Lifeboat Lighthouse

Chapter 2

Cruise day 2 - Palma De Mallorca - Spain

We disembarked the boat at 8am the next day in the Spanish city of Palma. Whilst most of the other teens had opted to spend the day on the beach Jet Skiing and playing volleyball, I decided to stick with my parents and little sister Rosie exploring the local sites instead. Socialising just wasn't my thing.

I spent as much time as my family would allow taking pictures at Le Seu, a Gothic Cathedral that rises from the city wall, but eventually Rosie got bored and it was time to move on. We took a side road off the main tourist area and ended up in a maze of quaint narrow streets leading to quiet museums, galleries and the most amazing Tapas Restaurant.

Later in the day as the sun was setting, I took Rosie for ice cream and a walk along the marina, admiring the sparkling blue ocean in the evening sun. I let myself daydream about taking off one day and leaving everything behind to travel around beautiful places like this to my hearts content. It was something I knew could never be a reality though. Traveling wasn't part of my family's plans for me, not unless it was for future business trips I'd have to take once I started working for my dad's business. This was a fact that I'd just come to accept.

When the time came to board the ship again the only thing spurring me on was the thought that I might bump into that tall waitress again tonight. But as dinner came and went, unfortunately she was nowhere to be seen. I did happen to have the not so pleasurable experience of seeing Seng, though our parents really seemed to hit it off and I could see the glint in my mothers eye when Seng informed her that we had already met last night.

"What a nice young gentleman." She gushed enthusiastically once we had gone our separate ways. I could see where this was going in her mind and honestly, I was physically repulsed.

I managed to excuse myself from my parents company and went on a quest to find somewhere that I could finally be alone to relax and write in my journal. Eventually, I came across a secluded area on the top deck of the ship. It was probably the coldest point of the boat because there was no shelter from the sea breeze, but I didn't mind too much. I guess that's why no one was here. I settled down on the ground near the ship's railings, stuck in my earphones and flicked my iPod straight to Ed Sheeran. Ed was always my go-to artist to listen to whilst I wrote, it was the perfect combination.

I didn't know how much time had passed but eventually the hand I was writing with began to cramp. I dropped my pen and sat up, deciding I would just admire the view for a while. I looked up expecting to see crashing waves, but instead I was met by the tall girl from last night about a meter away from my face. My heart dropped as I jumped back in fright.

"OH MY G..." I began to shout but my teeth accidentally pierced into my tongue. "OWWW, SHIT" I yelled as hot pain seared though my mouth. The girl in front of me looked startled and confused. It was the waitress from last night.

"I bid mu ton," I tried to explain with my tongue still hanging out of my mouth.

The girl smiled and bit her lip stifling a laugh. "What was that?" She chuckled.

"I bit my tongue." I repeated more clearly. A sudden feeling of embarrassment washed over me now that I realized what a bad second impression I was making on the beautiful waitress. Why couldn't I just be cool for once in my life.

"Let me see." She asked without hesitation. Her reaction caught me off guard, I hesitated before slowly poking my tongue out of my mouth again. My heart skipped a beat as she leaned in a little closer and placed her hand gently under my chin to shift my face towards the direction of the light.

"It looks okay, it's not bleeding or anything." She said sweetly, leaning away, I allowed myself to breath again.

I smiled back and looked down shyly. "Maybe you shouldn't sneak up on people like that, then I wouldn't have almost amputated my own tongue."