AMA-Con: The Compilation

One Direction

Written by: @Trulee90

Prompts: Waiter Alden - Traveler Maine ,Introvert Alden – Extrovert Maine ,Unrequited Love, Amnesia

Prompt by: @AngelPazzzz

***

Richard loosened his bowtie as he breathed in the refreshing, salty sea air, his other hand holding on to the upper promenade deck's railing. It's two in the morning and his shift is, thankfully, over. He always loved going here after work, relishing the cool breeze and the serene, blue waters this time of day. It makes him feel relaxed after the long, back-breaking hours of waitering through the night.

Not that he complains. The pay is good, plus the tips. In fact, it's more than he could hope for. In all his six months of working in this mid-sized ship offering Carribean cruises for the rich and wealthy, he had saved more than enough. Most of all, he'd always loved the sea. . . its mysterious, enigmatic, abysmal quietude. . . much like himself.

His jaws clenched though, as he thought of how this particular seven-day cruise that's about to end tomorrow had been more exhausting than the usual trips in the past. . . not to mention frustrating and disheartening.

Startled, he turned as he heard voices a few feet away from him, followed by retching sounds. He started to walk to the other direction, but one of the voices, a girl, called him.

"Waiter! Please, come help us!"

Inwardly, Richard cursed. He forgot to take off his waiter's vest. Ignoring a customer's call could mean a complaint and its accompanying suspension and he doesn't need it now, not when this cruise is the last in his contract. He slowly turned back and walked toward the two women still wearing their party dresses.

The woman who called him has her back to him, assisting her friend who was vomiting on the floor. When Richard approached, she lifted her face.

"Oh. . . You. Sorry. . ." she said, hesitantly, when she saw him.

He frowned.

"What's the problem?" he asked gruffly.

"I. . . I think she had too much to drink."

At that moment, her friend stood up, wiping her mouth with her hand. She was clearly very intoxicated.

"Oh, wow! Valeen, this is. . . hic! . . . my lucky day! The hot, handsome waiter. . . you're matching me with," the girl said, in between hiccups.

"You're drunk," he stated.

"Maine. . . hic!" she furnished her name without him asking. "The name's Maine. . . remember that," wagging her finger at him.

"You're very drunk, Maine," he quipped, grimly.

Valeen interrupted.

"Errr. . . can you please take her to her room? Here's her keycard, and please have her drink this cranberry juice. I have to pay for our drinks back at the bar," turning to walk away without waiting for his answer.

"Wait! Don't leave!" Richard called after her, but to no avail. She was already gone.

Suddenly, Maine clasped his arm as another round of vomit threatened to come out. With an angry scowl, he made her bend down to her waist and let her throw up on the deck floor, his hand on her back.

Afterwards, weak and drained, she rested her back to his chest, her head snuggling in his neck as she drank her cranberry juice.

He told her tensely, "C'mon, I'll take you to your room."