After talking to Matthew, Rose returned to the waiting room to wait for word on Jack. She stood away from everyone else. Julie was right. They were more Jack's friends than hers. If she was going to walk out of Jack's life, it was going to be completely. They'll no longer share the same things. Especially friends. She was just going to have to shut herself off.

Matthew followed her, having a feeling that she could use a friend. He stood next to her, his brown eyes warm with concern. "Why are you standing away from everyone else? Aren't they your friends too?"

"They're more Jack's friends than mine...I doubt that they want me around. Not after what I've done..," Rose rubbed her eyes, sniffling.

"You didn't do anything. Stop blaming yourself."

"Why are you here anyway? You don't even know Jack..."

"I know you. We may not be together anymore, but I'm still your friend and it looks like you can use one. Especially now that it seems you're avoiding your other friends. Plus, I plan to stop you from doing something stupid."

Rose sighed. She couldn't make him understand. What she was going to do was for Jack's own good. If this didn't kill him, eventually her curse will. It was only a matter of time and she couldn't let that happen. The world needed Jack. He was more than a pretty face. He was kind, gentle, creative. He was a pure, beautiful soul and she was not going to destroy that. Not when she knew better.

"Matthew Calvert? Is that you?" Derrick approached, with Annabelle and Tommy right behind him. They had noticed that Rose was keeping her distance from the group, not that they blamed her after what Julie did, but their interest was peaked when Matthew showed up.

"In the flesh," Matthew smiled, happy to see two familiar faces. "I take it you two changed schools as well."

"Yeah and thank god we did. I couldn't go another year with Hockley being king of the school, may he rest in hell," Derrick nodded, not noticing how both his sister and Rose winced at the mention of Cal. "What are you doing here? I thought you were off in Kentucky."

"He transferred back here," Annabelle replied, rolling her eyes at her brother for not keeping up on the gossip. "He's been back for a while."

"And you didn't tell me?" Derrick stared at his sister.

"Sorry. Had other things on my mind."

His expression softened and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry. It's not your job to keep me informed."

"So what are you doing here at the hospital?" Annabelle asked, curious. She knew that Rose had met up with him earlier.

"My mom works here. I was dropping off some dinner to her when I ran into Rose for the second time tonight. She looked like she needed a friend, so here I am," Matthew shrugged. "I would like to know why she's here thinking she's cursed."

Matthew didn't miss the glares everyone threw a blond girl not standing too far away. "Oh….I see..."

"Rose, ignore Julie. She's a right bitch at times. We all know that this isn't your fault," Tommy sighed, inwardly cursing Julie for her need to take her anger out on Rose, who didn't deserve it at all.

"You don't understand. He went out to get me coffee. That's why he was out there. I was a little drunk and he was trying to help me. So tell me again how it's not my fault. I should never have come to that party, I should have gone home. He would never have left your house if it hadn't been for me."

"Still not your fault. Jack wanted to help you because he loves you more than anything. You two have been through more than most couples. Your relationship is deeper than anything I've ever had. Don't let this get to you," Tommy replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "And for the record, none of us blame you Rose. We're not just Jack's friends. We're yours, too."

Rose wanted to cry. What Tommy did was the kindest thing that anyone besides Jack had ever done.

"That goes for us too, Rose," Helga came up, to them, followed by Fabrizio.

"Forget Julie. She is insane," Fabrizio added, giving Rose a hug. "Jack would not like her after this."

"No, don't tell Jack. He shouldn't fight with his cousin over me. There's been enough of that," Rose sighed. No point having Jack angry with Julie over a relationship that wasn't going to exist anymore...that is if she didn't cave in to the pain that stabbed her heart when she thought about what she must do.

Suddenly Beth and Phillip stood at the double doors, talking to the doctor. The small group walked up to hear the news. Hopefully it was good. Rose wouldn't be able to handle it if it weren't.

"Doctor, what's going on with my nephew? Will he be alright?" Beth asked, wringing her hands anxiously.

"Well, he's pretty banged up. Some bruises, scraps and a concussion. He got off pretty lucky, judging from the wreck that was his car. Oh and he's awake now and pretty confused. But he's alive and will live to see another day. That's a pretty resilient young man in there," The doctor smiled, happy to give the family the good news. The boy's condition hadn't been as bad as they had feared. Everything was going to be find.

"Oh my god, yes! Thank you!" Beth cried out, hugging the doctor tightly.

"Can we see him?" Julie asked, having to know.

"Sure, but one at a time, please. He still has a head injury and needs to rest," The doctor warned.

They all looked at one another, wondering who should go in first. Rose didn't want to be first. She needed more time. More time of being his girlfriend, of having the right to kiss, hug, to love him. She wasn't ready to let go yet.

"Rose should go. He'll want to see her," Tommy suggested, unaware of Rose's reluctance, or of what she had planned.

"Really? I don't think so," Julie began to protest, outraged that after all Rose had done, she'd get to see Jack first.

"Would you rather I go first, Julie? I have a whole lot to say about your behavior that I'm sure he'd love to hear," Tommy glared and by how everyone else was staring at her, it was obvious that they agreed.

"Fine," Julie grumbled stepping aside.

Rose looked towards Matthew, inwardly begging him to come up with a reason for her not to go in there. Not to see Jack and break it off one last time. To end the one thing that had made her life bearable. But he just gave her an encouraging smile.

"See you later I guess," He chuckled. "Be smart."

She knew what that meant. It meant don't do something you'll regret. He didn't understand. She didn't have a choice. Jack would be in danger if she didn't end it. She had to do this. She had to be strong for the both of them.

But as she stepped into that room, as he smiled that smile she loved so much…she knew that she couldn't do what needed to be done. She just wasn't strong enough. She loved him too much to let go.

…..

Jack woke up with a headache and feeling confused on what had happened to him. How did he go from driving to the seven eleven to get Rose some coffee to being in the hospital with bruises and a concussion? How long had he been here? Where was Rose? Oh god, Rose…she must be a mess. Who knew what she was thinking and without him there to comfort her? He had to see her as soon as possible. So when the doctor said he could have visitors, he hoped that Rose would be the first person he saw.

Ten minutes after the doctor let, Rose entered. He smiled brightly at her, hoping to keep things light, but the smile faded when she burst into tears. So far so good. He made her cry already.

"Rose, don't cry. I'm alright. I know the car looks bad, but the Dawson luck held out and I only have a concussion. Come here, sit with me," He held his arms out to her, wanting to comfort her the best he could.

She walked over to him, close enough for him to take her hand and make her sit next to him on the edge of the bed. He waited for her sobs to turn into soft sniffles as she began to calm down.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, keeping her hand in his. He needed the contact as well as her after the week they've had.

Rose didn't know how to explain herself. Her plan to break up with Jack and leave healthy and whole while she still could had flown out the window the minute he smiled at her. She had never thought anyone could affect her like Jack did.

"I don't know what to say…what I was going to say…I'm not strong enough to say it…I'm too selfish and weak to do what I should…," Rose sniffed, not taking her hand out of his.

"Selfish? Rose, you are the most unselfish person I know, and the strongest. Just look at all you've gone through this year…"

"If I was unselfish Jack, I'd be able to do what I should be doing. But I'm too weak to. You smile at me and I want you for myself again and I'm unable to do anything else..."

"Maybe you should start from the beginning, sweetie," Jack squeezed her hand. He may have a headache, but he still wanted to be there for Rose.

"When I came in here…I was planning to break things off with you…"

Jack frowned as he felt a familiar ache in his chest, one that had plagued him all week. What did she mean break up? They had just fixed everything before the accident, or so he thought they had. What changed? "I don't understand….why?"

Tears were again in Rose's eyes as she faced him, knowing that he may realize the danger himself and do what she was not strong enough to do. "I'm cursed Jack. Everyone I love…they…they die. Daddy…Katarina…and you could have died tonight. My curse almost had gotten you killed as well. What happened to you tonight…it was my fault…"

"Oh Rose, no! Don't think like that! Of course it wasn't your fault! It was whoever was behind the wheel of the other car! It's not some curse, trust me on that."

"How can you be so sure? Why is it that bad things keep happening to the people that I love more than anything else in the world? Don't you see Jack? I'm dangerous. If we're not together, that means you're safe…"

"I'm not in danger and you're far from dangerous. Look, Rose…bad things happen to people all the time. It doesn't mean that they're cursed or that they're dangerous. It's just the luck of the draw. Besides, even if you are cursed, I have the good old Dawson luck on my side. I think it cancels out any old curse anyway. I mean…my car was total and I come out of it with only a concussion. If that's not luck, I don't know what is. So you see, there's no need to break up with me. I'm safe, I promise. Okay?"

Rose nodded, as he wiped away her tears. "I couldn't do it anyway. I…I don't have the strength…I'm too selfish…"

"No. That's not selfishness. It's love. Just like I wouldn't be able to let go of you. I love you too much."

"I just…I got so scared…"

"I know. I know. But there's no need to be. Not as long as we have each other and never let go."

"I promise Jack, I'll never let go."

He just smiled at her and continued to wipe away her tears. The love in his eyes was there for he and everyone to see.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt," Beth stuck her head through the door. "But the others want to visit and the doctor said one at a time…"

"Oh, of course," Rose got up. She leaned down and kissed his cheek and straightened up again. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"I'll look forward to it," Jack smiled and watched her leave, relieved that he talked to her before she let her emotions take complete control of the situation. He loved her so much, he would never be able to let her go and he hoped it was now the same for her.