My, oh my you guys. It's been WAY too long without an update! I apologize, and I am going to try to write up a new chapter (or two!) before I start back up at school next week. Stay tuned my loves! -Alyssa
(Aly's P.O.V)
"So, Michael? Do you wanna go to a real party?" I asked him, waiting to see how Michael would respond.
He looked at me for a second before giving me a smile and nodded is head as he grabbed his stogie and threw it over the railing of the boat.
I grinned as Michael took my arm into his. We walked with a spring to our steps, that I'm sure most everyone that we passed, noticed.
"So," I started, "you need to try to stay with me as much as you can."
Mikey was nodding his head, then did a double take. "Will something happen to me if we do?"
"no."
"Well then- "
"I don't want anything to happen to me." I looked at him seriously. Michael's eyes widened at my statement. "I'm just being precautious. Usually Jack and I both go below deck like this. I just want to be safe than sorry."
Michael nodded at me, understanding why I wanted that. "So," he looked at me again, "how much longer do we have till we get to the bottom?
I just chuckled at the shit eating grim=n that he had on his face. "We're only about half way down." The expression on his face changed to a slightly pained one.
We both ended up laughing and joking arm in arm with one another until the music was loud and just beyond the door that lay arms distance.
"You ready Michael?" I asked while looking at the door.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I smiled at his response.
I loosened the grip that my arm had on his.
Pulling on him, I got to the door. "Let's do this." I smirked before opening the door to the party.
(Rose's P.O.V.)
I am pleased to say; this dinner party could have gone a whole lot worse.
It was a bit after we finished our last course, everyone was hearing their go at telling funny stories. At the moment, Molly was telling a good one. As Molly's story came to a close, I knew what was coming up.
Leaning toward Jack and Aly, I whispered, "Next is brandy in the smoking room."
And on cue, Mr. Archie stood up. "Now gentlemen, would you like to join me for a brandy?" Most f the men agreed to his offer and stood up.
I chuckled, "Now they retreat to congratulate themselves on being masters son the universe."
"Ladies, thank you for the pleasure of your company." Ismay said to us.
"Rose" Cal spoke up behind me. "May I escort you to the cabin?"
"No, I'll stay here." I looked up ad told Cal. He got an angered look on his face, but said nothing.
"Joining us Mr. Dawson? You don't want to stay out here with the women, do you?" Mr. Archie chuckled.
"No thanks, Alyson and I've got to be heading back." Alyson and I both looked at Jack.
"Probably best." Cal said to Jack. "It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn't interest you." I raised my eyebrow at Cal and I could feel Alyson's temper building. When the men all had their backs turned, heading toward the drinking room, she stuck her tongue out at Cal. "But Dawson…" Cal turned back and threw the lighter back at Jack. "good of you to come." Then Cal and the either men (including his guard dog of course), walked away.
Jack walked over to me in my seat.
"Jack must you go?" I all but whined to him.
"Time for Alyson and I to go row with the other slaves." Aly stood up next to me.
I chuckled, and Aly whispered something to Michael. He nodded and stood up. I heard him tell mother that he was going to go on deck. Smart boy for not mentioning that he was going with Aly. I've taught him well.
"Goodnight, Rose." Jack said while taking my hand in his, then kissed the top of it. A paper got slipped into my hand by him and I gave Jack a questioned look.
All Jack did was look at me for a moment, before going over to Alyson.
I quickly and calmly opened the note that jack handed to me, trying not to alert anyone else of my doing so.
Make it count
Meet me at the clock
I looked up at Jack ass he placed a kiss on his sister's head Then he walked out of the dining room.
Alyson walked the short distance over to me and I stood up. 'Where are you going to go?"
"To have a smoke up on deck. I asked Michael to come with me, so Don't worry."
I smiled and gave Alyson a hug. As we were pulling out of the hug, she spoke.
"Hey Rose?"
"Yeah Aly?"
"Can you promise me something?" Alyson had a tiny bit of concern on her face.
"Of course. What is it?" I asked.
"Always remember to make it count, alright?"
My eyebrows furrowed together for a moment. How in the world could she have said the same thing Jack wrote in his note? I quickly smiled, "Of course I will." I put my hands on her arms, "Now, you two be safe, alright? I want my little brother to come back." Alyson gave me a grin.
I squeezed her arms before she walked to the doors of the dining room.
Sitting back down at the table, I mindlessly listened to the ladies' gossip while I planned a quick escape to meet up with Jack.
I covered my mouth with the back of my hand as I pretended to yawn. Mother and the ladies noticed and looked at me.
"Pardon me ladies. I believe that is my que to go to my room." Everyone but mother chuckled. I stood up.
"Goodnight everyone."
I sighed quietly to myself after I left the table, making it look as if I yawned again.
Calmly, I walked out of the dining room toward the grand staircases, where I knew Jack would be. My hands were shaking, and I had to control my breathing, or else Jack would definitely notice that I was nervous.
Nervous? Me? Nervous? About some third classed passenger? Rose Dewitt Bukater, what in the world are you doing? You can't possibly become friends with him! What if I become friends with him? What's the worst thing that could happen? Oh, I don't know? Maybe a certain Mr. Caledon Hockley finding out about your "friendship" and hiring someone to end it in a very permanent way. Hell, he's probably not even wait till the ship docked. Cal would have Mr. Lovejoy (quite the fitting name) kill Jack, then pay off the crew so they never questioned a thing.
I took a deep breath as the lovely dialogue in my head continued.
Turning the corner, I hit the bottom of the staircase that would lead me to Jack. I looked up, and the argument in my head went quiet. I even had to remind myself to breathe.
My heart beat faster than I've ever felt it before. I took a quiet, but shaky, breath ass I looked at Jack. This creature, this man, was surreal. I've never seen a man, that I just wanted to touch for copious amounts of time. But Jack, he was beautiful. And even more, his heart was more beautiful than all of that combined. This man is caring, and he would never do anything to harm another being.
I could feel my heartbeat in my head, breaking me out of the trance I was in. Deeply breathing in and out, I unclenched my fists that I just realized I made while I zoned out.
Grabbing my dress, I made my way up the stairs. Halfway up my short ascend, the clock chimed 9 o'clock. And Jack quickly registered the time and turned around.
A small half smile appeared on his face as I closed the distance between the two of us.
"So, do you wanna go to a real party?" He asked me, the look on his face having changed to a more confident one.
I smiled and nodded my head. Jack locked his arm with mine as he started leading me too this "party".
After going down for a while, I looked up at Jack.
"So, this party?"
He noticed the question in my voice. "Yes, well Rose, we're going to a party."
"And where is this party located, Mr. Dawson?"
With an amused look on his face, he stopped. "Miss Dewitt Bukater, do you not trust me?"
I stopped, looking at him. "With my life. Now, I'm assuming it's in third class. But where, Mr. Dawson.
Jack looked at me threw his hair. Well, Miss, you're right about the third-class party. And as for the location? Bottom of the ship. Pretty near the boiler rooms." Jack and I started walking again. "There's this empty…hall, I guess. Nightly, people bring their instruments, and we drink beer, and dance. A good ol' Irish party."
I gave Jack a smile and started walking again, him right on my heels.
Wee walked like that for a while, Jack giving me directions as we went. The longer we walked, the more I could feel the closeness of the man behind me.
I felt a hand on my lower back and I looked to the side of me. Jack had appeared, looking quite focused.
"Alright Rose, so we just will need to turn up here and walk down the hallway, then we'll be there." I nodded as we got closer to the music.
Within a few moments, I could see the door quite well, feeling the vibrations of the music throughout my whole body.
We finally made it to the door, and Jack turned to me with a concerned look on his face.
'Now Rose, there is a rule we need to discuss before we go in."
Okay Jack, what is it?"
"You need to stay with me, or within a close seeing distance of me, okay?" he almost pleaded to me.
"But Jack, why do- "
"Rose, please. You need to promise me that you'll stay close, no matter what. I swear this is a rule for a reason."
"What is the reason?"
"Rose just promise- "
"Come on, Jack. Just humor me. What is the reason?"
Jack closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Alyson and I have had this rule for a while. When we were younger, Aly and I would go to the pub or a party with 'friends'. One time, one of the men we knew, got Aly away from me and tried to take advantage of her. After that, this rule became a thing. So, Rose, please promise me. Promise me that you will stay close to me…the whole night."
I nodded at Jack. "I promise. Nothing will happen to me, okay? I'll stay as close as I can. The whole night."
He looked quite relieved that I agreed to the promise. He startled as I gave him a hug. It took a few moments, but I felt his arms wrap around my waist. We both stood there for a bit, taking in each other and our body heat. Jack can make my heart flutter, and my breathing calm down at the same time. It is a lot to take in, but I would rather have a lot to take in, than to ever have to not be around Jack.
He pulled back a a bit, and we just looked at each other. That was, until Jack gave a little smirk and lifted his eyebrow slightly. "So, Rose, are you ready for your first Irish party?"
I chuckled then raised my brow, "Bring on the party."
He smiled and grabbed my hand. "Then, malady, let us go in."
And just like that, Jack opened the door and led us in.
