By the time I fully recovered, the cruise had ended. Luckily, we weren't attacked for the rest of the ride. When we exited the ship, Gavin walked me to my car and we exchanged phone numbers. We both lived in Maine, and we drove our cars back together.
After a week of being back home, Gavin came to visit me at home, since I was almost fully recovered. We decided to take a walk and get some fresh air. Gavin held me by my good side, as to not hurt me, and we went to get some hot chocolate.
"So I was thinking." He said slyly, "I have a cruise coming up, and I'm gonna be gone for six months."
"What? That'll be a very long time." I said uncertainly. "I don't think I can do long distance, especially because you can barley use your phone on the cruise."
"Exactly." He replied.
"Are you dumping me?"
"What! No. Where'd you get that idea from? Do you want to break up already? I knew it! The world didn't send me you. Its sending you a message. It's telling you that you can do way better than me!" Gavin wailed, and started crying again.
"No, no. Please calm down. If you are going to dump me than get it over with. I don't want to break up, but if you think that's best, than I trust you." I started crying too, and continued, "Maybe we could get back together when you come back?"
Gavin wiped his eyes and more tears fell, "I was hoping you would come with me, since I own it, our tickets would be free. And you would eat whatever you want the entire time."
I stopped crying and started at him. "You aren't breaking up with me?"
"No. I wanted you to come with me."
"Yes! I'll come." I said as I wiped my tears away.
"But you aren't allowed to go diving into the ocean this time. You need to stay on the ship, even if we get attacked. You're safety is my priority."
"Okay." I pouted. "But what happens if the passengers get hurt? Who will save them?"
"I would. They are paying to have a fun and safe time anyway, so the person they are paying should be the one to keep them safe."
As the days went by getting closer and closer to the cruise, I packed alot of clothes and dresses, making sure to get my cutest outfits. When the day finally came to board the cruise, we shared a private suit in a lovers room specially designed for us.
Although, it wasn't very smooth sailing right from the start. As we started relaxing in our room, Gavin pulled me close and we snuggled for a while, neither one of us wanting to get up. When I started getting the feeling that something was wrong, I jumped out of bed and Gavin followed. He must've had the feeling as well.
We searched the water for any sign of a sea monster, but we didn't see anything. We searched the ship for any sign of something out of the ordinary.
Finally we came across a room noone had purchased. It was dark and you could sense a presence that was more than most could handle.
I looked at Gavin, but before he could stop me, I entered the room with my retractable spear. I extended it and carefully looked around. Gavin followed in after me, and tried convincing me to leave, but I wouldn't.
"Alyssa. You need to get out of here. You said you'd stay out of danger." He begged. "Please. Leave this room, I can handle whatever is in here."
"No. I can't just sit around and watch you put your life in danger without backup." I replied.
"Babe. I love you, so please for the love of me, forget about my safety and worry about yours."
"How can I not worry about your safety. You are as fragile as a cupcake."
Then I heard it, clear as day, the unmistakable sound of the Pheonix's screech. It was loud and earpiercing, and exactly the thing you'd never want to hear.
I turned my spear on it, and it flew high. Gavin grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him just in time for its strike. It swooped down and exploded the air where I had been. I watched as it swooped in circles around us, creating an illusion of many birds. Then it swooped down again, this time ripping a hole is my left shoulder.
I screamed in pain and Gavin let out a choked gasp. He grabbed me and cursed under his breathe. That's when the Pheonix stopped. It perched itself on the bedframe and stared at me for exactly sixty seconds, before flying out through the balcony into the night breeze.
"I told you not to come in here." Gavin said, holding back tears, again. "Now you're hurt and it's all my fault. I should've done better, I'm sorry. I'm a horrible person and an even worse boyfriend."
"If you keep talking I'm going to punch you."
We went to the clinic and I had to undergo immediate arthroscopic surgery, which stitched my tendons back to my bone.
We went back to our room and Gavin started crying again. "I'm so sorry. I should've done more, I should've taken the hit instead!"
"Oh my fucking ducklings! Shut the prick up!" I said and walked over to him. I grabbed him by his shirt collar and kissed him. When I let go, he pulled me back in and laid me back on the bed, still kissing me.
When he pulled away, neither one of us said anything. He just climbed into bed next to me and covered me with the blankets. We fell asleep holding each other's hands, neither one of us willing to let go.
The next morning I woke up and my shoulder was completely healed. The only thing left was a scar, but not shaped like the injury. It was a perfect replica of the pheonix that was in that room. When I showed Gavin, he was amazed.
"I guess it too a liking to me after all." I joked, but really looking at it, I couldn't come up with a logical explanation for how it got there.