Hello! So I'm getting some reviews, which makes me very happy! There has been a LOT going on in my life the past 2 days. School started, my best friend is now my ex best friend, my boyfriend and I almost broke up, my ex boyfriend was involved in everything, and I'm just really very upset right now. So I'm warning you all now, this chapter may just be sad and depressing. Read on! And remember, Jack's P.O.V!
I was finally able to do something I never thought I'd be able to do: I stepped onto the first solid ground in days. I never thought I'd get to walk on ground again. I never thought ANYONE would walk on ground again. I walked past people that were waiting to see if their loved ones had survived the wreck of the Titanic (apparently the news had gone international over night.). 'That must SUCK.' I thought to myself. 'Having to stand there and think about whether or not your loved one would be getting off the ship. And if they didn't get off the ship, they'd have to think about the body lying in the ocean. They'd never see them again.' Then I began to think of everyone I had lost myself: Rose, Fabrizio, Tommy. All gone. They all had so much to continue to live for. They were all so young and still had lives to run. Families to create. Friends to make. Hearts to break. Memories.
That was when I sank to my knees (in public) and just lost it.
"Who did you lose, Mister?" came a voice from beside me.
"My girlfriend and my friends. I had come to know I few different people on the ship, and they all perished." I managed to get out. "Who did you lose?"
"My mommy and daddy. They were on vacation in France, and they were on their way home to see my sisters, my brother, and me. My name's Matt. I'm 6." Tears were REALLY flooding now. The thought of this 6 year old losing BOTH of his parents was just unfathomable to me.
"Oh my gosh, I am SO sorry! How old are your sisters and brother?"
"Jackie is 7, Rosie is 4, and Dylan is 6." he answered.
"Oh my gosh. So young! How old were your parents?" I asked, smiling at the name 'Rosie'.
"They weren't old. Maybe 34?"
"Wow." I was in complete awe. "Who are you staying with?" It finally hit me that these children may not have a home."
"Aunt Teresa, but we can't stay with her much longer. She has 3 children of her own and not much living space." he answered sadly, clearly afraid of what was to happen to him and his sisters.
"Truth is, I don't have a place of my own, otherwise I'd invite you all to my place. I'd take care of you as best as I possibly could. I can barely take care of myself." I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Gee, thanks anyway, Mister. Aunt Teresa said she may have to put us up for adoption if she can't think of anything else to do with us. That scares me because I may never see Jackie, Rosie, or Dylan ever again."
"I know. That is so sad. You're welcome to stay with me, even though I don't even know where I'm going. By the way, my name is Jack."
"Jack!" I heard my name and whirled around to see who was calling it. I smiled as soon as I recognized her.
"Miss Brown!" My smiled faded when I saw who was hot on her heels. "And Mrs. Bukater." Rose's mother.
"Do I know you?" she asked in her snotty little tone.
"Jack Dawson?"
"Oh, yes. Have you seen my daughter anywhere? I've looked everywhere. I have to get her home so we can finish planning the wedding. Come to think of it, have you seen Mr. Hockley?" Tears spilled down my cheeks as soon as she mentioned Rose.
"I've seen Cal, but I don't know where he is now. And I don't know how to tell you this, but… Rose.. Didn't make it.." I trailed off, tears falling heavily now. Her hand rose to cover her mouth. A single tear rolled down her cheek before she turned and ran away. "Bye to you, too." I muttered.
"Rose didn't survive?" Molly half shrieked.
"No." My reply was almost inaudible.
"God Almighty." She whispered back in return. All three of us just stood around, mourning for about 5 minutes before Molly broke the silence.
"Jack, where are you staying?"
"I don't have anywhere to go, but I can easily-"
"Come on, then. My cab will be here in a few minutes."
"Where are we going?"
"My place." She answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well, thanks, Miss Brown. That's really nice of you and I appreciate it and all, but I met Matt and I can't leave him. He and his 2 sisters and 1 brother lost their mom and dad in the disaster, and they have no place to go. They've been staying with their Aunt Teresa while their parents were vacationing in France, but they can't stay there much longer because Aunt Teresa has 3 of her own kids, and they may all have to be adopted, which I don't like because they may never see each other again." I rambled.
"Where is your aunt, honey?" she asked Matt.
"Come on." Matt led us to a young lady that didn't look more than 25 years of age, with short black hair and green eyes that stood out like a girl wearing red would in a room full of everyone else wearing tan. She had the brightest smile, too. Her face was beautiful, but then I noticed her clothes. Dirty, torn, and ragged. She looked just like me.
"Hi." she smiled at us when she saw us approach. Then she turned to Matt. "Matt, you shouldn't have bothered these nice people."
"Oh no, he's fine. He actually comforted me." I said.
"I'm Margaret Brown. I heard about your problem and I'd like to help. I'd like this young man and his siblings to stay with me until you can find them all the same home." she smiled.
"Oh, thank you so much, but I couldn't ask you to do that. That would be way to much to ask of a stranger."
"Do you know what you're doing with them?"
"No." she admitted.
"Then I think I'm your only choice."
"Matt, honey. Do you mind staying with Miss Brown for a while?" she bent down to be at his level.
"No. I like her. And Jack. And Jackie, Rosie, and Dylan can come, too!"
"Ok, then. I guess they're all yours. Thank you so much for helping me out with this! I promise you won't keep them for long."
"It's fine. However long you need. Where are the other 3 kids?"
"They're waiting in the cab. Matt, would you go get them?"
"Ok, Aunt Teresa." he ran off.
"They don't have very many things. They really only have what they brought with them."
"Then we'll go shopping for them. You'll have to excuse me. I'm very tired. I spent about 5 hours in a lifeboat, watching the most horrific thing you could ever experience."
"Oh, no. I totally understand. I'm so sorry about everything."
"We're very sorry, too." Matt returned with his siblings.
"Ok, well, it looks like the cab is here. Thank you for your company, Teresa. We will be in touch."
"Ok, and thank you so much. Jackie, Rosie, Dylan, and Matt. You be GOOD for Miss Brown and Jack. They were nice enough to take you in for a while until I can smooth out some things. I promise you won't be with her for long. Just please cooperate with us on this, ok?"
"OK." was every reply.
"Ok. I love you. See you soon!" We all said our good byes, and got in the cab. We were soon on our way to a new life. But all the while, I couldn't help but think about what happened to Rose.
Thank you all who reviewed! I actually cried a couple times in this chapter, too. This chapter really wasn't planned, it just kind of happened. Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy and read and review! Some of the lines in this chapter was dedicated to my friends who died this year in a car accident. They were only in high school, so they had so much more to live for. R.I.P guys! Always loved and missed.
