Meet Me At The Clock
The note had been thrust into her hand as Jack Dawson had walked away. The fact that the evening would have come to an end after such a wonderful day had saddened Rose. But Jack had insisted that he must return to his world and as much as she didn't want to admit, it would be for the best. Jack had refused a hand of cards and a brandy in the gentleman's room and staying with the women was un thought of and so he had to return.
As he went, something crackled in Rose's hand. He wove through the faces of first class as he left and took a glance or two back at her. Quickly she swung her legs back beneath the table and opened her hand. In her palm, sat a balled-up piece of paper. She looked about to see her Mother engrossed in a conversation with Lucille, gossiping of the wedding she suspected. She unravelled the paper in her lap and in long lettered handwriting were the words 'Make it count, meet me at the clock.' She glanced upwards, her eyes searching the crowds for him. He was out of sight.
Her heart hammered in her chest and yet, she didn't know why. She had a two second decision to make. She screwed the paper back up and grasped the stem of her champagne flute, she drank the remainder of it before finding the encouragement to stand.
''Mother, I am going to return to my room.''
Ruth narrowed her eyes, displeased with her daughter. ''Cal has just offered to escort you. You cannot go alone.'' She whispered to her daughter, harshly.
Rose smiled sweetly to Lucille.
''I am all right. I am too tired to stay.''
''Very well, goodnight.''
''Goodnight, Mother, Lucille.''
With that, she turned to head out of the dining room and into the D-Deck reception room. Several notable figures were stood admiring the décor, exchanging words with others and making their way back to their staterooms as they turned in for the evening. Rose wove through them nodding hellos to those who she knew. She crossed the room to the lower staircase, her heels clacked lightly on the floors. There was only around half a dozen people around. She came to the very bottom of the Grand Staircase and she stopped as she saw Jack stood at the top. He stood straight-backed, hands in his pockets with his face to the clock. It read 9pm.
Taking a deep breath, she grasped the bottoms of her skirts and slowly made her way to him. The twelve steps seem to take forever but as he heard the sound of her heels, he turned as though he sensed it had been her. The clock chimed to alert the time. As it chimed one final time, he greeted her with a smile and a nod.
''So, you want to go to a real party?''
She smiled as she found herself nodding. ''Why, yes.''
He held out his arm to her and she took it. He escorted her out of the way and as the door was held open for them by the same steward who had opened it when Jack had attended dinner, she felt the rebellion spark fly through her body.
''Good night, sir, madam.'' He nodded.
''Good night.'' Jack played the part of the first class gentleman very well. He led her down the corridor towards the deck. He could only remember one way to his destination and that was the way he had entered after been led by Molly.
''So, I applaud you Mr. Dawson for the performance this evening.''
''Well, thank you. I do feel I won't be joining your party though. I do find them rather dull.''
Rose laughed and as she did a snort escaped. They reached the deck and it was cold outside. She hadn't snorted in years and for a moment she became self-conscious of herself until Jack laughed so hard that he grasped the rail. She had nothing to shield from him and he accepted her, wholly.
''So where is this 'real party?'' She asked, rubbing her arms against the cold breeze.
''It is a surprise.''
He took her hand in his and led her along the deck, pulling at her arm like an excited child. ''I have a bad feeling about this.''
''In your world, they offer no good music, no dancing and definitely no good beer. I also think the champagne is rather bland.''
She laughed, raising her brows. ''Mr. High Standards, Dawson?''
Jack laughed as he dropped his act of snobbishness.
''I just got a feeling you'll like this party a little better.''
''I would hardly call dinner with my fiancé and Mother a 'party.''
''We agree on something, Rose.''
He led her from B Deck down to the unlatched gate into third class. All Rose could do was glance around. She had gone this way that morning to find Jack.
''Where are we going?'' This felt forbidden.
Once they were inside, a wonderful Irish jig hit her ears. She couldn't help but smile. Jack still clutched her hand tightly. The Third Class General Room had been transformed into a dance hall. Crowds of men and women danced away to the ad hoc band who were gathered around the upright piano and honking out lively, stomping music on the fiddle, accordion and tambourine. People of all ages were dancing, drinking beer and wine, smoking, laughing, and as Jack pointed out, even brawling.
''See, this is a party.''
She glanced around suddenly self conscious but no one battered an eye as Jack led her through the throngs of people to the centre. He nodded to Fabrizio who was chatting to the young Swedish blond again, he assumed they had barely spoken since that afternoon, the language barrier was an obvious issue. He pointed out Fabrizio to Rose.
''That is Fabrizio, he is my friend, he's Italian. The young girl he's with is called Helga, she is travelling from Sweden with her family and speaks no English. See how they're still enjoying their time?''
They watched them laugh and dance together. Rose watched as Jack waved to them and they waved back.
''They look so-in love.''
Jack laughed. ''He wishes. They only met yesterday.''
Rose shook her head as she allowed Jack to pull her further into the crowd. People smiled at her, they nodded and said 'hellos' whereas others bumped into her, clearly enjoying their dance and when they didn't apologise, she find she liked them better.
They came to a table with Tommy sat with the Swede who Jack and Fabri was bunking with.
''This is Tommy, he is another friend, he's Irish.''
Tommy stood from his chair. ''So, this is the lass you were on about, Jackie?''
Rose recognised him from that morning when she had sought Jack out.
''How do you do?''
''I'm even better now you've arrived.''
Jack stripped himself of his jacket, his bow tie and waistcoat. ''Do you want a drink, Rose?''
Rose glanced around. Every one was holding pint glasses with dark looking beer.
''It's stout. England's finest.'' Tommy winked at her. ''Strong, too.''
Rose turned to Jack. ''Yes, thank you.''
''I'll get them.'' Tommy called. ''I need a refill and Olaf here understands no English.''
Rose glanced at the other man at the table. She smiled at him, politely and he smiled back nicely enough.
''Thank you.''
Seconds later, a young girl no older than five with dark curly hair and lovely dimples appeared. She took Jack by the hand and pulled at him in the direction of the dance floor.
''Hello Uncle Jack, can we dance?''
Rose smiled at the sweet girl.
''Do you mind if I left you for just one dance?''
''Of course, I couldn't say no.''
She watched as the little girl took Jack by both hands. The song came to an end and another started. Jack was a natural with the young girl. She found her foot tapped along to the beat and her hands were clapping. Jack swung the little girl around and around and Rose heard her screams of delight. She couldn't help but watch with a smile.
Tommy returned with three pints of stout and he handed one to Rose.
''Thank you.'' She shouted above the music.
Tommy followed her line of vision and saw Jack dancing with Cora. ''Ahh, I see he has been stolen already.''
''Yes, she is sweet.''
''Her name is Cora; her family are from Manchester. ''
Rose recognised the name of the city in England.
''Where is her family?''
Tommy pointed to an older man known as Bert and his wife Samantha sat a few tables back from there.
''There.''
''I see.''
Rose continued to clap to the beat of the band, as Jack spun little Cora around. She didn't take her eyes away as she tasted the stout for the first time. It tasted decent. She placed it back on the table. She glanced around the room. Just earlier it had been quieter as people read, talked and children played and now it was a full party with people celebrating everything there was to think of. She noticed no one stared, for they were enthralled with their own world. She felt as though she belonged here, more so than her own world. Tommy and Olaf were indulging in an arm wrestle just as the Swede asked her something.
''What?''
He repeated it but she couldn't hear or understand him, Swedish was not a language which she had studied.
''I can't understand you.'' She gestured, hoping he didn't think she was just being rude.
The dance came to an end and Rose took more of her stout back. The taste was better than it first was. Jack stopped dancing, he moved his hair from his eyes and approached her with an extended arm.
''Come.''
He held his hand out to her. She glanced upwards at him, confused.
''Come on, Rose.''
Hesitantly, she took his hand.
''Come, where?'' she asked, getting to her feet but trusting him completely.
''Come dance with me.''
The floor was already filling with people dancing, there were men and women together, two women together and men stood tapping their feet as they drank their beers.
Jack pulled Rose onto the floor and she offered slight hesitation. Glancing around her she saw the other people dancing and realised she had no idea how they danced. The music was fast and Jack pulled her closer towards him.
''Jack, I can't do this.'' She turned her attention back to him and realised just how close they were.
''We're going to have to get a little bit closer…'' Jack placed his right hand on the small of her back and pulled her a little closer to him. ''Like this.''
She was nervously close to him. Picking up her dress in her right hand, Rose slipped her hand into Jack's.
''But Jack, I don't even know the steps.'' He began to lead her into the middle of the floor before dancing.
''Neither do I.'' he shouted above the music. ''Just go with it, and don't think.''
Listening to his words, Rose followed his lead and simply did as he told her. He lead her around the floor, and she screamed having never danced this way before. She felt so wild and free and her grip on Jack tightened as he whirled her around. He pulled Rose through the throngs of the dancing people onto the stage, she followed him onto the stage but glanced out towards the crowd noticing them all now staring at her and Jack.
Moving his hair from his face, Jack proceeded to clog a few steps, something he had learnt in his time in Ireland the year before. Rose watched, having no idea Jack could dance. She recognised the steps and laughed removing her shoes she threw them to a lady in the crowd before lifting her skirts to reveal her stocking feet and continuing clogging with Jack, he clapped along before clogging with her and then linking her arm through his and dancing in a circle before spinning her around faster and faster. She screamed and laughed with joy, having never had so much fun in her life. The crowds of people watching were forgotten and the only thing what she was aware of was herself and Jack dancing.
''I need a drink.'' Rose giggled breathlessly as she whirled around with Jack one final time before almost falling into his arms. They both laughed hysterically as Jack lead her from the stage. ''I feel so dizzy.'' Placing his arm around her shoulder, Jack pulled her through the crowds of people towards their table. Her shoes were lost in the crowd, someplace.
Jack found Fabrizio at the table as Tommy handed both Rose and Jack another beer.
''How you two doin'?''
Fabrizio shrugged. ''I don't know what she's say, she don't know what I say, so we get along fine.''
Jack slapped his back and laughed. ''Just dance, its common language.''
Rose chugged half of her beer, not just because she was thirsty but because she was feeling ballsy. Jack watched, amused.
''What you think a first class girl can't drink?''
He was about to respond when Bjorn Gundersen crashed into Tommy, who sloshed his beer over Rose's dress. She gasped at first, it was cold and sticky but then she laughed, not caring. It wasn't as though she needed to look so pristine. Tommy lunged, grabbing Bjorn and wheeling him around.
''You, stupid bastard.'' He called to him. ''Did you not see the lady?''
Bjorn came around, his fists were up, ready to fight before Jack leapt in the middle of them both not wanting to see a fight.
''Boys, boys. Did I ever tell you the one about the Swede and the Irishman goin' to the whorehouse?'' He grinned to them both, trying to lighten the mood with an old joke he had already told them. Tommy puffed his chest out, but then grinned and clapped Bjorn on the shoulder. He had already won him.
''You owe me 4 drinks for the arm wrestles I won. Fetch me them and I will let you off.'' Tommy threatened, his finger pointing directly into his nose.
Rose watched them. Perhaps men were the same in whatever class. They liked a fight, an ego boost. Rose shook her head.
''So you think you're big tough men? Let's see you do this.''
Rose took the cigarette from Tommy's mouth, taking a long drag.
''Hold my dress, Jack.''
She thrust the bottom of her dress into his hands exposing her legs up to her knees. Something like that in her world would certainly ruffles more than a few feathers. In her stocking feet, she did a ballet stance. Her arms were raised, and she went up on point, taking her entire weight on the tips of her toes. The guys gaped at her incredible muscle control.
''Jesus, Mary and Joseph!''
She received an applause before her balance was lost and her toes started burning. She landed backwards in Jack's arms. The claps and laughter surrounded her.
''I haven't done that in years.'' She laughed, clasping Jack's shoulders, tightly. He was wet from the spilled drink and sweaty and so was she. He came closer to her until their faces were not that far apart. Their intense gaze wasn't unnoticed by Tommy.
''Come on you two. Let's dance.''
He grasped Rose by the hand pulling her to the centre of the floor, she found Jack's hand and pulled him along.
''I don't know this song.'' Rose shouted above the music and the crowd.
''Neither do I.''
They danced in a circle, kicking up their heels until they became dizzy and breathless. Jack pulled Rose away from the crowd, checking his pocket watch which Molly had leant along with the suit. He leant in to her, his words tickling her ear.
''Its almost midnight.''
Rose felt her stomach sink. She hadn't realised they had been at the party for so long.
''I better be heading back.''
Jack nodded. ''Right.''
Rose hesitated for a second. ''All right.''
She turned as she went to leave but he grasped her hand quick. ''Wait, I will walk with you.''