Jack didn't hear all of it, but the meeting that took place in his mother's stateroom was certainly a vocal one. Catherine was particularly smug as her angry father blasted Molly Brown for her charade. Ruth stood in the corner, aiming her disapproving look at Molly. They all emerged and Jack tried his best to look like he hadn't just been eavesdropping. Catherine stormed over, opened her mouth to speak but refrained from saying anything. Nathan clapped his hand on her shoulder and declared that it would be best for them to take the air. Ruth gave Molly one last disgusted look and followed them out into the corridor.
Molly rolled her eyes and headed over to Jack. "He must have gone through the passenger documents. Don't worry sonny, they don't know that you had anything to do with it."
Jack looked up in surprise. "Molly, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you in any trouble."
Molly smiled and shook her head. "Don't sweat it Jack. I'm sorry it didn't work. Look Jack, I've been thinking. I could buy Rose a first class ticket. She could stay with me."
He wanted to have Rose closer to him, and almost agreed to Molly's offer. But he stood back and thought about all the trouble he had already caused. He was engaged, to be wed to Catherine Hockley. Pursuing Rose would hurt too many people. It would get Molly in more trouble. Nathan could take back his agreement, sending Jack and his mother into bankruptcy. Rose had pulled away when Jack went to make a move, he stood no chance with a girl like her.
"I'm to marry Catherine. Rose would change that. But not for the better" he said aloud, trying to convince himself and Molly.
Molly's usually optimistic demeanour dissolved, and she looked almost disappointed. She nodded and bid him farewell then exited the stateroom, leaving Jack feeling alone once more.
Rose sat with Tommy and Fabrizio, her heart feeling heavy in her chest. Tommy put his hand on hers on the bench. "He's in another world Rose, forget about him. He closed the door on you."
"It was them, not him" replied Rose, still in disbelief that Nathan had gotten two stewards to escort her to steerage.
Fabrizio gave her a sympathetic glance and suggested the three of them head out onto the deck. They went out and looked upon the endless sea and for the first time, Rose wished that her experience on the Titanic would hurry up and end so she could forget everything and start again.
Thomas Andrews was hurrying through the deck, looking at his pocket watch as he went. Rose, recognising him from dinner the other night. "Mr. Andrews!"
He paused and looked up, a smile crossing his face. "Why hello Rose. I'm sorry I would stop to converse but I'm late for a tour."
Rose pulled on his arm lightly in an effort to get him to stay.
"Mr. Andrews, I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned... forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard."
"About half, actually. Rose, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here. But it was thought... by some... that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled."
That was all the explanation Andrews could offer and no sooner had he arrived, he had departed.
Tommy suddenly balled his hands into fists, and Fabrizio had to hold him back. Rose looked up and saw Jack across the deck, signalling her to come with him. She looked back at Fabrizio and Tommy, who both reluctantly insisted that she should go to him. She quickly walked to where Jack was standing and he pulled her into the gymnasium on the second class deck. The room was filled with complex gym equipment, but other than that the two of them were alone.
"Jack, this is impossible. We cannot see each other." Rose knew she didn't want it to be that way, but it seemed that they were in two different worlds.
Jack took her by the shoulders and stared into her lost eyes.
"You're the most amazing girl I've ever known-"
"Jack I-"
"No wait, let me try to get this out. You're amazing. And I know how it's supposed to work. We're supposed to never see each other again. I'm supposed to marry Catherine and you're supposed to marry somebody else. But something in me wants to change that."
Rose paused, her heart racing due to his confession. "I'm involved in your life now, as you are in mine. You jump, I jump remember?"
Jack nodded, remembering when he had first said that. When Rose had climbed the rail to jump off the ship into the icy ocean, he insisted he would jump after her to save her.
"They've got you trapped Jack. Like a butterfly in a glass jar. You're going to die if you don't break out. Sooner or later, that fire that I love about you… that fire is going to burn out."
Jack opened his mouth to speak and had to swallow down the lump that had formed in his throat.
"I… I have to go Rose, I'm sorry."
He quickly exited the gymnasium, wanting to allow some time for the tears stinging his eyes to disappear before he returned to the tour group.