A/N: So yes, I've started a new fic. Let me know what you think!
October 1963
Gainesville, Georgia
Rose slammed her locker shut just as the warning bell rang. Dammit, she thought. If I'm late to class, I'll get detention. It didn't matter that she had remained after algebra to speak with her teacher about her less than stellar test score, or that she had a note from Ms. Hepner. Her English teacher, Mrs. Poi, was a royal bitch as far as Rose was concerned. She turned and ran to the nearest stairwell. Flinging the door open, she crashed right into Jack. Both of their books scattered all over the floor.
"Shit Jack! Sorry, I gotta get to class." She and Jack bent down to pick up their dropped books at the same time.
"Cheering tonight Rosebud?" Rose smiled at the nickname he had called her by since they were six. Cal called her Sweetpea, and she hated it.
"If I make it to class and not get detention. Thanks," she added as Jack handed her one last notebook. "Gotta go." Jack stepped aside as listened as Rose fled up the stairs, hoping that she'd make it.
Jack turned and walked to his locker. He had study hall right now, and the teacher wasn't too strict about the students being on time. Jack had to make it from the science lab on one end of the second floor, all the way to the first floor library, all the way on the other end of the building. Jack grabbed his portfolio, shoved his damned chemistry book in, and slammed the locker shut.
Walking to the library, he smiled to himself. Tonight was the homecoming game of his senior year. He was the star quarterback. The only thing that would make it perfect, other than winning, was if Rose was going with him to the homecoming dance the following night.
Rose however was going to the dance with Caledon Hockley. He, like Jack, was among the top of his classmates, was the star running back, and was very proud to have Rose on his arm. Jack really didn't like Cal, and Cal probably liked him even less.
Cal had always had a distaste for Jack. It started when he discovered that Jack and Rose had been childhood friends. Jack had been adopted when he was four by his Aunt Molly when his parents died. Cal looked down on his not just for that, but also because Molly Brown only had her wealth when she received a large inheritance from a distant relative. Cal's family came from old southern money. But most of all, he was jealous of the closeness Jack and Rose shared.
Jack really didn't care what Cal thought of him. And all Jack needed to know about Cal was that he was an arrogant, ignorant bastard. Lately, Cal had been becoming more cold to Rose, and a little controlling. Jack cared about Rose, and felt protective of her. At first it had been like having a sister, but as they grew up, they grew closer. Jack continued to fall in love with her more and more each day.
...
Rose tapped her pencil against the paper. Try as she might, she couldn't focus on the busy work that Mrs. Poi had assigned. She was too preoccupied with the game tonight.
She ran over the various cheers in her head, happy she'd be able to use them since she made it class right on time. Rose loved cheering, loved climbing to the top of the pyramid. Her small figure enabled her to jump and twist with ease.
But homecoming was the main excitement. She was nominated for homecoming queen, and the tiny, rarely seen greedy part of her wanted to win. Of course if Cal won homecoming king, it wouldn't cut the fun by half. Or all together.
Rose felt her eyes roll thinking of Cal. They'd been dating since they were both freshmen. At first it was great, he was sweet and a perfect gentlemen. Her mother had been thrilled, her father too. But when her dad died shortly before the end of school two years ago, something changed.
Rose recalled the funeral everyday. Jack had been there when she got the news that Jonathan Bukater had been killed in Vietnam. Cal had been in Europe, and suddenly couldn't make time for her. Rose had never really forgiven Cal for not returning to be by her side. Jack on the other hand, never left her side, even sleeping on the floor next her bed, much to her mother's displeasure.
Her mother Ruth had never been thrilled about her childhood friend Jack Dawson, fearful it would blossom into love. Ruth had breathed a sigh of relief when Rose announced that Caledon Hockley had asked her out on a date. As time went on, she grew more and more relieved.
Jack and Rose still spent plenty of time together. They had both been involved with theater since their freshmen year, which allowed them even more time together. She remembered how the kiss they shared during Fiddler on the Roof last spring seemed more than the act it was supposed to be. And she smiled every time she thought of it.
Unfortunately, Rose had a feeling Cal was going to propose over the summer. And she also had a very strong suspicion that her mother would tell her to marry Cal, or to get out of the house. It was only after Jonathan had died that they had learned of his debt to loan sharks. Ruth saw dollar signs when Cal came around, knowing he was beyond wealthy and Rose could hear the wheels in her mother's head turning. And she didn't like it.
Finally, the bell signaling the end of class rang. Relieved, Rose grabbed her English book and went to her locker to grab her purse. Making sure she had her cigarettes and lighter, she walked briskly to the cafeteria. Every day she was thankful that Cal had a different lunch period. Rose grabbed a wrapped submarine sandwich and tucked it in her purse. Confident that everyone was sufficiently distracted by lunch time activities, she snuck to the exit and walked quickly along the building until she reached the woods behind the school.
She grabbed a cigarette from the pack and lit it up. As Rose blew out the smoke, she waited patiently for Jack. If your mother and Cal knew you smoke cigarettes and ate lunch with him in the woods, they'd flip. Rose took another drag, and saw Jack headed toward her. But I don't give a shit.
