Tristan keyed himself into their room. If you’ve ever seen a cruise stateroom you know they aren’t very big. Nonetheless, it’s pretty grand, just the thought. Tristan ran in and flopped on one of the beds.
Leah was the second one in the room and she was already shaking her head at Twist. “No, don’t think so. Joey and I get the beds over here, you and Roy are getting the bunk bed.” He was already aware of this information as it had been decided awhile ago. However, the bed they had decided to be his, the bottom bunk, was currently the resting place for a luggage mat and their four suitcases.
Joey and Roy followed them in and looked around. They walked through a short, narrow entryway. Joey tried each door. Wardrobes and the bathroom.
They continued into the room which opened up to a space that held the beds, a night stand, and a piece of furniture that had multiple functions including a small vanity and dresser drawers.
All the beds were Twin size mattresses. The bunk bed was pushed with its side up against the wall. The top bunk was lowered down out of the ceiling though, rather than mounted from the floor like usual.
Tristan was too distracted with getting the suitcases off his bed to notice the balcony yet. Joey, however, headed straight to it. The door was glass but even so, you couldn’t compare the view through a window with the one you got standing out in the fresh air and sound of the ocean.
“Mom says to unpack and then get ready for dinner.” Roy said, as he stepped out on the balcony. There was a moment where you could hear Tristan and Leah arguing before Roy shut the door behind him. “Does the view make up for not being able to bring your computer?” He knew Joey had been a bit apprehensive about leaving his laptop behind. More so than he usually would be. Roy had a theory as to why but he didn’t say anything about it.
Joey shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet.” He said, glancing at his younger and much shorter brother.
“You can probably pick up wi-fi on your phone on one of the islands if you wanted to check anything.” Roy said, ‘or anyone.’ he added in his thoughts.
With a nod Joey turned to head inside. “We better hurry up and get ready before mom starts stressing out.” Roy followed him inside, Joey was rarely that void of words. Obviously, there was something up.
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“Tristan, you could’ve at least sorta folded your nice clothes.” Maria said with a sigh as they walked to the dining room. The boys all wore either nice skinny jeans or khakis. James and Roy wore long sleeve button ups, while Joey wore a polo. Tristan on the other hand wore a wrinkled solid color v-neck. Maria and Leah both wore casual skirts and nice tops.
Tristan was too distracted by their arrival at the dining room to respond. The space was so elegant, from the chandeliers to the fine china.
The hostess Asked how many then sat them at a round table together. Leah was already not getting along with Tristan for the night so Roy strategically didn’t sit between them, instead he let Joey take that spot. He sat on the other side of Leah and beside James. They were each handed a menu and told their waiter would be with them shortly.
An assistant waiter came by first and introduced himself before getting them their drinks. James and Maria both had wine, Joey had soda, Tristan had lemonade, and Leah and Roy had water.
Everything went peacefully for awhile: meeting their waiter, ordering their food, eating their starters and entrees, but then came dessert. Everyone, minus Roy, ordered a dessert. His stomach wasn’t feeling up to anymore food.
It arrived and Tristan was ecstatic. Chocolate cake! With ice cream!! He took a spoonful out of it and the inside was gooey fudge.
“Whoa! Joey! Do you see this?!” He flung the spoon towards Joey and the cake went flying to hit none other than Leah.
Her eyes went wide, and then filled with rage. “Tristan Lee! What the heck was that?!” She reached across Joey to take his spoon away but in the process she tipped over Joey’s soda and it splashed over both the boys and herself.
This just created more chaos. Maria and James, along with a waiter joined in as well. The parents trying to calm the situation, the waiter trying to keep the mess controlled. When it was all said and done, Leah had both Tristan and Joey’s dessert on her, Tristan had Leah’s dessert and water, everyone had some person or another’s drink dripping from them, and the Penningtons were being asked to leave the dining room.
It wasn’t until they were almost to their room that they realized something was missing.
“Where’s Roy?” Maria asked, already rather perturbed. Now to have even her good child disappearing. Obviously, it wasn’t a good night for her.
James looked confused. “I haven’t seen him since sometime during that fiasco.” He said as he glanced around.
Maria shook her head. “Whatever, I’m going back to the room and getting cleaned up. He’ll find his way back.”
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Maria was still lecturing her kids when they reached the rooms. James had to stop her from following them into their room. Joey gave him a thankful look and hurried the twins inside before his mom could turn back around.
They stepped into the room and right away they could all hear it. Someone was throwing up in the bathroom.
Leah frowned and knocked on the door. “Roy?” Before she could even say the name Joey had moved to the other side of the room and made it out onto the balcony. While he didn’t get motion sick, the sound or sight of someone throwing up was not something he could handle.
Roy didn’t respond at first. It was a few moments before his stomach was finally empty. At least he hoped so. “You guys get kicked out?” He asked after a deep breath. He hit the button to flush the toilet and grabbed a kleenex to wipe his mouth.
Leah rolled her eyes and opened the bathroom door. “Do you want me to find you some seasickness medicine? We have ginger capsules too.” According to their mom, they were a non-medicine way of alleviating motion sickness.
He seemed to think about it for a second before getting distracted. “Geez, you guys need to be retaught that food is for eating, not wearing.” He said, forgetting that she asked a question.
Leah made an angry motion that caused him to flinch as he stood to his feet. His light headedness was obvious but Leah made no move to help him after his comment. He grabbed onto the counter as she asked her question for a second time. The fact he was getting distracted that easily made his answer insignificant. She was going to get him medicine either way.
“I think I’m just going to go down a few floors to hang out.” He replied as he made his way out of the bathroom. His thought process led him to think that he would feel better if he went and hung out in the peaceful library.
This time Leah stopped him from falling. “Tristan, go and get some medicine for Roy from mom. Quickly.” She knew he could do quick, just as long as he didn’t get distracted.
Tristan saluted. “Yes, ma’am.” He ran out of the room.
Roy was trying to push away from Leah, gagging as he did. “Go.” Cough. “Change.” The mixture of food smells was making him sick again. His stomach was empty but that was going to stop it from having a fit.
Leah rolled her eyes but understood. “Lay down first.” She said, helping him to the bottom bunk. There was no easy way to get him into his bed on the top.
She made sure he was at least sitting before she left him alone to change into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
By the time she was done changing Tristan was back, trying to get the medicine bottle open. Roy kept telling him he could get it but Tristan was refusing. He was determined to be the big brother and be helpful.
Leah shook her head and snatched the bottle from his hand to open it herself.
Tristan gave her a look of complete shock that quickly turned to utter disappointment. “Leahhhh! I was doing thaaat!”
Leah sighed heavily. “Go get a glass of water if you want to help.” She continued with mumbles of annoyance with him under her breath.
“Okay!!” He ran off to the bathroom, and by ran, I mean more like, made four really quick steps. That’s about how far it was from the bunk bed to the bathroom door.
Roy had laid down by now. He looked up at Leah. “You could be a little nicer to him. He’s annoying as heck but he’s doesn’t purpose to be a pain. If he’s bugging you, just leave.”
Leah gave Roy once of her signature ‘You’re an idiot’ looks. “I have been trapped in the same room as him for most of the last 36 hours.”
Before Roy could answer Tristan came bounding out of the bathroom. Water splashed all over the place. In the short distance Twist had to travel he managed to spill three quarters of the water. “Here you go!”
Leah took the water, the glass was soaked but she ignored that as she made Roy sit up and take it the medicine.
Roy tossed the pill into his mouth and downed it with the single drink of water left in the cup. “Thank you.” He said to both of them.
Leah nodded. “You should probably sleep down here tonight.” She said, she didn’t want him to get sick and be on the top bunk. The thought itself was disgusting.
“That’s okay! I’ll sleep on the top!” Tristan smiled.
“You can tell Joey it’s safe now.” Roy said as he stood. Leah stepped forward to stop him and Tristan hopped off to inform Joey he could come inside. Roy waved Leah off. “I’m fine. I just want to change into pajamas.” He was still in khakis and a button up.
Leah backed off slightly, but didn’t turn to go get Joey until Roy was in the bathroom to change. She knew Joey wouldn’t believe Tristan that it was safe.
Once Roy was safely in bed and sleeping Leah and the two boys went out to look around until they got tired. They had found a candy shop, mini golf, a track and sports area, a few good looking places to get food, and several other forms of entertainment.
When they came back to the room to sleep, Tristan was out in minutes. Sleeping soundly after a long and exciting day.
Leah took a shower and then hopped into bed. Joey was the last one to fall asleep, wishing he had phone service.
echoinkk 