Chapter 14: Muddin'

Rose's Point Of View

Grandma opened the door for us, smiling as we burst into her kitchen, laughing so hard we could barley stand. Jack's face was a picture of joy, delight, and glee.

"Well, you two certainly are cheery this afternoon." Grandma Adrianna smiled.

"Inside joke, gram." Jack barely got the words out of his mouth.

I heard Jack take a deep breath trying to stop laughing, and felt his hand slide down my back. I collapsed in the comfortable kitchen chair, regretting that I didn't get a drink while I was standing up. It could wait until my legs weren't shaky anymore. Jack parked himself in the chair across from me, and shot me that killer grin with those dimples that made my knees get weak. He winked. I smiled. Jack, you don't know how much you mean to me.

"I'm gonna take you 4 wheeling one of these days."

My smile grew. "When?"

"Whenever you want to."

"Now."

"Now?"

"Sure!"

"Ok then."

He got up and walked over to me, reaching for my hand. I took it and he pulled me up. Again, I was surprised by the strength of him. I never ceased to by amazed by this man, who suddenly appeared in my life.

"You'll need to change. Something that looks like it should've been thrown away a decade ago."

"I think I've got something like that."

"Well?" He laughed.

I turned on my heel and headed toward the stairs, with Jack right behind me.

"I can't wait to see what you're gonna put on." I chuckled.

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see."

"Duh."

"Ooohhh." He poked my side and I stepped away from him.

He grinned, "Just remember, I can get you better than you can me," I said.

"I don't think so misses."

"Oh, I think so."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Well, I want to know what this idea is."

"You might find out eventually."

"You know how curious I get."

I laughed, "Yeah."

He stepped towards me and poked me again.

"Boy, you're gonna get it."

"Oh, I'm scared."

"You should be."

"I am."

We got to the top of the stairs at that moment, and headed toward our rooms.

"I'll see you in 5 minutes." He pointed at me.

I winked at him. Going to my closet, I picked out my black t-shirt and jeans that should've been thrown in the dumpster years ago. I changed, and got my brush off of the dresser. I brushed my frizzy hair and tried to do something with it so that it wouldn't get in the way.

"ggrrrr." I said, growl at my hair. It never did what I wanted it to.

"Don't be getting too horny in there."

"Jack!"

"You heard me." He was in the hallway.

"Jack Dawson, you're going to get beat."

"Bring it on, Baby."

"You wish I would."

He laughed. Finally just fastening my hair up in a messy bun, I turned around. My eyebrow rose at his clothes. He had a short-sleeved black tee that looked like it had been dragged through the mud more than once, and light blue jeans that should've died 10 years ago. His tennis shoes were mud stained. And he looked so gorgeous and loveable.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

We walked down the stairs. My mind was telling me not to do these kinds of things, that once my mother found out I would be in a deep mess. But that was my old life, this was the new me. One that didn't care if I made myself do what I wanted to do, and made myself realize that I wasn't better than everybody else even if that was what I had been told all my life. They wouldn't be finding me, and I would be okay.

He led me out to the garage, and over to a corner with something that was covered with a sheet of plastic.

"Help me uncover this real quick."

I reached for the sheet and pulled it back. The new-looking, shiny gloss of a red and black coat of paint greeted my sight. The red, black, and silver blended in together to form an awesome sight, the Honda Sportrax 450R. Jack grinned, proudly displaying his prize. I laughed at him, and shook my head.

"You're funny."

"What? You don't like it?" He made a puppy dog face at me and stuck out his bottom lip. I bit my own, trying not to go to over there and kiss him like I wanted to.

"Of course I like it, I'm just laughing at you."

"What's so funny about me?"

"You're funny looking."

That comment got his mouth hanging and disbelieving looks cross his face. I burst out laughing. He tipped head back, and challenged me with his beautiful blue eyes.

"Really now?"

"Yeah."

"In a good way or bad way?"

"You decide."

He smiled and brought the 4-wheeler out of the garage, taking it to the backyard.

"Ready to go mudding?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

He got on and started it up, gesturing behind him and yelling something to me. I covered my ears from the noise and shook my head.

"What?"

He handed me a helmet and put his over his head; I followed his signal. He jerked his head and pointed to the seat behind him, so I got on it.

"You ever been on one of these?"

"No."

He shook his head, and then took my hands and wrapped them around his waist. What was he doing?

"So you won't fall off the back."

"Oh."

Feeling really stupid by now, I held on to him as he took off toward the woods. He came to the path where we would have gone to the garden, and turned the opposite way instead. It had rained a couple days ago so the ground was muddy. Mud splashed up on my jeans, and I realized just how dirty we were going to get. I smiled; I wish my mother could see me now.

1 ½ hours later

"Oh, God, Jack I feel like a pig."

He burst out laughing and looked me over. It was quite a sight, us in the backyard covered in head to toe with mud. He didn't look much better, and I think he was more enveloped in mud than I was.

"That's what the shower's for, hon."

"Yeah, but…"

"So did you like it?"

"Yes!"

"Good." He sounded content.

"How often do you go mudding?"

"Every couple weeks."

I laughed, "I guess I'd better plan on coming with you, huh?"

"If you want."

"Yep."

"I had fun."

"So did I."

"So what do you want to do now?"

He laid my helmet down on the quad and I threw him mine. He caught it, and then laid it beside his. I watched him take off his gloves and put them in his pocket. He looked up at me.

"Kiss you."

He grinned; God, I loved his dimples and his warm smile.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

I went to him and he reached for me, taking me into his arms tightly. I smiled up at him, appreciating the look in his eyes. He searched my face and, finding what he was looking for, lowered his head toward mine. He paused, making me need his kiss even more. His thumb idly massaged a spot on my lower back while his mouth lingered a breath above mine. He quickly lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me hard and making me gasp in satisfaction. My hands went to his pockets, removing his gloves and dropping them on the ground.

He slowly ended it, and pulled away. I rested my head on his chest, catching the breath that didn't want to come back. I closed my eyes as he ran his hands over my shoulders, and gently as well as lovingly showing me what he felt.

"I love you, Jack Dawson."

"I love you, Rose DeWitt-Bukater."