*Five*

Like Two Sisters

Zipper awoke early the next morning. She quickly got dressed in a very pale green dress. Missy helped her with the corset again. Though she wished she could leave it off. She was petite. Why did she need a corset? She would ask herself.

She stood before the mirror, pulling her hair up. She used a diamond studded hair clasp to hold it up. She had to look good for Officer Lowe, she knew that much.

"Aren't you going to have any breakfast?" Missy asked, as she watched Zipper rushing around the room. Getting ready for the day.

"No thank you, Missy." She said trying to keep her breath steady. "I need to get going."

With that she left Missy standing there. Wondering what had gotten into her. She waved to Frank, who sat reading a novel by the lamp.

"Where are you off to?" He asked.

"Uh- to talk to Rose. And then go to the deck." She said.

"Would you like me to go with you?" He asked.

"No, sir. Thank you just the same." She said rapidly. She wanted to get out of there. And she did. He was left holding his cup of coffee and the novel.

"Well, that just makes my job easier." He laughed to himself, and resumed reading.

She closed the door behind her, and walked speedily down the hall. When she came to the corner she bumped into someone. Not exactly knocking either of the them down as she had with Officer Lowe yesterday. But it was still very un-lady like. Most of the passengers were already wondering why she acted so differently.

"Miss. Rosenberg?" Cal questioned. "Where are you going so early? And so alone?"

"To, uh- talk to Rose, Sir. And you?" She asked politely.

"Just about to have a brandy with J.J. And Archie." He answered. Of course he meant John Jacob Astor and Colonel Gracie. She still couldn't believe she was so close to any of them. But, she was beginning to feel more comfortable here.

"Well, have a good day then, Mr. Hockley. See you at dinner." She said. Politely walking away from him. He continued his walk down the hall towards the lifts.

Once he was out of sight she started pounding on Rose's door.

Rose finally answered. She had not yet dressed for the day. Still wearing her light pink robe. Zipper pushed past her into the sitting room.

Ruth was not around. Obviously she was at tea with the Countess of Rothes. Or gossiping about Molly Brown behind her back, Zipper knew.

"Michaela, what's gotten into you?" Rose questioned. Closing the door quietly. Then seating herself on the divan.

"Rose, what do you think of Jack?" She asked, also sitting down one the divan close to Rose. Like two gossiping sisters.

"Jack? You mean Dawson?" Rose questioned.

Zipper nodded.

Rose thought about it a moment. "Well… I don't know." She laughed a bit.

"Oh, come on yes you do." Zipper said. "Don't you even find him slightly attractive? I promise I won't tell a soul." Zipper smiled innocently.

"Well…" Rose started. "Yes, I do find him attractive. But-"

"No buts. Go talk to him. You need to thank him anyway. For saving your life." Zipper said.

"About that I-" Rose began.

"Oh, don't worry Rose. I know why you really went to the stern. But trust me Jack did save you. In more ways than you can know right now. But you need to go talk to him." She urged Rose to stand up. Tugging on her arm, she drug Rose into her bedroom.

"What? I can't. Michaela!" She laughed, knowing she wanted to. She had been thinking about it all along.

"Please, call me Zipper. All my friends do." Zipper said, rummaging through Rose's wardrobe. Then she turned to Rose. "We are friends, right?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "Of course. I think we'll be best friends."

Zipper smiled also, and resumed looking through her clothes. Until she found the dress Rose had wore in the movie. She pulled it out.

"Here. This one."

"Good gracious. I was thinking of wearing that one today. Are we thinking with the same mind or something?" She laughed. Dropping her lady laugh, and just laughing normally. She could be herself around Zipper, and she was eternally grateful for that.

"I just know everything." Zipper said sticking her nose in the air. And they laughed again like old friends. "Now, come on get dressed. Jack's waiting." She winked at Rose. Who blushed. Knowing what Cal would do if he found out she was with Jack.

Zipper pulled the strings of the corset tight. Causing Rose's breath to get caught in her throat with each tug.

"God, I'll be glad when I get home. I won't have to wear these things anymore." Zipper said absently.

Rose turned her head to her. "What do you mean?"

Zipper realized she had slipped up. "I mean when I get to America. I'm just going to leave my family. Forget this nonsense." She motioned to the corset.

Rose looked speechless. After the corset was securely tied she turned to Zipper. "You're leaving your family?" She questioned.

Zipper nodded. "I can't be tied down by them. You know what I mean?" She knew Rose of all people would understand. And she wanted her to. She wanted her to see that she didn't have to stay with Cal.

Rose only nodded. And finished dressing. "Well how do I look?" She struck a pose for Zipper.

"You look great. Now come on. Jack, remember?" She laughed.

"Yeah, I know." Rose said. She frowned a bit. "I'm not sure if I should do this."

"Don't be silly. You have to." Zipper looped her arm through Rose's and they walked towards the deck. "Well, go on, go get him." She said knowing Jack couldn't come up to the first class deck without an escort.

Rose nodded. "Where are you going?" They were on the lower deck. Because Zipper knew this is where Lowe and Jack both would be.

"Wait, I don't know his cabin number." Rose said sadly.

"360" Zipper plainly stated.

Rose looked at her skeptically a moment. "Okay… Where are you going?"

Zipper only smiled.

Rose let out a little girly squeal. "Oh my God. You're meeting someone down here too? We will be in so much trouble."

Zipper shrugged, then laughed.

"Who are you meeting?" Rose asked. Zipper made no reply. "Come on. You know what I think of Jack."

Zipper thought about it a moment. "Okay, fine. Fifth Officer Lowe."

Rose gasped again, half laughing. "An officer? Oh my gosh, what are we getting ourselves into?"

Zipper laughed. "I have no idea." And she didn't. She was still lost, and wanted to get home. But she knew the moment she'd see Officer Lowe she'd forget about that.

Rose shook her head still smiling. "Well. I'll see you at dinner then."

"Oh planning to spend that much time with Jack, are ya?" Zipper asked smugly.

Rose caught herself. "No!" She blurted out. "I mean…. I don't know." She smiled.

Zipper laughed and walked away, towards the Officers' Quarters. She heard Rose's heels clicking on the deck boards as she walked in the other direction.