12. A Trial by Tide
Waking up on the Ocean Odyssey felt different from waking up anywhere else. There was a rhythm to the ship, an undercurrent of gentle swaying, a quiet hum of machinery that never fully faded. Ruby's first morning on board was marked by that quiet thrum, the low, steady heartbeat of a vessel constantly moving, constantly alive.
Her alarm buzzed softly from the small nightstand beside her bed, and she blinked groggily at the narrow space around her. It took a second for her to remember where she was, this tight, cramped cabin with its stark white walls and minimal decor. It wasn't her apartment. It wasn't her sister's warm, familiar home. It was hers, though, her new home for the next several months.
Across the room, Jada was already awake, sitting cross-legged on her bed with a tablet balanced on her knees. Her short, dark hair was mussed from sleep, but her eyes were bright and focused. She glanced up, grinning when she saw Ruby's bleary-eyed expression.
~ Jada: "Morning, sunshine. How'd you sleep?"
Ruby sat up slowly, pushing tangled red hair from her face.
~ Ruby: "Honestly? I kept waking up thinking I'd tip out of bed and roll across the room."
Jada: "Give it a few days. Your body will adjust. You'll get your sea legs soon enough." she laughed, her voice warm and easy.
The redhead glanced around their shared cabin, taking in the cramped, cluttered space. Jada's side was already marked with signs of her personality: a small string of fairy lights taped above her bed, a collage of postcards tacked to the wall, a tiny potted succulent sitting precariously on the corner of the desk.
Her own side still felt bare, sterile: a suitcase tucked under the bed, a half-unpacked duffel bag at her feet. It didn't feel like hers yet, but she supposed it would, eventually.
~ Jada: "You nervous about your first real shift?"
~ Ruby: "Absolutely. I feel like I've already forgotten half of what they taught us yesterday." she exhaled, a wry smile curving her lips.
~ Jada: "Oh, same. Don't worry, though. We'll figure it out. The first week is a mess for everyone."
That helped, a reminder that she wasn't alone in the overwhelm. That everyone else was navigating this chaotic, unfamiliar world too.
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🛳️ 🛳️
🛥️ 🛥️
⛴️ 𝑵𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓 ⛴️
🚢 🚢
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Breakfast for the crew was served in the staff mess hall, an unremarkable space on Deck 3 with long, cafeteria-style tables and the lingering scent of coffee and toast. The room was filled with people, crew members in different uniforms, all moving quickly, chattering in multiple languages. Ruby caught snippets of conversation: plans for shore leave, complaints about long shifts, jokes exchanged in tired, teasing tones.
The two young woman lined up for breakfast, trays in hand. The options were simple: scrambled eggs, toast, watery coffee, and fruit. Ruby piled her plate absently, still trying to take everything in.
As they sat down, Jada nudged her elbow.
~ Jada: "So, what do you think? Living the dream yet?"
The redhead laughed softly, glancing around. The air was thick with the energy of so many people moving quickly, everyone with somewhere to be. The clinking of cutlery, the shuffle of trays, the low murmur of conversation. It all buzzed around her.
~ Ruby: "It's... a lot. I think I'm still processing."
~ Jada: "That's fair. At least you have me to remind you to breathe."
They exchange during the whole breakfast. After they finished eating, Ruby returned in her cabin to get dressed. As she pulled on her uniform and ran a brush through her tangled red hair, she tried to shake off the nerves.
She reminded herself that this was what she had wanted: a chance to be part of something vibrant, to make people smile, to create moments that guests would carry home as memories. But when she arrived for her shift, the plan took a sharp turn.
Carla greeted her with a smile, but there was a small apologetic tilt to it.
~ Carla: "Hey, Ruby! Change of plans today. I know you're excited to dive into activities, but we need you to spend your first day shadowing at guest services. It's just a way to understand what guests might need and what kind of issues they face. Gives you a better sense of what to expect."
The redhead blinked, her heart sinking slightly. The bright, lively atmosphere she had envisioned for today, the poolside games, the energetic crowd felt like it slipped through her fingers.
~ Ruby: "Oh...okay. Sure, that makes sense."
~ Carla: "Don't worry, it's just for today. I promise tomorrow you'll be poolside and ready to get guests doing ridiculous dance-offs." she smile widened, encouraging.
The redhead managed a laugh, but the nerves twisted tighter. She made her way to the guest services desk, where she met Benjamin and the rest of the guest services team. It was an abrupt shift from what she had anticipated, trading games and laughter for reservation systems and managing complaints.
But she reminded herself that this was part of the experience. If she was going to help create joy for guests, she needed to understand what could disrupt it too.
She stood behind the desk, her hands folded nervously, her gaze darting from the computer screen to the guests milling about. The sleek, dark wood of the desk felt cool beneath her fingertips, a stark contrast to the heat prickling her skin. Her uniform felt stiffer, more constricting, a costume she wasn't sure she belonged in.
Benjamin stood beside her, his demeanor relaxed but attentive. He had taken the time to review the basics: how to navigate the computer system, how to access guest information, the most common questions they would be asked. Ruby had absorbed what she could, but now, faced with the real task, her mind buzzed, the details blurring and slipping through her grasp.
~ Benjamin "Okay, Ruby. Remember, you're the face of guest services. Just stay calm, stay composed. If you need help, I'm right here."
His reassurance should have soothed her, but it only made the pressure feel sharper. She was the face of guest services, a representative of this floating, luxurious city and she had no idea if she was capable of it.
The first guests approached, a young couple wearing sun hats and carrying glossy brochures. The redhead straightened instinctively, pasting on a smile that she hoped looked confident.
~ Guest: "Hi! We're just wondering if you could tell us when the snorkeling excursion leaves tomorrow?"
Ruby's mind spun, searching for the answer. She glanced quickly at the screen, scanning through the itinerary list. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, uncertain, the letters blurring together.
~ Ruby: "Sure! Just a moment."
Her voice wavered, thin and uncertain. She found the right tab and scrolled quickly, the tension in her shoulders tightening. The departure time stared back at her, and she exhaled in relief.
~ Ruby: "It leaves at 9:30 a.m. from the main deck. If you're already signed up, you just need to check in about fifteen minutes before."
The couple smiled, thanked her, and wandered off. It was a simple exchange, one she had been prepared for but her heart still pounded. She glanced at Benjamin, who gave her a nod of approval, and her shoulders relaxed just slightly.
Then came a steady stream of guests, an older woman with questions about dinner reservations, a family wondering about the kids' club schedule, a man frustrated about his Wi-Fi access. Each interaction was a small test, each question a chance to fail.
Her mind was a constant hum, cycling through the protocols that had been taught to her yesterday: "Smile, stay composed, don't say you don't know". The weight of expectation pressed down on her, a pressure that felt physical.
Some guests were patient, understanding of her hesitant answers, of her brief, uncertain pauses. Others were less forgiving, irritated, impatient, their impatience visible in the way their brows furrowed, their arms folded.
A middle-aged man with graying hair approached the desk, his expression strained.
~ Guest: "I've been calling room service for half an hour, and no one is picking up. Is there actually any service on this ship, or is it all just for show?"
The young woman's heart jolted, her mind racing. She had no idea what to say, no idea how to address the situation. Her fingers twitched on the keyboard, her eyes darting to Benjamin.
~ Ruby: "I'm really sorry about that, sir. Let me see if I can get someone to assist you."
her voice was thin, uncertain
~ Guest: "I'm not interested in apologies. I just want my order taken. Is that too much to ask?" the man's frown deepened, his irritation sharpening
The panic clawed at her throat, her heart hammering. Benjamin's gaze caught hers, a quiet reassurance, and he stepped in smoothly.
~ Benjamin: "I'm so sorry, sir. We'll take care of it immediately. Ruby, can you give the service desk a call and let them know the issue?"
She nodded quickly, reaching for the phone with trembling hands. Her fingers stumbled over the buttons, but the call went through. Her voice was unsteady as she explained the situation, glancing nervously at the guest, whose impatience radiated from his rigid posture.
When the call ended, the guest offered a curt nod and walked away, the tension hanging heavily in his wake. Ruby's cheeks burned, her pulse roaring in her ears.
~ Benjamin : "Hey. Breathe. That's probably the worst you'll get today." he leaned over, his voice low and steady.
She managed a shaky smile, but the doubt gnawed at her. What if she couldn't handle this? What if every mistake confirmed that she wasn't cut out for this job, that she was a fraud who had no right to be here?
The hours bled together, question after question, the same anxious panic every time a new face approached the desk. Directions to restaurants, complaints about cabin noise, confusion over daily schedules. Some moments were manageable, others felt impossible, like she was just one mistake away from unraveling completely. There were moments when Benjamin had to step in, his calm authority smoothing over her stumbles.
By the end of her shift, her feet ached, her head pounded, and her nerves were frayed. Her mind felt heavy, worn from the constant effort of staying composed.
As the final guest drifted away from the desk, Benjamin leaned back against the counter, his expression easy but observant.
~ Benjamin: "Rough first day, huh?"
The redhead exhaled shakily, her hands still trembling slightly.
~ Ruby: "I thought I'd be more prepared. I thought... I don't know. I thought I could handle it better."
Benjamin's expression softened, a small, knowing smile on his face.
~ Benjamin : "You handled it fine, Ruby. Everyone struggles at first. I've been here four years, and I still get guests who throw me off."
Her shoulders relaxed, the weight of the day easing slightly. It was comforting to know that even someone as composed as Benjamin had struggled once, that she wasn't the only one.
By the time Ruby made it back to her cabin, her legs felt like they were made of stone. The long, narrow hallways of the crew quarters seemed to stretch endlessly, each identical door blurring into the next. She almost passed by her own cabin, her mind hazy from exhaustion. But Jada's voice called out from inside.
~ Jada: "Ruby!!! It's here." she chucked. "I'm exhausted."
Ruby: "Same. I thought I was going to pass out halfway through." she let out a tired laugh, the sound thin but genuine.
~ Jada: "But we survived. Barely, but we did."
In that moment, Ruby felt a flicker of pride, small, fragile, but real. She had survived her first shift. She had stumbled, fumbled, nearly crumbled, but she hadn't given up.
And that was something.
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🛳️ 🛳️
🛥️ 🛥️
⛴️ 𝑵𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓 ⛴️
🚢 🚢
⛴️ ⛴️
🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️
After Jada left for a late dinner with a few other crew members, Ruby sank onto her bed, the thin mattress creaking beneath her. Her phone rested beside her pillow, the screen lighting up with notifications she had ignored all day.
Her gaze lingered on Natalie's name in her recent calls. The familiar ache of homesickness pulsed through her chest, and she swiped to start a video call before she could second-guess it.
It only rang twice before her sister's face appeared on the screen, her hair pulled back in a loose, messy bun. She was in her kitchen, Ruby could tell from the warm, golden light of the pendant lamps and the familiar framed photos on the wall behind her.
~ Natalie: "Hey, sailor! How's life on the high seas?"
Ruby let out a weak, breathless laugh, the weight of the day crashing over her now that she had a safe place to release it.
~ Ruby: "Oh my God, Nat. I don't know what I'm doing."
Natalie's smile softened, the corners of her eyes crinkling in that familiar, comforting way.
~ Natalie: "That's okay. No one does on their first day. How was it, really?"
The redhead ran a hand through her tangled hair, fingers catching in the knots.
~ Ruby: "Overwhelming. There were so many people, like, actual people, with real problems and questions, and I had no idea what to say half the time. I thought I'd just be doing activities and events, but they put me on the guest services desk for today to get a sense of it all."
~ Natalie: "Guest services? Wow. That sounds... intense." her eyebrows lifted.
~ Ruby: "Yeah, it was. I had this one guy just glaring at me because room service wasn't answering his calls. I had no idea what to do, I just stared at him like an idiot until Benjamin bailed me out." she laugh was sharp, bitter.
Her sister's expression softened, the empathy warm and unfiltered.
~ Natalie: "Hey, you got through it. That's what matters. It's your first day, you're allowed to stumble. That's part of learning."
Her green eyes stung, the weight of her exhaustion pressing against her ribs. Hearing it from Natalie, the person she admired most, made the experience feel less like a failure and more like a difficult, inevitable step forward.
~ Ruby: "I just... I don't know. I've been so excited to finally be here, and I was so sure this would be it, the big adventure. But it was just... hard. Really hard."
Natalie's gaze held steady, the screen a fragile but steady connection.
~ Natalie: "It will be hard, Rubes. You're doing something completely new, completely out of your comfort zone. That's never easy. But you're also growing. You're doing something most people would be too scared to do. That counts for a lot."
The truth of it settled over her, a hesitant warmth beneath the exhaustion. She had been so scared, but she had still shown up.
~ Ruby: "Yeah, I guess. I just don't want to mess this up."
Natalie: "You won't. And besides, isn't tomorrow your first real day doing what you actually signed up for? Activities, events, all that fun stuff?" she smile widened gently.
~ Ruby: "Yeah. That's the plan. I'm supposed to help with pool games in the morning and then some kind of trivia night later."
~ Natalie: "That sounds like a blast! You're going to be great at it, Rubes. You've always been good with people."
The redhead's lips curved into a small, hopeful smile. She let herself believe her sister's words, let the idea of tomorrow feel like a possibility instead of a threat.
~ Ruby: "I hope so. I really do."
Natalie's gaze softened, and for a moment, there was just the sound of Isla's giggles echoing faintly from another room. The ache of homesickness swelled in Ruby's chest, but it was less sharp, less isolating.
~ Natalie: "I'm proud of you, you know. For all of this. For taking the risk, for trying."
~ Ruby: "Thanks, Nat. I needed to hear that."
~ Natalie: "Anytime, sailor. Just don't get too seasick out there."
The younger woman laughed, a sound that felt lighter, more genuine. The tension in her shoulders eased, the tightness in her chest loosening.
When they finally ended the call, she lay back on her bed, staring at the porthole above Jada's side. The dark sea stretched endlessly beyond it, an expanse of possibility and fear.
Tomorrow would be a new start, a day closer to what she had imagined when she applied for this job. A chance to actually step into the role she had dreamed of a role where she could connect with people, create moments of joy, be part of something bigger.