The Cruise 4 - Very Bad Impression

He shot her a sarcastic look and nodded. Justin walked by her side in silence still unsure of his steps and quite dizzy, after a while he put his hand on the small of her back leading them to one of the ship’s restaurants. The feel of his hand set her pulse off and her heart beat like drums.

The host approached with a friendly smile and greeted them. 

“I’d appreciate if you could get us a table at a nice and quiet section of the diner, please,” Justin asked politely. The host agreed with a smirk on, picked up two menus and asked them to follow him. 

They were mute for a while and staring at each other like they didn’t know what to do with themselves. Then Ella finally broke the mortifying silence. 

“I don’t even know your name.”

He cocked his head and looked at her for some time. 

“Justin.”

“Well, Justin, how’s your head?” there was genuine concern in her tone.

“Don’t worry too much, it’s fine.”

“Any headaches or any kind of pain?” she furrowed her brows and looked into his eyes, then to the wound and back.

“No headaches, just a little pain around the wound, so I took some medicine and it’s better now. Happy?” he said without flinching and in a rude tone. “As I said before, I’m fine.” he added closing the subject.

Ella nodded and Justin didn’t take his eyes off of her, not even for a minute making her uncomfortable and for quite a few times she forced herself to look away and not be trapped by those eyes. He was handsome, his eyes were the most expressive; she noticed the different shades of dark gray, blue and black that went on depending on his mood. Black, full eyelashes framed them. His dark brown hair was short on the sides and longer on top with a bit of extra length at the front and a few strands of gray hair showed on the sides of his head, just enough to give him that extra charm. The desire to slide her fingers through them and feel the softness of those strands once again assaulted her, and she closed her hands and hid them under the table afraid she couldn’t control herself. He didn’t spend time shaving and a light stubble was showing on his face giving him that bad boy look to such a beautiful, but troubled face and that intrigued her a lot. What to say about his laid back broad shoulders? Through his fitting T-shirt she could see his muscles when he moved, and parts of a tattoo in his left biceps and right shoulder through the collar of it. Ella got curious about the tattoos and when the picture of him taking off his shirt and his bare chest at display came to her mind, she immediately shook her head trying to get rid of the image.

“Did you like what you see?” he made himself even more comfortable in front of her and a sly smile danced on those sinful lips.

Startled, she looked away flustered and wanted to kick herself, and Ella thanked the gods when a kind girl in a uniform came to the table dissipating a little the tension going on there.

“Evening, I’m Anna and I’ll be your server tonight, what would you like to drink?”

“How about some red wine? Do you have Vintage Shiraz?” looking to the waitress and then to Ella. It was Claire’s favorite. 

“Thanks, but I don’t care for wine. A freezing cold beer would be great, please. The biggest bottle you have,” she muttered the rest to herself.

“Sorry, I didn’t get that…” the waitress asked confused.

“Nothing, a bottle of beer if you don’t mind,” A half-annoyed smile played on her face seeing his shocked stare. She needed to put a hold at the tension of the moment. “What? Have you never seen a woman who enjoys a good freaking beer, before?” she asked sarcastically.

“Ok, beer it is, then. We’ll need a few minutes to order,” he said, and the waitress left to get the drinks. 

Justin kept staring at Ella. Gosh, that was a nice view! He loved that long hair on her, and those green eyes seemed brighter framed by her long, curly lashes. He could see some freckles on her nose and cheeks since her sun kissed skin made them pop, and she got even more gorgeous.

“What!?” she blurted out.

“Sorry?” he blinked and looked at her confused. 

“What? What’s going on? Why are you staring at me like this? It’s weird, I’m feeling like I’m in some sort of ritual and the next in line for a sacrifice!” she said between nervousness and laughter. 

“You just look like too much someone I knew a long time ago.” he explained averting his eyes and sneering.

“And she didn’t cause a good impression on you...”

“Why would you say that?” he looked at Ella, furrowing his brows.

“The look on your face when you look at me, the way your eyes change, and you purse your lips?” she tried to say carefully looking at him.

“And, you got all that just by being with me this half an hour?”

“Well, yeah… It’s kinda hard to miss it when you’re staring at me like an ax murderer, and you confused me with her a few minutes ago, or don’t you remember?” she blurted out faking annoyance. “Am I so much like her?” 

“I’m sorry if I did that, it wasn’t my intention. And yes, you’re her spitting image,” Justin clenched his jaw. Something was odd, but it was impossible not to be the same person. What was going on? Claire had a double, or should get an Oscar for acting!

“You’re doing it again…” Ella said playfully. “Ok, I’ll try to make a good impression to make up for my clone, deal?” she winked and smiled at him seeing the surprise all over his face. Ella relaxed and started reading the menu for her options.