Title: The Best Days Of My Life
Author: Within A Dream
Rating: PG-13
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Chapter 2: A Happy Memory, Despite It All
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Author's Note: I am so sorry I haven't added anything to this story since I wrote it in July. But you have to understand that I had the worst case of writers block I've ever experienced, and for that I apologize. Anyways, I hope you enjoy chapter two! And also, I know Cal might not be this cruel, but someone has to be the bad guy! I hope I don't get accused for being a 'Cal hater', because I really don't hate him at all! It's just easier to make him a heartless person with no depth at all. ;) No, seriously, one of these days I plan to write a story from Cal's point of view where it shows that he's actually a good person, just a bit jealous. But in this story, blame it on his severe emotional problems. ;)
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The National Enquirer, July 28
Rose DeWitt Bukater, as well as some other of Hollywood's hottest stars, was attending a party at the producer Andrew Thomas's house on July 9. According to sources, fellow actor Caledon Hockley had been following DeWitt Bukater around throughout the whole party.
DeWitt Bukater said that their relationship was strictly a friendship, but it appears that if Hockley had been asked the question he would have told otherwise. "Rose thought of Cal as a close friend, but Cal wanted more than a friendship. He had asked Rose to go on dates with him on many occasions but she would gently refuse. Sometimes I would see him corner her and say crude and disrespectful comments, but I never thought he'd go this far," a close source told us on a phone interview. "A few days before the party Rose told me that Cal had been acting strangely and that she didn't know if their friendship could continue," another close source confirmed. We asked Hockley himself how he felt about DeWitt Bukater and about going into trial on the second of August. All of America will be watching as Hockley will most likely be sentenced to prison. He made no comment.
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Rose couldn't read anymore, she sighed very dramatically and threw the magazine on the coffee table along with the rest, about twenty other magazines that all had her picture on the cover. She was just sick of this whole thing! In a few days she would have to go to trial and watch Cal try to buy his way out of this one. Rose wished that she could just drop the charges and pretend this had never happened.
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Flashback
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Rose sighed, happy to get away from all of those people at the party. She hadn't wanted to come in the first place but Andrew Thomas, who she had formed a very close friendship with while he produced a movie she had been in recently had pressured her into going. Andrew was one of the only people she knew who could carry an intellectual conversation with her.
It was a peaceful night; it seemed especially peaceful after being shut up indoors with too many people crowded into one space and music blaring in your ears. Rose casually leaned over the railing of the balcony and looked out into one of the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen. She noticed some people; they were sitting on the edge of one of the many concrete benches throughout the garden and she wondered if they were outside to get away from everyone like she was. Rose watched a man with blonde hair, and she noticed that he was deeply absorbed in whatever it was that he was drawing. She didn't even realize she was staring at him until he looked up and caught her gaze. Rose felt her cheeks redden with embarrassment and quickly looked away, but found her eyes drifting back to his piercing gaze. At first she felt a bit self-conscience for it was like he was looking directly into who she was, instead of the persona she wore that everyone else saw. But after a few seconds, their gaze's seemed to fit together like two puzzle pieces and she felt she could stare at him forever, trying to figure out what was behind his beautiful blue eyes.
But then she suddenly felt someone tap her on the shoulder and she whirled around, furious at whoever it was that made her break eye contact with the man. Standing behind her was the last person she wanted to see; Cal. But he either didn't notice or seemingly ignored her anger at him and spoke with such a superior air she gritted her teeth with disgust. "You don't want to stare at people like you were at him, Rose. They might get the wrong idea," he smirked. "Jack Dawson got into acting a few years ago. Unlike you and me, his family has not been in the business for generations. Do yourself a favor and don't mix yourself with people like that."
Rose was fuming! But why was she getting so protective over someone she had never even spoken to? It didn't make sense! She was so furious that no words would come to her mouth; the only thing she seemed to be able to do was glare and shake her head. After a few seconds of doing this, her legs seemed to remember that they could indeed move and she swung around and stormed away.
Rose was wondering aimlessly around the deck, completely absorbed in thoughts about that man, Jack. She kept repeating his name in her head, a grin plastered to her face. Rose had completely forgotten about her encounter with Cal until two hands gripping her shoulders reminded her. Cal swung her around so that she was facing him.
"What was that?" he demanded, the alcohol evident on his breath as he shook her with anger.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she spat.
"Don't use that tone of voice with me! You know exactly want I'm talking about!"
"I'm not even your girlfriend and you're acting like some pretentious, over-protective bastard! You can't control me!"
Suddenly Cal stopped shaking her and just stood there, his fingernails digging into her shoulders. That's when her anger turned into fear, a lot of fear. Rose had seen him like this once before when she had talked to another man at a party. But this was worse, much worse. She felt him moving forward and she instinctively backed away from him until she hit the back of the house with a thud. He pinned her wrists against the brick wall and she closed her eyes and swallowed hard when she felt him step on both of her feet so she couldn't knee him. She silently cursed herself for not kneeing him in the groin when she had had the chance. The words he spoke were almost in a whisper, but the intensity and mock understanding was frightening. "Oh Rose, I can control you. I can control you. Do you understand?"
Rose told herself to just nod her head and he'd probably let it go and she could get back to the party, forget about Jack; forget this whole thing had ever happened. But her mouth didn't cooperate, "You can't control me!" She then struggled to free herself from his grip, "Let go of me!" But her attempt was in vain.
"I can control you, Rose!" he hissed before crashing his mouth on hers and forcing her lips apart. She took advantage of his tongue being inside her mouth and quickly brought her teeth down on it as hard as she could. She could taste the blood that wasn't her own, and when he grabbed his mouth cursing to himself it gave her just enough time to get herself free from her grip. Only one problem; she was wearing incredibly high strappy sandals that made running, or even walking incredibly difficult... and it hurt! She had to stop and grab her foot in pain and when she felt two cold hands grab her waist she cursed herself for wearing such ridiculous footwear.
"Let me control you, Rose!" He whispered.
"No." she said hoarsely.
Cal smiled evilly at her, "Oh I will have my way, Rose. I always get my way, one way or another."
"Not this time, you bastard!" Rose whispered before he threw her on the floor and started ripping her already nearly nonexistent dress into shreds. This seemed to awaken her vocal chords and she started screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Shut up!" he hissed. But Rose paid no attention and continued her screaming, hoping that someone, anyone would hear and help her.
And when both she and her voice were about to give up, she saw the saw the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. A man. And not just any man; Jack Dawson had come to save her.
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End of flashback
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She smiled in spite of herself; she seemed to do that a lot whenever she thought about Jack Dawson. Cal had indeed broken her foot, and Jack had been so kind as to drive her to the doctor's office where he worked and had put it in a cast for her. She looked down at her foot and smiled. Jack had drawn sketches of her dog, Merlin all over the cast. She remembered the first time Jack had met the old Greyhound that she had saved from being killed with all of the other Greyhounds that were too old to race anymore. They had come back to her house after he had fixed her foot. There hadn't been any crutches at the office, and even if there had been she wasn't sure could have held herself up anyways. So Jack had carried her out of the doctors' office and also into her house. Rose ran her hands down her shoulders, thinking about how nice it had been to be held in his arms. Jack had walked through the front door holding Rose in the cradle and then suddenly out of nowhere Merlin had showed up and started barking like mad. Jack had nearly dropped her while Rose was laughing hysterically, and when Jack realized it was just a dog he joined in the laughter too. That was one of the things she liked about Jack; he was able to laugh at himself.
Rose lived by herself, not including Trudy, her live in maid and cook. Of course that dreadful night had been one of the days Trudy had been on vacation. But Jack had been very sweet and had stayed in one of her extra bedrooms that night despite her objections that she would be fine. Rose knew that Jack was afraid that Cal would sneak into her house and try to 'get his way' again. He had lost his pride, and it was almost a fact he would be going to jail; so he really didn't have anything else to lose.
Rose reached for her blue cordless phone and pressed the redial button. She smiled when she heard the familiar male voice that she had grown so fond of.
"Hey Jack. I was going to take Merlin for a drive to the lake and maybe stay at the lake house for a few days. You know there are three bedrooms and everything, and I was wondering if you'd like to come. You would? Okay then, can you be packed and ready by six? Great, see you then."
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Author's Note: So what do you guys think? Reviews are greatly appreciated!