I was inspired to write this as of my latest Titanic interest. I just want to say thank you to jawxdropperxeyexpopper whose story helped inspire this story. Okay here we go first chapter.
As I walked forward toward the gangplank I wondered how I could be this lucky. I mean I was headed toward a world famous ship that would take me to a better life. I was finally leaving the drab town of Southhampton.
"You worked hard for this, Claire." I told myself firmly.
I had worked as a maid in the Pirrie home. William Pirrie was the co-owner of the ship. I heard him talking about building this ship for years. When the ship was completed he had come up to me and said "Claire, your birthday is coming up in a month." I had just nodded. "Twenty-one years. That's a big number. You have worked hard for me since you were only a little girl. I have thought about it and I have decided that for your birthday present I am going to give you a passage on the Titanic. You deserve a better life, Claire." Mr. Pirrie had always been a noble man. He had taken me in and given me a shelter when my own mother had put me up for sale. She was a poor woman, my mother, had tried to sell me off to a number of rich people but they all said I was too young to work. Mr. Pirrie heard from one of his rich friends that I was being sold and he took me in, paying a good amount for me.
So, here I was on my way up to the Titanic. I breathed in the sweet scent and hitched up my backpack. I only had my light backpack and my suitcase. The gangplank was hard and sturdy. I presented my first-class ticket and was let aboard. The corridor was lined with a red carpet and opened up to a large hall with the grand staircase at the back. Someone bumped into me from behind. I turned and saw a red haired girl about my age straighten up.
"Would you watch it?" she sneered, looking me up and down.
"Why don't you?" I shot back and hurriedly left before things got too nasty. I walked up the grand staircase and along two more red carpeted corridors. I finally found where I would be staying and put my hand on the brass doorknob. I opened the door to find a lavishly decorated room. It had a bed against one wall, a vanity and gold rimmed mirror against the opposite wall and a wash basin and door to which I could only assume was the washroom against the back wall. I put my bags down next to the door and went to sit on the dark green quilted bed. I laid back and clapped my hands over my face.
This could not be happening. Not only was I on the most extravagant ship, but I was riding first class. I decided to wash up. I had been so excited to get on the ship that I had forgotten to shower. Oops! I opened the door to the washroom to find someone standing in the shower. Without the curtains closed.
"Sorry!" I shrieked as I ran from the washroom closing my eyes and the door along the way. It had been a guy, too. He had just stared too stunned to do anything. Why, oh, why had the shower curtain been opened? Why did I have to forget to shower? Why did I forget that I was sharing the washroom with someone else? I fell onto the bed and tried to shake the rotten image from my mind. About five minutes later the guy came out of the washroom into my room, fully-clothed.
"Are you okay?" he asked me.
"Yeah, sorry I walked in on you. I forgot I was sharing." I explained.
"It's fine. The shower curtain is stuck. I just have to remember to lock both doors next time." He said, smiling. I couldn't help it, I laughed. As I laughed I forgot how embarrassed I was.
"If you tell me your name I'll tell you mine." he asked.
"Claire Lyons."
"Derrick Harrington."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." I said, standing up and walking over to him.
"Same to you." I couldn't help but stare a little. He had the cutest big brown eyes and the messiest hair I had ever seen on a man before. His manners were also grievously flawed and yet it seemed so natural. I watched his eyes, as many emotions flitted through them finally settling on bemused. "You don't look like you belong here."
"Excuse me?" I asked, appalled.
"I just mean that you don't look like a typical first-class passenger."
"You don't look like one either."
"What do you mean?" He asked looking down at his attire. He wore a pair of black slacks and a tan button down.
"Well, you wear your hair natural." I pulled lightly on a lock.
"And that's a bad thing?" He said.
"I never said it was a bad thing."
"Your tone implied it."
"So, why don't I look like I belong here?"
"You have no make up on and no jewelry. Also, you didn't try to kill me for leaving the shower curtain open."
"How do you know that I don't own jewelry or make up?" I demanded
"If you were a typical first-class passenger you would have worn your most expensive jewels so people could admire them." He explained.
"Well, I got here because of hard work, something you rich people cannot appreciate." This boy was beginning to get on my last nerve.
"How do you know that I don't value hard work?"
"Did you know that some people cannot afford to feed their own children let alone be here?"
"Yes, I did know that and you had better stop assuming things about me."
"Or what?"
"Or…or you'll be swimming alongside the ship!"
"Did you just threaten me?"
"I believe I did and what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll tell you what I am going to do. I am going to-" Suddenly there was a huge lurch and I stumbled backward. Derrick reached out to grab me but missed and I landed on my rear end on the floor. I looked up and saw Derrick laughing so hard I thought he might explode.
"You think that's funny do you?" I asked getting up. "Your manners are atrocious. Do you know that?"
"Actually I do." He said after he sobered up.
"Will you please leave? I want to freshen up for dinner."
"Where are you going to eat?" He asked.
"You need to stop sticking your nose in places it doesn't belong. Now, out!" I pointed toward the front door but he left through the washroom door.
With a quick "See you later," he was gone. After a few seconds I went into the washroom, taking extra care to lock both doors and took a shower. I changed into a long white dress. It was nothing special but I loved it. I walked down to dinner in the Great dining hall. I saw Derrick sitting across the room so, I veered left and went to the farthest table away from him. Sitting down, a waiter came over.
"May I take your order?" he asked. I grabbed the menu and saw some mutton.
"I'll have some mutton and a glass of champagne." I told him looking up.
"Alright I'll be right back." He walked away. I looked down at my ragged nails. I started chewing my empty left ring fingernail. Derrick gets on my last nerve. Where did he grow up, his manners are atrocious? Why am I still thinking about him? I took my finger out of my mouth as a couple approached my table.
"May we sit here?"
"Yes, of course." I answered standing up. The girl had really pretty blond hair and she was dressed in a really beautiful gown. It was red silk with diamonds ringing the collar. She was on the arm of a pale boy with jet black hair and in an all black tuxedo except the tie, that was white. I shook each of their hands.
"I'm Kristen and this is my fiancé Griffin."
"I'm Claire." We all sat down and the waiter came back bringing my champagne and mutton with him.
"That's look good. We'll have what she's having. Right, Griff?" Kristen said when the waiter prompted her. Griffin nodded and the waiter left again.
"So, Claire, how do you like the Titanic so far?"
"I love it. And you?"
"We love it. We're getting married here you know?"
"I'm so happy for you."
"How did you end up on the Titanic? Kristen asked.
"Kristen I really don't think that that is any of our business"
"No, its fine. I was given a ticket for my birthday."
"Wow, someone must love you a lot."
I just nodded, not wanting to get into details. We sat in silence until the waiter came back with the mutton and the champagne. We started eating and we made small talk. After dinner we all retired into the drawing room and relaxed.
"Did you hear what happened to the New York?" Griffin asked.
"No what?"
"As we were being tugged out of port we almost collided with the New York which was being pulled in."
"Wow that must have been the lurch I felt earlier." I muttered and Griffin nodded vigorously.
Should I continue? Please review.