Chapter 2
Arthur's POV
Our car pulled to a stop at the bustling port. People were everywhere. Some were being inspected by doctors and health officials before getting on the ship. Others were saying good bye to their loved ones.
The driver opened the door and I stepped out, followed by my cousin. I looked around with my usual stoic expression. I saw Mr. Browning, the man that worked closely for my uncle; step down from his seat next to the driver of his car.
"I don't see what the fuss is about. It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauretania." I said.
"You can be blasé about a lot of things, cousin. But not about Titanic, it's over 100 feet longer than the Mauretania! It's also more luxurious." Robert said.
He stepped away from the car and waited for Uncle Maurice.
"Arthur is too hard to impress." He stated.
"So this is the ship they say is unsinkable." Maurice mused.
"It is unsinkable Father! God himself couldn't sink this ship!" Robert exclaimed.
"SIR!" the uniformed man, who had been trying to get Robert's attention, shouted.
"What?" Robert yelled.
"You need to take your baggage to the main-" Robert cut him off.
"I put my faith in you to get it there," he said handing him several bills, "Now kindly see my man here." He waved Browning over.
"Yes sir! Whatever you need sir, just let me know!" he started babbling.
Browning took him to the cars and directed him where to take our luggage.
Robert checked the time.
"Gentlemen, let's go."
We walked past a line of steerage passengers who were getting checked for lice. Robert cringed away from them while Maurice acted as if they didn't exist. No one stopped us to check our hygiene. Why would they? They never did, we were first class passengers after all! I mentally scoffed.
"Welcome to Titanic!" we were greeted as we stepped on to the ship.
The minute I stepped foot on it I felt trapped. I felt like I was being dragged back state side in chains. I appeared to be a perfect first class gentleman. Inside it was like I was screaming and no one could hear me.
Ariadne's POV
I sat at a table of men in a smoky bar. My best friend, Yusuf, sat next to me inspecting his cards. When we challenged the men sitting at the table to a game of cards they thought we were kidding. They underestimated me for being a woman and foolishly bet their tickets for Titanic.
I looked over my cards. I was only two cards off from having a full house.
"I can't believe you bet all of our money!" Yusuf hissed.
"When you have nothing, you don't have anything to lose." I winked.
The men we were playing against said something in the native language.
One of them traded a card then I took my two new cards.
"All right gentlemen, let's see them! Someone's life is about to change. Yusuf?" I turned to him.
He flipped his cards over.
"Nothing" I stated. "Olaf?"
He had nothing.
"Sven?"
He flipped his cards over.
"Ooh, two pair. Sorry Yusuf." I started.
"Sorry?" he started cursing at me.
"I'm sorry. You're not going to see your mother for a long time!" I said.
He looked at me with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"We're going to America, full house boys!" I slammed my cards down on the table.
We started cheering and Yusuf began to scoop up all of our winnings.
Olaf grabbed him by the collar. Yusuf looked scared for a moment. Then Olaf punched Sven in the face.
"I'm going to America!" Yusuf shouted.
"I'm going home!" I cheered.
"No, Titanic goes to America in five minutes." The bartender said pointing to the clock.
"Shit!" I shouted.
We grabbed our things and bolted out the door.
"We're the luckiest people in the world!" I shouted as we ran down the dock. I had my dress hitched up, holding the skirt in my hand.
They were taking away the gangplank when we got to the ship.
"Stop! Wait! Two more!" I yelled.
We ran up and handed the guy our tickets.
"Have you been through the inspection queue?" he asked.
"Yes of course" I lied, "Besides, we don't have lice. We're Americans!"
"Alright come aboard!" he said.
We jumped over the gap between the gangplank and the ship.
Up on deck, I ran to the edge and began waving.
"Good bye! I'll miss you!" I shouted.
"What are you doing? You don't know anyone." Yusuf said.
"That's not the point!" I said. Eventually he joined me.
"Good bye! I'll never forget you!"
"We're a couple of regular swells!" I yelled as we ran through the halls of the steerage area. "We're practically god damned royalty!"
We reached our room and found two men there already. Most women would feel uncomfortable rooming with three men but I didn't care.
"Hi, I'm Ariadne Page!" I shook their hands.
Yusuf had already climber into the top bunk.
"Hey who said you get top bunk?" I teased.
