I figured I was on a roll so why not update all of my stories, lol. Seriously, this chapter has been long in coming. Hopefully I can keep up the momentum. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

A Real Party

I approached the First Class Lounge with feelings of fear and excitement running through me. I placed my hand on my fluttering stomach to hold the butterflies at bay. I released a deep breath when I saw Jack standing with his back to me at the top of the staircase. Slowly, I started up them and that's when he turned to me, giving me a expressive smile.

"So, you wanna go to a real party?"

I smiled in return and took his hand. I knew I had made the right choice in choosing to go with him, however I wasn't exactly sure what Jack meant until he led me out onto the Boat Deck and back to the Third Class Entrance.

"Jack, where are you taking me?" I asked as we walked along.

"I wanna show you how the working class folk have fun. They know how to have a good time even though they don't have much money. They're good people."

"I'm sure they are," I said in response. We made our way down the staircase where I immediately heard lively music drifting up to us. Jack took my hand again as we entered the Common Room. People were everywhere, laughing, talking and dancing. The atmosphere was remarkable in contrast to First Class where I couldn't imagine anyone there enjoying themselves in this way.

"Jack!" We turned to see the handsome young Italian man from the previous day rushing toward us. A lovely blond woman was by his side.

"Fabrizio," Jack threw his hand up as they neared.

When the young man saw me he smiled brightly and bowed graciously. "Buona sera, Signorina Rose."

"Hello," I smiled at him.

He then looked at Jack and laughed. "Jack, you looka so funny! I never see you dress lika that."

"You probably won't again after tonight," he grinned, glancing down at the tuxedo. "Mrs. Brown let me borrow it," he explained to me.

"Ah," I nodded. "I do admit I wondered about it," I told him.

"Signorina Rose, please come, join us," Fabrizio motioned to her.

"Fabri, we're gonna sit down first. I wanna get out of this thing before I choke," he said pulling at the tie around his neck.

Fabrizio laughed again and offered the young woman his arm. "We gonna dance. We canna understand each other, but still, itza good."

As the couple moved away, Jack took my hand and led me to a nearby table where he began to remove the jacket and tie. It was then that I noticed a little girl move toward us. She was adorable with long, curly brown hair and a quick, dimpled grin.

"Hello," I said to her. She didn't answer but turned her eyes to Jack.

"Hello, Cora," Jack winked. "You know, I was just sitting here wondering who I could dance with. How 'bout it? You wanna dance with me?"

She nodded brightly and held out her hand to him. Jack turned to me and leaned forward. "Do you mind?"

"No, no," I answered him. "I'll sit here and wait for you."

Jack took Cora's hand and they stepped out onto the dance floor and began moving to the lively music that was playing. I had only been sitting there a few minutes when two young men, one with twinkling blue eyes and a brown, bowler hat and one with blondish hair sat down next to me.

"Tommy Ryan," he held out his hand. "I'm a friend of Jack's. This is Bjorn."

I gave his hand a quick shake. "I'm Rose DeWitt Bukater. Nice to meet you."

"You hungry, thirsty?" he asked in a thick Irish accent. "I know I could use a swig o' ale meself?"

"Yes, that would be lovely," I answered and I was telling the truth. My throat felt parched and a drink sounded wonderful.

"I'll be back," he announced and left me alone with Bjorn, who spoke not a word of English. He kept saying things to me of which I had no understanding. Finally, I turned back to Jack and Cora, clapping my hands in time with the music as they danced nearby. Bjorn was still trying to speak to me and I leaned forward once more and told him I couldn't understand him.

Tommy returned at the time with the drinks, a dark black substance I assumed was beer. I lifted it and drank it, taking the bitter taste of it in my mouth. I had only sat it down when a loud commotion to my left caught my attention. A man who was obviously drunk had fallen into a table but was quickly lifted by a few men standing around. Not to be deterred he reached for another glass of beer with a brawny smile. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

Finally the song ended but just as quickly another started. Jack and Cora came over to the table and Jack bent low to her. "I'm going to dance with her now, okay?"

Cora nodded and stepped back. "Come on," he held out his hand.

"What?" I nearly croaked. Did he really expect me to dance with him?

"Come with me," he reached for my hand.

"Jack, wait… wait," I shook my head as he brought me in front of him. "I can't do this."

"We're gonna have to get a little bit closer… like this," he said as his hand wrapped around my waist and he pulled me closer. For a moment, my breath left my body. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of him so close to me. Suddenly I heard Jack say, "You're still my best girl, Cora." I turned in time to see the little girl give a bright grin and then Jack began to move me around the floor.

"I don't know the steps," I told him shakily.

"I don't either, just go with it," he replied lightly. "Don't think," and then he swept me away in a whirl.

At first I was petrified, afraid I was going to make a fool of myself but Jack was having none of that. Before long I was moving erratically with him and it felt wonderful! I was thoroughly enjoying myself. I had never felt so carefree and unrestricted before. The music swept around us and others who were around began to join us including Fabrizio and Helga. The music played faster and faster and Jack moved me accordingly.

"Jack, wait, Jack!" I exclaimed as he whirled me back and forth over the dance floor. Suddenly he lifted me up to a higher platform and landed in the center of it. His feet began to do a series of moves that I was sure I could follow. In a very unladylike move, I discarded my shoes and handed them to a lady standing nearby. I lifted my skirts and mimicked Jack's movements much to his surprise. Rising to the challenge he stepped back and did another, more intricate series of moves and just as quickly I followed suit.

Jack then took my arm and began to dance around in circles. Round and round we went, faster and faster until everything was a blur. "Jack, no!" I laughed and threw my head back. It was an exhilarating and thrilling feeling, one I wouldn't soon forget. Finally, it came to a stop and we fell into each other laughing.

"Whew! I'm whipped," Jack breathed. "And thirsty. You wanna drink?"

"Yes," I answered with a laugh as well. Jack took my hand and led me off the dance floor. We headed for the table where Tommy and Bjorn were engaged in an arm wrestling contest. He lifted two glasses and handed me one. Used to the bitter tasting drink now, I drank heartily letting it flow down the back of my throat. When I had finished, I glanced over at Jack who was looking at me with a mixture of awe and surprise.

"What?" I responded saucily as the alcohol worked its magic on me. "You think a First Class girl can't drink?"

Before he could respond a man rushed by and knocked into him, spilling the contents of his drink all over me. I jumped back in surprise as Jack grabbed the man and pushed him back. "Get outta here," he said and turned back to me. "You alright?"

I laughed and nodded. "I'm fine."

Tommy's irritated voice carried over the throng of people, "Two outta tree, two outta tree," he shouted and held his hand up again, obviously not happy he had lost. Feeling more and more a part of the atmosphere I was in, a boldness washed over me that was enough to propel me right into the middle of them.

"So," I quipped as I sat my drink down and lifted the cigarette right out of a shocked and dismayed Tommy's mouth. "You think you're big, tough men?" I then took a long practiced drag on it. "Let's see you do this," I said as I stepped back. "Hold this for me, Jack. Hold it up," I lifted the train of my dress to him and switched the cigarette to my other hand.

What I was about to do I hadn't done in years. I didn't know what had come over me to behave so outrageously but I was having more fun and enjoying myself more than I had in years. I assumed the first position of my ballet stance knowing full well all eyes were on me. I slowly began to rise, concentrating on my efforts on attaining en pointe, which I did much to my amazement. Standing straight up on my toes without ballet shoes was painful but it was also exciting. I only held the position for a moment when I suddenly fell over onto Jack, who caught me. I laughed breathlessly as he held me. "I haven't done that in years."

He shook his head at as if he didn't know what to make of my sudden behavior. I wondered if I had been too bold but he smiled at me and I knew everything was alright. At that time Fabrizio passed by us and grabbed my hand pulling me into a chain of dancers. I didn't have much time to think about it so as I had done from nearly the time I came down here I just went with the flow of moment. I grabbed Jack's hand and we began to move around the room in fluid motion, dancing and laughing. I couldn't remember when I had let go this way. I didn't want it to ever end…