Better Left Alone

Part 1:

I think too damn much... This thought remained prominent in my mind even as I stormed down the sidewalk into the park. I needed a place to vent and the park was as good a place as any. I would normally be absorbed in a book, my own writing or even in a movie. Today though, none of that was working, or rather, possible. Today was my sister's wedding and I was expected to be her maid of honor. This only served to remind me of how the future was looming so closely and that I had nothing to face it with. I needed fresh air, sunlight, real and true escape. I sighed as it was just past four and the ceremony would start at five. I keep feeling like I'm living in a cage of solitude with no reason, goal or purpose.

I can picture my future clearly, a lonely spinster working until her dying day, never having acquired anything, never d, never having accomplished anything. Some days I want to scream, I want something, but I am not even sure what that something is. I never scream though, never even wince. That would be a sure sign of weakness, and not to say that I am made of steel, but I was not brought up to show weakness or dramatics. My father, at least when he was around, never allowed that. That's exactly why I felt like an idiot as I nearly sprinted to the greenery dotted with patches of wildflowers and trees. That and the fact that I was currently wearing a full length evening dress in a deep violet with a pale blue sash that sat at my natural waist and matching opera gloves, all done up; hair, make-up and jewelry like I was ready to go to some high class party. There was no way I didn't look crazy. Realizing this I adjusted my pace until I was slowly strolling to a patch of trees close enough to enjoy the pond at the far left of the park.

Overall, I liked the dress with its plunging neck-line, short sleeves and embroidered beads to match, it made me feel very feminine. I pondered why my sister had to have very opulent, well, everything. The wedding gown she chose was the stuff of dreams and had cost her very soon to be husband a small fortune. Her lesser bridesmaids (and yes I would call them that, she is my sister after all) didn't have clothing as detailed and mine. They were dressed in similar clothes, except they were sleeveless with higher neck lines and in pale lavender. The sashes they wore were light rose as were their gloves which were only elbow-length. The pond was occupied with ducks and an old couple sat on a bench not far away feeding them. I made sure to keep far enough away from the elderly duo so as not to disturb them. Leaning only slightly on a tree, as to avoid the bark snagging my clothes, I continued in my thoughts.

She's only a year older than me, one year exactly, but she seems to be so far ahead of me. My sister had always known what she wanted in life and she managed to go out and grab it. The girl was twenty one and not only had she already found the love of her life, the filthy stinking rich love of her life, she was marrying him in under an hour. Brandon's mother, Mrs. Creshaw, is so smitten with my sister that she is paying fully for their new house together and also for my sister to study at the university of her choice. Brandon is my sister's fiancé. Everyone is so in love with the young couple that they had completely forgotten me and I'd have been left totally in the dark had it not been for my sister herself. Brandon's mother was going to have her favorite niece be the maid of honor, but my sister was adamant the position be mine. What my sister didn't know was that her mother in law loathed the idea. The way she acted like I was just setting to ruin the whole affair was proof enough, but I spared my sister the knowledge. This was supposed to be her big day, not my time to vent injustices. The only reason I was able to slip away at all was due to the fact that Mrs. Chreshaw, viewing me as incompetent, pushed me away and took over most of my duties as my sister's honored attendant.

Looking over at the pond glittering in remaining sunlight I realized I had to get back to the cathedral and quickly. I must have been here for a good half hour and dusk was upon us. Picking up the edges of my skirt I literally sprinted away in hopes I wouldn't live up to Mrs. Creshaw's expectations. I was only three blocks away, so I was running up the steps to the double doors in no time. When I reached the top, I stopped heaving for breath, and before I could move to it, one of the doors flew open, an outraged Mrs. Creshaw appearing before me.

"Sophia! Where have you been?!" Her loud, high-pitched voice screeched in her reproach.

Pretending to breathe normally, and failing, I replied, "I was just headed to check on my sister."

Her dark blue eyes narrowed at me, "Well, hurry it up, you useless girl!" She hurried around to make sure my long waves of black hair were all still in place. She frowned at the fact that much of my side bang slipped loose and was falling into my eyes. "You look a mess! If Margaret weren't so keen on your presence I would have demanded you not even be invited. The ceremony is about to begin; get your flowers and line up." As quickly as she turned on me she turned from me. "What an embarrassment..." The older woman continued to mumble as she headed back into the cathedral. One of the staff was able to get the door for her this time as she moved smoothly away from me, with all the dignity you could expect from a rich snob like her. The door closed behind her silently.

Sighing, I picked up the edge of my skirt to go up the last two steps to finally make it to the door. The young man posted there smiled at me and nodded, "Good evening Miss." I smiled back for a moment and could have sworn that I'd seen this happen before. The door was then opened and as I took my first step in I was momentarily blinded. Blinking my eyes several times, I tried to look around. As the images became clear I was surprised to find myself standing on a boat deck, the night sky above me twinkling with a thousand stars.

"I... I'm on a... What the hell is going on?" I asked no one as I walked to the rail and gazed down at the ocean rushing far below.

"Oh my goodness..."

I heard a voice exclaim so I looked up in the general direction of the offender. Not too far away from me stood a group of people dressed in very fine clothing, whispers of "lady" and "such language" could be made out, and I assumed it must have been my shocked question they were talking about.

I turned away from them and my eyes widened. They'd been wearing clothes that looked suspiciously like... They looked suspiciously like... I walked a few feet further away from the small group and sat on a bench. "Like the people in the movie Titanic..." I took a few deep breaths even as I looked around and there was no denying it. The people I had overheard weren't just any people on the ship. One of them, I was sure, was Ruth, Rose's mother. That could only mean, unless I was dreaming, I had somehow ended up not only over ninety years in the past, but in an alternate universe of the past. That was so because honestly, there was no way the actor's in the film were actually from Titanic. That wouldn't make any sense. Not to mention the fact that the love story was fabricated.

I looked down at myself then stood up suddenly. I was wearing the same clothes, except they were slightly altered to better fit the time period. "Oh, come on Sophia, you must be out of you mind! There is no possible way, not one!" I'd begun pacing, hands to my cheeks. But I'd just seen what was behind me, the French doors lead into a beautiful lit room, where many fine ladies and gentlemen stood and gossiped.

A voice came directly behind me, "Excuse me miss."

I stopped abruptly and turned around, one hand still to my face, eyes still wide, going wider as I looked at who had spoken.

The hated villain of the movie himself, Cal, was staring back at me with a polite half-smile on his face. "Forgive my boldness, but I do not believe we've met. My name is Ca-"

I hadn't realized I interrupted him when my gasp of "Oh God..." escaped me and I started to hyperventilate. This was not real!

Before I knew it he'd taken a step closer to me, one brow arched, "Are you quite alright?"

I stepped back, raising a hand to halt him. "I'm fine, thank you." I'm not sure how I managed to be polite, considering whom I was talking to but I took one more deep breath composing myself and continued. "Mr. Hockley, correct?" I asked knowing my guess was on mark.

He looked at me, obviously curious as to how I knew, but he didn't ask, "Yes, actually, and you are?"

I paused a moment and tried to remain calm, I couldn't speak like I normally would, so I planned my next phrase. "Sophia Wess, pleased to make your acquaintance." I held up my gloved hand which he took and quickly brushed his lips against before I pulled my arm back.

"Charmed. I don't recognize the name, are you originally from the Americas?" He asked me this fluidly but I still got the feeling he was suspicious of me. To anyone who didn't know that man's true character he would have been perceived as polite but knowing what I did he sounded like a slick , someone I really didn't want to get involved with.

I opened my mouth to produce some kind of answer, but Ruth came up behind him, and I quickly closed my mouth. If I'd been nervous before, I was ten-fold now. This woman would never believe a thing I told her, and then again, what reason did she have not to?

Sensing I was looking beyond rather than at him he turned slightly and smiled in greeting to the older woman. She smiled back at him and they greeted one another as I tried not to fidget. It was then she turned her attention to me. "And who is this young woman?"

Instinctively I moved as if to answer, but caught myself as Cal apologized, "Where are my manners? Miss Wess, this is Ruth Dewitt-Bukater, my mother in law. Ruth, this is Miss Sophia Wess."

Ruth nodded at me, a smile formed on her lips although it didn't extend to her eyes, "Miss Wess. I don't recall hearing of your family before."

I smiled weakly, "Not many have... I'm afraid, and please, call me Sophia." I directed my request at the both of them, I couldn't stand being referred to as 'Miss Wess'. I vaguely wondered, as it all began to truly sink in, what day it was and just how close I was to certain doom.

"Very well then, Sophia here was just about to say where she was from, weren't you?"

I laughed, a light, forced laugh. "Oh yes, of course. To answer your question Mr. Hockley, I was born in the Americas, South America actually. My parents are both English. They met shortly before my father decided to leave for South America where he started his business."

Ruth's cold eyes centered on me, "Whatever were you doing in Europe then?"

I took yet another breath, preparing myself for another insane lie. "Unfortunately he recently passed away, so I was in London for his funeral. He wanted to be buried there, just as mother was." Luckily for me, they must have assumed this was the reason for my unease and consequent odd behavior because they stopped questioning my roots.

Another man came up, the one who always kept tabs on Rose, and whispered something to Hockley. I tried to pull his name from some memory file in my mind, but I couldn't. I had watched the movie I was somehow trapped inside in too long ago. "Excuse me." Cal walked away into the room with him and Ruth remained quiet.

I took this as my chance to escape, before she brought up some other question that would surely get me arrested, or worse. "Well, I am pleased to have met you, but I am truly exhausted. I must be heading back to my room now." Honestly, I didn't know where I would go, but anywhere would be better than talking to any more of these people. "Goodnight Mrs. Dewitt-Bukater." I nodded and turned to leave but she spoke again.

"Miss Wess-"

Another weak smile is all I could manage, "Sophia."

She smiled at me again and I couldn't help but feel as if I'd just been tossed in a snake pit. "Sophia, would you care to join us for brunch tomorrow? I would like to introduce you to my daughter Rose, Cal's fiancé. She has been feeling quite melancholy and perhaps some female company would do her well."

My breath caught in my throat, I wasn't sure what to say, I didn't want to get anymore caught up in this. My lips parted and I answered before I could fully think through just how deep I was getting, "That would be lovely, thank you."

"Good, I will have an escort sent to your room at eleven." Ruth finished speaking and was headed away before I could rebuke her for practically giving me an order.

I hadn't seen any icebergs yet and I already felt like I was sinking. First things first though, I needed to figure out what day it was, and then where I could possibly spend the night because as far as I knew, I didn't actually have a ticket for this one-way trip to hell. I headed down some steps onto a lower deck as I made my way to the back of the ship. As I made my way back I was nearly bowled over as someone ran past me. Before I had a chance to hit the floor a hand caught me.

"Are you alright miss?" It was an employee of White Star Line.

I righted myself with his aid. "Fine, thanks."

I looked up and noticed his face; obviously I hadn't spoken like a proper lady of my class. "Uh, I'm fine thank-you. Forgive me, I'm a bit lost."

His eye twinkled at me slightly, and for the life of me he seemed familiar! "No worries then Miss Wess, I'll have Lionel escort you to your rooms if you'd like."

If I didn't know any better, I could have just heard a record scratch. I was no longer just anywhere in the Twilight Zone, I'd entered the capital! A blond youth, he couldn't have been more than sixteen, stepped up beside the guy who seemed to know more than I did. "Good evening Miss Wess, would you like me to show you there now?"

My mind was whirling, I actually had a room? The staff knows me? And, oh God, the woman who knocked into me, she must be, "Rose! Oh my God." I looked over to the man who called over Lionel to ask him what day it was only to find he was gone. Only Lionel and I were standing there.

"All you alright Miss Wess?" Lionel asked looking truly concerned. I felt a little bad for acting so spacey.

"It-I'm alright Lionel, I just have to check on something, if you'll excuse m-" I stopped short as screams pierced the air. I heard as a couple of men started to run for the stern of the ship where the screams originated from.

Lionel also chose to spring to action, "Excuse me, I'll be right back." He took off before I could utter another word.

Not one to be left behind, I picked up my skirt and ran after him, "Wait!"

Lionel looked back, but instead of stopping he urged me on, "Well, come on then! Someone is in trouble!"

I neglected to wonder why I wasn't the only character in this messing things up and why for that matter, I was here to begin with. I didn't want to die and by the looks of it, I was getting nothing if tangled in a bigger mess than I cared for.