"Wow," said Marcia, as she sat in the Social Hostess' cabin. "So it sounded like a pretty hot date!"
"It sure was," said Lucia.
It was the evening of the same day. The ship had finally set sail from Freeport at just after seven thirty and was now making its way across the sea back to Port Canaveral. The show had started at the Rendezvous and Lucia, in an evening gown, had done her usual introduction to the dancers. Pablo and Estella were on tonight. Carmen was still persona non grata with Pablo, although it wasn't clear how long that could keep up. Sooner or later, Dave Richards would insist on Pablo dancing with her and Lucia wasn't exactly thrilled with that eventuality. Now she was back in her cabin. Marcia had knocked on the door for a chat and here they were.
"So you guys are basically an item now?"
"More or less, I think."
"You think."
"Well, OK -- almost definitely."
"Almost," repeated Marcia. "Explanation, please! What's up with Pablo?"
Lucia frowned. "No, it's not him. I'm worried about Carmen and Estella."
"Aha!" said Marcia. "Jealousy, anyone?"
"NO, Marcia, not like that. I'm totally sure that Pablo's with me -- he's looking for the same thing in life as me and Carmen and Estella aren't. It's just -- Carmen's already been with him and she's bummed at being excluded."
"Estella also."
"What about her?"
Marcia looked at Lucia, surprised. "Don't you know? Pablo's also been with Estella."
"What! How do you know?"
"She told me herself."
"Oh, and you didn't tell me?"
"Lucia! I haven't seen you until now -- that's why I'm hanging out with you -- I figured you would like a chat."
"So what happened? When did this happen?"
"The same day as Carmen."
"WHAT! He saw action twice in one day?"
"Yes, he did."
"Whoa. So Estella just randomly told you this -- just like that?"
"I heard this morning while you were on shorex with John - and Pablo. Don't worry, though -- she's chill."
"HUH? How can she be?"
"No, truly, it's fine. She said it was thank you sex."
"'Thank you sex'? What on earth?"
"She told me Pablo saved her. Carmen had been hitting her and getting pretty physically abusive. Pablo had pulled her out of there and taken her up to the Lido."
"Uh-huh."
"They talked for a while. Estella said she was bisexual, so -"
"Bisexual?"
"Yeah. She and Carmen have a bit of a thing going and..."
"Oh, really? Well, then, Carmen must be bi, too."
"Yeah, she is."
"Wow."
"Lucia, where have you been? What planet do you come from? Why do you think Estella just seems to hang around Carmen most of the time? Just for fun?"
"Oh, well, I never really thought of it."
"Huh! Well, TO FILL YOU IN, they've been going out together since they started working on the ship."
"Right. I guess so. Wow."
"Hmmm! Anyway, so she told me she revealed all this to Pablo, who was really open-minded, understanding, totally chill about her sexuality and so on..."
"Yeah..."
"So she said that at that point, she kind of felt attracted to him, what with him saving her, then being so accepting, and she said she felt kind of overwhelmed and wanted to make it up to him, so..."
"They had sex."
"Well -- yeah."
"In her cabin? Pablo's?"
"No! In the movie room!"
"What!"
"When the show was on! That's when Dave doesn't let movies be shown because he wants the passengers to be in the Rendezvous."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. Man! So she gave him that!"
"Yeah, she did. She's chill, though."
"What do you mean, 'chill'?"
"She says she's not interested in seeing him any more."
"Yeah, right."
"No, really."
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT! He saves her from getting beaten up by Carmen, she gives him sex and is now dancing with him as we speak, and she probably doesn't want to go back to Carmen in a hurry, plus he doesn't want to be with Carmen, so they have to be together!"
"No, I don't think so. She told me Pablo was great but girl-on-girl is better."
"HA! How much girl-on-girl do you think she's going to get any more?"
"Lucia, listen. You're way better than both of them. This isn't a good time to get jealous or demand anything or make a scene."
Lucia looked at her directly. "Maybe you're right, Marcia. Maybe you're wrong. Whatever, though, I need to be sure. I'm going." She stood up, abruptly.
Marcia stood up, too. "Where?"
"To the Rendezvous. Don't come with me. I don't want him to know you spoke to me."
"LUCIA! Don't do anything stupid!"
She spoke in vain. Lucia walked out of her cabin, slamming the door behind her.
Stomping her way upstairs, she felt a little rueful about the way she had just spoken to Marcia. Nevertheless, she needed to find out the truth about what was going on. Something made her doubt that Pablo actually had feelings for Estella, especially since the amazing date she had just been on. Hmmm, perhaps Marcia was right, she thought. Would Pablo really have spoken the way he did to Lucia at the restaurant or would they have had amazing sex if all the way through it he had been thinking of Estella? OK, she thought. Maybe this wasn't the time for a huge blow-out. Time for a little delicate maneuvering.
She arrived at the Rendezvous on Fourth Deck. The dance was already over and the main act was on -- a comedian. She walked into the back room. Pablo and Estella were in there. Pablo was getting changed out of his dancing clothes, while Estella was on the opposite side of the room in front of a make-up table, looking in the mirror. Good, thought Lucia. No nasty surprises yet.
Pablo beamed broadly when she came in. "Lucia! The dance went OK. Estella tripped up once but the audience didn't even notice. The music was great! It was exhilarating!" He flung his arms around Lucia and kissed the side of her head.
Lucia smiled weakly. "Hi, babe."
"Wow, aren't you the two lovebirds now?" smiled Estella, turning to them. "I'm happy. You look great together."
Lucia watched Estella closely. She seemed genuine enough -- for someone who had had sex with her boyfriend less than forty-eight hours before Lucia did.
"Yeah," said Lucia, releasing Pablo's grip. "We had a good time at the beach today." She smirked at Pablo, who grinned back.
"Well, I think he made the right choice," continued Estella. "You're a classy lady, Lucia -- unlike someone else I could mention! I'm glad I'm out of THAT scene! Pablo's been a gentlemen ever since. He's a fantastic dancer, too. Very professional, too."
Pablo smiled at her. "Thanks, Estella." Turning to Lucia, he asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"Yeah, I had something in the Staff Mess before the show," she replied.
"OK. Do you mind if I go down there now? I haven't eaten yet and I'm half-starved. It closes soon!"
"Do what you want," said Lucia, pleasantly.
"OK, thanks, babe," grinned Pablo. "See you later." He gave her another hug, stepped out of the room and left.
Lucia looked at Estella. Estella looked at her, somewhat surprisedly. Lucia sidled up to her, as Estella continued sitting on her chair next to the make-up table. "So, Estella..."
"What's up?"
"Marcia came over to my room this evening...and we were talking about how Pablo and I had such a great time today, and she happened to mention -"
"I get it," responded Estella. "So now you're here because Pablo and I got each other off the other day."
"Well, yeah, I -"
Estella looked directly at her. "Listen, Lucia, it means nothing. I mean, yeah, it was great -- Pablo's got a world-class body and -- I have to admit -- I enjoyed every minute of it."
"Well -"
"AND -- let's not forget -- you and him have been officially an item for all of two hours, honey. Why do you care who he went with before you and him even started?"
"I wanna know if you're planning on going with him again, that's why!"
"Lucia, you surprise me. I had higher thoughts on the kind of woman you were but maybe I was wrong..."
"Quit that! Yes or no! Would you go with him again?"
"NO. I would not."
