn't have wasted precious space for something so frilly but out of respect for Misuzu… she would bring it along her voyage.

As Haruhi jumped in the shower for a quick sprucing Ranka prepared her a simple breakfast; rolled omelet with two rice balls for her to take on the road. Regrettably, there wasn't time for them share their breakfast at the table as they did most mornings. If they hadn't stayed awake the previous night arguing over which shoes to pack they wouldn't have slept through their alarms.

Haruhi emerged from the bathroom mostly dressed, only lacking her socks and shoes, and with damp hair already drenching the back of her shirt. Ranka hissed at her carelessness and moved to wring her hair with a dry towel.

"Honestly Haruhi, would it kill you to be aware of your appearance?" He scolded as he tugged on her hair with the towel.

"Would it kill you to let me dress however I want?" She rebutted, growling each time he yanked her hair.

"Wait here while I find a hairbrush." Ranka ordered as he began looking around the apartment. He discarded the towel on the bathroom floor and made haste in searching for anything to comb through her hair.

Haruhi glanced at her alarm clock and gasped, "There's no time Dad! I have a hairbrush packed somewhere in my suitcase. I'll brush it on the way. I have to go." She ran to her suitcase and flipped the top over, rushing to zip it closed.

She heard her father curse under his breath as he ran to the window. Ranka peered past the drawn curtain and saw a black SUV pull into a parking space in front of their apartment building.

"Shit… They're here already? But they're early! They couldn't give us more time?"

Haruhi grunted as she pulled her heavy suitcase upright. "Well technically Dad I had all week to pack. It's our fault for waiting till yesterday."

Ranka rolled his eyes and quickly joined Haruhi where she stood in the center of the room. He tried to mend her messy hair with his fingers, hoping it would fool the neighbors at least. When his fingers tugged on a knot Haruhi swatted his hands away.

"Come on Dad, help me bring this downstairs and stop worrying about my hair. If I'm late they'll leave without me. This boat is special; it's programmed to leave at a certain time. They couldn't wait for me even if they wanted to." Haruhi begged for her father to understand how crucial every second was right now. The longer they stayed in their apartment the closer she risked losing her free cruise. Haruhi didn't want to take that chance, not when she was actually excited about it. There were few times when she looked forward to her friends' plans and she didn't want to waste this opportunity to enjoy herself. Putting the time spent with her friends aside she couldn't reject a free all-expenses-paid cruise, especially during university when money was extra tight. She figured this might be the only chance she'll have to ever explore the open seas.

Ranka stuffed her breakfast into a sandwich bag, not caring how unappetizing it looked, and shoved the bag into her hand. He grabbed her suitcase and parked it by the front door so he could slip on his outdoor slippers. Haruhi crammed her feet into a pair of socks and joined her father at the front door to throw on her sneakers. When their feet were properly dressed Ranka threw open the door and rolled the suitcase around the second story walkway's corner and carried it down the stairs with Haruhi trailing close behind.

The chauffer stood beside the trunk, already ajar, and accepted the suitcase from Ranka's shaking hands. With one swift motion the suitcase was tossed into the trunk with the lid slamming closed a second later. Ranka rounded the car, reaching Haruhi before she slid into her seat. He grabbed his daughter by the shoulders and gave her a tight hug, squeezing his love into her little body, and planted a quick kiss on her head.

"Be safe honey and call me when you board the ship."

"I will Dad." Haruhi promised as she pried his arms from his tight hold on her.

She settled herself in the leather backseat and buckled her seatbelt while the chauffer started the engine. Ranka closed the door for her.

As the SUV began rolling in reverse Haruhi rolled her window down to say one last thing to her doting father.

"I love you Dad. Thanks for helping me get ready."

Ranka smiled wide and waved frantically as she was carried away. "I love you too sweetie. Have fun!"

"Hikaru, Kaoru… I told you to not bring your entire wardrobe." Kyoya chastised as he watched the twins struggling to carry their nearly bulging suitcases in each hand. The former hosts were standing at the mouth of the dock waiting for everyone's luggage to be loaded into the ship before they could officially set sail. The twins gratefully passed their heavy suitcases to an Ootori maid, who made haste in running them up the dock.

"We didn't pack all our clothes… just the outfits we absolutely needed." Hikaru sheepishly explained with a wicked grin. Kyoya rolled his eyes, knowing well they wouldn't consider his conditions as he hoped. He should just thankful they at least showed up on time.

Haruhi joined the trio where they stood and crossed her arms as she watched the Ootori employees carry totes of food, toiletries, and supplies aboard the ship followed by the long row of everyone's suitcase.

"I'm surprised it's just us here, Kyoya-senpai." Haruhi observed.

"What do you mean Haruhi?" He peered down at the girl with her slender arms crossed across her delicious chest. For a moment Kyoya imagined how she would look in a bikini, her luscious mounds trapped behind flimsy fabric. It was an image he often replayed in his mind when he thought of the long awaited cruise. If only she didn't have that one condition.

"I mean, if this boat will truly make Japanese history then why aren't there reporters? I'd imagine someone would want to document this."

"If this trip goes well then I'm sure my father will have an entire team of newscasters waiting at the dock for us. There is no guarantee this voyage will be successful. We might have to end our trip early at one of our stocking docks. If that happens the Ootori family doesn't want evidence of its failure."

Haruhi sighed, not truly content with his reasoning but accepted it for now. The Ootori family, as she knew them, strived to stay a few steps ahead so Kyoya's excuse matched their cunning conduct.

A maid approached Kyoya with a curtesy bow and gestured her arm towards the boat. "Sir, everything is loaded. I suggest boarding now before the ship's engine automatically starts."

Kyoya nodded his agreement and turned to address his friends who were passing time with idle chatter.

"Excuse me everyone, it's time to board. Everything is already packed so now all that's left to do is set sail. Follow me please." Before Kyoya turned away towards the boat he flashed Haruhi a mischievous grin; one done so quickly she would have missed it if she weren't already watching him. All too quick he returned to his blank calculating expression, making her wonder if it was her imagination.

The hosts walked the dock's length until they reached the collapsible ramp. Before them stood a glorious ship, one unparalleled to measly speed boats and cheap yachts. It wasn't large like a commercial cruise ship, in fact it could be considered an eight of the size, but it was still larger than the other hosts' personal yachts. It could easily hold twenty guests as passengers and yet only seven would occupy the vast vessel.

Kyoya stood to the side of the ramp and motioned for his friends to step ahead of him. Tamaki was the first to step over, sighing his approval. Hunny and Mori followed second, walking side by side with Usa-chan trapped within the short blonde's arms. The twins made sure to comment on every detail their eager eyes could find as they passed by Kyoya; the glossy paint job, the Ootori name stamped beneath the bow in bright blue lettering, and even the vinyl wooden flooring. Haruhi was the last to board for she lost herself in admiring the giant vessel. It was the largest ship she ever had the privilege to stand next to - let alone climb aboard. Her gaped mouth and widened eyes made Kyoya want to laugh but instead he offered her his hand as a gesture to held her across. She timidly accepted his offer and allowed him to keep her steady as her wobbly legs passed the ramp. Once her feet touched the deck Kyoya moved around her, allowing the maids to retrieve the ramp.

"I can't believe we're going on a cruise." Haruhi said in awe, unable to hide her enthusiasm.

Kyoya only nodded with a smile, happy to finally spend this time with the small brunette... the brunette he fell in love with during his second year of high school.

author note

Thank you for reading the first chapter to my newest story! Please let me know how you think of it so far! I apologize if the first chapter seems rushed with detail. I really wanted them to set sail in the beginning but I also had to watch my word count. I hope the beginning pace doesn't throw you off! I will definitely take my time in future chapters.