Chapter Twenty Eight: Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur

"Oh my god, what are you doing?" Rose asked. "Jack, stand up."

He did as he was told. He took her hands in his. "I've seen my life with you and without you," said Jack. "And after these awful few months… I never want to spend another minute without you."

Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. She loved him more than anything, and hearing him say this… it was all she ever wanted.

"I know this is crazy. I know we're only seventeen, and we have no clue what we're doing," said Jack. "But I spend one second with you, and it makes up for all of the crap in my life. You're all I need."

Rose put her arms on his shoulders. "Oh my god," she cried happily.

"I'm not going to ask a question, I'm just going to say this," said Jack. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Rose smiled. "And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Jack leaned over and kissed her lovingly. They kissed passionately for a moment, then separated and smiled. "I couldn't get a ring or anything. All the stores are closed."

"Do you have a pen?" Rose asked, and Jack handed her one. She took it and drew a ring around her left fourth finger. She closed it and looked up at him, smiling. "I love you."

"I love you," said Jack. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "This is crazy!" Jack exclaimed.

Rose had her hands on Jack's arms. "I know," she said. "That's why I trust it."

Jack kissed her passionately and lifted her off the ground. He held her tightly, unable to get enough of her.

•••

Jack was on Rose's bed, and Rose was in between his legs, leaning against him. She held up her hand. "I love the ring," said Rose.

"I'm going to get you a real one," said Jack.

"No, I love this one," said Rose. "This way, every time it washes off, I can draw it in a new color."

Jack laughed and kissed her cheek.

"So I had an idea," said Rose. "This could be our new anniversary."

"No," said Jack.

"What? Why not?" Rose asked.

"Because you have some sort of obsession with me being able to celebrate my birthday," said Jack with a chuckle. "I don't care about that."

"How can you not care about your birthday?" Rose asked.

"Like this," said Jack, and he shrugged.

Rose smiled. "Okay," she began. "Maybe you don't care, but I do. Your birthday is the day the love of my life was born. It matters to me."

Jack kissed her lovingly. "I'm just trying to say… my birthday is unimportant. Compared to the day I met you or the day we started dating, my birthday is nothing."

Rose took his hands and wrapped them around her, just wanting to soak in his presence. "I love you."

Jack held her tightly in his arms, inhaling the wonderfully familiar smell of her conditioner. He kissed her ear, her cheek, and her neck.

Rose put her head to the side, soaking in the kiss. "Hmmmmm." She turned her head, meeting his lips in a passionate kiss. "I missed this."

"So did I," said Jack. "And by the way, not having school or anything is a lot more enjoyable now that we're together."

"I know," said Rose. She kissed him again. "I wanted to show you something."

Rose stood up and walked over to her jewelry box and pulled out a box. She took out a necklace, holding it in front of Jack. He took it from her nervously. "What is it? A sapphire?"

"A diamond. A very rare diamond, called the Heart of the Ocean," said Rose. Jack gazed at the necklace. "It's a family heirloom. Passed down in my dad's family."

"If it was from your dad's family, wouldn't it go to your mom?" Jack asked calmly.

"My dad did give it to my mom, but when she lost her mind, he stole it back. He knew it belonged to me, so he took it and hid it," said Rose. "I didn't care about it much, but he wanted me to have it."

"Wow," said Jack.

Rose looked at him lovingly. "I want you to draw me, Jack. Wearing this." He was still looking down at the necklace, and Rose smiled. "Wearing only this."

Jack looked up at her, trying to read her expression. "Are you sure?"

Rose nodded. "I'll be back." She walked into the bathroom and changed into her robe. Meanwhile, Jack had set up a chair across from the bed.

Jack was sharpening his pencil when Rose walked out of the bathroom in a robe. He looked up, amazed by her, and suddenly, she parted the robe and let it fall to the floor.

Jack's jaw dropped in such a way it was almost comical. "On-on the bed," said Jack. She did as she was told, slowly laying down on the bed. "Uh… just bend your left leg a little and… and lower your head. Eyes on me. That's it."

He started to draw, nervously. Rose watched him nervously, and she could tell he was also nervous, which was comforting. Her heart was still pounding the whole time. She smiled. "I believe you're blushing, Mr. Big Artiste," said Rose. "I can't imagine Monsieur Monet blushing."

Jack half-smiled. "He does landscapes."

•••

Finally, Jack had finished. Rose put the robe back on and put her head on his shoulder, watching him finish the drawing. "I can't believe how amazing this is," said Rose. "Is this really how you see me?"

"What do you mean?" Jack asked.

"The girl in this drawing… she's a goddess. She's flawless," said Rose.

Jack looked at her, feeling utterly lost. She was that goddess. She was that flawless girl. "That's you, Rose. You're the most beautiful girl in the entire world," said Jack.

He turned his head and handed her the drawing. "This is for you," he said. Rose took it from him, but he wouldn't let go. Instead he kissed her, and they were both unable to pull away.

Finally Rose did. "I'm going to get dressed." She kissed him again quickly. "Thank you for this."

She got dressed and went back outside. Jack looked up. "You look nice."

"Thanks," said Rose. "Let's go somewhere."

"Where can we go?" Jack asked. "The whole world is shut down."

"Let's just go to the park or something," said Rose. "Just take a walk. Talk. Something."

Rose took his hand and they left. They walked around before settling in the park. "So by the way, we really only have one more year before we're out of the home," said Rose.

"I know," said Jack. "We'll be able to do whatever we want."

Rose smiled and nodded. "I'm so excited."

"So am I," said Jack. "And I had some thoughts about that."

"Tell me," said Rose.

"Well, we're graduating next spring, and then we have the whole summer before we start college," said Jack. "I thought we'd travel."

"I love that," said Rose. "Where would we go?"

"Europe," said Jack. "Italy, France, we could go to London and visit Janet."

"We could sit on French beaches," said Rose. "Oh! We could go to those adorable little Italian cafes. European coffee is probably so good."

"Italian food," said Jack. "Croissants."

"I know," said Rose. "Hey, Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Where do you see yourself going to college?" Rose asked.

"I don't know," said Jack. "Somewhere in the city, obviously."

"You don't want to go to art school?" Rose asked.

Jack shrugged. "I'm not good enough for that."

"Oh, bullshit," said Rose. "You're incredible."

"Thanks," said Jack.

"And I'll tell you this," said Rose. "If you don't apply to an art school like Pratt and Parsons, I'll do it for you. I will break into your room and steal your portfolio."

Jack chuckled. "Okay, okay, I'll do it."

"Unless you really don't want to," said Rose. "But I really think it couldn't hurt to apply."

"I'm going to," said Jack. He smiled and kissed her. "What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"Where do you want to go to college?" Jack asked.

"Barnard," said Rose.

Jack smiled. "Columbia?"

Rose nodded. "I really want to go," said Rose. "Downside, it's all the way uptown."

"By subway, it would take you a half hour," said Jack. "That's not a long time."

"I know," said Rose. "I just… I want it so badly."

"What about cheer?" Jack asked.

"I'm just… I don't know." Rose looked at him. "I love it. It's my life. Other than you, that is."

Jack smiled. "But?"

"But I'm burnt out," said Rose. "I'm constantly in pain, it's a huge commitment. And the ankle issue… I trust everyone on the team to lift me and stuff, but I don't see that happening for a while."

"I know," said Jack. "What do you think you're going to do?"

"I think… I've been doing this for six years," said Rose. "It seems silly to walk away now." She looked down, and Jack could tell she was deep in thought. Suddenly, she looked up at Jack. "Tell me what to do."

"I can't do that," said Jack. "But I agree with everything you've said."

"Thanks," said Rose. "Can I see your wallet?"

"Sure," said Jack. He took it out of his pocket.

Rose took out a quarter and held it up. "I'm flipping a coin."

"Wait, you're leaving it to chance?" Jack asked.

"Yep," said Rose. "I usually get a feeling while it's in the air which way I want it to go."

"Okay, let's do it," said Rose.

"Which one's heads and tails?" Jack asked.

"Well, if I quit, I'll have more time for school, or 'using my head'," said Rose. "And if I keep doing cheer, I'll have to do more butt exercises, or tail."

"Weird thought process, but okay," said Jack. "Let's see."

Rose threw it up. They both watched, waiting for it to fall. Rose caught it. "I don't know what I want it to land on."

"So you should've let it fall," said Jack.

"Whatever," said Rose.

Jack could tell she was struggling. "Okay, here's what we're going to do," he said. "Don't think. Just answer. What do you want to do about cheer?"

"I want to quit," said Rose. Her eyes widened as she looked at him. "Woah, how did you do that?"

Jack smiled and shrugged. "So I guess you made your decision."

"No," said Rose. "I haven't. I've done this for six years. I don't just want to throw it all away."

"But Rose, you don't want to continue," said Jack. Rose looked up at him and smiled. "What?"

"I have an idea," said Rose. "I have one more season before I graduate. I can do it for one more season. And I'll enjoy it that much more since I know it's my last."

Jack smiled. "Perfect," he said. "See? You knew the answer. You didn't need me."

Rose turned to look at him. "Oh, I need you." She kissed him.