My first Titanic fanfiction. Hopefully, it'll be good. Please, constructive criticism is welcome.

Rose DeWitt Bukater had to tilt her head up high just to catch a full glimpse of what people called the grandest ship in the world. Surely it was. She had seen nothing like it. The last ship she had been on was from her hometown, Philadelphia, to Europe in hopes of finding a better job as a hand maiden and that ship was at least twice smaller than the one that was laid before her eyes at the moment.

"It would be a dream to board the Titanic." Her friend, Monica, uttered standing next to her as they stared at the ship in awe. They both worked at a nearby inn as maids and had decided to watch the departure of the Titanic during their lunch break.

She eyed the passengers who were boarding. Some wore simple street clothes and others wore expensive formal attire. "What I would give to be in 1st class." Rose admitted. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a White Star Line booth stationed behind the bustling crowd of people who came to the see the ship off. To her disappointment, the NOW HIRING sign had been crossed out with bold black ink.

"Follow me!" She told Monica and grabbed her friend by the hand dragging her to the booth.

A man with the complete White Star Line uniform was pacing around putting things away and it looked like he was about to leave.

"Excuse me, sir." Rose said as she and Monica reached the booth.

"I'm sorry, Mam. Can't chat. The Titanic is leaving exactly 5 minutes, and I need to get on that ship." He grabbed a handful of life jackets and one flashlight and started to exit the booth.

"We'll work. For free." Rose said.

Monica nudged Rose's arm. "Are you out of your mind?"

Rose gritted her teeth. The White Star Line employee had stopped what he was doing suddenly interested in what she had to say. "C'mon. Think about it! This our chance to get on the Titanic and go to America. We could be movie stars! Forget maid service for the rest of our lives."

Monica frowned. "Rose, you are crazy."

"Mam, I have to go." The employee closed up the tiny booth and started to walk toward the ship.

"No, wait! We'll do it. Of course, we'd have to get fed and showered. But other than that, you don't have to pay us." Rose said once again.

The White Star Line employee pondered for a moment. Extra help never hurt anybody. "Well, what are you waiting for? We gotta to catch that ship!"

Rose grinned and grabbed Monica's hand. They started running as they followed their new boss towards the ship.

"Rose … what about our job? You know, our other job?!? And we don't have any extra clothes. This is insane!" Monica said as she allowed her friend to tug her through crowds of people waving.

"Monica, I refuse to live the rest of my life as a pathetic maid in a low-rate inn. We need to do something spontaneous to broaden our horizons. And that something is this. And our horizons is in the United States." Rose said finally. They raced up the long plank up to the grand ship which lead them to employee headquarters.

Jack Dawson looked around his room. The first-class room was finely furnished, dusted to perfection, and glowed pleasantly under the expensive chandelier. Next door was where his parents were staying. The Dawsons were one of the richest families in New York. After a well-spent three week vacation in Europe, it was time to come back home for the one of the biggest events of Jack's life. His wedding.

The other room next to him was his fiancé's. Julianna Hockley was her name. Their fathers were best friends throughout history and it was lock-it-and-throw-away-the-key deal that Julianna and Jack were destined to be married. Jack had always thought that Julianna was just okay. He always claimed that he loved her mostly because that's the way her mother raised him. Growing up, his mother would tell him to pick flowers or buy chocolates for Julianna or ask her out on dates. Sometimes she got really annoying but his parents had got him convinced that he loved Julianna, as if they were ones who knew how he felt. He wasn't really sure, though, if he loved her with all his heart.

A knock on the door interrupted Jack's thoughts.

"Come in." Jack responded. He adjusted his neck tie.

"Hello, Jack." In came Caledon Hockley. The Hockley's overly-praised eldest child and Jack's future brother-in-law. Considering Julianna was his destined bride, Cal was Jack's destined best friend.

"Amazing ship." Jack said casually.

Cal nodded. He walked over to Jack's window which overlooked the lower deck. "Look at those third-class gutter rats running around."

Jack shrugged. He never really thought about the third-class mostly because he was never associated with them.

Jack sat down on his couch as he listened to Cal drone on and on about his money, the third-class nimrods, his money, girls he has been courting, his money, and the how he can't believe they are on the grandest ship ever to sail across the Atlantic.

For most of his life, he had put up with Cal and his boring yet conceited conversations and never really understood why Cal thought it was such an interesting subject. He had liked him better when they children. They had fun running around each other's houses and playing by the lake. But once Cal had learned the miracles of money, he was lost in first-class hell forever.Lately, he had been boring Jack to death.

All of sudden, Jack's door bursted open and Julianna came across the room and literally jumped on Jack. She laid about a dozen kisses on his face and made herself a comfortable spot on his lap. He hated the fact that Julianna thought Jack was like her little puppy and didn't mind that she always invaded his personal space. Jack forced a smile at Julianna after her sudden intrusion.

"Oh can you believe it? After this ship docks, we're going to be married!" Julianna smiled happily. Her smooth brown hair was put into two French braids, draping past her shoulders. Julianna had a plain look to her. She had a set of amber eyes, a petite nose, thin lips, and a typical-feminine built body. Jack knew she was an unambiguous spoiled brat. He had seen many temper tantrums of hers thrown whenever the Dawsons and Hockleys went out and it was mostly because her parents weren't giving her something. He feared that their life of marriage would just be Jack trying to please her day after day.

"Juli, would you calm down? You're giving Jack a heart attack with your hyperactive behavior. This will be the best trip we're going to have yet." Cal said.

"Oh, would you look at that! They are so cute together. It's as if they already married." Mrs. Dawson entered the room and looked adoringly at her son and Julianna.

Julianna got off of Jack's lap, stood up, and twirled around. Her blue cotton skirt nearly smacked Jack in the face. "Look, Mrs. Dawson. I just got this dress right before we left. Isn't it to die for?"

Mrs. Dawson gushed, "It sure is."

Jack rolled his eyes. He hated how the only thing that came out of first-class ladies' mouths were brags upon brags. He reached into his pocket for a cigarette and lit it. He inhaled the smoke deeply and suddenly felt much better.

"Gross, Jack. You know I don't like to kiss you if your mouth tastes like an ash tray." Julianna whispered to Jack so his mother and Cal wouldn't hear.

Jack rolled his eyes. He left the room without an explanation and made his way outside. He leaned against the railing that oversaw the lower deck where the so-called 'third-class gutter rats' were taking up space, according to Cal.

He saw a little girl with his father admiring the deep blue sea, a few young boys chasing each other around in a fitful of laughter, and even a man on his harmonica playing a simple tune as his friend playfully danced around. Jack didn't think that they were taking up space. They looked like they were having fun. They looked like they were simply enjoying life as God has intended for them to do.

Something caught his eye and he noticed a woman dressed in a maiden uniform staring up at him. He shrugged it off and looked the other way. He couldn't help it though. He looked back. She was gorgeous. The maid had long red-locks and beautiful face that stood out magnificently amongst the other faces in the crowd.

She kept staring at him and he kept staring back. He found this very odd but somehow he was drawn to her.

Rose and Monica entered their room as directed by their employer they met earlier, who's name was Justin. He had directed them down a narrow hallway in the part of the ship where the maids and butlers headquarters were located.

"You two are very lucky we have a few extra beds. I am the manager, by the way. I didn't think we'd need as many employees as there are beds since so many people were willing to work on the Titanic. Since you claim you want to work for free, then I shan't complain. Inside are your uniforms. Meet me on the third-class deck in ten minutes." He said and left them swiftly back up the hallway.

Rose and Monica changed out of their inn uniforms and into their White Star Line ones that they had found in a tiny cabinet next to their bunk bed.

"Can you believe this, Monica? We're going to America! We're leaving everything behind. No more people annoying us at the inn. No more boring life!" Rose smiled. She and Monica didn't have any family back where they worked and really didn't have anything to lose. Despite this, Monica was still worried because they didn't really even have a plan.

"But, Rose. What are we going to do? We have no money once we get to America." Monica pulled her sandy blond hair into a bun and washed her face thoroughly via the small sink attached to the wall so that she would look presentable.

Rose smiled. "Monica! We're ladies! Our charms have got to at least snag as rich husband."

Monica frowned.

"Kidding, of course. Don't worry. We'll just find another job. I left America thinking Europe would give me a better job. Well, I wasn't happy. I'm coming back and finding something to suck me into what life is really about." Rose stated confidently.

A few moments later, they met Justin who had introduced them to Savannah, the head-maid-in-charge. She was quite thin and had birdlike features. She still very nice though. Savannah instructed Rose and Monica to sweep the deck.

Rose did as she was told and about thirty minutes into the work, her eyes wandered. People were having so much fun. Adults and children alike laughed and played together. She smiled to herself. She couldn't wait until she had a child. Her eyes began to wander all over the place until she spotted something interesting on the top deck. There stood a handsome blond hair with a muscular built looking out onto the deck where she was. He looked back at her. Rose knew it was impolite to keep staring but she couldn't help it. He looked away and back again. She felt connected to him.

Coming up; Rose & Jack meet each other officially and a certain someone save's another certain someone's life.

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