Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the movie 'Titanic'

Chapter 2:

"Miss?"

"Yes?" I said, confused as to why he was stopping me.

The worker looked at me, then at the deck where all the third-class people - all the poor people lounged. "Is this where you should be?"

I pretended to be offended. "I'm just looking for someone is all."

"Uh, okay." He opened the gate for me.

I nodded toward him as a thank you, walking down the steps onto the unfamiliar deck. "Oh my." I walked along the railing, scanning the perimeter for my sister. I felt eyes on me as I walked along - many, many eyes.

"Excuse me."

I turned around, a handsome man with a smoke in his mouth looking at me with much confusion.

"I think you're on the wrong deck."

Irish. Hm. I held up my chin, not liking his tone. "Excuse you. I'm looking for someone."

The man chuckled, holding his hands up. "My bad, sweetheart."

"Don't -" I started, taken back by his running mouth. "Don't call me that."

He smirked, like he was trying to hide a smile. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. What would you prefer?"

"Annabelle DeWitt Bukater," I said, not faltering in eye contact. "And you are?"

He held out his hand. "Thomas Ryan, m'lady. But I like Tommy."

"Well, Thomas, I'm looking for my sister Rose and her...friend Jack Dawson."

Tommy popped his cigarette into his mouth, pointing up. "Try the top deck, love."

I decided to ignore his name-calling to just get more information. "The top deck? Like they would let the likes of him -" I stopped myself, realizing how rude that would've sounded, but it was too late.

"The likes of him, eh?" Tommy said snidely, enjoying my un-comfortability. "Us poor people?"

"I just thought that I'd look on this deck first. I had no intention of offending you -"

"Yes, you did."

My brows furrowed at him and his handsome, scruffy face. I noticed that his slight scruff attached to sideburns that led to his curly, brown hair. "You do not know me."

Tommy did the same thing he did earlier - the trying to hide his smile thing as he leaned against the railing, taking a puff of smoke. "Why was your sister with the likes of him anyway?"

I sighed, leaning over the railing beside him. "He saved her from going overboard. She wants to thank him for what he did."

"Is he gettin' money?"

I almost scoffed, but didn't. "No," I said harshly. "He's joining us for dinner tonight."

"Hold up, love -" Tommy started, turning toward me, one elbow still leaning on the railing. "So if I saved you from going overboard right now, I would get a fancy dinner?"

"I -"

Tommy reached forward, as if he was going to throw me overboard, making me scream and making him have a good laugh about it.

My hand on my heart, I breathed out. "Thomas Ryan!" I hit his shoulder with my purse as he still laughed. "You scared me! You -"

Tommy's chuckles quieted. "Oh, come on, love, don't be such a square."

"A square?" I said, offended. Maybe I was rich, but that didn't automatically make me a square. "I am not a square."

Tommy smirked, his wonderful green eyes sparkling. "Prove it."

I looked around, looking for a childish shenanigan, something that only someone would do if they needed amusement. I spotted two grown men running around the deck, making their way toward Tommy and I. I looked over at Tommy, raising my eyebrows, a snide smile on my face as played with my hair. I waited until the two men were close enough, then I stuck my foot out, making the first one tumble forward. His buddy immediately burst out in laughter and Tommy did too, grabbing my arm and making me run with him, away from the angry man I had just tripped.

I glanced over my shoulder as I ran, a smile forming on my face as I laughed, reaching forward and grabbing Tommy's hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world. We laughed and we ran and we ran and we ran all the way to the other side of the ship, catching our breath as we gripped the railing.

My laughter died down as I stared out at the sunset. Sunset. Oh, no. "Oh, no," I breathed out, turning around and looking for the stairs.

"What?"

"It's almost dinner time and my mother -" I groaned, looking around frantically. "My mother is going to have a fit if she finds out that I was on this deck, pulling shenanigans no less!"

"Hey..." Tommy put his hand on my back for comfort. "There are stairs around this corner, alright?"

I nodded, breathing out as a clutched my stomach, trying to control my breath before I passed out - my corset not helping at all. "Thank you, Tommy."

"No more Thomas, Annabelle?"

I laughed quietly. "You call me Anna, I'll call you Tommy."

Tommy smiled back, seemingly looking over my face. He leaned forward ever so slightly and my heart started beating fast. Then he leaned away. "Uh, let's get you back to your deck, huh?"

I nodded, letting his lead me up to the top deck. When we stopped, I was standing at the top of the stairs, him a couple below and we were almost eye level, him being a little shorter. I sighed, knowing that I could step back onto my deck and he couldn't. "Thank you, Tommy, for accompanying me up here."

"It was my pleasure, love."

I chuckled, no longer annoyed by his words. Goodness, just looking at him made me feel warm. I was so sure I was blushing. "Goodbye," I said reluctantly, honestly unsure of whether I would see him ever again.

Tommy looked up at me, putting his cigarette between his perfect lips. "Goodbye."

"Annabelle!"

I spun around, seeing my mother walking over to me. "Mother, uh -" I looked over my shoulder, finding that Tommy was gone. I looked back at my mother, smiling. "Hello."

"Where were you?" She questioned, trying to hold back anger because of her friends close behind.

"I was walking around the deck."

My mother just barely resisted a slap to my hand as she reached out for my arm, making me walk alongside her. "You sister has be associating with the likes of Jack Dawson - a third-class, Annabelle. I would regret to witness you doing the same."

I shook my head, the lie coming easily. "I would never, mother."

"Maybe you should speak to your sister. You could teach her a thing or two."

I bit back a remark. "Rose can choose her own friends, mother, that is not up to either of us."

"It is up to us to protect her."

"Protect her from what? Poorness?" I asked, stepping away from her.

"Annabelle -" My mother bit, not liking the scene I was displaying for anyone to see.

"Rose can make her own decisions and I will not be apart of telling her that she cannot," I said strongly, my nervousness flowing through my body as I stared my own mother down. Then I started walking away. "I'm going to dress for dinner." I walked inside the ship, going straight to Rose's room, swinging the door open and plopping onto the couch.

Rose laughed. "Are you alright, Anna?"

I flipped onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. "Mother has gone mad. You know that she is revolted by the thought that you could possibly be friends with someone who has so little money?"

"Oh, I know."

I sighed. "She's never going to let us doing a thing. She already has suitors planned for me the second I step off of this ship and on New York soil."

Rose stood, sitting down in a chair beside the couch. "What?"

"She told me, Rose." I covered my face with my hands. "I can't marry someone I don't love, let alone don't even know."

"Oh, Anna..." Rose reached out for my hand, rubbing it.

I shook my head, sitting up quickly and wiping my eyes of any wetness. "I'm being silly. I know the sacrifice I have to make." I stood, making my way to the door. "I'm going to dress for dinner."

Rose nodded, still processing my quick movements. "Uh, alright -"

"I'll see you soon." I walked out, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. I sighed heavily, closing my eyes, then opening, prepping myself for the night and walking to my room to get ready.

Cal walked down the stairs, my mother on his arm, then me, walking down and almost walking past Jack Dawson. "Mr. Dawson, I hardly recognized you."

He smiled. "Please, call me Jack."

"Jack," I corrected myself, smiling kindly at him. "My name is Annabelle. And I have yet to thank you for saving my sister's life."

Jack smiled. "It was no problem, miss..." His voice trailed off, looking over my shoulder.

I turned around, watching my sister descend the stairs gracefully. I smiled, glancing at Jack, whose eyes never left her, then walking over to Cal and my mother.

"Annabelle, your mother told me that you and her had a mild quarrel," Cal said to me.

I looked down, trying to hide that I wasn't at all ashamed of my actions.

"You won't do that again," Cal ordered lightly.

I nodded, head still down. "I understand. I'm sorry."

"Look at me when you speak," My mother said.

I looked up at her. "I'm sorry."

Rose walked up. "Darling...I'm sure you remember Mr. Dawson." She gestured to Jack, who was escorting Rose like a true gentleman.

Cal's eyebrows raised. "Dawson? It's a amazing. You could almost pass for a gentleman."

Jack smacked his lips. "Almost."

"Extraordinary," Cal continued, smiled and moved along with my mother on arm.

I spotted a familiar face. "Mr. Andrews."

Mr. Andrew stopped, smiling my way as he grabbed my hand and kissed it. "Anna."

I smiled, looking around the ship. "It never stops being beautiful. You really did well, Mr. Andrews."

He smiled kindly. "Thank you, Anna."

"Care to accompany me to dinner?" I asked, not having someone as Rose and my mother did.

Mr. Andrews held out his arm. "It would be my pleasure."

We walked around and socialized for far too long before sitting down for dinner. The longer into dinner, the more I realized how much my mother wanted to embarrass Jack, asking him questions she knew he didn't know of, or pointing out things that she knew would bring criticism to him.

"Tell us about the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Dawson. I hear they're quite good on this ship."

There was another one.

Jack didn't even falter. "The best I've seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats."

The hole table laughed and I didn't try to hide it that time.

"Mr. Dawson is joining us from third-class," Cal said, smiling because he knew he could. "He was of some assistance to my fiancée last night."

Rose nodded. "It turns out that Mr. Dawson is quite a fine artist. He was kind enough to show me some of his work today."

Cal pursed his lips. "Rose and I differ in our definition of fine art." He looked at Jack. "Not to impugn your work, sir."

Jack shook his head, waving it off like it was nothing.

I watched Rose cough discreetly, trying to show Jack how to drape his napkin. Once he did, I watched as he looked confusedly at his plate, leaning over and whispering to Mrs. Brown for help. Of course she did, and Jack was soon being asked how he liked his caviar, sir?"

"No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it much."

Rose and I bowed our heads in sync, both hiding smiles.

"Where exactly do you live, Mr. Dawson?" My mother asked.

"Well, right now, my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, I'm on God's good humour."

My mother narrowed her eyes slightly. "And how is it that you have means of travel?"

Jack casually said, "I work my way from place to place. You know, tramp steamers and such. But I won my ticket at a lucky hand at poker. A very lucky hand."

"All life is a game of luck," Mr. Gracie said.

Cal hummed in opposition. "A real man makes his own luck. Right, Dawson?"

"Mm." Jack nodded.

"And you find that sort of rootless existence appealing?" Mother asked, really letting the venom drip off her tongue.

Jack didn't hesitate for a moment, remaining well-put. "Well, yes, ma'am, I do. I mean, I've got everything I need right here with me. I've got air in my lungs and a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning, not knowing what's gonna happen, who I'm gonna meet -" He took a bite of his bread, talking while chewing. "Where I'm gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge, now I'm on the grandest ship in the world, having champagne with you fine people -" The men chuckled, as Jack asked for more champagne in his glass. "I figure life's a gift. And I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You take life as it comes. Oh, here you go, Cal." Jack pulled out a box of matches, tossing it to Cal, who had an unlit cigarette in his mouth, and he barely caught it. "To make each day count."

Mrs. Brown nodded. "Well said Jack."

"Yes." I nodded as well. "Very well said."

"Hear, hear," Mr. Gracie agreed.

Rose held up her glass. "To making it count."

We all held up our glasses, saying in unison, "To making it count."

We continued dinner, Molly telling many of her hilarious stories, making me laugh until my stomach hurt.

Then all the men were leaving to go for a brandy in the smoking room.

"Joining us, Dawson?" Mr. Gracie asked. "Well, you don't want to stay out here with the women, do you?"

Jack shook his head. "No, thanks. I've got to be heading back."

Cal walked up the Dawson, saying something I couldn't here before smiling and walking off.

Then Jack walked over to Rose.

"Jack, must you go?"

"Time for me to go row with the other slaves," He joked, taking her hand. "Goodnight, Rose." He kissed it, then slipped away quickly.

I glanced over Rose's shoulder, watching her open a note. I nudged her, eyes wide.

She smiled at me, holding it out for me to see, but still hidden from mother's view.

Make it count

Meet me at the clock

"Go!" I whispered urgently. "Please, go!"

Rose giggled quietly, turning back in her seat before putting on an acting face, holding her hand to her stomach. "I just felt a wave of nausea come over me. I think I'll be heading back to my room."

I nodded, going along. "Sounds best."

Mother nodded and Rose stood, trying her hardest not to run all the way to the clock.

I sighed, sitting back in my seat. "I think I might leave as well."

"You will not. One of my children running off is enough."

"Then I will go to the ladies room." I stood, feeling the presence of my mother following me. I walked inside, finding us to be alone. Oh, wonderful.

"I see a pattern of a developing attitude, Annabelle."

I spun around, growing angrier by the second. "And what, mother?"

"You will stop this instance."

"I don't want to marry someone I'm just going to meet, mother. Rose doesn't want to marry Cal. No one wants any of the things you want," I said quietly, but viciously, letting my anger take me over. "Your control over us is too much!"

"Calm yourself, Annabelle. You will do as your told."

"I will not!"

She slapped me, surprising me immensely. "You will do as your told."

I looked at her, hand on my cheek. "I feel sick. May I please go back to my room?"

"Yes."

I walked past her quickly, moving as fast as I could without attracting attention out of the dining rooms and out onto the deck, quickly making my way to the third-class deck. I would never let anyone from first-class see me as I was. My life would be over. So I ran down to the third class deck, leaning against the railing and crying.

No one was around anyway. I would cry as I needed and no more.

"Anna?"

My head snapped up, quickly wiping away tears. "Uh, yes, ye -" I looked up at him. "Tommy."

Tommy leaned against the railing. "What happened now, huh?"

"Nothing," I said, looking away, subconsciously touching my cheek.

Tommy grabbed my chin, turning my face toward his. "Holy hell."

I smacked his hand away. "Don't touch me."

He ignored my request, grabbing at my again and touching my red, sore cheek. "Who did this?"

"My mother."

Tommy's eyebrows raised. "What'd you say to her to make her do that?"

"I told her that I wouldn't do what she wanted. I refused to marry a man I barely knew."

"Marriage?" Tommy asked, scoffing. "You've barely lived your life."

"It doesn't matter," I said. I hesitated, then turned to him. "Can I trust you?"

Tommy looked me in the eyes, turning toward me fully. "Sure."

"Rose is marrying Cal because we're practically broke. When my father died, all he left us was a whole lot of debt. Rose marries Cal, and I have no doubt that the moment I set foot off this ship, I'll be married within the following months."

Tommy looked at me, brows furrowed. "What is it with you people and money, huh? My mother and brothers are more important than anything. What ever happened to family, huh?"

"Says the man with family. My father's dead, my mother's is much more of an acquaintance to me, and my sister is silenced by the judgement of others. Money is all I have left."

Tommy sighed, flicking his cigarette over the edge and grabbing my hand. "Come on."

"Wha -"

"Just - let's go."

I nodded, walking with him.

Tommy let go over my hand and let me realize how cold I was.

I quickly gripped onto his arm, feeling warmer. "Sorry for my forwardness."

Tommy smiled down at me. "That's alright, love."

I clapped and laughed loudly, the Irish jig playing loudly, people dancing all around me.

We were far down, deep into the ship, where all the third-class people had a good time, and it was a good time indeed.

I sat beside Rose, who was brought by Jack, and we laughed and clapped along to the song together as Jack danced and Tommy and some other man we were sitting with drank all there beers.

Rose grabbed one as Tommy set them down, drinking lots of it right away.

"Rose!" I gasped, smiling widely.

She handed the cup to me. "It's amazing!"

I took it, gulping it down. It was awful, but it made me feel really swell.

Then the song ended and a new one started. Jack grabbed Rose's hand and I watched her fumble along, eventually falling into a rhythm. I laughed loudly, turning to Tommy and holding out my hand. "Well, don't make me ask."

He shook his head. "I don't dance, love."

I smiled mischievously, grabbing his hand and pulling him up quicker than he could register. He stumbled a little before standing up straight, and I smiled up at him. "Teach me!"

He hesitated, then licked his lips and grabbed my hand, his other hand settling on my back, pulling me close so that our bodies were touching.

My smile was gone as I gasped. Never was I allowed to be touched like that, but feeling his body against mine was somewhat magical. "Tommy, I..."

"You asked for it, love!" He said loudly, chuckling as we started to dance, hopping and jumping, holding onto one another tightly.

I followed along just barely because he was moving so quick and we cheered as I mastered to movements. Laughing loudly, I threw my head back and coming back up, our noses touched for the slightest second. It didn't phase me as the adrenaline ran through my body, just making me giggle. "This is extraordinary!"

"Glad you're havin' fun, love!"

"You're good at this!" I yelled over the music, referring to his dancing.

"I am Irish!"

I giggled, catching a glance of Jack and Rose up on a big table and I gripped Tommy's arm. "Look!" We stopped dancing and turned to watch them.

Jack tapped with his fancy shoes to the beat of the music. Then Rose took of her shoes and went, surprising all of us except me. I knew she had it in her. Then Jack. Then Rose again. Then they linked arms spinning around.

I had never seen her smile like that before.

Tommy's arms came around my waist as he grabbed me back and spun me around, dancing with me again. Our laughs blended in together and then into the music as we continued to dance. The song ended too soon, and Tommy wrapped his arms around my body, picking me up and spinning me around.

It was never ending joy. It was never ending laughter, and it was never ending music. It was happiness. It was freedom.

I cheered loudly along with everyone else, specifically cheering for Tommy, who was in a arm wrestling battle with the Swedish man, as my hands were on Tommy's shoulders, squeezing them for encouragement. Jack came out of no where, passing me a drink, which I gulped down before continuing to cheer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rose get splashed in the face.

I gasped. "Are you -"

She just laughed.

What a crazy night.

Loud cheering.

I looked back down, seeing a victorious Sweden and Tommy wanting to try again.

"Two out of three. Two out of three."

I laughed, shaking him by the shoulders

"So -" Rose said loudly, setting her glass down in between the two men. She grabbed the cigarette from Tommy's mouth and taking a puff. "You think you're big tough men? Let's see you do this." She handed the most of her skirt to Jack. "Hold this for me, Jack. Hold it up." She started into ballet - first position, then second. As she did, she moved started to releve, standing on her tip-toes and holding it - something we both went to ballet lessons for. "Ow!" She broke, falling into Jack's arms and laughing like a maniac, like everyone around her.

Everyone clapped, me the loudest.

Tommy's hand touched my back. "Let's see you do that, love."

I smiled, turning to Rose and grabbing his cigarette back. I turned to Tommy, leaning down close to his face, putting it back into his mouth. "I'm not doing a darn thing, love."

Tommy chuckled, staring up at me.

Then Fabrizio suddenly grabbed my hand after a new song started, taking me onto a train of people. I quickly grabbed another persons hand, keeping it going. They grabbed onto someone, who grabbed onto someone, who grabbed onto someone.

The night went on and on and soon it was just a blur.