Hello everyone,
I just wanted to say thank you to all of the people who have commented and read the story and I have read all of the comments and they have touched my heart. I was going to update on Monday but I became so caught up in my school work. This chapter is pretty decent than the last one because I wanted to add some scenes that weren't in the movie.
Anyways, this chapter goes along with the soundtrack "Rose" by James Horner. For the other chapters I haven't put up lists of songs, because I wanted this story to connect with James Horner score.
As always, if you readers have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to let me know about it, I will happily read them all. And please, COMMENT!
I'm hoping you all enjoy reading it, but if not, just let me know anyway, and I'll try to do better to make progress for future chapters.
Miss Victoria 20.
CHAPTER SEVEN
SEVERED STRINGS
I breathed in and out and recited in my head, 'Everything is fine. Everything is fine. It is for the best.' the tears were still flowing down my face and I tried to calm down, letting the morning breeze hit my face, but all it did was make it difficult for me to breathe. It was nothing to do with the corset I was wearing. I felt as though someone had plunged a knife in my lungs and twisted it, there was a tingling feeling in my fingertips. I looked down at my hands and saw they were shaking. I went over to the railing and tried not to fall. I was shocked that I could be so vile, I never thought of being a cruel person, especially to Jack. After a moment of panic, I breathed in and out slowly and walked towards the group. Rose glanced at me and immediately she came next to me with a small frown and a questioning look. I shook my head and followed Mother and Caledon whilst we continued with the tour.
I was confined indoors. Mother had noticed that I was missing and she wanted me under her eyes at all times. Although I was grateful that Rose stayed with me. However I felt something had changed, I felt miserable; like a someone had put and pull my strings against my will.
For the rest of the morning, we stayed in the parlour room, with a couple of socialites, talking about the same boring things. Honestly, I nearly fell asleep if it wasn't for mother who asked a question about the upcoming engagement. Mother asked what kind of theme I had in mind for the wedding, I only replied, 'Whatever you like, mother.' Mother casted a disappointed glance at me and resumed talking. I hated being in the spotlight for pointless things, and mother knew of this since she had told me I was to be engaged and married in New York City and I remarked saying that I wasn't ready to be married. The only time I was free from my mother's supervision was when I was allowed to go the bathroom. I went in once and I wanted to stay there and rip my hair out, angry that my mother was controlling me.
In the afternoon, I felt like I was on the verge of tears. I kept on glancing at the deck, desperately thinking of ways to free myself.
This was one of the worst feelings I felt. It was worse than the day I wanted to jump off the railing at the back of the ship because I had a taste of what it was like to be carefree and to act my age and be like the lower class... to be happy. A frown came across my face when my mother's back was turned.
In the afternoon, Mother, Rose and I got dressed and went over to the first class lounge room. It was one of the most elegant room on the ship, it was revolved around Louis Quinze Versaille style, from which Mr. Andrews described. I sat on a wing chair with mother and Rose and the Countess Rothes and Lady Duff-Gordon while they were having tea. I noticed Rose gave a small smile at me while I pulled a face. Personally, I resented tea, it was like drinking boiling water.
Mother, Lady Duff-Gordon and the Countess Rothes were talking about Rose's upcoming wedding. Rose was mostly listening, she had glanced at me and turned back to the worthless conversation, although I wasn't paying attention at all, instead I turned my head and watched a mother and daughter, only table away, were having tea. The girl was wearing crisp white gloves and daintily picking up a biscuit. The girl's mother corrected her on her posture and the way she held her teacup. I could see the girl was trying to make her mother happy. I watched as I realised that was me, and how I was becoming. How the hell did this happen to me? How could I have put my heart second and my mother's request first. I was trying to be what people wanted me to be.
As I watched the mother and daughter having tea, I suddenly remembered mother did that to Rose and myself when we were small children. Mother straightened my posture and scowled at me for the way I didn't lift my little finger up from the handle of the teacup.
Jack was right.
I looked over at my mother; she had a dainty smile and her hand perfectly cupping her teacup.
"Of course the invitations had to be sent back to the printers twice…" she said quietly.
I placed my elbow at the table and swiped my teacup full of tea over my dress.
"Oh no", I exclaimed. "I am so foolish, I'll go upstairs and get changed." I said gently, "Excuse me."
I got up and left the room. I was glad to be away from the worthless talk of marriage and invitations. 'The hell I would marry,' I thought scornfully. I didn't go to my room, instead I went over to the first class deck and I felt someone pulled my arm softly.
"Evelyn. What is the matter?"
It was Rose, looking concerned.
I turned and my eyes were already teary. "It was nothing, sister."
Rose gave me a pointed look. "You're not a good liar, and you're not very clumsy, unless you do it on purpose."
I sighed and turned to look at the endless ocean ahead.
"I saw something in there, in that room," I sniffled, I glanced at Rose and she nodded for me to continue. "I saw a girl being controlled by her mother. It reminded me how mother was with us, and still is."
Rose sighed.
"I see," said Rose and she let go of my arm. "Although, I believe there is something more isn't there?"
I couldn't hold it any longer.
"Evelyn, I saw it. Something happened, you have been looking miserable ever since the tour of the ship."
The tears came from my eyes and a sob broke out from me.
"Evelyn... what happened?" Rose asked with sympathy, rubbing my arm.
The only time I would ever cry was when something truly upset me, before I came to Titanic, the only time I ever cried hard was when my father died. I wasn't a crier; I could cry, but not in floods like some women would go on for hours over nothing.
"I did something so ... vile." I said, wiping the tears away.
"What did you do?" said Rose softly.
I turned to her and asked, "Do you love Caledon?"
Rose was silent and she had a frozen posture.
"Well? Do you?" I asked her, watching her carefully as she avoided looking at me.
"It is that man? Jack? Isn't?" said Rose, and she placed her hands on my shoulders. "You love him?"
I nodded.
"I do. I-I really do. I want to be with him all the time. I feel happy being with him, I feel safe, and I feel like that I can be myself when I am with him. He makes me smile."
"So what is wrong? Do you believe it is wrong to be with Jack?" Rose asked, finally looking at me.
I swallowed, "Mother doesn't want me around him."
"Who cares?" said Rose. I looked at her surprisingly. I never seen Rose being… rebellious. "I want you to live your life with the one you love. Do not worry about mother. Remember when we were children, we said we will find the man we love and marry."
"I do remember," I said, wiping the tears away from my cheeks, "but that was years ago. You're to be married to Caledon."
I saw something on Rose's expression was strange, she wrinkled her nose in disgust when I mentioned Caledon.
"What?" I said curiously.
"I am not going to marry him." Rose whispered.
My eyes popped wide. What?
"I do not love him even if he is the master of the universe I wouldn't marry him. I want to find a man who would love me for me, not for wealth or prosperity."
I frowned, "But, why haven't you told him or mother?"
Rose gave a wry smile.
"I am not going to do it by throwing them off at the deep end." Rose said. "I am leaving him and mother when the ship reaches New York. I want to fulfil my dreams, just like you."
I always knew Rose wanted to travel around the world and become an actress in Hollywood and I would support her all the way. This was clever of Rose, though. It was sneaky and smart.
"Go and find him."
I sighed and mumbled. "He won't want to see me."
"Why?"
"Because I told him I did not feel the same way."
I glanced down at my deck flooring when there was a short silence until it was broken by Rose.
"Oh Evelyn, if he makes you happy, and you love him…and goodness knows it, he loves you too. I saw the way he stared at you at dinner." Rose said with a warm smile. "That is pure, honest love. Please don't throw it away. Go after him."
I blushed and smiled, "All right. Thank you, Rose. You are the most amazing person I know."
"Go on," said Rose, laughing, nudging me. "I will tell mother that you went to catch up with Madeleine."
I beamed widely and I walked over to the gate and entered the third class deck where there wasn't many people on the deck, it was easy to find two familiar people. It was Jack's friends, Fabrizio and Tommy, playing a game of cards with a glass of beer in their hands on the bench.
"Hello, Fabrizio, Tommy. Do you know where Jack is?" I said.
"Yeah, he is at the front of the ship. Nice to see you, Evelyn." Tommy said, a cigarette between his teeth.
"Thanks, Tommy." I said.
I left them to their drinks and game and ran to the front of the ship, ignoring the looks I was receiving until I saw a figure with his back to me. I stepped closer to the person and I knew it was Jack. My heart rate increased and I was already weak in the knees. Then I wondered if Jack would ever forgive me? Would he?
I smiled, my mouth twitched.
I had to give it a try.
"Hello, Jack." I said kindly.
Jack turned toward me, looking guarded.
I gave a warm smile and said, "I changed my mind."
He smiled and I felt blood rushed over my face. The wind blew over my face and my wavy dark hair blew with the wind.
"I am truly sorry about what happened before, you were right about me and Tommy said you might be up-"
"Ssshh." Jack said. "Come here."
He offered his hand for me to take and I took it, my face burned.
"Close your eyes," said Jack softly.
I closed them and I felt Jack directing me towards. I was tempted to peak and see what was going on. Jack's hands were on my waist. I took a step up and held the rails to support myself and I felt Jack behind me. His body made me feel warm, I could feel his warmth travelled to me.
My arms outstretched on each side, I was supported by Jack and he lowered his hands and my hands stayed up. I couldn't help but smile. I felt Jack's head on my shoulder.
"Okay. Open them." He whispered in my ear.
I opened my eyes and I gasped. It was a breathtaking sight. All I was were large bodies of water. It was like there was no ship at all and it was like flying through the Atlantic in the sunset.
"Oh my god… I'm flying!" I said breathlessly.
I leaned over but Jack had placed his hands over to steady myself.
Jack was singing to me softly, "Come Josephine in my flying machine…"
I smiled and leaned back into Jack, my back pressed gently onto his chest. He rose his hands and his hands touched me and I let our fingers intertwined slowly. Our hands caressing each other's.
I turned and I saw Jack leaning close to my face, I looked at his eyes and were filled with love. I couldn't look away from him.
My arms were lowered to my stomach and I saw myself reflecting in his blue eyes.
My lips found his and I didn't let go. My heartbeat went so fast, and my heart was pounding that I thought it was going to hurt against my ribcage. I tilted my head back and I gave in. I gave in everything to him. My passion, my love, and my heart. My strings were severed with the seal of a kiss.
I was deeply and truly in love with Jack Dawson.
And I wasn't going to let go of him.
There you are. Evelyn and Jack are officially together! I was excited to post this chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Evelyn' strings are detached from her mother's doing. Rose shows her sly side of personality, she hopes to break her engagement and pursue her life dreams. Anyways, the next chapter will be posted in two weeks.
Read and Review down below. Thank you for reading : )
Miss Victoria 20.
