Be Romantic!

"Be romantic."

Julius had women, but couldn't quite hold onto them. His standard American beauty would wear off. Blue eyes, blonde hair, tall build.

"Be romantic."

The 24-year-old was out on his own. A beautiful condo near the Miami Strip, a condo a medical assistants money can buy. He decided to relax on women until his second year. He'd found another woman who also fit the American beauty standard. Blonde hair, blue eyes, sandy blonde hair. Small freckles, hair so long that it flowed in the wind. Britney. The basic Barbie name to match her Ken. Something about her is quite different than Julius. She's not like the other women he's encountered. Bubbly. Lively. Energetic. He didn't want to lose her to what he referred to as, "His other women." He desperately reaches out to her mother, pushed by the fear of their chemistry being "too" good over the course of a month and a half.

"You think that'll be good as a first real date, mother?" Julius asked.

"Of course."

"Thanks."

"Don't forget, be romantic," Julius mother reiterated.

"I know I've dated, but what if I don't quite know how?"

"Watch a romance movie, take notes, use it on your next trip."

So Julius followed suit. Though he struggled to get through the cheesy movie, he feels as if he's equipped with enough knowledge.

A ship on the horizon. Orange mixes with blue, mimicking a vacation post-card. The world at this very moment is at peace for everyone on board. A cruise ship away from the troubles of America. Britney blushes. She has no idea what Julius is doing, but she giggles as she follows him to the tail end of the ship. He's good as hiding that he has no idea what he's gesturing at this very moment. He softly tugs her towards the bow, watching the orange sun sink into the ocean.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Britney smiles, referring to the sunset.

"Yeah."

The mood is still set despite the music and noise of crowd goers in the background. For the first time, Julius is nervous. He doesn't know how he should approach her for "that" moment. He goes with his gut, standing behind Britney and holding both of her hands. Britney chuckles, tiny laughs faded out from the sound of the waves. He slowly lifts both of her elbows, arms outstretched for the two to catch the misty winds. She temporarily lifts one eyebrow in confusion, but decides to go along with whatever he's doing. Their cheeks gaze one another's at they stare out at the sunset. The constant reminder from Julius's mom rings in his head.

"Be romantic."

Britney can see from the corner of her eye that he's no longer looking at the sunset. She turns towards her left, gazing back at him. The two close their eyes, sharing a kiss. The romantic moment of the night is shattered when Britney laughs in the process, snatching her lips away.

"This is so gross," She giggles, holding her fingers over her top lip.

"What?"

"We both just had those chili dogs. And I can taste the onions in both of our mouths."

The pair laughs. Britney trails her hand along his arm, stepping down from the bow.

"Let's get ready for the cruise dinner tonight," Britney smiles, walking away.

Julius rubs the back of his neck in slight embarrassment.

"Awkward," He thinks to himself, following her.

8pm.

After the dinner on the cruise, Britney seemed to be livelier than before. "Maybe it was the hunger." Julius wondered to himself as she tugged him around the large cruise, looking for the next activity to participate in. There was a jacuzzi on the deck. Casinos in the center. Bingo at the front. Upon walking around, Julius noticed a promotion by the elevator.

"COUPLES PAINT! Best painting of your other half wins $500! Contest ends at 9!"

"Hey, you wanna do this?" Julius smiles, pointing at the sign.

"I can't paint?" Britney laughs.

"I can."

"Be romantic, Julius," He repeats in his head.

Britney sits across from Julius, stiff as a board. Her black Swarovski dress flows below her stool. Her star diamond necklace, purchased as a birthday gift, rests on her collarbone and center of her chest. Her long hair in an upper and slicked ponytail as if she's going to prom. Julius tries his best to paint her, but has no idea what he's doing. Chicken scratch in portrait form.

"Try to put your hand by your face," Julius asks her. "Trying to make this like an uh, portrait type thing."

"Like this?" Britney says, placing her fingers on her left cheek.

"Yeah."

The time on the clock expires. The contest is done, but the judge don't look their way. Britney turns the painting her way, bursting in laughter at the picture.

"I thought you said you could paint?" She asked.

By the end of the night, Britney was exhausted.

The pair slips into their cruise bunk, waves overheard on their small desk. Britney slips off her heels, letting her feet breathe for the first time in hours. The sound of her dress unzipping immediately makes Julius backs towards the door.

"I can step out if you want me to?" Julius says.

"You don't have to."

Julius eyes raise in a surprise. Britney looks over her shoulder as she slips her dress off, standing in her bra and underwear. He nervously rubs the back of his neck, making a bold statement.

"I was kidding with that contest, y'know? I can really draw."

"Oh, can you?"

"Yeah. I paint in my spare time," Julius lies, rubbing his hands together. "I even brought my pencil and sketchbook with me?"

"You brought a sketchbook on a cruise trip?"

"Yeah. I like to draw and things, and uh...I would really like to sketch you naked?" Julius asks, heart pounding with worry. "Just you, your body and that beautiful necklace you have on. I wouldn't show anyone, it would just be something I keep hidden in my collection, y'know?"

Britney tilts her head towards Julius, squinting her eyes at him.

"I have a question," She says, folding her arms.

"What?" Julius chuckled nervously.

"Are you trying to emulate the movie Titanic?"