Hey! It's been FOREVER since I've written anything, I'm SO sorry, I've been totally preoccupied with summer reading. I'm going to continue writing both of my other fics, I swear I'll update soon! x
Cold.
So cold.
It was so incredibly, mind-numbingly cold.
The redheaded girl struggled in the ice-cold Atlantic, with no thoughts except "Jack and I have to get out of this water or we're going to freeze to death."
"Jack!" she screamed, trying to stay afloat and alive, scanning the waves for the sandy-haired boy that meant the world to her.
"Rose!" she heard a familiar voice yell, and relief washed through her as she saw him, he wasn't too far away. If they stuck together, maybe, just maybe, they would make it.
He was a fast swimmer, she thought, trying to keep her mind off the fact her legs were beginning to feel numb. He finally made his way over to her, and she immediately felt slightly warmer. Not much to make a difference, but now that he was next to her, she didn't feel quite as alone.
"R-Rose, we need to f-find something to climb on, if we s-stay in this water, w-we'll fr-freeze."
She nodded, and within minutes they spotted a piece of the boat, a plank, floating in the icy water.
"Th-this way." she stuttered. It was as if every muscle in her body was losing the ability to move.
Jack helped her up onto the plank, and she noticed his lips were blue and shivering.
"You n-need to get up here."
"I c-can't, it'll t-tip."
"I'll h-help you."
"R-Rose-"
"I c-can't live w-without you."
Before he could reply, she grabbed his hands, her whole body shaking with cold, and she pulled hard. His trembling fingers gripped the plank, and it began to tip over slightly. She, breathless, had to let go.
His breaths were getting shorter and more heavy. She had to act fast.
Rose grabbed Jack's hands and yanked again. This time, though it tipped a little, he was able to get a better grip. Panting, he inched his dripping wet body onto the wobbling plank.
She continued to pull him up until they were both on the plank.
Her whole body racked with cold, she embraced him, heaving dry sobs into his shoulder. With his strong arms wrapped around her, for the first time in hours, she felt safe.
Still freezing, numb, and exhausted, but safe.
Hours passed, their clothes were covered with ice crystals, voices weak, feeling hopeless.
"Jack," she whispered in a frail voice, "if... if we die out here, I j-just wanted to s-say... I l-love you."
He pressed a trembling kiss to her cheek. "I l-love you t-too," he managed to say, and hugged her tighter, closing his eyes.
It wasn't much later than that when Rose heard it.
"IS THERE ANYONE ALIVE OUT THERE?"
"Jack!" she whispered, shaking the man who had dozed off. "Jack! Wake up! A boat!"
He slowly woke up. "W-what?" he asked weakly.
"Jack, listen! They're looking for survivors!" she said, her voice so quiet he struggled to hear her.
It was disappearing.
"Come back!" Rose called, her voice cracking as she strained as hard as she could to make herself heard.
"Come back!" Jack begged, trying to be loud, though his voice came out as a whisper.
Rose looked over and saw a man in the water, frozen to death, with a whistle in his mouth. The sight gave her shivers, but she had no choice. She grabbed the whistle and blew it, over and over.
They saw the boat pause, and quickly turn around and head back in their direction.
"They're c-coming!" Jack stuttered, amazed. "Rose, you did it!" He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, and she kissed him back, reaching up to tangle her fingers in his hair. They were going to make it.
The men in the tiny boat gave the young couple a blanket so they could warm up.
"Would give you one each, but that's all we've got."
"It's alright, we're fine. We're just happy to be alive." said Rose, her voice slightly stronger now that she was wrapped in warm fabric, snuggled close to Jack.
"Not many people are. You're lucky." said one of the men honestly.
"How many died?" Jack asked, sitting up slightly.
"Nobody knows the exact total yet. Over a thousand, for sure."
A silence fell across the boat as the small party thought about that statement: At least 1,000 dead. Rose hugged Jack tighter.
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered, "Don't worry. We're safe, aren't we?" She smiled, leaning against him. "Yes. We are. And I never, ever want to lose you. Not after that."
He ran his fingers through her hair, smiling slightly. "You'll never lose me. I never want to come close to losing you."
Forgetting about the other men in the boat, Jack pressed a kiss to her lips.
He really did love her. And he wanted her to be his forever...
A sudden thought struck his brain, and he felt his heartbeat speed up. Even though he didn't have money, he wanted to make it happen. He could scrape the funds together somehow, if it meant she'd be his forever...
Fluffy, I know. But review and fave if you enjoyed it and want more. I'll update soon if enough people want it! xx