"You do know there's a dressing code, right?"

After a long day full of welcome activities, Jack and Fabrizio finally returned to their cabin to get rid of their stained clothes and get some rest. The former threw himself on the freshly made bed, meanwhile the latter picked up their first mail on the basket.

"Jack, it is for you" The lad stood up and took the letter, cautiously inspecting the expensive envelope before opening it. "Is it from your tutor?"

"Maybe... i don't know" after scanning the letter, he stated "looks like they're inviting me to dinner"

"Who?"

Jack flipped the paper to look at both sides but didn't find a name "...my tutor i suppose?"

"Where are you going?" Fabrizio asked as they both sat on Jack's bed

"The first-class dining salon"

"Look at you, all fancy!"

They laughed and Jack proceeded to take a shower. He opted for a pair of black jeans, a white formal shirt (which was a bit yellowish since he hadn't worn it in years) black vans and a blazer he had from when he worked as an event photographer in Europe; since he lived here and there, there wasn't much of a choice. He had everything he needed in his backpack, which included a few more clothing garments, passport, camera and portfolio, hairbrush and toothbrush, half a bottle of tums and tons of keychains and charges. After saying goodbye to his Italian friend, he took the stairs to the 18th deck due to his student card. He followed the instructions on the letter and found himself outside The Poseidon when a cheerful voice made him stop and turn around.

"Jack Dawson?"

"Molly Brown! How are you? What a surprise!" They hugged happily after not seeing each other for nearly 2 years.

"I must say so myself, what are you doing here?"

"I got a scholarship to the on-board school... actually my tutor invited me here to have dinner tonight"

"That's amazing, congratulations! Who's your tutor?"

"Thank you... I don't actually know, but I wrote the name of the enterprise somewhere..."

"Well, you're about to go into the snakepit. You do know there is a dressing code, right?" Jack laughed, looking down at his attempt to look formal "I figured, come with me"

Maggie Brown, or "Molly" as her friends called her, had bought a small venue in Paris and had had Jack paint a few backdrops for her after they met on the street. She also helped him get a good laptop, editing software and a camera so he could earn some more money. The boy refused to recieve any payment for his work at the theatre after that. The pair arrived to Molly's cabin and she had him try on a suit.

She went straight into a suitcase from under her bed and took out a tuxedo that looked like it came fresh from the dry cleaner. Jack wondered what Molly was doing with a men's tuxedo but didn't really pay much attention to it, the woman was a boss, she could do whatever she wanted to and own every clothing garment if she wanted to.

Molly handed it to Jack and informed him where the bathroom was so he could change in private. A few minutes later, he opened the bathroom door; his friend cheered him up and fixed his bow tie.

"I knew it! You and whatshisface are the same size"

"Pretty close... who?"

"Long story... I have to take care of something really quick, why don't you go ahead of me? I'll see you inside"

"Thank you so much Molly"

"Don't even mention it, now go and make me proud"

"Yes Miss"

After walking through a long red hallway, time seemed to go back. There was the classical Titanic grand staircase with the clock. The Poseidon was like a ballroom at a palace, it was alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful live classical music. Upon arriving a young lady approached Jack and asked him for a reservation name, he showed her the letter and she guided him to the table. It was a 10 people rounded table lighten by the bright yellowish light of the chandeliers that reflected beautifully in the glasses. Am I too early? Jack thought. He went to the restroom to calm down his nerves before returning to the table, hopefully to find a few people and finally meet the person who's paying for his tuition. On his way to the table, he recognized a too familiar face...

"Hello again"

Rose looks stunning. He thought. Her firing hair up, a long low-cut satin red and black dress showing off her neck and shoulders and a big blue diamond on her neck. Jack was hypnotized by her beauty. He imitated the gentlemen's stance, hand behind his back. She extended her hand, and he took it, kissing the back of her fingers. She couldn't take her eyes off him.

"I saw that in a movie once and I've always wanted to do it"

"Jack? Wow, you look... amazing"

"I must say the same about you, you look beautiful... look at that thing! You would've gone straight to the bottom" She laughed; they shared a secret now.

"What are you doing here?"

"I-"

"Dawson?" Caledon interrupted from behind, on purpose.

"Yes?"

"It's amazing, you could almost pass for a gentleman" He said, checking twice on his phone the picture of the young adult to make sure it was him. "Wait... you two know each other?"

"We met yesterday"

"Oh. Well, welcome. I'm sure everyone is anxious to meet you"

Realization hit Rose. He was the boy they have talked about for weeks. She recalled in her mind every word that had been said about him, every sign of pity in the conversations and the true intentions of the investors, to victimize him and sell his story to the public. From that moment on she made a pact with herself to not let the snakes that called themselves altruistic, bite him... Rose thought somehow, she owed it to him, after what happened the night before.

"Hey Jack! Care to escort a lady to dinner?" Molly had arrived.

"Absolutely" The other one answered with a complicit smile.

Do they know each other? Why are they smiling to each other? Rose thought. Was she jealous? Why should she be jealous of a guy she just met?

Jack sat beside Molly at the table and Rose had to sit beside her fiancée, which made her a bit mad. Her jealousy blinded her from realizing that Jack hadn't stopped watching her all night. Even Molly had noticed. The ones who didn't were the ones that kept trying to make Jack look vulnerable.

Cal said to Jack, as if to a child "This is foie gras. It's goose liver... I heard the school was supposed to be a cargo space"

"How is it sleeping on the cargo space Mr. Dawson?" People like Ruth DeWitt-Bukater constantly tried to make him feel bad.

"It's the best i've ever seen Ma'am. Hardly any rats"

"So Jack, tell us about yourself" Rose interjected.

"Um... i've been living on my own since I was fifteen..."

"What happened to your parents?" One of the investors asked rudely

"Uh... they died in a fire back in Wisconsin"

"Were you sent to an orphanage?"

"Okay I think that's enough" Rose hissed

"Why did you run away?" How was he supposed to answer that? "Oh my god, do they have orphanages in your village?"

"Goose liver you said Cal? And where do they find the gooses?" Rose tried to lighten up the mood and did her best to distract the table.

"Do you think art is an escaping?"

"Is that why you paint?"

"Are you still struggling?"

"Would you mind sharing one of your experiences?"

They wouldn't stop and the boy looked like he was about to cry. Did they really had to bring up those topics? He never signed up for a press conference. Rose caused a mess on the table as a distraction and everyone rather focused on the wine stain on the tablecloth. After not succeeding at answering any question that was thrown at him, Jack finally spoke.

"Um, i think i better get going... i have school at 7 tomorrow so..."

"I'll escort you"

"No, you sit. You have caused much trouble already." Ruth interfered. She thought her daughter was being too naive by trying to help the boy, he had to answer those questions anyway, he was part of the project they were selling after all. As Jack excused himself, he managed to give Rose a handwritten note that read: