Chris was not too thrilled with his new look, but he didn’t complain. If it saved his life, he was willing to wear it. Even if he did look like a girl.

        They had all managed to get into the same lifeboat. Joey looked amused by his own look. Joey sort of looked like one of those dancers in the theatre. Dressed in a pink scarf around his face, Joey tried to ignore the stares he was receiving from the several children already on board.

        If anyone looked ridiculous, it was Justin. Somehow he had managed to get a wig that had fallen off someone’s head on their way into the boat. That had only helped his cause. Before finding the wig, all Justin was wearing that could classify him as a woman was the dark black sunglasses and the black scarf around his neck.

        None of them spoke as the lifeboat was lifted down into the water. But when Lance looked up to take one last glance at the ship that was now tearing into shreds piece by piece, he caught Janine’s eye. She was smiling now. They shared one last wave with each other, then Janine’s image was out of sight.

        I’m coming Hannah. Lance looked out at the water ahead of them. It was going to be a long trip.


        It seemed like days later that Lance finally woke up. They were sailing on the Carpathia now, the ship that had taken all the surviving passengers, and leading them all back to New York, where the Titanic was supposed to sail into port.

        Tired and exhausted, Lance had fallen asleep just an hour after the life boat had left the disastrous scene. Everyone that had survived the wreckage was now on the Carpathia. JC was out looking for any sign of Lisa and Johnny, while Joey stayed by Lance’s bedside.

        Lance’s face was looking really pale. Joey wasn’t sure if it was the whole experience that had caused Lance’s uneasiness, but he was sure Hannah’s absence had something to do with it.

        There was still no sign of her, Justin had informed Joey just minutes ago. No one even with the first name Hannah had checked in with the officers on the ship. Joey had this very strange feeling that something was wrong. What if Hannah hadn’t survived?

        Joey looked down at Lance sleeping peacefully on the cot and knew that if his suspicions were true that Hannah didn’t survive the life boat, Lance would never be the same again. Joey left the room to see if Justin had found out anything new.

        “Find anything yet?” Joey asked as he approached Chris and Justin. By the faint look on Justin’s face, either something bad had been revealed, or no new information had been found and Justin was just frustrated.

        “Nobody will tell us anything,” Chris said. He looked just as upset. “But as far as we can tell, Hannah isn’t around here. We’ve looked all over the ship.”

        Joey looked defeated and dead tired. “He’s still asleep. So we have a little more time to try and locate her.”

        “But won’t if we don’t find her?” Justin asked. “Lance will be totally crushed. He’s going to wish he stayed on that ship.”

        “He’s going to be heartbroken,” Joey agreed. “But let’s not give up. She got on a lifeboat, for God’s sakes. All life boats have been reported safe. She has to be here somewhere.”

        They all split up again. Joey went back to stay with Lance, while Chris and Justin went back to searching the ship for Hannah.

        When Joey returned to the small room, Lance was up and stretching his arms.

        “Where the hell are we?” Lance asked. He hadn’t realized how long he’d been asleep for.

        “On the Carpathia.” Joey took the chair beside the cot. “You feeling okay, man?” He checked Lance’s head to see if it was hot. It seemed much cooler now.

        “I feel a little sore,” Lance said. “What’s the Carpathia?”

        “It’s a ship,” Joey answered. “You know you’ve been out for hours.”

        “I don’t remember much,” Lance said. “The last thing I remember is…” He tried to think back, but just bad memories floated back in his head.

        “Lance?” Joey said cautiously. “What’s wrong?”

        Lance rubbed his head. It was pounding and he was sure there had to be aspirin around somewhere. He began searching for it in all the drawers.

        “What you looking for?” Joey asked, but he got no response. Lance looked suddenly worried. When Joey met his eyes, he knew why.

        “Where is she?” Lance demanded. Suddenly, the aspirin wasn’t so important anymore.

        Joey looked out the small window, trying to gain some time.

        “Damn it, Joey!” Lance sat back down on the cot when his head began to pound again. “Tell me where she is,” he said quietly. “If you know, you have to tell me.”

        “I don’t actually know where she is,” Joey said finally. He couldn’t meet Lance’s eyes. He was afraid of what he would see.

        “What do you mean you don’t know where she is?” Lance said. “You have to know where she is.”

        “We can’t find her,” Joey said quietly. “No one has found her.”

        Lance’s full attention was grabbed. “No one has found her?” He grabbed his jacket off the bed and put it on. He wasn’t going to waste time. He walked to the door.

        “Lance, Chris and Justin are out looking for her,” Joey said.

        Lance’s hand stilled on the knob. “Only I can find her.”

        “All lifeboats have been reported here. I’m sure she’s here somewhere.”

        Lance turned the knob. “And only I can find her.” Within seconds he was gone down the hall.


        Lance paced the small area. “Where the hell are you?” Okay, so talking to the floor wasn’t doing any good. There was no sign of Hannah and the memory of their one night together flooded through Lance’s mind.

        Lisa was one that needed consoling. Though she had JC by her side, which she was very grateful for, she could very well have lost her best friend.

        “She has to be okay,” Lisa sobbed into JC’s shoulder. Johnny was sleeping peacefully with all the other children in a secluded room.

        While searching the ship, Lance had talked to several crew members, all who stated that all life boats had arrived safely. So where the hell was Hannah?

        “Maybe she’s resting somewhere,” Chris offered. “Somewhere we haven’t looked.”

        “We’ve looked everywhere!” Lance was aware that his voice was raising, so he continued to pace and decided to keep his mouth shut. He had to think of something.

        Lance closed his eyes and he could see Hannah, coming towards him. He reached his arms out to grab her, but she turned around and walked the other way. He cried out and fell into Joey’s arms.

        Hours passed and still no sign of Hannah. It was out in the news now about the Titanic disaster. The ship had officially sunk and was now lying in the bottom of the Atlantic. Lance was once again passed out on the cot. He had been given some drugs when he couldn’t stop sobbing. He’d been out like a light for twelve hours before he woke up.

        But when he opened his eyes, there was an officer standing in front of him.

        “I’m sorry, sir,” the officer said sadly. “A woman named Hannah was found early this morning in the Atlantic. She matches the description your friend gave us.”

        “No,” Lance cried, and covered his ears.

        “Is she…?” JC couldn’t finish the question. This was so heartbreaking for everyone.

        “Her body was found this morning,” the officer said. “Many of our crew tried to save her, but I’m afraid it was too late.”

        “No!” Lance cried and fell into JC’s arms. “No! She’s not dead, she’s not!”

        The officer placed an enveloped into Lance’s hands. “This was in the pocket of her coat. I assume she wanted you to have it.”

        Lance glanced at the envelope. He was afraid to open it, but he did anyway. Inside was a small pin, a big diamond in the middle.

        “What the hell?” Lance said through his tears. A piece of paper was in the back of the envelope. It was a letter. “She must have known we’d never see each other again.”

        Everyone gathered around to listen to the letter. Lance had to take a deep breath before beginning.

        If you’re reading this, this means I did not survive the disaster. I wanted to live, I really did. Lance, you gave me a reason to fight. But sitting in this lifeboat, I can think of nothing but ending my life so I can be with you once again. If I’ve learned anything while being with you, it’s that there is so much life to live. But I’m praying now that you’re going to make it out alive. I’m going to keep on fighting. I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. But if I don’t make it, know that you’re my heart. You changed my life, you gave me a reason to live. And no matter what happens, my heart will always be yours.
        In the back of this envelope, you will find a pin. It was gift from my mother just before she died. Lance, I want you to keep this. This is a symbol of my love for you. If you’re not reading this, whoever is, please make sure this is passed on to Lisa, who I’m sure survived this horrific ordeal. May everyone lead a happy and promising life. If I’m not here, be positive that I will be watching you from above.
        Love always,
        Hannah

        Lance crumbled up the letter and cried. “No…She can’t be gone.” And when Joey pulled him into his arms, he didn’t pull away. “No..” he sobbed into Joey’s shoulder.

        “I’m so sorry.” Joey didn’t know what else to say. He looked up at everyone with sad eyes. “Why don’t we give Lance some time alone?”

        It wasn’t until later that day until they learned the truth. A woman who was in the same life boat as Hannah, came up to Lance and Justin in the small dining area.

        “I was in the boat with your girlfriend.” A young petite woman stopped at their table. “I’m sorry about your loss,” she said to Lance. “But, I think you should know what really happened to her.”

        “What did happen?” Lance asked. All day he hadn’t stopped crying. This was the first time his old voice was starting to come back.

        “Janine shot her.”

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