Chapter 13: Saturday

Jack's Point Of View

The sound of Nick LaChey's 'This I Swear' shook me from a sound sleep. My hand went to the alarm clock beside my bed and switched it off. I leisurely opened my eyes, then made a face and blinked at the bright glow that shone in them. From someplace downstairs, I heard grandma's dishes clinking in the sink. Outside I heard the trees whistle and move back and forth in the breeze. I sighed, if only I could sleep in and maybe stay in bed for a couple more hours.

Footsteps on the stairs interrupted my thoughts and then a knock echoed on my door.

"You awake in there?"

"Yeah I'm awake, grandma."

"Ok, breakfast is waiting on the table, hon."

I got out of bed, and walked over to the door and opened it. I gave her a good morning hug, and grin.

"Good morning."

"I think you need to go wash your face and wake up some more." She smiled and laughed softly.

"Probably. I'll be right down to the table."

"Take your time."

Turning around, I took a good look at my room. It needed cleaned badly; but it could get cleaned in a while. Today was Saturday, not a day for cleaning. Oh well.

I walked out of my room to the bathroom where I washed my face, and then sauntered to Rose's door. She was playing Kelly Clarkson's 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' at almost full blast. I eavesdropped to her singing along and grinned, her voice really didn't sound that bad. I knocked once, and waited for the music to pause and for her to stop singing. When it didn't, I knocked again. She must not have been able to hear me knocking, because she would've answered the door.

I slowly open to door to see what she was doing, and saw her sitting on the floor sorting through a box of pictures. She smiled and laughed, then placed the pictures back into the box and slid it under the bed. She got up off of the floor and took her brush from the dresser and brushed her hair, and then raised the brush to her mouth as if it was a microphone to sing with Kelly.

I smiled, thoroughly taking pleasure in watching her dance around her room singing without her even knowing I was there. She took a quick look in the mirror and froze when she saw me, then grinned. She twirled around and faced me for the first time since I'd been studying her. Just then we both realized she was standing in front of me with her jeans and lacy, black, Victoria's Secret bra on. Her porcelain colored face turned a shade of pink as I allowed my eyes to roam over her and then come up and meet hers to let her know my enjoyment and approval. She walked over to her stereo and stopped it, then strode back over to the doorjamb that I was comfortably leaning on.

"You're going to stay there until I say to move aren't you?"

I focused on her face as I replied to her question trying to make my voice sound normal, and not let her know my difficulty of having her standing this close to me with little on and not being able to let my hands wander.

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm not going to."

My eyebrow raised, and I watched her hand as it came up to my arm. She kept her stare at my eyes as she ran her hand down my chest and to my abdomen.

"You can touch me, Jack." She whispered, seeming to know what was going through my mind.

My hands reached for her, and she came closer. I gazed at her, captivated, as the cool skin of her sides felt like silk against my rough, warm hands. Her hands slid up and rested on my chest as she looked intently into my eyes and my fingers explored her back. My hand slipped up into her hair and I lowered my lips to her full, red ones. My hand splayed against her lower back and brought her to me, closing the space and bringing our bodies together for me to kiss her intensely.

The kiss went deeper and captivated my mind. I followed the passion that was quickly overtaking me; I ran my hand up and down her back. I laid it flat against her lower back, letting it slip down slowly. I broke the kiss all of a sudden and lowered my head to press against the hollow of her throat, where I could feel her heart beating. Her chest rose and fell, forcing out a deep breath. Her hands came to my neck, and touched it with feather softness. They eased my jaw up and she pressed her lips to mine; I responded to her, and intensified it.

She pressed closer and my senses flew to focus on her, only her. It was just our emotions, mixing together and experimenting on a new territory and us, for the moment, willing to go. She had an idea of what I was experiencing, and her hands caressed my back and she broke our kiss to lower her lips and kiss my jaw. I lowered my head again to her smooth, warm, neck; she caught my hands and brought them up close to her chest. Her ragged breathing mixed with mine, as I tried to restore my self-control and remember my promise.

"Rose," my voice sounded low and husky in my ears.

"Jack-"

"Are you two coming down to breakfast?" I hardly heard my grandma call from downstairs.

I sighed quickly and tried to detach my feelings by backing up slowly, breaking our embrace. She gazed into my eyes and let her emotion touch my heart.

"I guess we have to go down to breakfast." Her voice was hoarse.

"I guess so."

My mind was empty and I couldn't think of anything to say, which was not typical of me. But since I knew what had almost happened between us, I wasn't surprised. What had I been thinking? What about my decision? We were now standing in front of each other, trying to persuade ourselves we had to stop. She turned and walked over to her bed; I watched as she slipped her black tank top over her head and fixed it over herself. I smiled softly at her as she neared me again and she took my hand.

"You're so beautiful, you know that?" I asked her.

She ducked her head and blushed.

2 ½ hours later in the garden

"I love you, Rose."

"I love you too, Jack Dawson."

I wrapped my arms around her; she fit perfectly and cuddled to me. This felt so right; standing here in my garden and sharing each other's love. It was so peaceful and quiet here. Her face shifted to face my neck.

"Jack, I'm a virgin."

The statement was said quietly and cautiously, letting me know she was nervous. Like I wasn't? I was probably more nervous than she was, knowing what I had resolved to myself. But she was a virgin? I had gathered that much from what she'd told me about her life and lifestyle, but to hear her admit it was a different thing. I swallowed and tried to think of something to say that wouldn't hurt her.

"I know. And it's okay, Rose."

"How did you know?"

"I could tell by what you told me about yourself and your life, and how you responded to me."

"I just couldn't give myself to Cal. I couldn't."

"I know, and I'm glad you didn't. He wouldn't value you like-"

Whoa, Jack, slow down. I had almost said 'like I will.' And that would've been a mistake. What if she decided she wanted to wait until marriage? Which is what I had decided a long time ago, but hadn't told her yet. And what if we didn't even get married?

"-Like he was supposed to."

"No, he wouldn't have."

"Can I tell you something, Rose?"

"Sure."

"You're not the only one who is a virgin."

Her head came up slowly and stared intently into my eyes.

"You- you are?" she whispered, trying to believe it.

"Yeah, I am."

"But, you're 20. And you're a guy." She didn't comprehend it, and I almost smiled.

"I'm different from any other guy."

"I know, you're special. And I love you for that."

"I love you too."

"And I need to tell you something else, but don't take it the wrong way, okay? I determined this a long time ago before I even had a girlfriend."

"I'll try."

"I'm waiting until marriage."

The surprised and shocked look I was expecting from her didn't come. I knew she had been different from any girl I had ever known. One of the main reasons I wasn't popular around the girls was because I declined to be with them for this reason. Her eyes didn't falter from mine, and she didn't shy away. To my surprise, her look did become sort of timid.

"I resolved the same thing when Cal tried to force himself on me."

"I thought you were going to think I was weird, or maybe even gay or something..."

She smiled, "I would if I hadn't decided the same thing. And I know you well enough to know you're not gay."

"What a pair we are…"

"I know. Why did you decide to stay a virgin until you got married?" she asked cautiously.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself and trying to think of the right words to say. If she didn't think I was strange by knowing that I was going to wait, maybe she would understand my explanation.

"Because virginity is a special and precious thing that shouldn't be taken. I decided to wait because I want to share it with someone who I will share my life with and that I will share theirs, and that understands me fully."