"So, Rose, Are you sure you want to take such a drastic choice?" Jack asked as the walked along the sidewalk. They looked quite a pair, and some people passing gave looks.
"Of course, I did give this thought you know. I'm not some stupid girl, I got top marks in school." Rose retorted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that if you regret this, then it might take some time to get back to America."
"I already told you earlier, I'm never going back to Cal. And I meant that. I don't plan on staying here forever; I'll take a ship out soon. I don't want to intrude on your life-style for long."
"Oh, you're not intruding. I don't have much of a life her anyway. I mainly go to the park, and sell portraits. I plan on going back soon too. I came from Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls actually. Where are you from? I guess if we're room-mates, we should get to know each other."
"I'm from Philadelphia. I've lived there all my life. My Father died when I was 16. He did some bad investments. Or that's what Mother told me. He spent all our money, so Mother decided to sell me off, so to say, to the highest bidder. She said it was to insure our future." Rose paused, "I met Cal soon after Father passed away. It was at a large gala. We were introduced, and danced quite a few dances. Thereafter, he started courting me, and in January, he proposed. I didn't get a choice. He proposal was more like a business deal... The wedding is in June."
Jack nodded, surprised that there was such a history behind Rose. "Well, you're free now, aren't you?" Rose nodded. Jack soon stopped outside a shabby apartment building. "Well, this is it."
Rose looked up, not liking what she saw. 'I have to get used to things like this. I mean, if I don't want to be with Cal, this is what I'm going to have to live in...' She could tell Jack was waiting for her to say something, so she said, "It's er... nice."
"No it's not, but it's one of the better places. Fabrizio and I used to sleep under bridges and stuff. But we saved up money from spare jobs to get a place to stay."
"Who's Fabrizio?" Rose asked, confused.
"He's my friend, my best friend. We've been everywhere together. He's the Italian guy next to me at the poker table." He added because Rose still looked confused. "He's probably confused on why I ran out with you... He lives in the same apartment as me. He stays on the other bed."
By now they were walking down a hallway with doors on either sides. Jack stopped at a door with small numbers on the front, 23.
"Here we are." Jack unlocked the door and held it open for Rose. "Two beds, a couch, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. Not too bad, eh?"
Rose smiled, "Not too bad. So, what are we going to do now? I don't want to be rude, but I'd rather not stay in this apartment all day, if you mind."
"Right. Um, I can go to the park and draw, and you could look around at paintings."
"Sounds like fun." Rose followed Jack back out of the door, and walked with him towards the park.
"Of course, I did give this thought you know. I'm not some stupid girl, I got top marks in school." Rose retorted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that if you regret this, then it might take some time to get back to America."
"I already told you earlier, I'm never going back to Cal. And I meant that. I don't plan on staying here forever; I'll take a ship out soon. I don't want to intrude on your life-style for long."
"Oh, you're not intruding. I don't have much of a life her anyway. I mainly go to the park, and sell portraits. I plan on going back soon too. I came from Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls actually. Where are you from? I guess if we're room-mates, we should get to know each other."
"I'm from Philadelphia. I've lived there all my life. My Father died when I was 16. He did some bad investments. Or that's what Mother told me. He spent all our money, so Mother decided to sell me off, so to say, to the highest bidder. She said it was to insure our future." Rose paused, "I met Cal soon after Father passed away. It was at a large gala. We were introduced, and danced quite a few dances. Thereafter, he started courting me, and in January, he proposed. I didn't get a choice. He proposal was more like a business deal... The wedding is in June."
Jack nodded, surprised that there was such a history behind Rose. "Well, you're free now, aren't you?" Rose nodded. Jack soon stopped outside a shabby apartment building. "Well, this is it."
Rose looked up, not liking what she saw. 'I have to get used to things like this. I mean, if I don't want to be with Cal, this is what I'm going to have to live in...' She could tell Jack was waiting for her to say something, so she said, "It's er... nice."
"No it's not, but it's one of the better places. Fabrizio and I used to sleep under bridges and stuff. But we saved up money from spare jobs to get a place to stay."
"Who's Fabrizio?" Rose asked, confused.
"He's my friend, my best friend. We've been everywhere together. He's the Italian guy next to me at the poker table." He added because Rose still looked confused. "He's probably confused on why I ran out with you... He lives in the same apartment as me. He stays on the other bed."
By now they were walking down a hallway with doors on either sides. Jack stopped at a door with small numbers on the front, 23.
"Here we are." Jack unlocked the door and held it open for Rose. "Two beds, a couch, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. Not too bad, eh?"
Rose smiled, "Not too bad. So, what are we going to do now? I don't want to be rude, but I'd rather not stay in this apartment all day, if you mind."
"Right. Um, I can go to the park and draw, and you could look around at paintings."
"Sounds like fun." Rose followed Jack back out of the door, and walked with him towards the park.