"Think of it as meeting your neighbor"

Jack

"I can hold a conversation with you for example... but I get nervous when I have to talk to people that I don't know"

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday; we had sailed yesterday and were currently on our way to New York for our first stop. Excitement woke Fabrizio and me since 9 am, we had breakfast at the school's buffet cafeteria and went to the outside deck to finish our yogurt afterwards.

"That's why I brought you here... excuse me? Hi! Is this seat taken?" Oh yes, he would have to engage in a conversation with a stranger.

"No, not at all, please sit down, I'm Tommy Ryan"

I shook hands with the Irish-looking lad. "Jack Dawson"

"Fabrizio"

We sat down at the wooden table with Tommy, I seriously thought these deck chairs were more uncomfortable when I first saw them, but they weren't so bad. "Oops! I left my sketch pad inside... I'll go get it" I felt the death glare of Fabrizio, as I stood up and hurried inside the cafeteria again.

I did feel bad for the poor guy but if I had stayed there, he would have constantly looked at me for answers or expected me to answer for him.

"The ship is... nice huh?" Fabrizio broke the ice.

"Yeah, it's an Irish ship"

"Is English, no?"

"Nope, it was built in Ireland, just like the original Titanic... hope they don't fuck it up this time" Tommy chuckled.

Sketch pad in hand, i walked outside again, hopefully to find Fabrizio talking with Tommy Ryan. Thank god my drawings were where I left them, I don't know what I would do without them.

I started drawing since an early age, I got better by 16 and started taking it seriously since 18. I have had the opportunity to learn from many amazing artists across Europe. I still remember sneaking in a couple of outside workshops in Montmartre, Paris.

"Hey, you're back"

"What's up?"

"We were just talking about the ship... what's that?"

"Oh it's... they're just some sketches"

"May i?" I handed Tommy the portfolio. I could describe the feeling as similar to when all your friends gather around to sing happy birthday. What do you expect me to do? Should I look somewhere else? Should I join?

"He's good huh?" Fabrizio said and i returned the smile

"Very... do you make money with your drawings?"

I was about to answer when a red head of hair caught my eye on the upper deck, it was far, but it still managed to catch my attention... more like, she. Green eyes, pale skin, molded perfectly by a pair of jeans and an olive sweater. She was beautiful. I tried to memorize each detail so I could draw it later. Is that creepy? My eyes traveled to her face, furrowed brows, clenched jaw, her expression was frustrated, her malachite nostalgic.

"Earth to Jack" Fabrizio said as he waved a hand over my face. I didn't even flinch, I was too busy daydreaming. Tommy figured out who I was staring at and laughed.

"Ah, forget it boyo. It is like of angels flying out of your arse as to getting to the likes of her. That's the first-class deck"

My daydream ended when a guy who seemed in his late 20's came up to her and grabbed her arm. Woah, who does he think he is? No question she is mad. They seemed to have a small argument and she walked back inside.

Rose

The day we boarded I became friends with Margaret Brown. She was only 7 years older than me and an activist for Gender Equality, Children's Rights and BLM. And she also liked theatre!

Maggie was what my mother called "new money"; When working in Colorado, she saved some money and invested in a gold mine which turned out to be very successful. She told me she was also doing the whole trip to find herself and figure out what she wanted to do with her life, at that moment I knew we would be very good friends. Next morning, we all had lunch together at the Palm Court, an exclusive restaurant just for the people who booked a First-Class Suite.

"We wanted a main grand ship for the company, to convey sheer size. And size means stability, luxury... and safety- and what better way than honoring the Titanic"

"I heard that it was trending in less than one hour"

"Yes, and tickets were already half sold out by the first week in most of the destinies, especially Europe and Latin America..."

We had also met Mr. Andrews, the head designer of the ship, and Mr. Ismay, one of the principal investors. When I came to realize, Cal had put a plate in front of me.

"Um... thanks... i was planning on checking the buffet myself actually"

"Don't worry sweet pea, I got it" He celebrated like it was some sort of victory.

"You gonna cut her meat for her too there Cal?" Maggie said and I chuckled

"I was just trying to be nice"

"Let's just eat, I'm starving"

"Let's not go overboard though" Cal whispered and laughed

I looked at him in disbelief "Excuse me?"

"Your mom told me you were trying to lose some weight"

"Did she?" I stared at her, she was invested in the other conversation at the table "I'm fine, thanks Cal" i was becoming overwhelmed with everyone trying to control what I did, why don't they mind their own business? I need a cigarette.

As I lit up my cigarette, I heard my mother's voice "You know I don't like that Rose"

"She knows" Cal said, taking my cigarette and stubbing it out. I was furious and wasn't going to deny I wanted revenge.

"Do you know of Dr. Freud? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you, Mr. Ismay. Excuse me" I walked out to the balcony, leaving mother and Cal to apologize.

Trying to forget what happened I glanced around my surroundings. You must be grateful, you're on board on a beautiful ship and it's a beautiful day. I said to myself. Peace was soon forgotten when I felt Cal grab tightly my arm.

"Why did you storm out like that?"

"Why do you think?"

"Was it me? I was just trying to be nice Rose. Every single time I try to be a good boyfriend it seems to fire back. I offer you my sweatshirt, you don't want it, I pick up your food for you, you get mad, I try to be supporting on your diet and you get mad, I try to help you not get in trouble with your mother and you get mad! I don't understand! What do you want?"

"It's not what you do! It's why you do it"

"I do it because I want this to work!"

"But you don't care how I feel"

"Of course I do! You're my girlfriend, I care for you"

"Okay, then show me" i said and walked back inside.