Rose

Make it count, meet me at the clock.

I read the note a couple times before I excused myself to my cabin. I grabbed my purse and started walking towards the entrance of the dining hall, I saw Jack at the top of the staircase. Is it weird if I think he's cute? I mean I can recognize it, right? It doesn't mean I'm cheating... although frankly I don't care if it is...

I guess he sensed my approaching because he turned around just before I could say anything.

"Wanna see something?"

I just nodded and let myself trust this guy I barely knew. He took my hand and guided me towards the stern of the ship. We got in the elevator, and I could catch a glimpse of the ship at night. It was absolutely stunning. Chandeliers, lights, people, art... I realized i was so used to focus on my own thing that I forgot to look my surroundings. Usually when I do is because I want to take a picture, but I haven't really allowed myself to enjoy it for a long time.

"Jack, am i allowed to be here?" I asked as he slid his card to open the glass doors of the RMS.

"Your family is one of the investors, right?"

"Right..."

"You shouldn't have a problem then" he said as he pulled my hand. I giggled but he signed me to be quiet along with a wink. We took the stairs to his deck and when he opened the door I couldn't believe my eyes. There were so many stars. I hadn't seen anything like this in my life. My jaw dropped open as we stepped outside, careful to not fall into the pool, we approached to the end of the stern.

Upon arriving at the end of the ship, they leaned on the railing to observe the night sky. Without the city pollution they were able to see the galaxy at its best. When looking at the sky, you realize the earth is just a small planet among infinity, and problems don't seem bigger than they are. We ARE part of this, we were meant to be here and now. The atoms that make up the stars are the same that made us.

"This is beautiful"

"Yeah" Jack said, looking directly at Rose, who was completely lost looking up.

"They're so vast and endless" Jack's eyes finally gave in and he looked up to the sky along with hers.

"When I feel lost, I look up to the sky. My pops said that each star was a soul... even sometimes i imagine they're there. Looking up to them... gives me peace, it gives me a chance to forget about everything for a moment and just breath. I hope it helps you too."

"Thank you, Jack"

"I never shared this with anyone"

"Thank you... for giving me the honor" Rose smiled and wrapped an arm around him. He answered with a smile. "You think... you think maybe my father is up there?"

"Sure, he is... he's watching you, and i bet he's very proud of you"

"Do you think our parents know each other?"

"I don't know... should they?"

"Yeah, why not... we are friends, right?"

"Right"

"By the way... what did you mean by make it count?"

"Hmm?"

"The note"

"What do you think i meant?"

"I don't know... the moment?"

"Maybe... you'll have to figure that out on your own"

"What? That's not fair!" Rose hit him in the arm playfully, she didn't expect a big reaction.

"Ouch"

"That didn't even hurt!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because i'm a girl"

"So?"

"You can't possibly be hurt by me"

"Why not?"

"I... I don't know... I guess that's how it's always been in my world"

"Has it?"

"My crowd... they think they're giants. But we're nothing but dust in god's eye"

"Not you. You got mailed to the wrong address"

Rose laughed "I did, didn't I? Look! A shooting star!"

"Wow, that was a long one" Jack whispered

"Aren't you supposed to wish on it?"

"What would you wish?"

"Something I can't have"

Freedom. Rose thought. Freedom to go where I want to without people staring at what i do or how I behave. To surround myself with people who actually care about me, that stay by my side through thick or thin, not just when they need something, or when they're bored, or simply because they might need something in the future. I want to be able to wear what I want without anyone judging, and without worrying if I'm going to get criticized online; or even worse, behind my back. I want my family to treat me as their nephew, as her daughter. I want to stop time so I can figure out what I truly want. I want to stop spending every day of my life trying to please other people. I wish for the freedom this boy has. I wish to travel the world and learn about art and do what I want without caring what anyone thinks; and to be with someone who will not treat me as a porcelain doll. I can almost taste it...

Jack caught the smell of alcohol from her lips and stood back. She wasn't drunk, but she definitely had had a fair amount to sum up the courage to do what she was about to do. The gesture made Rose come back from her daydream.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be, you didn't do anything"

"I should go back... sorry again"

"No worries, i'll lead the way"

Jack put a securing arm behind her back and walked her to the entrance of the school. She insisted to go back to First Class on her own, so they said goodbye through the glass doors and Jack walked back to his cabin. Upon entering in the dark, he was startled by his roommate.

"Jack"

"Jeez Fabrizio! You scared me!"

"Sorry"

"What's wrong?" Jack said as he took off his bow tie and coat and placed them on the couch.

"What if... what if it sinks?"

"The ship?" Then, he finished unbuttoning his shirt and left the t-shirt he was wearing under it to sleep.

"Yes"

"It won't, don't worry"

"How do you know?"

"They have a radar, it senses when something is approaching, even if it's a bird"

"But... but what if..."

"Look, if something happens I'll wake you up, alright?" Fabrizio resembled the little brother Jack had always wished for. Even if their ages were similar, the youngest possessed certain naiveness that made Jack want to protect him. "Now let's go to sleep" he said as he climbed to Fabrizio's bed and put an arm around him, he felt him tense up but thought it may have been the weight of his arm, so he removed it and patted him instead.

"Don't worry, nothing bad is gonna happen"

"Promise?"

"Mmhmm"