So, this is a Titanic Christmas story. I know there it is a long way to go before Christmas, but think of it as a mid-winter story. Another reason why I'm writing this now is because I wanted to write a series with my friend Olivia. Hope you like it, even if it isn't Christmas yet.
Chapter One- My House
Sapphire's POV
I was delighted to see that December the first was a beautiful sunny day, and even more delighted that my parents had invited my closest school friend Olivia Wild to spend the entire weekend with me. I was a little apprehensive as well, because I wasn't entirely sure how she would react to the grandeur of my family home.
Finishing off the last little bit of decorating my room for Christmas, which I had started the night before, I stood back and admired my handiwork. I had tastefully pinned blue and silver tinsel around the perimeter of my windows, placed a small Nativity set on my bedside table, and hung silver bells on hooks that normally held photographs. The photographs themselves were leaning against the walls, and I had also put up a small silver Christmas tree that was two and a half tall, fully decorated.
But it must be understood that this bedroom of mine was in the house that everybody thought was our house. You see, my family were insanely rich, but not everybody knew that. So, in order to keep up the pretense that my family was middle class, we owned a small cottage on the outskirts of a great big forest. However, our first class house was located within the forest, and it was something to behold.
With another smile, I decided to enjoy the sunshine outside until Olivia arrived. I was wearing a light green dress with black flats, which my mother had bought me for my fourteenth birthday.
I didn't have to wait for long, as my closest friend Olivia arrived. Her outfit was a beautiful silver skirt, a plain, light blue t-shirt, and black flats. Her curly blonde with dark roots was tied back in a ponytail, with ringlets on either side, and her blue eyes were shinning with excitement.
"Hey, Sapphire," she smiled warmly, and gave me a hug. "It was very nice of your parents to let me come over for the weekend.
"Hello, Olivia," I smiled back. "Were going to have a great time this weekend, you can be sure of that," I promised, and led her towards the house, passing through a well-kept garden. My mother made sure that the lawns were tidy, and, being the big horticulturist that she is, she grew yellow, magenta, blue, red, purple, and pink roses, as well as daises, buttercups, and lavender.
"What a lovely house," she smiled, and I shook my head with a laugh.
"This is nothing, just wait till you see what I have wanted to show you for a very long time," I said, and led her into my parents bedroom.
"Is this your room?" She asked in surprise.
"Of course not, it's just the location of my big surprise," I said, and opened the door of the wardrobe, which had a false back. I pulled the false back aside, revealing a steep, dark, tunnel.
"Right, hop in," I said, and she looked confused.
"Just do it," I encouraged, and she did so.
"Wait for me," I said, as she slid down. I waited ten seconds before sliding down myself.
Once we had both reached the bottom, there was a giant silver door in front of us. Olivia looked around in confusion, and asked, "Is this where you live?"
"Not in here, no," I said, pulling out a silver chain from around my neck, and on it was a silver key, which I then proceeded to fit into the lock of the door. With a grin, I turned to Olivia and said, "This is where I live."
Olivia POV
What I was expecting, I honestly didn't know. But never in my wildest dreams was I even seeing this. The door opened to reveal a very grand lobby in a hotel. The cellings had intricate desings, there were chandeliers made from diamond, or at the very least, crystal, the staircases reminded me of the Grand Staircase from Titanic, and there were hundreds of staff members milling about. Also, it was fully decorated for Christmas, with decorations everywhere.
I was stunned into silence; this place was amazing.
Sapphire grinned at my astonished look, and said, "What do you think?"
I searched my brain for words, and finally stuttered, "There are no words that could do this house justice. It's amazing!"
She smiled warmly, and just then a man in a uniform walked over to her.
"Welcome back, Miss Stone," he said, and held out a platter laden with two glasses of iced chocolate. "Would you and your friend care for a cold drink?"
The words had no sooner left his mouth when there came an almighty crack of thunder, and I grinned.
"Yes, please," I said, accepting a glass, while Sapphire took the other.
"So, what do you want to do first? We could swim, make an audio book, work out in the gym, watch films in our own private movie theater, visit the library, plant flowers in the greenhouse, make an artwork out of wood in our own woodwork shed, and a host of other things, too," she said, and I was intrigued by all of those ideas. However, I was most intrigued by the idea of a private movie theater, so, after we had finished our drinks, and gave them back to the butler, whose name was Henry, Sapphire and I headed over to a row of elevators that I hadn't yet noticed.
We climbed into one that had a Christmas banner reading "Merry Christmas," and were off when she pushed the "2" button.
When we reached the second floor, I noticed a library, and four private movie theaters.
"Why so many private movie theaters?" I asked.
"Well, there's three for my siblings and myself, and one for my parents, too," she said, and opened the door to the first movie theater. It was decorated very nicely for Christmas, with strings of popcorn hanging up, baubles, straws fashioned into the shapes of stars, and a Christmas tree decorated with popcorn and decorations.
"This is beautiful," I said happily, just as a side door opened, and in walked a man wearing a red and white stripped top, and black pants.
"Good Morning, Miss Stone, " he smiled, and then added, "And Miss Stone's friend."
"Hello, Harry. Could we watch a movie, please?" She asked.
"Titanic," I said quickly.
Harry smiled and nodded. "Of course. Please take a seat, and your feature film will begin presently," he said, before heading out of the room.
The private movie theater was a dream. There were only four seats, and each seat had its own buttons which controlled different things. One gave you a back massage, another warmed the seat in winter, one turned on the air conditioning unit, and the other opened a compartment which held food and drink.
The seats had lovely green cushions, and they were very comfortable to sit on.
Five minutes later, we were immersed in the love story of Jack and Rose, with popcorn and chocolate milkshakes
PAGE BREAK
Sapphire's POV
Surrounding the Titanic's Grand Staircase, passengers and maids waved and smiled as the unseen figure passed them, intent on one location. Among them were Fabrizio, Helga, Tommy, Trudy, and little Cora, who was in her father's arms. Others also smiled and waved, and as she reached the foot of the staircase, the ship's builder, Thomas Andrews, and the First Officer, William McMaster Murdoch, grinned broadly as she climbed, the figure ahead gazing at the clock. He turned, and there, not having changed in eighty four years, clad in suspenders, shirt, and trousers, was Jack Dawson, smiling at the figure that was the seventeen year old Rose Dawson, clad in a pure white dress, her hair like a stream of rubies, the Heart of the Ocean around her neck, and a broad smile on her face.
She took Jack's hand, and enveloped him in a loving kiss, to much delighted clapping from those around them...
"Isn't that a nice ending?" I asked Olivia. She nodded, tears in her eyes.
"I can never watch the whole thing, but thank you anyway. Yes, it is rather a nice ending," she agreed, as the credits began to appear on screen, and Celine Dion began singing. "However, I wonder what the Titanic could have gone on to be if it hadn't sank."
I smiled. "You're not the first person to ponder that particular thought, and you certainly won't be the last either. But, for starters, there probably wouldn't be a big blockbuster hit, and the people of Dalbeattie would've been fine with that."
Olivia was just about to ask what I meant, when a jovial voice said, "I also would've been fine with that." We turned to see my mother, Ariana, smiling at them and wearing golden bell-shaped earrings, which she only wore in December.
"Want to help me get the house in the Christmas spirit?" She inquired, and we grinned. There were still a few places left to be decorated. We started in my bedroom, and then the library. When we finished in the library, it looked absolutely amazing. There was a twelve foot tall emerald Christmas Tree was covered in bells, stars, presents, Santa Clause's, angels, eggs (a custom in Hungary, where my grandparents had once lived), and a golden Eiffel Tower.
Huge statues of Father Christmas were placed on either side of the tree, and either side of the seat windows. Two angels hung merrily from the ceiling, spread a fair distance apart from each other, holding a banner that read, "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace, and goodwill to all men." Decorations with words, such as "Noel," "Jesus is the Reason for the Season," and "Merry Christmas," were hung in doorways, as were sprigs of fake mistletoe.
"We don't to have kiss each other, do we?" Olivia asked, as she held a step-ladder steady for me whilst I stuck some mistletoe to the doorway with blu-tack.
"Certainly not. The boys can shake each other's hands, and us girls can hug. That's just a rule for a guy and a girl, but that should only apply to married couples." I said, climbing down, and admiring my handiwork.
Olivia smiled and glanced over at the staircase leading to the lower floors, where long strands of red tinsel were wrapped tastefully around the handrails and the rails that supported them.
"You do have a rather artistic flair, don't you?" She added, grinning.
I, on the other hand, wasn't paying attention. Instead, my eyes were fixed on a map of Scotland, a smile on my face as I spotted familiar towns names.
"Hey, there's that Dalbeattie place you were talking about earlier when we were watching Titanic." Olivia pointed to the map, and asked, "So, why would they have been happier without it?"
"Because of the portrayal of William Murdoch in the movie. They were furious about it, saying that he would never have killed anyone and that he was, in fact, a hero, which I believe, and so did the rather dashing actor who portrayed him."
Olivia smirked. "Celebrity crush, eh? What's his name?"
I grinned. "Andrew, and my mum has never liked the movie, which is why I don't watch it very often. The funny thing is, she says it never happened that way, almost as if it was a true story." I said, looking thoughtfully around, and added, "I wonder what Christmas would have been like on the ship if it were still sailing today."
AN: And that's my first chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Also, although the actor's first name is Andrew, he is known by the name Ewan Stewart, and I own nothing but my characters, my laptop, and my brain. And also: Remember what's important is your level of talent, not whether that talent brings recognition.
A quote from the aforementioned actor. More to come very soon.
