-1Chapter Four: It's Really You

So close together

And when I'm with you

So close to feeling alive

"I was looking for Tommy Ryan."

The words hung above the two of them awkwardly. Kathleen shifted her weight as her green eyes focused on Tommy. He looked beyond shocked as his eyes stared her down.

"That would be me, but you must be looking for another lad," Tommy told her leaning back against the railing of the liner. He smiled slowly at her before placing his cigarette back in his mouth.

Kathleen felt her heart flutter as she looked at him. "Then you are who I'm looking for."

Tommy raised his eyebrow as he exhaled. Observing the young woman in front of him he felt that something about her was familiar. Her smile looked so familiar as did her eyes. He tried to place her face in his memory, but he had only known one first class girl. There was no way that could be her, but she looked so familiar.

"Why are you looking for me, Miss…?" Tommy inquired.

"Miss Martin and I was looking because you promised to find me," Kathleen told him after a slight pause.

The cigarette in Tommy's hand crashed onto the deck of the liner. Neither spoke as they stood there in a perfect silence. Kathleen nearly jumped back in shock when Tommy suddenly took a step towards her.

"It's really you?" Tommy asked quietly as he grabbed her hand softly. Kathleen felt thrilled to feel his rough hands in her own.

Kathleen nodded as she felt tears well up in her eyes. All of these years she had hoped that this moment would come, but having him standing there was better than all of her dreams. Feeling his hand in hers once again was a perfect moment. His grip tightened on her hand as she smiled at him.

Tommy started lean towards Kathleen but she covered his mouth softly with her hand. As much as she wanted to kiss him in that moment she couldn't risk having someone from first class seeing her. It would be bad enough to show such affection in public, but with a third class man would be unthinkable. Sadly, she let go of his hand glancing towards the first class deck.

"Not here," Kathleen said softly.

"Come walk with me," Tommy whispered in Kathleen's ear.

"Of course," Kathleen grinned as she followed Tommy. He smiled back at her as they walked together into the ship. Kathleen looked around at the unfamiliar area; there was no unnecessary ornamentation or excessive luxury. The simplicity brought a smile to her face as she looked around the third class.

Kathleen felt her attention leave from the third class to Tommy as she felt his hand enclosing her own. She smiled at him as the continued to walk down the long corridor, hand in hand.

"I've missed you," Kathleen told Tommy breaking the silence.

"I always knew I'd find you, again," Tommy told her.

"Really? I believe I was the one who did the finding," Kathleen said.

Tommy laughed as he pulled her towards a large open room. "At least we're together again."

Kathleen agreed as she looked around the room. It was full of people, many of whom were looking towards her curiously. She felt her cheeks turning a slight crimson as she sat down on a bench next to Tommy.

"They're staring," Kathleen said to Tommy quietly.

"Because you're so beautiful," Tommy reassured her quickly. As they sat down on an open bench he placed an arm around her slender waist as he used to those years ago.

"I highly doubt that's the reason," Kathleen said looking towards the people. They looked at her if she was some sort of villain. That within any second she might suddenly lash at them, because that was the rich did. The rich would never willingly spend time with them. There had to be a reason for this visit.

Tommy smiled at Kathleen. "I reckon it is."

Kathleen rolled her eyes with a small burst of laughter. She turned her body slightly as to see Tommy better before speaking. "How has Ireland been for you and your family?"

A quiet past before Tommy answered her question. He needed to gather the main events that had occurred over the years since she had taken off back to her home land. So much had occurred that he could not even imagine how he could simplify it down.

"It's been difficult," Tommy finally said.

Kathleen frowned. "What happened?"

"Nothing been quite the same since Mum died," Tommy began but was interrupted by an audible gasp from Kathleen.

"I'm so sorry," Kathleen stated lightly touching Tommy's arm.

He smiled at her before continuing to speak. "It's alright. After she died everything seemed to fall apart. Me father kept drinking away the memories of Mum. The more he drank the more money we kept losing. As it became harder he thought I'd do better in America. That's why I'm on this ship."

"I believe that it was fate. We could only be apart for so long," Kathleen said leaning her head against Tommy.

"How has life away from Ireland been?" Tommy asked.

"The same as it had been before Ireland, except I missed you. Each day was the same with the parties and all of the sorts. Most of it spent with my sister causing as much chaos as proper ladies could," Kathleen told him.

The two began to speak of the parties that Kathleen had attended as long as some of the trouble that her and her sister had managed to causes. Most of the chaos had been caused by Brenna, but it was very subtle. They never did anything that would get them into too much trouble; they knew were the line was drawn clearly.

Kathleen stopped talking when she was seen a man approaching Tommy and her. She recognized him from the deck previously; he had been drawing a sketch of some sort. Sitting down next to Tommy he said," Can't stand that horn used to tell the first class its dinner, no offense Miss."

"None taken," Kathleen said simply. Suddenly the smile vanished from her face as she realized how late it was from what the man had just said.

"Tommy, I have to be going," Kathleen said standing up.

He looked at her sadly grabbing her hand before she raced off. "When will I see you again?"

Kathleen thought about it for a moment before answering. "Tonight, where we met today."

Tommy smiled at Kathleen letting go of her hand. She immediately missed the warmth but she raced out of the room as quickly as she could. More time had passed than she imagined as she continued to get to her room as quickly as possible.

Finally, and slightly out of breathe, Kathleen threw herself in her room. She took a few deep breathes before racing towards her wardrobe to pick a dress of the evening. It had to be a perfect dress for she would be in it later when she saw Tommy again.

"Where were you? Brenna shouted worried as she noticed her sister returned. She raced towards her giving her a quick hug. "I searched the entire ship twice trying to find you."

Kathleen smiled at her sister as she picked out a perfect her favorite dress, it was blue and brown. The beading on it was unbelievable, and every time she wore it she felt unbelievable. A smile stayed on her face as she turned towards her sister. "I was exploring."

"You liar, you wouldn't without me," Brenna said as she slipped into her dress for dinner that night. She sat down to have her hair fixed quickly. Raising an eyebrow at her sister it was obvious that she wanted the truth.

Kathleen sighed as she sat next to her sister. Both of them sat there having there hair done as Kathleen outweighed the options. While she wanted to tell her sister what had happened today she honestly feared her reaction. On the other hand if she didn't tell Brenna she would never forgive her for keeping such a secret. Finally, she decided the truth would be less painful in the end.

"You must promise not to repeat what I tell you," Kathleen told her sister quietly,

"Promise," Brenna quickly said leaning in towards her sister.

After taking a deep breathe Kathleen started to speak. "After lunch I glanced down at the third class, and I saw him, Brenna."

Brenna's eyes opened with surprise as she looked at her sister. Her mouth even hung slightly ajar. "Tommy?"

Kathleen nodded her head as she giggled quietly. "I've spent the afternoon with him, and it amazing."

A silence hung over the two sisters as Brenna could not find the words to speak. The emotions that were running through her head did not help her figure out what to say. Part of her was ecstatic for her sister that she had found her love. A larger, and in her mind more rational, part wanted to scream at her sister for her foolishness. She still was pining for that poor boy, and that simply was so beneath her.

"I won't tell a soul," Brenna eventually said as she forced a smile. There was no way that she would be spreading this gossip in the entire world. Instead of saying else on the subject Brenna continued to force a smile.

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