Chapter 2:
Cameron hesitated. "On second thought, my mother's manners are quite well. I think that my father's is adequate and I will do just fine." Amelia didn't understand why Cameron changed his mind about his mother's manners. Was he just saying differently to keep away from Kandis or was something just not right here?
Kandis frowned. "How could you change you mind so suddenly?" Amelia wanted to answer that, but she dared not to.
"My mother has been in first class all her life and she married my father in second class."
Kandis' face filled with disgust. "Gross."
Cameron sighed. "My father is doing quite well thank you very much. We're all first class. Besides, love is love, no class should separate such a means." Amelia had to smile. That was probably why Cameron didn't mind talking to her since she wasn't truly first class. She was more of second, if not third for being a maid.
Kandis looked at Amelia with slight anger. "Let's go."
Amelia looked at Cameron, then around the promenade deck for her sister. "But what about Kasey?"
"She will find her way back, lets go. I won't stand for talk from this new money boy."
Kasey came back just as Kandis grabbed Amelia's arm. "Come Kasey. Cameron knows nothing of manners." The promenade began to get crowded with the people on board the Titanic. It was about to leave port.
Kasey frowned and looked startled. Cameron's face was blank. He was looking at Amelia as she looked at the polished wood of the deck. "You don't want to say goodbye to Southampton Miss Partige?"
"No! Now lets go." Kandis said, pulling Amelia. Amelia didn't dare to look back at Cameron, but only her sister. Kasey's face was obviously asking Amelia what she had done this time. The girl shook her head to her older sister, telling her it wasn't her fault.
"If you don't mind me asking Miss, but what happened?" Kasey asked as they headed for C deck, taking the elevator.
"Ask Amelia. I am not in the mood right now to talk." Kandis said harshly. The guy in the elevator looked at the three girls.
"C Deck." Amelia said when he looked at Kandis with curiosity. He smiled but Amelia and Kasey knew it was fake. They rode the elevator down in silence. It wasn't too silent outside though. They could hear the cheers and goodbyes of the passengers. The ship had a very small jerk and it began it's way to Cherbourg. It's first stop to pick up more passengers and some of the richest and well known people of the world. (at that time)
While they made their way to suite C 60, Kandis broke the silence midway. "You are not to see Cameron Morgan again Amelia."
Amelia frowned. She had no intentions at first to see the boy again though she felt comfortable around him. Now that Kandis said something, Amelia did want to see Cameron again. He seemed charming and truthful enough to her. "Yes ma'am." Amelia said quietly.
Kandis turned to look at her. The hazel eyes trying to stare down Amelia's green ones. "I mean it! That boy is nothing. He'll probably be third class again by the end of the year."
The end of the year seemed a long ways off since it was April. Cameron's words played across her mind about love. "Why don't you give him another chance ma'am?"
"Amelia…" Kasey whispered. Kandis looked at Kasey, then Amelia again.
"Why another chance? You heard the words he spoke to me. He should be despised."
Amelia sighed. "He is getting used to first class, just give him some time." Kandis was about to speak, but Amelia continued while Kasey covered her face while shaking her head. "Yes, his manners aren't all that well, but neither was mine and Kasey's when you took us in at the age of seven and nine. His mother will train him."
Kandis frowned. "You want to see him again?"
That seemed way out of place to Amelia, but she answered it. "He seems witty and funny, why not? He is good company until we port again in New York."
Kandis seemed to consider this. "Good company. Mrs. Astor would be good company."
Amelia cocked her head to the side. "Mrs. Astor is eighteen ma'am. You're only fifteen. I would be of better-"
Kasey hit Amelia in the back and stopped her mid-sentenced. "You're lucky your sister is here or I would've slapped you if you finished." Kandis said.
Amelia wanted to turn and glare at her sister, but she continued to look at Kandis. "Ma'am, I just mean that I think Mrs. Astor is too old for you. Cameron may be nice to talk to, even if his mouth isn't the cleanest." Amelia couldn't believe the words coming out of her own mouth."
Kandis stood there for a moment. "You won't be able to see Cameron much; I'll make sure of that though." Amelia sighed. On the first hour of the Titanic, she was being denied whatever freedom she had already. Life was unbearable while living with Kandis Partige. Yes, Mrs. Partige was strict, but she was nicer to be around.
Ms. Moniker came from the room, looking both ways until she found the girls standing in the corridor. "Miss Partige, your mother would like you come get ready for lunch."
"Come Amelia," Amelia hated it when Kandis said her name that way. It made her sound like a dog. 'Come Amelia. Sit Amelia. Good girl, but no doggy treats for you.' Amelia said to herself while rolling her eyes.
Ms. Moniker shook her head. "Amelia can go to the promenade and boat deck. Mrs. Partige would like for me to help you dress. Kasey, you are needed though."
Kandis' eyes widened, but she wouldn't go against her mother. It would be foolish. Kasey nodded and tapped her sister on the shoulder as Kandis headed for their rooms. "Don't get lost, ask for help and don't be stubborn about it if you need it. As long as you stay on the promenade decks or boat deck, I will come back for you after lunch hours. Understand?"
Amelia rolled her eyes and nodded. She felt like her sister treated her like a little girl. Did she really act like one? Amelia had no idea. She was going to try to find Cameron or maybe she'd find someone else. Who knew one's destiny? "Yes Kasey. Now go assist Mrs. Partige before she gets upset."
Kasey stayed and looked her sister in the eyes, not trusting her. "No trouble Amelia, please."
Amelia smiled and she knew it was a devious one. "Cross my heart, soul shall part if such a promise is broken and these are the words that I've spoken." The girls knew the original words, but they made up new ones when they were children. Kasey loved to play and change words. They both did, but Kasey was better at it. Kasey made up the first rhyme of the little saying and Amelia did the second half.
Kasey slightly smiled. "Alright, not too much trouble." Amelia nodded.
"Kasey?" Ms. Moniker called out.
"Coming!" Kasey hugged her sister and jogged into the suite.
Amelia turned, having to dodge a few people going to their rooms from the deck. She began to hum a tune her mother used to sing to her as a child. "Come Josephine, my flying machine. Up she goes, up she goes." She asked her mother why she sang it all the time.
Her mother answered this way, "You and your sister take up me from harms way. To me, you both are Josephine and you both will go high in life. I just know it."
The tune was an old one and Amelia knew it, but few people knew it. She had heard mostly third class people sing it. It was known as the Song of Hope, just as the Hope Diamond was known to the first class.
She still had her black shawl on and looked like a first class passenger. That had its privileges. Men topped their hats at her as she walked passed them back toward the promenade deck. Her intentions though were to get to the boat deck this time though. Amelia was in her own world as she passed B and A stairways. She was singing the words to the song louder now.
"…up she goes, up she goes." She started it over again and someone began to sing it with her.
Amelia immediately looked up only to find Cameron leaning against the wall, looking at her. "Come Josephine, my flying machine." Amelia continued with a small smile.
"Up she goes, up she goes." Cameron finished.
She smiled. "I don't know if being alone is such a good thing Mr. Morgan." She was joking about calling him by his last name.
"I could protect you if need be Miss Watson." Amelia couldn't believe her remembered her last name. Things were looking up.
Amelia continued to walk, Cameron joined her. "How do you know that song?" She asked. "Since your mother is a supposed first class and father was of second?"
He smiled. "Let's just say, I've picked it up along the way."
Amelia frowned, looking at him. "Along the way of where?"
He looked ahead, his eyes ahead of them. "You ask a lot of questions."
He tried to evade her question and Amelia noticed. "Is that a problem for you?" She tried for her tone to be that of a joke, but it sounded more serious than anything.
Cameron stopped. "I guess it isn't."
Amelia eyed him suspiciously. "What's the matter?"
He continued walking and Amelia followed. He answered her with a smile. "Nothing of importance." Amelia looked into his eyes and he looked back at her, but not her eyes.
She smiled with embarrassment. "What?"
"Why is your hair down?"
Amelia touched the tips of it subconsciously. "Why is it your business?"
"You answer every question with a question?" He asked.
"Are you just noticing?" Amelia asked intentionally with a smile.
"You are annoying." He said with a small smile.
Amelia still had hers. She heard that she was annoying all the time for her age. All her life, she had to act older than she was, to her, it was never a wrong time to act young. "I try to be."
He frowned as the reached the crisp air, the smell of sea water hitting their noses. "Is it hard to insult you?"
Amelia laughed a little. "Most of the time, yes."
Cameron shook his head and sat down on the on the deck chairs. He laid back in it and closed his eyes. Amelia sat down, sitting up, ladylike. She was out in the open; there was no room to spare for looking like someone who didn't belong. Yet, here Cameron was, lying out. Maybe a guy could do that. Amelia didn't know how guys could act out in public; Mr. Partige was never around much. But it seemed that Kandis knew how everyone was supposed to act, up to her own expectations.
Amelia watched him until he opened his eyes. Revealing bright blue orbs. They seemed to be a sky blue or baby blue color. He slightly smiled, being terribly comfortable while Amelia let her shawl fall onto the deck chair. Cameron didn't seem to be first class at all. And if his mother used to be first class, then why didn't Cameron know how to act? Most to all first class people had manners, it didn't matter whether they were new money or not. Amelia had to know, she couldn't let the questions stick in her mind throughout the whole voyage.
"What?" He asked.
"Are you really first class?"
The nineteen year old frowned at her for the question and he hesitated. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
Amelia noticed that he had hesitated. "Then how is it that you act the way you do?"
He sat up, pushing his back against the chair. "I would ask you the same question."
Amelia shook her head. "I am a maid. I am not considered first class."
Cameron shook his head too. "If you're a maid, then it's all the more reason for you to have manners and act like you're good."
Amelia noticed he dodged her question again. "Don't first class people care about their reputation?"
"They may but I don't." He answered sharply. Amelia glared at him and he smiled. "You asked the wrong question."
Amelia was getting angry. "This is no game."
He chuckled. "Who said it was?"
"Stop it."
He nodded. "Okay, okay. Continue with your 20 questions."
Amelia slammed her hand down on the deck chair with anger. "You say I'm annoying!"
He looked startled. "Calm down now!"
Amelia closed her eyes and breathed, counting in her head to ten. "You are not first class."
Cameron looked her in the eyes, his blue ones seeming a little darker than they were when they first met. When she said what she did, she noticed him flinch, or his something about his changed. "Why would you say that?"
"The way you act. First class would not run down the corridor yelling and yahooing about being on the Titanic. Yes, I'm sure they are happy to be able to come upon its maiden voyage, but you see what I'm saying?" Cameron was about to say something, but Amelia raised her hand to stop him and she continued. "Second you manners are horrendous, that is one thing that I'm sure Kandis and me can agree on. A first class would not respond the way you do toward the other. Thirdly, you know the song of Hope that is known to mostly third class and possibly some second and first class know. And now, last, but not least, you lied."
Cameron frowned, then slowly smiled. "I lied?"
"Yes, you lied. Your mother can't be first class, nor can you. How did you slip past the barriers to get up here?"
Cameron laughed, it was high and young. He ended it with chuckled. "I am aboard the Titanic as a first class passenger. As to how I came to be this way, that is only what I know and for you to find out." Amelia looked at him with confusion.
