Chapter Thirty Three: Mother by Pink Floyd
Jack went back to Rose's room. She was looking at her phone, but she looked up when she saw Jack. "Hi," said Jack.
"Hey," she said. "Where'd you disappear to?"
"Talked to Molly about what happened," said Jack. "She's trying to transfer you."
"And?" Rose asked.
"And… there's a school rule that you have to go to three classes in order to request a transfer," said Jack. "She's trying to override it, but it's not looking good."
"I'm so tired of this," said Rose. She stood up and went downstairs, to where Molly was sitting at the desk. "Just find out what I have to do to get transferred, and I'll do it."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked.
Rose looked at him and nodded. "Yeah."
"Okay," said Molly. She picked up the phone.
Rose started walking back upstairs, and Jack followed her. "Rose, wait!"
"What?" Rose asked. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I just need to do this."
"I know," said Jack. "And you can. You're the strongest girl I know."
"Thanks," said Rose.
"And I'll be with you the whole time," said Jack. He stroked her cheek.
"I know," said Rose. She kissed him lovingly. "I love you."
•••
It was the next day. Rose wore Jack's Yankees hoodie, black leggings, Air Force one's and her hair was in a side braid.
She met Jack in front of the home. "You nervous?"
Rose nodded nervously. Yesterday, Molly had told her that they would transfer her, but it would take a week to clear. So, until then, she had to tough it out in her mother's class. "When do we have it?"
"First," said Jack, and he saw more anxiety in Rose's eyes. "It means you'll get it over with by nine o'clock."
"I know," said Rose. They slowly walked into the classroom, and Rose's eyes immediately met her mother's. They slowly walked to the back row, and they sat next to each other.
"Talk to me. You okay?" Jack asked, trying to read her expression.
Rose nodded. "I think so."
Finally, the teacher started taking attendance. "Jack Dawson?"
"Here," said Jack. He knew Rose's name came next. He squeezed her hand.
Rose braced herself. "Rose Dewitt Bukater?"
"Here," said Rose. She looked up and met Ruth's gaze.
Ruth finished taking attendance, and she began to teach. "Today we're starting with a pop quiz."
Rose was usually terrified of pop quizzes. There was no way to study or to know what would be on them. But this time, Rose wasn't scared.
The quizzes were passed out, and Rose took it. She wrote her name, the date, and then just sat there blankly while everyone took the quiz. Jack looked over at her, about to touch her arm, try to make her feel better somehow.
"No communication during the quiz," said Ruth.
Is she kidding? Jack thought to himself. He still touched Rose's arm. "Hey," he began. Rose looked up at him. "You okay?"
Rose nodded. "Yeah." But it wasn't convincing Jack.
Finally, the quiz ended. Ruth collected the quizzes and Rose listened as she taught. Jack held her hand under the desk the whole class.
And then, the bell rang. Rose picked up her bag and walked out of the room, and Jack followed behind her.
Rose turned to him with a perplexed look on her face. "I wonder if she knows."
"Knows what?" Jack asked.
"That my dad is dead," said Rose. "That she left me with nothing and no one. That I've been living in a group home for the last two years."
He hugged her tightly. "Shh," he whispered. He kissed the top of her head. As they stood there hugging, Ruth walked out of the classroom.
She eyed them, and she spoke. "No PDA in the hallway."
"Is she serious?" Rose asked.
Jack shrugged. "During the quiz she told me I wasn't allowed to talk to you."
"I know. I heard," said Rose. She looked at him and saw how infuriated he was. "Don't say anything. Okay?"
Jack stopped glaring at Ruth, and instead looked down at Rose. "Okay."
He kissed her cheek. "I'll see you at lunch."
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
Rose nodded. "I think so." She looked into his intoxicating blue eyes. "Just keep your phone on you."
Jack smiled. "Always."
They went their separate ways. After class, they sat in the park with coffees, just talking. "I'm torn."
"Between what?" Jack asked.
"Part of me wants to talk to her. To tell her off. And part of me just wants to never every see her again," said Rose. She rested her head on her hand, deep in thought. "No, I changed my mind. I want to tell her off."
Jack had never seen this fiery side to Rose before. Well, other than when she was calling him a Jackass. She was determined, livid, out for revenge. "You do?"
Rose nodded. "I do." She played with the drawstring on Jack's yankee hoodie. "I just feel like, I could've gone my whole life without seeing her, hardly thinking about her."
"I know," said Jack.
"I certainly never thought she'd show up here," said Rose. "I mean, she was a high school teacher when I was little. I always knew there was a chance she'd come back."
"You did?"
"Yes, but the rational part of my brain thought, you know, there are so many teachers, schools, everything," said Rose. "What are the chances she'd appear here, now?" She looked at him, just trying to gather her thoughts. "And then the irrational part of my brain was scared every time a teacher left, or was sick, or was on maternity leave. I would walk into that classroom, afraid that one day, she'd walk into the room." Rose laughed despite the tears running down her face. "And the irrational side won. She showed up!"
Jack wrapped his arms around her. "I know, baby." He kissed her cheek. "I know."
"Do me a favor, okay?" Rose asked. "If I ever become like her, just shoot me."
"That's not going to happen," said Jack.
"How do you know?" Rose asked tearfully.