Chapter Two

Rose was helped out of the lifeboat by other survivor from the Titanic. She would have said "thank you" if she wasn't feeling as bad as she felt. Just the thought of her only true love in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean was enough to make her feel dizzy. When one of the crewmen asked for her name and the class where she belonged, she couldn't answer because someone who was standing beside her spoke first:

"Hockley" a man's voice said, "she is Rose Hockley and she is traveling in the first class"

Rose didn't want to turn around. She couldn't believe her luck. Could it really be possible? The last time she had seen Cal he was in the Titanic, trying to get into a boat. Jack and Rose had seen him when they where with Tommy and Fabrizio. Cal wasn't a good swimmer; Rose knew that, so, if he was alive it was because he had probably found a boat which let man in. Maybe Jack was inside it too. She saw the rest of the lifeboats getting nearer to the Carpathia. Surely he was in one of those boats waiting. Her exciment must have been too obvious, because when she tried to get nearer to the rail, Cal stopped her.

"I wouldn't be so confident if I were you" he said

At this point she had to turn around. She saw her (former) fiancée smiling at her. It was a cruel smile, like if he was enjoying what he had to say.

"What do you mean?" she asked

"Jack's dead"

Rose's world crashed over her. That couldn't be truth. It had to be a cruel joke. Jack was a survivor; he couldn't have died in the Titanic.

"You don't know" she said, trying to hide her tears from Cal "You are alive, what makes you say that he isn't? I beat you that he is already here, looking for me"

"I don't think so, sweet pea. Have you seen him around? Did you checked the survivors list? Well, I have, and let me tell you, there isn't any Jack Dawson in it. Look at the boats, there are only women inside them. HE IS DEAD" he said, and after a pause he added "I told you, I always win"

"You're lying. You are just trying to get me back, aren't you? Well guess what, you lost. I will never marry you. Now, if you excuse me I have to look for Jack."

"You will marry me, as it was arranged. In a month time you will be Miss Caledon Hockley. Is it clear to you?"

"What makes you say I will? The fact that Jack is suppose to be dead doesn't change the fact that I don't love you. I can manage by myself. I don't need you nor your money to survive."

"You need me, Rose, you wouldn't last a week alone in New York. You don't have anywhere to go to, anyone to turn to. You don't have any money nor skills to earn it."

Cal was right, Rose thought. She needed money to survive and the only one who could helped her in that way was the man standing in front of her. But she wouldn't give up without fighting first.

"I'll manage" she said trying to sound confident.

"I would love to see that. Ok, let's suppose that you find a job, will it pay enough to support you and your mother"

She froze. She hadn't think of that. She had been more than happy to leave everything to follow Jack, but she didn't think her mother would accept to live without a maid.

"Come on, sweet pea. Your mother is waiting"

She didn't want to do it but she realized that she had to. Cal was right, the boats were getting nearer and there were only women inside them. Of course she would take a look at the survivor list, but for the time being she had to follow Cal.