Note: I don't own those characters except for an OC who'll appear later. Some are fictionnal characters, others are not.
PS: English is not my native language, so sorry for the mistakes you'll find during your reading ! x)
Enjoy !
Chapter 1: The departure
Cherbourg, April 10, 1912.
The sun was setting over Cherbourg when the Titanic stopped off at the French port. Since the port itself was not deep enough to accommodate this giant of the seas, the transfer of the passengers was done thanks to two tenders: the Traffic first landed a few passengers on the French soil and then welcomed a few hundred passengers of the third class passengers, who were the first to board on the ship that evening. The Nomadic, on the other hand, handled the transfer of the first class and second class passengers.
Among them, a family was waiting for the boarding, it was the Thayer family. It was composed of John Thayer, a well-known Philadelphia businessman since he owned part of the state railway company. He was accompanied by his wife Marian, ten years his junior, and their eldest son John, nicknamed Jack, aged 17. All three of them had just returned from a trip to Europe, specifically Germany and France. Usually, the couple only left the two of them, but this time they had taken advantage of their eldest son's spring break so that Jack could accompany them, it was his first trip across the Atlantic, and soon they would be back in the United States, Jack would graduate from high school then, go to university, at least that's what he believed. Indeed, his parents had another idea in mind: even if their son was going to go to Princeton, they also had important news to tell him. Nevertheless, they were waiting for the right moment to tell him the big news.
The Thayers would join their friends, the Widener family, who were also on a trip to Europe. The announcement that followed during the return trip was therefore to concern the two Pennsylvanian families.
For the time being, the Thayers with Mrs. Thayer's maid, Miss Fleming, were waiting to board the Nomadic to join the Titanic, the new ship of the White Star Line, which happened to be the world's largest ocean liner and which had begun its maiden voyage that morning, after leaving the docks of Southampton and then the English coast. There must have been a hundred people waiting, just like them.
When they were finally able to board the tender, they could see that they already knew many mundane celebrities, such as Margaret "Molly" Brown, or J.J. Astor, accompanied by his very young wife Madeleine, to whom Jack gave a polite little smile, whom she gave back timidly. So, the teenager's parents were talking to all this good society. Jack decided to go for a walk on the small vessel, so he informed his mother.
- Mother, I'm going outside.
And without waiting for an answer from the latter, he slipped away from the conversation to go to on the deck. Once outside, he left a deep sigh, which he was holding since he boarded the Nomadic. He had loved to travel with his parents, but his mother had been stifling him a lot lately, at least more than usual. He knew he was special, since he was a child he always had the habit of his parents' overprotective behavior. He rarely participated in the parties his parents gave; so he cared for his younger siblings instead. That is why when his parents told him that he could accompany them on their journey, he was surprised but very delighted.
He went to the bow of the small ship, there were not too many people outside, it was relatively cool although the spring was here, so most of the passengers were inside. He watched the great shape of the Titanic loom, with the sunset in the background, it was both a magnificent and terrifying sight, he didn't really know why. He took admires this view during a few minutes, a cool breeze caressed his face and made him close his eyes, to enjoy the moment.
He was reminded of reality when he felt a presence next to him. He opened his eyes and turned his head to the right, he met two brown eyes, which belonged to a man taller than him, his face vaguely reminded him of someone, but he could not say who.
- Good evening. Said the mysterious figure.
- Good evening. Answered politely Jack.
- It's pretty impressive, isn't it ? Continued the man, alluding to the giant of the seas who stood before them.
- Yes, it is very... Majestic. Jack answered again, judiciously searching for his words. My name is Jack. He said, reaching out to him.
The stranger was about to respond when a voice was heard, not far from them.
- Jack, come please, your mother is worried sick about you ! We will be boarding soon.
Jack turned away from the unknown man. It was Miss Margaret Fleming, her mother's maid, who had to send her to look after him. He sighed again.
- I'll be right there. He replied to her.
He turned again to face the man by his side. As he was about to apologize, the other was ahead of him.
-I imagine we will see each other on board again. See you soon, Jack.
And without waiting for a response from the young man, the mysterious stranger slipped away, leaving a taken aback Jack behind him. Miss Fleming, clearing her throat, brought him back to reality and her inscrutable face made him understand that she was not happy that he kept her waiting, so he hurried to follow her to join his parents. They were now outside and waiting for him. He knew that he should not mention the unknown man he just met, his mother would make a scene and would not leave him alone during the transatlantic voyage. He hoped Miss Fleming would do the same, but he knew that he should not count on it.
"Where were you, young man?"
And lo and behold, he had had little respite before his mother began mothering him again. It was his father who spoke before he answered.
- Marian, dear, leave our boy alone. He becomes a man; it is normal for him to start to fly the nest. You must start getting used to his absence.
Jack was smiling at his father; he was happy that he was taking his side. Nevertheless, the last sentence his father uttered left him perplexed: even if he was going to study at Princeton, he would go home to his parents, so he would not leave the family home right away, but before he questioned his father, a crew member loudly announced that it was time to leave the small boat, and that everyone had to get closer to board. Jack looked up, the ship was so big, it was impressive that something so huge could even float. A footbridge is set up to connect the Titanic to its little sister. Passengers got on board; Jack and his parents are in the first persons to set foot on the Titanic.
As soon as they passed the boarding gate, a steward explained that they were on deck D, and that according to their tickets, they had to head to C Deck, just above them. After a few more indications that Jack did not really listen, they found themselves in the magnificent reception room next to the gate. Although he has been accustomed to luxury since his birth, the sight of this room amazed Jack. He did not realize that he had stopped walking until he felt his mother's hand on his back, asking him to move on. It was there that they found themselves in front of this magnificent staircase. It connected the boats deck to the F-deck, serving the intermediate decks as well as all the first-class facilities. Jack looked up all around him, it was beautiful.
After climbing the stairs, the four characters headed to port side, where the even-numbered cabins were. The corridor that served the various cabins was long, Jack had no doubt that he would be able to go the wrong way if he found himself alone. However, the two cabins were almost halfway between the two magnificent staircases and the numbers were very well indicated above the doors.
They entered cabin C-68, which happened to be his parents'. The decoration reminded him of the house of his maternal grandparents and was in a fairly modern Dutch style. Brown paneling covered the walls, making it a very warm space.
On the left wall of the cabin were two doors, the first led onto a dressing room while the second led into a small corridor which served, in order, a toilet and then a bathroom on the right, and finally, facing the door of his parents' cabin, was a door serving the C-70 cabin , which was his own. This one was a symmetrical copy of that of his parents, and therefore had a door that led into the great corridor through which they had arrived.
He heard vaguely his parents talking to each other as he looked around his cabin for every details. He noticed, looking in the dressing room, that his luggage was already there.
-Jack, get ready for dinner, will you? Tonight, we are having dinner with our friends the Wideners. Be presentable. His mother told him.
The latter closed the door behind her, leaving him alone in his cabin. Jack looked annoyed: he thought he could enjoy a meal alone or maybe just with his parents, it was a failure this time. He was already thinking about the boring conversations that were going to take place during that dinner. He knew he was not going to be included in the conversations, especially if they were going into business. Moreover, as they were great friends of his parents, he knew that the Widener couple were probably travelling with one or more of their children, who were older than him. He vaguely remembered meeting them when he was a child, but it was still rather blurry in his head. If one of them was present, he doubted that he would be included in a discussion. With a long and deep sigh, Jack chose one of his evening outfits and hurried to get dressed: if his mother came back and he was not ready, he'll have a big speech. While he was combing his hair, he heard a dull roar. It seems that the Titanic was leaving Cherbourg.
No sooner had he put down his comb than someone knocked and entered the room before he even said anything. Contrary to what he thought, it was his mother's maid, Miss Fleming. She handed him a key. It was to be the one for his cabin.
- Here, don't lose it. Your parents are waiting outside, in the hallway.
Without saying another word to him, she slipped out of the room, as she had arrived. He blinked. Was his mother ready ? How long had he been dreaming ?
He hastened to adjust his clothes, while looking at his reflection in the mirror. He hoped that his mother would have no complaints. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door leading to the great corridor and went out. Indeed, his parents were already waiting for him. He locked his cabin and walked towards them. Strangely, his mother made no remarks to him, not even about his delay.
Father, mother and son then headed for the Grand Staircase, the one they had borrowed earlier. So, they took the same path, which led to the first-class dining room that was adjoining the large reception room that Jack had admired as he boarded the ship. When Jack walked down the stairs, just behind his parents, he recognized a familiar figure who appeared to be in conversation with his parents' friends. He recognized him as the stranger of earlier, with whom he had exchanged a few words on the tender. He turned to face the Thayers when Mrs. Widener noticed them. His parents greeted their friends, Jack stayed behind, feeling a little shy. The mysterious young man reached out to him.
- Excuse me for leaving you earlier, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Harry. Harry Widener.