Chapter 8

A/N: Thanks to the guest for the review For anyone who doesn't know what a School Formal is, it is like a prom in America, here in NI it's called a 'formal'.

Rachel's POV

I stood up and Jack flashed me a quick smile,

"Say his name," smiled Ciaran, "to show that you know he's there!"

"Thomas Andrews," I said slowly,

A blue glow formed next to my brother, before steadily taking the form of a man, his arms folded, he was dressed formally, his lips curled into a polite smile. He appeared to be around thirty.

"Thomas Andrews," I repeated,

"It is good to finally meet you Rachel," he said with a nod,

"Is he there?" Jack asked me,

"Yes… you mean you can't see him?" I inquired of Jack,

Jack shook his head, looking disappointed.

"Jack and Mr Andrews can't see each other," I told Ciaran,

Ciaran looked puzzled, "All this stuff is very confusing," he pondered for a minute, "make them say each others' names, the same way we had to, for us to see them."

"Jack Phillips," said Thomas Andrews, while at the same time, Jack said "Thomas Andrews,"

There was a moment of silence as the two of them finally saw each other, Jack stepped forward and shook his hand,

"Great to see you again, sir," Jack said, sounding extremely respectful,

"And the same to you, Mr Phillips," Mr Andrews replied, his accent similar to that of Ciaran and myself, only much softer.

"You… have met before," I said, only realizing afterwards how stupid what I had said was,

Jack smiled, "Oh Mr Andrews was always wanting messages sent, he was awful good at his job, but always noticing flaws."

"And you, Mr Phillips, were the best wireless operator in the world," replied Thomas, "I could not have imagined anyone better to work on my beautiful ship."

There was a pause, as if the two men had then just remembered that it was in fact Mr Andrews' beautiful ship that had caused the death of both of them. I had to break the silence, as both Jack and Thomas had started to look quite upset.

"Why did you never tell me?" I demanded of Ciaran,

"Would you have believed me?" he laughed, "'Oh Rachel, Thomas Andrews is my guardian angel and he helps me to draw pictures of the Titanic?' Would you have believed it for one second?"

"Well, no, well not until yesterday." I replied, "How long have you known?"

Ciaran glanced up at his angel, "I have known for five years," He looked back at me, "He saved me from drowning at the beach in Donegal, I knew then that I couldn't have survived that without someone's help, that night I watched 'A Night to Remember' with you and Thomas Andrews seemed so familiar to me, I muttered his name to myself, then I could see him." His mouth curled into a smile as he remembered this happy moment, "Then I heard you talking to Mr Phillips, I mean Jack, last night and I knew that he had to be your angel!"

Jack's POV

Rachel seemed quite stunned by the whole thing, and I must admit that I was too. It was strange to see Mr Andrews again after all this time, he used to come to the wireless room with a whole manner of messages that he needed sent. To me the ship had seemed flawless, but Mr Andrews was always seeing something wrong with it, he called me "Sparks", as did most of the authorities on the ship, only when he said it, it seemed much more affectionate. He seemed a truly kind man.

"Right," said Ciaran, "Thomas and I are off to draw pictures together,"

Mr Andrews smiled and nodded as he followed Ciaran out of the room, Rachel sat on the bed again and I sat next to her.

"It explains why he wants to be a naval architect anyway," Rachel said,

"Indeed it does," I smiled,

"Jack," she said suddenly, gripping my hand and staring into my eyes, "I really don't want to go to the school formal on Friday!"

I smiled to myself, "I remember dances back when I was… alive, we would all dress quite finely and a five piece band would play all the popular music of the time," I paused, "I assume this 'School Formal' will be very similar."

"No Jack," she exclaimed leaning towards me, "everyone does dress up, yes, but it is horrible!"

I nodded for her to continue,

"I will be expected to drink… and jump up and down and… and…" she gripped her face in horror,

"I will be there for you," I comforted her; "It really couldn't be as bad as you think!"

Rachel's POV

Before I knew it, it was Friday afternoon and I was struggling to get into my red dress, it reached the floor, I had got my hair done, it was usually a mess, but today it was straightened and twisted up on top of my head. My make-up had been done professionally, when I was dressed I admired myself awkwardly in the mirror in my room, in the mirror I could see Jack leaning against the doorframe, I beckoned him over.

"What do you think?" I asked cautiously,

"You look extremely respectable," he told me, smiling in a jokey manner,

"Is that all?" I asked, more daringly,

He smiled as he took my hand, his coldness radiating through his gloves, he bent himself down on one knee before me and raised my hand to his lips. He kissed it, shockwaves of coldness burnt into my hand as his lips touched my skin, but it was a beautiful sensation. He looked up into my eyes and took his lips away from my hand,

"My lady Rachel," he said, "you are beautiful."

My heart leapt, I could not speak, I felt myself smiling, I tried to get words out, he continued to look up at me and I felt weak at the knees.

"Rachel! Are you ready yet?" Chris barged into the room,

Jack turned and looked at him; Jack's eyes narrowed as he rose to his feet and released my hand from his chilling hold.

"Well, you look pleased about something," Chris announced, as he saw my dazed smile and my flushed cheeks,

"Ah yes," I laughed, "I'm just nervous about tonight."

"Nervous?" Chris asked as he took both of my hands in his, he was wearing a dark suit and a white shirt, which was so very different to the way in which he would usually dress, "Why would you be nervous?" he asked with a smile as he leaned in towards me. I glanced to Jack, who was watching us,

"You should kiss him, Rachel," Jack murmured, "or else he will be wondering if anything is wrong."

I looked back to Chris, he eyes were closed and his lips pouted. I kissed him gently on the lips, all too aware of Jack's unnerving gaze. I pulled away from Chris.

"Do you really think that was enough?" Chris laughed, as he took me in his arms, I put my arms around his neck,

"Of course not, sweetness." I murmured.

I heard Jack let out a snort of laughter; I wanted to tell him to shut up, even though I couldn't.

Chris' POV

I loved it when she was this close, I could feel her beating heart, her brown eyes gentle with affection, her cheeks softly blushing due to my touch, she tilted her head and closed her eyes, so I kissed her, her mouth opening slightly due to the feel of my lips, I could feel myself sigh with happiness as I touched her tongue with mine. This should be disgusting of course, but it wasn't. I felt a sudden weakness in my knees and I could barely breathe. Rachel pulled out of the kiss suddenly and giggled.

"What?" I asked her, her lipstick smudged around her mouth,

"You're wearing my lipstick more than I am!" she laughed, putting her head against my shoulder.

Jack's POV

I knew she was trying to think that I wasn't there and I wondered if I should perhaps leave. I tried to hold in my laughter at their awkward encounter, but on watching Chris hold Rachel in his arms and see her bend to his touch, their happy sighs and warmth of the two bodies touching, so young and alive. I had feelings growing inside of me, as I stood and watched the young lovers, so finely dressed and seemingly happy, I knew so deep inside of me that I was jealous. I wanted her in my arms, despite my coldness and lack of life, I wanted her to swoon at my touch and kiss. Her happiness should be caused by me. I felt my eyes narrow and my hands ball into fists, I was sickened and bitterly jealous.

Rachel's POV

We had to get a bus to the hotel where the formal was being held, it was a fine building called the Lansdowne Hotel, just outside of the city. Chris and I walked in hand-in-hand, and Jack followed. My friend Hayley was there, with her boyfriend Mark, who is Chris' older brother. Hayley was wearing a black dress and Mark was clinging to her arm. We all had to get photographs taken; Jack looked extremely annoyed by it all.

"This is so fun!" Hayley exclaimed as we all sat down to eat dinner,

I was quite bored by it all and the food was disgusting, Chris ended up eating most of it for me.

"Right everybody!" A DJ howled after the dinner was finished, "It's time to get this party started!"

Everyone screamed in excitement, except me. Jack came and stood beside me.

"You're not enjoying this, are you?" he asked,

I shook my head; it was worse than I had imagined,

"It is quite different from the dances I remember," he laughed, as the floor shook with the sounds of Tinie Tempah's 'Pass Out'.

I smiled,

"Do you want me to show you?" he asked,

I looked up at him; everyone was getting up to dance,

"You coming, Rachel?" Chris asked,

"Could you wait a minute? I just want to sit for a minute after eating!" I replied, finding it difficult to hear over the loud music, Chris nodded and walked off.

"Yes Jack," I said, "Show me."

A/N: More tomorrow Reviews please!