2
The next day, Rose couldn't bear to be at lunch. She didn't want to be here on the ship, and I knew it. All day, she was so quiet, and when she talked she would retort with a rude comment. I was pretty sure her time of the month was coming soon, and boy, we all hated that time.
At dinner, it was so awkward. She wasn't saying anything, and I was worried. "Rose?" "Yes?" "Are you okay?" "Yes, of course I am! Why would you think not?" "Oh, just asking." She nodded, and went back to her food.
A few minutes later was when I noticed something wrong. "Rose?" My mother called. "Mother, may I be excused? I'm not feeling very well." "Yes, you may." "Feel better, Rose." She nodded, and walked away.
"Violet, what's wrong with Rose?" Cal asked. "I have no idea. I think her cycle is coming, but I'm not sure." "Oh." "Yes." "Listen, Violet, about yesterday..." He had to bring it up. "It's fine, Cal." "No, it's not. Don't you ever feel like you're torn between doing the right thing, and following you're heart?" "No, never, why?" "Because, that's what is happening to me."
I wondered what he meant. He couldn't have meant that he was torn between Rose and I, that was impossible! If that were true, I would be climbing walls right now. I would want him to follow his heart and choose me, but that would crush Rose. But the words blurted out of my mouth.
"Follow your heart, Cal. It'll be easier, and you'll be happier." He smiled, and put a hand on my lap. Our eyes locked again. "Let me take you to your room, unless you're going to stay here and chat with the women." "No, I'd much rather sleep, take care of Rose." He nodded, and got up. "Ladies, I'll be on my way now." "I'm going to the room, mother, so I can take care of Rose." "I'll be there in a while." I nodded, and walked to the elevator with Cal.
"I sure do hope Rose is feeling better." "So do I. I hope it's not seasickness, I would feel terrible." I laughed. "I don't think she'd ever forgive you." He chuckled. "I'd be very upset." "So would mother." We laughed. He grabbed ahold of my hand. I blushed. "You're red right now." I blushed redder after he said that. He laughed. "Well, here's my stop."
"Yes, well, goodnight, Violet. Tell Rose I hope she feels better." I nodded, and he kissed my cheek. He walked away. When he left, I put my hand where he kissed my cheek. I opened the door, and saw that Rose wasn't there. My heart stopped. I had to do something. I couldn't tell my mother, she would die. I thought again: Cal. I had to get him.
I ran outside, and saw he was outside with Mr. Guggenheim. I sighed. "Cal!" He turned around. "Yes, Violet?" "Rose." "Yes, what about her?" "She's not in the room." "What do you mean, she's not in the room?" "I went in the room, and she wasn't there."
"Okay, let's go find her." I nodded, when we were stopped by master-at-arms. "Mr. Hockley." "Yes?" "It's about your fiancé, Ms. Dewitt Bukater." "What is it?" "She was almost sexually assaulted, or so we think." My heart stopped.
"What? Take us to her right now!" "Yes, Ma'am." I followed them to the stern of the ship, where they were arresting a blonde man. Rose was sitting down, covered in a blanket. "Rose!" I ran to her. "He saved me." "What?" She shook her head. Cal was scolding the man. "Cal! Cal, it was an accident!" she exclaimed. An accident? She was almost raped and it was an accident?
"An accident?" Cal asked. "I was leaning far over to see the uh, um," "Propellers?" "Propellers, and I slipped! And I would've gone overboard if Mr. Dawson wasn't here to save me!" I raised an eyebrow. I knew Rose, and she would never lean over to stare at a propeller. But then it kicked in.
Oh my God! My sister tried to throw herself overboard, and she was saved my that man! He was a hero.
"Well then, the boy's a hero." Mr. Guggenheim answered. The blonde man looked at me. "Thank you." I mouthed. He nodded, and was let loose of the handcuffs. "Let's go." Cal said, and put an arm around Rose. "Don't you think there should be a reward for the boy?" "Yes, give him a twenty." Rose scoffed. "Is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?" He looked at me. "She has a point."
He walked up to him. "Why don't you join us tomorrow at dinner, to regale our group with your heroic tale?" The man nodded, and we walked away. "This'll be good." Mr. Guggenheim chuckled.
I looked at Rose. "Are you stupid?" "What?" "You almost killed yourself!" She smacked me. "Be quiet!" "You're lucky Mr. Dawson saved you! I know you hate first class, but come on! Do you know how much I'd suffer?" "I'm sorry, Violet, will you ever forgive me?" "I forgive you, but I'm still upset." She frowned, and walked in to the suite. I walked in, and sighed angrily.
My mother was sitting down on the couch, and saw us. "Oh, Rose! Amber!" She ran to us and hugged us. "Caledon informed me of what happened, Rosie, are you okay?" She nodded. "Well, I almost had a heart attack, worried sick!" She exclaimed as she walked to her room. "As crazy as she is, I got to agree with her." "Violet, please, just leave me alone." "How can I? You almost threw yourself off the boat! I almost lost you!" I said as tears welled in my eyes. "Violet, I know. I just thought it was the right thing at the time. I am truly sorry. How will you ever forgive me?" She replied as I saw tears shining in her eyes, too. "I do not know what to say." The tears fell from my eyes, as I ran to hug her. She sobbed, and so did I. "Violet, I'm sorry." We cried for a while, until she decided to go change for bed. I decided to do the same thing.
Cal came in a while later, and my heart skipped a beat. "Where's Rose?" he asked. "Brushing her hair." "Thank you." "You're welcome."
I laid down to sleep, and had a dream. I was walking down the church aisle, in a beautiful white wedding dress. Rose was my maid of honor, and Mr. Andrews was walking me down the aisle. My mother was crying, and all of Philadelphia society was there. Cal's parents were sitting down, smiling and nodding in approval. I smiled, and when I finally got up to the altar, Cal was there, smiling, looking at me with his deep brown eyes. We went through the whole ceremony, and I could feel myself smiling. We were about to kiss when I woke up. Damn it!
I saw Cal in my suite probably looking for Rose. "Oh, hello Violet." "Hi." "Would you like to spend the day with me? Go around the boat?" My heart pounded, and I smiled. "Of course I would." He smiled. "I shall see you in a while, then." "In a while." He nodded, and walked to his suite.
When he was out of an earshot, I screamed.
"YES!"