"Come Josephine in my flying machine! Going something something!"
The party was long over and both Jack and Rose were tipsy and leisurely walking, not quite paying attention to where they were going as they attempted to sing and mess up the lyrics to a popular song that they had both heard last year.
It was early evening and the stars were just beginning to appear in the sky as the two young people mindlessly made their way to the better part of town, full of beer and good cheer. Rose had never felt so relaxed with anyone as she felt with Jack. He had shown her a whole new way of existing, really. The people she had met today...the simplest things made them happy and they were all interesting with their hopes and dreams for the future and their stories of life in Ireland and England and in Fabrizio and Helga's case Italy and Norway.
Now here she was with a poor wandering artist, who had spent time talking to her about Paris and how he had once spied the artist Monet in his garden, but had lost the nerve to actually go talk to the man. Of meeting with the artists of the Moulin Rouge and other adventures that he and Fabrizio had gone on during their travels. Now, their conversation lapsed into trying to sing a song that they were both familiar with as they walked through the streets of Philadelphia, a bit tipsy from the beer that they had drunk, neither of them realized that they were heading for Rose's mansion until they were just a few feet away.
"Woah, is this your place?" Jack asked, eyeing the tall regal building. He had seen it once before, when he had first walked Rose home, but he wasn't ready to say goodbye yet and wanted to make conversation, prolong their time together somehow. In Jack's opinion, she definitely lived in a palace, even though his estate back in Boston was a lot nicer. But he didn't want to think of that. He didn't want to be reminded that he would have to return someday. Some day was in the future. This was now.
Rose blushed, feeling embarrassed. To someone like Jack, someone poor and used to the bare minimum in life, her life must seem so frivolous and overwhelming. This mansion was more than both her mother and herself would ever need. "It is rather gaudy, isn't it?"
"It's big. You must live very comfortably in there," Jack tried not to wince, not wanting to even consider what she would think of his home in Boston.
"I suppose. But I prefer a home like Cora's. Small and cozy. No room for hoarding valuables, but enough room for things that are really important."
Jack sighed, inwardly agreeing with Rose. He'd love to have a place where there was only room for what he considered to be life's essentials. Things that he needed and maybe a little more for things he wanted. Not for things that would just sit there and take up room and had no sentimental value. Of course, no one in his family shared that sentiment, so it was nice to find a kindred spirit in Rose, even though she had no clue that he had as much money as she did if not more.
"Don't judge us too unkindly, Jack. It's just the world we were born into. Mother would not know what to do with herself if she didn't have all of her jewelry and furs and antiques. Despite the fact that she hardly uses most of it," Rose sighed, feeling like she was being judged somehow.
"Hey, having money is not a bad thing. It can get you to a lot of places more easily than if you had none at all," Jack folded his arms, feeling a small need to defend having money, even though he mostly shared Rose's viewpoint.
"If you're a man, of course. You can go and do whatever you want and society has nothing to say. But if you're a woman, money is a key that locks you into a gilded cage," Rose sighed, sitting down on a bench in her yard and staring up at the night sky. "Wow, look at all the stars. It's so vast. It makes you feel so small, doesn't it?"
Jack sat down and looked up at the night sky and nodded. "It sure does..."
"My crowd, we all thinks we giants when we're nothing but dust in god's eye."
Jack chuckled. That was true, well all except for Rose. He had met many first class girls and none of them were like her. "You're not one of them. You were mailed to the wrong address."
"I was wasn't I?" Rose laughed and then gasped as she saw a light shoot across the sky. "A shooting star!"
"That was a long one," Jack stared, remembering back to the last time he had seen a shooting star. It had been when he had been fifteen years old and his father had taken him out on a hunting trip, something they had done together since Jack was eight years old. He remembered sitting out in front of the cabin that the family owned and staring at the sky in wonder and how his father had laughed and told him an old saying that his own father had told him. "My pops used to say that a shooting star was a soul going to heaven."
"I like that. Aren't we supposed to make a wish on it?"
"Why? What did you wish for?" Jack asked.
Rose looked away from the sky and looked at Jack. She blushed, realizing just how close they were sitting...close enough to kiss. That would be inappropriate, she knew, but he was so tempting with the moonlight making him look even more handsome and his warm breath brushing her face. She reluctantly got to her feet with a sad smile.
"For something I can't have."
What did she mean by that? She could have anything she wanted. She could have him, all she had to do was ask. He got to his feet, wanting to encourage her, letting her know that anything she wanted to do was welcomed, but the opening of the front door and an angry voice halted what he was about to say.
"Rose Dewitt Bukater! Where in the world have you been all day?! Cal is here and has been waiting for hours and...who is that you are with?! You have some explaining to do young lady!" Ruth Dewitt Bukater stood in the doorway, her face white with rage.
Jack frowned as the woman's eyes fell on him, looking at him as if he was an insect that must be squashed immediately. He looked away, afraid that the woman may recognize him somehow from the society papers that his family was in every now and then. He doubted it, since he dressed poorly and had grown his hair out, but still...if one looked closely enough, they would see the Dawson heir buried in the guise of a penniless wanderer. Despite his growing affection for Rose, he was not ready for such a discovery yet.
"Mother," Rose nervously wrung her hands, her mother's appearance sobering up real quick. She hoped that neither her mother or Cal would notice that she had been drinking and actually having fun. It was bad enough that her mother was now aware of Jack. Oh why did she not have him drop her off at the park? Why did they come here? Now everything was ruined! Most likely, this will be her last time seeing Jack ever again.
"Answer me, Rose! This is highly inappropriate! You were gone all day and now I find you out here with this strange...ragamuffin!" Ruth struggled to keep her voice under control, not wanting the neighbors to hear. What a scandal this would be if discovered!
"Mother, this is Jack Dawson. He is a friend I met the other day and we were just talking. We were doing nothing inappropriate," Rose avoided her mother's eyes, knowing that if she wasn't careful, Ruth would see the truth of the situation. That wouldn't do at all. "Jack, this is my mother, Ruth Dewitt Bukater."
"Hello, ma'am," Jack nodded, feeling really nervous. If this woman recognized him, she'll contact his father straight away, who will be on the first train here to collect him. Which might not be a bad thing. Right now, Rose's mother was looking at him as if he was dirt on the bottom of her dainty heels. If she knew who he really was, she would be looking at him a whole lot differently,but so would Rose, he bet.
"Ruth, is that her? Is she finally back?!" an awfully familar voice called from with in the house.
"We're out here, Caledon!" Ruth answered.
Jack's blood ran cold as Caledon Hockley stepped out into view. He had only met Caledon Hockley once, at one of his father's business gatherings. He had been forced to spend an hour in the company of Cal and some other heirs of big industry, his father hoping that fraternizing with fellow heirs would awaken more interest in the family business. It did not and Jack had found Cal to be a terrible human being. He was arrogant, oblivious, and entitled. He believed that he deserved the best of everything and that money grew on trees. He was horrible and he had something to do with Rose?
He didn't want to know what. Hopefully, Hockley won't recognize him. They hadn't spent that much time together.
"Sweet pea? You are back. Who is this with you?" Cal leisurely strolled up to them, eyeing Jack with distaste. The young man before him was obviously lower class with his too long hair and worn clothing and poor figure. Yet, there was something familiar about him. He couldn't say what. There was no way he could have met this street urchin before. He only graced other members of his social class with his presence. Anyone less than a cool million was not worth his interest.
Rose felt sick. How could she allow this to happen? Why didn't they go to the park and leave off there instead of coming here? She knew better. What a disaster this night, which had so far been wonderful, was turning out to be. It was a shame, because she now knew that it was very unlikely that she'll be able to see Jack again now.
"Mother...Cal...may I introduce Jack Dawson. He was of some assistance to me the other day at Louise's party and I was just thanking him for his help and discretion," Rose explained, not wanting to reveal that she had spent two whole days with Jack, doing things that they would consider scandalous at best. "Jack, this is my mother Ruth Dewitt Bukater and my fiancee Caledon Hockley..."
Jack felt sick to his stomach. She was engaged. She was engaged to...him? His mind was having trouble even processing that someone as wonderful and spirited as Rose could be tied to such an unsavory sort of individual. Caledon Hockley was among the worse of high society. How could Rose even deem him worthy of her? It didn't make any sense!
"Dawson eh? Well, I suppose that Ruth and I also extend our appreciation for your assistance to MY fiancee, but your presence here is rather inappropriate, sir," Cal looked at Jack as if he was some begger off the street. Which irked Jack, despite the fact that he was dressed like he was. That still didn't excuse Hockley's attitude. And the way he called Rose his fiancee...it was like she was his property or something!
"Cal," Rose tried to intercede, feeling embarrassed by this uncalled for confrontation, but she was briskly cut off.
"Come inside Rose. That is not a request," Ruth glared at her daughter. How scandalous this all was! Hopefully none of the neighbors saw her daughter with this boy! It'd be in the papers by morning!
Rose wanted to refuse. She wanted to stay out here with Jack and continue their conversation, which was probably at an end anyway, but still it was the point of the matter. She didn't want to disappear inside, where she'll ever see him again after tonight. She at least wanted a chance to explain why she hadn't told him about Cal and to apologize from keeping that from him. But the look on her mother's face told her that there would be a scene if she refused. Exposing poor Jack to the likes of Cal and her mother was enough. She wasn't going to subject him to anymore.
"Goodbye Jack. I had a wonderful time knowing you," she sighed, giving in to her mother's wishes.
Jack simply nodded and watched her disappear into the house and out of his life most likely. He felt sad and almost helpless. He could tell that she didn't want to go, but there was nothing that either of them could do about it. At least not at that moment anyway.
"As I said, Dawson," Cal cleared his throat once the women were gone. "Your presence here is no longer appropriate. It was never appropriate. Rose is of a higher standing obviously and she is my fiancee. We are to be married soon. So you be best on your way and not to return. Do you understand?"
Cal's voice was on the edge of being menacing, but it was also condescending, as if Jack was a child and didn't understand the ways of the civilized world. It made him bristle with anger and made him understand why people like Tommy disliked the people from high society.
"I understand perfectly. I will be on my way," Jack glared at Cal, inwardly telling himself that this may not be the end. He needed to get Rose's side of the story. Why hadn't she told him that she was engaged? Why Hockley? She was so much better than that. Really, he couldn't just walk away. Not without knowing that she'll be alright. That this was what she really wanted.
"Yes. Leave now, or my man will make you leave."
Jack had glimpsed Cal's man once. A stern looking man by the name of Spicer Lovejoy. Fabrizio had been forced to try to converse with the man and later had told him that he was a cold, unpleasant man and was more of a bodyguard than a valet.
Without a word, Jack turned around and headed back towards the apartment that he shared with Fabrizio. He felt like he had just hit a brick wall. He had met and spent time with a girl that he could see himself settling down with. A girl well worth returning to his own world for if need be. But she was out of reach now, engaged to the likes of Caledon Hockley. He was probably better off forgetting about her.
But something inside him refused to. He had to see her again somehow. He wasn't ready to let go.