Chapter Thirteen

Rose squinted against the bright stage lights, trying to see what all the commotion was about. What was going on out there? She could make out a dark shape, standing up in the midst of the crowd, and even from where she stood, she could sense that the crowd seemed distracted, or angry, about something. Sighing deeply, she turned to Caroline, bewildered. Here it was, her one big chance, and someone out there was ruining it for her. How many other things were going to go wrong? Couldn't she enjoy herself for just one minute? "What's going on?" Rose whispered irratably to Caroline, her face flushed with a mixture of frustruation and anger. Caroline just shrugged her shoulders, a frown on her face.

Suddenly, a flash of anger coursed through Rose. Couldn't whoever it was just sit down and be quiet? Didn't they have any consideration for what she and the other actors on the stage might be feeling? She was nervous enough as it was without all these distractions. Acting on a sudden impulse, Rose grabbed the microphone roughly from Caroline's hands. All her nerves dissapeared as she heard her angry voice ring out across the room. "Excuse me!" The chatter in the audience stopped abruptly, and Rose was suddenly conscious of hundreds of pairs of eyes, gazing at her with curious bemusement. "Excuse me," she continued, feeling a little sheepish. Two spots of red appeared on her cheeks as she realised that everyone in the room was staring at her. Why did she always act like this- rush headstrong into things without thinking, and then regret her actions instantly? "We're about to start. Could everybody please take their seats and..." Suddenly, her voice dissapeared to a whisper as her eyes were drawn to a familiar figure stepping into the dusky light at the front of the stage.

Rose froze in an instant, every word she had been about to utter forgotten. The light wasn't good, but it was just enough to catch Jack's blond hair, and to allow her to see the curious mixture of disbelief, wonder and adoration in his blue eyes. Forgetting where she was, Rose dropped the microphone with a clatter, and a hideous ringing sound echoed loudly around the hall. Suddenly feeling dizzy, she grabbed the curtain for support, her mouth opening to silently whisper the only word that would come to her mind."Jack?"

Rose didn't know how long she stood there, her eyes fixed upon Jack, but suddenly, Rose was aware of Caroline's curious presence. Turning to her friend, Rose managed to forget her swirling emotions and forced a watery smile. Caroline's eyes were very bright and her smile warm as she whispered "Rose- is that who I think it is?" Nodding weakly, it scarcely seemed possible to Rose. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, that's him." Caroline's smile turned into a grin as she hugged her friend ferociously. "I thought so somehow." She paused. "I'm so happy for you, Rose," she spoke solemnly for a moment, before a giggle broke though her serious mood. "But what are you still doing here with me? Go on-go! It's been three months since you saw him last, after all!" Caroline giggled, pushing Rose backstage. Wildly, she looked up, catching Jack's eyes for a moment, and gestured towards the backstage area. This all seemed far too surreal to be true.


Standing in the dim light at the foot of the stage, Jack felt as though he were in a dream. He'd rushed from his seat without a second thought, and now, here he was, just inches from her and he couldn't move. He felt as though he was glued to the spot where he stood, unable to think, to move, to do anything but stand there and drink in the sight of her. The audience, the bright lights, the other actors on the stage- none of them seemed real, they all seemed to fade into the background as their eyes met, and in one brief second, the pain and heartbreak of the past few months seemed to melt away.

Suddenly, he saw Rose stumble and grab at the heavy velvet curtains. Instinctively, he moved towards her, moving to help her, his concern for her wellbeing moving to the forefront of his mind, just as it always had. How could that be- after three months, it was as though nothing had ever changed, nothing had ever happened. His feelings for her were still there, as deep and true as ever. The past few months might have never have happened. In an instant he stepped out of his trance as reality came sharply back into focus. She was alive, actually alive and standing here before him. What was he doing just standing here? Without a moment's hesitation, Jack turned and ran towards the backstage area, his heart pounding wildly. How was this even possible? For the first time in his life, Jack felt as though things were moving too fast even for him to keep up with. Just a few minutes earlier he'd been lost in his own despair, and now, suddenly, it seemed his dreams were coming together again. he couldn't hold back the delighted smile spread across his face.


Standing alone backstage, Rose told herself to calm down. Yet her heart was racing, everything seemed impossibly wonderful. She felt dizzy withan amazing sense of anticipation that she had never experienced before- her joy seemed to suddenly touch everything around her, and the whole world seemed warm and welcoming where only hours before it had seemed a threatening and lonely place. Alone in the dressing room, Rose whispered Jack's words to herself, grinning broadly. "You never know where life's going to take you." In her feverish excitement, it seemed to Rose that no truer words had ever been spoken. Who would have ever guessed that things would suddenly turn out so perfectly, making a mockery of her despair and anxiety.

Hearing light footsteps on the stairs, Rose turned quickly, her heart racing with anticipation. Suddenly, she couldn't wait a moment longer. Throwing the door open, she cried his name aloud. "Jack!" The name rang around the empty room, and it seemed like a miracle that after so long, she was able to speak that name aloud again.

Even in the gloomy darkness of the staircase, Rose could see the light in his eyes as he stood there, unable to tear his gaze away from her. "Rose," he whispered, a note of wonder filling his voice. "Oh, God, Rose, it really is you. I didn't think I'd ever..." a barely perceptible tremor crept into his voice, as Rose moved quickly to close the last remaining space that separated them. Throwing her arms around him, he pulled her closer to him, burying his face in her hair. His heart was racing, and she felt his chest rise and fall slightly as he sobbed quietly, the months of pain and anguish finally over. Holding him tightly, she stroked his hair gently, content just to be near him again. Everything about him seemd a miracle to Rose at that moment, and she buried her face in his chest in the darkness, breathing in the scent of him and feeling his breath against her skin and finally feeling at peace.

Pulling away slightly, Jack's eyes met Rose's and, holding her gaze, he gently touched her face, his finger tracing a path down her cheek. "Oh, Rose," he whispered. "I didn't think it could really be you. It just.. it just seems too perfect to be true. All these months I've dreamed of this, and now..." his voice trailed of to a whisper as he searched uselessly for words to describe what he was feeling. "I know," Rose replied gently, leaning closer to him again. "I know. But it's over now," she whispered as his lips met hers once again.