If this wasn't the life, Christine didn't know what was. That Rohini was right though, sooner or later she'd have to confront her family and iron out their differences, they were getting nowhere at this rate and if she allowed it to continue, the entire trip would pass without a single thing having been resolved, or at the very least discussed.
Feeling somewhat invigorated by the advice, however spontaneous it was, Christine had decided to arrange a family meeting for tomorrow; no more hiding, it was time to put all their problems on the table.
Rachel sat at the American diner style restaurant alongside Lori, flicking through her phone and making use of the hour of paid Wi-Fi she had available to catch up with Jeremy and Terri. Wi-Fi certainly wasn't cheap, in fact it was downright extortionate, but what other choice did she have in the middle of the ocean.
“Are you planning to eat those?” Lori asked, pointing towards Rachel’s curly fries.
Rachel gave her a disapproving look from the corner of her eye and went back to her phone.
“Go on, take them”.
“What was that look for?”
“I'm pretty sure your stomach is bottomless”.
“I'm hungry, what can I say. Can you blame me after last night?”
“Take some personal accountability, you were much of the reason last night happened”.
“Don't act as though you didn't have a great time, don’t think I didn’t see you twerking on the dance floor”.
“Me? Twerking? Never!”
“Oh hell yeah, with my own two good eyes I saw it, your ass was indeed moving in a way that constitutes twerking”.
“God… I must have been pretty gone last night”.
“I didn't say it. What's going on back home?”
“Not much. Group chat, Terri’s boyfriend moved in, Jeremy is fussing over the proposal to his girlfriend, Terri told him to calm the fuck down, ooh and he got his diploma”.
“Oh really? Tell him congratulations for me”.
“Will do”, Rachel replied, grabbing a chip and popping it into her mouth.
“Toilet run”, Lori declared and slid off of her seat.
A woman pulled up to and leaned against the take-away counter on the opposite side of Rachel and ordered a meal, before becoming oddly fascinated by Rachel.
“Hey, I know you, you were the one trying to break-dance last night”, she blurted out. Rachel wasn't initially sure who this woman was talking to, but her gaze towards her made it apparent.
“Me?” Rachel replied.
“Yeah you, who else?”
“Sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else, I don't break-dance”.
“Notice how I worded the sentence, trying to”. She laughed.
“I don't think that was me”.
“Oh no it was definitely you and no judgement, you looked pretty drunk. You couldn't break-dance for shit, but I love people who just want to enjoy themselves and don't give a shit who's watching”.
“Erm…”
“I apologise, that was out of the blue, I'm Wendy. I was at the same club as you last night and saw you getting down with who I think was yours and two male friends”.
Rachel’s curiosity was sparked. She turned towards Wendy.
“Oh? How do you know those two weren't our boyfriends?”
“Bullshit. I know what I saw and there was no chemistry between you two and those two, the only chemistry between you and them that I saw was the spontaneous combustion of your attempts to impress them with your moves on the dance floor”.
“Very funny”, Rachel replied, “You should be a comedian”.
“I'm sorry, I'm in a silly mood today. What's your name?”
“Rachel and my girlfriend's name is Lori, she's just popped to the toilet”.
“Ah, I see. So what brings you two fine movers aboard the MS Heaven of the Seas?”
“Pleasure and relaxation”.
“Couple or party?” She asked, picking up her order.
“Unfortunately the latter, though fortunately you would never guess it based on how cold we've been towards each other since we've gotten onto the ship, not that our relationship basked in the heat of the Sahara to begin with”.
“Sorry to hear that. Well if you two are ever up for partying with me and some other friends, our cabin number is twenty twenty, bell us on the cabin phones or just come a-knocking”.
“I'll be sure to bear that in mind”.
“Sweet, later”.
“Bye”. Wendy left just as Lori returned.
“Who was that?” She asked.
“It appears I have something of a fan base”.
Rachel and Lori returned to their cabin to find a sticky-note pasted on their door reading ‘Rachel, tomorrow, our cabin, family meeting 12 o’clock sharp. If you don't show, we'll assume you want nothing to do with this family any longer”.
Almost instantly Rachel felt annoyed, her chirpy mood shattered into a thousand little pieces.
“For fuck sake, seriously? Now you want to have a fucking family meeting? To discuss what?” Rachel snapped.
“You should probably give them a chance”, Lori replied.
“Why the fuck are you defending them? They even left you out of it, as though completely disregarding your existence!”
“Well technically I'm not family, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise, calm down”.
“Don't give me that and don't tell me to calm down! They know full well that we are together, a couple, it's all or fucking nothing”.
“Look, getting angry about it isn't going to resolve anything, sleep on it and decide what you want to do tomorrow”.
Rachel went silent, prompting Lori to continue.
“What's the worst they could say? Something not out of the realm of what they've said before? I appreciate the fact you'd want me there, but to be frank with you, I’d rather not be there with your family whilst and if they rip me to pieces. Furthermore, I don't want to prevent sensitive and personal issues from being discussed. Believe it or not, you need this, Rachel, there
