Though sadly enough the perfect evening was the last on the cruise, the ship was scheduled to pull into the dock next morning.
In the morning bright and early Danielle started texting back and forth with Alli.
Alli: Morning sleeping beauty! Need you and your sisses help today.
Danielle: Why? Did Izzy abandon you to the mercies of Keith?
Alli: Haha Jayna would like that.... But no, Izzy is not even wanting to try and find the lads to say goodbye, so we have to arrange it ourselves.
Danielle: You mean we get to plot against her and the lads....awesome!
Alli: Yay!!! You are picking up a few words that are actually from this century!
Danielle: Think you would be reluctant to use words of that sort at all if you were around Jayna constantly....
Alli: True....so you in?
Danielle: Sure, but I better rope Jayna in too, just because she has more experience then we do with plotting.
Alli: Good point, why don't you text Colm and wrastle the lads into the plotting too.
Danielle: Fine, only if you get Emmet involved too, just not Keith, I think he and Izzy were ready to kill each other last night!
Alli: Nothing new about that....I have thought Izzy was ready to strangle Keith long before she ever met him in person.
Danielle: I don't think the dream helped anything at all!!
Alli: Nope, especially since it seems to be known to all of us and the lads by now...Keith will never hear the end of it thats for sure.
Danielle: That is what you get when you combine Irish, guiness, and boats.
Alli: Thought you were going to say 3 men in a tub and who do you think they be... haha
Danielle: Wow....you are as random as your sis sometimes!
Alli: Gee thanks.... see you in a bit then!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alli: Emsters, you awake?....don't text back if you are asleep.
Alli: Wait just forget I said any of that!!
Emmet: Yeah I'm awake, we lads are awful packing procrastinators! How could I be texting if I was asleep anyways?
Alli: Remember you were supposed to forget I sent that!
Emmet: Alright........ Gets run over by crazy fangirl and gets major concussion.... What was I supposed to forget??
Alli: Very funny wiseguy!! I need your help.
Emmet: Not to buy more books I hope! That load yesterday broke the bank!
Alli: You forgot you were supposed to rob one...or that you did rob one!
Emmet: At least I can claim witless accomplice to myself.....
Alli: Whatev! Think we can plan a little get together with the lads and Izzy, Danielle, and Jayna? Before leaving the ship of course.
Emmet: Since when did Jayna start rubbing off on you, and you start plotting like Isabelle... I think I am scared right now!
Alli: You should be afraid, very afraid!
Emmet: Anyway, think I can manage to wrastle the lads to a meeting place, any particular one in mind?
Alli: How about the Hula room?
Emmet: Think Keith would kill me if I tried to get him there!!!
Alli: Just tell him you found something he left there the other day, reverse psychology if necessary.
Emmet: Fine, see you later Alli-gator!
Alli:..........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Danielle: Yo-Ho Co Lo Mo!!
Colm: Danielle......Are you feeling okay, a little tipsy? Though it is to early in the morning for that.... Did you get a concussion like Emmet? Are you feeling okay?
Danielle: You are totes adorbs when you worry about my boring old sis. I snagged her phone because I needed your digits, switchin to mine!
Jayna: Much better, though sister dear will totes freak when she sees what I said! Haha
Colm: And your reason for texting me is??? Besides getting my number illegally that is.
Jayna: My twinsie, sis, homie, and I's need to see you's again before we get off this floating shipwreck waiting for an iceburg.
Colm: There are no iceburgs this far south.
Jayna: Wouldn't it be sooooo romantified if something like the totes Adorbs Titanic happned...I would of course be Rosie, and you could be the dashingly handsome and tragic Jack and....
Colm: Okay wait back on topic. *Mutters to self, remind me never to mention Titanic or this conversation to the lads. * I thought Emsters...er I mean Emmet already sorted it out.
Jayna: Coolio, see you in a few Cutsiepooh!
Colm: K.... *Buries head back in the pillow for a few minutes to recover from said conversation. *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“C'mon Keith, keep up would you? I think you are loosing your sea legs every inch closer to shore we get,” Colm said with a grin as he and Emmet all but dragged Keith in the direction of the hula room a half hour or so later.
'Where we goin?” muttered Keith, who was still tousle haired and half asleep after being dragged out of bed a few minutes before.
Just then they almost ran into Neil and Ryan who were coming down the other corridor.
“Perfect timing!” Emmet exclaimed, looping his arms through theirs he started to trill “Oh,... We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful lizard of Oz...”
Looking back in alarm at Colm who was dragging Keith behind them Neil mouthed, “Is Em sanitary...er I mean sane?”
Colm just winked and started singing along, as the lads managed to convince everyone they passed on the way to their destination that they were completely bonkers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arriving at the door of the hula room Keith almost ran off dragging Colm with him, but with Emmets help they managed to get him through the door though he was mumbling the whole time about ancient God's and desecration.
“So this is what you had planned,” was the comment that greeted the lads as they entered, as Isabelle grinned at Alli.
“You don't act very surprised,” Alli pouted, “We thought we had it set up perfectly!”
“For amateurs I do have to say I am suitably impressed,” Isabelle said with reluctant praise.
“Now its time to say good-bye...to all our company....” Alli started singing softly.
“Oh you watched that show too?” Danielle asked with a smile, “We shall have to discuss it sometime.”
“Not to distract you from your totes boring convo, but we have some hot Irish lads in here that need a proper sendoff,” Jayna said, batting her eyes at Colm and winking at Emmet.
Emmet gulped slightly loudly as Neil placed a nervous hand on his shoulder, not quite sure what to Jayna was a proper sendoff.
Ryan decided to be a gentleman and go first, which was easier for him as he had the least interaction with the girls.
“Lovely to meet you lovely lady,” he said winking at Alli and kissing her hand making her blush beat red and mumble a “Likewise, and goodbye.”
Danielle was next, she quickly pulled her hands behind her back causing Ryan to improvise.
Bowing grandly he said, “Ever your loyal servant M'lady, farewell.”
Danielle stared at him wide eyed before replying, “Uh....Thank you good sir.” nodding her head in acknowledgment.
Emmet and Colm glanced at each other and rolled their eyes at Ryan's theatrical farewells, “What a ham,” was what they both were thinking.
Isabelle was next, cocking his head to one side for a moment, as if he was examining her to decide what approach would be best he simply bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
This stunned Isabelle into silence and she blushed.
Keith burst out laughing at her reaction and mumbled, “So she really is human.....”
Though Alli looked like she was ready to give Ryan a violent something to remember them by.
Quickly moving out of Alli's reach Ryan came to Jayna, to the surprise of all he gave her a warm hug, whispering something in her ear.
With a quick wave and goodbye he left the room as quickly as possible.
Isabelle glanced over at Jayna and was shocked to see a tears glistening in her eyes.
“What's wrong Jay?” Danielle asked worried.
“Nothing....” Jayna said watching Ryan leave wistfully, “I am going to miss these lads....”
Isabelle decided that she needed to figure out what Ryan really had said later on in private.
Neil took advantage of the lull to make his goodbye's as well, with much less pomp then Ryan had.
His only addition to the hugs he gave the girls was a wink and “Thank you for your help,” to Isabelle, which left the lads wondering what he had been up to in one of his many disappearances.
“By Neilio!” Jayna called as he scooted out of the room after giving her an awkward hug as well.
What no one had noticed was that when Neil was finishing his goodbyes Alli had disappeared out of the room, she returned a few minutes later smiling innocently.
Keith received a text from Ryan, “Phone dying, I'm drowning, pool chlorine blinding...”
Giving him a quick call Keith asked, “What in the world was that text supposed to mean?”
“One of your girls just booted me into the pool for no reason, ruined my best handkerchief too....” Ryan pouted.
Keith just burst out laughing, explaining to the others what had happened they joined in while Alli turned red again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colm was shoved forward by Emmet to make his goodbyes, shooting a glare back at Em before turning around and grinning at the girls.
“Bye, thanks for the laughs,” he said hugging Alli, seeing her lip start to quiver he hurriedly said, “No reason to get emotional or anything!”
Sniffing a bit Alli said, “I always get emotional saying goodbye to friends!”
Jayna was next, she gave him a tight hug and said, “We totes needed to spend more time together, think I missed a good bit of slagging!”
“Next time girlio,” he said giving her a wink before moving on to Isabelle.
Jayna giggled and rolled her eyes and Emmet whispered to Keith, “Did that word come out as awful and sad as it sounded,” Keith just nodded his head in agreement.
“Thanks for the laugh Izzy girl,” Colm said as he gave her a hug, and no letting your double get into any mischief,” he added glancing at Danielle.
Colm gave Danielle a more lingering hug then the other girls, which she blushed at and awkwardly pulled out of as quickly as possible.
“Thanks again for the books and lovely time,” she said somewhat formally, she softened a bit when she saw Colm's hurt look at her aloofness.
“I really did enjoy it,” she added giving him a genuine smile, causing him to perk up at once.
Keith muttered something about a “Lovesick cub,” to Emmet before it was his turn to say goodbye.
Emmet started with Danielle, giving her a hug he whispered, “Don't fret too much about your sis, she's a good kid,”
Danielle burst out crying at that one causing Emmet to have hold her awkwardly glancing furtively towards Keith mouthing “Help here!?” and back to Colm who looked like he was ready to murder Emmet for even touching Danielle.
“I'm sorry,” Danielle said collecting herself quickly, “But thank you, you of all people saying that means so much.”
“Anytime mate...er I mean miss, er I mean....” Emmet fumbled awkwardly for the right term to use.
“Danielle is fine,” she said flashing a quick smile at him before he moved on to Jayna.
He glanced at her slightly warily before sighing and hugging her just like the other girls.
“Thanks Emsters,for making my sis happy like that, with whatev you said,” Jayna whispered to him giving him a quick kiss on the cheek causing him to blush.
Seeing Isabelle smiling at him he asked, “What? I didn't do anything that got online did I?”
“You are way to suspicious of me, I do just smile without plotting involved sometime,” Isabelle said with a grin.
“Prove it and I will believe,” Emmet said shaking his head at her, giving her a hug he added, “Keep your little sis out of trouble here or I will be the one hunting you down.”
“I will remember she has her own knight in shining armor now,or at the very least a bookworms best friend,” Isabelle smiled mischievously between Emmet and Alli causing them both to blush.
“Pretty sure we could have canned all the blushes here tonight and made a ton of makeup!” Colm said with a grin.
Keith gibs slapped Colm for that one causing him to be silent for a little longer anyway.
Emmet noticed Alli close to tears already which came out as soon as he gave her a hug, “Thank you so much for the wonderful time, you are the best!”
Thinking to himself “Why am I the only ones to have girls cry on them today?” he said, “You're welcom lass, keep that smile on your face.” taking the strand of hair that had come down and gently tucking it behind her ear he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
Causing her to cry again and blush at the same time, quite a feat in Emmet's eyes.
Keith had been standing quietly, for the most part, up to this point, but now it was his turn and he was not looking forward to it.
He hated goodbyes with a passion, and wasn't sure how this one would go at all.
Starting out he gave Danielle a hug, “No going off on plots with yer double without letting me know,” he said moving quickly on to Jayna.
Danielle was surprised to see tears glistening in his eyes, though she would be the last one to say anything out loud about it.
Ruffling Jayna's the hair before pulling her into a hug he said, “Remember there is lad out there who is perfect for you, so no hanging out in the wrong trees cause he will find you when you least expect it.”
“Wowzers....” Jayna said quietly, “I never expected to be getting dating and life advice from THE Keith Harkin....”
“Don't even think about touching the hair,” Alli warned Keith he approached her next.
“I wouldn't dare after what happened to Ry,” Keith said with a grin, “Come here you lil wildcat,” pulling her into a hug.
“Don't let your big sis get you both into anything I wouldn't do,” he said with a wink.
“Like anyone can control that! Thanks for everything Keith!,” Alli added, though Keith was not quite sure what she meant by everything.
Turning to where Isabelle should have been, and dreading every second of it Keith was shocked to see she had vanished.
“Where did Izzy go?” he asked a little concerned now.
The others glanced hurriedly around seeing no sign of her either, “That is just like her too.....” Alli said frowning, “I'm sorry she hates goodbyes!”
“But....but....but...” Keith said, “She was able to say goodbye to all the other lads, why did she run off on me?”
Colm and Emmet shuffled awkwardly in place, Emmet glanced nervously at his watch, “Yikes! Sharon is going to have our skin if we aren't packed in the next half hour and ready to get off this floating hotel.”
They hurriedly exchanged another goodbye with the girls and bolted off for their cabins at marathon pace.
“We better head off to pack too,” Danielle said reluctantly, “By we I mean I need to help Jayna finish packing.”
“Packing is totes for boring people,” Jayna said somewhat sulkily, perking up she added, “See you and your sis in a bit twinsie,” she gave Alli a quick hug before bouncing out the door.
Danielle smiled and waved before hurrying after Jayna to make sure she actually made it back to the cabin without getting distracted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alli was about to follow them when Keith gently grabbed her arm and turned her around.
“Why did Isabelle run off on me?” he asked, “Is it something I said or did?”
Alli shuffled nervously and said, “No..er...yes...um....Keith I don't really know what I can say to you. If Isabelle was up to saying goodbye to you she would have though.”
“What do you mean if she was up to it?” Keith asked with concern, “Is something going on I don't know about?”
“Please don't pry,” Alli pleaded, “Isabelle has been dealing with a lot, especially emotionally lately and saying goodbye to you.... well.....you can text or call her if you want to ask her yourself. Please don't make me tell you and respect what she wanted. Bye Keith.”
With that Alli broke out of his grasp and hurried off leaving a slightly dazed and entirely bummed Keith standing there lost deep in thought.
Till his phone vibrated pulling him back to reality and the fact that the boat was disembarking soon and Mama Sharon would be after more then his hair if he wasn't ready to head off with the rest of the crew.
The puzzle of Isabelle weighed heavily on his mind, he texted her but with what had happened he wasn't too optimistic about hearing back from her that day...or maybe ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alli found Isabelle back in their cabin angrily shoving the rest of her things into her suitcase.
“I know what you are going to say, and there really is no excuse for not saying goodbye,” she said with a sigh, jumping onto the top of her suitcase and zipping it shut.
“No worries, I told Keith that if he wanted to know what is going on he needs to ask you himself,” Alli said picking at a loose patch of nail polish, “I would never spill the beans.”
“Thanks bunches!” Isabelle said, jumping up and giving Alli a hug, “I don't deserve such a nice sister!”
“You're right,” Alli said, “And if you don't stop squeezing me so tight you will now longer have a sister!”
“Whoops...forgot my own strength,” Isabelle laughed, “I just got a text from Jayna we need to meet them by the bottom of the gangplank to say goodbye before flying out.”
“Will you be okay with it,” Alli asked still worried, “I know it is different cause you are actually planning on seeing them again sometime.”
“Everything is totes fine dear sis,” Isabelle said with a wink, “And I will attempt to stop talking like that as soon as I am our of Jayna's hearing.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their goodbyes at the gangplank were slightly emotional.
Alli gave Danielle a big hug, “Thanks for being...normal...and you!!!! I needed a touch of reality and sweetness like you on this trip!”
Danielle blushed a bit, “Thanks for keeping me sane! I would have gone nutters being around your sister and Jayna the whole time!”
“Bye my new twinsie!!” Jayna said sweeping Alli up into a hug, “We totes have to have you and your sis visit us in Cali soon!”
“We'll see about that,” Alli said with a laugh, “Thanks for introducing me to the world of jetski's and totesies....”
“Hmmm work on the totes and leave off the sies,” Jayna said with a wink.
“Was great meeting you!” Isabelle said giving Danielle a hug, “I hope I didn't freak you out too much!”
“I live with Jayna,” Danielle said with a smile, “Nothing can freak me out that badly anymore!”
“Hey!” exclaimed Jayna.
“Luv you too sis!” Danielle said with a laugh.
“I am going to miss you sooooo much,” Isabelle said with a sigh giving Jayna a hug, “Thanks so much for everything and helping make this the best week ever,” she ended with tears glistening in her eyes.
“Now you totes do have to visit, and I miss you already!” Jayna said hugging her back.
“Off on our own separate ways to take on the world,” Isabelle said sniffling a little bit, wiping off a tear, and composing herself.
“And it totally won't know what hit it after you two are done,” Alli said with a laugh.
“Text me as soon as....soon,” Isabelle said waving at Danielle and Jayna as they got into a cab.
“I am so ready to head home to my nice quiet room and books and....” Alli started rattling off.
“Save that thought for the plane ride home!” Isabelle said with a smile, glancing back one more time wistfully at the boat before joining Alli in their cab for the long trip home, this trip had been filled with memories enough for a lifetime.
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What was your favorite part???
The end of the cruise...been a wild ride folks!! Hope you have all enjoyed it as much as we have!