Chapter Twenty Four: bellyache by Billie Eilish

"Rose, are you sure about this?" Jack asked.

Rose nodded. "I need this, Jack. I need to go to Cal's commitment hearing."

"You sure? Because I can just get you a certificate that says everything you'll hear at that hearing," said Jack. "I just… don't understand why you need to go."

Rose leaned down and looked at him. "It's called closure, babe. I need it."

•••

Rose went to the commitment hearing, despite Jack's attempts to stop her. She watched the hearing, and after, a girl, at least a year older than Rose, came up to her.

"Are you Rose Dewitt Bukater?" The girl asked.

"Y-yes, that's me," said Rose.

"I'm Debby," said the girl. "I just wanted to thank you for turning Cal in."

"Oh, sure," said Rose. "I mean, I'm sure you would have done the same thing."

"That's the thing," said Debby. "I didn't do the same thing."

"What?" Rose asked.

"He forced himself on me, too," said Debby. "And I didn't have the courage you have to say anything to anyone."

Rose couldn't breathe. She just quickly left the courthouse. She stopped outside, where someone was waiting there for her.

"Hey, stranger," said Jack with a smile. He saw her expression: she was upset. "Rose?"

Rose continued walking towards him until she put her head against his chest and cried.

"Talk to me, baby," said Jack.

Rose finally managed to calm down, and she and Jack sat on a bench. "This girl… came up to me after the hearing, and she told me I was so brave for coming forward for telling someone what he did." She looked up at him. "He did the same thing to her, and she didn't say anything."

"Oh my god," said Jack.

"This could've all been avoided if she would have come forward. No one else would have needed to get hurt."

"I know," said Jack. He put his arms around her and hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Rose."

"I should've listened to you," said Rose. "You were right. I shouldn't have gone."

"No, you were right," said Jack. "You needed closure."

"And, I got it," said Rose. "But that last part… just negated everything."

Jack wrapped his arms around her. "Do you want to go home?"

Rose looked up at him and nodded. "Yes please."

They went home, and there was a knock at the door. "Postmates delivery."

"What did you order?" Rose asked.

"Coffees," said Jack. "Thank you."

He handed Rose her iced latte. "Thanks," she said. "Let's watch something."

"Sure, what's next on the list?" Jack asked.

"Dirty Dancing," said Rose. "My all-time favorite."

"Every movie is your all time favorite," said Jack with a smile.

Rose nodded. "Correct."

They watched the movie, and Rose fell asleep against Jack's chest. He looked down at her and smiled, so infatuated with her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her in his arms, unable to understand how he got so lucky as to have her in his life.

Jack continued watching TV on Rose's computer while she slept. He tried to get up for a second, but Rose grabbed his tee shirt. "Don't go," she whispered.

"Okay, I won't," he whispered, and he kissed the top of her head. He stayed next to her and watched her sleep. Her eyes were closed, but Jack could still tell she had beautiful eyes, her lips were relaxed, and her eyebrows weren't furrowed. Her whole face relaxed and looked trouble free.

She kept sleeping on him, until she woke up and looked at him. "Hi," she whispered.

"Hey," said Jack. "You had quite a nap."

"How long did I sleep?" Rose asked.

"Like, two hours," said Jack. "But I was about to get up about an hour ago, but you grabbed my shirt and wouldn't let me leave. And now… I really have to pee."

"Go, go," said Rose, and she giggled. He went to the bathroom and came back. He climbed back onto the bed and hovered over Rose. "Hi."

"Hi," Jack whispered. "Want to do something fun today?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "What are we doing?"

"Well, I don't believe we ever gave you a real tour of New York," said Jack. "I'll take you. Come on."

He stood up and took her hand. "Wait, you're going to pull my arm out of the socket," said Rose with a giggle. "You know, I've already been to all the museums and tourist attractions with school."

"We're not going to the tourist attractions," said Jack.

"Oh, okay," said Rose. "Then where are we going?"

"Surprise," said Jack. "Let's go."

They started walking. "Where are we going?"

"I've never taken you to some of my favorite places," said Jack. They finally arrived at a building with a red awning.

"Where are we?" Rose asked.

"The Strand," said Jack. "This is my favorite bookstore. Come on."

Jack took Rose's hand and took her inside. There was a huge staircase, and shelves and shelves of books. "It's amazing," said Rose.

"There used to be a coffee shop right across the street. They had the best hot chocolate, so I used to buy books and then sit in the coffee shop," said Jack.

Rose smiled. "I love it."

"Okay, now we're taking the subway uptown," said Jack.

"We're going all the way uptown?" Rose asked. "Why?"

"You'll see," said Jack.

They finally arrived at the 86th street station. "Where are we going?"

"You still don't know?" Jack asked. "Oh well. Let's keep walking."

They walked a few blocks before arriving at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Why are we at the Met? I thought we weren't going to museums."

"We're not here for the museum," said Jack. "We're here to do something that I don't think you've ever done."

"What is that?" Rose asked.

"Sit on the steps of the Met," said Jack. "You watched Gossip Girl, I know you know what I'm talking about."

Rose smiled. "Yes, I know what you're talking about," she said. "I'm surprised you know what that is."

"So here's something you might not know," said Jack. "Helga and I grew up together. We were the original people here. I was dropped off when I was six and we were friends. Fabrizio was transferred from out of state three years later."

"Really?" Rose said.

Jack nodded. "Yep. So when we were like, nine, Helga wanted to watch Gossip Girl and she didn't want to watch alone, so she forced me to watch it with her."

"Nine?" Rose asked. "That's crazy young."

"In retrospect, yes," said Jack.

They sat on the steps and took a few photos, and then they sat together on the steps. "Is this the part where we make out on the steps of the Met?" Rose asked.

Jack smiled. "Sure." He leaned in and kissed her lovingly and passionately. He pulled away and wrapped his arms around her. "Do you know how much I love you?"

Rose smiled. "No. Show me." He kissed her again, possibly more passionately that before.