My heart beat accelerated as I stepped out of my motor car on April 10, 1912 and walked up to the big ramp leading onto the renowned Titanic. I, Katherine Shok was going to be riding first class on this mighty ship. I closed my eyes as waves of anticipation flowed freely through my spine. This was promised to be the thrill of a lifetime. In all my 17 years I had never seen such Grandeur in a ship. I looked to my left as the car drove off. Father couldn't even come to see me off on this trip to the Americas. I scoffed mightily.

"Money and luxury will never replace the lack of a father." I whispered to myself. I had been hand raised by the servants and only saw my father on an average of once a month if I was lucky. Mother I had never known. Banished at my birth, I had never gotten to see her. People were now rushing past me to hurry onto the ship. It was about to depart!! I rushed up to the ramp, beckoning the many hired men to carry my things behind me to my room.

Once on board I stopped and gaped in wonder. What a magnificent..I could not even put it to words. I tucked a stray raven lock into my broad red hat and walked further, glancing at my ticket to see which room I was in. "May I help you, Madam?" A rather young steward looked at me with curiosity. "Yes" my silky voice answered richly. If anything, my father had made sure I was cultured growing up. "Where is room 15-A, Please?" A new respect came over the man's face as he learned of my class.

"Very good, this way please. I will lead you." He led me to a gigantic staircase and I followed him up it, next down a long hallway. "This room, miss. 15-A." I thanked him with a bright smile as I tipped him.

I opened the door and let the men carry in my things and nodded their thank- you as they left down the hall. Finally, I was alone. I walked into my room and closed the door, this room looked wonderful. Not as nice or spacious as my bedroom at the home I would never again see, but still wonderful in itself. I sat down on the floor beside the largest trunk, my red and gold dress flowing out as I sat, and opened it.

Father had made sure I had an all new, in fashion wardrobe before I came on this ship. New gowns. Evening gowns, cocktail gowns, ball gowns, every kind I could think of. Why, there must have been more than 50 new dresses he had bought. Father is certainly a generous man, he must be given that. The clothes were unpacked and put into a large dresser and closet. "Well" I said out loud. "there is 5 of my trunks. Petticoats, dresses, all of it put away." The other trunks, smaller ones, were full of combs, hair pins, jewelry and such toiletries.

There was a knock on the door as I was lugging the empty but still heavy chests into my closet. I smoothed my hair and checked into the mirror. A bit flushed, but it was an attractive flush against my ivory skin. I opened the door. There was a maid looking woman.Probably in her 40's. "Miss Shok, I have come to show you to the dining hall for a dinner." I held up my hand. "Will you wait a minute, I must change and clean up first!" She gave me a motherly look of patience. "I am to help you prepare, madam."

"Oh. Well then, help me out of these dratted traveling clothes." I stood at the center of the room and held out my arms, indicating for her to undress me. She did. "Madam, which dress will you be wearing?" I pondered on this. Nothing too very fancy, this wasn't exactly a formal affair. But nothing drab, if my wardrobe could be called drab, for I didn't want to look inferior to any woman there. "The green silk with all the wide lace, I suppose. With my green silk hat with the white feather." I nodded, satisfied with my decision.

She nodded and looked through my closet, coming upon her target. "Here it is." I allowed her to put it on me, after the painful process of tightening my corset strings to fit the waist size, (after 6 years that still always hurts dreadfully.) and set about putting on my diamond necklace with the large green stone. "Do you think the green earrings, or the white?" I asked her, holding up the gem drop earrings. "Oh, the white, madam." She assured me, putting my hair how I had instructed her. I nodded my consent. "I think it looks better without the hat." I scolded her as she was lifting it out of its box to place it on my head.

After putting on my shoes, (the silk green slippers.) and dabbing a bit of perfume, I was ready. Just in time, she informed me. I was lead down the stairs and into a magnificent dining hall, filled with tables full of chattering people. I fretted, where was I going to sit? A deep, rich voice drawled behind me, startling me. "What is a beautiful creature like you doing standing here when you belong at my table?" I turned around to smile mystically at a tall man, tall to my 5 foot 4 inch stature, with thick brown hair and a dazzlingly white smile.

"Why, searching for a handsome prince like you to rescue me, of course." I answered back playfully. He laughed heartily and extended an elbow. I smiled and linked my arm delicately through it, as I had been taught at home. I was lead gently to a large table, seated at which were five other men. I smiled at the men as I sat down in the chair that was pulled out for me by my rescuer. "And who is this ravishing young creature?" one of the men asked. I looked at him thoughtfully, taking in his pale blonde hair and deep, artistic looking green eyes. "Katherine, though I would hardly say ravishing." I turned my head modestly and looked at him through my thick black lashes.

He smiled at me from across the table and introduced himself and the others. "I am Thomas Truffle, the brute who brought you here would be Kurt Rosley, this fellow over here is Adam O'Malley," he gestured to a handsome brunette. "What a pleasure." He spoke in a brisk Irish accent, which surprised me. I never met a rich Irish man. Adam took over the introductions, revealing the names of a homely black haired man, and a salt and peppered haired, distinguished older man. "These two chaps are Harvey Whittney and Frank Claude." I received smiles all around the table.

"So, Katherine." Kurt spoke, a familiar British accent among these foreign mysteries. "Where are you from, exactly?" I smiled at him, making his eyes brighten. "Right in Southampton, England itself, Mr.Rosley." He nodded his approval. "Wonderful town. I was in if for two weeks prior to boarding this ship."

WHEW! That was fun. ^_^ please rate, and don't be afraid to give me some constructive criticism. *flops on couch* would you believe I actually had to do research to get some of this info?! Hmph. Well anyway, enjoy! New chapter coming soon as possible.