Cal was impatiently glancing at a menu when Rose arrived for lunch. She hadn't meant to be late. It was a series of unfortunate events that caused her delay. She had misplaced her purse, then her keys. Her car ran out of gas, and last but not least, she had taken a wrong turn on her way to the restaurant. But finally she made it, rushing in to find her fiancee ready to order.
"You are late, Sweet pea," Cal simply stated, closing the menu.
"I do apologize, Cal. I had misplaced my keys then I had taken a wrong turn on the way here. I finally made it, despite it all. You're not ready to order are you?"
"Of course," Cal grinned, just as the waiter appeared.
"May I take your order, sir?"
"Yes. We'll have the lamb with very little mint sauce," Cal ordered for them both, not noticing Rose's frown. He looked at her as if she was an after thought. "You do like lamb, don't you sweet pea?"
Rose just forced a smile and nodded. She was the one who was late. She couldn't expect Cal to put off ordering like that. Besides, lamb wasn't so bad, was it?
"I saw the papers this morning," Cal took a sip of his water, looking at her over the glass, his voice betraying no emotion. "I wasn't aware that you knew Dawson."
Rose bristled at the use of Jack's last name. She wanted to tell Cal that the man had a first name, but she decided to leave it. "The stupid papers. You can't have a conversation with someone without them having you dating. Jack is a friend, that is all. The gossips in this town are ridiculous."
"That is why it is important to be careful of our associations, sweet pea. We can't be seen with just anyone. We are royalty Rose. We should be seen associating with such," Cal unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap. "Of course, I believed none of it. I trust you."
"Thank you, Cal. That is more than what my mother can say."
Cal chuckled and shook his head. "Ruth is just old fashioned, Rose. She comes from a different era than you and I. A more refined era, but an outdated one. Sometimes it is best to ignore our elders."
"That I can agree on."
Cal just chuckled and reached over and touched Rose's hand. "Look, I know that you have been melancholy later. I can't pretend to know why. I take it that it's your mother's overbearing nature that is to blame. But I am here for you Rose. Open your heart to me. There is nothing I'd deny you. Nothing I won't give you, if you do not deny me. Give me a chance."
Rose sighed. "I am trying, Cal. Truly. I wasn't happy with our engagement at first, but I realized that I haven't been giving you a chance and I am trying now."
"And Dawson?"
"He is just a new friend I had met at the studio. The girls and I were invited to a concert and an after party and we had nice girls night out. Even though I suspect that Trudy and Helga have some romantic prospects. But that is all."
Rose could tell that he wasn't really happy with her answer, but what else could she say? That she'll never see Jack again? That was a lie. He was her friend. Cal was just going to have to get used to it if he was going to remain a part of her life.
"I cannot say that I approve, but I do trust you sweet pea. You know, I was going to wait to give you this, but since you have been so sad lately, I deem now is appropriate..."
He drew a black ring box out of his pocket and sat it on the table. He opened it to reveal a ring with a silver band, a blue heart shaped stone with diamonds surrounding it.
"Oh my god…Cal...this is...it's..."
"It's a part of a stone called the heart of the ocean. A very rare diamond. Part of the crown Jewels, worn by King Louis the..."
"I'm aware of the story...Cal, this is overwhelming..."
"It's meant to be worn by royalty. And we are royalty Rose..."
She didn't know what to say. It was indeed a beautiful stone and looking at Cal, she could believe that he was giving it to her out of real love and affection. She felt wrong for assuming the worse of him, just because of her overbearing mother. Not because of the ring, but it did seem like his feelings were genuine. He deserved this chance.
"Thank you," She managed as he slipped the ring onto her finger. "I know, the engagement ring is a lot more charming in some aspects, but this is far more precious, just like you are to me."
"I'll put it somewhere safe," She smiled, gazing at the stone. The blue stone was deep and gorgeous. It was indeed something to be kept in a jewelry box, locked out of sight. But she appreciated the feelings behind them. She sighed, thinking of Jack and the kiss. If it wasn't for this need to see where things could go with Cal, maybe they could have been something beyond friends, but for now, she was feeling pretty good about her decision to make it a go with Cal. She just hoped that Jack wasn't too hurt by her decision, because that had never been her intention.
…..
Jack sat on his porch, playing his guitar, trying to come up with the right music for a song that Fabrizio had written and trying to keep his mind off of Rose. He didn't know why he was feeling so down about her decision to give Hockley a chance to prove himself. How entitled was he? He was only a friend. It wasn't like Rose was supposed to fall in love with him. How could she when they hadn't even known each other for that long?
It wasn't like...he shook the thought out of his head. He was not going to go there. He never wanted to think of that time in his life again. He had left all of that in the past. Right now, it was all about the music, his friends, and the people he considered his family, like Molly. The mother that he wished he had.
"Jack darlin'," Molly pulled up in her car, a pretty blond girl was seated next to her, looking at Jack with real interest.
"Molly?" He sat his guitar down and watched as his manager and her new friend got out of the car and approached him. "What can I do for you?"
"I came with your date for the next couple of evenings. Her name is Lisa, she's a student at the University going into accounting. You two had met at the beach and had hit it off. Be seen out and about town with her and all that speculation about you and Rose will be over with."
Jack sighed, not really in the mood to go anywhere with anyone, but Molly was right. It was necessary. It was to take the heat off of Rose if for nothing else. "I guess we can do dinner and a movie and maybe some clubbing..."
"That a boy," Molly laughed. "Hey, it's not true love, but do have fun. Show the girl a good time. Maybe it'll turn into something. You'd never know."
Jack somehow doubted that it would turn into anything resembling what he'd need to get Rose off his mind.
…..
The next day Cal had decided to take Rose to a movie. Some action movie that she really had no interest in, but he had been looking forward to seeing. They were waiting in line to buy tickets, with Cal complaining the whole time.
"Do they not realize who we are? We shouldn't even have to wait in line like this," Cal was ranting, angry at not getting the tickets right away.
That was when Tommy, Fabrizio, and Jack came out of the theater. Tommy and Fabrizio were with Trudy and Helga, while Jack was with some blond girl that Rose had never seen before. She winced at the stab of pain that went through her at seeing Jack with someone else.
"Hey there's Rose!" Helga waved, excited to see her friend.
Rose forced a smile and waved back, wishing that Helga hadn't seen her and that she hadn't seen them. She did not want to be wondering who the girl with Jack was for the rest of the night.
"Hello Rose and Cal," Trudy greeted as the group approached. "We weren't expecting to see you here. What movie are you going to see? The new Will Smith movie?"
"That's the one," Rose smiled, trying not to look at Jack and his date, but failing. He looked so handsome and he seemed to be avoiding looking at her as well as she was trying to avoid looking at her. "So who is your new friend here?" She had to know. She couldn't help herself.
"This is Lisa, my date for the evening," Jack forced an awkward smile, for some reason feeling guilty for being caught with another girl. "Lisa, this is Rose Dewitt Bukater, a friend of mine."
"Hello...oooh, I know you! You're Caledon Hockley! My mother has all of your albums," Lisa's eyes widened at the sight of Cal.
"Yeah, he's Rose's fiancee," Jack replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's very nice to meet you," Lisa smiled, unaware of the awkwardness between Jack and Rose.
It didn't go unnoticed by Trudy though, who cleared her throat. "We better go before that restaurant closes. We'll see you later Rose."
She hated to see Jack go away and with a girl that wasn't her, but there was nothing that she could do about that. She was with Cal and Jack was with another girl, who was free to be with him. A girl that didn't have a fiancee to think about. A girl that was not her.
She watched them walk away, hating the pain that seeing Jack with someone else caused. She didn't know why she cared so much. Jack was just a friend. She was not entitled to his romantic interests. He had his own life to live just like she had hers. It was wrong for her to expect him to wait for her to make up her mind about Cal.
"Finally the line is moving," Cal grumbled, taking Rose's hand. "Won't be too long now, sweet pea."
Rose sighed, wishing that it was her by Jack's side and not that Lisa person. But that was an impossibility. She had made her bed and now she was going to sleep in it.
…..
Rose had just gotten home from the movies when her cell rang, causing her mother, who was heading upstairs with a steaming cup in tea in hand to frown and stop in mid-stride.
"Don't be on that thing for too long, Rose. You know how I hate calls at this time of night," Ruth admonished.
Rose just rolled her eyes in response. "Yes mother." Once Ruth was out of sight she glanced at the caller ID and felt a thrill when she recognized the number. "Jack?"
"Hey," he greeted, sounding wide awake. "I know it's late, and I'm sorry..."
"Don't be sorry. I was just getting back in."
"Oh, that's good. So he's not there with you?"
Rose couldn't help but laugh. "No, he's not. Cal is back at his penthouse, probably getting ready to get his beauty sleep."
"I just thought I'd call and...well I...I felt that I needed to explain tonight..."
Rose sighed. He shouldn't feel like he should explain. He didn't owe her any explanation at all. "Jack, you really don't have to. I mean...you have every right to see whoever you want..."
"She doesn't mean anything to me, Rose. She was just a decoy. To throw the gossip rags off, that's all. She's not my girlfriend or anything. I probably won't even see her again..."
"Jack..."
"I just didn't want you to be upset, alright? You looked kind of pissed off..."
Rose laughed and shook her head, then she sighed. For some reason, she couldn't lie to him. He would probably know if she was less than truthful. "I have to admit...I was jealous."
"Is that so?" there was a pleased tinge to his voice, making Rose roll her eyes, a little annoyed.
"You don't have to sound so pleased about it."
"I sound pleased?"
"More so than is appropriate."
"Sorry," Jack sounded good and chastised, making him sound even more adorable. Rose sighed, realizing that she was more than fond of Jack. Which was not good. How could she give Cal a real chance if she was here having feelings for another man? It wasn't fair. Really, none of this was. Jack was closer to her age, she had more in common with him, and she didn't have to try to be present with him, she just was, because he was the kind of person that one wanted to be around. With Cal...well it was a chore.
"No, I'm sorry. I have no right to be jealous. You're free to be with whoever you want. After all, of the two of us, I'm the one engaged..."
"Against your will," Jack pointed out, a part of him not giving up hope that he could be more than just a friend. After all, she was jealous. That had to mean something, right?
"Maybe so, but I'm supposed to be giving him a fair chance, remember?"
"How is he turning out to be? Is he treating you good?"
"Well, he gave me this beautiful ring because he had noticed I've been melancholy lately..."
"But…?"
"He's brash, arrogant, selfish…but he has his nice moments. I just have to figure out if those nice moments are worth keeping around..."
"Well, no one is perfect, but there's a limit..."
"Don't I know it," Rose sighed. "I don't know what to do, Jack. He gave me this beautiful ring the other night, trying to make me feel better...but then tonight, all the whining he did had put me off. I don't know which way I want to go."
"Just follow your heart, Rose. That's all I can tell you. Follow your heart, it won't steer you wrong."
Follow her heart. Should she? Because right now, her heart was definitely not steering her towards Cal.
"I better go. I have an early day tomorrow," She didn't want to hang up. She could just fall asleep listening to his voice. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying not to let on that her feelings were growing for the handsome artist/musician.
"Take care Rose. Call me if you need me. You have my number."
"Thank you, Jack. I know that I'm no picnic..."
"But you're the most amazing woman I've ever known," Jack smiled on his end. "Good night, Rose."
"Good night, Jack," She sighed as she hung up, wishing that her life wasn't so complicated. She wanted to flee into Jack's world, but with Cal tagging along, she didn't know if she could.
