Lifeboat Lighthouse

Chapter 1

Cruise Day 1 - Barcelona, Spain

"Becky there are loads of young people your age on this ship, why don't you take your head out of a book for a few hours and enjoy yourself?" My mum stood over my sun lounger and pleaded for the second time since we had boarded the cruise ship.

"I am enjoying myself." I replied without even looking up from my book, struggling to hide the hint of aggravation in my voice.

"But we mean enjoy yourself like a normal teenager. Make some friends, get involved with some of the activities." My dad pleaded. "I heard that they have a disco for the teenagers on here every night, that could be fun?"

"Why would I want to go to a disco?" I asked in exasperation, finally looking up from my book to meet their disapproving gazes, a sight I was more than used to seeing. If there were two things I hated it was dancing and large crowds of people, so couldn't think of anything I'd like to do less than go to the under 18's 'nightclub' they had on the ship.

"Why? Because you're eighteen and it would be fun, that's why. Plus, I've noticed loads of cute boys on the ship that look around your age. It wouldn't do you any harm to meet some nice young men from good families." My mum replied cautiously, unsure of what my reaction would be.

"How do you know their families are good?" I snapped. My mother looked back at me knowingly, but did not reply.

I let out a sigh. I knew by 'good families' my parents meant rich families, families that could to go on expensive cruises like this. Families like ours.

We were seven hours into a luxury Mediterranean Cruise, starting in Barcelona and finishing in Venice twenty-four days later. I was well aware of how lucky I was and I couldn't wait to visit all of the beautiful places on our itinerary, but when we were on the ship I really just wanted to keep myself to myself. The teenagers on board weren't the kind of teenagers I was interested in spending my time with. They were the type of people I spent every day of my life surrounded by - over privileged and self-entitled rich kids. It was kind of ironic coming from me, but I didn't like to associate myself with those kind of kids and I didn't have any intentions of making friends on this boat.

Deciding the conversation was over, I rolled over to tan my back as I began to calculate in my head how long it was until I could get off the ship again at the next stop.

-

After hours of tedious nagging throughout the day and over dinner, I decided to get my parents off my back for a while by agreeing to go to 'Paradox', the cruise ship's underage nightclub. I didn't plan on staying long, just long enough to say I'd been there, then I was going to go hide out somewhere on the ship where I could write and listen to music that I actually liked in peace.

I sat at a table in the corner of the room, watching from the side lines as everyone around me became better acquainted over their non-alcoholic cocktails. I couldn't help but cringe at some of the younger teens who were now dancing to that Whip Nae Nae song on the dance floor. I wasn't much of a party goer, but this one was pretty lame even by my standards.

"Can I get you a drink?" A voice asked, pulling me out of my daze. My eyes were met by a young waitress standing in front of me holding a tray of dirty glasses. For a moment I had actually thought someone might have been trying to befriend me, obviously not.

"Any chance of a JD and Coke?" I asked, only half joking.

The girl let out a small laugh. "Unfortunately not, but I could offer you an equally exciting Fanta Martini or an apple juice on the rocks?"

"What's a Fanta Martini?' I asked curiously.

"It's not a thing actually, but I could stick a cocktail umbrella in a Fanta if it would make you feel better?" The girl replied with a hint of humor in her voice.